OFWKTA At The Hi-Fi

0 Comments. 39 Views. Posted 21 Feb 2012 @ 12:09pm.
  The fun this band is having is enviable. Touring round with a tight knit crew, music aside, must have its merits, but it's best not to try and understand what's actually going on within as it's a bit of a mess. A few members have managed to stand out from the crew – the obvious being Tyler who, for all intents and purposes, is just oozing charisma like glue for kids to stick to. He remains a one hit wonder in his own admittance with Yonkers, performed wearing glowing green contacts no less.   His presence was great but the real talent lies with the people who weren't present.... Read More!
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Rock The Bay At The Espy live, review, music.
0 Comments. 58 Views. Posted 21 Feb 2012 @ 12:04pm.
  The organiser of these events, Saltar Hype, has been putting it on for five years now, and it seems they just keep getting bigger and better. This year the lineup got a little more high profile, and this couple with the beautiful balmy Melbourne late summer evening brought the rock punters out in force.   Having had a very busy day, I was very disappointed to arrive to find I'd just... Read More
Girls At The Corner Hotel live, review, music.
0 Comments. 61 Views. Posted 21 Feb 2012 @ 11:58am.
  Arriving early at the Corner, I was kind of amazed to see so many people already there. I’d come at 8pm in order to secure myself a good position at the front, but it seemed that quite a few other punters had the same idea. Luckily, I managed to ingratiate myself into a prime position and proceeded to wait there, safeguarding my spot until the Twerps graced the stage. I’ve been listening... Read More
Cage The Elephant At The Northcote Social Club live, review, music.
0 Comments. 42 Views. Posted 21 Feb 2012 @ 11:53am.
  It should have come as no surprise what awaited come show time at The Northcote Social Club; Kentucky five piece Cage The Elephant had made for a packed show in the humble-sized band room, a brim with a buzzing crowd following a delightful display from promising local support act, Loon Lake. On their maiden headlining tour of Australia, it was almost trivial as to why a notoriously high-... Read More
Kanye West At The Sidney Myer Music Bowl live, review, music.
0 Comments. 318 Views. Posted 14 Feb 2012 @ 11:32am.
  Despite the constant banter about his cockiness and egotistical nature – two attributes which I believe he is entitled to, Kanye West is a true performer and one of the most intelligent artists of this generation. The fact of the matter is, the man knows what it means to capture and hold a crowds attention.   Having already seen him perform at Big Day Out a couple of days prior, I... Read More
Soundgarden At The Sidney Myer Music Bowl live, review, music.
0 Comments. 311 Views. Posted 14 Feb 2012 @ 11:28am.
  Openers The Bronx tackled what should have been a very daunting support slot with remarkably relaxed confidence. While the majority of the audience seemed fairly apathetic towards the thrash-punk stalwarts, the band's faithful were still loud and numerous enough to justify a certain amount of swagger on their part. I could certainly respect their energy, as well as the frontman's ironic... Read More
Best Coast, Saturday January 28, The Corner Hotel live, review, music.
0 Comments. 123 Views. Posted 14 Feb 2012 @ 11:23am.
  At first the unassuming Pop Singles seem like another guitar pop band, their warm summery tunes seeming a tad safe, with a noticeable lack of hooks. By the middle of the set however the songs started to get dirgier, riffs a little more intricate and a noticeable '80s/Smiths influence began to shine through. Songs off their upcoming album were definitely a highlight.   Next up were... Read More
Battles, Saturday January 28, The Forum live, review, music.
0 Comments. 109 Views. Posted 14 Feb 2012 @ 11:18am.
  I wasn’t the biggest fan of Battles’ last effort Gloss Drop, but what I thought it lacked in variation and innovation might be made up for within the less rigid confines of a live show. There were wins and losses tonight but overall the real winner was my ass for getting to the Forum early and grabbing a booth; lordy was it too hot to be bothered standing up.   Early on, opening act... Read More
Immortal Technique, Thursday January 12, The Espy live, review, music.
