Author: Lauren Katulka

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Them Crooked Vultures Ready to Rock Oz

Rock supergroup Them Crooked Vultures are bringing their show to Australia in 2010. The band features Foo Fighter Dave Grohl, Josh Homme from Queens of the Stone Age, and John Paul Jones of Led Zeppelin. I think it’s safe to say the concerts will rock, and rock hard.

But if you’re hoping to hear music from the members’ original bands you may be disappointed. Their set features 90 minutes of original new music from their debut album, Never Deserved The Future, which will hit stores later this month.

Given the timing of the dates, I wouldn’t be surprised if we see the band on the Big Day Out bill. But before I go getting ahead of myself, you can grab your tickets for these dates from September 22. Ticketmaster are selling the majority of shows, with Ticketek taking care of Sydney.

19 January 2010 – Challenge Stadium, Perth
22 January 2010 – Festival Hall, Melbourne
25 January 2010 – Riverstage, Brisbane
26 January 2010 – Hordern Pavilion, Sydney

Image source: ZUMA Press

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Cold Chisel Rumoured to Reform for Supercars

The rumour bill is buzzing that The Bee Gees may not be the only classic Aussie act reforming. Word is that Cold Chisel may be getting the band back together for a one-off show at Sydney’s V8 Supercars event.

Who cares that Jimmy Barnes, Ian Moss, and the boys haven’t had a new album since The Last Wave of Summer in ’98? I caught them on their Ringside reunion tour way back in 2003 and they still rocked just as hard as ever.

The V8 Supercars Championship Series will hit Homebush between December 4 and 6. Fans may want to reserve the dates, just in case.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Robin Gibb Confirms Bee Gees Reunion

If you thought the death of Maurice Gibb spelled the end of The Bee Gees, you’d be mistaken. Robin revealed that he and Barry are planning to reform the band, six years after their brother’s death.

“The two of us are getting back together again. I was with Barry in Miami a couple of days ago. It was an emotional thing because Maurice wasn’t just a brother, he was a comrade in arms really,” Robin Gibb told BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra. “We have got through the breakwater of the emotions and now we can go forward.”

Hopefully when the reunion happens, the band will return to where it all began for some Australian shows!

Image source: ZUMA Press

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Jimmy Barnes and Guy Sebastian on Top of ARIA Charts

It’s a rare week in Australia, with Aussies taking the top spots on both the albums and singles ARIA charts.

Rock veteran Jimmy Barnes earned his ninth solo number one album this week with The Rhythm and the Blues. That surpasses John Farnham’s eight solo number ones, making Barnesy our most successful solo male artist. But was there ever any doubt this album would be a hit? It doesn’t take a genius to work out that an album of old school rock and roll covers released just before Father’s Day is going to sell by the truckload. The real test for this CD will be how it does next week, and the week after.

Keeping Jimmy company on the albums charts we’ve got Kate Miller-Heidke’s Curiouser sitting at number five, up one possie from the week before. They’ve slipped three places, but Jet are still hanging in there with Shaka Rock. Their third album sits at number eight.

Meanwhile Guy Sebastian is sitting at the top of the singles charts with his infectious single “Like It Like That.” It’s taken Guy four weeks to achieve the position. It’s somewhat of a return to form for Guy, who hasn’t released a number one single since 2004’s “Out With My Baby.”

Kate Miller-Heidke’s making her presence felt on the singles charts too with “The last Day on Earth” inching ever closer to the top spot. It’s sitting at number three this week, one better than the week before.

Click below to see the complete top 10.

Continue reading “Jimmy Barnes and Guy Sebastian on Top of ARIA Charts” →
Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Adam Brand Wins Dancing with the Stars

Adam Brand has shown his skills extend beyond singing. The country artist has taken home this year’s Dancing with the Stars trophy. He edged out Channel Seven TV personalities Kylie Gillies and Matt White to claim the title.

