Two Gigs. One Venue.

Venue Review: HQ. Adelaide

disclosure

There can often be a negative connotation associated with the two letters "HQ" in Adelaide.  Located a few doors down from one of the world's dirtiest maccas, HQ is arguably South Australia's largest night club, known for weekly dress up parties, burley bouncers, thumping beats and massive dance floors. Whether they are proud to admit it or not, most South Aussies have been to HQ at some point in their lives, and probably had one of the biggest nights they can (or can't?) remember.

As well as being a massive part of the weekend night life in South Australia, HQ has become a popular venue for concerts and gigs; from all genres from dance to hip hop to rock and roll.   Within the course of two weeks I was fortunate enough to attend two of these gigs and witness how the venue coped with different music and their respective audiences.

Foals. 24th September. 2013.

foals - sourced from the au review

Both concerts were spectacular in their own right.  Foals was a rock and roll concert unlike one I have ever seen before.  An all ages concert, the dance floor was a drink-free zone but this did not stop the fans from tearing it up. Front man Yannis Philippakis also go in on the action running around the venue and through the crowd all whilst playing his guitar.  The energy in the room was electric - this was possibly one of the best gigs I have ever been too.  And a fair bit could be attributed to the venue itself. 

The amphitheatre design of the HQ Complex means that short-asses such as myself have the opportunity to actually see a band in action, and not just dance facing friends accepting that the live music will just have to do.  Other venues in Adelaide such as the Gov and the Thebby Theatre do have outstanding acoustics and atmosphere, but there was something special about being able to see the main performance without being confined to seat 35E.

Disclosure. 3rd October. 2013.

Disclosure's performance was 18+ only and the alcohol was flowing.  There was no doubt a few people had already arranged the next day off work for a self-granted long weekend.  It did feel like the concert took a little longer than planned to get going but once the show was in progress it was one big party.  Credits to the lighting team who combined with the shows graphics took the performance to a whole other level.  There was no shortage of lasers at the Disclosure gig and it was the perfect fit.  There were those who tried to dance on the podiums throughout the concert but were quickly removed by security - much to the delight of those whose view were temporarily obstructed with an unwelcomed bottom or two.

Ultimately the staff at HQ are were great - and a lot more friendlier than I remember them being upon some earlier visits.  I thoroughly enjoyed the two concerts I witnessed at HQ and it certainly felt as though the audiences did as well.   Whilst HQ may get a bad wrap from time to time they certainly know how to run a performance smoothly, make sure everyone has a good night and that everyone makes it outside safely to get their late night dirty maccas feed.

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HQ Complex - www.hqcomplex.com.au

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HQ Sponsor Fresh FM

Check out The Quintessential Mix at

www.fresh927.com.au/thequintessentialmix

www.facebook.com/thequintessentialmix



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We are on the cusp of the festival season with Laneway back with an amazing line up.

(and not to mention a new venue in Adelaide.)

Laneway Festival 2014 lineup:

Mount Kimbie

Jamie xx

Earl Sweatshirt

The Jezabels (exclusive to Laneway)

Cloud Control (exclusive to Laneway)

Savages.

Adalita

Autre Ne Veut

Cashmere Cat

Cass McCombs

Chvrches

Danny Brown

Daughter

Dick Diver

Drenge

Four Tet

Frightened Rabbit

Haim (exclusive to Laneway)

Jagwar Ma

King Krule

Kirin J Callinan

Kurt Vile

Lorde (exclusive to Laneway)

MT Warning

Parquet Courts

Run the Jewels

Scenic, The Growl

Unknown Mortal Orchestra (exclusive to Laneway)
Vance Joy

Warpaint

XXYYXX

Youth Lagoon

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RTM

ST JEROME'S LANEWAY FESTIVAL 2014

SINGAPORE: Saturday 25th January - The Meadow, Gardens By The Bay

AUCKLAND: Monday 27th January - Silo Park

BRISBANE: Friday 31st January - RNA, Fortitude Valley

MELBOURNE: Saturday 1st February - Footscray Community Arts Centre (FCAC) and the River's Edge

SYDNEY: Sunday 2nd February - Sydney College of the Arts (SCA), Rozelle

ADELAIDE: Friday 7th February - Harts Mill, Port Adelaide

PERTH: Saturday 8th February - Esplanade Park and West End, Fremantle

www.lanewayfestival.com.au

Future Music Festival 2014

Future Music is back again.

