Opossom interview...

Kody Nielson, scuzz-pop tearaway of The Mint Chicks, has gone in a completely new direction under the name Opossom. He is set to take his new album, Electric Hawaii, on tour with Jinja Safari and White Arrows. Carol Bowditch found out more: 

What prompted your decision to start making music on your own?
I've always made music on my own, but I guess it's just the first opportunity I've had
to actually release something of my own.

Are you enjoying the freedom of having sole creative control?
Yeah, I am. I get to take more risks, and try things out.

Can you talk us a little though the creative processes that went into writing and
recording Electric Hawaii? Did you do things very differently this time round?
The main difference was just not having to run ideas by anyone else. It made
everything a bit more experimental and playful.

What are you most looking forward to about your upcoming Australian tour and what should we expect from your live show?
It's always cool playing to new audiences and you should expect a three-piece psych band, playing melodic music with dynamics.

Tell us a little about the name Opossom...
I work at night so I feel nocturnal sometimes. I find it interesting that in New Zealand
people kill possums. They're considered pests here, and sometimes that's how the
country makes me feel. I decided to spell it Opossom, because I wanted to use a
word that didn't exist.

How was your tour with Bic Runga, and who - in an ideal world - would you
like to do a tour with in the future?
The tour was nice. I'd love to play with the Flaming Lips or Danny Brown.

Tell us something we night be surprised to learn about you...
I'm Batman.

THE BLIND DATE TOUR: Jinja Safari, Opossom, White Arrows
Wed 8 Aug: Perth – Astor Theatre - www.bocsticketing.com.au 
Thurs 9 Aug: Adelaide – Uni Bar (Licensed All Ages) - www.moshtix.com.au
Fri 10 Aug: Melbourne – The Hi-Fi - www.hifi.com.au - www.moshtix.com.au
Sat 11 Aug: Melbourne – The Hi-Fi (Under 18s) www.hifi.com.au 
Wed 15 Aug: Canberra – ANU Bar - www.ticketek.com.au
Thu 16 Aug: Newcastle – Bar On the Hill - www.bigtix.com.au
Fri 17 Aug: Sydney – Metro (Licensed All Ages) - www.metrotheatre.com.au 
Sat 18 Aug: Brisbane – The Hi-Fi - www.hifi.com.au

Interview by Carol Bowditch

Georgia Fair to tour with Lisa Mitchell

Simple Man is taken from Georgia Fair’s critically acclaimed debut album All Through Winter and was recorded in the snow-covered mountains of Asheville, North Carolina. The video was directed by Shane McLafferty (Stevie Nicks, Mick Jagger) and filmed in Los Angeles including the same location as the film Drive. Check it out above.

Since the release of their album, Georgia Fair have been busy touring across Australia; most recently with The Panics and Busby Marou, and are now announced as special guests on the Lisa Mitchell ‘Heavenly Sounds’ tour. Following in the footsteps of Seeker Lover Keeper, Lisa Mitchell has announced the Heavenly Sounds tour to launch her new single Spiritus, she will be joined on stage by her band, choir and as she states, “The darling men of Georgia Fair will be kicking off the evening with their floating harmonies! What an incredible tour we have to look forward to."

Tickets for the Heavenly Sounds tour are on sale now. Here are the dates:
Monday June 4th - Christ Church Cathedral, Newcastle, NSW
Thursday June 7th - St Stephen's Uniting Church, Sydney, NSW
Friday June 8th - St John's Cathedral, Brisbane, QLD
Wednesday June 13th - St Michael's Church, Melbourne, VIC
Thursday June 14th - Flinders Street Baptist Church, Adelaide, SA
Friday June 15th - St Joseph’s Church, Subiaco Perth WA

Carsick Cars to play Sydney's FBi Social

What do you know about Chinese music? Not much, we're guessing. What do you know about China's underground scene? Even less. Well, now's your chance to learn. Carsick Cars are known for their sick live shows and have toured the USA and played with Sonic Youth in Europe. As their latest record, You Can Listen, You Can Talk, hits the shelves in Australia, the band are embarking on an Aussie tour. 

On November 3rd, the band hit up our favourite Sydney venue, the award-winning FBi Social. Supported by Mere Women and Rites Wild, this is set to be a top night. A few days earlier, there is Zhang Shouwang solo experimental set at Bobby Six's old haunt, Hibernian House. More details of the FBi gig can be found here. 

Here are the tour dates:

Oct 27 - The Barwon Club, Geelong
Oct 28 – Kipl. Nth Melbourne (Zhang Shouwang solo experimental set)
Oct 30 – The Toff, Melbourne
Oct 31 – the NOWnow, 402@Hibernian House, Sydney (Zhang Shouwang solo experimental set)
Nov 2 – Croatian Club, Newcastle
Nov 3 – FBi Social, Kings Cross Hotel, Sydney
Nov 4 – house show, Canberra
Nov 5- Woodland Bar, Brisbane