QandA with...Full Tote Odds

Full Tote Odds

Adelaide has become synonymous with the genre of music known as "Aussie Hip Hop," since the Hilltop Hoods made it big on the commercial scene with their hit single "Nose Bleed Section" (2003.) 

Since then, more hip hop artists have come to surface and the genre has been prolific; now a common feature on music festival line ups, and with sharp lyrics and catchy beats, are often the soundtrack to summer for Australian youths every where.

Now, a new group from the Adelaide Hills are making their own impact on the music scene. The four piece group, "Full Tote Odds" are regulars on radio stations both local and national and are showing no signs of slowing down any time soon. With the launch of their album "Place Your Bets" happening in a number of days, Levelheaded, Slats, Eslev, Ross Read and DJ Hacksaw took some time out to talk about their craft.

RTM: How did  Levelheaded, Slats, Eslev, Ross Read and DJ Hacksaw all get together to create Full Tote Odds?

FTO: Levelheaded, Slats and Hacksaw started Train Of Thought in 2000. They released a Demo in 02 and a full length LP Moving Heads in 04. Eslev and Mix Zagger joined in 09 and FTO was born.

RTM: Is there a story behind the groups name?

FTO: It's mainly about taking a gamble in music. We have invested a lot of time (10 years) and money into this art and we just hope it pays off... Kinda like gambling.

RTM: Aussie Hip Hop has blown up in the last decade.  What do you think it takes to stand out as an aussie hip hop artist?

FTO: Production quality. A lot of solid MC's aren't getting the recognition they deserve because their music is not at the level it needs to be to compete on the national stage.

RTM: How would you describe Full Tote Odds' sound?

FTO: Soulful, funky Hip Hop with a twist of boom bap.

RTM: Do Full Tote Odds' follow any formulas when coming up with new tracks?

FTO: Not really, every track is so different, they all come together randomly. The only formula is to continue working on a track until we love it. 

RTM: To someone who had never heard of 'aussie' hip hop, what would you say is its' core? How would you define it?

FTO: The core is truth. You need to be honest and tell it how it is...

RTM: What are the boys from Full Tote Odds' most looking forward to with the release of 'Place Your Bets'?

FTO: Getting out on tour.

RTM: Full Tote Odds are scheduled to tour early 2013 - what can people expect from your live shows?

FTO: Expect a big sound. We have 3 mcs, 2 singers, a DJ and a sound engineer ready to blow the speakers. We are headlining schoolies festival on the 18th and playing Hombake festival on the 8th December, followed by a full national tour in Feb/March 2013.

RTM: Where do you hope to see FTO at this time next year?

FTO: Touring extensively and punching out a new album.

Full Tote Odds are:

Levelheaded

Slats

Eslev

Ross Read

and DJ Hacksaw

Connect with Full Tote Odds on Facebook, Twitter and Triple J Unearthed

Kanye West presents GOOD Music: Cruel Summer

Good Music Cruel Summer

R. Kelly, Big Sean, John Legend, Kid Cudi and, of course, BFF Jay-Z are just some of the big wigs that emerge, with this album, from the dirty depths of old-school rap with a stank like it’s fresh from the ghetto. 

You’re immediately hooked when Big Sean starts throwing creamy rhymes your way in Clique – a clique you definitely want to be a part of: Ye, Rih, B and LeBron are mentioned by Jay-Z. And Kanye? Well he goes on with lyrics to inspire jealousy about the outrageous success of Niggas in Paris, his Maybach and being neighbours with TC. A bit OTT but classic Kanye nonetheless.

Mercy spits thick, nose-wrinkling beats at you with fiery force. They glare at you sideways. It’s undoubtedly the best song on the album. It is truly filthy. Big Sean, Pusha T, 2 Chainz and Kanye himself fill the beats with the dirtiness they deserve. Wind the windows down and sink low in your seat, one hand on the wheel. Sure enough, you’ll start believing you’re the baddest kid in town.

Kid Cudi and Kanye West

Take it down a notch and get yourself some romancing tips, hustler style, from Bliss. John Legend and Teyana Taylor tell the typical love story of girl meets boy, boy takes girl to London in his private jet while showering her in gifts from Tiffany. Okay, not so typical. But this song is as smooth as silk and John Legend’s voice is unbelievably cool. The track is complementary yet stands alone within the album, which manages to maintain its street cred even without one mention of the ‘n’ word.

This entire album is seriously cool. It takes it back to the streets, with subtleties of rap beginnings. It’s stripped to basics, the songs riddled with clever rhymes and a brilliant beat, all performed by some insanely successful artists – hand-picked by Ye, it’s his custom-made album. Best played loud.

By Natalie Brunoli

Follow Nat on Twitter

Check out Natalie's Blog

Gig Review: The Black Keys

The Black Keys

El Camino Tour

Adelaide Entertainment Center

Tuesday, October 30

Since 'Lonely Boy' went viral across the globe, The Black Keys have become this year's face of Rock and Roll.

