I was already pretty hyped for the release of Charlie Collins’ sophomore album, but hearing the fourth single from that release has made me want to listen even more. “Backseat Valentine” is an absolute banger, the sort of track that makes you want to turn the music up, dance with abandon, and sing into a hairbrush. The song is a bit of a left-turn for Charlie, but I like it!
“I’ve never written a song like that ever,” she said. “It’s embracing, the real fucking wild side of me, I love to go crazy and do spontaneous things sometimes.”
Fresh from supporting Gang of Youths in the UK and Ireland, Charlie is ready to make music for fans here at home. Her album Undone drops on April 29, the day before Charlie’s East Coast album launch tour begins.
30 April 2022 – Black Bear Lodge, Brisbane
5 May 2022 – Northcote Social Club, Melbourne
14 May 2022 – Oxford Art Factory, Sydney
Image used with permission from Island Records Australia
Listening to Josh Setterfield’s new single “Better Off,” it’s hard to believe that before 2016 he was fronting a pop-punk band. These days he’s a bona fide country artist, although he does bring a little more edge to his tunes than the average country star. This track is pure feel-good fun, with a hooky chorus that should have you singing along before those final guitar chords.
“We all know something we could be better off without, whether it’s a toxic relationship, friendship, bad habit or even in 2022 … Covid! I hope this song sparks something in people to help make the change or decision they need to improve their own lives … to be better off,” Josh said.
Josh is joining Casey Barnes on plenty of shows over the next few months. If you love modern country, you won’t want to miss these shows.
11 March 2022 – Yamba Bowling Club, Yamba
23 April 2022 – Longyard Hotel, Tamworth
29 April 2022 – Harvey Road Tavern, Gladstone
30 April 2022 – Great Western Hotel, Rockhampton
6 May 2022 – Cambridge Hotel, Newcastle
14 May 2022 – Dalrymple Hotel, Townsville
20 May 2022 – Racehorse Hotel, Ipswich
21 May 2022 – Miami Marketta, Gold Coast
19 August 2022 – NQ’s Rockin’ Country, Mackay
Ahead of their Aussie tour, Polish Club are back to rock you with their latest single “Unstable.” Doing mid-tempo rock well is a bit of an art, but Polish Club nail it here. It’s even got a classic guitar solo! John-Henry Pajak and David Novak are on such a roll, and they’re not ready to stop any time soon.
“We found ourselves not wanting to stop the momentum after our last record,” David admitted. “We couldn’t tour, and we had so many good songs left unfinished. So there was zero hesitation when it came to deciding to regroup with Wade in the studio and just punch out some rock songs.”
With COVID restrictions lifted, there are more tickets available for all Polish Club’s East Coast shows but they won’t last long. Don’t muck around if you want to get yourself to one of the following shows:
1 April 2022 – Miami Marketta, Gold Coast
2 April 2022 – The Tivoli, Brisbane
7 April 2022 – The Cambridge, Newcastle
8 April 2022 – UOW Unibar, Wollongong
9 April 2022 – Roundhouse, Sydney
14 April 2022 – The Gov, Adelaide
16 April 2022 – Badlands, Perth (SOLD OUT)
22 April 2022 – Torquay Hotel, Torquay
23 April 2022 – The Croxton, Melbourne
Image used with permission from Island Records Australia
Soulful Melbourne act Velvet Bloom turns on the charm with their latest single “Glimmer.” It’s another sultry number from Velvet Bloom. I really dig its cool jazz-waltz vibe and sweet lyrics.
“I wrote ‘Glimmer’ about my relationship with my mother and how much she inspires me,” explained Velvet Bloom frontwoman, Maddy Herbert. “My dad passed away when I was four and the strength that I saw in my mum following this loss helped to shape my entire being. This song is about expressing admiration for the people who you love and making them aware of how special they are. Some people have a major influence on the way you see the world and if that influence is positive – you should hold them close.”
“Glimmer” is the latest track from Velvet Bloom’s forthcoming self-titled debut EP. Preorders of the limited-edition vinyl are open now ahead of its April 8 release. You can hear some of the new music ahead of time at one of Velvet Bloom’s upcoming shows.
3 March 2022 – Monash Student Union Peninsula, Frankston
12 March 2022 – Run To The Hills @ The General, Mt Hotham
18 March 2022 – Frankston Block Party @ Thompson Lane, Frankston (Duo)
19 March 2022 – Come Together Fest @ Edendale Community Environment Farm, Eltham
25 March 2022 – The Espy @ Melbourne (supporting Death By Denim – Solo)
26 March 2022 – Torch Fest @ Max Watt’s House of Music, Melbourne
Image used with permission from This Much Talent; photo credit: Anthony Rennick, Joshua Davies, and Jess Newton
It’s only early, but 2022 is shaping up to be a pretty exciting year for Western Australian trio Dulcie. They’ve just released a boppy new single “tell ur friends” and they’re currently touring the country with Ocean Alley. Life’s good for this talented trio!