Full Lineup:

Deadmau5
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
Phoenix
Hardwell
Knife Party
Eric Prydz
Rudimental
Tinie Tempah
Chase & Status
Sub Focus
Netsky
2 Chainz
Kaskade
Dada Life
Porter Robinson
Naughty Boy
Cut Copy
Paul van Dyk
Markus Schulz
ATB
Chuckie
Arty
R3Hab
Martin Garrix
Baauer
Monsta
Helena
Adventure Club Carnage
Bassjackers
Deniz Koyu
Dannic
Dyro
Stafford Brothers
Timmy Trumpet
Walden
Tenzin
Will Sparks
Helena
Sven Vath
Dubfire*
Maya Jane Coles*
Paul Kalkbrenner*
Gesaffelstein Live
Brodinski
Kaytranada*
Gorgon City
Guy Gerber*

Future Music Festival 2014:

Sat 1 March
RNA Showgrounds
Brisbane

Sun 2 March
Arena Joondalup
Perth


Sat 8 March
Royal Randwick Racecourse
Sydney


Sun 9 March
Melbourne
Flemington Racecourse

Monday 10 March (Public Holiday)

Adelaide Showgrounds
Adelaide

* Artists may vary from state to state.

Triple J House Party National Tour

Too good to miss, Triple J House Party is on tour once again.  With guests such as Flight Facilities on board, after smashing out Splendour 2013, you just know this is a show not to be missed.

My birthday's in September...mmmmm

"Stash your valuables coz House Party is headed your way!"

Your favourite Saturday night radio program is hitting the road this August/September with a massive national club tour, hosted by

Nina Las Vegas + Flight Facilities + Cassian
+ Tyler Touché + Wave Racer

DATES
Saturday 24 August 2013 - The Metro, SYDNEY (under 18s, Afternoon)
Saturday 24 August 2013 - The Metro, SYDNEY (18+, Evening)
Thursday 29 August 2013 - Capitol, PERTH (18+)
Friday 30 August 2013 - Metropolis, FREMANTLE (18+)
Saturday 31 August 2013 - The Hi-Fi, BRISBANE (18+)
Friday 6 September 2013 - HQ Complex, ADELAIDE (18+)
Saturday 7 September 2013 - The Hi-Fi, MELBOURNE (18+)

TICKETS ON SALE NOW. Check the triple j gig guide for ticket info.

A few funny things from the Adelaide Fringe

With numerous festivals happening throughout the state simultaniously, it's not suprise the locals refer to it as "Mad March."  The Adelaide Festival, The Clipsal 500, Various music festivals such as Future Music Festival and Womadelaide as well as numerous food and wine weekends and pop up bars and cafe have once again brought vivid life to the Adelaide City Streets.

Artist bar; Pru, Nat, Official Fringe Ambassador
 Paul McDermott and Ran!

Some would argue that the main event of course is The Adelaide Fringe.  Often compared with the world famous Edinburgh Fringe and Comedy Festival.  Showcasing some of the finest comedy, dance, art and theatre that Australia, - and many other countries, - have to offer, the Adelaide Fringe is quirky, eclectic and ever entertaining. 

"Unlike a curated festival, the open-access nature of Adelaide Fringe means that anyone with a show, exhibition or cultural event is able to register and be part of Australia’s largest arts event. The result is one of the most diverse arts festivals in the world, renowned for fresh ideas, spontaneity and fun.

Artists from around Australia and across the globe participate alongside home-grown talent, in art forms spanning cabaret, comedy, circus, dance, film, theatre, puppetry, music, visual art and design."

www.adelaidefringe.com.au

Once of the main venues of the Adelaide Fringe is located at the east end of the city - The Garden of Unearthly delights; affectionately known by locals as "The Garden."

An outdoor stage, various market stalls and enough food stalls to feed a small village come together to create the garden as well as fair ground rides and games and of course the many stages for the many fringe shows.

Fortunate was I to get along to Sammy J's show "Potentially" - which was held within the Garden of Unearthly Delights at the Umbrella Stage.  Sammy J is more commonly known for his musical routines in which he duets with a purple puppet called Randy (his best friend from University) however in this show Sammy J was refreshingly performing alone, allowing the audience to get to know him on a more personal level.

Sharing a combination of captivating stories and cheeky songs Sammy J was both charming and hilarious.  Although the show wrapped perfectly we were all left wanting more.  As many comedians do, Sammy J met with the audience afterwards assuring no face was left not smiling.

Sammy J was charming and hilarious

It has to be said that one of the fantastic things about the Adelaide fringe is how all the participating artists are often floating around and more than happy to chat to fans and fringe goers everywhere.  Especially perhaps those aspiring themselves to be artists, comedians or actors.

