I’m rocking out this morning to “And the Fleas,” the angsty new single from Meeanjin/Brisbane act Bad Neighbour. It’s got a rebellious punk rock feel that reminds me of American act Hot Mulligan, who they toured with earlier this year.
Bad Neighbour will celebrate the release of “And the Fleas” with a big hometown show at The Outpost tomorrow night, June 7. With support from local legends Talk Heavy and Verum, it’s sure to be a great night of music.
Image used with permission from Bigmouth PR
Naarm/Melbourne-based artist Parmy Dhillon celebrates his late father’s legacy with his joyous new single “India.” I guarantee this one will at least put a smile on your face, if it doesn’t have you up and dancing.
“The song was written as a tribute and reminder to myself after my father passed away, to always remember my culture and who I am,” Parmy explained.
“India” is Parmy’s first release of 2024, and I think it might just be his best work. I’m looking forward to hearing what else the year has in store for him.
Image used with permission from Parmy Dhillon
When I heard The Buoys had co-written a song with Alex Lahey, I knew it was going to be good. The band’s latest single “Check Mate” doesn’t disappoint. Take a listen to this awesome track which shows The Buoys in top form.
Tas Wilson directed the music video, which captures the energy of a road trip with friends, mirroring the longing for connection that you hear through the song.
“Check Mate” gives us our first taste of The Buoys debut album Lustre, which will be released on July 12. You can pre-order a vinyl copy online. It was all recorded live, so I imagine it’s going to deliver everything we love about The Buoys. Before it drops, you can see The Buoys supporting Luke Hemmings at the following shows
12 June 2024 – Palais Theatre, Naarm/Melbourne
13 June 2024 – Enmore Theatre, Eora/Sydney
14 June 2024 – Enmore Theatre, Eora/Sydney (SOLD OUT)
Image used with permission from Sony Music Australia
If Reckless Coast felt any nerves recording their debut EP, they don’t show. Naked & Famous is a confident rock release that declares this band from Meeanjin/Brisbane have arrived.
Many acts ease listeners into their EPs by putting familiar songs up first, but not Reckless Coast. The opening track “Runnin’” is brand new, and utterly irresistible. From the vocal intro, I was in. Inspired by a Matthew McConaughey speech, it’s got a Foo Fighters energy that makes it feel accessible from the first listen.
The track provides a natural segue to “Bad Habits,” the first single I heard from this EP. It’s a natural fit for this release, bold and dripping in swagger. “Dying Town” shows Reckless Coast at their most angsty and most poetic. “Burn Street” is another familiar single that still sounds so fresh. I’d forgotten how much I loved this nostalgic tribute to sharehouse living. “Burn Street” is an affectionate number, but a rock act can’t stay in that space for too long. So it’s only fitting that they put the finger up with this EP’s final track, “People Piss Me Off.” As we all slog through the working week, I’ll bet I’m not the only one this track resonates with!
“Naked & Famous is the perfect representation of what we are as a band,” Reckless Coast said in a statement. “It’s an authentic and unapologetic take on rock that unites both retro and indie-rock lovers. Each track has a personality of its own to create a diverse, yet sonically cohesive work. For so long now the rock genre has been diluted with worn-out clichéd approaches both sonically and visually. Naked & Famous proves that it can be done differently.”
After recently wrapping up an East Coast tour, Reckless Coast will continue celebrating the release of Naked & Famous with a show at Hunting Ground Studios in Jagera Country/Moorooka, where they recorded this EP, this Friday, June 7. Pay what you can afford tickets are on sale now from Eventbrite.
Images used with permission from Reckless Coast
If you thought nu metal was done, think again. Boorloo/Perth act Indigo Blaze are continuing to fly the flag for the genre with their latest track “CRITICAL HIT.” If you were all about Limp Bizkit and Korn back in the day, you’re going to eat this one up.
“Lyrically, the track comments on believing in yourself even when others don’t and being determined to push through and fight back the critics. As always, though, with Rhys’ unique style of wordcraft with some video game references thrown in. ‘Bring you back to the menu soundtrack’ – calls out to the old arcade days when you beat your opponent,” the band explained. “All in all, for us, this song is a sly and not too serious shot back at the critics who doubt what we’ve been creating when the crowd and vibe we generate at our shows say different.
I wouldn’t have called myself a nu metal fan back in the day, but this song is making me all nostalgic for this kind of music. It’s not going to work for everyone, just like the music of this genre at the time, but I’m thrilled these guys are bringing back this sound.
