Tag: Josh Pyke

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Harrison Craig Back on Top of Albums Charts

Harrison Craig proves he’s a force to be reckoned with this week with his album More Than a Dream returning to the top of the ARIA albums charts.

It’s a massive feat for the reigning Voice champion, who kept Jay-Z from the top spot and bumped our own Bliss N Eso’s Circus in the Sky down to number three.

Hillsong Live have also fallen with Glorious Ruins slipping from number three to six.

Josh Pyke made plenty of noise on Facebook this week about stores failing to stock his newie The Beginning and the End of Everything, so it’s impressive to see it still managed to snag the number seven spot on debut.

Troy Cassar-Daley and Adam Harvey are also continuing to make an impact on the charts with The Great Country Songbook. It sits at number nine this week.

We’re back to the usual suspects in the singles charts, with stayers Timomatic and Matt Corby sitting at number seven and ten respectively.

Click below for this week’s top tens.

Continue reading “Harrison Craig Back on Top of Albums Charts” →

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Gotye Dominates ARIA Charts

Gotye has scored a chart doubler, taking out the top spots on both the ARIA singles and albums charts.

His single “Somebody That You Used To Know” doesn’t show any sign of budging, taking out the number one possie for the third consecutive week. The album Making Mirrors zoomed into the top spot on the album charts on its debut after selling a massive 35, 000 copies. It’s the first album to achieve these kind of weekly sales all year, and has deservedly received gold status. Something tells me it won’t be too long til it breaks platinum.

An Australian act hasn’t achieved the double since Silverchair did it back in April 2007 with “Straight Lines” and Young Modern. Congratulations Gotye on breaking the drought!

This week isn’t all about Gotye though. After the album charts were looking a little bare, it’s now crowded with Aussie talent. Australia’s Got Talent winner Jack Vidgen achieved an impressive number three debut with his album Yes I Am, beating out Josh Pyke’s newie Only Sparrows which sits at number four. And Boy & Bear are still hanging in there; Moonfire sits at number 9.

Now if only some of those albums can spawn some charting singles! Gotye is currently keeping company with Jessica Mauboy in the top 10. Her latest track “Inescapable” has slipped one and sits at number 5 this week.

Click below for all the chart action.

Continue reading “Gotye Dominates ARIA Charts” →

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Crystal Castles, Josh Pyke Join Falls Festival Bill

This year’s Falls Festival is shaping up to be something pretty special, with Crystal Castles, J Mascis, Josh Pyke, and Papa vs Pretty, DJ Yoda, and Unknown Mortal Orchestra all recent additions to the bill.

The latest group of local and international acts joins already announced headliners Arctic Monkeys, Fleet Foes, The Jezabels, Easy Star All Stars, and Arj Barker. They’ll all play the all ages event in Marion Bay, Tasmania from December 29 to 31 and the adults only version in Lorne, Victoria from December 28 to 31. What a way to ring in the New Year, right?

If the announced acts excite you, make sure you add your name to the ticket ballot on the Falls Festival website before August 5. The majority of tickets will be distributed amongst these Falls enthusiasts before the general sale on August 17.

Image used with permission from Two Fish Out of Water

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Introducing Basement Birds, Australia’s Latest Supergroup

Basement Birds may be a new name on the music scene, but chances are you know these guys already. This new outfit features four of the most talented songwriters in the country: Kav Temperley (Eskimo Joe), Kevin Mitchell (Bob Evans, Jebediah), Steve Parkin (Autopilot), and Josh Pyke.

We’ll get our first chance to hear what magic this quartet can create in late June. Four three-track bundles will be released via iTunes on a fortnightly basis. Acoustic versions of each track will also be released every alternate fortnight. Fans can also enjoy more exclusive content via the new Basement Birds website.

With four such talented members, something tells me Basement Birds are going to be big!

Image used with permission from Riothouse

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Josh Pyke @ Lizotte’s, Kincumber – 27 February 2010

This weekend was busier than most for me; I saw George Michael live on Friday and on Saturday I caught Josh Pyke wrapping up his acoustic tour. While George Michael is at home entertaining the masses in a stadium, Josh Pyke seems made for intimate gigs like that I witnessed at Lizotte’s in Kincumber.

Before Josh even graced the stage I was in a good mood. While the busy restaurants at Sydney’s Fox Studios saw me grabbing a lukewarm pie at the football stadium on Friday, Lizotte’s treated us to a feast. Good wine was paired with delicious dishes like prawn and lobster tail ravioli and chicken breast supreme. I was already grinning from ear to ear when support act Russell Crawford began his set. I liked him instantly, a quirky singer songwriter delivering tunes on keyboards. Think Ben Folds without the angst. His music wasn’t especially challenging, but it was easy on the ear.

But Josh Pyke was the real attraction. When he stepped up the quiet chatter stopped and the room was transfixed. It’s always a treat to see a performer at Lizotte’s, a venue which holds no more than 100 lucky music fans. It takes intimacy to a new level, feeling more like a jam session amongst friends than a concert. Seeing Josh Pyke live makes you realise just how many hits he’s had. While he was still spruiking his latest disc Chimney’s Afire, his set also drew heavily from his breakthrough debut LP Memories & Dust. There were a couple of new tracks too, a hint at what’s next to come. He chatted easily with the crowd, joking with the girls singing along enthusiastically down the front and explaining the inspiration behind many of his songs.

I could not have asked to attend more different concerts this weekend; one a superstar performing on a grand scale, the other a more modest show in a stunning location. Just as I was glad to see George doing his thing on Friday, I am thrilled to have experienced Josh Pyke up close and acoustic at my favourite venue.

