Joan As Police Woman Factory Theatre 9 October As a venue, the Factory Theatre often lacks warmth and atmosphere but on this night Joan As Police Woman transformed it into a dreamy basement cabaret bar. There was no support act due to her playing two sets – another tip of the hat to the jazz bar scenario. It also gave the fans a chance … Continue reading LIVE REVIEW: Joan As Police Woman @ Factory Theatre, Sydney (2019)
John Garcia, Peter Black @ Factory Theatre, Sydney Australia, April 21st, 2018 I doubt whether many alternative rock fans in the early 90s would have envisaged that the singers of Kyuss and The Hard-Ons would be doing a small-sized solo acoustic show in the year 2018. Noise and electricity have always been crucial elements of John Garcia and Blackie’s calling card sounds so it was both a … Continue reading LIVE REVIEW: John Garcia @ Factory Theatre, Sydney
Lambchop, Antonia & The Lazy Susans, Jack R Reilly @ Factory Theatre, Marrickville, Oct 19th, 2017 Early arrivals were privy to opening sets from local acts Jack R Reilly and Antonia & The Lazy Susans. The former showed a fine line in intimate, emotionally open and vocally impressive singer/songwriter fare over sparse and haunting electric guitar. In contrast, Antonia & The Lazy Susans were a confusing choice … Continue reading LIVE REVIEW: Lambchop @ Factory Theatre, Sydney
Covering another artist can be either be an exercise in slavish re-creation of their music, an attempt to replicate it as accurately as possible, or an insightful reinterpretation of their songs, adding a new shade, a new flavour to the music. This night was a tribute to The Smiths, in honour of the 30th anniversary of the band’s album The Queen Is Dead and we … Continue reading LIVE REVIEW: The Smiths Tribute @ Factory Theatre (24/09/16)
As far as icons go in rock ’n’ roll, Peter Garrett is one of the most distinctive. That inconceivably long-limbed physique, pronounced cheekbones and pale, bald head. The jerky, flailing movements and that authoritative bark and howl. With an extended absence from the live stage the audience could be forgiven for forgetting how commanding a stage presence the man has, until he strides out and … Continue reading LIVE REVIEW: Peter Garrett & The Alter Egos @ Factory Theatre, Sydney (12/08/16)
Shihad have been investing a lot of time in revisiting their back catalogue in recent years with reissues, tours of their best albums and greatest hits shows. That threatened to cement their place as a band built on past glories until the brutal and re-energised FVEY album came out in 2014. This night, though focused on celebrating their self-titled yet commonly known as The Fish … Continue reading LIVE REVIEW: Shihad @ The Factory Theatre, Sydney (15/07/16)
Guitars, amps, effects pedals and volume were the order of the night for Swervedriver’s return to Australian shores. Local rock ’n’ roll fringe dwellers The Holy Soul were the best of the support acts with a raw, brittle and at times brilliantly inventive set. They showed once more why they are the city’s best kept secret with their fusion of Pere Ubu, Television, The Gun … Continue reading LIVE REVIEW: Swervedriver @ Factory Theatre, Sydney 25/06/16
The On & Ons (including ex-members of Hoodoo Gurus and The Stems) set the scene for a night of riffs and power chords with a muscular power pop sound that brought to mind Big Star and Red Kross. They know how to mix strong melodies with rock n roll dynamics but their stage presence fell flat. Melbourne’s Magic Bones took things up a notch with … Continue reading LIVE REVIEW: Radio Birdman @ The Factory Theatre, Sydney (03/06/16)
Sunnyboys have been on a musical and emotional roller coaster over the last few years since they reformed for the Dig It Up Festival in 2012, the film on Jeremy Oxley and subsequent touring. Now they’ve scaled it back, eschewing extra musicians and venues like the Opera House for a show that focused firmly on the music. Carrie Phillis & The Downtown Three warmed up … Continue reading LIVE REVIEW: Sunnyboys @ Factory Theatre, Sydney (08/10/14)
by C. Familton Touring as backing band for Mark Gardener has its benefits when you can also open the show with your own set as did Los Angeles’ Sky Parade. Their set didn’t start well with a bad mix and a sparse early crowd but as the sound improved and the room filled they found their way with some dark psychedelic guitar rock in the … Continue reading LIVE REVIEW: Mark Gardener, Underground Lovers, Sky Parade @ Factory Theatre, Sydney (04/08/12)
written by Chris Familton Warming up the arriving punters was ten piece band The Cactus Channel, fresh out of Princes High School in Melbourne. Even before I knew their history their young appearance and demeanor felt like that of a school band but as soon as they started playing any notion of a curriculum music project went out the window. All were great players, especially … Continue reading LIVE REVIEW: Charles Bradley @ Factory Theatre, Sydney (16/03/12)
written by Chris Familton With each new album Joan Wasser releases she seems to be loosening the reins and allowing more of herself to emerge in her music. Live she is clearly doing the same with this show on her The Deep Field Tour surpassing her last visit to Australia a few years ago. The promoters were clearly over-ambitious with the original venue – Enmore … Continue reading LIVE REVIEW: Joan as Police Woman @ Factory Theatre, Sydney (09/06/11)
Doubtful Sounds 