Category: Reviews

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“For Wise People Who Appreciate Quality” – Sick Visor

As if they understood just how challenging Thursdays can be, Naarm/Melbourne indie-punk duo Sick Visor have dropped their debut EP For Wise People Who Appreciate Quality, and yes, it’s every bit as fabulous as its title. In fact, it’s an absolute joy.

Indie-punk and joy don’t often go hand in hand, but this isn’t your average collection of punk songs. There’s the energy, driving drums, and big chords we associate with the genre, but these songs are more about celebrating life than complaining about what’s wrong with it. I’m not sure I’ve ever related more to a punk song than the opening track, “Happy Pessimistic People Person Introvert”. “My Legs Feel Good In My Pants” reminds us all to appreciate the now and all its little wins. Want more positivity? “Love is Free” brings it in spades. Not that Sick Visor view the world totally through rose-coloured glasses. “Shit for Brains” is a self-deprecating anthem for musos all too aware of their shortcomings. “Sticky Tape” rounds out the EP. If ever a song was the equivalent of a big warm hug, this is it. Again, it embraces the flaws, reminding us that while we might be holding ourselves together with sticky tape, we’re far from the only ones.

After supporting the likes of Bugs and TOWNS in Melbourne, Sick Visor have announced some headlining gigs to support today’s release of For Wise People Who Appreciate Quality. Catch them at one of the following shows:

25 November 2022 – Greaser Bar, Brisbane (FREE)
2 December 2022 – Penny’s, Naarm/Melbourne (FREE)
3 December 2022 – Simple Cider, Nipaluna/Hobart (supporting the Sleepyheads)
5 December 2022 – MONA Lawns, Nipaluna/Hobart


Images used with permission from Habit Music Co; main image credit: Nick Manuell

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“Jacob Fitzgerald & The Electric City” – Jacob Fitzgerald

I must admit, I listened to Jacob Fitzgerald’s new EP, Jacob Fitzgerald & The Electric City, more out of my own interest than any serious desire to write up a review. I’ve already fawned over three of the EP’s six tracks, so what more would I have to say? There’s probably a point where continuing to praise an artist gets boring, but once I listened to this EP I knew I’d have to put my fingers to the keyboard and get typing.

Jacob had already shown incredible diversity, delivering rock swag with his song “Muse,” then showing his softer side with softer, more pop-influenced tracks “The Long Way Home” and “Shame on You.” The EP delivers more pieces of the Jacob Fitzgerald puzzle. The opening track and current single “My Girl” reminds me a little of “Jessie’s Girl,” both thematically and in terms of its instant radio-friendly appeal. “The Electric City” is a brooding synth-driven number that has me thinking of classic 80s tunes from Don Henley and Tears for Fears. It’s really cool. After the bravado of “Muse,” the vulnerability he shows in “Peter Pan” is even more striking.

Jacob Fitzgerald & The Electric City shows Jacob is such a multi-faceted artist with plenty to show us. Something tells me that while this EP is diverse, something tells me there’s plenty more to come. That’s exciting. Jacob is about the embark on the shows in the major capitals supporting Loose Bricks. Rest assured, you want to turn up early enough for his set.

25 November 2022 – Black Bear Lodge, Meeanjin/Brisbane
26 November 2022 – Hiway Enmore, Eora/Sydney
16 December 2022 – Crown and Anchor, Tandanya/Adelaide
17 December 2022 – The Workers Club, Naarm/Melbourne

Images used with permission from Good Intent

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Allen Stone @ Enmore Theatre, Eora/Newtown – 15 November 2022

It takes a lot to get me to a midweek gig. And I’m not just talking about the two trains that I need to catch to get to venues like the Enmore. I always know I’m going to be sluggish the next morning, so it’d better be worth my while. Having seen Allen Stone play The Metro back in 2019, I knew he would be. So last night I put on my best dress, dragged myself out of the house on a Tuesday (!), and prepared myself for the party.

Since we couldn’t leave Darkinjung Country/Central Coast until after my husband had finished work, I had to make the choice between getting a decent dinner or seeing the support act. Sorry WILSN, but my stomach won. We arrived with just enough time to settle ourselves in for Allen and admire the theatre. It was my first trip to the Enmore since its renovations. Gee the old girl scrubs up beautifully.

