Category: Reviews

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Anthony Callea @ The Art House, Wyong – 11 October 2019

I still have moments where I feel like pinching myself when I see shows at the Art House. I’ve travelled to Sydney several times to catch Anthony Callea, so it was a real treat to have him make the journey to the Central Coast this time around.

The show lived up its Unplugged and Unfiltered. Perhaps it was a little too unfiltered for the ears of my 12-year-old niece, although if you’d ask her those racy anecdotes made the night more fun. The stories came thick and fast, as did the songs stripped back and laid bare. Anthony’s voice is always in fine form, but without a full band to hide any flaws it was even more impressive. If you don’t get goose bumps listening to him deliver “The Prayer” I’d check for a pulse. He may have outdiva-ed Whitney with his mash-up of “I Wanna Dance With Somebody” and “How Will I Know?” It was also a real thrill for the long-time fans to hear earlier material like “Rain” and “Addicted to You” in the set. I also loved seeing him so connected to his new single “What’s Wrong With Me?”

Anthony seemed to be having a ball on stage, appreciating the unfiltered format perhaps a little too much. The anecdotes may have dragged a little for punters there simply for the music, but I felt the laughs beautifully balanced the very emotional songs that made up the bulk of Anthony’s set. Perhaps the Art House should have posted a sign about sexual references and coarse language at the theatre doors, as they did for Hair though!

Even though those stories made my mum serving grandma duties blush, it all added up to such a fun night, a fitting introduction to the world of live music for my young niece. Even if she has learned a few things we didn’t expect!

Image source: own photo

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

David Campbell @ State Theatre, 4 October 2019

In the early 2010s, I’d see David Campbell several times a year. He’d regularly pack out RSLs on the back of his swinging cover albums, and I’d come back for more every tour. Then he got those pesky gigs on morning TV and radio and shows became few and far between. Looking back through my records, I hadn’t seen David perform since he was part of George Michael Praying for Time in 2017. My drought between solo shows stretched back to 2012. So, when he announced a limited number of shows supporting his Back in the Swing album, I snapped up tickets.

Things have certainly changed since the time I started seeing DC. He’s got little ones, and talk of them and his wife tends to dominate between-song banter. He’s so much busier. He sells out theatres now, and I can’t imagine him going back to an RSL any time soon. But in some ways, nothing has changed at all. I appreciate his steady gigs, but on stage is where he feels most at home. He’s mesmerising to watch, such a giving performer who always seems so in the moment.

This show really felt like a catch-up. If you hadn’t seen Dream Lover, or like me you just wanted to relive his starring turn in that musical, there was an extended section of Bobby Darin tunes. Ordinarily playing several songs from a new album is a risk, but when you’re returning to swing standards, arguably David’s most popular covers, it just makes sense. I loved hearing those new songs from his latest record: “Buona Sera,” “Make Love,” and “New York State of Mind” were highlights. Although I couldn’t help but feel a wee bit disappointed that Ian Moss didn’t surprise us and duet on my favourite song from the album, “In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning.” And you know DC can’t ever play a show without giving us a little Johnny O’Keefe.

But it was the songs that I didn’t expect to hear, that I was truly surprised by, that made the biggest impression on me. After seeing an artist so many times you assume everything but the new album tracks will feel familiar, but DC likes to throw in a few curveballs. I’d heard him play a few Louis Prima tracks in the past, but an extended passage of songs from my husband’s favourite swing artist had us in raptures. I was right there with David, wiping away a few tears when he sang Charles Aznavour’s “She” for his daughter Betty.

Watching David Campbell live again reminded me why I didn’t let a tour go by back in the day. I understand he’s a busy man these days, but I really hope he finds more time to get back on stage. It’s where he shines brightest.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Hair @ The Art House, Wyong – 22 September 2019

I’ve seen many musical productions in my time, but I can’t remember ever being greeted by a sign warning me of what was to come. There’d be sexual references, drug references, racial slurs, and strobe lighting effects. Oh yeah, and full frontal nudity. In all honesty, that was one of the few things I knew about Hair before arriving at The Art House in Wyong last week. However, I soon discovered that while the pink bits are what Hair is best known for, it’s far from the most important thing about this musical.