Newcomer to the Adelaide comedy scene Patrick Meynell has been performing at various gigs as part of the Adelaide Fringe.  Last week Patrick took some time out to chat to Ran Type Music about his experiences so far.

RTM: You're relatively new to the Adelaide Stand-Up Comedy scene in Adelaide - how would you describe the comedy community here in South Aus?

PM: It's amazing. It's very close knit so everybody knows each other and we're all good friends. About two years ago one of Adelaide's funniest comedians, Michael Bowley, established Monday night open mic competitions at Rhino room so the scene has exploded since then because it was one of the first times there was an outlet for up and coming comedians to have a crack in front of a real comedy audience. A lot of them will be well known individuals in the coming years, I have no doubt. The talent here is crazy.

from www.au.timeout.com

RTM: How did you get involved with performing at the Adelaide Fringe?

PM: There are a number of variety shows and showcases on around town that i was lucky enough to be offered a spot in. They are basically a compilation of young comedians who all get to do a 5 or 10 minute set. Some of them run throughout the year also so they are a great opportunity to hone your jokes. Somehow I was also selected to perform in the Raw Comedy state final in late Feb in front of 450 people at the Arts Theatre which was absolutely the most fun I've ever had in my life. The winner of the night, Demi Lardner, has a fringe show on at the moment with another state finalist (Bryn Adams) called 'No?' which I can't wait to see. They are both hilarious. Good people too.

RTM: Have you managed to see any other Fringe performances?

PM: I've spent pretty much every waking minute at Rhino since Fringe started and they've just finished the first half of the festival, so this week is where the changeover happens and the new acts begin performing. In the first few weeks I got to see a bunch of Adelaide's favourites (Dave Campbell, Angus Hodge, Fabien Clark, Georgie Carrol) and other interstate and international acts. I saw Dayne Rathbone last week and he floored me. There are some amazing acts coming up too that I can't wait to see.

RTM: You've said that 9 months into your comedy career you have "met people you have been watching on TV for years" - who have you met? have they given you any words of wisdom?

PM: It's been mad. I met Arj Barker the other night. I was pretty drunk but I remember him being pretty freaking cool. Greg Fleet has just finished his run at Rhino (his show was maybe my favourite of the festival so far) and has been hanging out there pretty much every night. I was lucky enough to meet him earlier in the year and he is legitimately one of the nicest people I've ever met. And he just doesn't know hot to not be funny. His show was really honest and sad, dealing with some of his major addiction struggles and problems over the years, but it never stopped being hilarious either. He does the type of comedy that I would love to be doing one day. He gave me some advice when I first met him that I haven't forgotten and I've used every time I've written a set since: "Put your second best joke first and finish with your strongest bit". It seems like simple advice, but it opened up so many new ideas for me when I was writing. He also hosted a night that I performed in a few weeks ago and when I had finished he told the crowd that he "knew [me] when I was less good". I'm taking it as a compliment. Although, he did a 3 minute intro for me describing how I used to be a hired killer, so I don't know whether to believe him or not.

RTM: What would you say the best part of the Adelaide Fringe has been?

Newcomer to the scene, Patrick Meynell

PM: Apart from all the great shows I've seen, just the atmosphere. Particularly at Rhino. Once the performers are off stage, they just become one of the crew, hanging around and drinking. Hannah Gadsby was tending bar on Friday night for who knows what reason. it's just such a great scene to be a part of.

RTM: Tell us a bit about your routines - who do you think would enjoy your shows?

PM: I really have no idea how to answer that. I just try to write things that amuse me. What i really like in a comedian is honesty. The truth is often sad and depressing and to me, that is hilarious. So I have a lot of material about things that hurt me in some way. A good bit of heartbreak is worth hours of material. You do need to remember to put jokes in though. Otherwise it just sounds like you're reading from your suicide note.

RTM: What would you say to anyone considering giving stand up comedy a go?

PM: The concerned asshole in me would tell you to fuck off. We don't need the competition. There's already way too many funny people. The nice guy in me that I try to silence would say that if you think you're funny, go for it. You'll find out pretty quickly if you are or not.

RTM: Finally, any upcoming gigs?

PM: I'm performing in a variety show Wed 13th at The Ed Castle. That's officially my last set during Fringe, but I seem to pick up random sets here and there. I did a bit on Sunday during a friends Fringe show cos it was her final night and she was doing an 'anything goes' kind of thing. That was fun so hopefully I'll get a chance like that again. After Fringe it's back to hitting up Rhino every Monday night and doing spots around town whenever people are nice enough to book me. My goal is to have a show next Fringe with a friend of mine. He started about 2 months after me and we make each other laugh constantly with our sets. Also, he's a lot funnier than me so I'm going to ride on his coat tails.

