Ride @ Enmore Theatre, Sydney NSW Sept 6th 2019 It’s been a long time between drinks for Australian fans of English band Ride but the timing felt just right with the band re-established for a couple of years now and with two solid new albums under its belt. It’s most likely that the members of openers Shiva & The Hazards were probably not even born … Continue reading LIVE REVIEW: Ride @ Enmore Theatre, Sydney 2019
Beastwars with Witchskull, Potion Crowbar, Sydney July 11th, 2019 Crowbar is quickly establishing itself as the home of Sydney’s metal and hard rock scene and tonight it hosted New Zealand’s finest metal band, Beastwars. They’ve just chalked up their first number one album, in the wake of breaking up, singer Matthew Hyde’s diagnosis and treatment of cancer, a reformation and the recording the devastating new … Continue reading LIVE REVIEW: Beastwars @ Crowbar, Sydney
Herbie Hancock Sydney Opera House, June 10th 2019 Herbie Hancock has been playing jazz onstage for nearly sixty years and even though this was his second show of the day in the Opera House’s Concert Hall, the septuagenarian seemed to have boundless energy as he took the audience through a spellbinding two hours of jazz fusion. Hancock has always been one to evolve with the times … Continue reading LIVE REVIEW: Herbie Hancock @ Sydney Opera House
Khruangbin, Harvey Sutherland Metro Theatre 14 March 14th, 2019 by Chris Familton This was a night of very few voices given that both acts on the bill were primarily instrumental trios. It was the music that did the talking and it transformed the Metro into a wall-to-wall sea of bodies-in-motion and conjured up a celebratory vibe in the room. Harvey Sutherland, the self-described funk-synthesist, was … Continue reading LIVE REVIEW: Khruangbin @ Metro Theatre, Sydney
Shihad, Young Lions, The Dead Love Metro Theatre, Sydney November 24th, 2018 Thirty years, damn… where did that time go. This writer recalls first seeing them open for The Angels in Auckland, New Zealand in 1990. Back then they were fresh-faced young lads, still in thrall to the thrash metal of Metallica and co and yet to embark on the ups and downs of their … Continue reading LIVE REVIEW: Shihad @ Metro Theatre, Sydney
The Goon Sax, Gregor, Married Man Petersham Bowling Club 23 November 23rd, 2018 As The Goon Sax made a hurried dash from Newcastle after their flight from Brisbane to Sydney was curtailed, Married Man opened the evening of outside guitar pop music with a set that showcased the songs and voice of Sarafina Pea. Vocal effects were employed to songs that took in dream pop … Continue reading LIVE REVIEW: The Goon Sax @ Petersham Bowling Club, Sydney
Power Trip, Flaming Wrekage, Shackles Bald Faced Stag, Leichhardt NSW, Australia September 22nd, 2018 As legends of the thrash scene such as Slayer, play farewell tours, attention starts to shift to who will lead the next wave of metal. On the back of their acclaimed Nightmare Logic album, Power Trip are widely considered the reigning princes of a new breed of thrash. Accordingly it was … Continue reading LIVE REVIEW: Power Trip @ Bald Faced Stag, Sydney
Jen Cloher, Tiny Ruins Red Rattler Theatre, Marrickville, NSW Australia 20th September, 2018 A sold out Sydney show is a great way to kick off a solo tour for Jen Cloher and as she revealed during her set, this was her first ever solo headline gig. A surprising event given the career Cloher’s established over the last dozen years. Hollie Fullbrook is better known as … Continue reading LIVE REVIEW: Jen Cloher, Tiny Ruins @ Red Rattler, Sydney
Gaz Coombes, Mitch King @ Oxford Art Factory, 13th Sept 2018 Solo tours from artists known almost exclusively for their work with bands are often approached with caution. Will they be able to replicate the spirit of their recordings and maintain the integrity of their songs with just their voice and a few instruments on stage? Some artists take the fully acoustic approach – “These are the stripped … Continue reading LIVE REVIEW: Gaz Coombes @ Oxford Art Factory, Sydney
TOUR DIARY: MARK MOLDRE PROLOGUE Sleepwalker, I feel my way through forest and gorge Fantastically around me a magic circle glows Not caring whether I courted or cursed I follow truly my inner calling – Herman Hesse I’ve never had any delusions of grandeur about my musical place in Australia I’ve struggled to make any kind of mark In my last 3 decades of making … Continue reading TOUR DIARY: Mark Moldre
Infinity Broke, The Tall Grass, Mark Moldre @ Factory Floor, Sydney July 13th 2018 Tonight’s gig was a warm up and testing of the waters ahead of all three acts heading off on tour to France. The heavy lifting was firmly in the hands of Jamie Hutchings, drummer/guitarist Scott Hutchings and bassist Reuben Wills who played in all three bands, and though there was a degree of … Continue reading LIVE REVIEW: Infinity Broke, The Tall Grass, Mark Moldre 13.07.18
Cash Savage & The Last Drinks, Blake Scott, Roadhouses @ The Lansdowne, Sydney – 23rd June, 2018 With a new album Good Citizens on the horizon and a fresh new single out in the world, Cash Savage & The Last Drinks hit Sydney with a fine pair of opening acts in tow. Roadhouses also have new music freshly imparted to the universe and they played a typically … Continue reading LIVE REVIEW: Cash Savage & The Last Drinks @ The Lansdowne, Sydney
Doubtful Sounds 