Image used with permission from Good Intent
If it wasn’t already abundantly clear, I love Avoca Beach Theatre. It’s such a charming venue committed to showcasing the country’s best artists. It doesn’t hurt that it’s also less than half an hour from my house. So even though I already had tickets for Richard Clapton on Friday night, when Jason Singh’s show was moved to the Saturday I held on to my tickets. I’m still young enough to back up, right? At least I am if they’re local!
I must admit, for a while there I wasn’t sure whether the gig would happen. There was that postponement, and I wondered whether slow ticket sales were to blame. When I checked in on the seating chart a couple of days before the gig, less than a third of the venue’s 280 seats sold. With torrential rains on the night, there were plenty of no-shows. However, rather than lacking in atmosphere, this was probably the most electric gig I’ve witnessed at the venue.
Support act Brett Wood got a warm reaction for his bluesy originals. He was good. Really good. The sort of good that’s worked with Tommy Emmanuel and Stevie Ray Vaughan’s drummer good. The sort of good that leaves me impressed by his guitar prowess, even though I’ve seen masters like Prince, Carlos Santana, Brian May, and Mr Emmanuel live. He knows how to play, but he’s also an exceptional songwriter. He’s got such a magnetic presence too. I found myself hanging on to his every word as he told stories about his career and songs. He’s the sort of guy who deserves to be at the front of the stage every night, so I was a little surprised to see him slotting into Jason Singh’s band when he finished his own set.
As I mentioned, this was an intimate gig even by Avoca Beach Theatre standards. But as Jason reminded us all, he didn’t care about the people who didn’t show up; he cared about the ones that did. Right attitude. Those that did show up were some of the most enthusiastic I’ve been amongst. They came from as far as Meeanjin/Brisbane and were up and dancing in the aisles from the first couple of songs. They knew every word of every song, not just the big Taxiride singles but the solo originals from Hummanequin. They even brought him cakes with his face on them to celebrate the 25th birthday of Imaginate!
As the show unfolded, I understood why they were so dedicated. I’d seen Jason play on board P&O’s 90s cruise in January and marvelled at his enthusiasm and energy, but the show reached another level here in Darkinjung Country/Avoca Beach. Here he was amongst people who celebrated the breadth of his artistry, not just those hits. The show celebrated his full discography, Taxiride music, original solo material, and the covers close to his heart that formed his Heaven’s Greatest Hits shows a couple of years ago. I can be a harsh critic when it comes to people covering Bowie, but his section featuring some of the Thin White Duke’s biggest hits was amazing.
While it seemed like most of the crowd would be happy for Jason to sing anything, I relished hearing big hits like “Get Set” and “Everywhere You Go.” Jason’s assembled a brilliant band who help him replicate the harmonies Taxiride were famous for. It’s a good thing too, given the bad blood between Jason and his former bandmates. He alluded to the drama a few times, clearly stung by the way things turned out. However, watching him sharing the stage with his new brothers, it seems he’s embracing this new chapter in his musical story.
This show was probably one of the loosest I’ve been to. I mentioned that when I saw Ian Moss recently it felt like that traditional divide between artist and audience vanished. This show took that up a notch, literally removing the divide as Jason jumped down from the stage to dance with his fans and share the microphone with them. On spying my phone on my lap, he told me he wouldn’t continue the show until I started following him on Instagram. Of course, I had to oblige. He encouraged us all to mimic his drummer’s hip-thrusting dance moves during “Roadhouse Blues”. It was a wild night, but fabulously fun. I must admit, like so many people I considered piking when the rain started pelting down. I even might have if we weren’t meeting friends for the gig. But I’m so glad I pushed through because I’m sure it’ll be one of my most memorable concerts this year.
Image source: own photos
When I was a teenager, I was desperate to get into bars. I didn’t want to drink; I just wanted to see live music. Sadly opportunities to see bands outside local pubs and clubs were few and far between, and it’s still the case today. So I’m thrilled to see Ixara Dorizac, known as ixaras, is taking matters into her own hands. Not content with just making some incredible indie-rock music, the 16-year-old prodigy has launched her own label, Anti Dismal, to break down barriers and make live music more accessible for people of all ages.
“I, myself, have been limited from experiencing live music, and I just think that’s ridiculous. Kids need to hear and experience live things. They’re hormonal, and they need an outlet,” she said, and hell yes they do.
