5 June 2014
The debut EP release by Elliphant, aka Ellinor Olovsdotter, is without doubt the coolest sound coming out of Sweden right now. Working with Skrillex, Diplo, Dave Sitek and Dr. Luke, this EP is chock-full of unique dance pop tunes like never before. Unapologetic and full of sass, Ellinor delivers a vocal assault unlike any before. ‘Look Like You Love It’ is the perfect example of this and starts the EP off with a bang.
4 June 2014
“Give a couple of guys guitars and it’s just going to be cocks out all the way!” joked The Audreys’ frontwoman Taasha Coates when asked about their newfound swagger on album number four, ’Til My Tears Roll Away’. Taasha credits the inclusion of longtime friend/producer/engineer Shane O’Mara to the band line-up, and the joys of motherhood, with awakening a sleeping ambition in the triple ARIA Award-winning blues/roots duo.
3 June 2014
Hits & Pits round 3 is now but a memory – but what a memory! Face To Face killed it, Unwritten Law nailed it, and Ten Foot Pole were rock solid. The Casualties, unfortunately, suffered from a poor mix and played pretty sloppily; but hey, it’s The Casualties, and it’s always a good time! Believe it or not, round FOUR is already in the works and will take place in November.
2 June 2014
It was a chance encounter with Cowboy Kate in a second hand market in Melbourne that acted as one of the main inspirations behind local folk country troubadour Harry Hookey’s debut album Misdiagnosed. The poster, which became a notorious piece for acclaimed South African fashion photographer Sam Haskins, was hung up in the studio among other raunchy pieces in Nash Chambers Foggy Mountain Studios throughout the duration of recording the album.
2 June 2014
In metal news recently, a fan of Five Finger Death Punch, Mark Douglas, who is also a father, had taken his nine-year-old daughter, Olivia, to the show. At the show Olivia was invited on stage to join in singing the chorus on FFDP’s ‘Burn MF’ (the chorus goes “burn motherf*cker, burn” apparently) while her father stood aside to film his daughter’s vocal debut. During the song FFDP’s vocalist can be seen performing the song while holding the microphone next to Olivia’s ear.
1 June 2014
A genuine air of excitement and enthusiasm rushes through the loudspeaker of my phone as I speak to charismatic frontman of Wagons, Henry Wagons. It is clear that the newest Wagons release, Acid Rain and Sugar Cane, has been a most enjoyable experience for Henry and the band. The LP is a heavily built country rock journey built around the ideas and tales of the dark hallways of bars and some of their more ill-composed drinking experiences, along with some lovely tributes to the less celebrated beverages.
1 June 2014
For those of us who are impatient beyond means, a slow build can be the most frustrating thing in the world. But for the rest of us, it can be a moment of beautiful contemplation. I, a Man’s debut release, Gravity Wins Again, master these opportunities from start to finish.
31 May 2014
Peter Dinklage is playing the bad guy in X-Men: Days of Future Past, and he wants you to know he had a good time being bad. “He’s a fun character to dig into,” he says, referring to the habit his character – Bolivar Trask, creator of the mutant-killing robots the Sentinels – has of not so much lurking in the shadows as cosying up to power right out in the open. “Usually with these superhero villain roles, they work on the fringes like the superheroes do, they’re considered a bit mad and they want to lock them up. But this guy is right there with all the politicians and seated there next to the President being a big influence.
31 May 2014
There’s a lot of discussion of classic blues players – Robert Johnson, John Lee Hooker, Muddy Waters, Sister Rosetta Tharpe – and a cast of many more whose music has formed, influenced and been a model for many modern blues singers. Talk to these singers and you’ll hear these names and more mentioned again and again.
31 May 2014
Although a westernised English speaking country, as with any foreign city there are certain things to London that are different and every time I come back I learn something new – hence, I thought I would pass on a few of my thoughts and discoveries on to you!
30 May 2014
After hearing the much-celebrated release ‘Bros’ from Wolf Alice, I was beyond excited to get my hands on their new EP, Creature Songs. ‘Moaning Lisa Smile’ shocks listeners harder than a slap to the face. This bold, sassy number draws you in and makes you wonder why you’ve never given them any attention sooner. Keeping up with their intense visceral sound, Wolf Alice maintains momentum for the distorted guitar and thrashing drums of ‘Storms’.
30 May 2014
Geelong-born X Factor sensation Taylor Henderson is coming home for a gig at GPAC on June 1. It will be the first time the up-and-coming star has been home for several months and he’s certainly looking forward to it. “Geelong’s just great. It’s just such a good town. It’s so laid-back,” he says. “I can’t wait to see everyone. I cannot wait to be home. I feel like I should be with them because it’s my hometown.”
