Tag Archives: Australian punk rock
Black Aces – Never Change(official)
John Kennedy’s Second Best reviewed by Bernard Zuel
In 2001, John Kennedy compiled the early vinyl singles and album selections from his bands JFK and the Cuban Crisis, Love Gone Wrong and the Honeymooners.
17 years later, its follow-up retrospective collection is out now in all good record stores.
Leading music journalist and former Sydney Morning Herald writer Bernard Zuel has reviewed the set known as “Second Best: Greatest Bits Vol. 2″.
“Well of course John Kennedy would call the second set of his career songs collections “second best”. If he’d called it something like “the other bits”, “warmed up leftovers” or “oh no, not me again”, none of us would have been surprised,” Zuel writes. “This way he gets a play on words, a dig at himself, and a reminder he’s been around long enough to warrant at least two sets of favourite songs before we have stopped laughing: result.”
Kennedy and his band (with the current line-up of Love Gone Wrong drummer Peter Timmerman, ex-Wiggle Murray Cook on guitar and former Pop Mechanics’ leader Paul Scott on bass) blend pop, rock, folk and country, all topped with the uniqueness of Kennedy’s vocal and lyrics.
Zuel says, “Some of his lines have the double dose pleasure of being funny on first hearing and rather telling on second, an effect which is enhanced with a voice that sometimes just seems to be taking the piss. Even when it’s not. Speaking of his voice, yes, when he is not dropping down to a Johnny Cash-ish timbre he has always sounded a fair bit like Elvis Costello – which is what caught the ears of some of us way back when he first appeared as the presidential JFK & The Cuban Crisis.”
Read the entire review here at Bernard’s website: https://www.bernardzuel.net/single-post/2018/11/04/JOHN-KENNEDY-–-SECOND-BEST-REVIEW
OUT NOW on Foghorn Records through MGM.
Available on CD and digital platforms.
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Joel Leffler – New EP – Strip Me Bare
Joel Leffler – New EP – Strip Me Bare
Following on from his ‘Run With The Wolves’ EP and tour Joel Leffler has released a stunning new EP “Strip Me Bare”, produced by long-time collaborator and ARIA winning Producer Peter Holz (Peking Duk, Gang of Youths).
The first single “In My Sights” from the new EP is the song which features a guest vocal from Melissa Jane. Joel and Melissa shared a house together and have worked together on numerous recordings. This poppy anthemic tune hits home and you can’t help but sing and dance along to this great party song.
Melissa: ‘Joel and I have always written and played together. Our voices blend & complement each other really well. I think this track is just one of those feel-good anthems. The chorus is super catchy, you’ve been warned.’
Joel: ‘I had this melody stuck in my head for weeks. I would wake up, drive to work & go to sleep all with the chorus sitting on the tip of my tongue. I have never been so haunted by a melodic idea as much as I have on “In My Sights”.
Pete Holz: ‘We’ve taken off from where the 1st EP left off and gone a little more into the synth and drum machine world - but still kept a lot of guitar and groove in there! A pleasure having Melissa Jade feature too - such a great singer and really bought another higher level of the track.’
Joel will be performing live at The Brass Monkey and other Sydney venues for the new release of Strip Me Bare.
![‘Strip Me Bare’ EP Launch! 10 of May 7pm @ Brass Monkey, Cronulla Joel Leffler [Band] With Special Guest ‘Tyler Joseph’2.1](http://medianews.foghornrecords.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/‘Strip-Me-Bare’-EP-Launch-10-of-May-7pm-@-Brass-Monkey-Cronulla-Joel-Leffler-Band-With-Special-Guest-‘Tyler-Joseph’2.1-1024x513.jpg)
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DAXTON – New Album – In Verses
Intrepid Blues & Roots man Daxton releases new album “In Verses” and scores Amrap Chart Spot.
Review Update! Check out all these great reviews from all over the world
America to Germany everyone is loving Daxtons New album “In Verses”
Links to other reviews:
http://www.beachsloth.com/daxton-in-verses.html
http://www.nataliezworld.com/2018/04/daxton-in-verses.html
http://www.tunedloud.com/2018/05/10/daxton-in-verses-addicting-grown-up-alt-rock/
http://broadscreen.de/daxton-definiert-sich-zwischen-genres
https://stereostickman.com/reviews/daxton-daxton-monaghan-in-verses/
http://sleepingbagstudios.ca/daxton-monaghan-ball-chain/
“I Don’t Mind” Single from “In Verses”
The new album from NSW Central Coast Blues and Roots Songwriter and Performer Daxton has instantly struck a chord with National Community Radio with first single Sanctuary sitting at number two on the Amrap/Airit Regional Chart for April 27 .
