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.

_____



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

___


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.

When I saw Frank Ocean

On June 25th, 2013 Frank Ocean performed at the Brixton 02 Academy in London.

In my initial attempt to review Frank Ocean's performance I found myself rushed and unable to truly articulate what it had been like to see this incredibly talented and young performer live on stage.  As time past I thought to myself, why bother, it happened a week ago - who wants to know?  Almost exactly a month later, on July 26th, Ocean had no choice other than to cancel his Australian Tour, including 5 sold out shows, as well as his highly anticipated headlining set at Byron Bay music festival Splendour in the Grass, due to a torn vocal chord.

The official statement read:

"After last night's concert in Melbourne at Festival Hall, it was necessary to seek medical advice due to vocal issues Frank Ocean experienced during the show. It has subsequently been confirmed that Frank has suffered a small tear to one of his vocal cords and has received medical advice that he must rest his voice." 

 "This makes the completion of his remaining Australian dates impossible. Unfortunately due to Frank Ocean's tight tour schedule it is not possible to schedule replacement dates, however we will be working to confirm a return to Australia as soon as is practical."

And it is now I find myself reflecting on that first performance in Brixton.

Frank Ocean - Brixton 02 Academy London. source: clash music

Although the venue was dramatic, with an interior reminiscent of an old outdoor theatre, Ocean's stage was minimal and simplistic.  Each of Ocean's band members we dressed in dapper black tie suits, with Ocean in a casual, yet stylish, ensemble.  Basic stage lighting was matched with a large projection of various footage timed perfectly with the set list.  The majority of the video footage displayed was a car driving through the desert, and it just took you with it; lost in the music and Frank Ocean's voice and lyrics. 

Frank Ocean is no diva.  Whilst every song was performed flawlessly, Ocean himself seemed unable to fathom his own fame and the fans that have come to love him.  Clearly humbled, he was sweet, honest and almost shy when thanking the audience for coming out to see him.  Whilst there have been media that have shared the opinion that Ocean may require improvement in his on-stage presence and banter it was evident to me that the real fans weren't there for the celebrity; they were there for the music and the poetry and it was there that Ocean not only delivered, but excelled.

Although Ocean is frequently associated with RnB superstars such as JAY-Z, Kanye West and Beyonce, his sound is unique and he is bringing soul back to a generation that may have otherwise lost and never found this genre, or who may have never actively sort out something new.  Whilst his sexuality is often commented on hand in hand with discussions of his music, the highest liked comment on Ocean's Youtube page shares what most people are thinking, saying, "Fuck his sexuality, realy who the fuck cares he makes great music that's what it's all about"

I always new Frank Ocean was an amazing musician but seeing him perform his songs live allows you to experience his rawness and honesty in every word expressed and note sung.  Not only do you hear but you feel - you feel love, you feel struggle - heartbreak and realisation.  It was a different show to any I have seen before, but it was touching, unique and has stayed with me since.

I sincerely send my wishes and hope Frank Ocean gets well soon;  and I equally sincerely hope my Australian friends that missed out this time round, are fortunate enough to one day to experience this refreshing star's music in the flesh.

___

www.frankocean.com

___

Gig Review: Parachute Youth (LONDON)

Parachute Youth
Friday 7th June, 2013
KOKO, London

On Friday the 7th Of June, Australian duo Parachute Youth took the stage at KOKO in Camden, to share with Londoners what Australian Indie-Electronic music is all about. 

Parachute Youth perform at KOKO in Camden, London. 

The atmosphere was electric, full of energy driven by the performance of Matt and Johnny. Performing on  a stage that has seen everyone from Charlie Chaplin, to Madonna and The Rolling Stones, the boys certainly rose to the occasion with smiles plastered on the faces of hundreds of dancing fans, wall to wall, on all four stories.

Parachute Youth sees Matt mixing it up while John rocks the keyboard and lead vocals (in fact, Matt and John are both on Keys and Matt uses a controller to sequence drums/midi) - which allows John to come out to the front of the stage and really interact and get the crowd going. 

Best known for their hit "Can't Get Better Than This," Parachute Youth took the opportunity to showcase more original material as well as covering Daft Punk much to the pleasure of concert-goers. 