If the warning sign out the front wasn’t reminder enough that this musical might take us out of our comfort zone, the sight of Hugh Sheridan’s Berger crawling over the audience in little more than a loin cloth just a few minutes in did it. Seeing Hair certainly isn’t like your average night of musical theatre. It’s bold and funny. There’s a real youthful energy about it, despite its ‘60s setting. In fact, perhaps the young characters have a greater energy than the current crop because they’re connecting with one another rather than their smartphones!

Hair does an incredible job of capturing a moment of time. The characters live life, embrace experience, laugh, and love, but the spectre of the Vietnam War looms large. It catches you at moments, when the laughs give way to pathos. I have been lucky enough to live my life fairly removed from war. I remember the Gulf War in my youth, but watching it on TV didn’t feel too dissimilar to watching a Hollywood action film. It’s palpable here, like another character just waiting to tap the characters we quickly grow to love on the shoulder. They can shake it off for a time and sing another song or smoke another joint, but we know it’ll catch up to them.

Speaking of the songs, it’d be remiss of me not to mention this cast. There are the big names like Hugh Sheridan, Paulini, and Prinnie Stevens, with voices as striking and personalities as sparkling as you would expect of people with their profiles. But there were no weak links here. Matthew Manahan as Claude, Stefanie Cacamo as Crissy, and Callan Purcell as Woof were especially strong.

As the lights faded to black I found myself thinking that Hair was one of the most powerful pieces of theatre I’ve seen. A week later I’m still turning it over in my mind. It’s not like anything I’ve seen before, but that’s one of the things that makes it so special. Let the sunshine in.

This production is travelling all around the country. You can still see it at the following venues.

28 September 2019 – Illawarra Performing Arts Centre, Wollongong (1.30pm & 7.30pm)
29 September 2019 – Illawarra Performing Arts Centre, Wollongong (5pm)
3 October 2019 – Sydney Opera House, Sydney (8pm)
4 October 2019 – Sydney Opera House, Sydney (8pm)
5 October 2019 – Sydney Opera House, Sydney (2pm & 8pm)
6 October 2019 – Sydney Opera House, Sydney (2pm & 7pm)
11 October 2019 – Home of the Arts, Surfers Paradise (7pm)
12 October 2019 – Home of the Arts, Surfers Paradise (7pm)

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“Free Time” – Ruel

They say you have a whole lifetime to create your first release. The second is much harder, because it typically comes with the pressure of time. Leave it too long and no one will remember you. Rush it though, and the quality may suffer. If Ruel experienced any angst in creating his sophomore EP Free Time, it doesn’t show. At 16 years old, he’s releasing music with more confidence and swagger than many musicians twice his age.

Three of the seven tracks from Free Time were released as singles, so I wondered whether I’d have much to say by the time the EP dropped. But there’s plenty more to fall in love with here. Speaking of love, it’s the dominant theme here, but it’s explored with a maturity beyond Ruel’s tender years. That makes his music so relatable, whether you’re discovering love for the first time as Ruel might be or you’ve got a wealth of experience behind you.

You might assume that Ruel released his strongest songs as singles, leaving lesser tracks behind. But every song on this EP has such quality. There’s real variety too, from the joyous soul-pop stylings of “Painkiller” to the poignant piano ballad “Hard Sometimes.” No matter the tone, Ruel’s distinctive, emotive voice is front and centre. It’s easy to get lost in it, but make sure you tune into the lyrics, which Ruel says are his most personal to date.

Free Time is a stunning EP which celebrates the evolution of this promising Australian talent, and hints at even better things to come. Ruel has a few more headlining shows at home and in New Zealand before heading to the United States and Europe. Somewhere in there he also finds time to come back home and support Shawn Mendes! Here are all the dates you need!

