Month: September 2018

Photo Gallery: Oz Comic-Con Sydney 2018 with Cary Elwes, Nathaniel Buzolic and more

On a cool, fresh, sunny September weekend as the school holidays kicked off, ICC Darling Harbour hosted Oz Comic-Con Sydney. It’s an event Where awe-inspiring actors, colourful cosplay, gladiatorial gamers, bodacious book authors, and compelling comics all come together. Over the course of the weekend, celebrity film and TV stars hosted question & answer panels…

Read More

Photo Gallery: Hideous Sun Demon + Kaitlin Keegan + Cosy + Post Depression Makeout Session – Mojos, Fremantle (29.09.18)

The next stop on Hideous Sun Demon‘s Fame Erotic Dream tour was Mojo’s Bar in Fremantle, where they delivered a full on psych-punk experience. Joining them in the fun were Kaitlin Keegan, Cosy and Post Depression Makeout Session. Our photographer Stuart Sevastos brings us the highlights of the night.

Read More

Live Review: Jack River + Jess Kent + Annie Hamilton – Metro Theatre, Sydney (28.09.18)

While it may just be her on stage alias, the brains, vocals and stories behind Jack River is so much more. An entrepreneur, promoter and musician, Holly Rankin brought to life her musical talents and journey as the Sydney leg of her Sugar Mountain album tour made its way to a sold out Metro Theatre….

Read More

Live Review: Allen Stone puts the Soul back into the Croxton Bandroom with Thando

Upon the coloured light bulbs and mood lighting, the room filled up with an agenda of groovy beats and neo-soul. Allen Stone was in town, playing at the Croxton Bandroom in Melbourne’s sacred north. It would be his only Australian show before hitting the Byron Bay Blues Festival in early 2019. Not being familiar with…

Read More

Book Review: Stuart Coupe’s Roadies hands the mic back to Australia’s road crew

There’s no question that Australia’s roadies know their way around a microphone. A concert set-up doesn’t magically appear out of nowhere. It take tireless crew members toiling away to unpack, set-up, test and re-pack the staging and equipment; and repeating this process as they travel to different towns and venues. For too long, roadies may…

Read More

Interview: ALEX (UK) on Pop Culture, Retrowave and Simulations

Retrowave and synthwave are still rather under-the-radar sub-genres of electronica. They often involve a strong link to pop culture and 80’s-inspired musical themes. Last week, I got the chance to speak with ALEX, a U.K based producer and thought leader in the retrowave and synthwave genres. ALEX’s most recent album, Simulations, is a 10-track stream-of-consciousness…

Read More

Festival Review: Wollongong’s Yours and Owls kicks off 2018 event with epic sets from Peking Duk, Moaning Lisa, Psychedelic Porn Crumpets and more

While most of Sydney’s partygoers were heading to Listen Out, I jumped on the train to Wollongong to check out the sold out Yours & Owls two day festival; an annual event which has become among the most anticipated and celebrated in the region. Often being overseas at the same time, it was my first…

Read More

Flight of the Conchords release new song “Father and Son” ahead of new HBO Special

Earlier this year, Bret McKenzie and Jermaine Clement reunited Flight of the Conchords for a tour across England. And now, the beloved New Zealand comedians and folk musicians will return to HBO after having concluded their TV show nine years ago, for a special recorded in London on July 1st. The show will see the…

Read More

Everything you need to know about Brockhampton’s new video “New Orleans”, shot in a Sydney cinema

On Thursday, US rap collective Brockhampton dropped an impromptu video in Sydney for their single “New Orleans”, the opening track taken from their new album Iridescence. It was shot after the exclusive screening of their documentary The Longest Summer in America at the George Street Event Cinemas in the city, ahead of their performance today at Listen Out. The…

Read More

Live Review: Clare Bowen proves in Perth her music is anything but a vanity project with Imogen Clark, Timothy James Bowen and more

Thursday night saw fans of the TV series Nashville descend on Perth’s Astor Theatre for the opening night of Clare Bowen’s Australian tour. Bowen of course, best known for her role as singer-songwriter Scarlett O’Connor on the show. Earlier this year, the show wrapped up after six seasons, leaving Bowen free to complete and release…

Read More

Track of the Day: Straight Arrows “21st Century” (2018)

Sydney-sider garage quartet Straight Arrows have released their long awaited third album this week. From the 26th of September on we can listen to another fuzzed out psychedelic punk compilation of eleven noisy tracks on ON TOP! The band’s first two albums, It’s Happening and Rising, have already cemented their name into the Aussie garage…

Read More

Theatre Review: Funny Girl is a joyous romp through New York’s golden years (Paramatta’s Riverside Theatre to 6th October)

The film Funny Girl is celebrating its golden anniversary but this story feels so young and vital it could have been made yesterday. Theatre & Co. present their version of Funny Girl at Parramatta’s Riverside Theatre. It’s something often associated with Barbra Streisand because it once catapulted her to fame. These are some big shoes to…

Read More

The “B.E.T.A.” dates for Fallout 76 have been revealed

Fallout 76 will be letting players start the apocalypse early, with the announcement of dates for the game’s B.E.T.A. test. Usually these kinds of short-window early marks are called a beta period, but the Fallout developers love their abbreviations — it stands for “Break-It Early Test Application”. But first, the Official In-Game Intro for Fallout…

Read More

Five Tracks That Inspired Us: Hey Geronimo (Brisbane) and “Working For Google”

Earlier this month, Brisbane-based outfit Hey Geronimo released their new album Content. Off of it came the single “Working For Google”, which saw a video released around the same time as the album dropped. We asked the band to share with us five tracks that inspired the track: Boys Better — The Dandy Warhols https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dw0N0bIBKvc…

Read More

4 more acts not to miss at Australian Music Week as 40 more artists and conference program details are added