In Verses starts off with a colourful up-tempo song track named ‘I Don’t Mind’ with high falsetto reminiscent of artist such as Marvin Gay or Eagles of Death Metal. As the album progresses further in you will notice some of the songs have a more psychedelic/grungy approach.
There are nine tracks on the album, all highlighting Daxton’s multitude of influences ranging from psychedelic blues and alternative rock with a little Spanish guitar. As always with ‘Dax’, the sound of the south is a dominating force – a touch of delta blues working its’ way through the album.
Daxton will be playing local shows followed by a tour to support the release- see website below for dates.
https://www.facebook.com/Daxton6/app/208195102528120/
“It’s not that much of a stretch to think that a fan of bands like Kings of Leon or artists such as Ray LaMontagne or even John Mayer could easily find something to like here..the crossover exists for sure.” Sleeping Bag USA Review.
The Album is Out Now Via MGM.
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Perth’s Vida Cain Announce New 2017 Show
The Rockin’ Perth guys have a return gig following their East Coast tour, promoting the new Album Yeah Nah…
February 10 at Four 5 Nine Bar Perth
“Following their ‘Yeah Nah’ East Coast tour, the Vida Cain boys bring the love home with a big ol’ party at Four5Nine bar”
“special guests include The Shakeys and Second HAND Stroke”’
Full Event Details here
https://www.facebook.com/events/1858507744383772/
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Rockin’ Perth Band Vida Cain will head to the East Coast late January for exclusive showcases in Sydney and Melbourne to promote their new album ‘Yeah Nah’ – produced by Joel Quartermain(Eskimo Joe)
Dates
Jan 25th, 2017 – Frankie’s Pizza (Sydney)
Jan 26th, 2017 – Long Table Cafe (Deniliquin)
Jan 27th, 2017 – Cherry Bar (Melbourne)
Checkout the album right now-
https://itunes.apple.com/au/album/yeah-nah/id1158681714
Vida Cain (AUS)
More info and social links at
The Dirty Earth Release ‘Ascendancy’ on Foghorn/MGM
A strong followup to their well received album of 2014 – ‘Autonomic’ Ascendancy promises to widen the bands appeal with a more modern twist on their retro alternative sound.
Comparisons have already been made to Jack White’s The Dead Weather
There is nothing so fine as a righteous blast of rock and roll energy, a white-hot mainline that shakes your body into action.
The Dirty Earth don’t just write songs, they weave tales about the brutal realities of life and songs like Red Witch, Cruel World, Free Bird and Eternity marry clever lyrics with stellar music that takes you on an evocative journey. Bed of Nails is the album’s rock anthem with the final track, So Long Sucker, providing a rare glimpse into the band’s take on punk rock.
The Dirty Earth have taken a step forward with ‘Ascendancy’, showcasing their unique brand of rock’n’roll and strong musicianship. Cohesive production ensures the listener of a 45-minute sonic journey.
The Album is released February 26 through MGM on CD and Digital
Album Launch
Saturday 27th February
The Townie-Newtown
Quotes
The Dirty Earth are heavy, psychedelic and above all unpindownable,
the necessary ingrdients that may make them the new lords of doom rock
Cameron Cooper – The Music
A band that live to rock and serve it with no reservations’
‘The vocal muscle of Mandy shows plenty of punch and the band rock the groove well’
Rodney Christian, SF Media
“The Dirty Earth have absorbed a lot of Thin Lizzy, AC/DC and BellRays and applied their riffs to their own canvas.”
“Mandy Newton’s powerful vocals are a strong differentiator and many will use the Baby Animals as a reference point.”
The Barman, i94 Bar
‘The vocal muscle of Mandy shows plenty of punch and the band rock the groove well’
Rodney Christian, SF Media
“The Dirty Earth have absorbed a lot of Thin Lizzy, AC/DC and BellRays and applied their riffs to their own canvas.”
“Mandy Newton’s powerful vocals are a strong differentiator and many will use the Baby Animals as a reference point.”
The Barman, i94 Bar
The Dirty Earth has toughened up their sound a little more with the new guitarists in the group, and Mandy Newton putting in a powerful performance out front.”
Justin Donelly, The Metalforge.com