Adam, who said he was surprised by his success in the competition, dedicated the win to his late nephew who succumbed to cancer at age two. All money raised by his appearance on the show benefited children’s cancer research.

“At the start of this competition, I said it doesn’t matter what they do. They can put me in high heels and a ballerina dress for all I care because the reason we started this was for where the money went – charity,” he said.

“So every step, every awkward move that I’ve done here doesn’t matter because he’s up there watching it. This is for little Harry.”

Image source: BRANDette34/Wikimedia Commons

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Australian Idol Finals Kick Off

The pointy end of Australian Idol kicked off tonight with the first final. But before the performances, we learned that Toby Moulton and Hayley Warner (audience choice) and Casey Barnes and Tim Johnston (judges’ choice) would join our top 12.

Ashleigh Toole kicked off the night with Kelly Clarkson’s “Miss Independent.” It wasn’t a break-out performance, but it was a solid one. While she didn’t wow me, there’s something incredibly likable about her.

Scott Newnham is a bit of a crowd favourite, and he showed why with his version of “Come Together.” He performed the pants off it, and kept the vocals right where they should be. That’s an achievement. He’s such a raw talent, and he’s only going to grow through this competition.

Casey Barnes was up next with Powderfinger’s “On My Mind.” It was great to see him rocking a little bit harder. I also really liked seeing him with his guitar. He seems much more comfortable with it, and he’s got some serious skills. I was surprised he got a wildcard spot over Lauren Street, but performances like this show he deserves a place in our top 12.

Watching Hayley Warner perform “Light Surrounding You” was the first time I was wowed tonight. There’s an incredible honesty about her. She’s an open performer, and while she doesn’t sound the prettiest she makes me feel. That’s much more powerful.

Continue reading “Australian Idol Finals Kick Off” →
Posted on by Lauren Katulka

TownHallStepsTake Album to United States

Sydney band TownHallSteps are beginning to see the fruits of their labour. The local lads will play shows in Australia and the United States to celebrate their brand new single “Ask For More.” The song comes from the band’s self-titled debut, which will hit stores on September 14.

The quintet began writing and touring in 2004, inspired by contemporary punk outfits Jimmy Eat World and The Get Up Kids. The momentum began to build, with the band earning support slots on tours with Simple Plan, Avril Lavigne, The All American Rejects, and local acts like Kisschasy, Faker, and Gyroscope. In 2005 the band won the national final of the World Battle of the Bands, and headed to Hong Kong to compete against the best young acts on the international scene. In 2006 they released their debut EP, Breakdowns, which peaked at number 10 on the charts.

In 2008 TownHallSteps began to experiment with electronic sounds and strong beats in the vein of The Killers and Coldplay. Another EP, Disco, encapsulated the sound.

It’s been a long time coming, but the band’s debut album is almost here. The first single, “Ask For More” was written about a night out with the boys that’s interrupted by the appearance of a pretty girl.

“All of a sudden every guy will instinctively act different, trying to make the funniest joke to make her laugh, buying her drinks as if money is no issue and all these things to try and impress her,” drummer Ryan Lambert explained. “What most guys don’t usually realise is that girls see straight through this and after all their efforts, usually leaves the conversation with the same impression of these boys as she had when she entered”.

The band will play a couple of local shows this month before jetting to the United States. They’ll play iconic venues in Hollywood, Las Vegas, Santa Monica, and New York before jetting home for more Aussie gigs.

See TownHallSteps at the following venues.

19 September 2009 – Bondi Pavilion (All Ages)
25 September 2009 – The Basement, Blacktown (Licensed All Ages)
9 October 2009 – Hollowbody @ Trip, Santa Monica
12 October 2009 – Viper Room, Hollywood
13 October 2009 – The Roxy, Hollywood
17 October 2009 – Beauty Bar, Las Vegas
19 October 2009 – Fontana’s, New York
7 November 2009 -: Metrodome, Central Coast (All Ages)
27 November 2009 -: Penrith Panthers

Image used with permission from AAA Entertainment

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

"Gifts of Grace" – Grace Bawden

It’s rare that a classical crossover album hits my stereo, but with Gifts of Grace, Australian teen Grace Bawden may have converted me.

