Month: June 2009

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Guitar God Khan Manuel Plays Sydney

Following his recent endorsement by global guitar giants Ibanez, Khan Manuel will play a very special show on July 8 at The Basement in Sydney.

Music fans can look forward to hearing tunes from Khan’s critically acclaimed debut album The Knight. The songs effortlessly combine a variety of genres including rock, blues, jazz, Spanish flamenco, and even some metal!

Khan will be joined onstage by Sydney’s fastest drummer Guy Hughes [Anthony Snape, House of Kings], one of the country’s finest bass players, Chris Soulos, and European guitar virtuoso Oles Yurakov. With musicians of this calibre, this is sure to be one unforgettable night of music.

Tickets are available now at Moshtix from $20. To see what this guy can do, just check out the album’s title track, “The Knight.”

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Lior Brings Back Shadows and Light for Charity

If you missed Lior’s amazing Shadows and Light tour, you’ve got one more chance. The Australian troubadour has teamed up with the Sydney Theatre Company for two very special charity shows.

The concerts, scheduled for September 9 and 10, will raise money for Youngcare. The organization finds age-appropriate care for young people involved in serious, debilitating accidents. Currently young people requiring around-the-clock care are housed in aged care facilities, a situation which the charity says simply isn’t good enough.

“The Shadows And Light tour was one of the most fulfilling and inspiring experiences in my career thus far, both artistically and also in the way it seemed to resonate with the audience. At the time of wrapping up the shows, I was invited to the Sydney Theatre Company and I remember looking at the performance space thinking … Wow, it’s like this room was built for the Shadows and Light concept,” Lior explained.

“Around about the same time, I was contacted by a charity group called Youngcare and became very interested in the work they are doing for young people who are suffering and require round the clock care in suitable and dignified conditions. I am always inspired by young people who are committed to helping other young people in need. They approached me about doing a show to raise funds and awareness. It seemed that all the stars had somehow aligned and that the natural thing to do was to pull out the Shadows and Light show one more time later this year in a beautiful setting and for a worthy cause.”

Tickets for the shows are available throw the Sydney Theatre Company.

Image used with permission from Lior Management

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Hilltop Hoods Still Tops

Way to go Hilltop Hoods! The Aussie hip hop outfit has enjoyed their second week at the top of the ARIA Charts with State of the Art.

The big single “Chase That Feeling” is also doing well, jumping a massive eight places to sit at number eight in the singles charts.

The Hilltop Hoods aren’t the only locals tasting chart success. Eskimo Joe’s fourth album Inshalla is still going strong, sitting at number six in the charts. They’re ahead of The Temper Trap, who’ve jumped into number nine with their debut album Conditions.

Click below to see who else makes up the Aussie top 10!

Continue reading “Hilltop Hoods Still Tops” →
Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Design Cover for Delta Goodrem's New DVD

Fans can soon relive Delta Goodrem’s Believe Again concert tour with the release of a live DVD. To celebrate the release, she’s giving the fans a chance to get in on the action and design the cover.

“I would love for you to help me design the cover for my new live tour DVD,” she said in a statement. “So get involved if you are up for the challenge! Remember what the journey of the show was and be imaginative, have fun!”

Delta will pick her favourite entry, and give the designer a selection of Delta’s back catalogue of albums and singles, and an autographed copy of the new live DVD!

Entries must be submitted by 5 pm on July 17, so head to the Sony Music website to find everything you need to get started!

Image source: zeigh_x @ Wikimedia Commons

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Q & A With Johnny Galvatron of The Galvatrons

The Galvatrons are preparing to unleash their retro rock sounds on a nation, with the release of their debut album Laser Graffiti next week, and their support slot with Something with Numbers. I caught up with the band’s flamboyant lead singer Johnny Galvatron to chat about his group’s big sound, their “ridiculous” new album, and his uncanny knack for always getting just what he wants!

Your sound harks back to the 80s, with the big synthesizers and sing-along choruses. What do you love most about that period of rock music?
I was more influenced by soundtracks than specific bands. I guess that’s kind of where the band stems from, that whole science fiction soundtrack, that whole 80s soundtrack vibe. So I think the record has that whole Breakfast Club meets The Last Starfighter kind of vibe, which is definitely what we were going for.

