I contributed to brisbanetimes.com.au here are some of my live review links:

Delphic played the Hi Fi bar in West End in March 2010: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/entertainment/your-brisbane/delphic-20100326-r1cl.html

Massive Attack played the River Stage recently: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/entertainment/music/massive-attack-20100324-qvhh.html

Up and coming Sydney skate-rat Jonothan Boulet caused commotion at his recent gig: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/entertainment/your-brisbane/jonothan-boulet-20100315-q719.html

Summer Festival fun in February 2010: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/entertainment/your-brisbane/gold-coast-good-vibrations-20100221-ona1.html

Posted: April 22nd, 2010 under FESTIVALS, LIVE GIGS, international.
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Western star

The saying: ‘life’s a beach’ easily applies to Nick Warren DJ producer of one of the UK’s top progressive music acts – Way Out West. He’s lucky enough to have enjoyed longevity in a musical landscape which changes it’s allegiance like people change their hairstyles.

He’s probably best known for his early career-makings as tour-dj to the seminal trip-hopsters (from the early 90s) Massive Attack. He has since carved his niche as a producer/dj under the guise of Way Out West. Along with his buddy in producing Jody Wisternoff they are now enjoying their sixteenth year of success which he attributes to the nature of their relationship.

“We don’t see that much of each other outside of the studio, so we don’t sort of go to the pub together or have nights out together and wake up feeling like shit, so it works really well. We’ve lasted longer than most marriages, he laughs.

“People have asked me before if I’d like to work with someone else it’s kind of like asking me if I’d like to sleep with someone else if I was with my wife, you don’t do that do you? So no, I’m more than happy with Jody, so while it works well we’ll stay together. “

On the eve of their imminent tour to Australia (where they’ll play as headliners for the Future Music Festival) Warren is mindful that a resurgence in progressive – house and trance is well and truly underway and thinks it’s got everything to do with the fact they play their own music live but also the crowds are more discerning these days.

“I think it’s a Backlash to the whole minimal sound which appeared. I think people wanted some melodies, some bass-lines and some energy back into it without it being cheesy,” he concludes.

Currently reaping the rewards of their latest offering, We love Machine (Warren believes has been received really well and is reflected in sales) the duo have decided to get the whole album remixed which promises some surprises in itself.
“I think we’ve got something like 15 remixes coming out in either March or April, as well our track The Gift – Sony is re-releasing that I think in April so there is some new mixes, some new dub-step mixes, Logistics (producers) have done an amazing drum and bass remix.”

Warren eludes to more studio time once the European summer is behind them because there’s no point waiting another three years in his mind if you’re inspired right this minute.

“I think we’ll make some singles, which will take like two tracks and much less time to do, we’re going to do some movie stuff, I’ve got some best-ever solo material this year to release and, Jodie’s got some solo stuff coming out also.”

Returning to the opening statement ‘life’s a beach’ if you’re perplexed because Warren appears too busy to be relaxing beach side, fear not he’s found the best blend of both worlds.

He’s recently completed a deep-sea fishing expedition (his other love) at the base of Argentina (near Antarctica) but manages to combine this r and r with work, hardly hard work, a show in Buenos Aires on his way home and he’s not in any hurry to give up his current lifestyle.

“Music has been my career for so long, I think I’m a better dj now than I was ten years ago.

“So while I’m still enjoying, while I think I’m on top of my game, I’ll keep going. I think that’s when I realise that my interest is waning that I’ll stop but I still love it at the moment.”

Way out West play Future Music dates throughout March visit: www.futureentertainment.com.au for details.

Ruth Bailey

Posted: March 15th, 2010 under FESTIVALS, INTERVIEWS, international.
Comments: 2

Whitley goes forth

A baby-face like that which belongs to Lawrence Greenwood (Whitley) surely isn’t capable of delivering music so deeply detailed by themes of existentialism, is it? This implies an aged, musician created it.  Managing to turn the archetypal ‘soul’ musician mould on its head and replace it with his own self, there is a rare maturity demonstrated to this man’s music.