It was refreshing to see the Adelaide Entertainment Centre stripped down for such a popular music act; it was nothing but the crowd and Dan and Patrick - more commonly known of course as The Black Keys.  Much similar to Mumford and Sons, the set was simple lighting; an indication of where music is at the moment and how you can tell the difference between a concert and performance. 

The Black Keys - AEC (source: AdelaideNow)

Opening their set with the track that all fans of the hit HBO series "Tru Blood" would love, "Howlin' for you," The Black Keys set the tone  early on.  Dirty, grungy, sexy rock had Adelaide howling for The Black Keys.  After playing a few songs with accompaniments, Dan and Patrick took to the stage -  just the two of them, -  taking the audience back in time, playing a number of old songs, before bringing back the band to play out their most recent hits 'Lonely Boy' and 'Gold on the Ceiling.'

The level of energy in the room was inescapable and whilst The Black Keys had a "lets-get-on-with-it" attitude to the concert, it wasn't insulting by any means; the crowd couldn't agree more - they were there to hear the music!  Although admittedly at times the instrumentals seemed to be arguing over tempo, this was always quickly adjusted, and the music was so good no one really gave a shit anyway.   It's safe to say any errors that were made that may have not gone unnoticed, where immediately forgotten when the worlds biggest discoball dropped for the boys' encore.  (Just search #discoball and #theblackkeys on instragram to see.)

There's something raw about The Black Keys music and seeing them perform live on stage amplified how exactly how cool they are.  The Black Keys may have cracked the mainstream music market but they are by no means a mainstream band, making it clear they are sticking by their roots and that they understand their what their fans love.

To find out more about The Black Keys you can look them up on facebook, twitter or visit their website for gig dates - www.theblackkeys.com

The end.

The Backwater Blues and Roots Festival

The Backwater Blues Festival

19th-28th October

Adelaide and Regional South Australia

From the 19-28th of October across Adelaide and Regional South Australia, music lovers from all walks of life were brought together by the Backwater Blues and Roots Festival 2012. Featuring an array of artists sure to get you knee slappin and toe tapping, the remarkable line up on display this year was shared across the state with acts performing in Mount Gambier, Willunga, Lobethal, Whyalla and McLaren Vale.

On Friday the 26th of October the Old Queens Theatre, in Adelaide was brought back to life with performances from Tara Carragher and Genevieve Chadwick, as well as headliner for the night Mia Dyson. The venue was perfect; decor and lighting breathing energy into the somewhat restored old theatre warehouse, which you just know had seen so many performances and great times before then. Makeshift pop up bars and an eclectic collection of furniture with a silent video of The Rolling Stones projected onto the wall brought together the cool crowd, who were all there for one reason; to listen to good music.

The supporting acts of the night were raw and fantastic. Tara's voice was gorgeous and strong and Genevive rocked out on a guitar held together with gaffa tape and a single bass drum, starting a dance floor that would be grooving all night. Mia Dyson did not disappoint; her voice and the acoustics of her band's harmonies were brought out beautifully by this unique venue's layout.

And that is what is so great about the Backwater Blues and Roots Festival. South Australia is a hub for great music and music lovers alike and it is ideas and events like this that give us an opportunity to share, love and enjoy.

To describe the Backwater Blues and Roots Festival in more detail I've lifted this description from the event's facebook page:

"All great ideas come from a couple of beers, but only the crazy folks remember it the next morning. In 2007 we imagined something reminiscent of the makeshift bars of 1930s Mississippi where weary workers would unwind with a whiskey or a cold beer and dance to the rhythms of travelling blues men and women.

The Mojo Webb band were one of the
acts at this years Backwater Bluesfest

In 2008, Adelaide’s Juke Joint was born. The inaugural event attracted a like-minded audience of music lovers frustrated with the lack of blues & roots events in South Australia. Following such an overwhelming response, the event continued and evolved to become a 10-day celebration of blues & roots music throughout the state. Now in its fifth year, we are taking the blues to Mt Gambier, Whyalla, Lobethal, Willunga and McLaren Vale while also creating a pop-up Juke Joint in the centre of Adelaide at the Queens Theatre.

In true Adelaide fashion, the festival has been nurtured and developed for and by the public. The enduring appeal of the blues lies in its healing properties; the grinding rhythms and purging tales of trouble and strife with which anyone can empathise. It’s organic and real and spiritually uplifting for musician and listener alike. It’s the original dance music. And so, in an era of drive-thru lifestyles, social networking and manufactured musical confectionery, we bring you the elixir: the 2012 Backwater Blues & Roots Festival.

Hand-crafted by: Andrew Dundon & Rob Eyers with Meral Nieman, Tanya Schroeder, Emily Rice, Jacob Habner and the SA Blues and Roots community.