22 September 2019 – Thebarton Theatre, Adelaide
24 September 2019 – Festival Hall, Melbourne
28 September 2019 – Shed 10, Auckland
1 October 2019 – Odeon, Hobart
4 October 2019 – Hordern Pavilion, Sydney
5-6 October 2019 – Yours & Owls Festival, Wollongong
8 October 2019 – Great American Music Hall, San Francisco
10 October 2019 – Columbia City Theater, Seattle
12 October 2019 – Holocene, Portland
14 October 2019 – The Biltmore Ballroom, Vancouver
19 October 2019 – Subterranean, Chicago
21 October 2019 – Velvet Underground, Toronto
22 October 2019 – The Foundry at the Fillmore, Philadelphia
25 October 2019 – Songbyrd Vinyl Lounge, Washington, DC
28 October 2019 – The Bowery Ballroom, New York
29 October 2019 – The Loft, Atlanta
31 October 2019 – The Studio at Warehouse Live, Houston
1 November 2019 – Cambridge Room @ House of Blues, Dallas
3 November 2019 – Fonda Theatre, Hollywood
6 November 2019 – Brisbane Entertainment Centre, Brisbane (supporting Shawn Mendes)
9 November 2019 – Spark Arena, Auckland (supporting Shawn Mendes)
14 November 2019 – Vulkan, Oslo
15 November 2019 – Vasateatern, Stockholm
17 November 2019 – DR Koncerthuset @ Studie 2, Copenhagen
19 November 2019 – Huxleys Neue Welt, Berlin
21 November 2019 – La Gaîté Lyrique, Paris
23 November 2019 – Manchester Academy 2, Manchester
25 November 2019 – Electric Brixton, London
26 November 2019 – O2 Institute 2, Birmingham
27 November 2019 – Saint Luke’s Glagsow, Glasgow
30 November 2019 – The Academy, Dublin
2 December 2019 – Die Kantine, Cologne, Germany
4 December 2019 – Melkweg Max, Amsterdam, Netherlands

Image used with permission from Sony Music Australia

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“Building Blocks” – THIA.

THIA. lays her heart bare with her new EP Building Blocks. This collection explores heartbreak and loss, the moving on and the difficulties that come with doing so. The opening track, “Intro,” introduces us to her angelic voice, but there’s so much more to this talented singer-songwriter.

“Breathe” is a heartbreaking look at the aftermath of a relationship, those moments when you feel like you have lost not just the object of your affection but every single part of yourself. Its lyrics are devastatingly raw and so compelling. “Holding Your Hand” explores similar territory but with a different attitude. Rather than the desperation and devastation, there’s a steely resolve here. THIA. understands her worth and refuses to accept less than she deserves. There’s a cool confidence here, despite the chaos. “Higher Ground” is a natural progression and the most joyful track on the EP. There’s an acknowledgement of loss but also acceptance and an optimism that something better is just around the corner. I love its vibrant trumpets and cool groove.

The EP closes with the stunning “Stuck,” an eloquent exploration of that limbo so many of us find ourselves in when a relationship is failing, yet we’re not quite ready to say goodbye. Here THIA. gives her most emotional and vulnerable performance on the EP. It’s utterly affecting, and leaves a lasting impression long after the final guitar chord.

Building Blocks is available on all major streaming services now. THIA. will play The Workers Club in Melbourne on October 3.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Dami Im @ The Art House, Wyong – 6 September 2019

Since opening just three years ago, The Art House has attracted a steady stream of talent to the Central Coast and the region is much better for it. I might not have ventured out on a stormy, windy Friday night if I had to travel all the way to Newcastle or Sydney for entertainment, but knowing this modern venue was just a short trip up the freeway inspired me to shake off my fatigue and chill and see Dami Im live.

I even arrived early enough for the support act, Brittany Maggs. The theatre’s “no photos” policy means I don’t have a shot, so you’ll just have to take my word for it. She has all the makings of the next pop princess, flawless good looks and a delicate but pitch-perfect voice. With her guitarist H playing over a backing track, the performance felt a smidge karaoke but her catchy songs are strong. Even the oldies keeping company with me in the theatre box said they were impressed, even though they clearly weren’t the intended demographic of Brittany’s upbeat tunes.

Dami was the one we were all there to see though. She arrived looking every inch the superstar with a sparkly jumpsuit and flaming red hair. Then she opens her mouth and nothing else matters. Her voice is undeniable, just as clear and strong as it is on records and her TV stints. There’s no trickery here; what you see is what you get with Dami. And that’s a large part of her charm.

Dami might have been in the public eye for five years now, but she’s retained the quiet humbleness that endeared her to X Factor audiences. She takes time to ask the audience if she can play new songs and seems genuinely shocked when they are well received. She’s so thankful of the support of her fans that she promises souvenir towels to anyone who shows her they’ve pre-ordered her amazing new single, “Crying Underwater.” She encourages us to break that no photos policy and whip out our phones for selfies during one song. She joins us too, wanting to capture her appreciative audience as much as they want to take photos of her.

