Music news
Jez Mead lives on the road with guitar in tow. A true blues gentleman who's new track SUCKER explores the way we look upon our ex-lover's new love..Jez sees the in congruencies of human relations more than clearly, and delivers his observations beautifully courtesy of this raw and catchy tune..
The stripped back blues guitar is complimented by his rustic, unaffected vocals. Add in some strings and you'll be tapping your feet and singing along before you know it. Jez is releasing the 'Sucker' EP next month and will be on the road to bring us an up close and personal taste of his beguiling tales.
The Wu-Tang Clan are coming to Melbourne. Take out your highlighter and draw a big fat ‘W’ in your diary on October 31. In fact, block out that whole week in preparation. They’re playing at a festival called Megarampage. I think it is some kind of BMX/skate festival type thing. You should be warned that Good Charlotte and The Offspring are also playing. I would have thought The Offspring would have retired to playing bowls and listening to Andre Rieu by now: but apparently they are still mobile. All we can do now is pray that Ghostface, Inspectah Deck, Method Man and the others play a sideshow. Protect Ya Neck!
Of the 12 songs on Shady Lane’s new album, eight reference death, three hinge on themes of existence and one explores isolation through the metaphor of rocking up to a party where you don’t know anyone. With an album title like Here We Go Down The Black Hole perhaps it’s unsurprising. Yet this self-produced album from Jordy Lane (not to be confused with Jordie Lane) and his newly acquired bandmates eschews melancholy in favour of a more pensive, contemplative tone. Their brand of thoughtful electronica and crisp, melodic vocals on tracks like “Ouch, My Head” invite comparisons to The Postal Service, but these elements merge with organic guitar sounds to inhabit a place somewhere between synth-pop and folk (with a few field recordings and a creepy, ethereal child-voice thrown in for good measure.)
Jordy spent years performing with only a decrepit iMac to accompany him and this album was inspired by time spent alone, thinking too much and conversations with friends and strangers about why we exist. It’s intimate, bedroom-fidelity make this a good one for a quiet, reflective Sunday afternoon.
Here We Go Down The Black Hole is released this Saturday, August 15. Or if you can’t wait until then, listen to some Shady sounds on their MySpace.
He auctioned off his amazing guitar boat earlier this year to raise funds for the Indigenous Literacy Project and now Josh Pyke is back to his philanthropic ways. He’ll be performing a solo acoustic set alongside a host of guests and DJs at Busking for Change, a concert which aims to raise $250,000 to ease the literacy crisis in remote Indigenous communities.
The gig will take place at the Annandale Hotel on September 2 and for just $30 a ticket it’ll please your wallet and your conscience. Don’t miss out on your chance to help change Australia for the good (and catch some sweet tunes in the process.)
Tickets go on sale August 10 and are available through www.buskingforchange.com.au
This 18-year-old chanteuse may be as tattooed as a pirate but her melodies are saccharine sweet. Hailing from Montreal, Béatrice Martin has already conquered the Francophile world with her collection of angelic pop ballads. She began playing the piano aged just three and studied classical music before trying her hand at songwriting. Her naïve, childlike voice charmed critics and the online community before her debut album was even released and she’s already performed at the Montreal International Jazz Festival, the Paris Olympia and alongside Julien Doré (Winner of France’s ‘Idol’ equivalent.) Check out the nostalgia-infused video clip for her hit “Comme des Enfants” to see attractive young folk riding bicycles into sunsets, falling in love and doing other archetypal French things. We’re not sure what she’s singing about, but we don’t really mind.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PaUI6Tvd1sA&feature=fvst
You’ve probably heard the infectious-as-swine-flu “Thump” all over the radio and Saturday morning video shows, now Australia’s own Bertie Blackman is touring the country. And proper touring like – she’s starting in Hobart this Friday and finishing in Perth at the end of the month. Hardcore. For details click here www.bertieblackman.com. She’s one of Yen’s favourite artistes, and we advise, no strongly advise, you catch this feisty talent before she’s selling out stadiums.