“Uncle Al” always brings the party. He’s such a natural on stage, dancing up a storm and playing off his band. His voice is so rich, warm and textured, perhaps even better in person than on the albums. He had us in raptures with upbeat singles like “Brown Eyed Lover” and “Taste of You.” I’m not sure if everyone was across the new single “5 Minutes”, but they were certainly happy to take Allen’s lead and engage in a little call-and-response. While we love grooving along with him, we’re also happy to swoon at his romantic ballads. Al knows how to write a real love song, ballads that speak from the heart and avoid the cliches. I found myself squeezing my husband’s hand tightly listening to “Consider Me” and “Bring You Blue”. Choice covers like Stevie Wonder’s “A Place in the Sun” and an epic version of Farnsy’s “Two Strong Hearts” had us in raptures.

I’ve got to take a moment to shout out to the audience. There’s often something really special about the crowds who go to see shows from artists who haven’t made an impact on the Australian charts. There are no casual fans, like when you see the latest big thing or an artist who’s been a radio mainstay for decades. They go because they really go. They also tend to be pretty passionate about great music, because they’ve sought this artist out rather than just waiting for radio to deliver them. I love being part of crowds like this. They cheered rapturously, but you could hear a pin drop in those quiet moments. Everyone was in the moment, lapping up every second. Allen praised the audience several times, and even declared we were the best crowd of the tour. Sure, he might say that in every city, but I’ll take it.

When crowds are that good, you can’t leave without an encore. I’m sure I read once that the Enmore’s residential neighbourhood restricts shows from going on too long, but Al insisted he wanted to play two more. I finally got my chance to see the support act WILSN when she joined Al on stage for “Naturally”. She was brilliant. I promise I’ll try to see her next time. Most artists would prefer to end with their own material, but on a night when there were such good vibes in the room, a singalong cover of Bob Marley’s “Is This Love” was the perfect closer.
I didn’t get home until close to 1:30 a.m. Since there are fewer trains and everyone needs to get home, they stop at all stations on the way back home. We can also count on a long wait between connections. I’m very sluggish today, but I’d do it all again in a heartbeat. Uncle Al is just that good.

Allen Stone’s The New Normal tour continues tonight in Naarm/Melbourne. I know midweek gigs are tough, but if you’re ever going to do it, make it for one of these shows:

16 November 2022 – Northcote Theatre/Naarm/Melbourne
19 November 2022 – Harvest Rock Festival, Tartanya/Adelaide
20 November 2022 – The Tivoli, Meeanjin/Brisbane
22 November 2022 – Astor Theatre, Boorloo/Perth

Image source: Stephen Katulka

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“Fearless” – Is MAN KIND

Most of the time the music that is polished within an inch of its life. In some cases, it might be too polished. I can be refreshing to hear something that’s a little rawer and less refined. I think that’s one of the reasons I’m really enjoying Fearless, the debut EP from Yugambeh Country/Gold Coast outfit Is MAN KIND.

I must admit, it took me a couple of songs to get on board. But by the time the nostalgic “1984” kicked in, I was a fan. This is really music of a different time, old school rock that doesn’t need the bells and whistles. I can’t imagine many bands recording a track like “Super Sexy Satisfaction,” which is every bit as wild as it sounds, but it’s delivered with so much swagger that you can’t help but like it. Closing number “The Impossible Dream” is a big gospel-rock ballad that’s just so much fun.

Listening to these songs, you get the sense that Is MAN KIND are just a few blokes who make music because they enjoy it. They’d probably be more at home at your local pub than an arena, but there’s a real honest charm about that. If I ever saw them in my local, I’d definitely buy them a beer or two. Leave your expectations at the door and I think Fearless might just win you over too. As you might imagine, is MAN KIND have some gigs coming up. Get yourself along to one of the following shows, because I’m sure it’ll be a good time.

27 November 2022 – Last Night on Earth, Yugambeh Country/Gold Coast (Free album launch)
11 December 2022 – Hotel Brunswick, Durring/Brunswick Heads
17 December 2022 – Xmas Cheers ‘n’ Beers @ Madocke Beer Brewing Company, Yugambeh Country/Gold Coast
5 February 2023 – Hotel Brunswick, Durring/Brunswick Heads

Images used with permission from Footstomp Music

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“BIG!” – Betty Who

It’s an exciting time for pop music, and women are front and centre of the revolution. Taylor Swift has just broken all records with Midnights. I can’t stop listening to Carly Rae Jepsen’s newie, The Loneliest Time. Another artist who deserves to be in the conversation is Betty Who. The Australian-American pop trailblazer recently dropped her latest album BIG!, which is her most personal and probably her best to date.