Follow Pat on Twitter @PatMeynell

For more information on the Adelaide Fringe visit www.adelaidefringe.com.au and www.gardenofunearthlydelights.com.au

Pat in action

Festival Review: St Jerome's Laneway Festival

On February 8th, 2013, Adelaide Laneways were graced with the likes of The Rubens, Flume, The Japandroids, of Monsters and Men, Bat for Lashes, Chet Faker, Alpine, Alt-J  and many many more musicians, both local and international for the St Jerome's Laneway Festival. 

A smorgasbord of indie / folk/ rock acts assured that the event was a sell-out with many punters arriving before 5pm to enter the venue, suss out the situation and plan their attacks on how they would venture from stage to stage to see their favourite acts. (time of course would assure that this was not up to individuals but rather the incompetent security staff and systems put in place by event management.)

The Divine Fits - up close and personal

Nat and Brit - Awesome!
 Follow @natbrunoli on twitter.

But first; the music.  Whilst many were unfortunately unable to access stages to watch musicians play (we thought this is what the $120.00 was for?...) this music blogger, was more fortunately familiar with the venue and "laneways" and was one of the lucky ones.  Alpine were first on the agenda - drawing in a reasonably sized crowd it was clear from the get-go that many festival goers were those who listened to entire albums rather than the singles alone.  Dancing and singing along was madatory and the Alpine singers Phoebe Baker and Lou James were flawless - the bands live rendition of their biggest hit "Gasoline" was pure bliss to listen to. 

Next, we caught Yeasayer, Cloud Nothings, Chet Faker, The Rubens, Of Monsters and Men, Flume, Japandroids (AMAZING), A little bit of Alt-J, a little bit of Bat for Lashes and finished then night with the Divine Fits - Cudos to Miss Natalie (who often writes album reviews for RTM), who managed to sneak backstage to hang out with non-other than front man Britt Daniels.  

image: boudist.com

All artists were incredible, performing to a tee - This was the fourth time I had seen The Rubens (although at about 5'5" I use the word "seen" loosely) and the boys did it again, melting hearts or girls (and likely guys!) everywhere.

Unsure of what Flume would play and how he would perform, it quickly became evident that this young DJ has established his own sound signature as well as cult following.   His mellow beats and remixes are surprisingly refreshing in comparison to the dance music played on commercial stations, and it's for this reason it's a safe call to say that the best of Flume is yet to come.

Japandroids were my personal highlight and I think it was because this was an unplanned band to see - although in the lead up, many people had nothing but good things to say.  I was so impressed by the stage presence that the two (yes only TWO) band members gave off, and the racket of rock and roll noise they produced. 

the not so great wall of weslo.

Overall the music was fantastic and the line up did not disappoint.  The venue, security and management of the event however was poorly executed and even behaviour from SAPOL was misunderstood by the crowd, who by comparison to other music festivals were not that bad.  I witnessed one of the two arrests on the day which "required" 3 police officers and 2 security guards to aggressively pin down a young male who did not appear to be resisting in any way.  It was unclear why this arrest took place, including by fellow policemen who were clearly more flustered and panicky than general crowd members.  Further  embarrassment to the Adelaide festival is highlighted in today's Indaily, which reads:

"The locked gates meant the smaller stage inside Fowlers Live emptied out quickly and Brooklyn punk act The Men played to no more than 15 people on their first trip to Australia."

How the crowd control was conducted remains a questions for the authorities, however this was clearly a foreseeable problem considering the calibre of acts performing, in the highly condensed time table, in incredibly small locations.  An alternative to the City West Campus? Perhaps the Adelaide Show grounds.  Sure the "Laneway" concept is novel, however realistically this is people's safety we're talking about, and providing a product that is promised upon purchase of the ticket.  And the Showgrounds have plenty of "Laneway-esk" nooks and crannys more suitable for a 4000 people event.

Scathing reviews of the festival's management have flooded the internet with many vouching that next year they will be attending the festival in another state. 

The Divine Fits

I always say an event is what you choose to make it.  I enjoyed Laneway.  I had a good time with my friends listening to great music.  Money's worth? Perhaps not.  Unfortunately, I believe the Adelaide leg of this festival failed to deliver in many areas for both audience and artists, but I put this as a challenge to the event organisers and look forward to seeing how they will improve this 'boutique' festival in 2014.

