Rawing Team 7/18/22 Rawing Team 7/18/22

Glass Animals with SYCCO at Hordern Pavilion Sydney 17th July 2022

Sunday the 17th July saw English Indie-Rock band Glass Animals take to the Hordern Pavilion for the second night in a row as many thrilled fans quickly headed to the very front to get a good spot near the stage. You could feel the excitement in the air as everyone crowded in together and it felt good to know that international artists are starting to come over to our shores to play killer shows - it’s been a long time coming. The amount of people that turned up early for the opening act was amazing, it was amazing to see everyone there to give that love and support to Brisbane sweetheart SYCCO and they definitely did just that. The stage props looked immaculate and interesting under the dim purple lights as everyone got ready for the night to start.

The countdown began until SYCCO started her set and as soon as the artist walked out onto the stage, the crowd went crazy as screams and cheers filled up the room rapidly before SYCCO got stuck into the start of her set. The colourful logo projected onto the screen at the back of the stage added effect for the show as smoke machines slowly let smoke out into the crowd to give it a chill atmosphere. SYCCO has an incredible voice and it carried out to the back of the room over the top of synths, guitar, drums and bass while the chill beats and melodies had the crowd dancing and bopping along. The venue was now even more packed full of people, both seated and standing as SYCCO played beloved track “Dribble” to close out the set and plant high energy/vibes.

Visually and audio pleasing is how you would sum up Glass Animal’s set. Their tracks are just so good and to hear them live was something else, on top of a gorgeous stage full of neon lights, props, and a projector that showed different images during each song. Fans screamed at the top of their lungs when the band came on stage and as they played through their set, they only got louder and louder - singing and screaming in excitement. The visuals created a total vibe of an atmosphere that meshed perfectly with each track as the low lights changed colours to match the neon signs and projector. Vocalist Dave Bayley moved around on stage, catching the eyes of the audience and absolutely captivating them with his fun stage presence. Glass Animals put on one hell of gorgeous and entertaining show that everyone loved whether they were up dancing or sitting in their seats vibing, it truly was a night you can’t forget.

Rawing Team 7/10/22 Rawing Team 7/10/22

Johnny Hunter + Well? + Hand Models @ The GAL, July 2022

Photos & Review By: Thomas Freeman

Sydney’s 5-piece band Johnny Hunter have embarked on a national tour across Australia, and we caught their show at The Gal in Newcastle, NSW. With the recent release of their debut album ‘Want’, fans were eager to see the band play again and hear it come to life on the stage. With local bands Well? and Hand Models supporting the show, it was a great night full of high energy and top-notch performances from all three artists.

Newcastle’s own six-piece band Hand Models opened up the night, bringing their post-punk sounds to the stage. Lead by the charismatic Lachlan Knowles, their set featured some of their popular tracks amongst the local crowd, with ‘Bag Babe’ and ‘Tennis Skirt’ getting the audience going, before closing with their latest single ‘Mojave’. All the members brought it on the night, and it was a good opportunity for the band to promote their upcoming debut EP ‘Sofala’ (out July 29).

‘Well?’, Newcastle’s infamous progressive rock band tore up the stage as the second band for the night. With Taylan (guitar) and Andrew (bass) making an entrance from the crowd as their keys player and drummer continued on stage really began their set in spectacular fashion. It was a dramatic and musical extravaganza that really does need to be seen live to experience it, featuring their latest single ‘Fractured’ as well as some classics like ‘I Hope You Know’, ‘Issue + Command’ and some covers in there too, ‘Well?’ really did prove to be a highlight of the night with all five members showing off all their musical talents in the best ways.

Johnny Hunter absolutely delivered it as the headline act on the night. Donning the iconic eyeliner and lipstick, their lead singer belted out banger after banger on the night with a performance and voice that is heavily reminiscent of 1980’s artists including Morissey, Joy Division and The Cure. It was great to hear the band play the tracks of their recently released debut album ‘Want’ and hearing them live really added to how much I personally enjoyed the album. The set opened with the title track ‘Want’, with other tracks from the album also getting played on the night, including ‘Endless Days’, ‘The Floor’ and ‘Life’. A highlight for me was when they played ‘Dreams’, my favourite track on the album, as the emotions really did come through in the performance. It was also great to hear the rest of the album after that also, with slower tracks like ‘Fracture’ giving everyone a short moment to stop from the more upbeat songs, ‘Cry Like A Man’ bringing the emotions, but also tracks like ‘Clover’ rounding out the album nicely too with some big energy.

