Regurgitator - 27 August 2015, The Zoo

After a two and a half year hiatus, Regurgitator has returned to the stage bringing their effervescent infectious energy with them. The Brisbane show marked their first stop of the tour, and it was like no time had passed at all!

Opening the night was Mystery School. I don’t really know how to describe what I heard and saw, apart from saying it was a little like a mystery. Brainchild, Jhonny Russell, performed such a mix of styles, flipping from punk like distorted guitar goodness, to electro synth lyrical pop, with a whole bunch of styles thrown together in between. The second half of the set flowed really nicely and cohesively, where the first half was a bit rattled. Had the set been switched around a little the whole act would have made much more sense.

Up next was Godswounds. Their 32-bit hardcore style is not a style I would have ever found myself describing, yet is a perfectly apt description of this band. Think Nintendo cross grunge. They had some rather awesome things going on, and with the addition of the Trumpet melodies on top of gamer synth sound it made for some rather unique music. There was an energy about them that was infectious, and you couldn’t help but get involved in their music making.

It’s hard to believe Regurgitator have been around for over 20 year! When did that happen? Judging by the night’s performance, they haven’t slowed down a bit! Frontmen Quan and Ben spent over an hour bouncing around the stage mixing grunge, rap and pop-punk together in a set that was filled to the brim with their classic hits! They opened the set with “Blood and Spunk”, backing it up with “Track 1”. What is just so special about a Gurge concert, however is their empowering ability to get an entire venue singing along to words “I will lick your arsehole” at the top of their lungs.

The mosh was infectious! Standing in the front third looking back, the jumping continued for the majority of the venue. By the time the band got to “I Wanna Be a Nudist” and “Pop Porn” it left me wondering how many more hits they could throw into the set, then they played “Polyester Girl”. Another thing that continually surprises me about the band is their ability to change up their arrangement to form their heavy live sound. Take “Polyester Girl”, it is so much heavier live then on record, and it was amazing.

They ended the set with some rippers including “Kung Foo Sing” before returning for their encore with “The Drop” and “! (The Song Formally Known As)”. This set was just about everything that I could have wished for in a Gurge concert with not many favourites missing out. If you can manage to get along to the gigs down south, please do. You will not regret it!

Ed Sheeran - 20 March 2015, Brisbane Riverstage

On a humid Friday evening, as thousands of eager fans streamed into the Riverstage ready for a glimpse of the man of the hour, Ed Sheeran, I found myself wondering what kind of show we were about to witness. The powerhouse frontman backed by a band full of talented musicians? The full light show that ever so often overshadows the performer on the stage? I should have known better. Shame on me. Ed Sheeran didn’t need any of these fancy things to enhance his sold out show. He just needed a guitar, an effects pedal, and undeniable gem of a voice.

Opening the evening was little known artist Conrad Sewell. The Brisbane born lad certainly has a set of pipes, and I found myself captivated during his entire set. With just David, his piano man, to accompany him on the large, empty stage, he worked the crowd while also projecting his evocative voice to back of the grass. His tune “Remind me” was very captivating, while “Beautiful Life” was more fun and quirky, however it was his cover of Michael Jackson’s “PYT” that really stuck with me. A great opening set from the rookie.

Up next was Englishman Jamie Lawson. Coming on stage only with his guitar; the acoustic artist brought us a very different vibe. He showcased some really pleasant, appealing vocals that had a certain roughness to it.

After not too long, it was time for the man himself, Ed Sheeran. With just his guitar and effects pedals he brought us almost two hours of divinity. In what was essentially an acoustic show he said, “it is my job to entertain you, and it is your job top be entertained.” And entertain us he did; all 10,000 of us. I never knew that a guitar could be played in so many different ways. He used it as a drum kit, as a drum machine, as a bass, not to mention just as a guitar. Sheeran has a sophistication about his playing that evident throughout all of his songs, though it was particularly exquisite in “Tenerife Sea”.

Although Ed had a case of the “man-flu”, he played all his huge songs from his sophomore release, X, as well as material from his debut, +, without any signs of fatigue. I guess it helped that he had 10,000 back up singers carrying him through. He opened with “I’m a Mess” and “Lego House” before showing off his rap skills. I didn’t even know he rapped. Again, shame on me. There were also a bunch of amazing mash-ups of original songs and covers; for example, “Take it Back” crossed with both “Superstition” and “Ain’t No Sunshine”. Amazing. For me though, it was the middle of the set where the true magic happened; “I See Fire” was just exquisite! And of course for his encore he chose “Sing” with which to end the comprehensive performance.

It was such a humid night and everyone was a sweaty mess after singing up a storm. It still blows my mind that on the massive Riverstage it was just him, just Ed Sheeran on stage captivating a venue full of adoring fans with loops and loops of layered bliss. There is definitely a reason why there are three sold-out Brisbane shows among the dozen or more sold out performance across Australia.

Hey Geronimo - 18 December 2014, Black Bear Lodge

There’s always a little something special about end of year gigs. Not only is it a celebration of what has been achieved over the year that has been, but it is also a prelude to what is coming in the New Year. Hey Geronimo brought their A-Game to the Black Bear Lodge and it was a true celebration a full of hard work.

Opening the night however was Youth Allowance. This band was phenomenal! They had some catchy and well-written tunes and really looked as though they were having a great time performing. What is so refreshing about these lads is the fact that their songs are not just the typical carbon copied song structure that oh so many up and coming band are abusing. Their two single “Morning Light” and “Games” are both brilliant songs full of intricate riffs and hooklines. Also, there were definitely some other gems showcased in their set that blew these two track out of the ball park! Keep an eye out for these lads, I have a good feeling about them.

Up next was Born Joy Dead. Fronted by Ben Dalton (of Hungry Kids of Hungary fame), the band has some really thought provoking tunes, for example “Upside Down, Inside Out”. This song had such unusual beat groupings, which was really fitting considering the title of the track. It’d be nice to see the band again in the New Year once they have continued to hone their skills!

The reason everyone was out on a school night was the infectiousness that is Hey Geronimo. The lads have a particular talent for writing catchy tunes that are so easy to uncontrollably dance to and they never fail to put on a stellar performance getting the crowd whipped up into a crazy 60s dance party. They played songs both old and new, but there were definitely songs missing from their set list that I was saddened to miss out on. But who can complain really when the likes of “Lazer Gun Show” and their latest single “Finale” open the early part of the set and we are privileged to hear fresh tracks including their cover of “Paperback Writer”.

There were so many great things about this gig, the guitar solo battles and immense fun that was Hey Geronimo, to the unexpectedly pleasant surprise that was Youth Allowance. A seriously great early Christmas present in gig form.

Bluejuice - 2 October 2014, The HiFi

When I first heard the news that Bluejuice, one of the craziest and most talented bands out there, were breaking up, there were some tears. I’m not just talking the “I’ve got something in my eye” tears, I’m talking about the streaming kind. For the past 13 years, Bluejuice have been knocking socks (and jocks) right off, and it is monumentally sad that they are calling it quits. In saying that, they are putting on a Last Hurrah tour all around the country so as to have a “Happy Funeral”, Jake put it.

Opening the night was Jody. The four-piece have a good thing going on with their guitar heavy music. The room was really dead this early in the night, and they tried with all their might to get a response from the corpses. To their credit, they did an aplaudible job! They two main vocalists took turns on main vocals and there were some nice distinctions between the vibes of the songs. “Three Weeks Later” was definitely the highlight of the set for me. It was cohesive and really stood out from the rest of their songs.

Next up was DJ Tyler Touché. I really liked everything about this guy! It was a little weird going from a band to a DJ and I think this threw the mood in the room a little as the vibe was off. I love the textures that Touché creates. They’re unlike the electronic music that’s popping up everywhere due to the lack of ground shaking bass. Instead, there’s a whole bunch 80s keyboard synth sounds in there that create his signature sound. He was joined on stage by Sterling Silver, who sang some stellar live vocals. Highlights of the set have to be when he whipped out some live saxophone and “Baguette.”

As dismal as the crowd interest was for the opening acts, that all changed when Bluejuice took to the stage. They opened their set with “Recession” and within the first song,Jake was out crowd surfing and that’s where the shenanigans began. This being their last hurrah tour they pulled out all the stops, including all the old favourites and the new material. Having “S.O.S” back up by “I’ll Go Crazy” was an awesome setlist choice. I think it was this time in the set where Jake lost his shirt and shit really started getting real. There were copious amounts of water thrown off the stage, stage dives, riding on security guys’ shoulders and all round awesomeness.

Bluejuice once again donned their fluro getup that lost its sticky at various points in the set, which enlightens the fact they they are one of the most entertaining acts around. Stav in all his absolute greatness held the fort while Jake went off exploiting the side wings of the HiFi and tested the length of this microphone cable. I believe it was longer than last time they played the HiFi, as he got much further back in the crowd before he had to be reeled in. There was none of this in “No Time for Tears”, though. No shenanigans, just the music. It brought home that this was the last time I will see the band live. There is only so much vicarious living you can do though a recorded album; for this band, their heart and soul is on the stage.

They saved the best of their material for last with “Act Yr Age”, followed by “Vitriol”. The crowd was going off. I love fake encores. Everyone knows you’re going to come back on stage and tear the house down. This is exactly what Bluejuice did with “Medication” and “Broken Leg”. There was a hell of a lot of singing going on in "Broken Leg" and both frontmen left us to sing it!

It was a sensational gig, the best of theirs I’ve been to. While I am sad to say goodbye, I am extremely grateful to have be apart of their magical journey and experience this one last show. So long and farewell!

Sara Bareilles - 24 September 2014, The Tivoli

w/ Ben Abraham

It’s been a long time coming for Sara Bareilles to return to Australia. After supporting Maroon 5 almost four years ago she had not returned to our southern shores until now. I am a huge Bareilles, and have been since her debut release, so for her to finally have a run of headline shows in Australia, was something I would not soon miss.

Opening the night was the super talented Ben Abraham. Sara introduced the musician herself and told the story of their fateful meeting over the Interwebs. His opening song was truly stunning. With lyrics like “Until you, I was a stingless guitar” it was just so heartfelt and really tender moment. His crown banter is just about second to none, as he riffed on his guitar while telling us stories about his songs or teaching us the harmonies to one of his songs about Home. A very polished artist who definitely is in need of further looking up!

The crowd at The Tivoli was a very vocal bunch and when Sara Bareilles took to the stage there was a ruckus that rivaled the welcoming of many an artist taking the stage. She opened her set with a solo version of “Let the Rain” on guitar. She backed this up with “Uncharted” solo on the Piano. What is so striking about Bareilles live, is her ability to portray her songs in a very different way to the way they are on record. She mixed up the melodies, and while maintaining the essence of the song takes you to a different place than that which you expected.

Her band joined her on stage for “Love on the Rocks” and I was surprised at the intimate setting that she was creating. With just two additional band members, one on synths, and the other on electronic drums, they created a very minimal yet rich sound. It was great to hear some of the artist’s older song, including cult favourite “Love Song”. However it was overshadowed by the next track “Hurclues”. Bareilles proclaimed this track as the centerpiece of her latest record The Blessed Unrest, as it signified all that was occurring in her personal life during the writing of the tracks for this album. Her rendition of it was heart-wrenchingly beautiful.

She then covered Sia’s smash hit “Chandelier” accompanied just on Ukelele. While the vocal melody stayed very much as strong as the original, it was insane to hear the power of Bareilles’ vocals in contrast to the tiny sound of the Uke. For her to successfully match Sia’s power in that song was incredible. Ben Abraham then joined her on stage for a couple of songs, “December”, “Chasing the Sun” and one of Ben’s songs. They were all proper duets, where each artist would sing a verse each and complement each other on the harmonies. It was great to hear two stunning voices working so well together.

One thing I have neglected to mention is just how hilarious Sara Bareilles is. I’d read that she is a crack up in her live show, but had little evidence until now. She is ridiculous, casually dropping the f-bomb on a semi-regular basis and paying out on people coming in late. Very funny stuff. She performed “I Choose You” before segueing directly into “Sweet As Whole”, other wise know as the “Asshole Song.” It was freaking hilarious!

She finished her set strongly with “King of Anything” and “Brave” back to back. What a great choice. They were both killer songs and really finished the set off exceedingly well. But! It was not all over just yet, for her Encore, she came back onto stage to perform a solo rendition of “Gravitiy”, one of my all time favourite songs. It was perfect. The whole set was perfect.

Sara Bareilles was everything I had hoped for live and then some. Such a great gig! However, with the tour being entitled “The Little Black Dress Tour”, it was distinctly lacking the title track in the set list… A small price to pay for other greatness I suppose. Lets just hope we will not have to wait another four years to see her back on our fair shores again.

BIGSOUND, Night 2 - 11 September 2014, Fortitude Valley

w/ Deep Sea Arcade, Gold Fields, Harmony James, Jeremy Neale, Safie, Tkay Maidza, Eves, Dozzi, The Phoncurves

Night Two of BIGSOUND Live for me was a little more unplanned than Night One, allowing me to come across some unexpected talent along the way. As with any day at a festival like this, however, with all the amazing highs there were also, unfortunately, some lows. But we may have the fun police to blame for that... read on!

Opening Night Two were The Phoncurves. These two lovely ladies together with the lads in their band were a rather chilled way to begin the evening. Their individual voices are beautiful, but together in harmony is something else. Their song “Heartstrings” was a beautiful tune. I love the way that they have samples of their voices on the pads as further layering of vocal harmonies. It is a clever way to have a more dense quality of sound. In their songs there were some unexpected tempo changes between the verses and choruses. But for them, it actually works really well.

Next on my list was Tully on Tully, but unfortunately they were having some technical glitches and the hard decision was made to move on. Dozzi won the bid to fill the big gap left by Tully on Tully. While I am not usually the biggest fan of Country music, their county inflections were just so darn beautiful! Their mash up of Lady Gaga’s “You and I” and The Beatles “Hey Jude” was absolutely incredible. The three sisters each have their own unique performing style and are all a little badass. Their latest single “Weakness” was really rad, and I absolutely loved it!

Next up was Eves. Eves is an artist that I have heard so much about and I’ve always wanted to see live, but have missed her every single time! I think I should have made more of an effort, as she is one powerhouse performer! She is so tiny, yet has the charisma to hold a huge stage. Her dancing is eccentric and infectious you can’t help but get into the music. Her production was really unique. There were many unexpected harmonic changes that were quite out of the ordinary and a welcome break the dance music stereotype.

I think someone was on sound police duties, as where Eves had body shaking bass sounds, Tkay Maidza’s bass sounds were flimsy and weak in comparison. For such a large outdoor venue it was really disappointing. This pocket rocket is so darn talented and struts the stage effortlessly bringing her own unique presence to the venue.

Safia was up next at an almost capacity Woolly Mammoth. Holy shit this band is awesome! They have an amazing groove with their electronica goodness. The trio have been so successful with their song “Listen to Soul, Listen to Blues” and it was great to see that they closed their set with this song. They said that this was the song that started it all, but they have evolved so much since this song was released. They have become more sophisticated, more polished band with intelligent production and stellar falsetto vocals.

Coming off the back of Safia was Jeremy Neale at Alhambra Lounge. His blues inspired repertoire was rather rad and really got the crowd moving and grooving. He has a certain stage manner about him when he performs that makes it impossible to resist the urge to dance. It is quite special.

Harmony James was next on the agenda, making her the second country artist of the night. She has a beautiful spirit about her. Although I didn’t manage to catch all of her set, in what I did hear there was a true and strong story telling ability that not many artist can fully capture. Couple this with her melody writing talent, and you have a true songstress. It’ any wonder she a current Q Music award winner!

Gold Fields were another true highlight of the night. After their hiatus, they are back with a vengeance boasting new songs and rad production to boot. It was nice to see the sound police had been kicked out since Tkay Maidza’s set previously in the night. With such gritty production, it was such a beautiful contrast to have such smooth vocals layered over the top. Their song “Treehouse” was the absolute highlight of the set. I hope they are not planning on going anywhere anytime soon. I can’t wait to hear a full set from them in the very near future.

To round out the night - and the official part of the festival - was Deep Sea Arcade (pictured). This band just keep getting better and better. Since I last saw them play live they have added a whole bunch of new songs to their set list and have got even looser. The frontman’s vocals are unique in this industry and always continue to intrigue me. It was great to hear some newer songs including “Girls” but also some older songs including my personal favourite “Lonely in Your Arms”.

The true standout of Night Two of BIGSOUND was by far and away Safia. They utterly blew my mind. I mean, it’s gone. So with 21 bands over two nights, that brings BIGSOUND Live to a close for 2014. Well played BIGSOUND, well played. I’m spent!

BIGSOUND, Night 1 - 10 September 2014, Fortitude Valley

w/ Okenyo, Mosman Alder, Lanks, Stillwater Giants, Jane Tyrrell, Lime Cordiale, Little Odessa, Lower Spectrum, Fieldings, Rolls Bayce

BIGSOUND Live is always a great opportunity to catch some of the best bands in the business while also discovering new favourite acts you didn’t even realise exist! It is such a vibrant event full of networking and all round joy.