0 Comments. 89 Views. Posted 14 Feb 2012 @ 11:10am.
  Whilst not entirely neglecting rap’s traditionally favourite topics – pussy, weed and guns – Immortal Technique also perceptively commentates on issues ranging from class struggle to media deception to conspiracy theories, often spitting venom upon the government and appealing to a paradigm shift amongst the social consciousness towards intelligence, information and inquisitiveness.... Read More
Laneway Festival, Saturday February 4, Footscray Community Centre live, review, music, festivals.
0 Comments. 701 Views. Posted 7 Feb 2012 @ 10:57am.
  A great festival is meant to cement the zeitgeist of the times and properly represent those in attendance. If this is the case, we’re living in a fairly atmospheric world, heavy on complacency and light on knock-out punches. And the punters are more than happy to ride that wave.   Laneway Melbourne didn’t get the most auspicious of starts, with train delays early in the day meaning... Read More
Big Day Out, Sunday January 29, Flemington Racecourse live, review, music, festivals.
0 Comments. 465 Views. Posted 7 Feb 2012 @ 10:52am.
  Ah, Big Day Out. We meet again. As I was just getting over our hot date from last year, you’ve come around to greet me for another year. And, as always, you delivered me with some humour, a stack of fun and that extra bit of skin colour. Thanks for that, by the way.   Big Day Out is one of those festivals that always keeps me entertained. If not for the weird and wonderful array of... Read More
Beirut, Monday January 9, The Hi-Fi live, review, music.
0 Comments. 164 Views. Posted 7 Feb 2012 @ 10:24am.
  Otouto’s artful, wispy little non-songs hung limply in the air over a disinterested crowd at the Hi-Fi Bar and Ballroom. Hazel Brown stared at her guitar in a careful way as she picked out awkward notes and Martha crowded over her synth in a similarly concentrated way. Only drummer Kishore Ryan played with anything resembling grace or skill, still looking like the ringer in this odd... Read More
The Damned, Billboard, Friday 20 January live, review, music.
0 Comments. 151 Views. Posted 7 Feb 2012 @ 10:19am.
  The crusty old farts of Howard’s History Wars would have us believe that history can be taught as a sequence of chronological dates. In 1976 Margaret Thatcher wrestled control of the British Conservative Party from the insipid leadership of Ted Heath; in less salubrious circles, The Damned released New Rose, subsequently described by Bob Geldolf as one of the seminal punk rock singles.... Read More
Woollen Kits, Friday January 20, John Curtin Hotel live, review, music.
0 Comments. 185 Views. Posted 7 Feb 2012 @ 10:13am.
  Greasy hipsters lined the sidewalks outside the John Curtin Hotel, giving their pints a good home. There was a sense of expectancy in the air; the fact that it was the start of the weekend didn’t have everything to do with that. It was after all, the record release party for local heroes Woollen Kits’ self-titled debut on infamous garage label R.I.P Society.   It was fitting that the... Read More
Tune-Yards, Sunday January 15, The Corner live, review, music.
0 Comments. 203 Views. Posted 31 Jan 2012 @ 5:15pm.
From the moment Merril Garbus walked out on stage and started things off by warbling, sideways-yodeling and growling a meandering a capella soliloquy in that inimitable deep tribal timbre, before looping said voice over itself in the same vein to kick-start opener You Yes You, it was fairly apparent this wasn’t going to be your typical ‘buzz-band’ show.   For starters, Ms Garbus’ tUnE-... Read More
CSS, Thursday January 5, The Corner Hotel live, review, music.
0 Comments. 211 Views. Posted 31 Jan 2012 @ 5:04pm.
  Cansei de Ser Sexy might translate as ‘tired of being sexy’ but last week’s show at the Corner Hotel proved CSS are far from it.  Visiting our shores for the first time as a foursome since the departure of Adraiano Cintra in November, the curtains of the Corner open to reveal the Brazilian party crew in a pose and ready for action. Lead singer Lovefoxx sets the tone, asking the... Read More
So Frenchy, So Chic In The Park, Sunday January 15, Werribee Park live, review, music.
0 Comments. 266 Views. Posted 31 Jan 2012 @ 4:59pm.
  As the sun sets on my 20s and I find myself creaking towards middle age, small changes in my tastes let me know that I am, for better or worse, getting older. Things like developing an appreciation for country music, the realisation that I’ll probably never get into dubstep, or the simple joy of a perfectly curated music festival.   The So Frenchy So Chic brand, which regularly hits... Read More
Joe Robinson, Wednesday January 11, Bennetts Lane live, review, music.