His second album Go Forth, Find Mammoth lives as testament to understanding why Whitley looks set to endure as a successful artist even perhaps beyond his years.

Emotive lyricism applied to beautifully crafted instrumentation is probably what achieves this mantle for him. He’s blessed with an uncanny ability to write poetic, esoteric song lyrics and shape these around a musicality that only the most seasoned musicians manage to achieve. 
 
‘Head First Down’ is the single being played non-stop on radio and aptly it sets the tone for an album which poignantly delves into the notion of life – we’re born and then we die. Through the collection of songs on this album Whitley dares to ponder the aspects in between the life cycle, those which enrich our souls and contribute to our personal tapestries.
 
Whitley illustrates his ideas around this perplexing paradigm via a lovely meandering album which ebbs and flows much like life itself tends to.Tied together in the album notes as dedicated to Jonathon Livingstone Seagull, a philosopher of great influence it appears to Lawrence’s ability as a songwriter.
 
Adding to the richness of this album are those whose help he’s enlisted. Band-mates and friends Washington, lend their services on tracks including the blissful female overtones of Hazel Brown - on Killer. Even nature itself gave a helping hand, with ‘The piece you took from me’ enhanced by the real rolling thunder clouds of a storm going on overhead.  
 
If possible Whitley is already a master at his craft his latest album demonstrating he’s not only evolving in sound but his ability to write breathtaking songs is astounding.

Ruth Bailey

Posted: December 31st, 2009 under ALBUMS, FESTIVALS.
Comments: 2

Summer sizzles around Oz

Summer festival season has arrived once again, but not soon enough it seems for avid music fans. There is a smorgasboard of summer flavours to entice any palette and if live music is your bag then you’re bound to be sultrily seduced by what’s on offer through the next few months. 
 
First up is the usual dance floor phenomena which accompanies the Summadayze festival and Summa Field Dayze on the Gold Coast. Two Many Djs, Major Lazer and Danny Howells provide a mixed-bag of musical treats which fit the electronica bent. For ticket and venue info visit: fuzzy.com.au.
 
If dirty electro is not your cup of tea then thanks to those who bring you the fantastic Falls Festival in Marion Bay and Lorne the touring road show is being taken to the Northern States. Sunset Sounds touches down in Brisbane on January 6 and will play host to Moby, The Temper Trap, Lyrics Born and Art Vs Science, not to mention the larger than life Yeah Yeah Yeahs. For ticket info visit: sunsetsounds.com.au.  
 
No sooner than you’ll be saying au revoir to your New Year’s celebrations but the Big Day Out Festival will kick off once more, this year with another super line-up. The Mars Volta, Passion Pit, Powderfinger, Muse as well as Lily Allen make this a variety filled day out for music fans. Visit bigdayout.com.au for further artist info.
 
But if it’s getting too big for you then why not throw your attention to a smaller scale festival, Laneway – smaller for it’s laneway restrictions but large in its band repertoire.
 
Taking place in lanes all over the country: Adelaide, Perth, Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane; Laneway will showcase international folk sensation Mumford and Sons, as well Florence & the Machine, Whitely and Sarah Blasko. Visit lanewayfestival.com.au.
 
Further to this will be February’s dressing down of the urban flava when Salt n Peppa, Busta Rhymes and the Uk’s Friendly Fires all make an appearance as part of the Good Vibrations Festival happening again nationally. Visit jammusic.com.au for further info.
 
You’d think you’ll be tuckered out though whe n no sooner does this festival wrap up but we’ll be hit up by the likes of Prodigy, Above and beyond and Franz Ferdinand when Future Music Festival touch down hitting all major cities with their delectable dance-crazed addicted artists. Go to futureentertainment.com.au.
 
Taking us right up to Easter and out of summer will be the 21st Blues and Roots festival happening again in Byron. This line-up promises a mad-hatters cup of Crowded House (reformed for this festival only) as well as blues musician Buddy Guy and amazing dance elicitors the Buena Vista Social Club. The festival unveiled late in November gun entertainer and crowd stealer – Jack Johnson as well. Visit bluesfest.com.au for ticket and date information.  

