Month: June 2011

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

John Butler Trio Headline Coaster

Now in its fourth year, Central Coast’s fledgling music festival appears to be going from strength to strength. John Butler Trio are heading up an all-Australian line-up for this year’s event at Gosford Showgrounds.

They’ll join hometown heroes Something with Numbers and One Dollar Short, Jebediah, Little Red, The Potbelleez, Andy Bull, and heaps more. The festival’s Tomorrow Land dance quarter will also return with Ajax, Nina Las Vegas, Purple Sneakers DJs, and Wolfpack.

Coaster will hit Gosford Showgrounds on September 17. Tickets will be available from June 23 from the Coaster website, Oztix, and a variety of retailers including ESS Boardstore in Erina, Network Communications in Lake Haven, and the Newcastle Rock Shop.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Love Brings Harmony

Harmony is a band born out of love, quite literally. When The Nation Blue’s Tom Lyngcoln married Alex Kastaniotis in 2009, they knew they had to make beautiful music together. They wrote and recorded a song each Saturday until they had enough to fill an album and a 7”.

That 7-incher, Cacophonous Vibes, hit stores earlier this year and now it’s time to hear the album. With the help of bassist John Chapple and some good friends taking care of the backing vocals those songs began to find their final form. The tunes are somber and downbeat, but incredibly touching and honest.

Harmony will kick off a national tour next week to support their self titled album, which hits stores on July 1.

17 June 2011 – Spotted Cow, Toowoomba
18 June 2011 – The Zoo, Brisbane
25 June 2011 – The Tote, Melbourne
1 July 2011 – The Metro, Adelaide
6 July 2011 – The Brisbane Hotel, Hobart

Image used with permission from Other Tongues

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Q & A with Natalie Gauci

Natalie Gauci took out the Australian Idol competition way back in 2007, burning brightly during the competition but seemingly fading from view almost as quickly. With a new EP under her belt and an upcoming tour Natalie’s ready to emerge from the shadows and win over Australia all over again. I caught up with Natalie recently to chat about her time on the talent quest, her new music, and the Aussie shows to come.

Most music fans would remember you from Australian Idol in 2007. A lot of time has passed since then and now. Why’s it taken so long for us to hear your original material?
Yes I have been under the radar for a few years and I’m now ready to pop out my shell.  I’ve been working hard on writing and recording my music and also finding the right home for it and that takes time. After Idol I had to find my true identity. Idol gave me the platform to now achieve what I’ve always wanted to achieve which is to record and write my own music and travel with it all over the world. It also gave the confidence to be who I am today.

How do you look back on your time with the show?
I look back and cry because I get so emotional. I forget how amazing it was, how many people were so supportive of me and my performances and how I gave it my all, I gave it everything I had. It reminds me of where I came from and what is important to me, not just with music but with my family and friends and my fans.

You got a lot of criticism when your Idol single and album were released because they didn’t match the chart success of the winners that came before. How did you deal with that?
It doesn’t bother me at all. Times change and record sales were just getting worse overall. Critics can say what they like really but it doesn’t affect me. I just make sure I do the best I can with what I’ve got.

Part of your prize was a record deal with Sony, yet you left them before releasing anything other than the prerequisite Winner’s Journey album. Why did you feel the label wasn’t the right fit for you?
I had been wanting to release “Best of Me” ever since I won Idol. I wrote it after the Winner’s Journey tour and always dreamed of recorded it with my soul band. The direction I was heading in didn’t feel right. My instinct was telling me to do what was in my heart and “Best of Me” was in my heart at that time.

Continue reading “Q & A with Natalie Gauci” →

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Buchanan Wow with “No Photo” EP

With their hooky melodies and easy blend of pop and rock, Melbourne duo Buchanan are already being compared to current musical game changers like Phoenix and Mumford & Sons. Their debut single “Teachers” earned a rare five stars from Triple J’s Richard Kingsmill and won the band a slot at the Laneways Festival.