0 Comments. 185 Views. Posted 31 Jan 2012 @ 4:49pm.
In 2008 a 16-year-old Joe Robinson took out Australia's Got Talent with his humble charm and impressive guitar playing, his victory clinched with a performance of the Tommy Emmanuel arrangement of Classical Gas. But rather than cashing in on his notoriety and youth with a rushed album of covers, Robinson relocated to Nashville, where he has spent the last few years refining his style and... Read More
Blood Orange, Wednesday January 11, Northcote Social Club live, review, music.
0 Comments. 202 Views. Posted 31 Jan 2012 @ 12:35pm.
It was this time a year ago that Devonté Hynes last visited our shores under his old moniker, Lightspeed Champion. What was touted as being a full show with backing band turned out to be a solo gig, a rather baffling one at that. At its worst it was glorified karaoke, in retrospect, the shy, wooly-jumpered indie kid that attempted to rouse a near-empty East Brunswick Club was one in a phase of... Read More
Mistletone Fright Night, Friday January 13, The Corner live, review, music.
0 Comments. 577 Views. Posted 31 Jan 2012 @ 12:29pm.
  For a dude that’s done nothing but incredibly cool shit over the past year, Sydney’s Jonti still possesses one hell of a dorky disposition. Performing from the Swan St side of the bandroom (what’s usually The Corner’s DJ booth was transformed into a full-on second stage for the evening), Jonti crafted a fine set of dance jams with his vintage synth-led setup. Signing off, he played the... Read More
Grouplove, Wednesday January 4, The Corner Hotel live, review, music.
0 Comments. 350 Views. Posted 24 Jan 2012 @ 3:46pm.
  Undercolours staged a flaccid, unadventurous set, effectively typifying the fate of your average support act - that is to say, while there was nothing truly objectionable about the band, that may have been the problem precisely. Undercolours’ complacent Triple M rock repertoire failed to pack much of a punch, any lasting impressions eluding the Corner crowd. Their set, while accomplished... Read More
Arctic Monkeys, Monday January 2, The Palace Theatre live, review, music.
0 Comments. 253 Views. Posted 24 Jan 2012 @ 2:26pm.
It was the hottest January 2 on the books since the year 1900. Sure as hell felt like it; the heat was awe-inspiring, driving Melbournians into a midsummer hibernation of sorts. It wasn’t until the sun began to wane that fans of British rock four-piece Arctic Monkeys crawled out from their shelter and made their way to the Palace Theatre to watch them promote their fourth and most recent album... Read More
Falls Music And Arts Festival, December 28-31, Marion Bay live, review, music, festivals.
0 Comments. 397 Views. Posted 24 Jan 2012 @ 1:36pm.
The word ‘invigorating’ is often used by many die-hard Tasmanians as an apparent flattering synonym for ‘fucking cold and windy’. I used to live there, so I can tell you right now that the latter description is far more apt. Either way, I’d been hearing stories about the previous years’ glorious weather each day of the Falls Festival and was hoping for more of the same, because, die-hard ‘... Read More
A Day By The Green 6, Saturday January 14, St Kilda Bowling Club live, review, music.
0 Comments. 525 Views. Posted 24 Jan 2012 @ 12:37pm.
It’s early Saturday evening on Fitzroy Street, and cashed up bogans are fighting with backpackers for cultural supremacy on St Kilda’s once decadent and depraved entertainment strip. Across the road from the once magisterial Seaview Ballroom, and the St Kilda Bowling Club is playing host to the sixth Day By the Green festival of south-side bands. The front bar is the weekend Crackerjack lawn... Read More
Sugar Mountain Festival, Saturday January 14, The Forum live, review, music, festivals.
0 Comments. 835 Views. Posted 24 Jan 2012 @ 12:31pm.
  Peering out from side of stage, there was a sea of faces gazed upon John Maus as he took to The Forum main stage – some bemused, some perplexed, few nodding along. Opposed to the intimate enclosure of The Corner on the night previous, it felt as though we were witnessing King Kong tear through a run of retro-tinted pop numbers. Soaking himself with water and sweat, Maus revelled in his... Read More
Falls Music And Arts Festival, December 28-31, Lorne live, review, music, festivals.
