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

Reef cancel Australian tour

Due to a bereavement in the Reef family, it is with great regret that the UK band are cancelling their Australian tour which was set to start on June 1st. There are no plans to reschedule at this point so fans will be able to get a full refund at their point of purchase.

The band would like to extend their apologies to anyone who has purchased a ticket and to thank Select Touring for their understanding at this time.

To dilute your disappointment, you should get your hands on their complete recorded works in an all-encompassing box set. Spanning across their ten year career, the 9 CD and 1 DVD package features every commercial song recorded, including their very first demo, The Purple Tape – which lead to the band being signed to Sony - as well as b-sides, demos, live tracks, rarities and previously unreleased and unheard material. The DVD includes all music promo videos, TV appearances and interviews and some home movie footage capturing the story of this iconic ‘90’s band. Beautifully packaged the box set also contains a 64-page booklet featuring never-before-seen pictures of the band, a 12” vinyl of their newly arranged 5th album (Lucky #5), a vintage poster and a replica demo of their Purple Tape sessions.

The Human Rights Arts and Film Festival Australia

The fifth Australian Human Rights Arts and Film Festival (HRAFF) opened in Melbourne this week. Vinisha Mulani tells us more: 

What started as a group of friends brainstorming in a share-house kitchen six years ago, is now a national film festival in its fifth year, based at the Australian Centre for the Moving Image, has Margaret Pomeranz as a festival patron, includes a music festival, art exhibition, forums and the President of the Maldives doing a live Q&A.

But that's not the sole summary of its success - despite its escalation from the kitchen table to ACMI, the success and soul of the Human Rights Arts and Film Festival lies in its content and intent. As inspiring as the festival's establishment and growth, are its films.

From Wrinkles, a Spanish comical animation about Alzheimer's, to Buffalo Girls, about girls in a Muay Thai child boxing tournament, the films range in topics but are all consistent in how you feel when you leave the cinema. HRAFF films can catapult even the most cynical suit-clad individual into a state of inspiration to change the world for the better. (Just a heads up, Australian Volunteers International and Intrepid Travel - there may be an unexplained exponential increase of people lining up in front of your offices over the next month). The Island President is also a program highlight; an inspiring documentary about the president of the Maldives' and how he tackles his small nation's slow extinction in the face of climate change.

Whatever incredible film you choose to watch at HRAFF, you will have something to gain - whether it be inspiration to do something great, raising your awareness in something you had no idea about, or a window into the life of an individual on the other side of the world.

HRAFF's dates around Australia:
Melbourne 15 – 27 May
Canberra 28 – 30 May
Adelaide 29 May – 1 June
Sydney 29 May – 1 June
Brisbane 5 – 8 June
Alice Springs 8 – 10 June
Byron Bay 12 – 15 June
Perth 14 – 16 June

For more detail on the program in general and to purchase tickets: http://hraff.org.au/
Words by Vinisha Mulani

Missy Higgins returns with single, album and Australian tour

We know what you're thinking. You're thinking, what the hell happened to Aussie songstress Missy Higgins? Well, Missy privately decided to quit music, despite selling over a million copies of her first two albums, gaining multiple ARIA Awards and gold certification in the U.S. for her song Where I Stood. However, after a five year absence, she finally returns with a brand new single Unashamed Desire and the announcement of ‘The Ol’ Razzle Dazzle Tour’ for June and July. This will be Missy’s first national tour in since 2007. 

The story of the journey that brought her back to music - including her battle with writer's block - forms the backbone of her new album The Ol’ Razzle Dazzle which will land in June.

Unashamed Desire was directed by the award winning Natasha Pincus. You'll know Pincus as the director of the clip for Gotye's Somebody That I Used To Know, and the connections continue as Missy recently joined Gotye on stage in San Francisco to perform Kimbra’s vocal part on that song. The pair also teamed up again for a sold out show in Los Angeles the following night.

We checked out Missy's exclusive performance in Bondi last week, where she debuted songs from her forthcoming record. You can finally do the same at the following venues. Tickets went on general sale this morning, so get busy:

Fri June 1:  Adelaide, Her Majesty's Theatre www.bass.net.au / 131 246
Sat June 2:  Perth, Astor Theatre www.bocsticketing.com.au / 08 9484 1133 / 1800 193 300
Wed June 6:  Brisbane, The Tivoli www.ticketek.com.au / 132 849
Fri June 8:  Sydney, York Theatre, Seymour Centre http://sydney.edu.au/seymour / 02 9351 7940
Mon June 11: Wollongong, Illawarra Performing Arts Centre: www.merrigong.com.au / 02 4224 5999
Wed June 13:  Newcastle,  Newcastle  City Hall www.ticketek.com.au / 132 849
Thu June 14:  Canberra, Canberra Theatre www.canberratheatrecentre.com.au  / 02 6275 2700
Fri June 15:  Geelong, Geelong Performing Arts Centre www.gpac.org.au / 03 5225 1200
Sat June 16:  Melbourne, Her Majesty's Theatre www.ticketek.com.au / 132 849
Fri July 27:  Mackay, Mackay Entertainment Centre www.mackaytix.com.au / 07 4961 9777
Sat July 28:  Rockhampton, The Pilbeam Theatre www.pilbeamtheatre.com.au / 07 4927 4111
Sun July 29:  Splendour In The Grass, Bryon Bay moshtix.com.au / 1300 GET TIX (438 849) from 9am AEST Friday 27 April

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

This Must Be The Place ticket giveaway!

Okay, so any movie which has David Byrne in it and features a fair amount of Will Oldham on the soundtrack was always gonna appeal to us. Add to that Sean Penn as a perplexingly funny goth rocker and the ever-wonderful Frances McDormand as Penn's wife, and you have yourself quite the film.

