I’m running on empty this morning. Working until 2:30 am will do that to you I suppose. I needed something to wake me up for another day, and caffeine just wasn’t cutting it. Thankfully I found Brisbane pop-punk act Shorelines and their brand new single “New Heights.”
The band hasn’t reinvented the wheel here, but if you loved bands like Blink-182 and Good Charlotte back in the day you’re going to eat this up. The song also articulates beautifully what it’s like to look forward to a new chapter while you close the door on the past.
“I wrote this song about my old band breaking up and having to start again with Shorelines,” explained lead singer and bass guitarist Harry White. “New Heights definitely shows off our positivity towards the new band, but also displays some anger towards people that brought us down in the past.”
“New Heights” isn’t just the name of Shorelines’ new single. It’s also the title track from their brand new EP which drops tomorrow. You’ll find it on all your favourite digital services.
I am such a sucker for a big emotive ballad. So “Start Over,” the lead single from Aussie expats O’Shea’s new album 61-615 hits just the right note for me.
O’Shae’s Mark and Jay penned the song with Alex Lloyd, who they have known since their early days in Balmain. “When we got together in Nashville to write, we just started talking about relationships and the ebbs and flows that any married couple goes through,” said Mark. It’s something Mark has first-hand experience with, as his O=Shea bandmate Jay is also his wife!
“’Start Over’ is about feeling off track with the communication in a relationship and wanting to get back to the connection that pulled you together in the first place,” Jay added.
O’Shea will leave Nashville behind for a while to return home to celebrate 61-615’s release on July 28. The band’s Aussie tour kicks off the same day in Sydney.
28 July 2017 – Leadbelly, Sydney
29 July 2017 – Centro CBD, Wollongong
30 July 2017 – Lizotte’s, Newcastle
3 August 2017 – Black Bear Lodge, Brisbane
4-11 August 2017 – Tunes in the Tropics, Fiji
12 August 2017 – Mt Isa Rodeo, Mt Isa
If there was a contest for the best band name, I think The Dollar Bill Murrays would win hands down. But this Brisbane rock act has more than a catchy moniker on its side. The quartet shows it knows how to craft some real earworms with the release of its second EP, Always On.
The guys from The Dollar Bill Murrays embrace old and new music technology, releasing the EP as a digital download and on cassette. It features the infectious track “The More You Know” and the lead single “I Want Everything,” which has clocked up more than 3,000 streams.
Anyone who sees them knows that the best way to experience The Basics is to see them live. So it’s pretty exciting news that the Melbourne trio will release a brand new live album, In The Rude, on May 27.
Recorded at Melbourne’s legendary Howler, In The Rude is the band’s first release since Age of Entitlement in 2015. It features a bunch of killer tunes including the lead single “With This Ship.”
There’s no word about shows yet, but surely we deserve a run of dates to coincide with the release of this live treat!
We’re used to hearing punk acts turning their speakers up to 11. But Columbus is going the opposite route with its new five-track EP Next to Me, which drops today. It features a brand new song, the EP’s title track, and acoustic reimaginings of some of the Brisbane band’s past tracks.
“Next To Me is a melancholic falling out, which reminiscences about moments with a past lover,” explained the band’s frontman Alex Moses. “I wrote the song about the feeling of knowing you’re drifting apart from someone and there’s nothing you can do.”
It’s a softer song for the band, and one which marries perfectly with these new arrangements of classic Columbus tracks. Alex said reinterpreting the old songs in an acoustic way was “a very creatively fulfilling process.”
“We’re really proud of the songs and think they stand on their own in contrast to the heavier versions.”
I meant to write this post a couple of times but instead I found myself falling down a rabbit hole of Pierce Brothers music. The first time I found myself going back through the Melbourne folk-pop duo’s back catalogue, and time got away. Then I received an advance stream of the very EP I meant to write about and listening to it put this article on the back burner again.
That EP, The Records Were Ours, is wonderful by the way. The lead single and opening track “Take Me Out” is a swampy foot stomper, but it shows just one side of this talented duo. There are more sombre moments in “Only One” and “Rhodes.” “Keep in Mind” is the real standout for me. What a song. Alongside the studio tracks there are two live numbers: “Take a Shot” recorded on the Sydney Opera House Forecourt” and “Brother” captured at Paradiso in Amsterdam. Listening to the crowds heaping so much love on the Melbourne siblings is a reminder of the global reach of this phenomenally talented pair.