Big Day Out 2013 - Back, Bigger and Better

Last year it was easy to rip into what some may call Australia's "first music festival", the Big Day Out.  From headlining acts pulling out weeks before scheduled concerts and stages being replaced by skate ramps, for many it appeared to be the beginning of the end of this much loved celebration of music. 

Vampire Weekend were one of the first
confirmed acts of 2013's lined up

But prayers were answered, complaining blogs were read and Ken West, one of the key organisers of the BDO promised that in 2013 the original music festival would be back to its former glory.  Early leaked line ups had social media commentators skeptical at first but it wasn't long until acts including major names The Killers, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Vampire Weekend and The Red Hot Chili Peppers were confirmed as headliners for 2013s tour. 

Whilst Sydney experience it's hottest day ever on record for the Big Day Out at a whopping 46.5 degree peak, this reviewer hit the Adelaide Show Grounds for the first time in a few years, to see if the Adelaide BDO could compare to the big guns along the east coast.

The Friday before the Australia Day long weekend certainly set the tone for the festival with festival goers either partying hard or taking the opportunity to relax and soak up the sun and some tunes.  With the main stages offering well known acts throughout the day, many found a nice patch of grass early and settled in for the afternoon. 

Grinspoon were one of the first acts on the orange stage and with patriotism and nostalgia in full flight, Phil and the guys had the crowds moving in no time to their rock and rolls melodies - as with many bands, showcasing some of their new work - as well as having crowds belt out the classics together, flawlessly playing "chemical heart" and "no reason" amongst many.  As regulars of the Big Day Out it must be handed to Grinspoon - the energy was high and despite being one of the earlier acts in the day, this translated to the crowd.  Once Grinspoon were done festival goers wanted more.

Of course, the fantastic thing about music festivals like the Big Day Out is the number of stages showcasing both local and international talents.  One can simply stroll up to a stage and immediately be educated in indie rock, dubstep or dance, hip hop, reggae or blues.  But whilst the genres vary, the musicianship always remain quality.  Friends of the RTM Full Tote Odds featured on the Red Stage, whilst international Comedian/Up-and-coming Hip Hop act Childish Gambino took his flavour to the Converse Essential Stage, playing with a live band featuring one bad ass violinist.  Not bad at all Childish, not bad at all. 

Karen O of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs
 took no prisoners

Band of Horses were the smooth cats of the day on the main stages, entertaining the substantially smaller crowd that hung around for their set.  Regardless to this they were not disheartened interacting with the audience and taking the opportunity to showcase their talents across their broad range of bluesy instruments.  The crowds we however present for Vampire Weekend and they certainly got the crowd moving.  It seemed even those who weren't familiar with Vampire Weekend (yes - there were some who had emerged from their rocks) couldn't resist the urge to run around in circles during songs like A-Punk and their breakthrough hit Cousins.

Mainstage antics continued with the Yeah Yeah Yeahs bringing down the house - Karen O's insane voice proving that their is room or real rock chicks in this day and age.  The dirty gritty deep pitch Karen creates works perfectly with the instruments in the band contributing to the overall finesse of the band.  Only days after their new album cover art caused a stir online, the band showed no signs of moving backward and reminded everyone why they were headliners for the 2013 Big Day Out.

Crowds gathered together for The Killers, who were set to perform immediately before The Red Hot Chili Peppers.  While the girls were swooning over Brandon Flowers and his pearly whites, The Killers showcased every song they were known for and did so effortlessly.  With fireworks and confetti guns, festival performances don't get much more spectacular than this.  As someone who remembers when The Killers first emerged, there was something quite satisfying about seeing them perform as band that had truly mastered their craft.  

Finally, the Red Hot Chili Peppers hit the stage and if The Killers had mastered their craft, the RHCP had created a whole new level for their own.  Seeing the Chili Peppers was a personal treat; Chad Smith has been an idol of mine from a very young age, which was emphasized by how old all the members of the band looked.  Looks aside the RHCPs smashed our their set, with riffs, grooves and solos in between to demonstrate what years of playing music can lead, inspire and allow you to create.  The sing alongs were a plenty - anyone who has heard Triple J's live recording of Under the Bridge will know that almost all Australians know (almost) all the lyrics to this and almost all other Chili Pepper songs.

The Big Day Out was exactly that, and I forgive you, event organizers for last years almost disaster.  The festival seemed to have been reminded of its roots and what real musicianship and talent is.  However whether this is a one off or a promise that will be maintained is only something time can tell.  In the meantime we have a whole year of festivals coming our way so stay tuned for all you're festival updates right here on Ran Type Music.

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

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