0 Comments. 432 Views. Posted 17 Jan 2012 @ 4:27pm.
I awoke on the first day of 2010 after five straight nights of partying (volunteer staff had to be there an extra night) and said to myself “never again”. It’s not that Falls isn’t a great festival – in fact, it’s probably the best of its kind – it’s just when such hedonism starts to involve such physical endurance, existential crises are triggered. After a year off from Falls, a stellar lineup... Read More
Harmony, Saturday December 17, Phoenix Public House live, review, music.
0 Comments. 324 Views. Posted 17 Jan 2012 @ 4:26pm.
    I’ve walked past the Phoenix Public House a million and one times and never so much as had a beer in the cosy front bar, let alone seen a band in the venue. As I stepped in there, I found myself wondering how this could possibly be the case. I nervously propped myself against a questionably structured railing in the corner of the room and was completely smitten with the place. It... Read More
Fleet Foxes, Friday 6 January, Palais Theatre live, review, music.
0 Comments. 206 Views. Posted 17 Jan 2012 @ 1:05pm.
Paddy Mann (aka Grand Salvo) is a stirring Melbourne singer-songwriter who compels you to fight back tears via the delicate beauty and pure emotion of his thoughtful songs. Needles and Flowers from his fifth album, Soil Creatures, seeped into the attentive crowd who sat mesmerised by the evocative narratives, wrenching melancholy and beautifully-articulated reflections. In an affecting... Read More
Aloe Blacc, Friday January 6, TRAK live, review, music.
0 Comments. 307 Views. Posted 17 Jan 2012 @ 12:58pm.
It’s been a long time coming for California’s Aloe Blacc, from his humble beginnings as a rapper-singer hybrid to his current worldwide acclaim. An example of talent defying industry politics, his full skill set is now being realised by a wider audience. As we welcome the year of the supposed apocalypse the gathered masses at Trak Bar in Toorak kicked off things in care-free style with some... Read More
Pyramid Rock Festvial, December 29 - January 1, 2012, Philip Island live, review, music.
0 Comments. 375 Views. Posted 10 Jan 2012 @ 2:29pm.
Sure, the Falls Festival boasts more international stars, but it's difficult to beat Pyramid Rock when it comes to showcasing the depth and breadth of Australian music. Of course, staging a festival in one of the country's most glorious and scenic locations makes it one of the clear highlights on the summer social calendar. What's not to love? Not showering for three days, purchasing from... Read More
Sand Pebbles, Thursday January 4, The Old Bar live, review, music.
0 Comments. 418 Views. Posted 10 Jan 2012 @ 2:25pm.
In a week when Rupert Murdoch belatedly tried to counter his reputation as an olde worlde media luddite by signing himself up to the moment's flavour of the week social media phenomenon, a more significant announcement flew almost below the local music radar. Amid the standard serve of tweeting tedium and self-indulgent trivia, Sand Pebbles drummer Wes Holland declared that tonight's gig at the... Read More
Toxic Holocaust, Friday January 6, Bendigo Hotel live, review, music.
2 Comments. 1,083 Views. Posted 10 Jan 2012 @ 2:19pm.
As I write this, it is Sunday night. My knees still kill from banging against a 50cm high stage, my right ear still rings deafeningly, the egg on my forehead has started to end its reign of terror and my Big 4 tour shirt from Germany is fucked. All I can think of this is that Toxic Holocaust are catastrophically good live. But before I go into that, a shout out to the awesome Melbourne talent... Read More
J Mascis, Friday January 6, Oakleigh Caravan Club   live, review, music.
0 Comments. 407 Views. Posted 10 Jan 2012 @ 2:14pm.
With its RSL charm, beer prices and décor, the Oakleigh Caravan Club may be my new favourite venue. Ben Salter opened the night with songs from across his career with The Gin Club, The Wilson Pickers and solo repertoire. For all his charisma, professionalism and towering voice, he tends to be let down by some pretty dour songwriting. I wanna like the dude, but the only spot in his short set... Read More
Foo Fighters, Friday December 2 - AAMI Park live, review, music.