The story is thus: Penn plays Cheyenne, a bored, retired, eye-linered, wealthy American former celeb living in Dublin. He's a complex character, bumbling around town with friends and living in an enormous mansion. When he learns of the death of his father - who he has been estranged from for over 30 years - he returns to America to embark on a road trip that will change him forever. His quest is driven by the revelation that his father was humiliated in Auschwitz at the hands of an SS officer, who may still be alive and living in America. Cheyenne's search takes him across the heartland of a country now foreign to him, encountering some great people as he is reawakened to the possibility of reconciliation and self-discovery.

At first, Penn's character is hard to get a handle on, but soon, his bumbling confusion combined with some cracking one-liners make him genuinely appealing and his journey across The States is intriguing and shot beautifully. This really is a stunning film to look at - an absolute feast for the eyes. While some of the sub-plots serve to confuse, This Must Be The Place is entertaining and at times touching, sad and laugh-out-loud funny.

The good news for you (if you live in Australia) is that Bobbysix.com has teamed up with our mates at Hopscotch Films and have a couple of double passes to give away. All you have to do is send your name and address to info@bobbysix.com with the subject "This must be the place to score a double pass" by April 4th and we'll select the winners at random. The pass is valid at selected cinemas in Sydney, Perth, Brisvegas, Radelaide and Melbs and the film is rated M. 

Smirnoff Presents the DFA Records Stage at Future Music Festival

As they have done in previous years, Smirnoff are getting inventive at Future Music Festival. This year, they are bringing a slice of New York nightlife to the festival by hosting James Murphy’s DFA Records on their very own stage.

Aussie festival-goers will be as good as transported to the heart of New York City with an all-encompassing nightlife experience that will see DFA leading-light Murphy and Pat Mahoney, his partner in the legendary LCD Soundsystem, on headline duties.

DFA Records have always been on the cutting edge of music, having released genre-defining stuff by some ace acts, many of which will be in full effect on the Smirnoff stage at Future Music Festival, including: Hercules & Love Affair, Holy Ghost! Juan MacLean, Benoit & Sergio and Horse Meat Disco.

To the side of the stage, aspiring DJs will be given the chance to experience how it looks to be a headline performer. To capture the moment, their photo will be taken at the ‘Superstar DJ’ booth, against a real crowd backdrop. Photos will be uploaded to the SmirnoffAustralia Facebook page:

The Future Music Festival 2012 takes place on the following dates: 
Brisbane - Saturday March 3, DOOMBEN RACECOURSE
Perth – Sunday March 4, (Labour Day Long Weekend), ARENA JOONDALUP
Sydney – Saturday March 10, RANDWICK RACECOURSE
Melbourne – Sunday March 11 (Labour Day Long Weekend), FLEMINGTON RACECOURSE
Adelaide – Monday March 12 (Adelaide Cup Long Weekend) ELLIS PARK

Tickets are on sale now via Ticketmaster (136 100 or: www.ticketmaster.com.au)

Geoffrey O'Connor interview

Geoffrey O’Connor - known for his work in Melbourne band Crayon Fields - plays this year’s St Jerome's Laneway Festival as a solo artist. Heidi Pett chatted to him about his various name changes, duelling synthesisers and a dream collaboration with Elton John before he loses his marbles:

You’ve previously released solo work under ‘Sly Hats’ - what sparked the decision to use your real name this time?
Sly Hats was a name I just came up with on the spot when I got my first gig. I gradually grew to regret it more and more. I just never really liked the name and I couldn’t see myself releasing albums as Sly Hats, so I thought I’d curtail that and use the name that my mother gave me.

It’s a very personal album in terms of lyrics, did this have something to do with your decision to use your birth name? I guess I’m asking because it might be expected that people distance themselves from the more personal aspects of their own life in their work whereas you’ve gone in the opposite direction.
For this record I actually wanted to make it quite personal. All the songs are based on both experience and observation, which I guess is still all experience. Just something I’m familiar with, really.

Do you find it difficult offering up these things that you’ve created? Knowing they’ve come from somewhere close to you? 
Not at all. In drawing from personal experience I admit certain things and exaggerate other things to make out that I’m a bit of a better guy. There’s still a strong resemblance between the way the stories are told in the songs and what actually happened. I guess with songcraft and that kind of licence you can make yourself out to be better than you actually were in the situations. Little bit of fantasy and exaggeration.

Do you differ in your approach when writing your solo work as opposed to what you’ve done with Crayon Fields? 
I guess with my solo work I’m able to chop and change things a little more. It’s a lot easier for me to rework a song when I’m doing it all by myself. When I’m working with the band I feel like I’m wasting everybody’s time. There’s different levels of preparation involved, different ways of approaching songs. I don’t have to be wary of other people as much when I’m writing for myself.

The latest album does feature a lot of collaborations, though, so how did that work?
I’d bring the songs fully formed. Usually I’d sing their parts first and ask if they wanted to sing the duets. There were a couple of times where somebody asked me if I wanted extra vocals on my records. It worked out really well cause I get a nice variety of different voices and instruments.

How do you set up your collaborations? 
I’ve never approached someone. Never made the cold call. Usually they’re friends because I really like their music and their voice. Not that that’s the way I choose my friends! But that’s often how I get to know people.

Of course. Now, your latest album has been described as having a synthy, power-ballady vibe. Was that a deliberate nod to the eighties? 
It wasn’t a deliberate reference, but I can definitely see where the comparisons come from. I did consciously set out to make a record that sounds very synthetic, which I guess is always going to evoke the eighties a bit. Although, I feel like in 50 years time when synthetic instruments become more familiar to people it will just be seen as another instrument. You know folk musicians use acoustic guitars and it doesn’t really evoke a certain period anymore whereas it might have 30, 40 years ago. It wasn’t a conscious thing, you know? I’m not going to be making a music video where I’m of surrounded by people doing aerobics or anything like that.

I was going to ask about your videos, actually. You’ve collected a fair bit of praise for your previous videos, are you working on some for your solo work? 
I’m making a trilogy of videos, they’re all sort of thematically linked. They’re just fun to make. A little bit morbid but vaguely humorous as well, I hope.

What can we expect from your set at Laneway? 
I’m bringing my band along, which is two synthesisers and this kind of laser machine which kind of acts like a drummer. And duelling synthesisers, which I really enjoy; they kind of flank me on stage.