This is an uplifting disc, one that’s accessible to modern audiences despite its classical undercurrent. It achieves this thanks to its excellent choice of songs. The traditional songs are represented of course. Her version of “Flower Duet” is particularly lovely, and “Amazing Grace” is stunning too. But by keeping those tracks to a minimum, the album breaks through to an audience who may have rejected something with a classical tag.

The same could be said of “Dear God.” Religious tunes are sometimes a bit difficult for secular listeners, but by giving this an album dance-pop treatment it becomes contemporary and youthful.

Grace has an angelic voice, but it’s the maturity she brings that really excites me. I was a little nervous about her tackling a song as profound as “Streets of Philadelphia,” but her treatment is surprisingly effective. Her cover of The Beatles “Long and Winding Road” is also stunning. She may not have lived the struggles of the songs she sings, but she makes us believe she has. Another highlight is “Cold Outside,” an incredible collaboration with South Africa’s Soweto Gospel Choir. To hear their soulful voices combine with Grace’s pure one is amazing.

That’s not to say that every song works. Her version of “People” pales in comparison to Barbra Streisand’s. Few people can ever measure up to this legend, but Grace lacks the conviction and gumption to come close. I was also a little disappointed by the album’s first single, her take on Icehouse’s “Man of Colours.” Perhaps it’s the falsetto, which while amazing seems to undermine the emotional grit of the tune.

But you can’t win them all, and there’s enough here to really impress me. If this is what Grace can produce at 16, I can’t wait to see what she creates in the coming years.

Gifts of Grace is in stores on September 18.

Image used with permission from AAA Entertainment

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Paolo Nutini Announces Aussie Tour

He’s handsome, he’s Scottish, and he’s super talented. Yet for some reason, commercial radio in Oz tends to snub Paolo Nutini. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if many of you missed his latest brilliant album Sunny Side Up altogether.

That’s both a blessing and a curse. It’d be nice for more folks to be in the know, but for those that are it means that on his rare visits Down Under he plays lovely intimate venues. Paolo will visit us in October for a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it tour. Support for both shows will be provided by our very own handsome troubadour, Whitley.

Paolo Nutini will play the Forum in Melbourne on October 27, before heading to Sydney to play the Enmore on the 30th. Get your tickets at midday on September 14!

Image source: Newscom

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Matheson and The Bloodpoets Win JD Set Spots

The Panics will take Matheson and The Bloodpoets along for the ride when they set out on the next JD Set tour. The new bands won a slot on the tour thanks to the votes of their loyal fans.

Victorian band, Matheson say they’ll use the tour to test out airports and discover the beauty of Western Australia.

“We’d like to learn how to get through airport screening without at least one of us being pulled aside for a rub with the magic wand,” explained Aaron Matthews. “We’d like to learn more about WA. From what we know, it’s a wonderful state. It’s always great to see how different bands approach playing to different crowds. We wanna know what love is. We want The Panics to show us.”

Meanwhile The Bloodpoets just want to get out there and play.

“Being part of The JD Set is something we are extremely excited about,” they said in a statement. “To support The Panics, a band we’ve looked up to for so long, is going to be a big learning curve for us. We feel our music is something that appeals to the same audience and being part of the tour with The Panics will give us the chance to learn about larger scale tours and give us the opportunity to play to a new audience.”

The Panics, Matheson and the Bloodpoets will play the following JD Set dates.

23 September 2009 – The Espy, Melbourne
24 September 2009 – The Capitol Theatre, Perth
25 September 2009 – The Esplanade Hotel, Busselton

Image used with permission from AAA Entertainment