Month: November 2011

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Die Knef Hits Melbourne

London’s April Albert will bring her passion project Die Knef to Melbourne next month.

The show pays tribute to the life and music of Hildegard Knef, one of the biggest stars of post-war Germany. It’s an unflinching look at this important but oft overlooked talent, retracing her scandals and affairs as well as the songs that made her such a force. This video gives you a little taste of what you’re in for.

Die Knef will play The Butterfly Club in South Melbourne from December 1 to 4. There are just four performances, so I don’t expect tickets to last too long. You can get yours from the Die Knef website.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Saskwatch Release Soulful New Single

Humpdays are always hard to handle, but they’re made a little easier with some sweet soul music. Saskwatch deliver just that with their new double A-side 7-incher “Don’t Wanna Try/Pushin’ Me Away.”

Saskwatch knows that not everyone has the old technology to play a 7-inch album, so you can listen to it digitally here. I love the way the single captures the duality of the band. “Don’t Wanna Try” is sweet and tender, while “Pushin’ Me Away” shows real spunk.

Saskwatch will celebrate the single’s release with two big shows at Fitzroy’s Workers Club on November 24 and 25. Presale tickets are just $10 and come with a complimentary CD, so make sure you get in early to score some free soul music!

Image used with permission from Show Off Services

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Three Wishez Leave X Factor

Tonight’s X Factor elimination was always going to be tough. We learned early on that Andrew Wishart and Johnny Ruffo were safe, leaving us to sweat on the fate of Reece Mastin and Three Wishez for the rest of the show.

Given the options I hoped Three Wishez would be safe. We already had one cute young thing in the final after all. Three Wishez bring a different energy to the competition, and I can see them doing well on an international stage.
However it wasn’t to be, and we said farewell to the trio, at least for now. Something tells me they’ve got a big future ahead of them, with or without this competition’s help. I can’t wait to see where they pop up next.

And now I’m left cheering on Andrew Wishart. Last night he compelled me to pick up my phone and vote, the first time I’ve done so all year. That counts for a lot.

Who do you want to see taking this thing out?

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Timothy Nelson Announces Final 2011 Shows

2011 is almost done and dusted, but Timothy Nelson has announced he’ll play a few more shows before the year is through. It’s been a big one for this Western Australian singer-songwriter. He released his first full length album, the sublime I Know This Now, and won the WAM Song of the Year grand prize for “Speak the Truth in Love.”

The new run of dates will see Timothy playing solo with a string quartet for hometown fans at The Ellington, giving Melbourne a rare show, and rejoining his Infidels band mates for New Years Eve.

Catch Timothy Nelson for the last time this year at the following venues.

18 November 2011 – The Ellington, Perth
26 November 2011 – Pure Pop Records, Melbourne
31 November 2011 – Amplifier, Perth

Image used with permission from Heapsaflash

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

X Factor Tackles Pleasure and Pain

After last week’s lacklustre evening, I was psyched to see what the X Factor would serve up tonight. I was really impressed by the theme, which asked the contestants to uplift us and break our hearts.

Andrew Wishart is the perfect artist for a theme that plays on emotion. However if you don’t get the right song, it’s all going to fall apart. Neon Trees’ “Animal” was the wrong song on so many levels. The song itself is pleasurable, but hearing Andrew deliver it was more than a bit awkward. It also didn’t sit in his vocal sweet spot. Everything was against him, and it showed. Thank god he gets another song to play with.

Again Johnny Ruffo gave us a solid vocal with Ne-Yo’s “So Sick.” As far as sticking to the brief of delivering heartbreak though, he failed. There just wasn’t enough edge or emotion to it, which is probably down to a combination of the wrong song and the wrong performer. I just don’t think he’s got that in him. However he did what he did well.

Reece Mastin delivered the first truly heartbreaking song of the night with “Breakeven.” And considering he’s a young kid who’s probably never had his heart truly broken, I think he did a pretty good job. I certainly felt more watching him than I did on any other performance to that point, and that certainly counts for something. It didn’t quite match the original, but I still really enjoyed it.