It sounds like a military operation! 
It is, yeah. *laughs* You should see the rehearsals.

So you’re quite precise in the way that you approach your music? 
Yeah, I like to be thorough in that way, I don’t like to leave things to chance.

Speaking of leaving things up to chance, Laneway is certainly a large production. How do you feel about playing in that sort of environment? 
To be honest part of what appeals to me about playing festivals is the freedom you have to miss bands as much as see bands you really like. There’s something really comforting and satisfying about drinking backstage while you can hear them playing faintly in the background and knowing you might see them next week. It’s a bit perverse really!

I guess when you’ve got any number of opportunities to see them play, you lose the urgency. Is there anybody you’re particularly looking forward to seeing? Making ‘friends’ with on the basis of their musical talents? 
I doubt I’d hang out with them, I never approach my idols! It’s not that I’m shy or anything it’s just not something I’m comfortable doing. I’d feel like the really corny guy.

If, in a parallel universe that was totally socially acceptable, who would you like to work with? 
I’d love to collaborate with Elton John to be honest. *laughs* That would do it for me. While he’s still got half a brain it’d be great. Him and Stevie Nicks, I think that would be a great balance.

If the idea of duelling synthesisers appeals to you, then get yourself along to the St Jerome's Laneway Festival where you can catch Geoffrey O’Connor alongside the likes of Feist, The Drums, Laura Marling and Yuck. For the full lineup and for news on ticket availability, visit lanewayfestival.com.au

Interview by Heidi Pett. 

Husky interview

After a string of festival gigs over the past few months, Melbourne band Husky are closing out their Summer playing the national St Jerome's Laneway Festival. Heidi Pett spoke to frontman Husky Gawenda about his literary influences and thoughts on triple j Unearthed:

“I’d say we’re about songs.” It’s a deceptively simple explanation from Husky Gawenda when asked to define his band and their music. Variously described as indie folk and harmonic pop, favourably compared to the likes of Fleet Foxes and Boy & Bear, Husky have certain a knack for creating gentle melodies that nonetheless stay with you all day. Single History’s Door received extensive radio play on both triple j and Sydney’s FBi, as well as some recent lovin’ in the Bobbysix End Of Year Reviews, and with good reason: it’s an almost perfectly-crafted modern folk offering, sparking all sorts of comparisons with such a range of artists it leaves Gawenda faintly bemused. “I’m always so surprised by how people describe us and the different bands we’re compared to. I don’t always agree or hear the influence and sometimes it’s somebody whose music I’ve never actually heard, but I don’t think there’s any point being precious about it. People will listen to music and want to categorise it. It’s human nature.”

“I can say whatever I want about the songs I write and the sort of music we play, but in the end it doesn’t matter what I think. It matters what you think, it matters what the people who come to our shows think.” It’s an almost postmodern attitude - the death of the author/songwriter in favour of the audience’s interpretation. When I mention this, Husky laughs and admits “Well my father’s a writer and my mother’s an English teacher, so literature and writing was a big part of my upbringing and part of my life as far back as I remember. I grew up reading the classics, novel-wise. Most of the 20th century classics, as well as 19th century English and Russian literature, and a bunch of poets - Dylan Thomas, Wordsworth, those sort of guys. There are musicians as well, who are as much poets as they are songwriters; Leonard Cohen and Bob Dylan, even Paul Simon.” These early literary influences certainly come through in his music, expressed through a strong lyrical component to the songs on debut long-player Forever So.

Recorded in a backyard bungalow in Melbourne’s northern suburbs which the band spent late nights soundproofing themselves with the aid of Youtube tutorials, it was an album Husky says, “we really wanted time and space to record”. Well, that and the fact that before scoring a spot at Pushover Festival thanks to a triple j Unearthed competition, Gawenda admits they were fairly unknown and thus hadn’t the cash to hire a studio and producer. “We wanted the luxury to be able to record songs that we won’t necessarily use. To take the time to write, develop and arrange the album. If we went into a studio and were paying by the hour we wouldn’t be able to do that. It was a mixture of getting the sound we wanted, and just not having the money to record in a proper studio.”

Looking back on their success over the last year, it seems Husky won’t be running into the same problems again. “I think what Unearthed does for bands like us is incredible. It does exactly what it’s supposed to, which is to bring bands to the attention of the public that otherwise nobody would hear of. That’s the beauty of the platform that triple j has, they can pick bands out of near obscurity, and put them on the radio.” Since the release of Forever So in late October, Husky spent some time touring before the busy summer festival season, where they’ve found the crowds, “really embracing and responsive”. Husky notes that the festival circuit is an equally important way for emerging bands to establish themselves. “You get exposed to people who might not know you that well or might not otherwise have come to your show. They discover you for the first time and you get to meet all these people that you otherwise wouldn’t have met. I think festivals are great for all bands, but especially for newish bands like us.”

Having seen them at Woodford Folk Festival over the New Year, I can attest to the fact that they put on a charming live performance which has certainly added to a fan base that has grown exponentially over the past year. Offering something a little different from the current crop of fingerpicking, harmonising folk acts, they’ve attracted praise from high places - triple j’s Richard Kingsmill, for instance, described them as “pure class.” This is something which Husky attributes in part to the varying musical backgrounds within the band. “I think the jazz training that they’ve done over the years have influenced them and it's certainly added to their ability as musicians,” he says of bandmates Evan Tweedie, Luke Collins and cousin Gideon Preiss.

Despite spending a lot of time together growing up in quite a creative family, Husky says he and Gideon, “didn’t really formally play music together until about three years ago. We spent a lot of time listening to music and going to gigs together, but he was on a different path for those early years. He was playing in a lot  of jazz bands and I was kind of just writing songs. Then, about three years ago, we decided to get together and have a play and see how that went.” It seems things have panned out fairly well so far, and Husky agrees. “Even from the beginning it felt right, and it’s never stopped feeling like that.”

