Category: Live Performances

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Australian Idols Sing American Hits

My Australian Idol update’s coming a little late this week, as I only arrived home from Brisbane late last night. More on that later, but for now here’s what went down when the final four tackled Hits from the USA, under the thoughtful and hilarious guidance of Chris Isaak.

Wes Carr kicked us off with a rocking number from The Killers. “When You Were Young” isn’t my favourite song in the world, but I think Wes’ passion brought it into a new, bigger space. He commits to every song 110%, and I think that’s why he’s soaring through this competition. Wes clearly relished the opportunity to sing two songs, choosing something completely different for his final performance. We’ve all heard “What a Wonderful World” a zillion times, but his stripped back acoustic take brought new life to this American classic. At this point I think it’s safe to say that Wes can do no wrong.

Someone who can do wrong is Teale Jakubenko. When he’s good he’s very very good, but when he’s not he’s mediocre. Unfortunately despite two song choices, Teale couldn’t do anything to really impress me tonight. His version of “No Such Thing” lacked the edge and passion he really needed to emote the lyric. And while Justin Timberlake might be the flavour of the month amongst young girls, I don’t think Teale did himself any favours by picking “What Goes Around.” It was competent, but competent doesn’t earn you a place in the top three.

Mark Spano made some brave choices this week, and I think they paid off. First up he tackled one of Chris’ own songs, the throbbing “Baby Did a Bad, Bad Thing.” This song is incredibly difficult to sing but Mark managed to nail the falsetto chorus and the sultry verses. Next up he showed us his sensitive side with REM’s monster ballad “Everybody Hurts.” I loved the grit in his voice, and the passion of his delivery. Mark is definitely peaking at the right end of the season.

It was a mixed night for lovable shearer Luke Dickens. His first song choice, “With Arms Wide Open” by Creed, was spot on. Luke channelled all the emotion he felt about the birth of his son into this moving ballad. I’ve never really liked this song either, but I loved it tonight. That’s the mark of a true performer. But it was a different story for his second song. “One of These Nights” by The Eagles is one of my favourite songs. But Luke just cruised right on through it, with none of the intensity and storytelling this classic slice of rock deserved. That could be the most lacklustre end to an Idol show ever.

After a night which saw some great performances, and some not so great ones, I think Teale’s number might be up. After so many weeks in the bottom three, he always needed to pull out something sensational to stay. He didn’t.

Image source: Paul Goyette @ Flickr

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Australian Idols Do Michael Jackson

This week the Australian Idol contestants tackled the music of the King of Pop, Michael Jackson. He might have gone a little wacko over the years, but it’s impossible to deny the genius of his musical output. Our Idols showed they were up to the challenge with some exceptional performances.Even guest judge Jermaine Jackson thought so!

Teale Jakubenko kicked things off with a sultry version of “Billie Jean.” It took me a little while to warm to this as it was a carbon copy of the rendition American Idol winner David Cook did earlier this year. But by the end he had me. Teale’s voice is getting better and better, and he brought an emotional intensity that really tapped into the lyric.

Next up we had self-confessed Jacko fan Mark Spano with a song he felt reflected his personality rather than his ability: “Bad.” The problem with this song is that the verses tend to operate on one level. The choruses really kicked, but by the time they came in most people had already changed channel or started a conversation.

Chrislyn Hamilton was ambitious, taking on the monster hit “Thriller.” It was always going to be a big ask, and she just didn’t have what it took to carry this off. There wasn’t quite enough energy, and combined with some pitch problems a great song became a little lacklustre.

Luke Dickens followed with a very smart choice: a bluesy cover of “The Way You Make Me Feel.” When I saw he’d picked this pop classic I was really nervous, but his rootsy makeover was right in the pocket. He took a risk here but it definitely paid off. For a man who was a sheep shearer a few months ago, his musical instincts astound me.

Wes Carr closed the night with a showstopping version of “Black or White.” This is what a Michael Jackson song should be: pure unadulterated fun. He held nothing back here and I reveled in it. I actually gave him a standing ovation in my lounge room. There are not enough superlatives to describe how good this was.

We’re really getting to the pointy end of the competition, and I’m a little worried Mark Spano won’t be around to see it. Chrislyn didn’t have her finest performance either, but as the only girl left she might be given another chance. All will be revealed tomorrow night on the verdict show!

Image source: Tipoyock @ Flickr

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Live and Local @ Lizotte’s, Kincumber – 29 October 2008

Last night I headed to Lizotte’s to catch their Live and Local music showcase. These nights are a wonderful initiative designed to encourage music fans to get out midweek and discover some wonderful new talent. We were lured there by former Australian Idol contestant Ben McKenzie’s slot on the bill, and were delighted to find he wasn’t the only artist worth seeing.