The Records Were Ours is the first in a trilogy of Pierce Brothers EPs. It drops on May 19, the day after the brothers launch their Australian tour. After that they’re off to Europe and the United Kingdom before winging their way to North America to support Tash Sultana. No matter where in the world you are, there should be a show near you.
18 May 2017 – Metro Lair, Sydney
20 May 2017 – Lorne Hotel, Lorne
25 May 2017 – The Academy, Canberra
26 May 2017 – The Croxton, Melbourne
27 May 2017 – Big Pineapple Fest, Sunshine Coast
3 June 2017 – Pinkpop Festival 2017, Landgraaf
4 June 2017 – Melkwege Oude Zaal, Amsterdam
5 June 2017 – Prinzenbar, Hamburg
6 June 2017 – Feierwerk/Kranhalle, Munich
7 June 2017 – Ancienne Belgique, Brussels
9 June 2017 – The Garage, London
8 July 2017 – Cornbury Music Festival, Oxfordshire
9 July 2017 – Linton Music Festival, Ross-on-Wye
10 July 2017 – Thekla, Bristol
11 July 2017 – Rescue Rooms, Nottingham
13 July 2017 – Studio 2, Liverpool
14 July 2017 – The Deaf Institute, Manchester
15 July 2017 – Zwarte Cross 2017, Lichtenvoorde
16 July 2017 – 4 Daagse, Nijmegen
22 July 2017 – Colours of Ostrava 2017, Ostrava
27 July 2017 – Dr Koncerthuset, Copenhagen
29 July 2019 – Stonerock Festival 2017, Bad Bentheim
6 August 2017 – Festival Esperanzah! 2017, Floreffe
11 August 2017 – Fairports Cropready Convention 2017, Banbury
28 September 2017 – Danforth Music Hall, Toronto
29 September 2017 – Metropolis, Montreal
30 September 2017 – Paradise Rock Club, Boston
2 October 2017 – The Bowery Ballroom, New York
3 October 2017 – Brooklyn Steel, Brooklyn
5 October 2017 – Union Transfer, Philadelphia
6 October 2017 – 9:30 Club, Washington
7 October 2017 – Newport Music Hall, Columbus
9 October 2017 – Thalia Hall, Chicago
10 October 2017 – Cedar Cultural Center, Minneapolis
11 October 2017 – The recordBar, Kansas City
16 October 2017 – Ogden Theater, Denver
18 October 2017 – The Crescent Ballroom, Phoenix
20 October 2017 – Fonda Theater, Hollywood
21 October 2017 – The Fillmore, San Francisco
23 October 2017 – Wonder Ballroom, Portland
24 October 2017 – Neptune Theater, Seattle
25 October 2017 – Commodore Theater, Vancouver
It’s hard to believe The Ten Tenors have been making music for the last 20 years. To celebrate the milestone, the acclaimed Aussie group has just released its first album for Sony Masterworks, Wish You Were Here. The album pays tribute to some of our most loved, dearly departed performers of our time, including David Bowie, Amy Winehouse, Jon English, and Prince.
I must admit, listening to it, I thought I knew what to expect. I expected music to please the oldies, the big torch songs with operatic leanings. And this album certainly delivered that with epic performances of tracks like “Hallelujah” and “Six Ribbons.” But there’s also some really funky contemporary stuff, like stellar versions of “I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)” and the title track “Wish You Were Here.”
After recently completing yet another sold-out tour of the United States, the lads are in fine form and ready to wow Australian crowds at the following shows.
1 August 2017 – Her Majesty’s Theatre, Adelaide
2 August 2017 – Hamer Hall, Melbourne
3 August 2017 – Albury Entertainment Centre, Albury
4 & 5 August 2017 – State Theatre, Sydney
6 August 2017 – Canberra Theatre Centre, Canberra
10 August 2017 – The Events Centre, Caloundra
11 August 2017 – QPAC Concert Hall, Brisbane (Matinee & Evening Shows)
12 August 2017 – Empire Theatre, Toowoomba
17, 18, & 19 August 2017 – Regal Theatre, Perth
It took just a matter of hours for the guys from Grinspoon to sell out multiple venues on their upcoming Guide to Better Living 20th Anniversary tour. I didn’t even have time to get a news announcement out before tickets were snapped up. So I’m getting in quickly this time and letting you know more shows have been announced to meet demand.