Interview by Heidi Pett. For more information on the St Jerome's Laneway Festival, click here.

Yuck interview

Bobby Townsend has a chat with Daniel Blumberg from Yuck about making music and living up to expectations at St Jerome's Laneway Festival:

"I have no idea what to expect." 

Despite taking a trip there to visit family when he was young, Daniel Blumberg has few memories of Australia and little in the way of preconceptions of his band's upcoming debut performances there. He is looking forward to it though. "We toured with Tame Impala and they said it was really great. I've heard [Laneway is] a really good festival too."

Yuck are a four piece - sometimes a five piece - made up of London-based vocalist/guitarist Daniel and guitarist Max, bassist Mariko from Hiroshima, New Jersey's Jonny on drums and part-time fifth member Ilana, who joins brother Daniel for the harmonies on the album and occasionally live. Their record, self-produced and recorded in the homes of Max and Daniel, has received so much acclaim and attention that it has led to the band being on tour pretty much solidly since its release early last year. In May, they sold out headline shows at New York's Bowery Ballroom and the Scala in London, as well as making their debut TV appearance on Later with Jools Holland. Such a hectic schedule means they haven't had much opportunity to look forward to - or even think about - their turn at Laneway. "I need to check the line-up," Daniel laughs as we discuss who he is looking forward to seeing. "We haven't really had time to prepare. I know that it's coming, but we're on a three-month tour so I haven't been thinking that far ahead. When we come back from a tour, we're back for about a day or two and in that time we record a song or paint tour posters. Straight away from the airport I'd be setting up my paints for the poster for the next tour, or we'd go straight to the studio to record a song."

All of which means that, while they put out their own singles, there hasn't been a lot of time to think about a new album just yet. Considering the DIY ethic involved in the first recording, one wonders whether, now that they have a raised profile, they will do things differently next time round? Will they take themselves to a swanky studio in LA, or will it be back to Max's bedroom for a makeshift set-up? "It depends on the songs. Now, more people know our music so maybe there are more possibilities in terms of producers. I guess when we finish writing we will talk about it. But it won't be the same as the last album, because that was all we had equipment-wise."

The band's first record offers many reference points - all the while without sounding derivative in the slightest. For instance, Get Away bursts from the speakers with Pixies basslines, Sonic Youth guitars and Malkmus vocals, the outstanding Shook Down is Teenage Fanclub at their most romantic and Georgia is My Bloody Valentine mixed with The Pains of Being Pure at Heart. It was clearly pieced together with a love of these kind of bands but, joyfully, still sounds fresh and exciting. However, Daniel admits that his interest in the music that influenced Yuck's sound came about relatively late-on. "When I was younger I listened to a lot of Blink 182. I'm not from a family that had lots of records lying about except for things like Joseph and His Technicolour Dreamcoat and Elton John. I did find a Neil Young CD once, which was very rare. I discovered Harvest when I was about 17, and that was when I really started listening to music."

Stumbling upon Neil Young led the singer on all manner of musical paths. "First it took me to Will Oldham, Smog and Lambchop. I remember being blown away by those bands. Then it was Silver Jews into Pavement and then someone recommended Dinosaur Jr. Once you get into those bands, you start noticing the record labels that are putting things out." He starts listing other groups. "Neutral Milk Hotel, Sparklehorse, Royal Trux. There's a band called Video Nasties that changed a lot for me."

And so, influenced by these great sounds, Daniel and his chums crafted an album which has caused such a buzz that they arrive in Australia to a certain amount of expectation from attendees of St Jerome's Laneway Festival. However, the band aren't really feeling any particular weight on their shoulders. "I think I'm detached from those feelings of expectation. I just like the idea of putting on a good show," Daniel shrugs. "The music has gone so much further than we thought, but we're just doing what we're doing. If people don't like it, then we're not going to change. That's pointless."

So honest and exciting is Yuck's sound, it seems hard to imagine people not liking it.

Interview by Bobby Townsend. Find out more about St Jerome's Laneway Festival here. 

The Panics interview

As The Panics prepare to play at St Jerome's Laneway Festival, Heidi Pett spoke to frontman Jae Laffer about Republicanism, Peter Garrett and, of course, their latest album:

Your latest album - and a lot of your output - has been described as cinematic and particularly Australian. What do you think it is about your music that creates this perception? 
I don’t know! *laughs*. I can understand the cinematic thing, on a surface level we have a knack for making sparse and grandiose sweeping... well... pop songs. I kind of understand it and sometimes I think we could do a pretty good job of making a film soundtrack sometime.

As for sounding Australian, it’s kind of flattering. I guess it’s the occasional bit of language or the description of an environment. I don’t set out to write songs that are over-the-top Australian, I think it’s to do with that sparse guitar sound that a lot of Aussie bands can get and that the boys in my band do very well, and mixing that with a certain kind of lyrical delivery. I see where that comes from and it's something that I like in a lot of my favourite bands, so that’s cool.

Did you find there was a certain pressure after the success of 2007’s Cruel Guards? Did it alter the way that you wrote? 
There’s always been far greater pressure from within myself and within the band. [The success of Cruel Guards] made the whole prospect of writing more songs quite exciting, because you get a taste for what it's like when you notice you’re being played in the shops or on the television and you get this great feeling that something you’ve been working on has somehow slipped into popular culture, you get to change the atmosphere around the place just in a small way. You start to think of the possibilities of how that must feel if it’s ten times the size - being played in taxi cabs in America. That kind of crazy idea is really exciting.

I’m in it for the long haul, I want to be making records for many years to come. I have great faith and confidence in what we’ll be able to achieve in the future, I don’t really feel the pressure at this point. I just keep striving to make that great record in my head.

 
This album was written in Salford, a very different environment to what you would have been used to. Do you think that in some way coloured the sound of the album?
I can listen to the songs and hear the main things that colour it and a certain feeling overall. I find it quite claustrophobic in a way. It’s very internal. It’s not always the most uplifting atmosphere that we create! The boys certainly counteract more moody lyrics with some really great and sparse and driving music and it creates this blend. The great thing about trying your luck with different places and different producers is that it all has a great effect on how the record finishes up. If we were recording at Woodstock out in the forest it would sound completely different, likewise if we’d produced it ourselves it would sound different again.