Joe Kalou was first up with a set of originals peppered with a few crowd-pleasing covers. This was music at its most basic, and its most pure. An acoustic guitar, some cleverly crafted lyrics, and a sweet voice is all you really need to captivate an audience. His flawless good looks don’t hurt either! Joe had the audience in the palm of his hand, and when he broke into his own renditions of Ben Harper’s “Steal My Kisses” and Jason Mraz’s “I’m Yours” we were all happy to sing along.

Hayden French followed with his unique blend of pop, soul, and blues. As I listen back to his recordings on his MySpace I remember just how good his music is, but for some reason his performance didn’t draw me in. Technically Hayden and his band were beyond reproach, but right now they seemed to be missing that X factor. Still, with songs this good it’s only a matter of time before it all clicks. Maybe I’d have been a little more receptive if I wasn’t so tired!

Mark Cashin and The Lil Hussy’s woke me up with their explosive rock numbers. These guys were a real surprise package. They took the stage looking like they’d just stepped off a pirate ship, but delivered surprisingly rich acoustic rock numbers in the vein of Fuel or Stone Temple Pilots. Mark Cashin is a charismatic frontman, and his supporting musicians are all top notch. All the right elements were there, and I was sorry to see their set end.

Ben McKenzie closed the show with a set that can only be described as sublime. Ben first captivated me on the last season of Australian Idol. He’s clearly left the show behind him though, relishing the opportunity to perform his originals. He still dabbles in cover versions, but they’re more obscure choices than the judges would ever approve of. Songs by George, Angus & Julia Stone, and Brooke Fraser seem right at home next to Ben’s own lush compositions. He becomes one with the piano, and it’s impossible to look away. Again, Ben’s set was over far too soon.

With bellies full of delicious Lizotte’s food and our heads full of such amazing music, my husband and I left determined to visit another Live and Local showcase. What a wonderful way to break up your working week! Click here to see who’s playing at the next one!

I know we aren’t all lucky enough to live close to Lizotte’s, so here’s a video of one of Ben’s original songs for all those fans out there!

Image source: Stephen Katulka

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Australian Idols Do Rolling Stones

This week our Australian Idols took on songs from British rock gods The Rolling Stones. We knew the tunes would be killer, but could our talent show hopefuls rise to the challenge? Read on to find out!

Wes Carr opened the show with a blistering performance of “Jumpin Jack Flash.” It was flawless, from the raspy rock vocals to the Mick Jagger strut. He is such a consistent performer, yet he’s never plateaued. What a great way to start the show!

Roshani Priddis was up next with “Wild Horses.” The comments from the judges weren’t exactly glowing, but I was mesmerised. There’s a sincerity and a vulnerability about Roshani that just draws you in. I loved this simple arrangement and her emotive, yet restrained, delivery. The chorus could have done with a little more desperate emotion in fitting with the lyrics, but I still really enjoyed this.

Luke Dickens was right in the pocket with his take on “Honky Tonk Women.” This bluesy Stones classic was the perfect choice for Luke’s rough and ready voice. He’s performing more confidently week after week, and it’s a joy to see this rough diamond developing. Guys like Luke are what Australian Idol is all about.

This week Teale Jakubenko was back to his best with “You Can’t Always Get What You Want.” He stripped it bare and this really allowed his vocal skills and musical talent to shine through. I’m a sucker for a good guitar boy, so this was right up my alley.

I was a bit nervous when Chrislyn Hamilton admitted that she didn’t know much about the Rolling Stones, but I didn’t need to be. Chrislyn shines when she inhabits a sassy space, so “Get Off My Cloud” was the perfect choice. I remember seasons past where people tripped up over the themes they were unfamiliar with, but this current crop handle it like pros!

It might be the high of just watching it, but I think Mark Spano’s version of “Angie” could be the performance of the season. I was excited about seeing him play the acoustic guitar. I was excited about seeing him sing my favourite Stones song of all time. And it all came together with such raw masculine intensity. Brilliant stuff!

What a fantastic show! It only gets harder to pick the bottom three, let alone the person who’s going to go! I usually put forward my thoughts, but I just don’t know! What do you think?

Image source: SpreePIX Berlin @ Flickr

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Australian Idols Do Motown

This week the Australian Idols had the perfect platform to shine. It was Motown week: a theme that gave everyone the chance to wrap their vocals around some of the world’s greatest songs. And with Guy Sebastian sitting in as special guest judge and mentor they couldn’t go wrong! Or could they? So who rose to the challenge? Read on to find out!