Anti Dismal aims to create, distribute, and promote music and manage and organise safe and engaging all-ages gigs. The label’s already partnered with DistroDirect in order to amplify its reach and impact.
“We’re thrilled to partner with DistroDirect,” Ixara said. “Together, we will continue to champion the importance of youth access to live music and provide a platform for emerging artists to thrive.”
To stay in the loop with all things Anti Dismal, make sure you follow the label on Instagram.
Image used with permission from GYRO PR
We’ve all got our comfort artists. The ones that we go see every couple of years because we can count on them singing songs we want to hear and simply making us feel good. They’re probably musicians you grew up listening to, so they feel like home. Richard Clapton is definitely one of those artists for me. As I look back at my blog it seems I’ve somehow let almost nine years go by without seeing Richard live, so a show was long overdue. And when he’s playing locally, who can refuse?
Anyone planning on skipping the support act would have been sorely disappointed, because there wasn’t one. Richard was more than happy to just get on with things. After so many years away from his shows, the set had plenty of twists and turns for me. Excited by the reissues of The Great Escape, Goodbye Tiger, and Prussian Blue, he gleefully played lesser-known tracks from those releases. Although they weren’t lesser known for this crowd, who expressed their excitement over those deep cuts. I wasn’t familiar with a lot of it, but Richard’s the sort of artist that entertains you regardless of what they’re singing. He also sprinkled hits throughout the set, encouraging us to sing along. Goodness, he’s written some hits. “Capricorn Dancer,” “Glory Road,” “Deep Water,” what gems.
It’s funny, when you don’t see an artist for a while it can seem like no time has passed, but at the same time, you see reminders of those passing years. Richard’s voice wasn’t quite as strong as I remember, but it still commands a room. I noticed his guitarist giving him a supportive hand as he climbed the steps onto the stage. We get an intermission now, rather than the show moving straight through.
Richard admitted he was 76, but he doesn’t look like he really wants to slow down. He praised our crowd as one of the best, relished the espresso martinis the venue served him, and encouraged us to book tickets for his shows at the same venue next January. I just might. If it’s been too long since you’ve see Richard live, make sure you catch him at one of his upcoming gigs:
1 June 2024 – Flamingo’s Live (formerly Lizotte’s), Mulbinba/Newcastle
2 June 2024 – Flamingo’s Live (formerly Lizotte’s), Mulbinba/Newcastle
2 July 2024 – Big Red Bash, Wirrarri/Birdsville
15 August 2024 – Mundi Mundi Bash 2024, Wiradjuri Country/Bruie Plains (SOLD OUT)
22 August 2024 – Gympie Music Muster, Kabi Kabi Country/Gympie
31 August 2024 – State Theatre, Eora/Sydney
Image source: own photo
With gloomy weather descending on my part of the country, it seems the ideal time to introduce you to Renee Naccari’s latest single, “Perfect Storm.” It’s a gorgeous introspective pop ballad that I know will leave you spellbound.
“It was challenging, but I had so much fun writing ‘Perfect Storm’. Creating all the little metaphors that I had visualised, into written lyrics to align with the story I was aiming to convey, that being, the push and pull between two people who want nothing more than to be together but finding it hard to make it work, a storm with a ray of sunlight as the clouds part,” Renee explained.
“Perfect Storm” serves as a precursor for Renee’s debut album, slated for release later this year, and a string of live shows. Exciting times ahead!
Image used with permission from Renee Naccari
Dust off your cowboy boots, grab your hat, and settle in for a whole lot of fun with Claudia Tripp’s latest track “Rodeo.” It’s brand new, but it already feels like a certified country-blues classic. If this song doesn’t get played at every country music festival until the end of time, there’s no justice.
“I wrote ‘Rodeo’ as a celebration of the small-town people I grew up with,” Claudia said. “I recently travelled back to my hometown of Kalgoorlie to perform at a rodeo, and when the possibility of unpredictable weather loomed, it didn’t seem to matter. It’s their weekend after a hard work week, and they’ll be dancing in the dirt come thunderstorm or heatwave. My producer Mason Vellios made this song come to life exactly how I imagined it. I hope the track becomes a weekend anthem for everybody who clocks off work and needs to let their hair down”.
Claudia will support the INXS tribute act KICK at Rosemount Hotel in Boorloo/Perth on June 8. Tickets are on sale now from Oztix.
Image used with permission from Little Sparrow PR