Opening the live showcases was Rolls Bayce at the Zoo. Dean McGrath, of Hungry Kids of Hungary fame, fronts this relatively new band and it truly has his style written all over it! In a nutshell, this band are really rather rad! They have a great stage manner and cut right crap and get to the good stuff. Rolls Bayce boast a fusion of styles including old school Rock, with a little bit of 60s Funk and Soul thrown in there for good measure. Their hit single “Don’t Get Me Wrong” was definitely a highlight of the set. I foresee good things for this band. Keep an ear out!

New up for the night was Fieldings at Ric’s Bar. The frontwoman sings with such conviction, passion and with a certain cry in voice that tugs at your heartstrings. The accompanying drums were mostly toms and this really suited this style of music. Couple this together with the ambient synth and it was the perfect combination of chilled awesomeness! “Shoots and Rattles” was a great tune and really sums up what this artist is all about!

Lower Spectrum was up next up at The Brightside. He creates a vast soundscape of true electronica goodness. Although I wasn’t able to stay for long, what I did see has definitely prompted me to look them up further.

It’s great to see The Elephant getting involved as a BIGSOUND Live venue this year. Their outdoor space out the back of the venue was the perfect location for a mid-size stage and Little Odessa was playing, truly knocking everybody’s socks off! They are just a whole bunch of fun. Nothing can stop the frontman from his rampage of being arguably one of the most exciting up and coming local frontmen at the moment. There were too many highlights in this set to mention them all, however, their performance of “All Night” was a too awesome for words. I was definitely a fan before, now I think I am a little obsessed. Forgive me!

Back at The Zoo, Lime Cordiale were tearing things up, sending their pop inspired vibes throughout the venue creating a dance party to rival all dance party. The two frontmen really worked well together and when backed with a Trombone and Bari Sax they created some very lush sounds. While I was uncertain at first, the more I hear of their set, the more I liked them! Their song “Falling Up The Stairs” was a definite highlight.

Heading back to The Elephant to see Jane Tyrrell was a good decision. She has a powerful voice that was backed by intelligent electronica programming. She dressed up for the occasion in a classy red dress and coat. Although I loved what was going on, she kind of lost me half way through her set.

I love the Stillwater Giants to pieces and I was very disappointed to see that there was such a small crowd for their set. They are really good at what they do and it was quite sad to see he venue less than half full! The harmonies created by the vocalists are exquisite and are a real signifying feature of the band. I remember them being a lot more fun live, however, tonight they just weren’t all there. “Fly Under the radar” is still an amazing song and I was glad to see that they finished their set with it.

It’s so great to have the opportunity to discover new artist, and BIGSOUND definitely gives you that opportunity. Lanks was a band I picked off a list, and I was very pleasantly surprised. They have a really cool groove with their synths and the addition of some flute over the top as well. Even though I only saw part of their set, they are definitely a band that needs looking up!

I have a bit of a thing for the frontman of Mosman Alder’s voice. His baritone is so smooth, and tonight it was just as perfect as ever. I haven’t seen this band live in the longest of times and I was really pleasantly surprised with how polished they were. With this band, because of their mellow vibes I don’t know if having them in the final timeslot of the night was advantageous for them. I know I wanted to finish the night with a bit of a party. Because of this I trundled across the road to Ric’s to see who was playing.

This turned out to be the best decision of the entire night. Okenyo was, in my opinion, the highlight of the entire night, and I almost missed her! She has so much soul and passion for the music she was performing and at times I got some Janelle Monae vibes. Her song “Mirage” was mind boggling, with everything about it being truly perfect. The simplicity of the drums and synth coupled with the intricacy and control of the vocal pyrotechnics was just incredible. It just all seemed so effortless. “Rising” was also another amazing tune. It was definitely a great decision to finish the night off here rather than with Mosman Alder.

That brings Night One of BIGSOUND Live to a close. The true highlight of the night was Okenyo, with some other great sets from Little Odessa and Rolls Bayce. Night Two promises to be just as fun filled and just as hectic. Stay tuned!

The Aston Shuffle - 29 August 2014, The Zoo

w/ Just a Gent, CLN, Jordan Burns vs Jordan James

There was a lot to love and a lot to dislike about The Aston Shuffle's gig at the Zoo on Friday night. The good things came from The Aston Shuffle themselves, however the long wait before the boys hit the stage was much less enjoyable.


Up first with live remixes and mash ups was Jordan Burns vs Jordan James, who set the right mood buy unfortunately played to an empty room - there's only so much a DJ can do without an audience. Next up was CLN. He had a really interesting thing going on. His music was super groovy and was really great to sit and listen to.

To play to a dead room is a musicians worst nightmare. Even more so for an electronic artist, but CLN handled it quite well. What made CLN’s set a little tedious, however, was the tempo of his electronica music. He kept it really mellow and while it was complexly and densely layered, it lost its impact after the third or fourth song. His remixes towards the end, however, were clever and nicely done and ended things on a strong note.

Just a Gent played next and opened his set with a remix of the theme from the Phantom of the Opera. I think that this sums up this electronica artist wholly. In his top hat and three piece suit, with tails, he was the first act of the night to actually get people to the front of the room and up and dancing. His range of repertoire was diverse and kept everyone guessing. One minute he was playing recent tunes the next he was back to obscure 90's pop. To tell you the true though, I was totally ok with that and it worked cohesively.

While the support acts weren't all that bad, the major problem was that they played for up to an hour each. With three acts it makes for a very... very long wait to see the headline act, who played only as long as any one of their support acts. Now, I know The Aston Shuffle are an electronic band and I love them to pieces for this, and I know they cater to that type of crowd and that type of timeslot, but that sort of build up was bit much.

What made the night oh so worthwhile was the genius that is The Aston Shuffle. Their sophisticated electronic music uses so much ingenuity that they are able to set themselves apart from the rest of the pack. Throughout the set, they welcomed two vocalists to the stage to perform the vocals from their latest release Photographs. It was such a nice touch to their live show that gives their brilliant record the strong outing it deserves.

Postcards tracks littered the set, with “Back and Forth”, “Never Take it Away” and “Ordinary Love” being particular highlights. But it was when they got to the end of the set when things got really special. During “Tear it Down”, their guest female vocalist, appeared on stage mid-song in a Mirror Ball suit. The strobe lighting focused on her in center stage as she subtly moved her body to reflect the light throughout the entire venue. It was truly stunning!

Although the night was disappointingly long, The Aston Shuffle have really stepped up their live shows, making them one of the most exciting live electronic acts around. Kudos lads.

A Great Big World - 2 August 2014, The Tivoli

w/ Jordan Leser

If you’re ever feeling sad, down or just generally bleh, can I recommend you go put on A Great Big World’s record, or better yet, just go to one of their shows. I was blown away by just how heartfelt, sincere and just plain happy these two young gentlemen are when they perform.

When the lights dimmed, Jordan Leser took to the stage to get the night started. With her rich, mellow alto tones, she sang of heartbreat, and of loss. She gave her performance to a very captivated audience, to the point that she said, “you’re a very attentive audience considering you’re not even her to see me. Thank you”. Her songs “Brother Moon” and her self-admitted ’happiest song’ about her Grandma were definitely the highlights of the set. Accompanied by only her piano, Miss Leser’s set was quite simply beautiful!

A little while later the lights dimmed once more and the “Circle of Life” from the Lion King started playing. As it the song finished, A Great Big World, together with their band, walked on stage and immediately got straight into it with “Rockstar”. I don’t really know what the “Circle of Life” was all about, but hey, it was pretty rad all the same.

There was the perfect balance of storytelling, band banter and performing. It was enlightening to hear how some of their songs came about and the stories behind their inspiration. Ian Axel and Chad Vaccarino are both such sensational musicians and have talent that well justifies their successes. I mean, their falsetto voices!? Wow! But what makes the duo such amazing performers is their ability to convey their music with such positivity, enthusiasm and pure passion. I had a silly little grin on my face for the entirety of the night.

With songs like “Cheer Up”, “You’ll Be Okay” and their cover of “Got to Get You Into My Life” the hopeful nature of the repertoire is transparently clear. This is not even mentioning their song “Everyone is Gay” a song they penned in support of a website offering support for LGBTQ youth. It is such a positive and fun song, and their performance of it was actually hysterically funny and one of the highlights of the set.

In the middle of the set, they played their smash hit “Say Something”. What was really spectacular about this song was that it was just Ian Axel and his piano. No bells, no whistles, no other members of the band, just pure passion. There were moments where his voice broke on the high notes and it made it tear at your heartstrings even more. It was such a beautiful moment.

There is no doubt in my mind that this is certainly the happiest I’ve been at a gig in a long while. Every moment was filled with unexpected excitement and wow moments and is something I will not soon forget.

