Tag Archives: Aussie Music
Umbrella Man – The Likes Of You(Paul Scott)
Aussie Rockers Black Aces release new EP and announce Tour’
Drawing from the history pages of Aussie rock come Victorian four-piece Black Aces!
Never Change is the name of their new single and also the title track of their new EP. Driven by dirty slide guitar, and a driving tempo, the title track is a catchy and upbeat rocker that pays homage to the old adage that ”some things never change”.
Also featured on the EP is the previously released single, Feverdreams. A fast paced rocker in the vein of the Australian rock greats that have come before them, married with Black Aces signature sound and Tyler Kinder’s distinctive and unique vocals, Feverdreams is a self-deprecating soundtrack to the hangover from hell.
Check out the video here:
As with the band’s 2017 album Anywhere But Here, the new EP was produced by Mark Opitz and Colin Wynne. Opitz has a long list of Aussie rockers from his own ARIA Award-winning career to take inspiration from, including AC/DC, The Divinyls, Cold Chisel, INXS and The Angels.
Formed in rural Australian town Bendigo by singer-guitarist Tyler Kinder, Black Aces set about forming a set of songs influenced by the greats of Aussie rock. Bassist Alex works as a mechanic in the same shed where the band rehearses and write songs.
After developing a strong live following across their homeland and sharing stages with the likes of Cosmic Psychos, Angry Anderson, Dallas Crane, and The Casanovas, Black Aces released their debut album Shot In The Dark in early 2016 and took their live show all the way to Europe and the UK.?
Through sheer hard work the album broke into the top 20 of the iTunes Australia rock charts, and the band ended a bumper year with a show stealing performance at Hard Rock Hell festival in Wales, alongside such heavyweights as Molly Hatchet, Living Color and Ratt – earning themselves a call back to the festival’s main stage alongside the legendary Dee Snider (Twisted Sister) in 2017. The band then released their second album Anywhere But Here in the same year and received a rave review from their famous fan. “Black Aces is like getting a new vintage AC/DC in 2017! And there ain’t nothing wrong with that!… My new turn to album. Anywhere But Here” – Dee Snider, Twisted Sister
The future looks bright for the boys from Bendigo.
UK Label Off Yer Rocka will be releasing the bands new music as per below-
Oct 3 Never Change Video Premiere
Oct 4 Never Change Single release/EP Pre Order/Tour Begins(dates below)
Oct 31 EP Release date
Black Aces are:
Tyler Kinder – Lead Vocals / Lead Guitar
Jarrad Morrice – Rhythm Guitar
Alex McMillan – Bass
Pete McMillan – Drums
(FUN FACT: Despite Alex and Pete sharing the same surname, they in fact aren’t related at all!)
NEVER CHANGE TOUR DATES
Friday – Sunday 4th, 5th, 6th October
Chopped, CARRISBROOK VIC
https://www.chopped.com.au/
w The Chats, The 5, 6, 7, 8’s plus more
Tickets: $230 for weekend pass
Time: Black Aces are appearing at 5.30 on Saturday 5th October.
Saturday 12th October
Shovel Fest, BENDIGO VIC
https://www.centrestaterodders.com/shovel-fest-bendigo
Tickets: $10
Time: 10am start – Band time TBC
Saturday 26th October
Crowbar, SYDNEY NSW
https://crowbarsyd.com/
w The Neptune Power Federation
Tickets: $17.85
Time: 8pm
Friday 1st November
Old Bank Hotel, DUBBO NSW
https://www.oldbankdubbo.com/
with Flickertail
Tickets: $10
Time: 8pm
Saturday 2nd November
The Vic Hotel, ORANGE NSW
https://www.victoriahotelorange.com.au/
with Flickertail
Tickets: FREE
Time: 9pm
Friday 15th November
Transit Bar, CANBERRA ACT
http://www.transitbar.com.au
with Flickertail, Loud So Clear & Babe Fiasco
Tickets: $10 presale and $15 on the door
Time: 8pm
Saturday 16th November
Botany View Hotel, NEWTOWN NSW
https://www.botanyviewhotel.com/
with Flickertail
Tickets: TBA
Time 8PM
Sunday 17th November
Frankies Pizza, SYDNEY NSW
https://www.frankiespizzabytheslice.com/
with Lagerstein
Tickets: FREE
Time: 7PM
Friday 29th November
Stay Gold, BRUNSWICK VIC
https://staygoldmelbourne.com.au/
with Smoke Stack Rhino, Dead Preachers + TBA
Tickets: TBA
Saturday 21st December
Golden Vine Hotel, BENDIGO VIC
https://www.facebook.com/goldenvinebendigo/
Support TBC
Tickets: $10
Time: 9PM
The Never Change EP will be available to pre-order from October 4.