2012 Festival Line-up includes:

Interstate Artists

The Backsliders

Mia Dyson

Jeff Lang

Dallas Frasca

Collard Greens and Gravy

Genevieve Chadwick

Pugsley Buzzard

Brendan Gallagher

South Australian Artists

Mick Kidd

Nick Kipridis

Sweet Baby James & Rob Eyers

Dr Piffle & The Burlap Band

Louise & The Tornados

Jordan Ruru

Don Morrison

Cream Tribute Show

The Red Hot Blues Band

Rhumboogie featuring Chris Finnen

Tara Caragher

Bottleneck Slide Show

Harmonica Intensive with Snooks La Vie and Dave Blight

The Bakers Digest

Cal Williams Jnr

AP D'Antonio

Brenton Manser Duo"

"Mia has been on our dream list for the festival since its inception, so when we found out she was returning to Australia to launch her new album The Moment we jumped at the chance to create a soulful night celebrating the women of blues. Mia will be joined by the smoky, vivacious vocals of Genevieve Chadwick and Adelaide’s own rising star of the blues, Tara Carragher."

To learn more about the Backwater Blues Festival and keep in touch for next year, check them our on facebook, twitter or their website www.backwaterbluesfest.com

Gig Review: Mumford and Sons

Mumford and Sons

Mumford and Sons at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre

Monday October 15th

Adelaide Entertainment Centre, Adelaide

Mondays don't get much better than this.  Willy Mason, Edward Sharpe and Mumford and Sons; all playing individually as well as together.  The Adelaide Entertainment Center has significantly improved in looks and atmosphere since recent renovations.   The concert featuring these talented musicians took place in the newest staging addition to the venue, the Adelaide Entertainment Center theatre - a room off set from the original venue, providing an intimate vibe felt by viewers and performers alike.

The support acts were welcomed by audience with generous applause and cheering non-stop throughout the evening.   Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros were nothing short of incredible.  With two drum kits, a brass trio, a fiddle and every other instrument under the sun - the band were fun, entertaining and just a cool bunch of kids.  Their rendition of "Home" was stretched out and pleased the groupies who had been waiting all set for the hit.  At one stage during this support act,  Marcus Mumford took to the stage to perform Edward Sharpe and his ensemble, giving the crowd a sneak preview of what was to come. 

The boys wooed the crowd, performing one song with
no technology at all.

When Mumford and Sons took to the stage their set came alive.  It is amazing what four talented young men from the UK can bring to a live performance and it's safe to say there was no room left for disappointment.

Playing tracks from their breakout album "Sigh No More (2010)" it was "Little Lion Man" that saw the room burst into light leaving the audience in awe in a truly magical moment.  The music, the lyrics and the crowd contributed to making that moment one that trumps other memories from the night.


The acoustics of the venue also allowed the handsome foursome to perform acoustically; beautiful vocal harmonies silencing the crowd.

The lighting completed the magical set

Also showcasing songs from their recent album "Babel (2012)," Marcus, Ben, 'Country' and Ted displayed exactly how talented and diverse they each are performing songs that had a bit more edge and a fuller sound.  It wasn't too long ago that a drum kit was foreign to the band, but oh how this has changed with the set ending in a jam reminiscent of The Beautiful Girls' live sets; a bunch of dudes just rocking out. 

The connection between Mumford and Sons and the Adelaide audience was truly something special and the reception and how humbling it was for the band.  This concert will stick with me for a long time.

Follow Mumford and Sons on twitter, or find them on Facebook.

Check out up coming gigs at the Adelaide Entertainment Center here.

Gig Review: Hey Geronimo

Hey Geronimo

Saturday October 6th

Jive, Adelaide

While outside the streets were teaming with the living dead, last Saturday Nat and I headed to Jive to see one of the band's I have been dying to see since first getting their hit "Why don't we do something?" in my head - Hey Geronimo.

Back in June, Hey Geronimo were the first band to Q and A with RTM and I'd asked the guys exactly what people should expect from one of their live shows.

"You can expect us to put on a high-energy, fun show. We're still learning our craft, but we want everybody to have a good time. Have a few drinks and bring your dancing shoes!"

Well, we certainly did bring our dancing shoes and we were not disappointed.  The band and their support acts, (including a super-cute Adelaide outfit called "Hurricanes," who were performing their first ever gig, - kudos guys!) definitely deserved a larger audience, but this didn't phase Hey Geronimo at all - or if it did you couldn't tell.  Opening with Carbon Affair, Hey Geronimo performed as if they were playing to a full house, each member more full of beans than the next.  

Highlights included a surprise cover of the Talking Heads classic, "Burning Down the House,"  giving Tom Jones and The Cardigans a run for their money - this performance was funky as, and the guys nailed it.  After the show when asked separately, the fellas from Hey Geronimo all said the same thing - that they'd had fun; and this was so evident when watching the band perform on stage.  The onstage chemistry between each of the members let's you know that these guys are going to be around for a while and their EP (available now) is only a small taste of the great great things to come from this Brisbane act.  The chemistry was not just displayed in the on stage interaction but also musically with powerful harmonies both vocally and instrumentally - Hey Geronimo are certainly talented musicians.  

While the band head to QLD for their last two shows, which I strongly encourage you to get along too if you can, - I for one can not wait to see these guys at a festival in 2013 or on their next tour.  