Mark Spano was up first with “You Keep Me Hangin’ On.” I was a bit nervous about this, predominantly because I hate the song. It doesn’t matter who does it: The Supremes, Kim Wilde, Human Nature … I’ve hated every version I’ve heard. But I didn’t completely hate this. While he looked a little awkward doing the Motown dance moves, I was thrilled Mark embraced the theme and gave it his everything. It could have done with a little more life, but it was a solid start.

Sophie Paterson was up next with “Papa Was a Rolling Stone.” Again, this isn’t one of my favourite songs, but I really admired the attitude she gave it. It allowed us to see that sassy side which has been dormant for a little while, and I found that really enjoyable.

Luke Dickens channeled all the energy he felt from the birth of his new son into his performance of “My Girl.” Now I’m convinced I must be hormonal, because this gave me tears. It wasn’t the best performance. There were definitely pitchy moments. But the emotion behind it tipped me over the edge. It was awesome to see Luke trying something new and exploring his sensitive side.

Teale Jakubenko took on “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” this week. Vocally, he nailed it. But for me it was total cheese. I felt like I was watching something from a cruise ship. I was surprised no one called him on it, because for me it was cringeworthy. I was waiting for him to wink knowingly at the camera. I still like him a whole lot, but this just didn’t work for me unless I closed my eyes.

Chrislyn Hamilton told us all to “Get Ready” with the Temptations classic. It even scored a touchdown from Guy! I absolutely loved this. It was the first star performance of the night. It had so much energy and attitude, and we were all happy to go along with her for the ride. This was just so much fun.

Initially I felt Wes Carr copped out by choosing “If I Were a Carpenter.” Yes The Four Tops recorded it, but so many others had and I just knew Wes wouldn’t take the Motown route with it. But then he sang, and I just didn’t care. It was just so good, so sincere, so heartfelt. So what if he didn’t bring us Motown? He brought us a damn good rendition of a wonderful song.

I was so excited when I heard Roshani Priddis was singing “Reflections.” But sometimes hearing the spoilers can be a bad thing. Sometimes I think it can make you expect too much. I absolutely love that song, but it just didn’t work for me. There were flashes of brilliance, but I’m used to a whole song of brilliance from Ms Priddis.

It’s getting harder and harder to pick who’s going home, but I think either Teale or Sophie’s run might have come to an end. They’re serial offenders in the bottom three, and you just have to wonder how long they can keep on hanging in there.

Image source: Sunrise.seven @ Flickr

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Australian Idol Rocks

This week our Australian Idol hopefuls were ready to rock, with the help of special guest mentors Kirk Pengilly and Tim Farriss of INXS. Kirk also stepped behind the judge’s desk to offer his advice on the performances.

Luke Dickens is one of those performers who’s made to rock, and perhaps that’s why I was a little disappointed this week. “Are You Gonna Go My Way” is a fantastic song, but it was slightly underdone here. Maybe it was just lacking in those soul undertones? Once he stepped away from the microphone it definitely kicked up a notch, but it was all just OK for me.

When I heard Thanh Bui was doing Linkin Park’s “Shadow of the Day” I was a bit nervous for him, simply because I think Linkin Park are whiny and annoying. Thankfully this wasn’t. I was pleasantly surprised by this, although again it wasn’t anything that wowed me.

Sophie Paterson chose “Ana’s Song” and it was the first time I really cared tonight. Perhaps it’s because it came from such a personal place, but I thought this was very convincing. There were some pitchy parts, but the emotional intensity carried it through.

Teale Jakubenko chose one of my favourite songs, “Slide” by The Goo Goo Dolls. There wasn’t anything revolutionary here, but I think the awesomeness of the song chose through. Of course I’m kind of biased when it comes to this song, but I had great fun.

Roshani Priddis left soul behind to tackle “The Pretender” by the Foo Fighters. There were some pitchy moments here and there, but I love the way she embraced the genre. She worked hard to perform the pants off it and give it all the energy it needed. She held nothing back, and that’s what rock is all about.

Wes Carr followed in the footsteps of one of the great rock bands, U2, with his version of “Desire.” Honestly, I’m one of the few people in the world who don’t actually like U2, so that might cloud how much I enjoyed it. In terms of song choice, it wasn’t my favourite, but he was an absolute rock star. I loved his energy and intensity in terms of performance.

Chrislyn Hamilton took on No Doubt’s modern classic “Don’t Speak.” I hated the first half of it to be honest, and I think that was mostly due to the arrangement. The arrangement never really picked up, but Chrislyn has such an intensity that it made it easy to forget about the music behind her. She is so gutsy and genuine and real, and that shone through despite the song’s flaws.