Ruth Bailey

Posted: December 29th, 2009 under FESTIVALS.
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Oh, Danny boy

Danny Howells’ name is one synonymous with the London DJ scene, specifically the house genre, and has been for many years, almost twenty in fact. Ask him then what he’d choose to do as a career and a lifetime in nursing was what he’d have told you. However a fortuitous discovery of decks at a birthday party celebrating Prince in 1990 helped him to unleash his hidden talent.

“I’d never actually mixed before but we hired in decks, and from that first night (I actually played on these decks which were really old, belt drive, or even six speed maybe didn’t have controls in them) I found that I was able to mix and I think  that was from doing mix tapes when I was a kid, doing the pause button bar structures and I was able to mix, pretty much straight away.

“I knew then that I wanted this to be my hobby that I wanted to have decks at home, that I wanted to be spending all of my spare time doing mix-tapes for my friends and stuff, but never actually at any stage did I say this is what I want to do.

“I just sort of kept hacking away at it and things sort of really fell into place for me.” He says modestly.

As 2009 comes to a close and 2010 (another decade opens) Howells has seemingly never looked back. His non-acceptance into his chosen career way back when and an uncanny ability for mixing music today see him as a master at his craft.

He’s made a healthy career out of laying down danceable progressive house tunes the inspiration for which can strike at the most ordinary of moments.

I remember I was in the kitchen at home making dinner one night, I was struggling to get the bass-line (for In Black his latest single) and then it hit me, I rushed upstairs and layed it down.”

Howells believes there is no specific formula he follows to arriving at his anthems.

“I’ve found with certain tracks,  that you have an idea for a  sample or a bass-line, or chords or  whatever suddenly you can be just fiddling around on your computer using different sounds and you realize you’ve got a certain track there and where did that come from? 
 
That one came together really quickly actually I was really pleased in the space of one evening, I got the bulk of it together and I was very happy with it. Other times you’ve  got one and you find yourself labouring over it for so long you end up  destroying any sort of spontaneity  any sort of like, you once had, you sort of have to go straight in there and whack it out and um… hope for the best.“

 
Despite this casual approach he can sometimes adopt, he’s very much about pushing boundaries. So much so, bored by continually creating sets that spanned 45 or 90 minutes for festivals and club gigs he pioneered a new concept in gig times - introducing crowds with stamina, to mammoth 12 hour sets. These days the key he feels to maintaining his interest is variety in what you’re doing.

“I just got back from the States – fifteen dates in over two weeks, and I did a real a mixture, I played tiny events, I played one room in San Francisco which held maybe max 180 people mind-blowing and then doing a festival on the same day which was like a love  parade kind of thing and then doing  short set here and doing a really long set in Montreal in Canada  which was 12 hours, keeping it all sort of mixed up for me gets me really excited.

“Not doing the same thing two times in a row,” he muses.

His Australian fan base will have an opportunity to share in this variety when he joins the other top heavyweights of house, at Fuzzy’s Field Day, and SummaFieldDayze as well as a couple of club gigs, for good measure.
 
“I don’t really think you go into festivals thinking oh you know I’m going to create a 12 hour sonic sound-scape you’ve got a lot of different artists on at the same time and then you really  give it your best for sort of like 90 mins or two hours but then you’ve got the bonus,  you finish your set, you can go listen to sound-system or you can go listen to Carl Cox hang out with the crowd. Or you can go and get a burger joint, or whatever, it’s just a different sort of thing.

“When you’ve got a sort of tour like this, when you’ve got a lot of guys doing the festival together you hopefully get that sort of comradery together you have a great time  getting sort of too and from the gigs. “

Catch Danny Howells when he plays at, Field Day in Sydney and SummaFieldDayze at the Gold Coast. Visit fuzzy.com.au for ticket and event info.