The Grinners promise to play Guide to Better Living in its entirety, start to finish, for their ardent fans. They’ll be ably supported by Hockey Dad at all shows except Darwin and the Gold Coast.
To coincide with the shows, Grinspoon will release a 20th Anniversary edition of Guide to Better Living, expanding the original 16-track album to a 49-track extravaganza with live tracks, unreleased recordings, and other rarities. You can also get a limited edition vinyl pressing for the first time. This comes packaged with a second disc recorded at New York City’s legendary venue, CBGB’s.
So there’s plenty for Grinspoon fans to get excited about, especially these shows!
23 June 2017 – Kay St Entertainment Complex, Traralgon (18+)
30 June 2017 – Margaret Court Arena, Melbourne (Licensed All Ages)
1 July 2017 – Village Green Hotel, Mulgrave (18+ SOLD OUT)
6 July 2017 – Enmore Theatre, Sydney (Licensed All Ages NEW SHOW)
7 July 2017 – Enmore Theatre, Sydney (Licensed All Ages SOLD OUT)
8 July 2017 – The Tivoli Theatre, Brisbane (18+ SOLD OUT)
9 July 2017 – The Tivoli Theatre, Brisbane (18+ NEW SHOW)
29 July 2017 – One Tropical Day @ Darwin Ski Club, Darwin (Licensed All Ages)
3 August 2017 – The Wool Exchange, Geelong (18+)
4 August 2017 – Pier Bandroom, Frankston (18+)
5 August 2017 – Granada Tavern, Hobart (18+ SOLD OUT)
6 August 2017 – Granada Tavern, Hobart (18+ NEW SHOW)
10 August 2017 – The Jack, Cairns (18+)
11 August 2017 – Dalrymple Hotel, Townsville (18+)
12 August 2017 – Magnums, Airlie Beach (18+)
17 August 2017 – Villa Noosa, Noosaville (18+)
18 August 2017 – Redland Bay Hotel, Redland Bay (18+ SOLD OUT)
19 August 2017 – Shaka Fest @ Miami Tavern, Gold Coast (18+)
24 August 2017 – Dunsborough Tavern, Dunsborough (18+ SOLD OUT)
25 August 2017 – Metro City, Perth (18+)
26 August 2017 – Adelaide Entertainment Centre, Adelaide (All Ages)
31 August 2017 – The Cambridge Hotel, Newcastle (18+ SOLD OUT)
1 September 2017 – Lismore City Hall, Lismore (18+)
2 September 2017 – Racecourse Hotel, Ipswich (18+ SOLD OUT)
14 September 2017 – The Entrance Leagues Club, Bateau Bay (18+ SOLD OUT)
15 September 2017 – Waves, Wollongong (18+ SOLD OUT)
16 September 2017 – UC Refectory, Canberra (18+)
20 September 2017 – CSU, Wagga Wagga (18+)
21 September 2017 – Barooga Sports Club, Barooga (18+ NEW SHOW)
22 September 2017 – Beer Deluxe, Albury (18+)
23 September 2017 – NEX Newcastle, Newcastle (18+ NEW SHOW)
With the album Head in the Trees, Heart on the Ground set to drop in just a few days’ time, I figured I should introduce you to The Singing Skies’ beautiful new single “Mountains.”
This is one of those songs that stopped me in my tracks. It’s achingly beautiful, with a haunting quality that draws you in and doesn’t let go. Take a moment to really listen, because it deserves way more than becoming background music for whatever it is you’re doing.
Head in the Trees, Heart on the Ground is released on April 21. The Singing Skies will play the Red Rattler in Marrickville on that night before hitting Golden Age Cinema in Surry Hills for Vivid Music on June 2.
Xavier Rudd is set to release his brand new concert album Live in the Netherlands, which features the entire set from Xavier’s show in Utrecht last year, the last night of his 28-date sold-out European tour.
I received a stream of a few songs from the album and fans are in for a real treat. These live recordings really capture that special bond Xavier develops with his audience and the chemistry between him and his band, featuring Charles Wall and Ant Aggs.
“The energy at those European shows was huge and there was a really strong thread of positive intention running through the communities,” Xavier said in a press release. “Aussie shows for us are fairly rare these days, so I’m really excited to share this live album and the European vibes with the homeland. We captured a pretty special one!” Live in the Netherlands will be released on April 21 as a digital download, a double CD, and a limited edition 180g triple vinyl LP produced in three colours. Vinyl fans, you’re going to want to pre-order to get your hands on that limited edition album!