"We're only a two piece but we make a lot of noise..." Aussies Mathew Gill and John Courtidis met at boring house party. They left half an hour later and started working on some tunes. Since they first met, Matt (a former airforce avionics technician – hence the group’s name) and John (a producer/muso in the band Def Starr) signed to Aussie label Sweat It Out (home to Ajax and Yolanda Be Cool).

Johnny from Parachute Youth

Throughout the high energy performance there was a sense of appreciation throughout the venue both and off the stage - the boys themselves saying they were "humbled" at the audiences' positive response.  With a lot of love in the room, all of the tracks performed were so well received that when the boys finished their set with a flawlessly performed "Can't Get Better Than This," we were all left wanting more. 

 Parachute Youth still have a number of shows coming up across Europe and if their KOKO gig was anything to go by I strongly recommend getting along to see them.  Whilst "Can't Get Better That This" and "Count to Ten" are their better known tracks, they are but a small representation of this duo's capability and experiencing the on stage chemistry and performance quality will, if not already one, convert you into a Parachute Youth fan.

Parachute Youth perform to a packed out venue (image: facebook)

I honestly cannot give Parachute Youth any higher praise for this concert.  As far as I could tell in the audience, the show ran smoothly, the sound quality was excellent and the energy was non-stop.  Admittedly, I did see them briefly at last year's Splendour in the Grass Festival at Byron Bay, but this show was truly on another level and if this is where Matt and Johnny are at this early on in their career, I have no doubt we can expect so much more from them in the future, both as individuals and together as Parachute Youth. 

 

For all upcoming tour dates check out Parachute Youth's website.  You can also Follow Parachute Youth on Twitter and Like Parachute Youth on Facebook.

Pre-Order/ Download Can't Get Better Than This - EP

Gig Review: The Beards (London)

The Beards

Everyone with an older sibling has the experience of their older brother or sister telling them about a 'cool' band that they should listening to.  "Not everyone knows them, but they're really good and they'll probably be really big one day!" OOoohh we say. tell us more!  I still remember when my sister told me about a cool band. "They only sing about beards!"

....

Um. Ok.  Cute! Catchy song, but surely it's just a joke, right?  Cut to a few years later (8 years to be exact) and I am on the other side of the world and find myself interning for the company that does London based PR for the very well known rock band known as The Beards.  I guess the joke's on me!

The Beards originally formed in 2005 "a dark time for the beards. It was a time when having a beard could mean unemployment, social isolation, and sometimes death. That’s when four defiant bearded men from South Australia decided enough was enough, and the beard revolution began."  The humour and catchy tunes produced by this passionate foursome has seen them score incredible exposure online via through social media and cheeky online videos as well as eventual airplay and a spot on Triple J's Hottest 100 for 2012.  Whilst some say The Beards are serious, and other's argue it's all an act, their's no denying that these fella's are set on bringing back beards and they sure can put on one hell of a show. 

On Monday the 20th of May I was lucky enough to score a pass to The Beards' London gig at the Hoxton Sqaure Bar and Kitchen.  If you've haven't heard of The Beards just yet, you clearly don't have one.  Hailing from Adelaide, South Australia The Beards are an incredibly talented and incredibly bearded foursome who write and perform rock-bluesy songs about their one and only passion of beards (and their loathe of those who don't have beards.)  Ever entainting with well known songs such as "If your dad doesn't have a beard,  you've got two mums" and "You should consider having sex with a bearded man," The Beards are showing no signs of slowing down any time soon.

At one point during the show, my (bearded) friend Jay observed The Beards' front man and turned to me and said "If he's pulling out a keytar solo in only the third song, you really do wonder what's going to come next!" What did come next were a kazoo, a saxophone solo, and songs that brought the house down, ballads that made lighters wave from side to side in the air, and many, many beard rubbing between men.  And it was perfect.

The thing about The Beards is that not only are their lyrics and characters hilarious, but their songs are an incredible mix of old-school blues and rock that is incredibly enjoyable to listen too.  Extremely talented gentleman, I am quite certain that this bearded group are in fact a group of bearded geniuses.

I could go on but I'm hesitant to as I believe this show is to be enjoyed in person.   All I can say is you are in for a treat - a good audience, great music and performers that will have you smiling right into the next day; and the whole 'beard thing'? - it doesn't get old.  The Beards have well and truly mastered their craft and I was so thrilled to see them have the reception they deserved in Hoxton, London.

For more information on The Beards and any upcoming tour dates, check out their blog, facebook or twitter.

