reviewed for FasterLouder Roots music was the flavour of the night at the Metro with 3 quite different variations on that fairly all encompassing genre. It has become a term that describes anything associated with blues, folk, reggae and country and with The Fumes, Wagons and headliners Calexico we were entertained with the full spectrum. The Fumes had been conjuring up some heavy blues rock … Continue reading REVIEW: CALEXICO @ Metro, Sydney 03/03/10
reviewed for FasterLouder A fair amount of trepidation accompanies a gig like this, such is the reputation of mainman Anton Newcombe. Reports of their Gaelic Theatre show a few years ago were either frothing about Newcombe’s shambolic antics or deriding it for the lack of focus on the music. Either way it would have made for a memorable gig and it definitely didn’t deter the … Continue reading REVIEW: THE BRIAN JONESTOWN MASSACRE @ Metro, Sydney 28/02/10
After an impressive showing at the Soundwave Festival a few days prior this was a gig that promised much and for the most part delivered. After negotiating a carpark/backdoor entrance to the Factory Theatre it quickly became apparent that this wasn’t a gig for pale indie kids. Clutch fans are generally large males with a decidedly metal/punk/rocker fashion aesthetic. Local lads The Fumes were battling … Continue reading REVIEW: CLUTCH @ Factory Theatre, Sydney 24/02/10
reviewed for FasterLouder Mastodon are one of the new breed of bands that are able to incorporate multiple strains of metal and weave them into something that resembles a progression rather than a regression of the genre. On the back of their epic album Crack The Skye they finally hit Sydney as part of the Big Day Out juggernaut and proceeded to lay waste to … Continue reading REVIEW: MASTODON @ UNSW Roundhouse, Sydney 21/01/10
In the early 00s bands from New York like Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Strokes and Interpol all experienced a wealth of attention with their fresh takes on older musical genres and strong images that made them perfect fodder for magazines and marketing depts. Of those three bands YYY have managed to hold onto their mojo the longest with The Strokes burning out early (either by design … Continue reading REVIEW: YEAH YEAH YEAHS @ Hordern Pavilion, Sydney 08/01/10
reviewed for The Dwarf A shrunken Manning Bar in the form of false walls greeted punters as they arrived for British Sea Power. I’m not sure if this is a permanent change to the venue or just a way to make an undersold gig feel fuller than it was. It seems to be a bit of a recent trend with the Metro also dividing the … Continue reading REVIEW: BRITISH SEA POWER @ Manning Bar, Sydney 20/01/10
Its always a tricky scenario when one of your favourite bands is one of the first of the day at a festival. In this case it was Sunny Day Real Estate who were starting at 12.30pm. Leave the city at 10.30am? – that should give us plenty of time… NOT. Once we hit the motorway approach to the exit the traffic slowed to a halt … Continue reading REVIEW: SOUNDWAVE 2010, Sydney Australia
King Khan & The Shrines are exactly what soul and funk music should be – loud, fun, sexy, loose and entertaining. They are a band that knows when to seduce and when to incite reckless dancing and thats exactly what they did at the Oxford Art Factory. Sydney’s Royal Headache warmed the crowd with a curious and captivating mix of garage-pop and rock & roll … Continue reading REVIEW: KING KHAN & THE SHRINES @ OAF, Sydney 06/01/10
A brutally hot Sydney day greeted 55,000 people as they made their way to the Showgrounds for what was the 99th Big Day Out show. As expected the dress code was plenty of skin, tiny denim shorts, bikinis and a lot of surf shorts and dodgy tattoos. If anything the BDO seems to attract a younger audience each year, as much there for the rite … Continue reading REVIEW: BIG DAY OUT – SYDNEY 2010
There have been some recent journalistic doubting of the authenticity of Seasick Steve’s persona and the stories of his life experiences. Anyone not convinced of his right to play the blues need only witness the man live in concert where his music rightfully and righteously sets the record straight. The Snowdroppers were one of those little known support acts that impresses and leaves a lasting … Continue reading REVIEW: SEASICK STEVE @ The Metro, Sydney 04/01/10
Brisvegas’ Oh Ye Denver Birds joined Akron/Family for their tour and they were a suitable support choice with their low-key rambling and hypnotic sound. They have elements of Arcade Fire in their more uplifting moments alongside more folkier sounds of early Animal Collective and The Dodos. It was the first time I had seen The Paper Scissors live and they are a curious proposition. They … Continue reading REVIEW: AKRON/FAMILY @ Annandale, Sydney 12/12/09
Reviewed for FasterLouder Playing three shows at the Annandale, this was almost the perfect place to see one of Australia’s iconic rock bands of the last 20 years. It was unclear whether they decided to play these shows to support The Annandale’s financial battles with council or merely that they wanted to get back to basics in a small and sweaty pub venue. Either way … Continue reading REVIEW: YOU AM I @ The Annandale, Sydney (14/11/09)
Doubtful Sounds 