The first single, Majesty, has a certain pro-republican vibe. How have people responded to the lyrics in that one? 
I’ve made a conscious effort not to make it too over-the-top. I don’t think I’m ready for a big political rant of any kind but it’s exciting to have lyrics that are not just about love for a change. I’ve done loads of interviews where suddenly people are asking me about my thoughts on the Queen, or religion or something and it makes life far more interesting!

It's nice to get to an age now where I feel comfortable talking about things in society that affect me and matter to me - to put it on the table. I’m not overly passionate about any particular stance, I just think it’s healthy for people to talk about such things.

It must be nice for people to see you as more than just a one-dimensional character?
Yeah well otherwise you’re just the slightly moody, inward-thinking kinda guy who writes songs about breakups and stuff. Sometimes I think my music doesn’t represent me very accurately. It’s funny that I seem to have so many songs that are so retrospective, when I’m naturally really positive and really opinionated.

No plans to be the next Peter Garrett though? 
I’ve got a great respect for Peter Garrett. When it comes to that highly opinionated and highly political music, it's so hard to get right and I look up to them [Midnight Oil] very much. You don’t choose to go on that path though, you have to be called to it. Though I’d like to get to the stage that if I need to have a conversation on political matters on the television or something like that, I could hold my own. You need people on all sides of the spectrum speaking about what they think is right and what our generation wants to stand for - what we’re prepared to tolerate and not tolerate from politicians. We’re the generation that’s gotta look after the place, it’s worth talking about all things that we want to stand for.

Another thing you seem to be quite passionate about: you’ve mentioned previously that you like to help out other Perth bands, having recently toured with Split Seconds... Do you feel a certain responsibility to the next generation of Australian musicians? 
Not so much responsibility, it’s just one of those things where it feels good to help people out. It’s a real tough slog being in a group, especially form Perth. You’ve gotta spend a lot to get over to the Eastern states and really try to get noticed by the rest of the country. We had a lot of troubles on our way so it's nice to even just be the band that helps out and lets people use your gear.

I spoke to the guys from Georgia Fair a while ago. They said they had a great time on the Rain On The Humming Wire tour, that The Panics taught them a lot and that you were very hands-on with your music. Can you tell me more about that? 
*laughs* That’s a nice way of saying we’re absolutely in poverty and have to do everything ourselves. We lift every box and every amp and we set the whole place up. We like to be hands-on and feel part of everything that’s going on, and I think we just like to be busy, to tell you the truth! We’re very proactive with the whole show. We’re not just going to turn up at showtime, we like treating the whole thing as one big project. It’s good to be in a band that wants to be that hands-on.

I don’t have many rules to go by but all I know is we’ve been together... I don’t even know how many years. Our first EP came out ten years ago and whatever we’re doing we’ve generally done it right. We may not be mega-successful but we get to do things kind of on our own terms, we’ve stayed together and people seem to respect it. I’m very proud of the boys and myself for being persistent and keeping not just the dream but the passion at that high level. We don’t wanna let it get casual. We want to make another record very soon. We’ve managed to stick it out and learn a lot along the way, and we’ve set ourselves up to be in a position where... you know... I’d love us to be like R.E.M, making 20 albums, and maybe your 10th is your best. I love that idea.

The Panics play at this year's St Jerome's Laneway Festival.

Interview by Heidi Pett. You can read her own blog here.  

San Cisco - Awkward

We really like Perth's San Cisco here a Bobbysix, so are stoked to share with you the first single and clip from their 2012 sophomore EP, Awkward. The EP's title track is a pop gem and is CATCHY AS HELL. Featuring the vocal talents of both Jordi Davieson and drummer Scarlett Stevens, it follows on from the success of their debut EP, Golden Revolver.

Featuring five tracks of indie pop goodness, their new EP is an eclectic mix of indie pop with dashes of rock and slashes of synth. Each member of the band brings a different influence to the table from their diverse and eclectic palate of indie, rap, hip-hop and jazz. Having already graced the stages of festivals Big Day Out, Laneway, Fuse and Big Sound as well as airwaves around the world including triple j, community radio in Australia, London's XFM station, college radio across the USA and Flux FM in Germany, San Cisco have impressed the hell out of us with the depth of their song-writing and their bright catchy hooks. Check out the above clip and then try to shift those da-da-da's from your head. It's impossible!

Dirty Three announce Australian and New Zealand tour

So we were totally hanging out with Warren Ellis the other night. True story. Well, by "hanging out" we actually mean that we were at the same birthday party, standing across the room, admiring his epic beard. Had we felt the nerve to go up and say hello, he might have told us about how Dirty Three will boldly break cover with an extensive Australian tour in early 2012, including their own headlining shows, festival appearances and their first ever performance at the Sydney Opera House. Or he might have told us how the band will also release a new album. Instead, he probably just wondered who those weirdos were that were staring at him all night.

Dirty Three’s last tour of Australia was in 2009 when they performed their album Ocean Songs in its entirety as part of the Don’t Look Back classic albums series, a run of shows that sold-out across the country. This was a tour that confirmed Dirty Three's status of one of the greatest live acts in the world.

DIRTY THREE AUSTRALIAN & NEW ZEALAND TOUR 2012 PRESENTED BY FEEL, INPRESS,TIME OFF & X-PRESS

Tickets for all shows on-sale Monday 12 December 2012 except where noted.

FRIDAY 9 MARCH 
Perth, Astor Theatre presented by X-Press Magazine. Tickets from www.bocsticketing.com.au, feelpresents.oztix.com.au, phone 9484 1133 or in person at all Bocs outlets.