I caught you supporting Cheap Trick and Def Leppard last year. What was it like to be on the road with such legends?
I mean, it’s Def Leppard! How awesome’s that? I had a sweet time! And I really like Cheap Trick, I’m a massive Cheap Trick fan. They came out one night, I think it was at ACER Arena, you know like 15, 20 thousand people, and they walk out and go “Good evening ladies and gentlemen, we’re The Galvatrons!” and then played “In The Street” from That 70s Show and that was like the highlight of my life, like single tear down the side of my face. Cheap Trick just introduced themselves as my band. That was probably the most amazing thing ever.

And the Def Leppard guys, if you ever become a big stadium rock band, you want to be like those guys, because everyone who’s on tour with them loves them. They eat all the same catering as everyone else, they all sit around with the crew when it’s dinnertime and stuff, and the crew love them for it. They’re just geezers, they’re such nice guys. So I think it was a very good lesson on if you do succeed, how to treat everyone and how to do it the right way.

You have such energy on stage. How do you keep things fresh when you’re on the road for long periods at a time?
Umm, probably just drugs! (laughs) No, no. I think we really love what we do, we love playing rock and roll. We’re not one of those bands that are too serious about what we do. We know we all have a really good job and we love playing rock and roll. It is hard being on the road for a long time, and being in a band for a long time sometimes, but we love what we do. We’re very thankful for it.

Continue reading “Q & A With Johnny Galvatron of The Galvatrons” →
Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Veronicas Score SYTYCD Slot

Australian So You Think You Can Dance queen Talia Fowler isn’t the only local set to appear on the American version of the reality TV show. Our own pop princesses The Veronicas will perform live on the program tonight.

Of course the girls will sing “Take Me On The Floor.” Their performance will be to their biggest audience ever, with the program a real ratings winner.

The hard-working siblings will tape the show, then get straight on a tour bus for their next performance in Portland, Oregon. There’s no rest for the wicked!

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Guy Sebastian Returns for Australian Tour

We’ve all been pining for Guy Sebastian since he moved to New York City to record his fifth studio album, Like It Like That. But our patience is set to be rewarded, with news that Guy will showcase his latest release with a concert tour next February.

Guy will get up close and personal with fans, playing theaters in cities around the country. We can expect to hear new songs from the long-awaited album, as well as all the old favourites.

Tickets are on sale now. But don’t delay. Sony says these are “one night only” shows, so once tickets sell out that’s it!

12 February 2010 – Riverside Theatre, Perth
13 February 2010 – Adelaide Convention Centre
14 February 2010 – State Theatre, Sydney
19 February 2010 – QPAC, Brisbane
20 February 2010 – Arts Centre @ Hamer Hall, Melbourne

Image source: The Harbour Agency

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Hilltop Hoods Make Number One Debut

Way to go Hilltop Hoods! The local hip hop outfit has debuted at number one on the ARIA charts with their fifth studio album State of the Art. The disc more than doubled sales of last week’s number one, The E.N.D. by The Black Eyed Peas.

The album sold a whopping 27, 455 units, well ahead of the Black Eyed Peas’ 11, 803 units. Hilltop Hoods must be feeling pretty chuffed with that effort, particularly since it’s their first release on their own Golden Era Records.

They’re sharing space in the top ten with Eskimo Joe, whose Inshalla album is still going strong at number five, and Karnivool’s Sound Awake which sits at number seven.

Meanwhile on the singles charts, Jessica Mauboy’s flying the Australian flag. Her latest single “Because” has debuted at a respectable ninth place.

Click below for the complete top 10.

Continue reading “Hilltop Hoods Make Number One Debut” →
Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Script Return to Australia

I’ve been blasting The Script’s debut album from my stereo for weeks, plagued by the knowledge that this was yet another band I got into just that little bit too late. I remember being intrigued when they visited for some small gigs recently, but now I’m completely hooked.

The lads must have heard my pleas for a repeat visit, or perhaps they just really enjoyed themselves the first time around, because they’ve announced another trip for September.

Adding value to the bill is Australian Idol winner Wes Carr. With the band playing lovely intimate venues, I’ll snap up my tickets the moment they go on sale on June 29.

22 September 2009 – Metro City, Perth
25 September 2009 – Forum Theatre, Melbourne
26 September 2009 – Enmore Theatre, Sydney
29 September 2009 – The Tivoli, Brisbane

Image source: Newscom