I must admit, I came to this album a little reluctantly. I’ve been bingeing the other two big pop releases, and I expected this one to fall short. But Betty had me from the title track. It’s the perfect opener, a nostalgic pop ballad that unashamedly introduces and celebrates all 6-foot, two-inches of Betty. “WEEKEND” turns up the energy with more ‘80s vibes and fun, flirty lyrics. Betty Who is a master at crafting these feel-good pop bangers. Listening to songs like “BLOW OUT MY CANDLE” and “SHE CAN DANCE” is a pure delight. They’re great fun, but tap into those introspective lyrics and I guarantee you’ll fall a little more in love. These are songs of strength, celebrations of the human spirit and embracing all parts of yourself.

While I enjoyed the upbeat moments, the quieter songs really made me fall in love with this album. “SOMEONE ELSE” slows the beats down and reveals the vulnerability that comes with opening your heart to another human being. The closing song “GROWN UPS GROW APART” is so stripped back and raw. Its quiet power draws you in, encouraging you to listen to its poignant lyrics. It’s such a special song, and the perfect way to end this album.

Like many of you I imagine, I didn’t know much about Betty Who beyond her big covers of “I Love You Always Forever” and the Queer Eye theme. BIG! shows Betty Who is so much more than that. She’s an incredible songwriter who has really floored me with this record. I understand it’s hard to tear yourself away from the new Taylor Swift and Carly Rae records, but I promise it’s worth giving BIG! a listen.

Images used with permission from Good Intent

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“Machines of Love & Grace” – Kav Temperley

I was a casual Eskimo Joe fan. I’d sing along to “To The Sea” or “Black Fingernails, Red Wine” as enthusiastically as any Aussie, but I wouldn’t buy the albums or see the band live. Then in 2018, Kav Temperley dropped his first solo album, All Your Devotion, and I felt I finally understood what all the fuss was about. I bought the vinyl, I went to a gig, and I named that album my favourite of the year. With Ben Lee and Amy Shark releasing incredible music in the same year, it was no mean feat. So understandably, I had some pretty high expectations for Kav’s new solo effort, Machines of Love & Grace.

This album has been two and a half years in the making. The global pandemic had a way of slowing down so many things, including this release. However, like a good cheese or red wine, a little time leading up to the finished product is far from a bad thing.

“Machines Of Love & Grace started its life in the very first week of COVID,” he explained. “Myself and my wife had just returned from the US and then one day later the whole entire world shut down. At the same time, I also came down with a mystery virus that was too early in the pandemic to test for COVID. So while everyone went into lockdown, I began to isolate myself in my bedroom only talking to my family through a small crack in the bedroom window.”

Without the distractions of the outside world, Kav could focus on the lyrics, producing some of the best-written songs of his career. As someone who fell so deeply for the songs on his debut, I don’t say that flippantly. Kav tackles some big stuff here. The opening track “Emergency in D Minor” ruminates on self-isolation. The title track was inspired by the screen addiction so many of us experience, not just during lockdown but through the modern age. The most recent single “Last of the Wine” paints a portrait of alcoholism and domestic violence. “The Fence” touches on anti-vaxxers and the environment. Machines of Love & Grace is a weighty album, but Kav’s knack for creating catchy melodies ensures it doesn’t feel too heavy. It makes you think, but also encourages you to keep listening.

Coming out of a time of isolation, the choice collaborations feel even more poignant. Kav teams up with some of Western Australia’s best musicians: John Butler, Katy Steele, and Siobhan Cotchin. Hearing their voices combine and the energy in their connections is a beautiful thing.

Machines of Love & Grace is an incredible follow-up to All Your Devotion. I’m falling just a little more in love with every listen. Kav plans on touring this album with shows in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, and Perth. Check his website for show details and tickets from 10am on Tuesday October 25.

Images used with permission from On the Map PR; main image credit: Jarrad Levy

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“Me & You” – Joan & The Giants

After waxing lyrical about Joan & The Giants’ singles “The Weekend” and “Home Song,” I wasn’t sure what I’d have to say about the band’s debut EP Me & You. That’s two of the five songs after all. But now this beautiful EP is out in the world, I knew I had to find the words and put this band back on your radar.

Listening to “The Weekend” opening the EP reminded me just how much I love what this band does. If you somehow missed the single on its release, I know it’s going to hook you in. “Slow Motion” is a slow burner, in the best possible way, a gentle love song that captures the headiness of finding someone you spark with so beautifully. “Hardest Part” is a beautiful piano ballad. Its minimalist instrumentation ensures you focus in on the powerful lyrics and Grace Newton-Wordsworth’s stunning voice. “Home Song” brings us back to the familiar before the EP ends with “Centerfold.” We’ve all heard so many love songs that avoid using specifics to ensure they relate to the reader. I love that Joan & The Giants get specific, with references to Tim Burton characters and swimming lessons. The details bring the love story of Grace and her bandmate Aaron Birch to life in technicolour. It’s such a beautiful way to end this special EP.