WEDNESDAY 14 MARCH 
Auckland, Powerstation Tickets from www.ticketmaster.co.nz, www.powerstation.net.nz, phone 09 970 9700 or in person at all Ticketmaster outlets *ON SALE NOW

FRIDAY 16 MARCH 
Melbourne, The Palace presented by Inpress Magazine Tickets from www.ticketmaster.com.au, feelpresents.oztix.com.au, phone 136 100 or in person at all Ticketmaster outlets.

SATURDAY 17 MARCH 
Gippsland, Mossvale Park, One Perfect Day Festival Tickets from lyrebirdartscouncil.oztix.com.au, phone 1300 762 545 or in person at all Oztix outlets.

SUNDAY 18 MARCH 
Castlemaine, Theatre Royal Tickets from www.theatreroyal.info, phone (03) 5472 1196 or in person at the venue 30 Hargrave Street, Castlemaine.

WEDNESDAY 21 MARCH 
Sydney Opera House Concert Hall Tickets from
 www.sydneyoperahouse.com or phone 9250 7777 (transaction fees apply). *ON SALE NOW

THURSDAY 22 MARCH 
Brisbane, The Tivoli presented by Time Off Magazine Tickets from www.ticketek.com.au, feelpresents.oztix.com.au, phone 132 849 or in person at all Ticketek outlets.

Portugal. The Man interview

 
Bobby Townsend talks to Portugal. The Man's Zachary Scott Carothers about the band's upcoming appearances at Australia's St Jerome's Laneway Festival:

"I'm just outside of Paris and I'm feeling a little sick. I took a bite of the worst thing I have ever eaten in my life today. We didn't know what we were ordering. It was intestines stuffed with other intestines. I've eaten some really nasty food in my life, just to try things. But this was by far the worst."

Portugal. The Man's Zachary Scott Carothers might be feeling a bit rough in the gut department, but it isn't tempering his high spirits at the fact that he and his three bandmates are soon to embark on their first ever jaunt to Australia. "We're really looking forward to it. I have some family in Perth but none of the band have ever been there. I've heard it's a really nice place. Everybody that I've talked to in other bands says it's really nice. It's known to have a really good rock n roll scene"

And the reason the Portland band are on their way over to Aus is because they are set to play at this summer's Laneway Festival. While they are looking forward to the opportunity to win new fans with their dreamy brand of psych-rock, don't expect to see them down the front checking out all of the other acts on the bill. It turns out that the four dudes who make up Portugal. The Man are pretty much the hardest working fellows around. "The Laneway line-up is rad but I actually don't know if we'll get to see anybody. One of the bummers about this job is that a lot of the times we don't get to see any bands because we are doing press and just really busy all day. It happens at all festivals." Not that Zach is especially concerned about this. He has other priorities on his debut trip to Australia. "When it comes to going to a country for the first time, I'm more excited about seeing the country, eating the food and drinking the drinks more than seeing other acts because I can do that in places that I've been before. To be honest I'm more interested in seeing whatever of Australia I can."

The band will arrive in Aus with six albums under their belts. Having been around for the same number of years, that's a pretty prolific turnaround, which brings us back to the hardest-working-band-in-music thing. "It's something we set out to do," he explains when talk turns to their album-a-year output. "We've got a very strong work ethic. We're not going to rush it. If a record isn't done, we'll wait until it's finished but we never really take days off. A lot of bands take a really long time with records but we love playing music. It's our hobby, it's our job, it's our passion, it's our career. It's really all we do. We're always doing something, whether we're on tour, rehearing or writing new music. We take advantage of the position that we're in but we definitely don't take it for granted. We know that it takes hard work to do this."

So, having logged over 800 shows and written, recorded and released an album every year since they started out, do Portugal. The Man ever have just straight-up time off? "Definitely not," Zach laughs. "Except for Christmas Day. I know that I don't have to do anything band-related on Christmas Day. Besides that, we're always doing something. There's never a week where we can turn off our cell phones and not answer our emails. We're pretty much on call 24 hours a day. Which is fine. There is so much more to playing in a band than just the music. There's artwork, videos, photos, blogs, video updates. There are so many things you can do to make it better. We really want to do this for our whole lives so we try to put ourselves in the mind-state that, no matter what time it is, we're always thinking 'what can I do right now that will take ten minutes that will help our careers?' We like to have fun and we do like to relax and, honestly, I would like a vacation every now and again, but most of the time, our job is fun. It's playing music, It's what we've wanted to do our whole lives so we work hard at it."

Portugal. The Man's new album, In The Mountain In The Cloud, is their first on a major label. Considering their DIY, homegrown ethic, one wonders whether it was a tough decision to sign with Atlantic. "Yeah. It was a hard decision.  Major labels have been contacting us since we first started six years ago but we always said that we wanted to build it our own way. We had an idea of where we wanted the band to go. We wanted to start out doing everything ourselves and our way. We had some great help and great management - I consider our manager as family - but when we released a record and there was only the four band members plus our manager, booking agent and publicist working all day every day... you need more help if you want to get to the next level."

While it was clear that the band were ready for the clout of Atlantic behind them, it was still something that took serious consideration. "We took our time with it. We talked to them almost every day for about nine months before we signed with them. They really made us feel at home from the very beginning. Obviously we were a little sceptical and very scared because there is a lot to live up to on a label like that. They have this legendary roster: Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, Led Zeppelin... and then us! We put a lot of pressure on ourselves but, when it came down to it after hanging out at the offices and talking to everybody, they are just really big music fans and they are smart and cool. I'm glad that we did it. It's not like we're some band that has played 20 shows and a label has picked us up and crafted us into what they want us to be. We ask them for advice but they never make us change anything. All they do is help. They like us for what we've done and what we do."

As anyone who checks Portugal. The Man out at the 2012 St Jerome's Laneway Festival is sure to discover, they are indeed a hugely likable band.

Interview By Bobby Townsend

Kurt Vile releases delux edition album

Right in time for Kurt Vile’s first ever tour of Australia, his latest album Smoke Ring For My Halo has been released as a deluxe edition which comes with the additional EP So Out Of Reach. This EP features five unheard songs, recorded during the Smoke Ring For My Halo album sessions, plus a cover of Bruce Springsteen’s Downbound Train. The EP will also be available as a stand-alone release on 12” vinyl.

