Oz Music Scene

July 24th, 2008

Q & A With Adin from Front Counter

Melbourne’s pop-punk outfit Front Counter are poised to become Australia’s next big thing. Haven’t heard of them? Trust me, you will. With their debut EP A Toast to You and Me slated for released next month and a trip to Ramsey Street set to coincide, this Aussie five-piece are destined for greatness. Today I had a chat with the band’s bass guitarist Adin. Here’s what he had to say about their devoted teen fan base, gigging, and his love of fast food.

Critics are already comparing Front Counter to Simple Plan and Green Day. How would you describe your sound?
We’re just a fun-loving band. “Looking to party” music, but there’s a serious note to it as well. We want to write stuff that people can bob their heads and just energy kind of stuff. I wouldn’t compare us to Simple Plan or Green Day but obviously the influence is there with bands like that.

You formed the band with Josh and Anton back in 2004, but it’s taken to this year to complete the lineup with Rhys and Josh. What have they brought to the band that was missing before?
Rhys brings a really good pop element to the band. He just has a knack for picking up these melodies and he’s really good at harmonising Anton’s vocal parts as well so there’s different voices there. And Josh the new guitarist, he can really shred. He’s a really good guitarist so he brings that element of musicianship that we were kind of missing before.

I read that your name was inspired by a sign at Hungry Jacks. Are you all fast food junkies?
At the moment we are, just because we’re all stressed [laughs]. But honestly, we’re not the healthiest band going around. We’re not fast food junkies, but we do like our fast food.

You played the massive Taste of Chaos tour last year. How was that experience?
That was amazing. The Melbourne night was just amazing. There were so many people that didn’t know who we were, and it was really good that the kids come up to you after the show and say, “Hey, I didn’t quite catch your name, what’s your name, I’ve never heard of you” and they were asking about us, it created a bit of a buzz. It was really cool.

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July 24th, 2008

Crowded House Headline Homebake

We might all be freezing our extremities off, but summer can’t be too far away. How do I know? Well, those summer festival announcements are filtering in.

Today the bill for Homebake was announced. That’s always particularly exciting because it’s a celebration of homegrown talents. And who needs to import bands when you can assemble a lineup like this?

We’ve got Crowded House as headliners. This is a massive deal considering they haven’t played here since those sold out shows last November. If you missed the lads then, here’s your chance.

They’ll be supported by a couple more Aussie rock heavyweights looking for comebacks: You Am I and The Vines. Add a little dance music courtesy of Sneaky Sound System, Cut Copy, and PNAU, a splash of country with Kasey Chambers and Shane Nicholson, and a dash of pop with Gabriella Cilmi and it’s all sounding pretty impressive.

The 12th annual Homebake concert will hit The Domain on December 6. It always always sells out, so you’ll want to grab yours when they go on sale from Ticketek on August 18.

Image souce: Alterna2 @ Flickr

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July 23rd, 2008

New Song Obsession: “I Can’t Break it to My Heart” by Delta Goodrem

I have a confession to make: I love a good torch song. Give me some sappy lyrics and a strong melody and I’m a happy girl. So Delta Goodrem’s latest single “I Can’t Break it to My Heart” is right up my alley.

Just quietly, I found “Believe Again” boring and “You Will Only Break My Heart” a little lacking in substance, so I’m thrilled to see her back to her best with this single. Yes it’s super daggy, but I just love it. The song really seems to come alive when she steps on stage, so please enjoy this version from Delta’s Max Sessions concert filmed earlier this year!

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July 23rd, 2008

Australian Music Heaven at Mudgee

A Day on the Green is heading back to Mudgee with a massive Aussie lineup.

Fresh from their comeback tour, The Angels will join the Hoodoo Gurus as co-headliners for the October 18 show at Oatley Wines.

But the classic Aussie artists don’t stop there, with The Models and Dragon (well, they’re adopted Australians, right?) also on the bill.

The day will kick off with local Mudgee outfit McGee.

You won’t see a lineup this good in some time, so it’s definitely worth a road trip. You can grab your tickets from Ticketmaster on August 1.

Image source: The Arris @ Flickr

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July 22nd, 2008

Listen to Little Red Live

Things are definitely on the up for Melbourne’s Little Red. They were virtual unknowns when they won a slot at the V Festival through the V2 garage-band comp.

Now the retro rockers have released their debut album Listen to Little Red which recently debuted at number 29 on the ARIA Charts. It seems plenty of Aussies want to do just that, because they’re booked for shows all over the country next month.