Ruth Bailey

Posted: December 29th, 2009 under FESTIVALS, INTERVIEWS.
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Powderfinger embrace ‘golden rules’ for success

A five year hiatus from performing at sell-out festivals could make some bands nervous, unless of course you’re phenomenally successful Australian band Powderfinger. Jon Coghill (long-serving drummer to the five -piece) is excited about the prospect of the band being back on the road where they will join the stellar line-up for next year’s Big Day Out national tour. Even if, the excitement is fuelled by their desire to create better memories this year. The last time Jon and his band mates joined the Big Day Out bandwagon they found themselves as Jon recalls a little out of their element.

“We were playing with all these heavy metal bands and it was a horrible atmosphere, back stage with all these unfriendly people. So when this line-up was announced we were like ‘ooh yeh’ we’ll be able to get along with them.”

2010’s Big Day Out tour happens to time perfectly for Powderfinger (who comprise, Bernard Fanning, Ian Haug, Darren Middleton and John Collins and Coghill) because they’ll be touring with brand new fodder for their fans.

A seventh studio album – Golden Rule has been released to national acclaim and whilst it’s written everywhere about the ‘Finger’s’ many achievements over their illustrious twenty year journey, numerous Aria Awards now collect dust at the band’s studio space (located somewhere in industrial Albion, Brisbane) and it’s here again the magic for this latest album mesmerised.

According to Jon the stand out differences between this album and that of 2007’s Dream Days at the Hotel Existence are that this time around he and the lad’s were less focused on achieving perfection and more on just getting along and having fun. He also attributes a positive difference to their decision in welcoming back a trusted friend in Nick DiDia who truly grasps what the band is about.

“We let Nick take control of what was happening, and it took away the whole negotiating between each other how we should be doing stuff and usually five sort of opinions turns into something that is not very productive.

“We wrote the songs but the whole idea of the way the album sort of flowed and the sentiment, feeling underneath it was very much Nick’s doing.”

Not shy in admitting Hotel Existence’s producer didn’t quite gel with the band’s own vision for making music, ‘he was all about creating the perfect pop song’ he credits instead, Nick with the foresight and ability to shape a fantastic album.

“He’s got a really similar philosophy with music as we do it’s not as much about as selling as albums as trying to write the perfect pop song, it’s about making something aurally stimulating.

“It’s sort of like I don’t know you try not to get into that sell-out territory and you just sort of let the music speak for itself. “ Jon says.

And speak it shall, released in mid November the album has already enjoyed unprecedented sales (debuting at number one in the Aria Charts for a fifth consecutive time) possibly this is because the band decided to harness the online momentum generated by social media sites such as Twitter and Facebook. A forward thinking move, from them, which has been exceedingly well embraced by their management.

“The internet is evolving and the way that you market on the internet is evolving so quickly and I think people are always looking for the next thing so it’s probably a lot of opportunity out there and there is a lot of scope provided by the internet but you have to be wary of it…” Jon warns.

A specific element to the social media strategy employed was for the band to perform and trial their new material on the sometimes unsuspecting public (busking outside the Beach Hotel in Byron Bay) and again under their band moniker – Adult Baby. The anonymity attached to performing this way, gives, Jon believes, the band a chance to perform without expectation.

“It’s pretty good actually, it frees you up, it’s good in different aspects when we did adult baby we just played the album from start to finish and we hear about four or five old songs that we don’t usually do  so with playing under Adult baby there is no expectations of what you’re going to play so you can play whatever you want.

Where as with Powderfinger, sometimes there are a few songs that people like you to play where as you also like to get the crowd into it, it changes your set pretty much.”

Powderfinger play the Sold out Big Day Out Festival tour nationally in January. For more information visit bigdayout.com. Their album Golden Rule is available via getmusic.com.au and powderfinger.com.

Ruth Bailey

Posted: December 29th, 2009 under FESTIVALS, INTERVIEWS.
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The art of Art vs Science

If you are frequenting the festival scene at the moment you’d be hard pressed not to notice one universal act - Art Vs Science. Their music fits within both the rock spectrum and electro gamut, hence their appeal to any festival promoter. Dan Mac (keyboardist and guitarist and vox player) to the Sydney trio considers it wasn’t all that long ago he was a fan on the other side of the festival fence. In fact the transition from punter to performer has been somewhat surreal.