The beauty of an EP is that it lets you sit in the band’s music for a little longer than a single. The singles felt all too fleeting, like a cool breeze on a summer’s day that hit you for a moment before moving on. The EP wraps you up in a warm hug, staying with you for as long as you need the comfort. And if that’s not quite long enough, you can always press play.

Images used with permission from Kick Push PR

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“Get Better” – Old Mervs

If The Wombats and The Vanns had a baby, they might sound a little something like Old Mervs. Coming out of Western Australia, Dave House & Henry Carrington-Jones are leading the surf-rock renaissance with a sound that’s much bigger and more addictive than any duo has the right to create. With the release of their debut EP Get Better today, it’s time for the nation to realise just how good these guys are.

I’ve spent a solid week just listening to this EP and I still can’t get enough. These songs are so good, with self-reflective lyrics fuelled by the lads finishing high school and figuring our what comes next coupled with a big rock sound that goes down easy. They’re accessible and irresistibly catchy, hooking you from the opening drum notes of “Where I Go”. I found myself singing along with the choruses from the get go, and when the final guitar chords of the slow-burning closer “How I Met Your Mother” faded away I couldn’t wait to press play again. All these songs were new to me, but before long they felt like old friends. It feels mean to single any out because they’re all new favourites. And besides, this music is better felt and experienced than analysed. Just turn it on and turn that volume up.

Get Better is out now. Do yourself a favour and get around it, because it’s stellar.

Images used with permission from beehive

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

MATH EP – MATH

Maddi McDonald and brothers Clay, Dylan, and Sam Hooper have been gigging around their hometown of Darumbal Country/Rockhampton and beyond since 2018. They’ve shortened their name from Maddi and the Hoopers to the catchy MATH and today released their self-titled EP. I was already on board with the launch of the single “Break My Heart,” but with this latest release I’ve become an even bigger fan.

At four tracks, MATH have kept things short and sweet. It’s a smart tactic, leaving us wanting more while still showing plenty of versatility. “Break My Heart,” the EP’s closing track, is an infectiously upbeat number. From the get go, this EP shows us this band can do much more than radio-friendly fare. The EP opener “Control” is dark and brooding, the polar opposite of the lead single. “Be Loved” is a little lighter but full of longing, with a guitar solo would make John Mayer proud. I can hear John Mayer’s influence again through “Baby, We’re on Fire”. MATH admits they’re big fans and it shows. Any act could do worse than creating songs with cool guitar riffs and a similar irresistible pop-rock sensibility though. Finishing with “Break My Heart” reminded me how I instantly connected with this song, and indeed this band, months ago. The music they make is so infectiously good. Maddi McDonald is such a strong vocalist and she’s supported confidently by the Hooper brothers. They’re all tight musicians who know exactly what they need to do to make this music come to life.

MATH’s EP is out today. Make sure you take a listen. They’re playing another hometown gig at the Capricorn Food & Wine Festival supporting Busby Marou tonight, but something tells me they’ll be headlining shows all over the country soon enough.

Images used with permission from Footstomp Music

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“SEND HELP” – YDE

YDE is one of those people that makes you question what you’ve been doing with your life. She was starring in the Nickelodeon series The Haunted Hathaways at nine and went on to feature in School of Rock, Malibu Rescue, and the live production of WILD: A Musical alongside absolute icon Idina Menzel. She’s currently writing songs with Justin Tranter and Teddy Geiger, she’s received cosigns from Justin Bieber and Drake, and Teen Vogue and Billboard are talking about her. Not bad for a 19-year-old born in Sydney. With the recent release of her debut EP SEND HELP, she’s sure to cement her reputation as a serious talent.

We’ve all seen those young starlets who generate plenty of buzz but seem to lack substance. Rest assured; YDE is the real deal. I flipped over recent singles “Old Her” and “People Can Change,” two tracks that showed her diversity. There are more gems on this EP though. From the clap-along upbeat pop of “Never Too Young” to the introspective ballads “Normal to Feel” and the new single “Uncomfortable,” YDE shows she’s an immense talent with plenty to say.

While it’s called EP, at nine tracks it seems more like a mini album. YDE wrote the songs and served as executive producer, ensuring she retained creative control. The result is a collection of songs that reveal so much about this young talent while leaving us wanting more. Believe the hype. YDE is a bright light on the pop scene.

Images used with permission from Warner Music Australia; main image credit: Jade DeRose