Mark Spano showed a return to form with the Kings of Leon hit “Sex on Fire.” I was relieved, because he was really flatlining. I haven’t seen him this committed in a long while. Everything was just as it should have been, and I ate it up.

Another fantastic night from our Idols makes it really tough to guess who’ll be the one to go. My pick is probably Thanh or perhaps Teale, but I really hope Mr Jakubenko manages to stick around a little longer.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Australian Idol Does ABBA

Tonight was ABBA night on Australian Idol, a theme that was sure to bring some fun, and surprising performances. These restrictive theme nights are always so interesting. We see what the Idols can really do when they’re forced to step outside their comfort. So who soared and who slipped up? Read on!

Chrislyn Hamilton stayed fairly true to the original version of “Mamma Mia,” but I didn’t mind at all. It’s a really fun song, and she definitely had fun with this. It wasn’t her best vocal performance but it definitely had its moments. She’s a real entertainer though, and it’s easy to forgive the flaws because she’s just a joy to watch.

I thought it would take a miracle to make ABBA cool. Instead it took Sophie Paterson. Her stripped back mellow version of “Gimme Gimme Gimme” took it out of the disco and into the 21st century. It was incredibly smart because people are going to remember it. Sophie’s really hit her strides in recent weeks, so hopefully we’ll see her out of that dreaded bottom three again.

Thanh Bui showed us exactly what he should be doing in this competition with his rendition of “The Winner Takes it All.” I think maybe sitting at the piano forces him to be still, and that gets rid of the cheese factor we’re used to seeing from him. I hope we see a lot more of this Thanh, as opposed to boy band Thanh, because this Thanh rocks. And it was enough to make Marcia give a touchdown! Is it just me or do they mean more this year because Mark isn’t around to give them out willy nilly?

Roshani Priddis took “Money Money Money” to musical theatre, with her fantastic performance. When I heard the song choices for this week this was the only pairing that automatically made sense to me. I’m glad it lived up to my expectations. Roshani is proving to be Miss Consistency in this competition and I’m looking forward to what she brings every week.

Wes Carr excelled with his interpretation of “Fernando.” Wes is always good, but this time he was great. Maybe it’s because I saw him really step out of his comfort zone, but I appreciated this so much. It was true enough to the original not to alienate the older fans, but it was so much cooler. I also loved seeing him play the acoustic guitar again.

Mark Spano rocked out with “Waterloo,” or at least he tried to. Sort of. This is the thing with taking a risk. Sometimes it works, and sometimes it doesn’t. This to me didn’t really work. There were good moments there, but they were few and far between. I wonder whether he would have done better if he’d picked a less iconic song? I’m getting a little frustrated with Mark. He’s my favourite but he just doesn’t seem to be delivering which makes him awfully hard to support.

Madam Parker gave what should have been a fantastic performance of “Dancing Queen.” I really loved the arrangement, especially the start with the drums. But she was just so self conscious. It’s funny, because she really didn’t need to be. She said ABBA was so far out of her element, but it’s really not. If she’d really let go and enjoyed herself we would have done the same thing. Instead it was just OK.

I was a bit surprised that Teale Jakubenko picked “Thank You for the Music,” but I really enjoyed what he did with it. I loved the arrangement, and while his vocals weren’t as consistently strong all the way through it was really enjoyable. I also loved his positive attitude about the theme! Those good vibes really translated to a great performance, particularly when compared to some of those contestants who were a bit anti-ABBA.

Luke Dickens brought his gravelly rock voice to “Knowing Me Knowing You.” I have to admit, this is the first time I’ve really listened to the lyrics and the meaning behind the song. It’s always just sounded so happy, I’d never seen that darkness before! I did worry about how Luke would handle ABBA week, but he did it like a pro. He took all the cheese out of it and I loved it!

I’m actually surprised no one really slipped up! There were some amazing performances tonight, so it’s going to be tricky to pick who goes? I think Mark’s performance was the worst, but I think he’s got enough fans behind him that Madam might be the one who goes. What do you think?

Image source: Peter Forret @ Flickr

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Rob Guest Dies After Stroke

The Australian stage has lost one of its greats. Musical theatre star Rob Guest died last night at the age of 57.

He suffered a massive stroke on Tuesday night, and was taken to St Vincent’s Hospital suffering bleeding from the brain. He never recovered.

The English-born entertainer started his career as a pop star in New Zealand in the 70s before moving to Las Vegas in the 80s. But it was in Australia where he made his home. He came to play Jean Valjean in Les Miserables in 1991 and never left.