“It is interesting seeing all the machinery behind the dream factory you might be able to call it.

“When you see everyone on stage it looks like some sort of amazing, magic thing sometimes, when they do it right, but then you get back stage when you see all the generators behind it all but it’s kind of not all that different I suppose, I don’t know though there is a serious side behind it all and that there is hard work involved.” He said.

Along with band mates Dan W and Jim Finn the 25 year old has journeyed further than many aspiring school-band musicians ever dream to and the comet’s tail attached to Art Vs Science continues to gain momentum and shine brightly. A recent Aria nomination for ‘Best Breakthrough act’ in the bag as well as a swag of festival dates still to come this year and into next, the band are quite unbelievably still to even produce a first album.

Together since high school the three lads were like any other muso kids. Spending their youth as part of garage rock bands and performing at friend’s patio parties. The discovery of an old keyboard and a desire to coin a track reminiscent of their fave electro artists proved the accidental impetus for Art Vs Science being borne.

“We decided to plug in this keyboard we found from Dan W’s house, into one of our guitar amplifiers and see if we could play like a Justice kind of song, or Daft Punk and we booked a gig later when the normal band wasn’t available.

“We booked this new gig with Art Vs Science and we didn’t actually have any songs written when we booked it and so we had a bout a week to write our set and so we wrote a set’s worth of material in about two days including Flippers and Hollywood,” recalls Dan.

Despite the constant touring and growing popularity the life of a rock-star has so far proven fairly unglamorous. Dan is circumspect when he retells some of the trials and tribulations encountered thus far (usual for many bands) and laughs when he admits to still eating bake beans (on occasion) and two-minute noodles because they’re content to save all their touring dosh to prepare for studio time. Mac who comes across as remarkably grounded in his demeanour, still spends time working the gardens of the Northern Western Sydney suburbs of his adolescence and chatting to his pet galah when he’s out that way, is reluctant to predict what lies ahead for his band.

“I’m not sure to be honest it’s something I haven’t really, I haven’t been peering too far down the track just because I don’t know.

“I think we’ve been pretty lucky up to this point and we try to remember that it’s a lot of good luck and good timing and that sort of thing I don’t want to jinx it, by trying to predict it either way.”

While they’ll take their time to determine which label is right for them, the upcoming festival circuit has Dan excited for the next few months as long as the promoters heed his pleas for later timeslots in the festivals, he feels whilst it’s an honour to play the early 2pm timeslot they’ve paid their dues and as well the rush of playing the early evening is what he’s chasing.

“One movement festival - Perth, we actually got to play at night time, I think it’s one of the first times we’ve ever done an outdoor stage at night.

“It was something else again, it was a different kind of energy it was really intense, really cool hard to describe, it was good though.”

Regardless of their timeslots over summer, one thing is for certain, Dan and his bandmates will be giving it their all on stage.

“It depends on the crowd the vibe they’re creating each set we try to do a different cover from time to time boom shake the room by the Fresh Prince and we played where’s your head at by Basement Jaxx for the Parklife shows – just things like that and just having fun with the crowd really is what’s going to distinguish one show from another, it’s the same as one conversation from another, different people, at least there’s a different kind of show, so it’s quite fun in that respect.”

Art Vs Science play:
The Falls Festival: Marion Bay (Tas) and Lorne: (Vic)
Sunset Sounds: (Brisbane QLD)
Southbound: (Perth WA).
They’ve also been named in the Good Vibrations line-ups nationally this February.

Ruth Bailey

Posted: November 16th, 2009 under FESTIVALS, INTERVIEWS.
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A Life of lies

Ask Harry McVeigh, lead singer of hit UK act White Lies, what he’d be doing if he weren’t playing in a widely successful indie-rock band, and his answer is likely to surprise.

“I’d be studying history of art and probably failing miserably.

“I’m quite a lazy person actually if I’m not doing something I really love, I’m not motivated at all.” He says earnestly.