30 May 2014
So, despite missing out on the main event on Free Comic Book Day, I lucked out and was able to get my hands on two of the freebies on offer – the Sherwood Texas/Boondock Saints double feature and Grimm Fairy Tales: Age of Darkness issue #0. The verdict? Well, I’ve got mixed feelings.
29 May 2014
Get keen for another great artist coming out of Geelong in this new Nature Sessions! Nathan Seeckts describes his songs as being about “gambling, drinking, cheap women, hard times, fast cars that won’t take you anywhere and life in small towns.” So all the good stuff, obviously.
29 May 2014
Although Kim Benzie, lead singer for Dead Letter Circus, was in Officeworks at the time that I called through for the interview, it wasn’t for a packet of HB pencils. It was indeed for an upcoming film clip to be filmed on tour over the next few months for their track ‘Alone Awake’. “When we play these songs live man, fuck sometimes the crowd sing the lyrics louder than we can play through a PA and so we really want to capture that vibe, and so that is one of the really exciting aspects of Dead Letter Circus at the moment.”
29 May 2014
Gary Numan is a man that should need no introduction – but allow me to try. He was the first UK electric act to hit No. 1 – a feat he achieved twice in 1979 with ‘Are Friends Electric?’ and ‘Cars’. He counts Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails, Dave Navarro, Alan Wilder from Depeche Mode, and the cast of The Mighty Boosh as close friends. In his career spanning thirty-five years he’s released 20 studio albums, earning him the title of ‘Godfather of all Electronic Music’.
29 May 2014
If you’re headed to the National Celtic Festival at Portarlington over the Queen’s birthday weekend, you will be able to experience the most famous band to ever come out of the Isle of Man. Situated between Ireland and Scotland, the Isle of Man has played a large inspirational part on the development of the Barrule trio. Made up of Adam on bouzouki, Jamie on accordion and Tom on violin, Barrule has in the two years they have been together become one of the most acclaimed Celtic bands in the world.
29 May 2014
Lennon & McCartney, Jagger & Richards, DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince – throughout history select musical duos have exemplified a special chemistry. Enter Shane Parsons and Simon Ridley of DZ Deathrays. Since mainlining their brand of thrash-pop-punk into our systems with their 2012 ARIA Award-winning debut Bloodstreams, DZ Deathrays have toured abroad and locally, perpetually hungover and having a blast! I caught up with drummer Simon Ridley ahead of the release of their sophomore album Black Rat (out now through I OH YOU).
29 May 2014
Ahh, the Eurovision. The only event in the world where Jessica Mauboy can get away with ‘representing Australia’ as an intermission act, singing away and getting lost amongst a sea of dancers dressed as kangaroos, koalas and beer cans (!!) – but that wasn’t even the highlight of this year’s competition. Austria’s Conchita Wurst made headlines this month when she won 2014’s Eurovision Song Contest.
29 May 2014
We’re fucking milking this one!” laughed legendary Hard-Ons guitarist Peter “Blackie” Black. “We’ve got heaps going on – it’s going to be shitloads of fun!” Blackie called in to the Forte office for a one-to-one chat about the anniversary tour to end all tours when the Hard-Ons hit the road for the ‘30 Years of Not How it Used to Be’ tour. The tour is poised to kick off tonight in Adelaide, before they make their way to us in mid-June, and to celebrate this milestone the Hard-Ons welcome the temporary return of original member and fan favourite, Keish de Silva.
28 May 2014
Hightons renowned cafe and pizza bar Two Sugars, synonymous with authentic Italian cuisine and consummately professional and experienced service, has expanded at a new location, 146 Pakington St. ““We basically came to Pako because of the demand for us to open a second store, renovations took ten weeks,” say the owners of Two Sugars, who are very happy with the outcome and commend the ‘fantastic team of Geelong tradies’ that made it happen.
28 May 2014
Frenzal Rhomb has been around for a lazy 22 years. In those years they have had some colourful experiences to say the least – from being banned from being played on JJJ, to ‘The Doctor’ becoming one of the station’s long serving-hosts; band members having to get surgery to remove a pig tapeworm egg from their brain, to being one of the more successful at-home and abroad punk bands that Australia has ever had. Frenzal have also played Geelong a bunch of times in those 22 years, so I was expecting a healthy and excitable crowd for the show at the BC.
27 May 2014
“We’re all doing different things at the moment. Arty is in France and Nollaig is playing a few shows, and we are getting ready and very excited to come back to Australia to play. It’s the first time that we’ve ever been to the Celtic Festival and we’ve heard some rave reviews from our friends that have played there in previous years, so we are really looking forward to jumping up at the festival and all the other shows we have lined up.”
22 May 2014
“It’s the first year of the festival and it’s really exciting to be playing on the bill. The concept for the festival developed out of taking all the wonderful bands that play at the jam nights to the festival. I’m very excited for the organisers because it’s building up to be a great event. I was talking to Ted the other day, and there is going to be 50 bands and 200 musicians playing,”