Officially released on October 31st.
Download or stream:
Connect with Black Aces:
The Blind Pilots release debut 3-track EP
When describing The Blind Pilots it’s easy to say the same old things about being an explosive four piece Australian Roots, Rock and Blues outfit from the Northern Beaches of Sydney. But the truth is all four members have known each other in previous successful bands, which gives them an advantage in the creative songwriting process. The four friends share a close rapport and have a laugh together every week. They say, “There’s never a dull moment in rehearsals!”
The band members’ camaraderie is largely based on the fact they grew up listening to the same music and share common influences like Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, Van Morrison, Jimmy Hendrix, Cat Stevens, Led Zepplin and Midnight Oil. Together they form a band making the most of dirty slide guitar, hard hitting drums, solid bass grooves, accompanied by a soulful vocal drenched in foot stompin’ harmonica riffs. “We all have an urge to push each other harder to get the best out of our muscianship and are driven to create those magic moments,” says lead guitarist and vocalist Owen.
In a live format, the band produce an energetic show full of intense commitment, whilst still maintaining a laid back vibe.
The lead track of their brand new EP is called Tell Me I’m Wrong, which offers frontman Owen’s perspective on the current political landscape. Accompanying tracks are Telephone – a hard-hitting blues rock tune about breakdowns in relationships, complete with dirty blues harp and riffing electric guitar. The swampy southern blues rock style of Howling at the Moon fits perfectly with the lyrical lament about longing and yearning.
Between them, their experiences have seen them performing at festivals including Byron Blues, Woodford Folk, Festival Of Sun, Echuca Blues Festival, Mud Run, Harley Days, Throttle Roll, Sydney Blues Festival and has found them on the Australian Blues charts. With new ideas consistently being brought to the table this group will continue to make inroads in the Blues and Roots World and be one to watch.
The Blind Pilots members are: Owen Mancell – Guitar/Vocals; Matt Hough – Drums; Ryan Stone – Harmonica; Daniel Changas – Bass/Vocals
“Owen brings the spark, Matt is the conductor and reconstructs, Changas adds the bottom end whilst Stony waves the magic which is the icing on the cake.”
The Blind Pilots EP is out on August 30.
Download or stream from August 30:
Connect with The Blind Pilots here:
Opera Singer Michaele Archer launches new project Apsara
Apsara is an original project of classical soprano Michaele Archer, exploring a sound palate that is rich and raw. Composed with Latin text from Virgil and Roman woman poet Sulpicia, Apsara’s debut EP Galatea intertwines ancient and new sounds.
Leading the Apsara project on harmonium and vocals, Archer is joined by cellist Rachel Whealy, violist Gabrielle Laura Steele and guitarist Giuseppe Zangari.
It been a journey bringing together the different layers for this project – Ancient Latin text, alto instruments and a vocal approach that blends opera and early music. “Once I had it the music came quickly. The songs almost wrote themselves. They came so fast in a matter of minutes recording on my phone.”
In addition to medieval vocals, ancient Latin text and deep analogue instruments, the flow of water and nature inspires Apsara. In Virgil’s Eclogue 7 there are references to Galatea, a water sprite and the name Apsara also translates as Indian water spirit.
Michaele has performed opera, song and oratorio in Australia and internationally and has featured in several world premieres of new works by Australian composers.
“Coming from an opera background and having a larger voice type my sound has always been full on opera”. Michaele has recently been performing and studying in Los Angeles with Robin de Haas, a leading voice coach in Europe and founder of a new performance and body work method called Breathing Coordination. Going ever deeper into anatomy and the science of breathing led Michaele to a new vocal style, blending Opera into medieval straight tone.
Discovering the poetry of Roman woman poet Sulpicia struck a deep chord. “The portrayal of women in opera is often two dimensional and I wanted to depart from that,” says Archer. Sulpicia was a woman who lived outside the stereotypes of Ancient Roman society in terms of being unmarried, writing poetry and writing explicitly about love. The feel and sound qualities of old Latin text and stories interpreted from a female perspective form a rich layer, built with instruments from the deeper harmonic spectrum.
“I’ve got a thing for the darker sounding instruments so combining the tone of the viola with cello and alto harmonium was a perfect fit.”
