New Music - November 2009

Them Crooked Vultures - New Fang

Them Crooked Vultures have finally released the first taste from their upcoming and greatly anticipated debut album and it's a ripper. For those unaware of the supergroup, the band features Josh Homme (Queens of the Stone Age) on guitar and lead vocal, Dave Grohl on drums on backing vocal and John Paul Jones (Led Zeppelin) on bass. It features Homme's signature guitar sound and it's great to hear Grohl back behind the drums.
Australia will be the first country to get the album when it lands on our shores November 13th before the worldwide release on November 17th. Those wanting to see the rock gods in action will get the chance next year when they play 4 date tour around Australia in January. See the dates below.

Tue Jan 19 – Challenge Stadium, Perth
Fri Jan 22 – Festival Hall, Melbourne
Mon Jan 25 – Riverstage, Brisbane
Tue Jan 26 – Hordern Pavilion, Sydney

New Music - October 2009

New Music - September 2009

Here is my favourite tracks of the past month and some new releases.

Paul Dempsey - Everything is True - Album Review

*****
On his debut solo album, Paul Dempsey has kept everything that is great about Something for Kate and made a fresh and unique sound that I can't get enough of. I've been listening to this album on repeat for over 2 weeks now and have not come close to tiring of it yet. Even the latest single "Romona Was a Waitress" which is getting fairly heavy airplay still sounds fresh. The songwriting on Everything is True is Dempsey's strongest effort since SFK's Elsewhere for 8 Minutes and the simple yet catchy acoustic guitar is the perfect accompaniment to his clever and insightful lyrics. All the instruments on the album are played by Dempsey and he also wrote and co-produced the debut with Wayne Connolly, who has previously worked with The Fauves and Josh Pyke, proving that he is truly one of Australia's most talented artists. It's hard to pick highlights on such a strong album but I am really loving "Fast Friends", "Bird in a Basement" and current single "Romona Was a Waitress". The bonus disc features four covers played acoustically and is a nice addition, if only for the great MGMT cover of "Time to Pretend. You can find his cover version of classic 90's Teenage Fanclub track "Sparky's Dream" on iTunes as well which is probably my favourite of the cover versions. This fantasic debut is the current leader for Album of the Year at this stage and I am looking forward to seeing a full live show at the Palais in Hepburn Springs on the 11th Sept, having seen a sneak preview at RRR's Performance Space in July before hearing the album. I strongly receommend this album, even if for some stupid reason Something for Kate is not your cup of tea. 5 out of 5.

Everything is True
1. Bats
2. Fast Friends
3. Out The Airlock
4. Ramona Was A Waitress
5. Take Us To Your Leader
6. Bird In A Basement
7. Theme From Nice Guy
8. Have You Fallen Out Of Love?
9. The Great Optimist
10. Safety In Numbness
11. Man Of The Moment

Counterfeits and Forgeries
1. Time to Pretend (MGMT)
2. Heaven (Talking Heads)
3. So Like Candy (Elvis Costello)
4. Disappearer (Sonic Youth)
5. Sparky's Dream (Teenage Fanclub) iTunes Bonus Track

Here are the latest tour dates for Paul Dempsey

Thurs 10 September – Ruby’s Lounge
Fri 11 September – The Palais, Hepburn Springs
Sat 12 September – Corner Hotel, Melbourne
Wed 16 September – Lizottes, Kincumber
Thurs 17 September – Wollongong University, Wollongong
Fri 18 September – Brewery, Newcastle
Sat 19 September – Manning Bar, Sydney
Fri 25 September – The Sound Lounge, Gold Coast
Sat 26 September – The Zoo, Brisbane
Thurs 1 October – The Gov, Adelaide
Fri 2 October – Rosemount Hotel, Perth
Sat 3 October – Fly By Night Club, Fremantle
Fri 9 October – Karova Lounge, Ballarat
Sat 10 October – Westernport Hotel, San Remo

David Gray - New Single and Album

1. Fugitive
2. Draw The Line
3. Nemesis
4. Jackdaw
5. Kathleen
6. First Chance
7. Harder
8. Transformation
9. Stella The Artist
10. Breathe
11. Full Steam

David Gray has just released an excellent video for "Fugitive" which will be the first single from his forthcoming album Draw the Line due out on September 22. It's another great upbeat piano driven classic from the UK singer who hasn't released an album in 4 years. See below for the latest video for David Gray and a couple of classics.