Released earlier this year on Matador/Remote Control, Smoke Ring For My Halo is a true American psychedelic folk album, tender and evocative, elusive but companionable; tough in the gut and the arm but swollen in the chest and giddy in the head.

Over the past eighteen months Kurt Vile has toured with the likes of Sonic Youth, Panda Bear, Ariel Pink, Fucked Up, Dinosaur Jr, The National and Deerhunter. If you;re Australia-based, you can catch him for the first time this December at the following venues.

Saturday 3 December - The Bakery, Perth
Sunday 4 December - The Corner, Melbourne *SOLD OUT
Monday 5 December - Northcote Social Club, Melbourne *Just announced
Tuesday 6 December - Oxford Art Factory, Sydney *SOLD OUT
Wednesday 7 December - The Red Rattler, Sydney *Just announced
Thursday 8 December - Woodland, Brisbane
Friday 9 December - Meredith Music Festival, Victoria

Gotye adds third and final Perth date.

Whenever we post a story about Wally de Backer - or Gotye to you and me - Bobbysix.com almost goes into meltdown with the traffic we receive. You guys just can't get enough of him, so it seems. Therefore the Western Australians amongst you will be pleased to know that he has announced a third show at the Belvoir Theatre, Perth on Monday 12 December. It will feature his ten-piece orchestra and be the last date announced on his acclaimed, sold-out string of Aussie dates this year. Rising Melbourne outfit Husky will be the support on all three Perth dates.

Having performed at CMJ, Gotye is currently playing sold-out shows across in the UK and Europe. You might have to beg for a ticket, sneak in, buy one off a shifty bloke in a shellsuit top and Reebok Classics or get your ebay on, but, if you can get access to the venues, Gotye will be doing his thing in these places:

Monday October 31 – Communion, London UK (SOLD OUT)
Tuesday November 1 - Kings College, London UK (SOLD OUT)
Friday November 4 – Melkweg, Amsterdam Holland (SOLD OUT)
Saturday November 5 – Franzz Club, Berlin Germany (SOLD OUT)
Sunday November 6 – Gebaude 9, Cologne Germany (SOLD OUT)
Tuesday November 8 - La Maroquinerie, Paris France

Saturday 26th November – Foreshore Festival Canberra (Tickets onsale now)
Saturday, 3rd December – Homebake Festival, The Domain, Sydney
Friday, 9th December – Belvoir Theatre, Perth (SOLD OUT)
Saturday, 10th December – Belvoir Theatre, Perth (SOLD OUT)
Monday, 12th December – Belvoir Theatre, Perth (NEW SHOW ) (Tickets on sale Friday 4th November from Ticketmaster)
Sunday, 18th December - Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens (Tickets onsale now)


Full ticketing information at www.gotye.com

St Jerome's Laneway Festival announces its 2012 line-up

At Bobbysix.com, we've been fans of Laneway since the early days. We were there in 2007, watching The Temper Trap belting out anthemic tunes at Sydney's Circular Quay before most people knew who the hell they were. We saw Daniel Johnston's heartbreaking performance, Mumford & Sons' triumphant display and Florence + The Machine's lung-busting turn in 2010.

So we're excited to bring you the line-up for the 2012 event, which, once again will take place in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, Auckland and Singapore. Highlights of next year's event include the wonderful Laura Marling (above), Feist, The Horrors, Portugal The Man and Yuck.

So, without further ado, here's who you can see at next year's Laneway: ACTIVE CHILD, ANNA CALVI, AUSTRA, BULLION, CHAIRLIFT, CULTS, DZ DEATHRAYS, EMA, FEIST [except Adelaide], GEOFFREY O'CONNOR, GIRLS, GIVERS [Syd + Melb], GLASSER, HUSKY [Bris, Syd, Melb], JOHN TALABOT, JONTI, LAURA MARLING, M83, ONEMAN, PAJAMA CLUB (feat. Sharon and Neil Finn), PORTUGAL THE MAN [Syd + Melb], SBTRKT (Live), TRIPLE J Unearthed Winners, THE VERY WEST, THE DRUMS, THE HORRORS, THE PAINS OF BEING PURE AT HEART, THE PANICS, TORO Y MOI, TOTAL CONTROL, TWIN SHADOW, WASHED OUT, WU LYF, YUCK

Tickets go on sale Wednesday October 19th at 9am (EDST) through Greentix.We said it last year and we'll say it again, if you want to go, you'll need to be on the ball when tickets are made available. If you snooze, you lose.


You can keep up to date with all things Laneway on Facebook and Twitter.

New Abbe May tour details

We've been championing Australian Abbe May for a while now, so it's exciting to see how well things are going for her. A critically acclaimed debut has led to two AIR award nominations and the use of Mammallian Locomotion in the credits of hit international TV show Entourage. Hooray.

Not only is she super talented and hotter than the sun, but she is clearly hard-working too. Having only just returned from her album launch tour, she's now announced a new national run of shows. After recent stints in New York and Europe, Abbe is set to embark on a big final quarter schedule of touring including an extensive list of regional dates with Art vs Science, the national triple j Nick Cave Straight to You theatre tour through November, special appearance club dates and iconic festivals such as Meredith, Pyramid Rock, Wave Rock Weekender and Mullum to name a few. You can catch her at the following locations:

TOUR DATES
(AVS- Supporting Art Vs Science, HL- Headline show, FES - Festival, STY- Straight To You: triple j's Tribute to Nick Cave)
Wed 21 September Great Northern Hotel Byron Bay NSW (AVS)
Thu 22 September Spotted Cow Toowoomba QLD (AVS)
Fri 23 September Kings Beach Tav Sunshine Coast QLD (AVS)
Sat 24 September Coolangatta Hotel Gold Coast QLD (AVS)
Wed 28 September Hotel Tasmania Launceston TAS (AVS)
Thu 29 September Wrest Point Showroom Hobart TAS (AVS)
Fri 30 September Panthers Newcastle NSW (AVS)
Sat 1 October Bateau Bay Hotel Central Coast NSW (AVS)
Sun 2 October Waves Wollongong NSW (AVS)
Wed 5 October Northcote Social Club VIC (HL)
Thu 6 October Pier Live, Frankston VIC (AVS)
Fri 7 October Bended Elbow Geelong VIC (AVS)
Sat 8 October Kay St. Entertainment, Traralgon VIC (AVS)
Sun 9 October Bended Elbow Ballarat VIC (AVS)
Fri 28 October Wave Rock Weekender Hyden WA (FES)
Wed November 9 Performing Arts Centre Geelong WA (STY)
Thu November 10 Her Majestys Ballarat VIC (STY)
Fri November 11 Forum Theatre Melbourne VIC (STY)
Sat November 12 Forum Theatre Melbourne VIC (STY)
Wed November 16 Royal Theatre Canberra ACT (STY)
Thu November 17 Enmore Theatre Sydney NSW (STY)
Sat November 19 Panthers Newcastle NSW (STY)
Sun November 20 The Tivoli Brisbane QLD (STY)
Sat November 26 Mullum Festival Mullumbimby NSW (FES)
Sun November 27 Mullum Festival Mullumbimby NSW (FES)

Guinness Live Thursdays, semi-final details announced

Guinness have just announced that 25 groups of musicians from all four corners of Australia have been selected from over 100 entries to make the semi finals, in the Guinness Live Thursdays nationwide search to find Australia’s best quality live music.

During the past five weeks over 100 bands have entered and over 5,000 votes were cast by fans supporting their favourites. This next phase of the competition is crucial, with an amazing prize on offer whereby the overall winning band will travel to Ireland to represent Australia at the global Arthur’s Day celebrations in Dublin.

The semi-final events will be held in Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, Melbourne and Adelaide on Thursday 1st September and Thursday 8th September. All events will be open to the general public who will be able to vote for their favourite band on the night, whilst enjoying live music and of course a pint of the black stuff.

APRA award winning blues and roots artist Ash Grunwald (above), has been the ambassador for Guinness Live Thursdays from the start of the campaign. He said, “I knew that we wouldn’t have any problems discovering quality live music acts in Australia – it is great that Guinness wants to support emerging artists, we have a lot of untapped talent here. But having listened to some fantastic entries, it was really tough to make the decision to narrow the bands down to just 25. This will be a close contest, and I can’t wait to see who makes the final four.”

Fans can also vote for their favourite bands on the Guinness Australia Facebook page. However, even if your favourite band wasn’t originally selected, you can still help get them to the final, as the five bands with the highest votes will be given a Wildcard pass to the semi final stage. The 30 semi finalists from across Australia will then be shortlisted to just four bands who will then progress to the National Final, which will be held in Sydney on 15th September at The Gaelic Theatre. The overall winning band will feature in the Arthur’s Day global celebration on Thursday 22nd September in Dublin alongside internationally renowned acts including the Scissor Sisters, Stereophonics, Paloma Faith and Calvin Harris.

Arthur’s Day is a globally celebrated event honouring the date Arthur Guinness signed the lease on the St. James’ Gate Brewery (in 1759) and introduced the drink to the world. 47 other countries will also be holding high-profile music events and celebrations to honour the remarkable life and legacy of Arthur Guinness.

GUINNESS LIVE THURSDAYS – THE SEMI FINALS EVENT LISTINGS
Thursday 1st September
NSW - Iron Bar Hotel vs Tortured Willow – at PJ O’Brien’s King Street, Sydney
NSW - Luke Dickens Band vs a wildcard finalist tbc – at PJ Gallagher’s Parramatta
QLD - Fairchild Republic vs Paddy McHugh and The Goldminers – at Mick O’Malleys Irish Pub in Brisbane
VIC - My Lasting Reply vs The Modern Age – at Elephant & Wheelbarrow in St Kilda

Thursday 8th September
NSW - Modern Error vs Claire – at PJ Gallagher’s Parramatta
NSW - The Jefferson vs The Acid Monkeys – at PJ O’Brien’s King Street, Sydney
QLD - Punxie & The Poison Pen vs Arcade Made – at Mick O’Malleys Irish Pub in Brisbane
QLD - MC Kitch vs a wildcard finalist tbc - at Gilhooleys in Brisbane
VIC - Between The Wars vs a wildcard finalist tbc - at PJ O’Brien’s in Southbank
WA - Palatial Digs vs The Brow Horn Orchestra – at Rosie O’Grady’s in Perth
WA - The Augustines vs a wildcard finalist tbc - at JB O’Riley’s in Perth
SA - Hawks of Alba vs a wildcard finalist tbc - at PJ O’Brien’s in Adelaide.

ALREADY BATTLED (25th August)
QLD – Founds vs The Penguin Kings – at Byron Beach Hotel
QLD - The Great Shame vs Sharon Friel and The Blue Steel Band - at Mick O’Malleys Irish Pub in Brisbane
VIC – Hotel on Mayfair vs Buddah in a Chocolate Box – at Pugg Mahone’s in Carlton

Abbe May - Taurus Chorus

If you read this website with any level of regularity, you'll know that we are big fans of super-hot guitar-wielding Australian, Abbe May. Well, today we have double the reason to post about her. Not only has the new video for her upcoming single, Taurus Chorus dropped, but it's her birthday.

Taurus Chorus combines blues with post-grunge references and is the third single to be lifted from her fine new album. You can read our review of the gutsy, visceral long-player here. If you are Australia-based, you can catch her ripping the roof off the following venues in August:

Thu 11 Aug - PRINCE OF WALES HOTEL, BUNBURY
Sat 13 Aug - ASTOR THEATRE, PERTH
Fri 19 Aug - SETTLERS TAVERN, MARGARET RIVER
Wed 24 Aug - EAST BRUNSWICK CLUB, MELBOURNE
Thu 25 Aug - ANNANDALE, SYDNEY
Tue 30 Aug - GRACE EMILY, ADELAIDE