Nat with Ross from Hey Geronimo

Ran with Andrew from Hey Geronimo

You can follow Ran, Nat and Hey Geronimo on twitter, or find them on Facebook

7 reasons to get excited for summer

The sun is shining, the line ups are out and I for one can not WAIT to get amongst it this summer.  "It" being the amazing showcase of musicans that will be featuring in festivals throughout our beautiful, sweaty, hot, amazing Australian summer.

The artists traveling down under for this summers' festivals are of the highest calibre, not to mention the incredible homegrown talents that have launched themselves onto the music scene in the last 12 months.  Festivals seem to be popping up left right and centre across the states and what a fantastic opportunity for everyone to see their favourite bands and artists as well as expose themselves to some more.  In case you live under a rock and are unsure of what music festivals I am referring to - Behold!

7 Reasons to get EXCITED for summer!

1. Falls Music Festival
www.fallsfestival.com.au/

Tickets have been sold and received but do not let this dishearten you! There are always genuine people having to sell their tickets for whatever reason.  A friend of a friend - you know the drill! But if someone seems dodgy on ebay - trust me they probably are! You can always try crashing as well - it's not like you'll get lost in the shrubbery or anything! (in case you can't remember; it happened - don't do it)  Angus Stone, Ball Park Music, Bombay Bicycle Club, Boy and Bear, Django Django. Jinja Safari, Lisa Mitchell, SBTRKT, The Hives and The Vaccines are a few names who will be featuring at this years wonderful New Years celebration festival.  A word to the organisers - please sort out the countdown this year.  or just someone to do it.   Falls Music Festival is set to be amazing once again with many of the bands already aurally pleasuring festival goers throughout 2012 and receiving rave reviews. 

 

2. Big Day Out
www.bigdayout.com

Returning to it's former glory, the Big Day Out has audienes excited once more after many were disappointed with the line up choices, with drawls and cut downs of last years music festival.  Boastin international acts such as Red Hot Chili Peppers, Vampire Weekend, Bloody Beetroots and The Killers this year's festival will struggle to disappoint.  Of course there will be Australian bands present with local acts featuring in each of the festivals cities.  Grinspoon, also be featuring as part the festival, will be an Aussie band to keep your eye on - the guys will be showcasing songs from their new album "Black Rabbits."

3. Soundwave
www.soundwavefestival.com.au

This Soundwave line up makes me both laugh and cry.  I loved The Offspring.  I used to listen to them on my discman when I was in Year 7.  I feel the same way about them touring as I do the Backstreet Boys with New Kids On The Block.  I was listening to them around that time too..

Metallica, Blink 182, Garbage, Paramore, The Amity Affliction, Cypress Hill and Tomahawk are a few of the other names that put together this huge Soundwave line up.  I'm sending resident reviewer Nat Brunoli out to this one on RTMs behalf (aka i couldn't afford a ticket) so keep an eye out and say hi!

Tickets are still available so if you're into loud music, head banging and gimp masks, hop to the website and get on it.

4. St. Jermone's Laneway Festival
www.lanewayfestival.com.au

With the pre-sale beginning today, Laneway Festival hits the mark when it comes it chilled our indie pop music featuring the talents of acts that have been prolific this year including Alpine, Alt-J, Bat for Lashes, Chet Faker, The Rubens and Yeasayer.  General tickets are on sale on the 5th of October - so don't miss out!

 

5. Stereosonic
www.stereosonic.com.au

Do you think Calvin Harris is the new David Guetta?  Admittedly I heard of Calvin first, but he's been doing so many collaborations lately it's only a matter of time before Flo Rida ft. Calvin Harris or vise versa hits the charts...if it happens you know you heard it first here.  That said Calvin certainly has earnt himself the spot on headliner at this years Stereosonic Music festival, Featuring alongside names such as Tiesto, Avicii, Example, Major Lazer - the name behind this years smash hit "Get Free" and also that popular beat from Pon De Floor you may also recognise in Beyonce's "Run The World".  Also gracing festival heads are Laidback Luke, Martin Solveig, Diplo, Flux Pavilion, Bingo Players (who better to drop Rattle then these guys themselves), Tommy Trash and Beni.

6. Summadayze
www.futureentertainment.com.au/summadayze

The same group that put together Parklife have put together this stella line up which I'm sure will capture summer days (har har) perfectly Fredde le Grand, Knife Party, Kimbra, The Chemical Brothers, Mark Ronson, M.I.A, Disclosure, Icona Pop and festival favourites Stafford Brothers, Timmy Trumpet will be back in action.  Get your neons and dancing shoes on for this one people!

If this song doesn't take you back to circa 2005/2006 i don't know what will...