When can you listen to Little Red live? Here are all the dates!

3 August 2008 - Splendour in the Grass, Byron Bay
4 August 2008 - The Metro, Sydney
6 & 7 August 2008 - The Prince of Wales, Melbourne
14 August 2008 - Karova Lounge, Ballarat
15 August 2008 - The Corner Hotel, Melbourne
16 August 2008 - Peninsula Lounge, Moorooduc
20 August 2008 - Oxford Tavern, Wollongong
21 August 2008 - The Cambridge Hotel, Newcastle
22 August 2008 - The Annandale Hotel, Sydney
28 August 2008 - Barwon Club, Geelong
29 August 2008 - Jive Bar, Adelaide
30 August 2008 - Amplifier Bar, Perth
31 August 2008 - Swan Basement, Fremantle
4 September 2008 - Flynn’s Beach Surf Club, Port Macquarie
5 September 2008 - The Sound Lounge, Currumbin
6 September 2008 - The Globe, Brisbane
8 September 2008 - Swindler’s Bar, Mt Hotham
11 September 2008 - The Pub, Bendigo
12 September 2008 - The Corner Hotel, Melbourne
13 September 2008 - The Republic Bar, Hobart
4 October 2008 - The Great Escape, Sydney

Image source: JB Hi-Fi 

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July 22nd, 2008

Telstra Does Something Right

I am loathe to praise anything related to Telstra. But I can’t help feeling all patriotic about their new ads featuring that unofficial anthem “I Am, You Are, We Are Australian.”

Thankfully there’s not a children’s choir in sight. Instead the song’s been given a modern makeover thanks to Sydney urban outfit The Botanics.

I’d love to see this released as a single. It’d be the perfect song to start blaring as we take gold at the Games, don’t you think?

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July 21st, 2008

Frank Black Takes Black Francis to Oz

Frank Black must have gotten a taste for Australia when he toured with The Pixies last year. He’s just announced a local tour for his other musical outlet, Black Francis.

Black Francis will showcase tracks from Bluefinger and the recently released mini-album, Svn Fngrs.

He’ll play Sydney’s Great Escape Festival, and solo shows in a handful of other cities. Check out Black Francis at the following Aussie gigs!

28 September 2008 - Metropolis, Fremantle
29 September 2008 - HQ Complex, Adelaide
1 October 2008 - Arena, Brisbane
2 October 2008 - The Forum Theatre, Melbourne
4 October 2008 - Great Escape, Sydney

Image source: Djenvert @ Flickr

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July 21st, 2008

Daniel Johns Bound for Big Apple

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Things look to be heating up between Silverchair’s Daniel Johns and his model girlfriend Louise Van Der Vorst. The sexy twosome has reportedly told friends they’re planning to New York by the end of the year.

As much as the Aussie music industry would hate to lose Daniel, I suppose it all makes sense. Silverchair are still huge in the States, and Louise is starting to build a name for herself on the international modeling scene.

The only question that remains is whether this hot new romance is moving a little too fast! After all, shifting overseas together is a massive deal! I guess we’ll all just have to wait and see on this one.

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July 20th, 2008

Miley Cyrus Releases Australian Music Video

Like her or loathe her, Miley Cyrus is the biggest teen star in the world right now. She hasn’t made it Down Under yet, but that doesn’t mean she’s forgotten about her Australian fans! In fact, this film clip for her latest single “See You Again” is an Australian exclusive!

It’s not quite the same as seeing Miley live, but hopefully this clip featuring footage from Miley’s Best of Both Worlds US tour will be enough to tide her local fans over until she does make it here!

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July 19th, 2008

Stonefest Celebrate the Big 4-0

Few music festivals survive a few years, let alone decades. So Stonefest’s 40th anniversary this year is cause for celebration. The Canberra music fest is pulling out the big guns this year, with a massive bill headlined by American indie gods The Dandy Warhols.

They’ll be ably supported by some massive local talent including Grinspoon, Faker, The Grates, Regurgitator, The Drones, Blue King Brown, and stacks more.

Any festival that can last four decades clearly knows how to entertain. This one might be worth a road trip for any interstate music lovers. It all happens at the University of Canberra on 31 October and 1 November. Tickets are available now through Ticketek. But sorry kids, it’s a strictly adults-only event.

Image source: JHT Photography @ Flickr

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