The killer tune is one of six cuts on the band’s debut EP No Photo. Lead vocalist and keyboardist Josh Simons brings retro melodies to guitarist Jon Bara’s progressive rock sensibilities. It’s an unusual blend of influences, but somehow it works.

Buchanan will play a headline show tomorrow night before their upcoming supports with Papa Vs Pretty and Jinja Safari. Make sure you get there early Melbournians to catch this bright young band!

12 June 2011 – The Evelyn, Fitzroy
25 June 2011 – Northcote Social Club, Melbourne (supporting Papa Vs Pretty)
23 July 2011 – The Corner, Richmond (supporting Jinja Safari)

Image used with permission from Remedy Music

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Telstra Road to Tamworth Becomes Road to Discovery

Telstra’s Road to Tamworth is ushering in a new era, as it enters its first year as the Road to Discovery. The snappy new moniker reflects the competition’s focus on unearthing new Aussie musical talent.

This year’s competition officially launches on June 20 with an intimate concert at The Basement. Past winners will play alongside a who’s who of Aussie talent including Tim Rogers, Ella Hooper, and Mick Thomas.

If you want to be at the show, just head to the Telstra Road to Discovery Facebook page. Ten lucky entrants will win a double pass to the event. Good luck!

Image source: Telstra Road to Discovery Facebook page

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“Talk The Night Away” – Daniel Lee Kendall

Daniel Lee Kendall impressed me with his debut EP Lost in the Moment, so I had high hopes for his follow-up, Talk The Night Away. Happily, the Central Coast singer-songwriter didn’t disappoint.

Again Daniel charms us with his folky organic music, but it’s better the second time around. He’s grown as an artist. Where some of the pleasantly soothing tunes got a little sleepy in his first EP, here we see more focus on hooks and melody.

I adore the acoustic rhythms of “My Love to Be.” The driving beat is perfect for road trips. It could be Mondayitis talking, but it makes jumping in my car, taking off down the freeway, and seeing where I end up sound pretty tempting. “Gone” is one of the most heartbreakingly honest songs about love gone wrong that I’ve heard. When a musician can create something so powerful with only his acoustic guitar and his words, it’s something special. “Never Changing” is a perfect closer, a playful, laidback musing on life that is reminiscent of Ben Harper or early Jack Johnson.

With Talk The Night Away, Daniel Lee Kendall has made good on the promise he showed with that first EP. Bring on the long-player; five tracks just isn’t enough to satisfy!

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Stone Parade Announce Homecoming Tour

After rocking Canadian Music Week Sydney’s Stone Parade are heading home to take Australia by storm.

The band are still riding high on the success of Stratosphere, which hit shelves on October 2010. The album was a real labour of love, self written and self produced in their beloved Sydney. It’s a bit edgier than their debut, and it seems the new fans and the faithful love the new direction. You can hear it for yourself by heading to Stone Parade’s website. Everyone who joins their mailing list will score a generous four free songs.

Stone Parade will kick off an Aussie tour to promote Stratosphere in their hometown this Friday. Here are all the places you can check them out.

10 June 2011 – The Annandale Sydney
9 July 2011 – The Metro, Sydney
29 July 2011 – The Evelyn Hotel, Melbourne
12 August 2011 – Queen St Mall, Brisbane (All Ages 6 pm, 7 pm, 8 pm)
13 August 2011 – X & Y Bar, Brisbane
14 August 2011 – Queen St Mall, Brisbane (All Ages noon, 1 pm, 2 pm)

Image used with permission from Karen Lindsay

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

John Farnham Announces “Whispering Jack” Anniversary Tour

When John Farnham told us way back in 2003 that he was touring for “the last time” I’m not sure anyone really believed it. Since then he’s had almost as many comebacks as The Seekers, but when he continues to sound so good I’m not sure anyone’s complaining.