Dami has evolved greatly as an artist since she took the X Factor title. She released the prerequisite pop material early in her career, but that has given way in recent years to jazzy tunes and introspective piano ballads. The different ends of her catalogue don’t always marry naturally. However, I appreciate that she wants to cater for those fans who have supported her from the beginning, even as her musical journey takes her in new directions.

Dami Im’s Dreamer tour continues winding its way around regional Australia for the next couple of months. Limited tickets are still available for the following shows.

27 September 2019 – The Palms at Crown Melbourne, Southbank
28 September 2019 – Wendouree Centre for Performing Arts, Wendouree
4 October 2019 – Lighthouse Theatre, Warrnambool
5 October 2019 – Horsham Town Hall, Horsham
6 October 2019 – Capital Theatre, Bendigo
19 October 2019 – The Tivoli, Brisbane
24 October 2019 – The Metro, Sydney
25 October 2019 – Nelson Bay Diggers, Nelson Bay
26 October 2019 – Belmont 16s, Belmont
14 November 2019 – Albany Entertainment Centre, Albany
15 November 2019 – Mandurah Performing Arts Centre, Mandurah
16 November 2019 – Astor, Perth

Image source: own photo

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“Three Oh Three” – Oly Sherman

Oly Sherman captured my heart with the release of his single “Bones” in May. Now with the release of his debut EP Three Oh Three, I’ve fallen even harder for the music of this Sydney-based singer-songwriter. Take a listen and I’m sure you will too.

It might not be love at first note though, but some of the best relationships take time to develop. “Reykjavik” is an interesting choice for an opening track. It’s a beautiful, atmospheric instrumental, but it doesn’t have the melodic hooks to really draw the listener in. Persevere with this release though, because Three Oh Three really kicks in with the next track, “Noir (No Love Any More),” a gorgeous melancholy piece of pop rock that wears its heart on its sleeve.

Oly isn’t an artist who’s afraid to bear his soul. There’s such longing in “House on the Hill,” which only amplifies with every plaintive expression of the song’s title. “Pain-Free Melody” captures the loss and defiance that so often comes with a break-up so beautifully. I love its jazzy feel. It might just be my favourite on this EP.

After so much sadness, “Bones,” is such sweet relief, an upbeat optimistic pop-rock number that sweeps you up and takes you to a much more positive place. Title track “Three Oh Three” continues the good vibes, ensuring we finish with a smile on our faces. These two final songs really feel like companion pieces, the kind of tracks you’d turn up on the stereo if you were setting out on a road trip and leaving the real world behind for a while.

Oly will play a string of shows around his hometown to celebrate Three Oh Three’s release. Sydneysiders, check him out at one of the following events.

6 September 2019 – The Lansdowne, Sydney (Supporting Slum Sociable)
7 September 2019 – Golden Age Cinema, Sydney (Supporting Liquid Time)
12 September 2019 – Lord Gladstone, Sydney
27 September 2019 – Coogee Bay, Coogee
5 October 2019 – Yulli’s Brews, Alexandria
16 October 2019 – Lazybones, Sydney
26 October 2019 – Low 302, Sydney
6 November 2019 – Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney

Image used with permission from Beehive PR

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“Long Way From Hill Street” – Mercury Sun

Mercury Sun burst onto the music scene in 2013. After releasing a pair of celebrated EPs, the Brisbane indie rock act are finally ready to drop their first full-length album, Long Way From Hill Street, and after giving it a listen I know fans will think it’s worth the wait. This is a good honest rock record that wears its heart on its sleeve. All the right ingredients are here, from powerful vocals to hooky guitar riffs.

The title gives you an inkling what you are in for. This is such a nostalgic album, both lyrically and sonically. It’s no coincidence the band opens the album with “Come of Age,” a song which addresses the transition from angsty teen to adult in control. There are similar themes of looking back and moving forward on the next track, “Just Like Hollywood.” The line “Day by day my youth is growing old on me” really resonates. In “Stumbling,” Mercury Sun looks at revisiting a relationship, in the next track “All My Friends” the band recalls their visions for the future through the lens of youth.