Bec Laughton - 19 June 2014, Black Bear Lodge

w/ Zeek Power, Astrid

When I heard that Bec Laughton was playing in celebration of her latest EP release M&R, I knew there would be no way I was going to miss this gig. Can I say right now, this particular gig is in my Top 5 of all time! Here’s why.

The night opened with solo artist Astrid (now without her band the Asteroids) who is a pocket-sized powerhouse. She opened her set with a tune called “Threadbare” a track consisting entirely of vocal loops strung together to create something mesmerising. There were times where her technology or loops failed her but with her hilarious mid song intersections she was able to just go along with it and pay her self out in a way that was so genuinely amusing without ever meaning to be.

What makes Astrid such an incredible artist, however, is her flawless vocal technique. She was able to sing and loop the most beautiful vocal runs in perfect harmony with herself to create the backing for many of her tracks. If you have not heard of this young woman, you need to get her into your ears right now. She is sensational.

To back up this performance was Zeek Power, another solo artist with a similar, yet completely different feel to the previous artist. He has such a mellow voice that complemented the tone colour of his acoustic guitar so very well. The music he performed was so very earnest and sincere. His song “Sunshine” was so incredibly beautiful and really moved me. Not only can this artist sing a darn good tune, he is also an incredible beat boxer and rapper, and some of my favourite moments of the set were these songs. Especially the last tunes of the set. Amazing.

While these two artists are stupidly amazing and talented, and I mean this very, very sincerely, when is come to Bec Laughton, she is just in a league of her own. You know the artists who perform live versions of their songs that just sound exactly like the recorded versions? Yeah, Bec is not one of those artists. She and her stupidly talented band completely reinvented each of the tunes in the set to fill the Black Bear Lodge with funk infused goodness.

Bec herself said that tonight she was going to do some cool things she has always wanted to do, but has never achieved live. She asked her hometown crowd to forgive her for her indulgences. There was nothing to forgive. One was a ballad accompanied only by two bass guitars and is honestly one of the most beautiful things I have ever listed to. The lyrics went something like this “I will love you red head style, like fire”. It also contained a bass guitar solo that was just mind-shattering.

The second was to perform a vocal/choral arrangement of one her songs. For this she invited all the performing artists, including Astrid and Zeek Power along with a few other friends. It was another beautiful moment. The third was to incorporate a dance break from dance group MnB Entertaiment. Holy talented mofos! Wow.

She played songs from all of her three EP releases, as well as some new tracks and also some 90s inspired covers including the themes from Captain Planet, and the Fresh Prince of Bel Air. She closed her set by saying, “If you’ve had a tough day, if you’ve had a tough week, if you’ve had a tough existence in life thus far, this one is for you.” She then went on to play her latest single “M&R”. For her encore she played created a song on the spot with the help of the inspirational words “running” and “chicken” from the crowd. It is honestly one of the funniest things I’ve ever witnessed. “I want to love and squeeze you and stop running like a chicken, Bwok, bwok.”

There was too much awesomness to appropriately do the gig justice in writing. I’ve been to a lot of gigs in my time, but this (self-proclaimed) small, skinny, red headed, white girl lead one of top 5 gigs I have ever been to. Big call I know, but well deserving. If you can possibly catch her on her remaining tour dates, you should. Cancel your planes, or relocate them so they coincide with the venue. You will not be disappointed.

Eagle and the Worm - 6 June 2014, Black Bear Lodge

w/ Fox & Fowl, Love Signs


Eagle and the Worm have been a little quiet of late, until Record Store Day hit that is, and we had the pleasure of listening to their latest single "Automatic" on 7-inch wax. To celebrate this new release, the band celebrated with a string of east coast tour dates.

Opening the night were Brisbane locals Love Signs who played to an almost empty room. It was so disappointing, because they are actually quite good. Although a little rough around the edges, the vocalist has a good voice and did an amazing job. It wouldn't hurt the trio, however, to venture out of the power ballad set list they have going on, and have a little more charisma on stage. Still for an up and coming band, a good opening slot.

Up next were Fox & Fowl. The five piece had a really great thing going on and were more the support act I expected for a band such as Eagle and the Worm. They had a good balance of fun upbeat music to dance to and music just to groove and pulse along to. Their rendition of "Bette Davis Eyes" was really rad and by time they got the then of their set they had most of the ever-growing crowd of their feet grooving along. Also, a special mention must go to the frontman on his exceptional Tambourine-ing skills.

I’ve been a big Eagle and the Worm fan for quite some time and tonight was no disappointment. They started off strong, but then there was a lull in the middle of their set which made me think that they were not as 'fun' as they used to be and that they were even a little mellow. By the time they got to the back end of their set list, it all came together and started making sense. Closing with a fun of "Futureman", "Automatic" and “All I Know", among others made for a hectic dance party.

EatW have such control of the songs they play and it makes me so incredible happy when bands can take liberties with their songs and reinvent them in new and fantastic ways. They had instrumental solos in almost all of their songs, which just enhanced my opinion of the band. They have such control of the ebb and flow and a song and also of the dynamics. So, so good.

Overall it was an awesome night, but the lack of turn out was both surprising and disappointing. Maybe it’s just that they have been away from Brisbane for a while or maybe it’s that they’ve just been absent for a time, but I would have expected there to be so many more people at the venue. Your loss guys, it was an amazing gig!

Michale Bublé - 12 May 2014, Brisbane Entertainment Centre

w/ Naturally 7

He is suave. He’s more than a little bit sexy. He is one of the funniest performers I’ve ever seen live. He has a filthy potty mouth. And he has unquestionably one of the single best vocals of our generation. He is the one, the only Michael Bublé.

However, lets just take a breath. As elegantly put by Naturally 7, 'You can’t go into a Michael Bublé concert without a decent warm up. That’s why we’re here'. Naturally 7 have an amazing thing going on and they take being an acapella group to the next level and their version of Coldplay’s "Fix You" was honestly one of the most incredible things I've ever heard. Not only do they sing wonderfully, they put on a hell good show. For a half hour support set they had the crowd up on their feet dancing and singing like they didn’t have a care in the world. They certainly achieve their goal of warming the crowd up for Mr. Bublé.

As the lights once again dimmed, the band started playing a musical overture that segued into the intro of "Fever". The curtains raised and there was Michael Bublé towards the back of the stage upon the top of a ramp, with his head down singing. The crowd went nuts. Half way through the song, he, in true Bublé style slid with those shiny black shoes down ramp to the front of the stage, where he continued to sing. He then went straight into "Haven’t Met You Yet" before taking the time to have an intimate chat with all 11,000+ of us.

What was really cool about the stage set up was the movable band platforms. There were time when there were at the very back of the stage and Mr. Bublé had the full stage and other times where they were right up there with him. In addition, there was the amazing light screen. Sometimes it doubled the video feed, other times it showed close ups of the band, and then other times it had amazing visuals. It was a really good combination of different things to create a visual feast.

He sang standards including "Moondance", "Feeling Good" and "I’ve Got the World on a String", before moving onto the ballad section of he set. He brought to the stage his wonderful string section to perform "That’s All", "Close Your Eyes" and "Home" to name a few. Then, again, in true Bublé style he said, 'I love singing ballads, but if I sing one more, I’m going to cut myself'. Cheeky rascal! I don’t think I’ve ever laughed so much at a gig!

At this point in the show, he moved to the little stage at the back of the stadium to perform a Motown inspired set with Naturally 7. It was a great to see him interacting with the crowd at the back and singing some awesome tunes including "Ain’t Too Proud to Beg" and "To Love Somebody". He closed this section of the set with "All You Need Is Love/Burning Love", where he made his way back to the main stage accompanied by confetti hearts that had been fired into the crowd.

He closed the set with "It’s a Beautiful Day" before retaking the stage for his encore. I am so happy that he performed "Cry Me a River"; his version is my all time favourite version of the song and he sang with so much passion. There were moments where he looked hurt, and other times he looked truly angry. It was by far the highlight of the set for me, visually and vocally.

Now, I don’t know if this was a set up or what, but a woman was brought up onstage with a sign that read, 'My Grade 4 class don’t believe I can meet you. Prove me wrong!' He indeed proved them wrong and sang them a special rendition of "You Got A Friend in Me". Wrapping up the show was the single most incredible moment of the set. During "Song For You" the lights went down, and when they came back up again, he was without microphone, and proceeded to sing the rest of the song without amplification. After a two hour set, to project over the entire hall was a feat in itself, but to do so with so much passion and emotion was truly breathtaking and something I’ll not soon forget.

There were no bells and whistles in the show, just a single man, backed by an incredible live band affectionately known as 'Team Bublé'. He doesn’t take himself too seriously and it is clear he absolutely loves what he does. He said at one point during the show something to the extent of, 'As you go off to your lives tomorrow, you may not think of me. However, I will think of you always. Because of you I get to do what I love every day of the week. Thank you.'

No, Thank you Mr. Bublé. You are truly an amazing artist and it was an absolute pleasure to be in your company for the evening.

The Naked and Famous - 5 May 2014, The Hi-Fi

w/ Vancouver Sleep Clinic

The Naked and Famous have been busy little bees of late. Fresh off the back of the Big Day Out tour earlier in the year, and touring currently with the Groovin’ the Moo festival tour, the band found a little time to do a handful of sideshows. And oh what a treat it is to see this band live.

Opening the night at the Hi-Fi were Brisbane locals Vancouver Sleep Clinic. First off, who are this band and why have I never heard of them before? Have I been sleeping under log for too long? This band ooze atmospheric, ambient awesomeness. While I am usually the first to say that too many reverberant effects on the vocals are an easy cover-up for a shitty voice, VSC’s frontman has a sensational set of pipes and uses the effects to his advantage to create dreamy and convincing falsetto over the top of the rest of the band.

What I loved most about this band however, was the complex layering in the texture of all their songs. Each instrument had their own intricate liens, which were so diverse and essential to creating the atmosphere in each song. There were times where the song stripped back to a single instrument then re-layered each part individually before getting back into the groove. Here was where this magic really shone through. Amazing. A beautiful set lads.

After all I’d heard, and after all I’d read, as a first time live listener of The Naked and Famous, I had super high hopes for the New Zealanders. Was I disappointed? Hell freaking no! The band are super polished while retaining a certain charm and charisma that only come from a true love of performing. They opened up the set with a duo of songs from last years release In Rolling Waves choosing to start the set quite mellow with “A Stillness” before turning to their latest single “Hearts Like Ours”. When they got to “In Rolling Waves” Alisa Xayalith, in her super cute way, got the crowd involved by getting us to sing along in the chorus. It was pretty rad sound, but nothing quite like what was to come towards the end of the set.

It was really nice to see that the band played an equally balanced number of songs from each of their studio releases. They toned things down a little with “The Sun” before getting right back into it with “Frayed” and “I Kill Giants”. Pretty sure that “I Kill Giants” was my favourite song of the set. There’s just something about it that is so extremely powerful. Couple this together with the super personal meaning behind the song, and it is incredible. A truly amazing moment in the set.

We all knew it was coming, and we weren’t disappointed! “All of this” and “Punching In A Dream”. It was a pretty genius move putting them back-to-back though. Good choice. That moment I mentioned before? The crowd got super vocal on both of these tracks and created an atmosphere worthy of this festival savvy band. They “closed” the set with “No Way”, which I felt was fitting, as it nicely sums up that this band can be tender, yet also rock the out. And what would a set be without a fake Encore. I love how all bands do it. Needless to say, they closed properly with “Young Blood”. What would a The Naked and Famous gig be without it!

This band is so hot right now it’s frightening! And this is just the start of the tour for them. They head off straight after their Groovin’ the Moo and sideshow commitments to the UK and Europe to strut their stuff there. It is an absolute privilege to watch this band do what they do, and see them enjoying it so much.

Pharrell Williams - 12 March 2014, Brisbane Riverstage

w/ Baauer, Nina Las Vegas

Multi-Grammy winner Pharrell Williams is on fire right now, and it is no surprise that tickets for his Brisbane sideshow were hot property. So much so that it warranted a venue upgrade to the Riverstage.

Opening the night was Nina Las Vegas and I absolutely love what she is selling. She played a good mix of both Australian and international tracks while mashing them together like a pro. The mosh as a whole didn’t really respond to the mix of songs, but it was a pleasantly chilled way to begin the evening.

Next up was Baauer. The “Harlem Shake” artist provided us with a range of diversely mixed tunes that really got the mosh bouncing. He also had cool visual effects one of which that created a real-time silhouetted image of him projected on the screen that stood behind him.

Pharrel slowly strutted out onto the stage, sending the crowd into frenzy; he soaked it all up with a bright smile on his famously smooth face. He stood posed upon the stage just looking out before he started off with a few covers, including “Hollaback Girl” and “Hot in Herre”.

Within the first couple of songs, he not only lost his jacket, but also his shirt - typical! He also insisted that girls from the front come on stage and dance with him. While this was a novelty, it actually looked quite good from where I was standing. Also, what an experience for those girls!

While there were many engaging things going on, there were also some major issues with the performance. For one, I thought he would play a lot more material from his latest release GIRL, however, there was only the duo of song, “Hunter” and Academy Award nominated song “Happy”. All the rest were super back catalogue or covers. This may have been okay had these back catalogue and cover songs not been half songs whipped into a medley performance. I’m talking one verse and one chorus - two choruses max, never the full song.

Also, all of the cuts he played had the backing vocals played too loud by Pharrel's DJ. DJ EQ, meaning that there were double vocals being performed for the entire show. Pre-recorded and live. I think more than 50% of the time he wasn’t singing at all, instead basking in the glory and enjoying the crowd's consistently euphoric reaction.

In saying all of this, he has an impressive level of energy and works the crowd oh-so-well; he also monologued a lot. When it came time to end the set, after surprisingly few songs, he gave a speech about the nature and importance of happiness; quite inspirational, if a little corny. This, of course, preceded “Happy”. It is such a damn good song. So damn good in fact, that he played it twice. Once from the stage, then he moved to the middle of the mosh and, with little more than a handful of security guards, sang it again. A triple encore of one of the most vibrant singles released in recent memory.

There’s no denying that this multi-award winner is one of the hottest artists around at the moment and, despite some minor issues with the set, he put on an amazing show; definitely one to tick off the bucket list.

Elizabeth Rose - 8 March 2014, Alhambra

 

w/ Safia, Fishing

Ever since stumbling into a random venue at BigSound a couple of years ago and witnessing the genius that is Elizabeth Rose, I’ve been following her career closely. Yet, strangely enough, this is the first time I’ve seen her out of BigSound context.

The beginning of the night started off with duo Fishing. I loved what they were trying to do. It had an essence of video game music (the awesome kind) crossed with the sophisticated, densely layered type of electronica. Despite them being a bit rough around the edges, I absolutely loved the set, even with all the 'mistakes'. You know what guys? If you hadn't mentioned it, I wouldn't have even noticed. Touche!

Safia were amazing! The lead singers vocals are so interesting. He’s kind a got a whistle tone going on, yet can throw out the rich tones as well; really pleasant to listen to, layered on top of the production. “Mercury” was one of my favourites of the set, but it was the band’s cover of The Aston Shuffle’s “Tear it Down” that really sold me on them. And then you’ve got the gem that is “Listen to Soul, Listen to Blues” (Seriously, how did this song not position higher than number 76 in Hottest 100!) It was so much more amazing and intense live and captured the yearning in the opening section and the introverted dance in the middle. Just amazing.

Elizabeth Rose was on fire, and while there was a lot hell-right with her set, there was also a whole lot wrong with her set. Her vocals were stunning, and the visual performance captivating. She utilised her projected visuals brilliantly, and they mated the songs quite well. It was great to her performing songs from not only her latest self-titled release, but also her debut release Crystallise. She also performed her Triple J ‘Like a Version’ cover “Rhythm of the Night” which went off and got the crowd moving and dancing.

It’s always intriguing to see the difference a venue makes in the delivery and reception of a show. For Elizabeth Rose as an electronica artist, Alhambra was a good venue choice. However, as a viewer of the gig who adores her music, when the venue opens their doors to the wider public before the set has finished, well, use your imagination - it’s a Saturday night.

All in all, it was an amazing set, but I could see her frustration during “The Good Life” and the way in which she got off that stage quickly. Also, I do wish she had played a longer set. I was expecting a full 45-plus minute set from the headline act, but was disappointed that she brought the set to a close after only half an hour.

The Kite String Tangle - 22 February 2014, The Zoo

w/ Kilter, Tincture

On a steamy night in Brisbane, Danny Harley brought his solo project, The Kite String Tangle, back to his hometown. On night 11 of a 12 night consecutive, and completely sold out tour there was no signs of wear and tare, instead a certain refinement.

Opening the night was Brisbane local Tincture. The effects he used on his vocals were so infatuating and suited the production he was producing both live and pre-prepared oh so well. It added colour and something so beautifully lush. He utilised what can only be described as face melting and room shaking bass. It was rad, however when it gets to the second last song and it's at a frequency so unrelenting and that makes you so uncomfortable you almost have to leave, I think you’ve got to rethink some things. That said, he has a real flair for capturing the crowd even for such a young performer.

Next up was Sydney act Kilter. In complete contrast, he didn’t sing, but rather did a lot more remixing with more live production. There was a particular moment where I could wipe a grin off my face. This happened in the song where is used samples of steel drums. Despite the fact that it was a dance track, it had a really authentic island-calypso vibe. What stood out about Kilter was his use of musical segues. It added a level of sophistication to the performance rather than stopping between each song. Overall, an awesome performance.

The last time I saw The Kite String Tangle was in 2012 as an opening support act. I said them that he was one to watch, and I’ve never been happier to be right. After his top 20 placement in the Hottest 100 he has had a rapid rise to fame. And well deserved! Tonight he was on fire. There was no sign of fatigue after 10 consecutive nights on tour, including four sold out shows at Melbourne’s Northcote Social Club.

There is simplicity and effortlessness to the way that Danny Harley performs. Surrounded by a myriad of electronic platforms, he performed his own music as well as covers of songs, including Lorde’s “Tennis Court”. This interesting thing about this particular rendition of the song was that there was seemingly nothing of the real song sampled. Instead, it was all his own work, and his own live vocal. It was really cool.

Something of note was his staging. He had this beautiful set of light globes that surrounded his instruments at different heights, and were programmed to in a nutshell make things look amazing. Combine this with the a live projection of his trademark TKST logo with different colours and themes and it created a Zoo stage that looked like so much more than it normally does. Even with more than on person onstage! It was wondrous! He ended his set with his “Given the Chance” and the crowd went wild. And with good reason. It is such an amazing song with thoughtful production and a catchy hook. And live? So much better.

Despite the fact that The Zoo was a hot, sweaty sauna it was an amazing show with so much in your face bass that it made you sick. In a good way. I said it two years ago that he is one to watch, as he really understands his niche, and I’ll say it again. Keep an eye on this one. He’s only going to keep on going.

Avicii - 24 January 2014, The Riverstage

w/ New World Sound, Joel Fletcher

You got to give credit where credit is due. 24 year old, solo DJ, Tim Bergling, better know by his stage name as Avicii, sold out the Riverstage. Not to mention selling out countless other stadium sized venues all over the world. Although being around for quite some time with his studio album True, he has become a true force to be reckoned with.

Starting with the opening of the gates at a hell early 5pm, was Australian DJ Joel Fletcher. Although there was only a relatively small mosh at base of the hill, those who there were up and dancing. He was very smart in his choices of songs to remix, crossing a whole range of songs into true dance tunes, including “Sweet Dreams”, Linkin Park’s “In the End” and Zedd’s “Clarity”. He was smart in his choice of drops and worked the crowd well.

With no more than a minute in changeover time New World Sound were on the decks. Now, this was an all ages gig, with too many teenagers underdressed and many parents there with there pre-teen children. Keep this in mind when I say that the first song NWS played was full of profanities. Hey, I’m the first to admit that in dance music it’s not only ok to drop the f bomb, but expected. But in an all ages gig, I thought it would be a little more tactful. Moving on. New World Sound were not as bassy as I would have expected and had a totally different way of live remixing. Their latest original track was really rad. They are really good at what they do, however they should never be allowed to have a microphone. All their aside comments were completely unnecessary and broke the continuity of the set.

Avicii. Where do I even start? He is very good at what he does. As soon as he walked on stage, the whole Riverstage exploded with energy. As well as his own songs, he remixed versions of Florence’s “You got the Love”, and “Tracks of My Tears”, both of which really stood out amongst the other remix tracks. It still amazes me how a single man on stage can actually connect with the audience, however he was so engaging to watch while he mixed. There was not a single moment where he lost the silly little grin he had on his face. It was infectious. Put that together with the amazing graphic production behind him and it made for a visually amazing show.

While his remixes were thoughtful and well done, it was his originals that really got the crowd dancing like maniacs. Take “Levels” for example. You could hear the entire 9000+ strong crowd singing along and really making it a fantastic experience.

With Brisbane the first stop on his international tour it was an intense, amazing and rather special night. Who can ever have too much dance music right?

The Buzzbees - 9 January 2014, The Zoo

w/ The Con & the Liar, Second Affair

For me as a music lover, I always love to hear and witness musicians on their musical journey. At the Zoo, this evening played host to The Buzzbees’ first headline show. This is such a big deal in the journey and brings the band another step closer to reaching their goals.

Opening the night was Second Affair. It is clear that these guys have been heavily influenced by pub rock, and they have captured the style in their original songs so incredibly well. I mean this as the highest complement. Their songs were intelligent and memorable, with their single “Driving Blindly” standing out particularly in the set. The vocalists worked well together with the lead singing really working the room. Also, the guitar solos. They were amazing! Shared by the two guitarists in turn, each instance was skillful and highly technical, while still capturing the essence of the song. Rad.

The Con & the Liar shook things up a little after Second Affair. The two piece boasted that this was only their fourth public gig together. While I am all for supporting musicians in all definitions of the word, I had no idea what they, as a band, were going for. There was a mixture of experimental jams, blues and something I don’t even know what to call. While they do take on a minimalist approach, there were times where their songs actually needed something else, a bass, another guitar, keys, another vocalist. Something else. When they got the middle, bluesy section of their set, they had a really good thing going on. Everything else was unfortunately, a bit meh.

The Buzzbees. Holy wow. I’ve never been happier to have my socks blown off by a band that I, ashamedly, had never heard of. They had an intelligent way of songwriting that showed that they had something many 'new' bands forget. Restraint. For me, the highlight of the set was a track called "Projector". I think it highlights everything that this band is all about - also, "The Drifter" was standout track.

You know when bands have that extra instrument, like a violin, or ukulele or trumpet just for no apparent reason? You ask yourself, what was the actual point to having that as part of the song. It had no purpose. The Buzzbees' use of mandolin and ukulele was the complete opposite of that. It was apparent that they had written their songs with the instruments in mind. A real treat to witness.

Seriously, I have never been happier to be pleasantly surprised at a gig. These guys have all the talent to go far in this, the Brisbane music industry.

The Basics - 12 September 2013, The Spiegeltent

September is a wondrous time for Brisbane arts. It’s when the famous traveling Spiegeltent comes to town as part of Brisbane Festival. Tonight was the return of The Basics. After a three-year hiatus, the band was back with a vengeance to prove themselves as one of the best live acts around.

Where do I even start? As knowledge would have it, The Basics are Kris Schroeder, Tim Heath and Wally De Backer. When they came on stage in their dapper suits bang on 7.15pm (early I know!), the room went bananas. Me included. My one an only previous experience of The Basics was their final ever show before taking a break for an undisclosed period of time.

They played mostly songs from their early releases with a handful of new songs thrown in as well. They did this as the 'late' show was going to feature some newer material. They opened without saying a word playing “The No. 1 Cause of Death Amongst Youth Today”, which is such a strong song to start with. They then began the friendly banter that would continue for the rest of the evening. I’m going to provide you with some insight form the minds of these men throughout the review starting with Wally asking after the first song to have 'A bee’s dick more foldback. I can’t hear my voice', Kris then went on to pay out Wally’s 'beautiful' voice.

Speaking of Mr De Backer, he is sensational on the drums. I was fully expecting him to break a cymbal or at least a stick or two! Also, he looks so incredibly happy when he plays the drums. And everytime something maybe wasn’t perfect, he would have a little chuckle and smile to himself. By the time they reached “Rattle My Chain” and “Memory Lane”, they had the audience in the palms of their hands. It made me laugh when they introduced the year of one of these songs and they couldn’t actually remember when they first recorded it and a member of the audience corrected them.

Wally’s newbie “Roundabout” proves that you don’t need genius lyrics to have a sensational song. The word roundabout was used more than few time in the song but that didn’t lessen the beauty of the song. Their final song of the set was Tim’s song, “Hey Rain” which he dedicated to Northern Queensland. It was simply stunning to hear all three men singing in luscious harmony with only Tim’s guitar for accompaniment. It was still the Basics as we know and love them, just in a more mature way.

Of cause they came back for an encore. Everyone knows it’s not over till the house music comes on! Kris lead the band in a somber break-up song with actually brought a tear to my eye. His voice has such a fine, tight vibrato that just envelops all around it. The songs as a whole was just too beautiful, and as I write this memories come flooding back of the mood he created. Think “All or Nothing”, but even more intense.

They finished their hour and a bit long set with two covers. I thought it appropriate that they perform The Beatles’ “Come Together”, as they to me are a modern Beatles when they play in that true rock’n’roll genre. They then played their version of The Police’s “Roxanne”. After the first verse, Wally said, 'Oo, that was a bit fast wasn’t it!' Immediately, the next verse was slower. Incredible!