All five members of the band crushed it on the stage, and it was during the encore that the band really brought it. ‘1995’ was another stand out moment on the night, with their frontman getting in the crowd and belting out the lyrics amongst the audience, as well as performing from a table at one point and really getting the energy going around everyone. At one moment he was in the centre of the crowd with everyone crouched down all around him, before everyone jumping up for the climax of the song.

Overall Johnny Hunter delivered a great show to Newcastle and the fans couldn’t have been happier with it. Hearing the album play live did expand on the quality if it from their wonderful performance. Both Well? and Hand Models really brought their talents as the support bands on the night. Hopefully Johnny Hunter will be back in Newcastle again soon to grace us with their distinctive blends of post-punk and glam rock.

Rawing Team 7/8/22 Rawing Team 7/8/22

While She Sleeps + Loathe + Mirrors @ The Triffid, July 2022

Review + Shoot: While She Sleeps, Loathe & Mirrors - July 2022.

Photos + Review by Dayna w Gilmore

On my damp walk around the corner to Brisbane’s Iconic Triffid, I joined the all -black - wearing crowd on the 1st of July as we made our move towards those big heavy doors. I could sense the keen anticipation while patrons excitedly buzzed in the beer garden awaiting for those doors to open and warmly welcome the very British filled line- up to our shores.

Mirrors kicked the night off on an unreal note. The Crowd packed out early and the energy under the Triffid’s tin roof was alive. From an immaculate set to circle pits, the Aussie melodic metalcore band Mirrors came prepared.

These guys were a perfect fit for this stacked lineup, giving AUS metalcore a vibrant representation amongst our international friends and proving that heavy music is here to stay. Playing fresh songs off their 2021 record ‘The Ego’s Weight’ - Mirrors came out with something to prove - They are here to make waves.

The gritty band from Liverpool, Loathe shot out of the gates with their track ‘Aggressive Evolution’ and f****** delivered. Loathes energy was off the charts, it was contagious and spread through the Triffid like wildfire. It was the band’s first time on Brisbane shores and by the looks of the crowd - definitely not their last! I am envisioning petitions for a Loathe headliner.

Loathe kept up an engaging and infectious performance with singer Kadeem France, asking for us to ‘stay with them’ as they continued plowing through their set - and as if we wouldn’t! They played with a striking uniqueness that left me charged up and ready to take on anything that got in my way, (metaphorically of course).

With their Liverpool spirit spilling out at every given opportunity, the sincerity of their performance, alongside their incredible musicianship - I truly let them in and it took everything to not scream ‘please come back and do that all over again’. They might have ended their night on ‘White Hot’ - but Loathe ignited their Red Hot fuel in Brisbane that will be burning for a long time to come.

While She Sleeps - Image by Dayna Gilmore

While She Sleeps - The big finale on this already major night. Wow. I’ll be the first to admit that I was not ready for the wall of mania that was about to be unleashed from everybody in this venue. An extreme adrenaline rush from the excitement of both the crowd and singer Loz Taylor, was unmatched. I felt like I needed a seatbelt or a safety harness because whether I wanted to or not, my 5’ foot self was going to end up on the other side of the venue.

Fresh album and single “Sleeps Society” was naturally the opening track for the Sheffield rockers. Very pleased to be welcomed so warmly for their first-ever Australian headline tour - it was obvious to see just how much they wanted to play for us and man did this crowd show it…the pit was jumping and the tops of many women vanished never to be seen again - it was a very ‘steel panther’ affair. It’s safe to say, the crowd was into it.

The typical Queensland crowd began to chant ‘shoey’ at poor Taylor mid-set, who - I’m still not sure understood what exactly we were chanting for - politely declined the crowd and tossed the singular stray doc marten, (unknown if it was returned to its rightful owner.) Some say it was a missed opportunity in Queensland culture - but I was secretly relieved when I saw the boot leave the stage - I think it would be nice to have the taste of our cheering crowd in his mouth rather than that of a stranger’s foot. That might just be me.

Although no shoeys were consumed, I think it’s safe to assume that Brisbane did not disappoint While She Sleeps. After a really rocky few years for the international music industry, we are finally getting used to such treasures like WSS - and we as patrons are making it known just how important our industry is. While She Sleeps is the perfect example of an international chaotic match made in heaven with the people of Australia and it was a pleasure to witness such a raw, powerful display of passion and intensity.

Ending their insanely heavy, punchy set, metalcore legends While She Sleeps left Brisbane very satisfied and full of adoration. Until next time, Catch While She Sleeps on their last Australian show, July 9th @ the Amplifier Bar, Perth.

Mirrors + Loathe + While She Sleeps

Photo Gallery by: Dayna w Gilmore

Rawing Team 7/5/22 Rawing Team 7/5/22

Black Veil Brides at the Croxton Bandroom Melbourne (Sunday, July 3rd 2022)

Photo’s & Review By: Jason Irvine and Taylor Dylko

With the All Ages show completed earlier in the day, it was time for California-based rockers Black Veil Brides and supporting band The Last Martyr to play to an 18+ audience at The Croxton Bandroom in Thornbury on Sunday night. Well before the doors were set to open, a line of eager fans continued to grow outside the venue, keen to see a band that last graced Australian shores more than eight years ago for Soundwave – and a couple of sideshows – in 2014.

The Croxton fast filled to the brim with anticipated concertgoers ahead of the show’s scheduled start time, everyone keen to get in and find a good viewing spot ahead of what was to become a memorable night.

**The Last Martyr Photo By Taylor Dylko**

Melbourne-based heavy outfit The Last Martyr opened proceedings on the night, the local dark rockers returning home to perform a 30-minute set that had the crowd pumped up in a perfect lead-in to the main event. The local four-piece made their way onto the stage to a chorus of screams, documenting the rise they’ve made within the past three years after bursting onto the scene in 2019.

The Last Martyr played their hearts out on stage, lead by vocalist Monica Strut singing and screaming from a flower-adorned microphone stand, moving and jumping around the stage from the very start as her presence, as well as that of bassist Ricky Andres signified the immense stage presence the band displayed. The band’s pulsating sound and lyrics radiated throughout each offering that started with Afterglow, with Strut announcing to the crowd that “this is the start of what’s gonna be a rad night”. Every member of the crowd, whether they knew the songs or not, easily got into the music, jumping up and down, and banging their heads, as instructed by Strut also.

Cheers elicited from the packed bandroom every time a track finished, but more so every time Strut let out a loud, groveling scream, whether high or low, holding certain notes for large amounts of time that showcased her vocal range, ability, and talent, especially through Freaking Out, Fear, and unreleased track Sugar. The band completed the set with Hindsight, ending with the growling screams that the crowd latched onto, right until the very end.

**Black Veil Brides Photo By Taylor Dylko**

There was a growing excitement from all in attendance with every minute that passed before Black Veil Brides were to appear on stage, lead by chants of the band’s name 10 minutes before the scheduled time they were due up. But, a while later, it was time, as the lights went dark, and a sea of red lights shone from the back of the stage – and a sea of phones from the crowd –, with an introduction that combined chimes, piano, violin and cymbals, climaxing to a crescendo as the band walked out, lead by drummer Christian Coma standing atop his stool, followed by the remaining members, and then finally, vocalist Andy Biersack. “Let me hear you scream!” were the first words to come out of Biersack’s mouth as the band lead into Faithless, with started a set full of screams, sing-a-longs, and rock hands that were never put back down.

Biersack, guitarists Jinxx and Jake Pitts, and bassist Lonn Eagleton rarely stood still, going back and forth using the full width of the stage to find themselves looking at different areas of the crowd, with Biersack often looking on in awe of a sold-out room all screaming for him, and also, repeating his lyrics back to him – also seen by the multiple ‘oh oh’s’ in tracks such as Faithless and Wake Up. The stage presence from each member of the band was evidenced by standing atop the speakers at the front of the stage to look out further into the crowd, and with Jinxx and Pitts often playing back-to-back shredding their guitars and producing menacing riffs.

After playing Coffins and Crimson Skies – the first from the band’s most recent album The Phantom Tomorrow –, Biersack, after testing the room to see who had seen Black Veil Brides before, and who hadn’t – with more being first-timers –, announced they’d play something a little older, Rebel Love Song. It would be the third song of 2011’s Set The World On Fire, the band also performing The Legacy and Fallen Angels – the crowd singing themselves in parts encouraged by Biersack – closer to the end of the set. Black Veil Brides kept the energy up as they played a mix of new and older stuff – with four albums having been released since the last time they were in Australia, giving fans down under a chance to hear the band’s progression in both music, and the maturity of their live performance.

The band had a couple of small jokes in between their songs, making note of the time between visits, that tickets to this tour had been on sale for ages, and, before Scarlet Cross, mentioning that it was their first top 10 song in the US with Biersack commenting he knows “that doesn’t mean shit here (in Australia) but I just wanted to brag”.

Going deeper into the band’s vast catalogue, the band went through All Your Hate, Wretched and Divine, and Knives and Pens as they wrapped the set up shortly after and left the stage. However, as the crowd shouted for one more song, the band came back – with a slight tease by Coma walking on, and then veering back – to play In The End and send their Aussie fans out with big smiles at what they’d just experienced and witnessed, hoping it won’t be another eight-year wait to see Black Veil Brides live once again.

FULL GALLERY

The Last Martyr

Black Veil Brides

Rawing Team 6/21/22 Rawing Team 6/21/22

Waxflower at The Gasometer Hotel Melbourne (Friday June 17th 2022)

Photo’s & Review By: Jason Irvine and Taylor Dylko

A chilly Friday night in Melbourne saw Brisbane’s rocking four-piece Waxflower embark upon the upstairs room of The Gasometer Hotel in Collingwood, for the second of a three-date east coast tour in support of their most-recent EP, The Sound Of What Went Wrong, bringing along The Comfort, Damaged Goods Club, and All Regards as support.

Melbourne’s own All Regards opened the night, and instantly were upbeat and lively, setting the tone early for both their own set, and what was to come throughout the night more wholly. With a mix of heavy and soft moments throughout their set, each offering from the band saw the crowd bopping their heads and tapping their feat along with the music, generating cheers after each song. The band’s interaction with the crowd, and the banter with each other – including a story of drummer Ali O’Sullivan initially having headed to The Workers Club instead of The Gasometer Hotel -remained throughout the entirety of the half-hour set.

All Regards played through a mix of tracks, including their first-ever release, the heartfelt Trainwreck, before descending into chaos with a cover of The All-American Rejects’ Gives You Hell. A yet-to-be-released song Wonder followed, with the guitar from Jeremy Allen and bass from Mark Furrmann working together in harmony, enabling the crowd to get excited at an early taste of the band’s future work. The band finished the set with Where Were You, a song that required audience participation, which the crowd from the front of the stage to the back of the room was more than happy to comply with, singing the chorus with plenty of gusto, sparking an energy that would remain for the rest of the night.

**Damaged Goods Club Photo By Taylor Dylko**

Next up on the bill was another local Melbourne-based outfit, Damaged Goods Club brought a high-octane, pop-rock sound to the lineup, however, the band began slow to begin with Balconies, but, when the song picked up pace, the crowd were even more into it, moving and swaying along with the sound. Vocalist/guitarist Kelsie Rimmer and guitarist Darcy Laffan each played with high energy, moving around the stage at every chance as the punky sound continually captivated the audience.

Worst Of Me, Tired And Stupid, and upcoming single Love You Forever each had its angsty energy, complimented by their softer moments. The next couple of songs were introduced as Rimmer’s determination to make and play “angry girl music” – the band’s own Sick Sad Girl and a cover of Lush’s Take Me Away – made popular by 2003’s Freaky Friday, starring Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis, ending the set with Sticks & Stones, in which the crowd was prompted – and complied – with some participation in helping deliver some ‘da, da, da’s’ at the beginning to lead into the song.

Brisbane-based The Comfort, after having re-emerged after three years away, came up to the stage and immediately jumped into a mix of old and new stuff, with 2016 single Your Heart and a yet-to-be-released track Bloom among the songs being played early on. It was evident from the outset that each member of the four-piece indie-punk outfit were having fun on stage, matching each other’s energies, assisting in creating a memorable show for all in attendance.

The new, unreleased tracks continued to come for the band, leaping into Conformist – a track that’s out officially this Friday – which further showed the capabilities this band can take on, with vocalist Liam Holmes emitting some screams which blew the crowd away. Everstone saw bassist Dominic Harper jump into the crowd at the start of the song, while Holmes had the crowd singing the lyrics back, growls and all.

Lastly, to the final act of the night, on their The Tour Of What Went Wrong headlining show, Waxflower came out and got the crowd into even more of a hyped-up frenzy, as it was evident the alt-rockers had their army of fans in the crowd, interacting with them through each and every song, through cheers, fistpumps, and just generally, rocking out and singing each lyric back to vocalist Tristan Higginson.

Higginson therefore was able to connect with the audience in with such poise and ease, bringing about a genuine perspective of the world throughout each of his heartfelt lyrics, which the crowd latched onto at all times. He was complimented in every instance by strong instrumentals from guitarists Jordan Beard and Nick Hargans, and drummer Daniel Seymour, who combined for piercing solos, hooks, and beats that blended nicely together to create the quintessential Waxflower sound.

Waxflower’s set consisted of a mixture of stripped back tracks and more of the heavier pop-punk-type sound they’re known for, beginning with one of their oldest singles, Back To Back. The band moved through their discography that included songs from their earlier releases, while playing many songs off the latest EP – the reason for the tour - including The Drama Scene, Misaligned Love, Two Thumbs, and Soak. The band concluded the set with Love And Other Drugs to a drawn out applause and appreciation by their Melbourne-based fans, longing for when they’ll return next.

FULL GALLERY

All Regards

Damaged Goods Club

The Comfort

Waxflower

Rawing Team 6/18/22 Rawing Team 6/18/22

Ball Park Music with RAT!Hammock, Teenage Joans & King Stingray at Hordern Pavilion Sydney 17th June 2022

Photos & Review by Emerald Violet

Last night saw the big and wonderful Hordern Pavillion host the equally as wonderful and incredible band Ball Park Music as they play their 500th show in Sydney, NSW. Embarking on their Weirder & Weirder tour and also their first tour in four years - how crazy is that!! Doors opened early at 6:30 as fans started to pile through the doors and get to the front for the incredible opening bands which included Rat!Hammock, Teenage Joans, and King Stingray; so if you ask me, it’s a true dream lineup with all of these bands. Everyone was ready for an unforgettable night of great live music and fantastic atmosphere on this friday night. The floor of the venue that was once bare and empty now held hundreds of eager and excited fans waiting for the show to kick off.

A perfect blend of indie and a little bit of punchy rock - that was RAT!Hammock - and that sound echoed out into the ever growing crowd and had everyone in the venue under their spell with their sweet riffs and loud vocals that created phenomenal vibes and a great atmosphere to start the night off. The five piece played through their 30 minute set with their hearts and souls as smiles were exchanged between members and also with the audience - it was very sweet to see. The crowd cheered loud after every song finished as more and more people filled up the room after grabbing a drink from the bar. RAT!Hammock's music was full of life as the three guitars being played at the same time filled the venue with lots of rhythm that had a little punch to it and featured an undertone of really sweet riffs. The band themselves have such good chemistry as the interactions between members was sweet and great to see. All the early crowd looked like they really enjoyed themselves and warmed up pretty quickly.

Teenage Joans are an absolute powerhouse and a true delight. The duo walk onto the stage and play their songs with so much power and they both always look like they are having an absolute blast on stage. With lots of Katy Perry banter in between songs, they played through a total kick ass set and have easily become my all time favourite band. Vocalist and guitarist Cahli has the best stage presence as she jumped around on stage and thrashed her guitar around to the pop punkish anthems on their setlist. Both members take turns with the vocals through the set and you can see all their individual talent and energy come together and create a crazy good performance. The crowd sang the songs loud and high with pure happiness in their voices which filled the room with the most wholesome vibes as they danced around listening to the punchy sounds of Teenage Joans.

King Stingray have some beautiful energy and catchy tracks that are completed with a solid rhythm and little banging guitar riffs. They played their music flawlessly as the whole room began to fill up again and echo out towards the back of the venue.
Everyone cheering, dancing, singing back to the band with excitement - it was a beautiful set. Thirty minutes certainly wasn’t enough for these guys because they had great energy and could keep the crowd entertained for hours on end if they got the chance because they know how to put on a really great performance. All of the vocals complimented each other really well and sounded unreal, the instruments were solid and we even got to hear the beautiful sounds of the didgeridoo. It was amazing to finally get to see King Stingray perform and they definitely got everyone warmed up on this cold night.

A sheet hanging from the ceiling and totally covering the stage while the front light dimmed down and the backlight stayed lit up,smoke started to fill the front as the band stepped out, all you could see were their silhouettes until suddenly the sheet dropped, the lights shone bright and the band packed a punch and kicked off their set with the first song. The crowd went absolutely mental, screaming at the top of their lungs in excitement.The room was filled with people dancing around, screaming and singing along, they knew every single word of every song and shouted it straight back to the band. It has been a long time coming for fans to see Ball Park Music and they definitely showed so much love to the band and were having the time of their lives. You couldn’t match the atmosphere in the venue, it was absolutely incredible as I could see people singing loud, grabbing their friends, and singing the lyrics to each other - it was pure happiness in those moments and that’s what you love to see. Ball Park Music put on such a spectacular performance if i had to sum it up. The songs are so catchy and you just can’t help but dance around and feel great with those vibes. It definitely was a night you can’t forget. Being able to see 4 very talented bands in one night at a terrific venue, it can’t be beaten.

Rawing Team 6/6/22 Rawing Team 6/6/22

Ocean Grove with These New South Whales and Peni Parker 2nd June at the Metro

Review and Photos by Jade Guida

There are very few things that would draw me out of my house on a freezing Thursday night, but Peni Parker is one of them. I have been eagerly awaiting the opportunity to see this band play live and I was not disappointed. It is absolute electricity as the band steps on stage. I have loved everything about this band on social media and online in general. The visuals, the storytelling the overall response to them so far has left me enthralled. In this day and age, it's easy to fall in love with bands online because it's easy to curate the perfect image BUT holy shit Peni Parker is the best thing I've witnessed. They lived up to all the public hype as well as the untouchable pedestal id created in my mine. Overflowing with energy and buzzing with charisma this band is exceptional. The crowd that lined up and stood in the cold were rewarded with this treasure of a set. Is it all girls dream to be a part of a fem alt rock band? Is it just mine? I don't know but what I can say is that Peni Parker are everything you want in a band.

These New South Whales. Where do I start. Wildly energetic and passionately wild. This band is extra and extraordinary. I don't know where to begin to describe this set. Ask anyone, I'm never at a loss for words but this was entirely unexpected. It was grungy and carnal and punk, and I couldn't tear my eyes away. The stage presence was of a seasoned band. They understood what was expected and they delivered and delivered again. The punk vocals over guttural guitar and a raspy looped synth sound were delicious. There was no dip in the set, it was a set full of emotion and eager anticipation. I could see desperate fans singing along, begging for more... which they got. Overall, These New South Whales are enigmatic and a must experience band.

Ocean Grove are an incredible live band. I haven’t been to a show with that much energy with a crowd that engaged in a long time. Ocean Grove come out of the gates so strong- from the moment they stepped on stage with the strobe, the bright lights and some seriously sensual dance moves the crowd was in raptures. Sydney had been waiting 2 years for this show and the crowd was ready to soak up every moment of intimacy they could. Vocalist Dale Tanner is a born performer- his ability to connect with the crowd is quite special. Not only does Tanner wow attendees with exceptional vocals but he just has the ability to emotionally connect with the crowd. I have to say ‘Sex Dope Gold’ is a personal favorite and it did not disappoint, the song is more fun, more chaos and more enjoyable live than I could have imagined. Some other hard-hitting favorites were also played in the stacked set list such as ‘Shimmer’ and ‘Silver lining’ and the crowd just soaked it all in. The energy, the connection and the exceptional musicianship was in full force at the Metro for this show.