Cellist Rachel Whealy has been a muse since high school. The pair met in Year 12 Music class, where Michaele fell in love with Rachel’s playing and the mellow sob of the cello. There were quite a few maths lessons skipped to play Purcell on Balmoral Island with the waves. They have been performing, writing and recording together ever since. “We’ve created some beautiful original recordings, but I kept putting them aside. I hadn’t quite cracked the feel of the sound I knew I was looking for. I wanted to move slightly left of opera with an instrumental foundation that was real and textured.”
APSARA – GALATEA is OUT TODAY August 23 and released through Foghorn/MGM.
Download or stream
Connect with Michaele:
Big Merino’s second album Sweet Little Angel is out now!
Big Merino’s second album to follow Surbuban Wildlife is Sweet Little Angel and it’s out now!
It features the singles that have already made an impact at radio – Hummingbird and the title track, as well as a cover of the classic Neil Young track Ohio.
The band recently played a successful launch for the album at the Marrickville Bowling Club and next Canberra audiences will have their turn. What better way to spend a Sunday afternoon than hanging at Smith’s Alternative with Big Merino!
Show starts at 4pm.
Sunday August 25 @ Smith’s Alternative, Canberra
Bruce Elder at the Sydney Morning Herald gave the album a glowing review recently – have a read below.
ADULT ROCK Big Merino
SWEET LITTLE ANGEL (Foghorn) ???½
It has long been an orthodoxy that second albums are more problematic than debut offerings. Here’s the exception. If Big Merino’s debut, Suburban Wildlife, was scattergun in its approach, this is a tour de force of, for want of a better term, classy adult rock, funk, soul and pop. It’s the kind of music Jo Camilleri and Van Morrison see as their bailiwick: a clever and sophisticated blend of heart-stopping gospel-style harmonies (I Watched the Light), and classy lead vocals (courtesy of Stuart Davis, a long-time member of Sydney-based choral masters Cafe of the Gate of Salvation).
Instrumental features include beautiful interplay between acoustic and electric guitar (the title track is seductive); searing guitar solos from Alex Craig (I Lay Me Down); delicious horns courtesy of James Greening (Satellite) and some pulsating funkiness on This Song and Living in the Past.
Oh, yes, and there is an astonishingly good reading (with blistering guitar solos) of Neil Young’s Ohio. The result is a deeply satisfying collection of songs which, while they defy any easy categorisation, sit happily at the richly mature end of popular music. Hear them at Marrickville Bowling Club, July 27. Bruce Elder
******************************************
Sweet Little Angel was recorded at Damien Gerard Studios.
Watch the video for Sweet Little Angel at YouTube:
Sweet Little Angel is out now on Foghorn Records through MGM.
Stream or download:
Connect with Big Merino:
Big Merino-Sweet Little Angel(Official)
Coen Cashin & Mark Cashin- Move Your Body(Official)
Steve Kilbey & Gareth Koch- Lost At Sea(Official Video)
Brisbane’s Team Utopia release double A-side called Comin’ Back.
Building on the success of the singles and videos of ‘Strips Off My Soul’ and ‘Calling Out To The Masses’, Brisbane’s Team Utopia release their new double A Side ‘Addiction’ and ‘Waiting for You’ under the apt title ‘Comin’ Back’.
The songs were written by Team Utopia and inspired by broken love and personal battles. Addiction is a slice of classic hard-paced up-tempo rock from the dynamic Brissy outfit. Taking a leaf from their popular live set you can almost hear the punters singing along and moving on the dance floor to this tune.
The second of the double-A sides is Waiting For You, a more laidback rock tune featuring some classy female backing vocals. Lead singer Danny’s world-weary vocals tell the story.
The ‘Comin’ Back’ release was recorded at Star Audio Studios in Brisbane, tracked and engineered by BJ McGuinness. The songs were then lovingly mixed by Russell Pilling at Damien Gerard Studios, while vocals were added in Sydney.
Final touches from Ex USA mastering guru Andrew Beck were added on the NSW Central Coast to add the final polish for radio and release.
And there you have it, another killer release from this exciting band!
Catch Team Utopia live soon at Rockin 4 The Homeless events. The band will be doing their bit for the very worthy The Breakfast Club charity.
Rockin’ 4 The Homeless with You Am I, The Superjesus, Diana Anaid and more!
Friday, 30th August 2019 – Gold Coast RSL Club, Southport
Saturday, 31th August 2019 – Picnic Hill, Cnr Oxley & Anzac, Redcliffe
More local tour dates will be added soon. The band are also in negotiations for a USA West Coast run in February 2020.
Comin’ Back featuring Addiction and Waiting For You is out July 12 through Foghorn Records/MGM.
Stream or Download the new songs from July 12:
Connect with Team Utopia: