This weekend just gone I made a quick trip up to the North Coast with Shining Bird for their show at the Eltham Hotel, a place I’ve heard lots about, and I finally got to give it a visit. It’s a really great pub run by people who care, I highly recommend a visit if you are in that part of the world. That kicked off the weekend and then I quickly made it back for Coalchella at Coledale RSL on Sunday. Kicking off with our secret artist, the legendary Kim Salmon who played a great solo set of tunes from across his career, including one of my favourites, Come On Spring from his short lived project Antenna. Coincidently newish Sydney band with the same name but total unrelated were also on the line up and delivered a really incredible and energetic set. Blistar have really refined their sound lately and the band won plenty of new fans with their nineties slacker rock sort of vibes. Sevilles are one of the best new artists from around here at the moment and they played one of the best sets I’ve seen from them. Music wise they combines a nineties indie vibe in the spirit of Slint, Polvo, Duster, June Of 44, ect. with strong vocal harmonies that get a bit dream popish also. Shining Bird rounded out their current run of shows for their new album Open Ground, I’ve seen most of their shows recently and this was one of the best. Finally the incredibly powerful Grace Cummings wrapped things up and had the full room totally mesmerised. Thanks to everyone that came along to Coledale RSL and to Jimbo & AC for running it with me.
Coalchella photo by Chris FrapeTumbleweed have just announced the release of a brand new 7” single via Farmer & The Owl and they are also back playing some shows. The 7” will feature their new song When We Were Young backed with the previously release Patchouli Girl. While Patchouli Girl leant into their more pop orientated side, When We Were Young brings out the garage rock influences of the band. It is released on November 29th and the band will be heading out to play shows in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne to launch it through December and January. They’ll also be playing locally when the support the Hoodoo Gurus at Anita’s Theatre in Thirroul.
It's hard to believe but this year, Hockey Dad’s debut release Dreamin turned ten years old this year. It definitely doesn’t seem that long since I first saw them playing locally but they have also packed a lot into that decade. When I think of some of the adventures I’ve had with them all over the world, it does seem like a lot, and that has just been the times I’ve been there. To celebrate the birthday of the release that kicked it all off for them, they are playing some super intimate shows in December similar to the venues that they played back in the early years. These will be fun gigs and tickets are on sale now!
Yours & Owls Festival tickets are on sale now and I’ve heard lots of great feedback from people about the line up. Last week I highlighted some personal favourites but I thought I’d expand on some of them further, starting Magdalena Bay, their album from this year is edging it’s way up my best album of the year list, we’ll hopefully have some vinyl copies in soon. When I was in Japan recently I managed to get a copy of Bodyjar’s album Rimshot on vinyl, they are one of the best pop punk bands in the world and live is where they do their best work, it’s a great inclusion. One of the most interesting Australian releases this year has been from Nick Ward and I’ll be interested to see what he does with it live. Finally Miss Kaninna has a really solid EP out at the moment that is highly recommended if you’re into soulful but edgy hip hop, we have some vinyl copies in store now that you can grab.