7. All these other gigs!

Check out your local gig guide for more info :)

September

Parklife (Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth)

Counter Revolution (Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane)

Village Fair (Sydney)
October
Jazz in the Vines (Hunter Valley, NSW)

Manly Jazz Festival (Sydney)

Stonefest (Canberra)

Rewind (Kembla Grange, NSW)

The Boroughs (Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney)

Counter Revolution (Adelaide, Perth)

Fat As Butter (Newcastle)

November

Queenscliff Music Festival (Melbourne)

Shine On (Melbourne)

Foreshore (Canberra)

Stereosonic (Sydney, Perth)

Blues at Bridgetown (Bridgetown, WA)

Harvest Festival (Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane)

December


Falls Festival (Melbourne, Hobart)

Meredith Music Festival (Melbourne)

Stereosonic (Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane)

Peats Ridge (Glenworth Valley, NSW)

Pyramid Rock Festival (Melbourne)

Homebake (Sydney)

Woodford Folk Festival (Brisbane)

Good Vibrations (2012) (Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane)


January

Big Day Out (Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth)

Southbound (Perth)

Rainbow Serpent Festival (Melbourne)

Summafieldayze (Gold Coast)

Summadayze (Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth)

Soundscape Festival (Hobart)

Tamworth Country Music Festival (Tamworth, NSW)

St Jerome's Laneway Festival (Brisbane)

Thredbo Blues Festival (Thredbo, Victoria)

February

St Jerome's Laneway Festival (Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide, Perth)

Riverboats Music Festival (Vic/ NSW - Murray River)

A Day on the Green (vineyard-based events - Victoria, NSW)

National Festival of Australian Blues Music (Sydney)

Soundwave Festival (Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth)

Earth Freq (Sydney)

Between the Bays (Melbourne, Mornington Peninsula)

Clarence Jazz Festival (Hobart)

March

Future Music Festival (Brisbane, Perth, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide)

MS Fest (Hobart)
Soundwave Festival (Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth)

Corinbank Festival (Canberra)

Nannup Music Festival (Nannup, WA)

Port Fairy Folk Festival (Port Fairy, Vic)

Brunswick Music Festival (Melbourne)

love ran xo

QandA with ... EGO

The best part about seeing your favourite DJ live is hearing for yourself their take on mixes and their interpretation of songs and beats - there's nothing like live exposure to these audio magicians who bless our ears with their skills and talent.  But why should the entertainment stop at one sense?

Ego takes this challenge head on, creating visual - audio treats for music and pop-culture lovers alike.  Having worked and performed as one half of the duo ' Nice and Ego, ' Ego is now working on his craft solo.  With a  video mixtape scheduled to drop very soon, EGO talks influences, methods and the crazy amount of time that goes into preparing for a live show.



RTM: What is the first thing you want people to know about DJ Ego?

E: That I'm not just a DJ, I perform with video too, some people call it AV DJing, some call it video DJing. But i basically play videos and music at the same time.

RTM: What can people expect at one of your live shows?

E: A good time. Plus something really different to anything they've seen before, I splice movie samples, film clips, youtube memes and other visuals together with party tunes - it's

RTM: You've just wrapped up doing live shows as one half of Nice and Ego -including a visual audio spot at Splendour in a the Grass in July - how has it been?  Are you exhausted?*

E: Yeah touring was rad, every show was a blast but yeah Splendour was off the map, that's the first time I've played a stage like that, it was a total trip and the response was awesome. But yeah I've been knackered, though I've just taken a month off performing and been in the studio putting together a video mixtape and some fresh content for the solo shows so feeling refreshed and ready to hit it again.

RTM: How did you first get into doing Visual Audio projects?

E: Mr Nice introduced me to it, I've been DJing for years but I'm also a video producer so it was a perfect fit. We ran a couple of AV nights here in Melbourne for a while which were consistently awesome parties so we decided to take the show on the road.

Check out more of Ego's track on Soundcloud

RTM: Audio Visual DJing seems very much like the "chicken and the egg" conundrum; i.e. which comes first - ideas for the videos or ideas for the music?

E: Yeah totally, basically I get my ideas any way they come - if its a song that conjures up a solid visual then I go hunting for that visual sample, or if its a movie or other that I want to sample then I try and find a song that fits with the sample. But its most often music first, video second. Sometimes the connections are quite literal, sometimes they're contextual, sometimes it's just the vibe. But I make an effort now of sitting on an idea for a bit before barrelling into it, often a lot of good ideas don't really work on the dancefloor, so I stand back and assess how it might work into my whole DJ set.

RTM: How long does it take to prepare for a live show?

E: Forever. Seriously. Every song needs to have a visual treatment, sometimes that can take a few hours to whip up but more often it takes me weeks of digging for the right sample and playing around with ideas before then editing it together. There are bits of my set which are only say 2 minutes long but it took me seriously two to three weeks of work to put together. It's kind of dumb.

EGO's video mix tape is just around the corner

RTM: When mixing, is there a certain method or formula you follow?

E: I have a lot of favourite mixes, tracks which just sit really well together so I always have them up my sleeve but just try and bounce to whatever the crowd are vibing, though like I say, when every track takes forever to make visuals for it's harder to be impromptu doing an AV show than it is doing just an audio set.

RTM: Dance, Electric, D&B and Dubsteb have been very popular in mainstream markets recently - which DJs stand out to you?

E: There is so much awesome music being made, it's almost impossible to keep up with who is doing what anymore, there are rad producers popping up from everywhere. I guess for me guys like Diplo and A-trak who have stood the test of time and continued to be at the cutting edge of music and continually redefine dance music easily top my list. I love DJs who add their own spin to things, it's one thing to play all those popular bass genres and play them well but its another thing to sound original.

RTM: What genres and/or artists do you draw inspiration from?

E: I get a lot of my inspiration from local, Australian, guys who are pushing the envelope, guys like Cutloose, Sampology and the Surecut Kids. I try and listen to everything though, be on top of all genres and styles, I listen to a lot of podcasts to find out what's getting played in clubs overseas, as well as local radio to stay up with what's getting played here.

RTM: This year Nice and Ego mixed up Triple J's Hottest 100 which the people loved and ended up being aired on Triple J - do you have any picks for who might make the Hottest 100 in 2013?

E: It's often tough to pick, a lot of the songs I'd like to make it don't and songs which are huge at the start of the year lose popularity by the time the poll comes around. I imagine Flume will be well placed, he's just blown up which is awesome. Major Lazer's Get Free has been a huge anthem too. Grimes, Alt-J, Frank Ocean hopefully, Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs, The Presets are home town heroes. It's funny, before doing that mashup we kind of mapped out what we thought would be in it to be ready to get busy on it once it got announced, and we were pretty far off with some of our predictions!

RTM: When can we catch next catch Ego?

E: Hopefully I'll be hitting the road again soon. Once I release my video mixtape I'll no doubt be ready to get the hell away from my studio and back out performing.

Check out Ego on Facebook  or connect on Twitter

www.watchyourego.com

Alt-J (∆): An Awesome Wave.

Dreamy melodies, buzzing harmonies and heavy guitar riffs. Poetic lyrics and piano chords, ambient noise and that feeling in your chest from the bass, when you play it nice and loud.

Alt J's debut album "An Awesome Wave"
is on sale now.

Oh, and that voice.

Alt-J gives it to you hard. Their debut album, An Awesome Wave, is undeniably addictive – it’s the noticeable cool and frenetic, yet relaxed, energy of the album that does it to you.

The first release, Breezeblocks, lyrically punches you in the heart. It grabs at you and demands you feel it too. And you do. There’s no wonder they chose this as the virgin release. It’s a mix of everything this album is about.

Alt J (∆)'s debut single - Breezeblocks

Something Good takes you on a little wander through highs and lows. Twinkling notes leading you from verse to bridge to chorus and back again. It’s happily mellow. The interludes (there are three) help weave the story of an album laden with clever, tight, expressiveness – with or without words. Song after song, a stimulating, vivid picture is painted of whatever you need it to.

Fitzpleasure is a little heavier, a little more rock, and a little bit sexy. It’s littered with dirty crooning harmonies, building to an unmistakable climax of rhythm and motion. It drags you in. Before you know it, you’re pulling right into the perfect barrel of an awesome wave.

Paddle your heart out and get on it.






Follow Nat Brunoli on Twitter

Alt J (∆) are

Gwil - guitar/vocals 

Joe Newman - guitar/vocals

Gus Unger-Hamilton - keyboards 

Thom Green - drums

http://www.altjband.com

Drift away with Traveller and Fortune

As we head into Spring and leave August behind,  the high of the Adelaide International Guitar Festival is still lingering in the air.

For those looking for that next hit of indie folk music and strummin' banjos, let me introduce you to Traveller and Fortune.

There's something both refreshing and familiar about Adelaide indie-folk group Traveller and Fortune. Their songs are beautifully constructed melodies and harmonies, with lyrics equally as thought out and just as touching. Each song by the band will take you away to a different place, and it's certainly somewhere you don't want to leave in a hurry.

With a growing fan base in their home town of Adelaide (South Australia), Traveller and Fortune are about to take their music over the borders to launch their new single "Little Plastic People."  With a fair bit lined up for the coming weeks, including performing at the BIGSOUND conference in Brisbane later this month,  Tom West from the band took some time out of packing his bags and harmonica to chat to Ran Type Music about the music, the single and the upcoming gigs...


RTM: In your own words, how would you best describe the music of Traveller and Fortune?

T&F: We like to have songs that sound a bit like stories, with ups and down. They're generally bittersweet and we like to use a lot of different instrumentation to create moody soundscapes. We like to showcase the song's lyrics that we hope are always interesting and tell a unique or unexpected story!

RTM: What are you looking forward to most with your upcoming tour?

T&F: We're most looking forward to playing some really fun shows in front of new crowds. We're also really excited for the BIGSOUND conference where we are playing two showcases and meeting up with some really cool industry people.

RTM: "Little plastic people" is your new single - what's special about this track to Traveller and Fortune?

T&F: Yep, its our new single but its actually quite an old song. It featured on our EP from a few years ago, but we've decided to re-jig it with the new band dynamic,  its a bit more hillybilly this time around. We still love the song cos its fun to play but we also like the 'idea' of the song.

RTM: What can people expect at one of your shows?

T&F: A diverse set, highs and lows and lots of harmonies.

Traveller and Fortune are touring as of September 8th; to find out more about when you can catch them check out their Facebook Page.   You can also listen to their music online on Soundcloud
and Triple J Unearthed.  I'll be at their gig on the 15th at Jive in Adelaide - See you there!