This has got to be one of the best gigs I’ve been to in a long time. Such an incredible band with the power to actually engage the audience in friendly banter between songs rather than just bore them with trivial nothings. I was laughing my ass off. Yes LMAO. No, seriously, they made me giggle uncontrollably, and left me leaving with a grin on my face. That is how a gig should be.

BIGSOUND Live (Night 2) - 12 September 2013, Fortitude Valley

w/ Melbourne Ska Orchestra, Tigertown, Dubmarine, Calling All Cars, Sheppard, Eden Mulhollandm Hey Geronimo, Spender

Welcome back to coverage from Brisbane’s premier music conference and live showcase, BIGSOUND! (crowd goes wild) Tonight will feature the likes of Hey Geronimo, Sheppard, The Jungle Giants, Dubmarine, Tigertown and the Melbourne Ska Orchestra, among others. However, let us begin with at Electric Playground.

Spender opened BIGSOUND night two at the old church with his soulful loop filled tunes. The thing that makes Tommy Spender unique, is his use of his Tenor Sax. The loops that he creates with the instrument and his vocals in combination make for such interesting live combinations. “Never Again” is such a cool tune and I think really captures what he is all about.

Up next was Hey Geronimo at the Bakery Lane stage. Okay, so I didn’t think it had been that long since I last saw this band play, however they were sporting two new members on bass and keys. Regardless of the loss, they are still almost too much fun to handle. Their set was full of old favorites and new tunes with “Carbon Affair” still being one of highlights of the set.

Eden Mulholland was next up at Alhambra Lounge. I wish that I had got to see more of this lad. He had such an interesting vibe to his songs. One moment it was just him singing with a guitar in an almost folk-like manner, then next minute the band came in and it morphed into a heavy garage jam. It was awesome. And then the set ended! Damn! Here’s one to check out post BIGSOUND.

Now, I’ve heard a lot of hype about my next act Sheppard but not really caught up with it yet. I know they were finalists in the Q Music Awards, so I was really curious to see what they were all about. To be perfectly honest, I was blown away! They are ridiculously fun and entertaining. Kudos to the bass player for having pink strings on her bass, with matching nail polish and strap. Both the singers had interesting qualities to their vocals, and worked so well together and with the rest of the band. They were clearly loved by their crowd and vibed off this to up their act. It was one of the best of the night.

You know as soon as you see ‘Tempo Hotel’ on the program it was going to be loud, but Calling All Cars were just stupidly loud! Stupidly loud, and awesome that is! They are such a tight band and put on an amazing show! The bands’ new single “Werewolves” is definitely going to be a hit!

Unfortunately I couldn’t get into The Jungle Giants, due to a huge ass line, which led me across the road to Dubmarine. Sometimes it’s the unexpected and seemingly unknown that make the biggest impression on a listener at an event like this. Dumbarine was that for me. I had no idea what to expect and what I got was amazeballs. They have so much energy, creating music with a funky groove. Their reggae and hip-hop sounds really had the crowd pumping. I’ve seen the Jungle Giants more than a couple of times and it was nice to see something maybe I wouldn’t have picked off the program. Really impressed.

The night just kept getting better and better with Tigertown at the Triple J Unearthed stage at Oh Hello! I freaking love this band. All the voices work so well together and the music they create together is the right amount of indie-pop with enough imagination to avoid that generic sound that is coming out of some Australian bands at the moment. Highlight of the set has to be when mid song, two “audience” members held up tom drums and became part of the song. Rad! Also, it needs to be said that the “BIGSOUND Jam Jars” at Oh Hello were absolutely amazing.

The final act of BIGSOUND was also the single highlight of the entire festival. Melbourne Ska Orchestra. I don’t think I’ve ever really quite seen anything like it. 26 people on the 5x4m stage that was Bakery Lane including stands for the 11+ member horn section. They opened the set with their version of the “Get Smart Theme” and as soon as frontman Nicky Bomba started controlling the crowd at the end of the song and getting them to interact with the final chords of the song, I knew we were all in for the time of our nights. The orchestra themselves were having so much fun onstage, despite the lack of personal space, and were waving their instruments around and dancing just as much as the rest of the crowd were. And oh my! There were steel drums! STEEL DRUMS! I know you’d expect it in a ska and reggae band, but still, Steel Drums!

When the orchestra finished their sensational set, they had a play off song where all the members weaved their way though the crowd and out the lane. And everyone followed them. We all went for a walk through the valley, slowly making our way to the Brunswick Street Mall were they played stationary for a while before playing their way back to the lane. In reality where there set should have been 30 minutes, it ended up being at least 45 minutes. Every second was incredible.

And it’s over for another year. 20 live acts over two nights. I feel empty! On a serious note, I said this last year, but I will say it again: If Brisbane live music has this many options for music venues on an everyday basis, things would be grand. However, of the 12 BIGSOUND venues, only six host shows on a regular basis. What does that say?

Well done BIGSOUND. You have brought out the best Brisbane, nay, Australia has to offer and thrown it at us. Thank you.

BIGSOUND Live (Night 1) - 11 September 2013, Fortitude Valley

w/ Regurgitator, Eagle and the Worm, Karl S. Williams, Glass Towers, Stonefield, Willow, Tkay Maidza, Cub Sport, The Audreys, Patrick James

There is a magical time of the year, when all the stars align and the live music scene in Brisbane booms. This magical time of year is called BIGSOUND. Step 1: bring together industry gurus from all over the country and from across the seas and throw them together in a conference room for 4 days. Step 2: On the middle two nights, then bring them out for to party, and invite the people of Brisbane who love live music. Step 3: Watch the bliss unfold. This year BIGSOUND live boasted 120 acts over 12 glorious stages. This is a but snapshot of the two-night festival.

Opening night one of BIGSOUND Live was Patrick James at Ric’s Bar. There’s a warm spot in my heart for this gentleman and his band. They make me happy and put a smile on my face that I can’t wipe off. “Bugs” sensational song and was the perfect way to start BIGSOUND 2013. When the band breaks into 4 part harmonies, it is such an amazing sound. Put that in the narrow space of Ric’s and it envelops you and draws you right into their sound. Stunning.

Across the way at Black Bear Lodge were The Audreys. It was so nice to see the stage dressed for the occasion, complete with fairy lights! Frontwoman Taasha Coates is so charismatic and carries the band so unbelievably well with her pure vocals. There were also a decent amount of beards on stage. The Beards would approve. “Small Things” was definitely a highlight of the set, and really captured in one song what the band are all about.

Down at Channel V’s Stage at Coniston Lane was Cub Sport (formally known as Cub Scouts). This is the first time where I felt the party getting started. They are such a fun band all round, and their songs really endorse and encourage this. Frontman Tim Nelson has such a great tone to his vocals, even if he still looks 14. The bands’ new single “Paradise” is rad. It is a testament to this band that they can change up the arrangement of their music from tracked to live.

Warning: Etiquette rant. It is at this moment I will take a second to mention amateur photographer etiquette. People, you can’t just stand in front for the entire set and take awkward photos with your wanky hipster cameras holding them at arms length trying to get that shot of the drummer. There a thing called “zoom.” Use it. I’m all for photographing bands, in fact I encourage it, however get your shots, get out. People actually want to enjoy the bands they came to watch. Rant over.

Something completely different came to me form Tkay Maidza at The Triple J Unearthed stage at Oh Hello! Things you need to know about this young lady. One, she’s tiny! To compensate this she had at least 3-inch platform boots on. Two, she is a powerhouse! She has seemingly come out of nowhere to steal the BIGSOUND stage. You don’t see to many proper female rappers and she is pretty darn awesome. So much so that she blew the sound system at the venue. There was smoke, lots of smoke. She took it in her stride though. Re-plugged things and 5 minutes later she was back in action. Kudos!

At the Press Club, Willow were breaking hears with their soul infused tunes. Frontwoman Bianca Sciuto has such an “old” voice. It has all the colours and inflections of a 50s jazz singer. It was amazing to witness. In the final song of the set where it was just her and her guitarist, it was then I believe that she shone brightest. All the heaviness of the rest of the band was gone and it was raw, and rough just they way it should be!

Next was my first experience of the all girl rockers Stonefield. The sisters are still so younge and have so much talent! It still unbelievable. Their latest single “Put Your Curse On Me” Is just how it should be. Raw, untainted Aussie rock. As I was watching, witnessing a revival in ‘Girl Power’ I was thinking to myself that they’ve been around for a good couple of years now, and how the hell had I not seen them live until now…

Glass Towers were up next at the Channel V Stage with their own take on rock. They are a whole lot of fun and that led to a lot of uncontrollable flailing from the crowd. It may or may not have been some form of dancing. “Jumanji” was a really rad song and definitely the highlight of the set. It had a really interesting groove that was different from the rest of their set.