The track is a collaboration between Dulcie and Polarheart’s Chris Chidiac. It celebrates self-worth, something we should all nurture whether we’re in a relationship or enjoying the single life.
“This song came about a bit like Frankenstein – with various bits and bobs picked from previous half-written songs and merged together with a song co-written with Chris Chidiac,” Dulcie explained. “It’s about that awkward ‘what are we’ phase in a relationship and the inner knowing of your own self-worth.”
Those Ocean Alley dates aren’t the only opportunities fans have to see Dulcie in the flesh. The trio can’t wait to get back in front of audiences.
“We’re so excited to be able to FINALLY hit the road and share our new music this February supporting Ocean Alley. It’s been 2 VERY LONG YEARS waiting for this tour to happen. Then we head out on our own headline tour in April! Feels like we’ve re-invented ourselves to a whole new level and can’t wait to show everyone what we’ve been working on and get back to playing across the country!”
Catch Dulcie at the following venues:
18 February 2022 – Hordern Pavilion, Sydney (supporting Ocean Alley)
19 February 2022 – Hordern Pavilion, Sydney (supporting Ocean Alley)
20 February 2022 – Hordern Pavilion, Sydney (supporting Ocean Alley)
23 February 2022 – John Cain Arena, Melbourne (supporting Ocean Alley)
25 February 2022 – Thebarton Theatre, Adelaide (supporting Ocean Alley)
26 February 2022 – Thebarton Theatre, Adelaide (supporting Ocean Alley)
8 April 2022 – Fremantle Arts Centre, Fremantle (supporting Lime Cordiale)
22 April 2022 – The Rosemount, Perth
Sydney indie-rock act Le Shiv have released a triumphant follow-up to last year’s singles “When The Kids Grow Up” and “I’m Fine, I’ve Said Too Much, But How Are You.” The latter was Lime Cordiale’s favourite track of 2021, but I think the newie, “The Wait is Over” might be even better. It’s everything I want a rock song to be, with big bold instruments and an anthemic chorus that encourages you to sing along. Is it a little grandiose? Sure. Is that a bad thing? Not even a little bit.
“The title says it all for us. This was one of those nightmare songs you get every now and then as a musician. A song you can’t finish,” the band admitted. “When I came up with the first idea for the song, I knew it was going to be something good and that feeling was almost a hindrance in finishing it. There was this weird unspoken pressure to make sure the song was something special. So it took over two years to finally finish writing and recording it. When we finally got the master back it was so satisfying to hear the hard work. The wait was finally over. It’s just on to learning how to play it live now, which will probably take another couple years!”
“The Wait is Over” is the perfect way to start what’s shaping up to be a pretty big year for Le Shiv. After writing a whole lot of new songs in lockdown, they’re ready to record. They’re also itching to play live as much as COVID allows. Aussie dates are locked in and they hope some US ones will follow. Here are all the places locals can catch them in the coming months.
5 March 2022 – The Workers Club, Melbourne
12 March 2022 – La La La’s, Wollongong
20 March 2022 – Narrabeen RSL, Narrabeen (supporting Skeggs)
9 April 2022 – The Northern, Byron Bay
10 April 2022 – Mo’s Desert Clubhouse, Burleigh Heads
21 April 2022 – Sol Bar, Maroochydore
14 May 2022 – Waywards, Sydney
Image used with permission from Revolutions per Minute
The Black Sorrows are often referred to as a nostalgia band. The classics still hit the spot all these years later, but the title suggests their best work is long behind them. After hearing their latest single “Saint Georges Road”, the title track from their 2021 album.
This is the song that you need to write after you’ve lived a life. It represents where the Black Sorrows are now, ruminating on mortality and dealing with grief. It’s heavy stuff, but listening to it is uplifting and beautiful.
After a tough year of lockdowns, Joe Camilleri and the band are back on the road doing what they do best.
“I’m just one excitable boy,” he admitted at the prospect of getting back in front of crowds of music lovers. “It’s as joyous as sunset over the Nile or dawn at Uluru … it just feels great to get back to doing what I love”.
No doubt they’ll play all the hits at these upcoming shows, but I hope there’s room in the set for “Saint Georges Road.” It’s a gorgeous song that might just remind everyone that the Black Sorrows are so much more than a nostalgia band.
12 February 2022 – Twilight Sounds, Bundoora
17 February 2022 – The Lounge Royal Hotel, Nundah
18 February 2022 – Beenleigh Tavern, Beenleigh
19 February 2022 – Great Keppel Island, Hideaway
20 February 2022 – Sunshine Beach Surf Club, Sunshine Beach
25 February 2022 – Dashville Skyline, Belford
26 February 2022 – Sunset Sounds, Yarra Valley (afternoon)
26 February 2022 – Lizottes, Newcastle (evening)
27 February 2022 – Lizottes, Newcastle (afternoon)
5 March 2022 – Ghost Rock Wines, Northdown
6 March 2022 – Ghost Rock Wines, Northdown
12 March 2022 – Lucky 13 Garage, Moorabbin
18 March 2022 – Under the Southern Stars, Adelaide
19 March 2022 – The Point, Portsea (afternoon)
19 March 2022 – Bridgeway Hotel, Pooraka (evening)
26 March 2022 – Sunset Sounds, Mudgee
27 March 2022 – The Palms at Crown, Melbourne
31 March 2022 – Princess Theatre, Launceston
1 April 2022 – Rocky Cape Tavern, Rocky Cape
2 April 2022 – Homehill Winery, Huon Valley
3 April 2022 – Scamander Beach Resort, Scamander Beach
9 April 2022 – Sunset Sounds, Gosford
10 April 2022 – Tallagandra Hill Winery, Gundaroo
14-16 April 2022 – BluesFest, Tyagarah
16 October 2022 – Kickstart Summer Concert Series @ Ascot Racecourse, Ascot
After a nearly six-year break, Maison Hall are back together and doing what they love: making music. To celebrate their return, the indie duo has a killer new single “Montreux” that you’ve just got to hear. It’s vibrant and exciting, the perfect marriage of big rock sounds with introspective lyrics.
“Montreux is celebratory,” said one half of the duo, Joe Kneipp. “Not just because we’re still doing this, but because we’re still doing this despite our ‘real-life’ obligations, the distance between us, the total absence of pecuniary success, etc. We are so divorced from any external validations – the simple fact is, I love making music, and I love making music with Ben [Byron]. And we’re gonna keep fucking doing it!”
The song comes with an awesomely creative clip that explores the struggle between creation and survival in the world of capitalism.
“The concept of the clip is pretty on the nose – the juxtaposition between the left and right brain, the creative and the pragmatist, the poetic and the prosaic,” Joe added. “ If you’re a musician, or any creative for that matter, who’s not lucky enough to make all their money from creative endeavours, you’ll understand these tensions. I workshopped it with Ben and then James Cooney, who stars in the clip as the ‘right-brain’ and is part of our live lineup.”
Maison Hall have wasted no time getting back in front of audiences. They made a triumphant return to Brisbane last week and have two more shows to go on their single tour. Catch them at Melbourne’s The Retreat Hotel tomorrow night or Gang Gang Café in Canberra on Sunday.
Image used with permission from On the Map PR; credit: Rylee Olsson
Some songs demand to be played loud. “falling faster slowly,” the latest track from Sydney rock trio RADICALS is one of those songs. Trust me, it’s the only way.
“The song is based around the feeling/experience of taking drugs,” lead vocalist Brandon Wade said. “We wrote the song while on drugs and thought it would be the perfect time to write and encapsulate what and how we were feeling. It was a wild experience and we’re stoked the song turned out the way it did.”
The film clip, shot at Huxley’s in Caringbah by Nelson Faulds from Level 48 Visuals, is suitably trippy. It features live performance footage and wild animations cleverly cut together to represent the song’s mind-altering themes.
RADICALS will support the release of “falling faster slowly” with a string of shows around their home state. It all kicks off tomorrow in Sydney. Check them out at the following venue.
11 February 2022 – The Chippo, Sydney
25 February 2022 – Hijinx Alley, Sydney
13 March 2022 – The Stag and Hunter Hotel, Newcastle
19 March 2022 – Ryans Hotel, Thirroul
2 April 2022 – Yours & Owls Festival, Wollongong
9 April 2022 – Huxley’s, Sydney
What do you say about a band you’ve already raved about so many times? Every time Wanderers dropped a single from their recently released EP, I heaped praise on it. So now that their self-titled EP is out in the world, with just a couple of new tracks, I’m not sure what’s left that I haven’t already said before. However, this EP is so damn good that I can’t let its release go without some kind of fanfare.
So I’ll say this. Drop what you’re doing and listen. While you’re listening, you might want to read back on my reviews for “Malibu”, “Nothing in This World”, and “Penny”. Or maybe you just want to discover for yourself how good their classic rock sound is. Either way, just make sure you’re listening. If you love soulful rock with the retro influence of synths and saxophone, I know you’re going to flip over these guys.
Wanderers will soon jet off to South by Southwest but don’t worry Aussies; they’ll be back before you know it for EP launch shows around the country:
1 April 2022 – The Night Cat, Fitzroy
29 April 2022 – Felons Barrel Hall, Brisbane
30 April 2022 – Waywards at the Bank, Newtown
27 May 2022 – Lion Arts Factory, Adelaide
Images used with permission from Big Oak Records; feature photo credit: Samuel Graves
What do you say about a band you’ve already raved about so many times? Every time