Traveller and Fortune are:

Ally - Vocals, Ukulele, Sax, xylo

Tom - Vocals, Guitar, Harmonica, Mandolin

Emily - Vocals, bass, Keys

Ryan - Vocals, keys, drums

Todd - Bass, Banjo, Lapslide, Vocals

A huge thank you to Traveller and Fortune for their time,

Ran.

Gig Review: The Beautiful Girls

The Beautiful Girls

Thursday August 23, 2012

Last night as part of their 10 year anniversary tour, The Beautiful Girls took to the stage at the famous Adelaide venue "The Gov," giving fans, old and young alike a night to remember.

Seasoned professionals, the band was flawless, reminiscent of their recent set at Splendour in the Grass at Byron Bay.  It was a more relaxed environment, initially, despite the boys opting to not perform any tracks acoustically, admitting they had tried half and half in a previous gig and it was "shit."

The concept of a "shit" gig by TBGs seemed laughable as the show progressed, and Mat McHugh was flawless in all his stomping glory.  The unique vocals that fans had grown to love over the airwaves were brought to life on stage complimented by funky instrumentals and beats.

The Beautiful Girls did everything to keep the crowd right where they were.  They didn't save the most popular songs 'til last and chucked in a few sneaky covers here and there - not all picked up on by the crowd but appreciated none-the-less.  To finish off the set the guys broke it down in a way they only they know how and you could tell by the chemistry between them that this wasn't just a band - these guys were, and always will be, bros.

Although there were some members of the audience that had me pulling a face a little like this: 

get. one. step. closer.

the atmosphere in the room was certainly alive and the entire performance felt like a bigger climax than even 50 Shades of Grey could ever produce, with girls absolutely swooning at the bottom of the stage.

Overall the night was a treat.

4 out of 5 surfer beanies!

To check out when you can catch The Beautiful Girls on tour, head to their website.

Pop Fix: What is it about a comeback?

The 2012 London Olympics Closing Ceremony was an opportunity for England to reflect on some the greatest musicians that the nation had produced, and there was one act that had the whole world talking.

Britney Spears has come a long way
from shaving her own head and
attacking people with
umbrellas.

Scary, Baby, Ginger, Posh, Sporty yes now that's your lot - the Spice girls were back and ready to go!  It has been a while since the Spice girls last performed together - 4 years to be exact.  The group had famously announced a world tour in 2008, however more infamously had cancelled their last 6 shows - disappointing thousands of fans everywhere including here in Australia.  But the fivesome's performance at the London 2012 Closing Ceremony had even this music blogger saying words not uttered for over a decade -"... I wanna be a Spice Girl!"

But 2012 and 2011 has seen the come back of many artists that I had crossed off my list - namely pop acts from the late 90s, early 00s, but comebacks none the less.  Enrique Iglesias was back on the scene - although the same could not be said for his mole, Christina Aguilera returned back to basics once again in Burlesque after her album "Bionic" bombed and even Cold Chisel got back together to tour Australia. Good on 'em!

But it was the other night whilst having 60 Minutes tell me that Jennifer-JLO-Jennyfromtheblock-Lopez was the most powerful celebrity in the world, I stopped to think exactly how much the pop scene had changed, or rather stayed the same,  since I was growing up in the 00s.  What is is about Eminem, Britney, NKTBSB and even Avril that have us saying, "oh hey old friend!"

is this the most powerful celebrity
in the world? Forbes says yes.

My theory? They're characters.  As ironic as it seems, these pop acts that have been around for so long seem refreshing and unique in comparison the blur of pop artists today -  the kings and queens have established themselves and their characters in the industry and anyone who tries to take their torches will struggle to light a fire that burns equally as bright.

One could argue that these artists have been around because of the music they produce and the talent they have, but let's not get too ahead of ourselves - the pop music industry is an entertainment industry, and as long as these pop icons continue to do so (that is, entertain,) they can only improve their performance, both on and off the stage.

You can catch the most powerful celebrity in the world on her "Dance Again" world tour throughout December 2012.

Tickets on sale through Ticketek.com

Upcoming Gigs - Keep your eyes and ears peeled!

There is no shortage of live gigs around Australia, and even the smaller towns are having some fantastic names knocking on their doors.

Here are a few gigs that have caught the eyes of Ran Type Music!  Remember to check out your local gig guide for something different to do on your weekend - or even for a bit of mid week mischief!

Click on the links to purchase tickets.

Nina Las Vegas and friends - Triple J House Party

The Beautiful Girls - 10 Year Anniversary Tour 

Dappled Cities - Lake Air Tour

[Check out Dappled Cities Like a Version Here]

Oh Mercy - Deep Heat Tour

Last Dinosaurs - Satellites Tour

"Last Dinosaurs provided an exciting set..with the Bloc Party tick of approval it seems these guys are only set for bigger stages in 2012," Fastlouder, Spin Off Festival

And don't forget to to catch good friends of the blog Hey Geronimo  on their "Special Best Tour"!

QandA with...Loon Lake

Three brothers and two mates make up the garage-pop band from Melbourne Loon Lake.  