When I heard Three Wishez were taking on The Black Eyed Peas “The Time/Dirty Bit” my heart sank. Then I held my ears. I hated when The Black Eyed Peas raped the Dirty Dancing classic, and Three Wishez didn’t make me change my mind. Was this the pleasure or the pain song? They may have received rave reviews, but I loathed every second.
Continue reading “X Factor Tackles Pleasure and Pain” →

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Georgia Fair Launches Album in Melbourne

It seems like Georgia Fair have been impressing me forever with their laidback folky acoustic guitar driven tunes, so I’m pretty excited to hear they’ve finally got an album on record store shelves. To celebrate the recent release of All Through Winter the band will play a launch show at The Toff in Melbourne this Wednesday, November 16.

All Through Winter was recorded in North Carolina with Bill Reynolds from Band of Horses overseeing proceedings.

“It’s once in a blue moon that I come across a group with such great harmonies and great songs. I knew I had to find a way to work with them,” he explained. That’s some endorsement!

The album showcases the low-key harmonies and sophisticated songwriting that Georgia Fair is known for. It also features the band’s gorgeous new single “Where You Been.”

Look for All Through Winter in stores now, and get yourself along to The Toff this Wednesday if you know what’s good for you!

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Dig Tour “Clearlight”

Revitalised 90s acid jazz band Dig (Directions in Groove) are packing their bags and touring the country this week to celebrate the recent release of Clearlight, their first studio album in 13 years.

The tour kicks off in Brisbane before taking in the east coast and Adelaide. Dates were originally planned for Tassie and Western Australia but these have been postponed until next year. Tickets are on sale now from the venues.


17 November 2011 – The Old Museum, Brisbane
18 November 2011 – The Sound Lounge, Gold Coast
19 November 2011 – Tanks Arts Centre, Cairns
26 November 2011 – The Governor Hindmarsh, Adelaide
3 December 2011 – The Studio @ Sydney Opera House, Sydney
10 December 2011 – Corner Hotel, Melbourne

Image used with permission from Revolutions per Minute

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Checks Play Sydney

New Zealand’s favourite sons The Checks are celebrating the recent release of their new album Deadly Summer Sway with a very special Sydney show next month.

The album was recorded at Neil Finn’s Roundhead Studios with the help of Grammy award winning producer Bassy Bob Brockman (TLC, The Fugees, Mary J Blige). It features The Checks’ new single “Candyman Shimmer,” which shows off a much more chilled side of the band than I’ve heard before. I wouldn’t call it sleepy, but this cruisy tune is perfect for a lazy summer day. If you like it you can grab a free download from The Checks website.

The Checks will play an intimate set at Goodgod Small Club on December 15. They’re in fine form at the moment, having just wrapped up a 13-date tour of their homeland. I know we’re all strapped for cash with the holidays approaching, but the tickets cost just $8 pre-ordered and $10 at the door.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The Sweet Apes Rock with “Police Cops”

Sydney’s The Sweet Apes are impressing all the right people, and they’re not even out of high school.

The band’s new single “Police Cops” is on high rotation on Triple J, and its video has received more than 13, 000  views. It scored two thousand of those in its first week of release.

It always seems a bit condescending to bring up the age of a band, but I’m completely impressed that these kids sound this good at 16. Ray has got one of the gutsiest voices I’ve heard in some time, and the instrumentalists backing her create a sound that’s so powerful. This isn’t about being good for their age. It’s about being good. Their potential is downright scary.

“Police Cops” comes from The Sweet Apes debut EP, which will hit stores on February 2012. Sydneysiders can catch them in the flesh at The Metro Theatre’s Lair on November 27.

Image source: The Sweet Apes Facebook page

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Hawksley Workman Tours Oz

Canadian Hawksley Workman is fleeing the harsh Ontario winter and heading for our much sunnier shores this January.

The Juno award winning singer songwriter has long enthralled fans with his unique blend of sing-along pop, jangling alt-country, and rock. And he’s doing it all again with his brand new album Full Moon Eleven, which hit stores this week. It’s a polished version of the Christmas album he wrote for his grandmother while living in Paris a decade ago. And don’t we love a man who loves his grandma!

If you’re feeling the love you can catch this intriguing Canuck at the following shows.


4 January 2012 – The Clarendon Guesthouse, Katoomba
5 January 2012 – Brass Monkey, Cronulla
6 January 2012 – Notes, Newtown
7 January 2012 – X & Y Bar, Brisbane
8 January 2012 – Joe’s Waterhole, Eumundi
12 January 2012 – Caravan Club, Oakleigh
13 January 2012 – Northcote Social Club, Northcote
14 January 2012 – Jive, Adelaide

Image source: Revolutions Per Minute