Most songs from Long Way From Hill Street don’t just cover similar thematic ground. They have a similar anthemic rock quality feel to them. Perhaps a more critical listener might call them samey, but I think Mercury Sun has simply found its voice. It does make the gentle closer, aptly titled “Hill Street,” seem a little place, even if looks back fondly on the past like so many of this album’s tracks do. However, this song also hints at a band that might just have a little more range than this album suggests.

For now though, I’m pretty happy to relive my youth and rock out with this one. Brisbane locals can do it in person when Mercury Sun launch Long Way From Hill Street at Tomcat on its release date, September 6. The band will also play Toowoomba’s Carnival of Flowers on September 21.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“Drinking Alone” – Jack Runaway

If Kings of Leon and Paulo Nutini had a lovechild, he might sound something like Jack Runaway. Drinking Alone is the Western Australian act’s debut EP, but it’s delivered with all the confidence of seasoned pros.

At just five tracks, the band makes sure there are no fillers here. We already got a taste of Jack Runaway with the singles “Ready to Know You” and “Never Know,” and they’ve wasted no time releasing another single, “Dijonnaise” in tandem with this EP. Any one of the songs on Drinking Alone could be a single though. Each one has a cool, sexy self-assuredness about it, a real rockstar vibe that simmers just below the surface.

I don’t think it’s any coincidence “Ready to Know You” is the EP’s opener. It’s the song that made me fall for Jack Runaway. Hearing it again reminds me just how much I dig the band and primes me for what will come next. “Moonblocks” is such a natural second track, with the easy groove of its verses and the anthemic chorus. There’s a freedom to it that makes me want to pack up my car and drive somewhere, anywhere. “Never Know” and “Dijonnaise” are straight-up rock tracks, with fuzzy guitars and unbridled choruses. The title track has a real pathos about it, so it’s a curious choice for a closer. However, Jack Runaway aren’t an act that likes to play by the rules. Perhaps ending on a downer was a strategic decision though, as it compels the listener to hit play once again.

Like the best EPs, Drinking Alone is a collection of songs that leaves us wanting more. It’s out now. See Jack Runaway play Clancy’s Fish Pub in Fremantle on August 31.

Image used with permission from Firestarter Music

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

“Ten Steps to Cynical Thinking” – The Barren Spinsters

When you slip on an album by a Canberra band called The Barren Spinsters with a name like Ten Steps to Cynical Thinking, you have an inkling you’re in for a good time. But I didn’t quite expect the bluesy collection of songs set to delight my senses this week. I’ve been immersing myself in this album but the last week, and I’m not quite ready to come up for air.

These guys have such a great retro sound. I love the soulful backing vocals and driving drums in the explosive lead track “Hey Ruth,” a song which fondly remembers a former employee who dated TISM’s manager. The single “West of the Happiness” escaped my attention on its release but it’s so much fun with witty lyrics and a cool country-blues-rock flavour. “Step Down” feels like a classic cowboy ditty, but its words give it a subversive modern bent that’s irresistible. “Just the Way You Are” also flips our expectations in the best, bluesiest way possible.

Speaking of lyrics, these guys have a way with words. With a biting sense of humour and a strong sense of rebellion, make sure you play the album a few times to catch every turn of phrase. It’s so easy to get caught up in cool guitar licks and harmonicas, but those lyrics are undeniably clever.

Ten Steps to Cynical Thinking caught my attention early but didn’t let up, with standout songs right throughout. It’s the sort of album I’d play my dad to convince him people are still making good music. It’s got such an accessible sound underpinned by classic influences, from swamp rock to country to good old-fashioned blues. But it’s no mere carbon copy of what’s come before. There’s a delicious edge to their sound that makes The Barren Spinsters much more than a retro throwback.

Ten Steps to Cynical Thinking is out now. The Barren Spinsters are currently touring the album all around the country. Catch them at the following venues.

24 August 2019 – Capital Brewing Co., Canberra
8 September 2019 – Jamison Oval, Reclink Club, Canberra
4-6 October 2019 – Caloundra Music Festival, Caloundra
5 October 2019 – The Imperial Hotel, Eumundi
18-20 October 2019 – Kangaroo Valley Folk Festival, Kangaroo Valley
16 November 2019 – Healsville Music Festival, Healsville
22-24 November 2019 – Queenscliff Music Festival, Queenscliffe

Image used with permission from The Right Profile