Loon Lake - 3 bros and 2 mates

Since forming in 2010, "Loon Lake," - comprising of Simon, Nick, Sam, Dan and Tim, -  has become a well known name within the Australian music scene, with hits such as "Bad to Me" featuring regularly on national radio station, Triple J.   The group have also been prolific performers, performing at Big Day Out, Groovin' the Moo as well as touring with UK band, Kaiser Chiefs.

One day before they perform their sold out show in Adelaide, Simon from the band took some time out to answer a few quick questions about the music industry, the journey so far and what we can expect from their new EP "Thirty Three".

RTM: The band Loon Lake formed in 2010 and since then you have conquered everything from festivals such as Pyramid Rock and Big Day out right through to touring with artists such as Bluejuice and Kaiser Chiefs.  What have you learnt from performing alongside such seasoned performers?

LL: I think having the opportunity to play alongside those guys who have obviously been doing it for so long, shows how far you can take it and how much you can improve. One thing that I noticed with touring with the Kaiser Chiefs was the level of professionalism, every night and through every detail. They seemed to have a great amount of respect for their fans, every show they did was to their full capacity to what I could see. I think what you have to remember when being a live band, no matter where you play is that every time you can win one new fan over. And that's important, no matter what the gig is you should play like its your last, because punters can detect when you are not enjoying it or giving it your all. High profile bands are seasoned at that - they have played shitty gigs too, but they get to the position they are by persistence dedication and handwork.

RTM: You are currently headlining your own tour, promoting the new Loon Lake EP "Thirty Three" - what can people expect at a Loon Lake gig?


LL: Every time this question gets asked I find it really hard to answer, as I guess I have never seen a Loon Lake gig. In comparison to our previous headline shows we have definitely stepped the production side of things up. We have spent more time and effort on presenting more of a 'show' to the punters. Within our limits though I guess - we don't have a revolving drum cage hovering above stage. Yet. Musically, we have definitely got some more treats in store, obviously with a new EP comes new songs to play, which is exciting for us. We are yet to play our song 'Cherry Lips' live yet, which will be fun for us to see how it goes down. I feel we are playing a lot tighter at the moment too.

The boys will be performing in Adelaide tomorrow night,
as part of their "Thirty Three" tour.

RTM: How would you describe Loon Lake's music to someone who had never heard it before?

LL: I would probably describe it is 'garage pop' music, that has a penchant for melodies and hooks. Not sure though, I think its best to listen to us and make up your own mind. People might hear it completely different to what I do. That's the good thing about music, it subjective. Some might like it, some might hate it.

RTM: Talk us through the name of the EP - Why "Thirty Three"?

LL: Ok, firstly that is the name of one of the tracks on the EP. In particular that song is about someone who has got to that age and sort of realised 'what am I doing in life? Do I need to change/settle down kind of thing?' Then after we recorded the EP, we realised there was kind of an underlying theme throughout the songs, basically it is about change, and getting to a particular point in your life and working out what you want and need. It was something we all agreed on and we felt that was an apt title.

RTM: Three brothers in the band...how is it traveling and performing together?

LL: It's all fine. We are good friends and we hang out a lot so there are no real dramas, and if there is they usually dismissed very quickly. There are obviously moments where you get under each others skin, but I think this is common within any close relationship. I guess you can't really hold a grudge for too long, as at some point in time you have to go home and hang out with the rest of your family. They don't want to hear your petty band problems.

  


RTM: I love the Pic of Last Dinosaurs singer Sean wearing a Loon Lake t-shirt!  Do you feel a sense of community in the Australian music industry - particularly amongst up and coming musicians?

LL: Yeah that was great hey. We played with them a couple of times and they are top lads, he really liked the shirt so we gave him one.  It was cool to see that he was wearing it in a press shot. They are a top band too, I really like some of the licks their guitarist uses. I do think there is definitely a sense of community amongst the young bands, everyone is appreciative of everyone and definitely trying to help each other out. At the same time I guess you are all doing your own thing and trying to pave your own road, but generally all the bands we come across are great to each other. You have to be as you run into each other all the time. I think the elder statesman in Oz rock are cool too. The Jebediah crew were some of the nicest dudes I've met.

RTM: After the "Thirty Three" tour, what's in store for the boys from Loon Lake?

LL:  After the tour we are really concentrating on writing more songs as we are thinking about our debut album. I mean the writing has already begun, but I think we really need to make a concentrated effort to work hard on making a very good and cohesive debut album. I feel the debut album is one of the defining moments of a bands career, it's definitely important to do the very best you can with that.

In terms of live shows, we have a couple of things like Bigsound and Queenscliff, we are obviously hoping for more summer festivals and supports and stuff. But generally that is where we will be for the next year, we may go a bit quiet as we concentrate on the album.

To find out more about where you can catch Loon Lake on their "Thirty Three" tour, head to their website.

You can also connect with the band on Facebook and Twitter.

Loon Lake are

Sam; Vox, Guitar, Keys

Sime; Guitar

Dan; Guitar

Timmy; Bass

Nick; Drums

Ran with Simon from Loon Lake