0 Comments. 537 Views. Posted 20 Dec 2011 @ 3:18pm.
Stepping inside AAMI Park on this picture perfect Friday afternoon, I instantly knew everyone was in for an amazing night as the open roof let the sun beam down on thousands ofgrinning faces. Some of the biggest grins belonged to those in the mosh pit, witnessingFucked Up frontman Damien Abraham streaking through the crowd to sing amongst the mere mortals. While many punters were oblivious to the... Read More
HTRK, Friday November 25 - St Michael’s Uniting Church live, review, music.
0 Comments. 654 Views. Posted 20 Dec 2011 @ 12:08pm.
In March this year, HTRK's original bassist Sean Stewart committed suicide. However six months later, the band continued as a duo and released their second album Work (work, work). The band hadn't toured their town-of-origin for five years, though have now returned to Melbourne and with the help of Mistletone (who were also celebrating their 5th birthday), St Michael's Uniting Church... Read More
Six Ft Hick , Gentle Ben And His Sensitive Side, Sunday December 4 - The Retreat Hotel live, review, music.
0 Comments. 464 Views. Posted 20 Dec 2011 @ 11:52am.
Real rock 'n' roll doesn't care what day it is, or maybe it's just the onset of early dementia that made these two bands forget they were playing a Sunday show. Gentle Ben And His Sensitive Side hit the stage first, with their ingenious combination of Bowie pop magic, Bad Seeds intensity and 'surf meets the dessert' guitar work. The clean fender twang that guitarist Dylan McCormack omits was... Read More
Kurt Vile And The Violators, Monday December 5 - Northcote Social Club live, review, music.
0 Comments. 563 Views. Posted 20 Dec 2011 @ 11:46am.
There are certain touring musicians that could double as magicians. Not because they use illusions and sleight of hand to amplify their set. No, in fact, there's much more transparency involved. It's because musicians such as Kurt Vile can transport their audience to a different place with their heightened aesthetic and their song-writing vision quite easily.   To look at Kurt Vile, one... Read More
Fucked Up, Wednesday November 30 - East Brunswick Club live, review, music.
0 Comments. 626 Views. Posted 20 Dec 2011 @ 11:32am.
Support slots are a funny thing. Within the space of two months, I saw Jay-Z and Fucked Up perform as guests for U2 and The Bronx respectively. Both sets were incredible in their respective sense. But the label of support comes loaded with an impedance of context, one which wouldn't materialise in the festival setting, for instance. Lucky for us, Fucked Up have graced us with their presence... Read More
C.W. Stoneking, Friday Dec 2, The Corner Hotel live, review, music.
0 Comments. 703 Views. Posted 13 Dec 2011 @ 3:41pm.
Drug-addled pygmies, clairvoyants, ventriloquist teachers, hoodoo doctors, hoodoo charms, sea lice, cemeteries, squatters on a dildo farm and predictions of death in an eight-sided room. A Canadian groom disappearing in downtown New Orleans only to be found busking in a lemon-yellow see-through dress while wearing no underwear. Thwarting off a fellow sailor with a banjo while shipwrecked on... Read More
DJ Krush, Sunday November 20, Kubik live, review, music.
0 Comments. 544 Views. Posted 13 Dec 2011 @ 3:36pm.
If a friend phoned you up mid-week and said, "Hey do you want to go listen to a DJ in the open air, surrounded by giant luminescent water tanks down by a river on Saturday?" 95% of you fine upstanding citizens would reply, 'No I don't you dirty hippy, how in Zeus' name did you get my number?' Let's be honest, that description makes it sound like some two-bit psytrance doof in a forest filthier... Read More
Jack On Fire, Friday December 2 - Phoenix Public House live, review, music.
0 Comments. 943 Views. Posted 6 Dec 2011 @ 1:31pm.
On paper this bill had real promise, and I do so love when promises are kept. I came for a night of boisterous balladry, twang and talent, and was not disappointed, receiving all that and more in big fat spades. Despite an ultimately numerous, vocal and active crowd, I don't expect to be able to move around so freely at a Jack On Fire show in the future. This is good news. Opening three-piece... Read More