With the upcoming anniversary of Whispering Jack, Farnsy’s most successful album, he just couldn’t resist going on the road again. He’ll play shows in the major capitals’ most intimate venues. The first half of the show will see John and his band performing a variety of hits completely unplugged. Then in the second it’ll be all Whispering Jack, with the album performed in its entirety by the original band.

These shows are sure to be something special for any Aussie music fan. We’re glad to have you back Farnsy. Tickets go on sale on June 21.

5 & 7 October 2011 – AEC Theatre, Adelaide
11 & 12 October 2011 – State Theatre, Sydney
2 & 4 November 2011 – QPAC Theatre, Brisbane
9 & 11 November 2011 – Palais Theatre, Melbourne
22 & 23 November 2011 – Burswood Theatre, Perth

Image source: Jeaneeem @ Flickr

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Q & A with Nine Sons of Dan’s Morgan “Flakey” Blake

Nine Sons of Dan are generating some major buzz with a brand new single “She’s So Fine” and a critically acclaimed EP under their belt. The Gold Coast act have just kicked off an Aussie tour, so I figured it was about time that I caught up with drummer Morgan “Flakey” Blake to chat about working with Paramore’s Justin York, life on the road, and their big plans for the future.

You’ve just released your new single “She’s So Fine.” What can you tell me about the song?
“She’s So Fine” was written as an underdog story; the geeky guy in love with the mega babe! We wrote some poppier things for our EP and this was one of our favourite ones!

I believe you worked with Paramore guitarist Justin York on the track, which is such a massive coup. How did that come about?
The boys at LooseStones Studios, where the EP was tracked, work overseas quite often, and knew Justin from working at studios with him. They asked him if he would like to play some guitar on our tracks, and he digged them so he agreed! So stoked!

What was he like to work with?
Well unfortunately he had to do his parts over in the States. We couldn’t meet up and collaborate or anything like that. But by the sounds of things he is pretty cool guy! His playing was really tasteful and helped out the whole band. Jay got to hang with him when he went over to US earlier this year and said he was a champ.

You were lucky enough to have one of the finest women in Oz, Miss Universe Australia Jesinta Campbell in the song’s music video. How did that happen?
Well we won a competition last year. One of the prizes was a film clip. And the production company (ROAM) that did the clip knew her from a while back.

They brainstormed ideas for the clip and wanted a pretty attractive girl to play the lead character. They said they were aiming for someone pretty special, but when we met up with them and they pulled out the latest issue of FHM with Jesinta on the front, with a big grin on their faces, we were like no way freaking way! We thought it would be like a super pretty girl but definitely did not expect Jesinta to appear!

You’re going to tour this single all over the country in the coming months. That’s a long time to be on the road. How do you keep things fresh with such a long touring stretch?
Things like that just never seem long or boring to us. We haven’t been to most of the places on this tour before, so I think we will be amped enough to forget how long we drive or how long we wait or whatever. It’s all good to us! We are stoked just to be playing. Plus we will be surfing in between, partying, watching other gigs. It’s a pretty refreshing life!
Continue reading “Q & A with Nine Sons of Dan’s Morgan “Flakey” Blake” →

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Living End Release New Single & Album, The Ending is Just the Beginning Repeating

They’ve kept us waiting for a while now, but The Living End are back with a new single and album. “The Ending is Just the Beginning Repeating” is the title track from what’s sure to be another smash album from these Aussie rockers.

The single might just throw fans for a loop though. Rather than the raucous rock they’re famous for, the song sees the band reflecting on the cycle of life and the need to manage grief. Its dark subject matter to be sure, but that change of pace might be just what the doctor ordered. It’s already enjoying high rotation on radio, which no doubt bodes well for the album release.

The album is a result of Chris Cheney’s writing trip to New York City, although the songs were laid down in South Melbourne. Acclaimed American producer Nick DiDia then massaged the tunes to create an album which is already being described as “astonishing.”

You can be the judge when The Ending is Just the Beginning Repeating hits record stores on July 22.

Image used with permission from Crucial Music