Image source: own photos

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Australian Stars Team Up for White Album Tribute Concerts

They say every musician has been influenced by The Beatles in one way or another. So while it seems like a strange match on paper, it may not be so surprising to hear that Chris Cheney, Tim Rogers, Phil Jamieson, and Josh Pyke will team up to perform The White Album later this year.

The shows will take place in August to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the classic album.

“I always loved the sound of The Beatles when they let loose and sounded tough, and to me The White Album has a perfect balance of rock’n’roll abandonment with the incredible songwriting skills they’re so revered for,” The Living End frontman said in a statement.

“The Beatles were the first band that made any kind of impact on me as a kid, curled up in the front room with my parents’ record collection. The harmonies, the deceptively simple songs, and the amazingly creative production are all elements that I still draw upon in my music today,” added Josh Pyke.

The singers will be backed up by a 17-piece band for the event. These shows are sure to be something special. You can get your tickets from May 22 at the usual outlets for the following dates:

4 August 2009 – Hamer Hall, Melbourne
6 August 2009 – QPAC, Brisbane
7 & 8 August 2009 – Opera House, Sydney

Image source: Marco Raaphorst @ Flickr

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Tasty Australian Tunes at Austin’s SXSW Festival

A smorgasboard of local talent will take part in the third annual Aussie Tastes & Tunes concerts at Austin’s famous SXSW festival. The three-day event at the Whole Foods Market will combine two great Aussie loves: great music and delicious food!

Josh Pyke, Angus & Julia Stone, and Andy Bull will headline the event designed to promote musical talent from New South Wales. They’ll play alongside other New South Welshmen Loene Carmen, Kara Grainger, Anthony Snape, and Andy Clockwise. Victoria’s Andy White and The Kin from South Australia will also take part.

Aussie Tastes & Tunes will feature some stripped back and acoustic sets, making them a real treat for the Austin crowd. If you’re in the area make sure you check out the shows from the 19th to 21st of March between noon and 2 pm. The Whole Foods Market is at 525 North Lamar Boulevard in Austin, Texas.

For plenty more about the SXSW festival, make sure you check out our own Austin Sound Check!

Image source: Bratha @ Flickr

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Josh Pyke Guitar Boat Sold

My husband assured me we didn’t have enough cash lying around to buy the guitar boat seen in Josh Pyke’s“Make You Happy” clip. He was right. The awesome piece of music memorabilia has sold for $7100.

Money raised from the eBay auction will benefit the Indigenous Literacy Project, an initiative looking to address the literacy crisis in remote Aboriginal communities.

If you want to see the boat you’d better get in quick. It will be on display at the Australian National Maritime Museum in Darling Harbour until February 19.

Image source: Haveweallgotthebends @ Flickr

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Own Josh Pyke’s Guitar Boat!

From the first moment I saw it, I fell in love with the guitar boat Josh Pyke sails around Sydney Harbour in his “Make You Happy” video. Now it seems I have a chance of owning it.

This awesome boat, created by Maton Guitars, will be auctioned for charity. Josh will donate all funds raised by the auction to the Indigenous Literacy Project.

“Seeing the guitar boat clip spread around the world has been one of the highlights of releasing this album so far,” said Josh. “I love the idea that its charm will now go towards helping something I’m passionate about. Later this year I’ll be launching an event called ‘Busking for Change’ in conjunction with the Indigenous Literacy Project, and the sale of the guitar boat will help to fund this.”

The auction will start on eBay from February 9 and end on February 12. Somehow I don’t think that’s going to give me enough time to raise the cash for this awesome vessel!

Sydneysiders can see the boat at the Australian National Maritime Museum in Darling Harbour until a lucky owner is found!

Image source: Josh Pyke press gallery

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Jessica Mauboy Burns Up the Charts

Jessica Mauboy’s second solo single “Burn” has proven its slow burn appeal, landing at the top spot on the ARIA singles charts this week. With the single debuting eight weeks ago, I’ll bet Jess wondered if she’d ever score that number one!

It’s been a much more meteoric rise for Natalie Bassingthwaighte, who’s rocketed into ninth position with “Someday Soon.” What an awesome effort for its first week in the charts!

AC/DC continue their dominance, outperforming all other Aussie albums with the five-times platinum Black Ice. It’s sitting at number four after thirteen weeks in the charts.

The massive Aussie soundtrack from the even bigger series Packed to the Rafters sits at number eight. Featuring acts like Ben Lee, Josh Pyke, and Gabriella Cilmi it’s little wonder people are buying this one in droves. It sounds like ideal Australia Day barbie music to me!

David Campbell rounds out the top 10 with one of my favourite albums at the moment, Good Lovin’. This is the sixties soul cover album’s highest chart position to date!

Here’s this week’s complete top ten!

Australian Top 10 Singles

  1. “Burn” – Jessica Mauboy
  2. “Poker Face” – Lady GaGa
  3. “Let It Rock” – Kevin Rudolf feat. Lil Wayne
  4. “Get Shaky” – The Ian Carey Project
  5. “Use Somebody” – Kings of Leon
  6. “You Found Me” – The Fray
  7. “Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It)” – Beyonce
  8. “Circus” – Britney Spears
  9. “Someday Soon” – Natalie Bassingthwaighte
  10. “Live Your Life” – T.I. feat. Rihanna

Australian Top 10 Albums

  1. Only by the Night – Kings of Leon
  2. Funhouse – P!nk
  3. Twilight – Soundtrack
  4. Black Ice – AC/DC
  5. The Fame – Lady GaGa
  6. Circus – Britney Spears
  7. Dark Horse – Nickelback
  8. Packed to the Rafters – Soundtrack
  9. I Am … Sasha Fierce – Beyonce
  10. Good Lovin’ – David Campbell