The Beards at Hoxton Square, London.

Buskers of London: An Observation

Amy Winehouse once called Camden home

Camden town. A hub for creativity,  music, arts and home of the famous camden lock markets and the home of the late great Amy Winehouse.

This is a place I walk through every working day and on occasions on weekends and I can guarantee you that every time I stroll down that main street there is at least 3 or 4 buskers, rockin' out, doing their thang.  I've seen everything from solo male singers to beat boxers to girls singing soulfully with their guitars to a man with a drumkit a a digereedo.   You can practically smell the love for music in the air - either that or some weed wafting down from one of the apartments above the many many kebap shops.

Si Cranstoun has been signed by Warner Music and is
now set to share the stage with his idol Little Richard
read more

And if it is their day off, chances are those musicians have still made their way down to Camden town, to smile and you, ask you what type of music you like and to shove a free cd sampling their work in your face.   Of course, the weekends are when the big guns come out, one band having a regular spot next to Starbucks and before the bridge passes over the canal  into the markets.   Masters of their craft you can see that this is what they live for - sharing their music with every day people.

But it doesn't just stop at Camden Town.

The underground stations throughout London are not only modes of transport but are in fact incredible opportunities to discover and delight in musical talents of people from all walks of life.   On the Picadilly Line a beautiful African girl sings her heart out with the tiniest of radios as her back up music.   On the Central Line outside Holborn station,  a man plays an incredibly eccentric collection of percussion in which he has surrounded himself with in a full 360 degree circle.

The Bakerloo Line hosts two artists with thick I-dont-even-know-what accents, covering acoustic sets of the likes of Crowded House.  Walking by Waterloo you may encounter a gentleman with a sax or perhaps you'll bump into the tuba player near Covent Garden whose tuba on occasion will breathe fire.  it is absolutely incredible to open your eyes and ears to discover this whole other side to London.  The the busy, busy hussle and bussle of this major city, it makes you simply want to stop. and listen.

So why do they do it - why busk? To practice?  to pay the rent? To hope Simon Cowell will walk by and offer them a contract? It could be any of these reasons but the one you cannot deny, is for the love of music.

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

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

Splendour Diaries: Day 3

Day 3: July 29, 2012

Day 3...the last day.. I don't even know where to begin. The icing on the cake that was Splendour in the Grass 2012.  The beautiful warm Byron Bay weather set the bitter sweet mood of what would be the final day of the biggest Australian winter music festival.  We made sure we arrived earlier this time to get the most out of final day.

Parachute Youth welcomed Splendourites into the venue, performing their fresh beats from the mix up tent - the first stage of three main stages that made the festival.  We cruised on past to the GW McLennan stage for the gorgeous Gossling ("YOU sing the woolies song!") who won us all over with her iddy biddy voice and musical talents.

We stayed at the stage to watch The Rubens set up for their show, while at the same time melting the hearts of every girl in the tent. Such gorgeous men!  When The Rubens began their set they were adamant that this was the largest audience they had ever played too and did not disappoint.  As if they had been playing together for years, the boys were flawless in their delivery.  There is something about the emotion in their vocals, particularly in "Lay it Down" and even in more upbeat songs such as "My Gun" that wins your heart over and sings to your soul.

After falling in love once again with The Rubens we were off to make friends with the cool kids of Splendour, Ball Park Music.  Getting the party at the Supertop started, BPM started off with their hit "I FLY" and treated fans to a couple of new hits as well as a cover of the classic Frankie Valli disco hit "Oh what a night".

San Cisco were super cute, Angus Stone brought his own forest to the stage and Blue King Brown reminded us of the power of music.

Next was Wolfmother, who brought rock and roll to the main tent, then The Kooks who played everyones favourite songs and then some.  A bit of Triple J House Party Host Nina Las Vegas was a delightful interlude and finally the day ended with Gossip and The Smashing Pumpkins.  Beth Ditto was so lovely and brought a new energy to the Mix Up Tent.  The Smashing Pumpkins set time surpassed Gossip's allowing everyone to have a chance to see their set which did not disappoint.

Overall Splendour was an amazing experience and I cannot even fathom having to go to work tomorrow. Thank you to Nat Brunoli for a wonderful weekend, thank you Byron Bay and thank you thank you Splendour in the Grass.  Until next time,

Ran xo