Sometimes leading trends in music can become boring and predictable. From 7th to the 9th of November, Australian Music Week celebrates the artists going at it a bit differently, down at the Shire. Lather on that sunscreen and come feel the heat of Australia’s most accessible, grassroots music industry conference. With a focus on real…

Read More

Track of the Day: Bald Beagle “U-Turn” (2018)

Following the release of their debut EP Centrelink last year, Margaret River’s Bald Beagle are back with their new single “U-Turn”. Bald Beagle were born out of somewhat humble beginnings; originally it was just three friends coming together to play another friend’s twenty first. Since then, they’ve released an EP, added a further two members to the band,…

Read More

Exclusive Single Premiere: Sydney-based soul songstress Wallace returns with “Pantone Home” (2018)

Today we’re thrilled to premiere the brilliant, brand new single “Pantone Home” from Sydney-based soul songstress Wallace. Opening with an isolated piano, it’s not long before the beat steps in and we get a spectacular mix of soul, jazz, hip-hop and electronica. The beautiful track – her second of 2018 – may just be Wallace’s…

Read More

Interview: Michael Shuman on QOTSA, Japan, Edwyn Collins and his new Mini Mansions EP Works Every Time.

Chatting about his current tours, Michael Shuman (better known as Mikey Shoes) had a talk with us about his bands Queens of the Stone Age and Mini Mansions, the lack of vacationing in his life and a brand new EP, Works Every Time, which is released today. Mikey had a lot to say about his…

Read More

Travel Review: U By Uniworld reinvents European river cruising

I’m watching European countryside scenery roll by from my bed, and my phone won’t stop buzzing. Picture messages, texts, oh, and the odd GIF – they’re all coming through in the WhatsApp group I’m in. It’s called The A – the same name of the river cruise ship I’m on. Run by U by Uniworld,…

Read More

Live Review: Jhené Aiko treats Sydney Trip Tour to special guest A$AP Rocky

On Wednesday night American singer-songwriter Jhené Aiko took Sydney crowds at Hordern Pavilion on a final emotional and musical journey during her last Australian show of her Trip tour. Making it a real trip for everyone she had a very special guest rapper A$AP Rocky join her for part of the set. Starting off the…

Read More

Gig Guide: 9 shows not to miss in Sydney this October

It’s the end of September and we are reaching to grasp the Summer Holidays and Christmas celebration, but just can’t quite get there. Stop reaching for holidays and start grabbing tickets because life doesn’t have to be mundane with great live music around everywhere. Here are nine great gigs in Sydney this October that will…

Read More

What we learned at the NSW Parliamentary Friends of Australian Music (PFOAM) event

Politicians and Musicians don’t often see eye to eye, especially of late in NSW, but on Wednesday night at the NSW Parliamentary Friends of Australian Music (PFOAM), songwriters, musicians, recording artists and key industry leaders joined forces in Macquarie Street to illustrate the importance of contemporary music for Australia – not just for starting parties but…

Read More

Track of the Day: Winterbourne “Better” (2018)

Moving away from their folk roots, Central Coast duo Winterbourne have launched a new direction for their music with the release of brand new track “Better”. Fans of bands such as Ball Park Music and The Jungle Giants will instantly fall in love with this new tune, woven with sensational guitar licks and catchy, modern…

Read More

Film Review: Night School (USA, 2018) is a film that will have you begging for an expulsion

Night School is a film with a very well-worn premise that has been done many times before (Billy Madison and Old School to name a few), but there factors here that could make the film transcend my meagre expectations. One is the paring of Kevin Hart and Tiffany Haddish, two of the biggest comedy stars right…

Read More

Netflix Review: Maniac is entertaining and well done but less mind blowing than intended

Last Friday, Netflix released a new series called Maniac. Following up on Black Mirror and Stranger Things binges, Maniac has already flickered across many TV-lovers’ screens. The format is limited to ten episodes and based on the, four years older, Norwegian series with the same name. This genre-bending sci-fi drama is written by Patrick Somerville and directed…

Read More

Interview: Dan Haggis from The Wombats (UK) talks his upcoming solo album and the future of the band

On the eve their new Australian tour, English pop rockers The Wombats’ drummer Dan Haggis reveals to The AU Review that he is planning a new solo album to be released next year. Aussie favourites The Wombats are touring the world again on the back of their hugely successful 5th album Beautiful People Will Ruin…

Read More

Photo Gallery: Noname – Metro Theatre, Sydney (25.09.18)

Ahead of her appearance at Listen Out, Noname graced the Metro in Sydney last night. Belinda graces the AU with these photos:

Read More

Album Review: Milo’s Budding Ornothologists are Weary of Tired Analogies (2018 LP) is a masterclass in complexity

milo has been active for some years now, releasing music both under his own name and his alias, Scallops Hotel – as well as his Nostrum Grocers collaboration with Elucid. His output is consistently high, releasing 2 projects in 2018 alone before the unveiling of his 4th studio album Budding Ornothologists are Weary of Tired…

Read More

Gig Guide: 7 shows not to miss in Brisbane this October

October is almost upon us which means it’s time to start planning how you’re going to spend those warmer, spring evenings. With a bunch of awesome gigs coming up in Brisbane, you’ll have no excuse not to get out and enjoy some live music. Here are our picks for the best gigs happening in Brisbane…

Read More

Album of the Week: Cloves’ debut One Big Nothing (2018 LP) both hits hard and emotionally simmers to touch your spirit

Debut albums play an important role in the life of an artist. They are generally full of emotion, heartfelt messages, life experiences and the artist’s passion for their craft. After three years of hard work, Cloves’ debut, One Big Nothing fulfils these expectations grandly, guiding the listener through a journey of Cloves’ blossoming music career,…

Read More