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

___


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.

Ego, on tour.

Video-Audio mashup extraordinaire, and friend of rantypemusic, Ego, is currently on tour.

"I’ll be bringing in lots of surreal elements as well as getting tropical, bringing some world bass and global sounds to the club on this tour and general just getting trippy. Sampling everything from cinema classics to forgotten footage, old magazines, 70′s home movies, 80′s beauty pageants, 90′s infomercials and today’s YouTube sensations."

- EGO

___

We caught up with EGO last year, fresh after Splendour 2012 - to see that chat, click here.

Tour Dates

AUSTRALIA______________
Sat 20 July Capitol, Perth WA
Thu 01 Aug – The Roundhouse, UNSW Sydney NSW
Sat 03 Aug – Republic Bar, Hobart TAS
Thu 08 Aug – Oh Hello! Brisbane QLD
Fri 09 Aug – Cats @ Rocket Bar, Adelaide SA
Sat 10 Aug – Pier Hotel, Port Lincoln SA
Wed 21 Aug – Karova Lounge, Ballarat VIC
Thu 22 Aug – Eureka Hotel, Geelong VIC
Fri 23 Aug – Can’t Say, Melbourne VIC
Sat 24 Aug – The Woodport Inn, Erina NSW
Wed 28 Aug – VICE Presents @ Goodgod Small Club, Sydney NSW
Thu 29 Aug – Workshop: APPLE Store, George Street, Sydney NSW
Fri 30 Aug – Never Land Bar, Coolangatta QLD
Sat 31 Aug – Beach Hotel, Byron Bay NSW

INTERNATIONAL___________
Wed 04 Sep – Betty’s, Wellington, NZ
Thu 05 Sep – The Back Bar, Hamilton, NZ
Sat 07 Sep – Goldfinch, Auckland, NZ
Fri 13 Sep – Hu’U Bar, Bali, Indonesia
Fri 20 Sep – Johannesburg, South Africa, TBC
Sat 21 Sep – Assembly, Cape Town, South Africa Sun
22 Sep – Cold Turkey, Cape Town, South Africa
Mon 07 Oct – Workshop: Heaps Decent, Redfern Community Centre, Redfern

More information here

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.

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

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.

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