Falls Festival 09/10 - 1st Lineup Announcement

The 1st announcement for this years Falls Festival has come out a week early due to a leak and it looks to be another solid lineup for 3 day festival. Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Future of the Left and Grizzly Bear were long rumoured to be appearing and have now been confirmed in the eclectic lineup that has something to please everyone. This lineup will be shared with the rest of Australia with Brisbane's Sunset Sounds Festival on the 6th and 7th January 2010 as well as Perth on January 8-10, 2010 for the Southbound Festival. The Falls Festival will be held in Lorne, Victoria as per usual and be held over the new year period from the 29th December 09- 1st January 2010. Those wanting a ticket should head to the website www.fallsfestival.com to register as they will be harder to acquire than ever before with this stellar lineup.

Yeah Yeah Yeahs / Moby / Hilltop Hoods / Grizzly Bear / Rodrigo y Gabriela /The Temper Trap / Xavier Rudd / Emiliana Torrini / Little Birdy / Midnight Juggernauts / Andrew Bird / Lyrics Born / Chairlift / King Kahn and The Shrines / Editors / Philadelphia Grand Jury / Kaki King / Sarah Blasko / Art vs Science / DJ Yoda / Liam Finn / Lisa Mitchell / Major Lazer Soundsystem (DJ Set) / Patrick Watson / Seasick Steve / The View / Urthboy / White Rabbits / Future Of The Left / Killaqueenz (Lorne Only) / Yves Klein Blue / The John Steel Singers

Modest Mouse - King Rat - Music Video

Here is the latest video clip fopr "King Rat" from the new Modest Mouse rarities EP, No One's First, and You're Next. It was directed by the late Heath Leadger and is a fantastic animated clip and a great song too. Ledger's first music video attempt was for Ben Harper's "Morning Yearning" which was also an excellent clip. Enjoy.

Pearl Jam with Ben Harper and Relentless7 & Liam Finn - Aust & NZ Tour

Pearl Jam have just announced that they are returning to Australia to tour their upcoming album Backspacer, due out on September 14th. To make the gig even more enticingthey have brought along Ben Harper and Relentless7 and Liam Finn to support them. All shows will be held at larger stadium venues with only one show for each city. This will be my second time seeing Pearl Jam after catching their epic two and a half hour show at the Myer Music Bowl in 1995. I was one of the few who had actually purchased a ticket after about 10,000 charged into the gig through a knocked down fence. It was one of my first concerts and I managed to get right up the front which was quickly abondoned when Pearl Jam got on stage as I was getting crushed. I managed to crowd surf (my first and only experience) my way further back for a better position and was treated to an excellent set of hits lasting 2 and a half hours including a great cover of "Throw Your Arms Around Me".

Ben Harper is one of my favourite artists and I am looking forward to seeing him for the sixth time, this time with a new backing band and new songs. Unfortunately his excellent back catalogue will most likely be left behind for his new material but I did enjoy the new direction of White Lies for Dark Times. My first time seeing Ben Harper live was at the Offshore Festival at Torquay in 1999 and I became an instant fan when he opened with Pearl Jam's "Indifference". Hopefully Harper will join Pearl Jam on this tour to colloborate on one of my favourite songs on this tour. The version they did together (see below) on Triple J in 2001 is my favourite live performance ever.
Liam Finn will be opening all the shows in Aus and NZ bringing some new tracks from forthcoming EP Champagne in Seashells which includes the catchy new single "Long Way To Go". See below for dates and be sure to get in quick as they will be sure to sell out fast.
Tickets go on Sale Monday 17th August.

Tour Dates:
Friday, 20 November, 2009: Etihad Stadium, Melbourne
Ticketmaster - www.ticketmaster.com.au or 136 100
6pm - Liam Finn
7pm - Ben Harper and Relentless7
8.30pm - Pearl Jam

Sunday, 22 November, 2009: Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney
Ticketek - www.ticketek.com.au or 132 849

Wednesday, 25 November, 2009: QSAC Stadium, Brisbane
Ticketek - www.ticketek.com.au or 132 849

Friday, 27 November, 2009: Mt Smart, Auckland, New Zealand
Ticketek: www.ticketek.co.nz or 0800 842538

Sunday, 29 November, 2009: AMI Stadium, Christchurch, New Zealand
Ticketek: www.ticketek.co.nz or 0800 842538

Ticket Prices are about $125 for Gold and $99 for Silver + BF.

New Music - August 2009

Here is this months video mix tape. Enjoy.