But he will be remembered most fondly as The Phantom of the Opera, a role he played a world record 2289 times over a nine-year period.

Before he passed away, Rob was playing The Wizard in the Melbourne production of Wicked.

Rob Guest is survived by his partner Kellie Dickerson and teenage children Christopher and Amy. He will be sorely missed.

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Australian Idols Take on Local Hits

Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, Oi Oi Oi! It was all about patriotism on Australian Idol tonight as our newest talents paid tribute to our local legends. This week’s guest mentor was one of our finest, ex-Savage Garden frontman Darren Hayes.

Thanh Bui kicked it off with John Farnham’s “You’re the Voice.” I’ve always thought Thanh sounded a lot like Farnsy, and I thought this would be a great track to help him break away from the boy band mould. In the verses I felt like he didn’t quite sing with the authority the song called for, but in the choruses he soared. He’s got so much potential, and I just hope he gets the time on the show to realise all of it.

If they were still handing out touchdowns on Idol, Chrislyn Hamilton would have scored another with her take on Tina Arena’s “Chains.” As everyone else seemed to, I had my reservations about this one. I felt like she just hadn’t lived enough to perform this song effectively. Boy was I wrong. I got chills and a little teary watching her. She committed to this 100% and gave it her all. Wow and double wow.

Tom Williams came out next with Evermore’s “Light Surrounding You.” I will say this: it was better than last week. Having said that, I still hated it. It was just so boring. While there were some nice notes in there, there were also some clangers. I wasn’t engaged in any way, shape, or form. It all just operated on one level and I was glad when it finished so we could get on with the show.

I’m not quite sure what it is about Teale Jakubenko. When he stands behind a microphone I am so engaged, but then he steps away from it and he loses me a bit. Maybe he starts to think too much about performing rather than actually doing it. And I really don’t think the song helped him either. It’s a fantastic song, but one that spends a lot of time operating on one level. Personally I felt dropping to his knees at the end was complete cheese. But like Thanh, he’s really growing and that’s exciting. His voice especially is only getting stronger.

I’ve been saying all week that I really hoped one of our soul girls tackled Renee Geyer’s “Heading in the Right Direction.” I’m glad the one who did was Roshani Priddis. I loved what she did with it, the way she slowed it down and stripped it back and let the lyrics really shine. I was captivated from start to finish and I believed every word she sang.

Wes Carr rocked the pants off The Easybeats’ “Friday on my Mind.” Every week he just delivers a solid, confident performance and it’s a joy to watch. It looks like Wes enjoyed performing this one as much as I enjoyed watching it!

I was going to be disappointed if Luke Dickens didn’t bring out a little Barnesy. I was pleasantly surprised that the number he chose was Cold Chisel’s “Flame Trees.” It’s such a beautiful song, and I think Luke did it justice. To think that he went from being so sick he couldn’t talk to singing this well is phenomenal.

Sophie Paterson is back! I think that having Darren Hayes as a mentor couldn’t have come at a better time because he brought back the vulnerable quirky girl that we all originally fell for. I’m not a fan of “Don’t Hold Back” by The Potbelleez, but I loved this stripped back ballad version. I agree with Darren: if she’d done it up tempo I would have hated it. Instead I was mesmerised from start to finish, for not the first time tonight!

Mark Spano busted out a little more John Farnham: this time “Age of Reason.” In an Australian hit show too much Farnsy is never enough. It was good, but not great and I can’t exactly put my finger on the reason why. He sang well, he performed well, but ultimately it was forgettable. I’m still a fan, but with so many great people in the comp he really needs to lift his game.

Madam Parker closed the show with The Veronicas’ “Hook Me Up.’ It just didn’t work. The vocals were shaky and she just looked a bit lost out there. Even if she had nailed the vocals this isn’t really one of those songs that allows you to show off. It’s all about attitude, and Madam just didn’t bring any. I guess I admire her trying to step out of her comfort zone, but I also wonder whether she just didn’t have enough knowledge of Aussie music to pick the right song.

I’m almost ready to give away picking who’s going because I never seem to get it right! Again, I really think Tom’s time is up but I know to never underestimate the power of those squealing kiddies. Given that I think perhaps Teale or Thanh’s time might be up.

Image source: Newscom

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Delta Goodrem Wows Letterman

Delta Goodrem made quite an impression when she appeared on American chat show The Late Show with David Letterman last night.

Delta looked gorgeous in a black gypsy-style blouse as she performed her Australian number one “In This Life.”

David was visibly impressed by Delta’s performance, which he called “beautiful.”

If you couldn’t stay up late enough to see it, here it is!