Karl S. Williams is an entity unto himself. He mesmerized the press club with his melodious guitar. His vocals reminded me of Antony Hegarty, brainchild of Antony and Johnsons. And I got a little bit of that vibe from him as well. He has an amazing falsetto voce and that really was showcased in his piano numbers. The song that goes “I fell for you, did you fall for me too” broke my heart! It was so stunning and beautifully performed.

Where have Eagle and the Worm been for the last little bit of my life! They seemed to have slipped off my radar, and this has made me realize that they are really on of the bands of look out for again this year. Brass always make a sound edition to any band, and for a party band such as EatW, it is a nobrainer. Tonight they showcased both old and new songs, with newbie “Electricity” being a true highlight. “Too Young” had some stunning 5-part harmonies and was a little Beatle-esk. Ending with “All I Know” was a great move. Really finished with a bang, and got those feet moving in the crowd.

I was so looking for to seeing Regurgitator again! But as I walked into Electric Playground, there was not a single centimeter of space. I ask myself, why oh why did they put them at that venue! Why not the Zoo! It is easily the biggest venue. As I stood at the back trying to enjoy the flawless music I could not see 2 meters in front of me. And I had to laugh at the soundman, (who was just in front of me) he was having even less luck than me. It was a shame really, as I was really looking forward to ending the night with the Gurge.

Whew! What a night! The highlight would have to be Eagle and the Worm though. They lost me for a little while, however I am now most definitely back on the band wagon. Unexpected pleasures were found in Glass Towers, Patrick James and Tkay Maidza. Three completely different acts, yet all so pleasing. Stay tuned, BIGSOUND is not done just yet.

The Paper Kites - 6 September 2013, The HiFi

w/ Georgia Fair, Robbie Miller

To celebrate the release of their debut LP States, The Paper Kites brought along their band of merry men including the boys from Georgia Fair and Robbie Miller to the HiFi in West End. Last time they played in Brisbane they played The Alhambra Lounge, so to play the HiFi is a big step up for the band. To no ones surprise they had the venue nicely full without being super packed!

Opening the night was Robbie Miller. He has such a beautiful set of pipes. He flipped in and out of falsetto so effortlessly and that made his vocals even more mesmerising. He filled out the large room with his unique sound, and with just an acoustic guitar to accompany his vocals this is no mean feat. I do feel however, that type of music he was performed got a little lost in the HiFi. It’s the kind of slow ethereal music that you kind of have to me in the mood to listen to, and I think because of this, he lost quite a bit of his audience to their own conversations. A shame really.

Next up were the lads form Georgia Fair. I can’t quite express how much I enjoyed the lads’ set! They work so well as a duo, their voices melding into one sound. Jordan’s voice is good by itself, but is made even better by the support of Ben’s. They have an eerie yet melodic thing going on, and this is enhanced live by the lack of drums and bass. Their second to last song “Picture Frame” was by far the highlight of the set. They really captured the crowd and set the tone for the headliners.

I have a soft spot in my musical heart for The Paper Kites. They’re the kind of band that just capture your imagination in the way they perform. Front-people Sam Bentley and Christina Lacy work so well together as vocalists. Add to that Dave Powys to that mixture and you get something extraordinary. Their set is showing signs of catching up to their national successes, however, I believe there is still a little bit of rejigging to be done. They have so many amazing songs, and it was great to hear all the ones we know and love, coupled with tracks from the new record. “St Clarity” is definitely a song that is going to go somewhere. It’s a stunner. When they performed “Young” it was such a contrast to some of their other songs, really rad. Add that to Christina’s performance of “Living Colour” and wow. There was one moment that was by far and away the highlight of the set. “Bloom”. Need I say more? You could see every couple in the room just move a little closer together. Quite a special musical moment.

The issue (if you I can even call it that) I have with The Paper Kites is that their songs are just gorran too stunning. Too beautiful and the fact that each and every single song has the power to move you, it’s something not many bands ever achieve. However, put too much of that certain something together and it’s overwhelming. In the middle of their set there was a group of songs that when played together were too much. There needed to be an uptempo break in the middle.

It’s good to see The Paper Kites playing to a venue size they deserve. They said it themselves, “It’s so nice to not be playing in the valley”. This band deserve all the acclaim they are receiving. They’re something a bit special.

Astrid and the Asteroids - 3 August 2013, The Hideaway

w/  Hailey Calvert, Isabel

There was a fairly high percentage of space themed attire donned at the Hideaway tonight for Astrid and the Asteroids’ "Autopsy" single launch, and it was wonderful to see the event sell out The Hideaway.

Opening the night was Astrid’s self-proclaimed “prodigal vocal student” Isabel. She picked up her Electric guitar, and together with her bass guitar playing friend they played a set of mellow melodies. Let me tell you, there’s an untamed soul woman behind her reserved demeanor. Her vocal style reminds me so much of Sara Bareilles in many ways. There are inflections that just captivate you into listening. Quite a stunning set, despite the unruly ambient noise in the small venue.

Next to light up the stage was Hailey Calvert. This lady is quite a sensational guitarist, vocalist and all round performer. Her country infused tunes really caught attention of the rowdy audience. Her voice was pure and ethereal and captured the best that the female voice has to offer.

So Astrid and the Asteroids burst onto the music scene a little two years ago, with their funky space tunes. Known for their outrageous attire, the band have calmed things down a bit, even although frontwoman, Astrid still loves the Black Milk nylons. AATA are a breath of fresh air in an indie music revolution. There are so many new bands out there that are just conforming to a pre-established unspoken set of songwriting rules. The Asteroids on the other hand have their own set of rules and each member of the band is supremely talented and has unmatched sense of musicianship. Parmis Rose in my opinion is unmatched on the keys. Add that to Astrid’s stunning vocals, Evan on the trumpet playing like a world renown professional and the rest of the band and it is truly magical.

Musically, they have their segues perfected which for such a ‘young’ band is really quite astonishing. For example, when telling the story of Charles Whitman (Texus sniper, look him up) the inspiration for the bands’ latest single “Autopsy”, instead of talking over the silence of her band to an unenthused crowd, the band jammed the introduction of the song while she told the lengthy story. Such a simple idea, yet absolute genius.

In fact, everything about this band screams talent. Each and every song in their repertoire is danceable. Yes. That is a word, I checked. Weather it be crazy unstoppable foot tapping, or knee jerking, even to ranging to the slow grind. For the latter, mid way the band breaks into Beyonce’s “Crazy in love”. You’d think it to be strange, but for these space cats, nothing is too out of this world!
In a nutshell the gig was rad, otherworldly even. This band has so much energy and hold nothing back when they perform. It’s an absolute privilege to watch them perform, and if I were you, I’d keep an ear out for these guys. They’re something special.

Tigertown - 23 June 2013, Black Bear Lodge

 w/ The Starry Field, Mountains

Tigertown are an entity unto themselves. The five-piece boast luscious harmonies and a cleanly polished set. The Sydneysiders played to a sold out Black Bear Lodge for their 'What You Came Here For' National tour, which is already deserving of kudos!

Opening the night was Mountains. The front-man has a really interesting voice that is captivating to listen to. As he played his first song without the rest of the band, I was somewhat enchanted. When the rest of the band did join him on stage, the sound they created was a perfect balance of electronic sounds meets live performance. The drummer played a semi-electric kit, but what sets this band apart from mindless electronic music was the fact that it wasn’t smacking you in the face. It was controlled yet with the balls-y synth layers it was the perfect underlay for the brilliant vocals. An all-round classy act.

Next to warm up the stage were The Starry Field. To tell you the truth, I was not altogether impressed. While front-man Mark Myers has a stunning voice, he sang in the same sweet spot in his voice for almost the entirety of the set. This made everything, regardless of the nature of the song, sound a bit 'same-same'. That said, however, they had a nice range of songs, the last song of their set being a particular highlight.

I’ve heard bits and pieces from headliners Tigertown, but I've never really had a listening party. But tonight, I was simply blown away. Tigertown themselves are truly a sensational little band and to me have a very Fleetwook Mac kind of sound. Also, they have such precision in their playing and it makes everything sound just a little too easy - in the best possible way. Their latest single 'What You Came Here For' is, frankly, remarkable. It has all the makings of a little indie hit.

The girls work so well together as vocalists, and it was a pleasure to listen to them sing. When the entire band come to the front to perform their acoustic song, it was simply stunning and totally different from everything else in their already diverse repertoire. The band’s music is a really nice balance of simple electro, music you want to pulse along to and music you actually want to listen to. Forgive the corniness, but it is, quite simply, music to make you happy.

For a first listen, I was really impressed by this band. They have so much going for them, and their career is only just beginning. If you do ever have an opportunity to check them out, make sure you do. You will not regret it in the slightest.