Motivated is what he and his band mates, Charles Cave and Jack Brown will have to be if they’re to make it through the next few months. Spain’s Benacassim, B’est Fest in Bucharest, T in the Park, in Scotland, Roskilde in Denmark you name it they’ve managed to secure spots in all of the major European festivals. As well, the very recent announcement of their inclusion to this year’s Glastonbury line-up means life is looking pretty sweet for this newly turned 21 year-old London lad. But for all his youthfulness he’s not going to be rattled by the lure of stardom, claiming musicians are just people too.

“Through being in a band and meeting a lot of bands I’ve realised they’re people who you really like, whose job happens to be being a musician and playing music.

“I’ve got a lot of love for them (other bands) and have a lot of love for their music but they’re just normal guys really.”

Still there’s no denying this band have earned their own smidge of fame and glory. 2009 alone has already seen them do a small headline tour of the UK, they’ve toured in the United States with band counterparts Friendly Fires and soon enough they’ll be making their way down under.

Whilst in Oz, their travails will see them make a stop off in sunny Byron Bay for a spot of Splendour in the Grass, as well as a couple more dates in Sydney and Melbourne. But for Harry who assures there is beauty in every country Australia and indeed Splendour in the Grass holds the most appeal.

“I’ve heard that it’s an amazing festival and that it’s the thing to do when you go to Australia – I’m looking forward to the weather and I’m looking forward to meeting the Australian fans definitely.”

The band has made their mark with somber, maudlin undercurrents to lyrics overlayed on edgy, electro-rock. It’s easy to group them alongside bands like The Bravery, or even some might say Joy Division. Don’t let Harry hear you say this though, he’s more inclined to mention that the band reference Scott Walker and their all time favourite Secret Machines, not an ounce of Joy Division similarity aside from his vocal stylings in him.

Whatever it is that’s helped them arrive at the dark and brooding lyrics and melancholic musing that their latest album: To lose my life, weaves throughout, the crowds worldwide dig something about them.

Harry is adamant that the band themselves don’t possess one single ounce of depression instead they’ve tapped an emotional outlet to avoid this in their daily lives and that’s perhaps what the fans relate to, too.

“We just wanted to write music that we really felt the emotion and the power of and we found it very easy to write songs about that side of life.” Harry says.

“These are very powerful emotions the more darker emotions in life and they connect with a lot of people just in the same way I think they connect with us,” he adds.

Come July when they hit our shores I’ve no doubt it will be their song ‘Death’ that will mesmerise crowds and that funnily enough is Harry’s favourite song to
play in the set.

“The reaction that it gets all over the world, in the UK it wasn’t like a huge hit single or anything it’s just a song that everyone seems to know.

“It’s like the hit single that never was, it’s really cool – it’s really great to play that song live and the reaction that we get is just sort of amazing,” he marvels.

Until then though time for the band will be spent either on a festival tour bus or perhaps as guests at various UK awards gigs.

Nominated against some tough competition in the form of School of Seven Bells and Glasvegas for ‘Best Breakthrough Act’ at this year’s Mojo Awards, according
to Harry the lads have a fair but not huge chance to take line honours. However it’s an award show that they’re really looking forward to, but not so they can live up to a post-punk persona.

“Well you know we’ll have a few drinks, we enjoy having a few drinks but I’m sure we’re not going to get horrendously drunk and go out and make fools of ourselves, cos that’s not the
type of people we are.”

White Lies play the following dates:

Splendour in the Grass, Byron Bay – 25/26 July (SOLD OUT)

The Metro, Sydney - 28 July

Hi Fi Bar, Melbourne - 30 July

Visit www.myspace.com/whitelies or www.whitelies.com. Their album To Lose my Life is out through Universal Music www.getmusic.com

Ruth Bailey

Posted: June 1st, 2009 under FESTIVALS, INTERVIEWS, international.
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Posted: May 1st, 2009 under FESTIVALS, INTERVIEWS, international.
Comments: 1

Steel yourself

Ruth Bailey

Posted: March 22nd, 2009 under FESTIVALS, INTERVIEWS.
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