Tag: rock

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

Bonez & Barefoot Alley Bringing Back Rock

Australia has such a rich tradition of creating great rock acts, but in recent years the genre seems to have lost its way. Other than the classic acts who are still slugging it out, who was the last pub rock act that you can recall? Sydney’s Bonez and Brisbane’s Barefoot Alley consider themselves to be part of the new breed of rock, so they’re teaming up to bring the genre back to the masses on their Make a Scene tour.

Bonez have really impressed me with their new single “Lemonade,” a cleverly crafted rock track with funky vocal licks and big crunchy chords. The song’s the first lifted from the band’s soon-to-be-released EP Let’s Get Weird.

“Australia’s ready for a new scene,” explained Bonez frontman Tomi Gray. “Think the 90s grunge scene, the 80s hard rock scene. So many great bands underground toiling away around the nation. We want to be at the forefront of the revival”.

Bonez are taking Barefoot Alley along for most of the ride, a bluesy rock act with the hottest brother and sister team since the White Stripes. They recently wrapped up a team with Lepers and Crooks so they’re going to be in fine form when they hit the stage. They’re preparing to release a new single “Take a Guess” in mid-February.

If you’ve missed good Aussie rock in pubs, make sure you get out and support these exciting new acts at the following gigs.

26 January 2015 – Blues Rock Fest @ Redland Bay Hotel, Brisbane
29 January 2015 – Sonny’s House of Blues, Brisbane (Bonez only)
30 January 2015 – The Spotted Cow, Toowoomba
31 January 2015 – Sonny’s House of Blues, Brisbane
5 February 2015 – Frankie’s Pizza, Sydney (Bonez only)
6 February 2015 – Brighton Up Bar, Sydney (Bonez only)
7 February 2015 – Dicey Rileys, Wollongong (Bonez only)
19 February 2015 – Transit Bar, Canberra
20 February 2015 – El Topo, Bondi
21 February 2015 – The Pier, Port Macquarie
28 February 2015 – Captain Cook Rooftop Party, Sydney
1 March 2015 – Flow Bar, Old Bar
4 March 2015 – Hamilton Station, Wollongong
5 March 2015 – The Espy, St Kilda
6 March 2015 – Brunswick Hotel, Melbourne
7 March 2015 – The Catfish, Fitzroy
8 March 2015 – The Lucky Coq, Prahran
11 March 2015 – RAD, Wollongong
13 March 2015 – Irish McGanns, Roma
14 March 2015 – Mary’s Commercial Hotel, Dalby
15 March 2015 – Miami Shark Bar, Gold Coast
20 March 2015 – Redland Bay Hotel, Brisbane
21 March 2015 – Mojo Burning Festival, Brisbane
22 March 2015 – Sounds of Sunday, Gold Coast (Bonez only)

Image used with permission from Beats Cartel

Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The X Factor Rocks

The X Factor contestants came out ready to rock at this week’s performance show.

Young Men Society kicked things off with their take on the Run DMC and Aerosmith classic “Walk This Way.” These guys have set such a high bar in previous weeks, so I felt a little let down by this. The vocals got patchy in places, which is something we haven’t seen from them before. But they always entertain, so I can forgive them a few pitch problems.

Christina Parie brought things back to the naughties with her take on “Gives You Hell.” She nailed the attitude and the vocals, but I was a bit torn on the song choice. Luke Jacobs raised my expectations when he announced the contestants would be singing “classic rock songs.” This is hardly a classic, and when you consider the history of rock music it’s a pretty dodgy choice. Perhaps such a contemporary song helped Christina relate to it, but I would have loved to see a song with a bit more cred.

Speaking of songs with cred, Andrew Wishart brought us the Cheap Trick hit “The Flame.” But this was about more than simply choosing a great song. For the first, and hopefully not the last, time in the competition I really felt it. It’s one thing for him to feel connected to a song, but it’s another very special thing for him to make us feel that connection. That was incredible.

And then we had Johnny Ruffo. In a way I felt a bit sorry for him taking the stage after Andrew. It only exposed just how lacking in emotional heart his version of “Here Without You” was. It was pitchy, but to me that lack of conviction was much more disappointing. I didn’t believe he was longing for anyone.
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Posted on by Lauren Katulka

The X Factor Rocks

This week The X Factor contestants came ready to rock. But did they succeed?

Sally Chatfield started the show with a bang with Paramore’s “Decode.” I agree with Ronan that it was a bit safe, but when she delivers it’s hard to be too critical. I thought she definitely brought her own flavour to it and sounded brilliant.

I was so inspired and hopeful while watching Mitchell Smith’s package, listening to him speak about how he’d gone walkabout and was coming back to the music he loved. But his performance of “Jessie’s Girl” let me down all over again. I am the biggest 80s loving Rick Springfield fan, but this just wasn’t the song for him. I can enjoy anyone doing this song, but it also felt cheesy and a bit artificial. It was just okay for me, and any points I gave it are mostly because I love the song.

Hayley Teal brought things back with Led Zeppelin’s “Whole Lotta Love.” She’s such a sexy girl, but I felt like this is the first time we’ve had a performance to match that sex appeal. It was smouldering and natural and just sublime. She might have always envisioned herself as the soul girl, but I think there’s a rock chick begging to be explored.
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