Rawing Team 6/5/22 Rawing Team 6/5/22

Press Club with Money Boys, ZigZag and Raging Hormones 21st May 2022

Photos & Review By: Andrew Faram

It’s election night, the votes are being counted, the newsrooms are on standby and the tension in the room at the Corner Hotel is already building as chatter of the potential results are circulating amongst the crowd. Everyone is on high alert and much like our opening band, the hormones are raging! Ready to explode! As the pent-up frustration of the past four years was reaching a fever pitch, ready to be unleashed, Raging Hormones took the stage and as if to be the perfect reflection of generational angst the crowd needed, their classic punk anthems reminiscent of those of the Ramones and others alike erupted throughout the venue. Anarchy and joy filled the room as band members began swinging from the rafters (quite literally) and dancing like the world didn’t exist, the band encapsulated the essence of the crowd.

Their single, “Power Hour” almost like an allegory for the day’s events, a message of going against the grain to do what’s right, a sentiment the crowd seemed to agree with, their cries of adulation echoing across the venue. It wasn’t long before the crowd were all on their feet, embracing the rebellious attitude of the band, whose high-octane energy became infectious. Front man … between songs teasing the crowd with news of a special guest, a guitarist, “Who could it be?” he taunted, “Could it be Murray from The Wiggles?”, the crowd now chanting for everyone’s favourite Red Wiggle to take the stage, however, only to be met with someone just as cool, Press Clubs lead guitarist… who graced the stage for a single song. The match was lit, the fire was ignited, and the room was alight, hungering for more.

Silence fell over the room as quiet murmurs of the crowd spread throughout the venue. Something had happened. Within moments the silence was broken as someone cried, “HE’S FUCKING GONE!”. The results were in, ScoMo was out! The news of a new Labour Government had broken and, cheers and rumbles exploded across the room. With that the stage was set and Zig Zag were ready to take it! A band whose sound had been described as “celebratory”, doing just that! Celebrating! Band singer, Kelly Dingeldei, stating their excitement at the news. We were in for a night to remember; it was a night to party. Through the punk cries and crunch of distorted guitars, the crowd danced as if put under a spell but none greater than that of Dingeldei, who danced as if they were demon possessed. It was an exorcism of the old, a celebration and embrace of the new. A band who seemingly resembles change, now bringing it.

Embodying the Aussie laracon spirit, Money Boys blew up the room with the sound of punk rage. It was the sound of the streets bracing the stage for what was a loud, explosive set which caused frenzy in the crowd. Sleeves rolled up and a won’t take crap from anyone attitude, their presence delivered thrills from stage dives to embracing the crowd from the railings, Money Boys left no room for boring, no room for silence, only room for the motion of flying limbs and bodies crushing against one another as the small room was packed with a sea of people. It was anarchy at its finest, the feeling reminding me of that of the original punk bands of the 80’s. Their energy, a throwback to another era, however, showing that the sentiment and style of the genre is truly timeless and possibly never went away!

The curtains closed and gear rattled from the stage, I stood there eagerly anticipating our main act, the scale of the room suddenly getting bigger. As distant chatter could be heard from behind the clothe wall, droves of punters flooded through the bar’s entry, the noise of the crowd suddenly increasing, getting louder and louder until the room was engulfed by the sound commotion, the venue stacked from wall to wall.

An announcement came over the PA, the crowd’s attention immediately shifting to the stage, the room was quiet but not for long. Creaking could be heard as the curtains opened, blue and yellow light shining onto the crowd revealing the silhouette of the four band members, the crowd erupting! Lead singer, Natalie Foster, raising her hands to the sky, like a conductor navigating the audiences ovation.

From here the stage was chaos manifest, Foster, spiralling around the stage with joy, members Frank Lees (Drums), Grew Rietwyk (Guitar) and Iain Macrae (Bass) thrashing as their instruments shook the room with heavy grunge riffs and beats that sent the crowd into frenzy. Before not long, Foster, swinging from the curtain railings like a monkey, the crowd gone wild, the band turning the suburban rock venue into a jungle, and they were its rulers.

Abruptly the show ended, what seemed like minutes was really an hour of heated expression and fun. The crowd wasn’t ready to leave, chanting spread across the room, those infamous words, “one more song” shouted towards the stage. It couldn’t be ignored, the band taking the stage one more time, closing out the night in one more blast of high energy performance, the crowd leaving satisfied and on a high.

MONIKA SMITH 5/19/22 MONIKA SMITH 5/19/22

RedHook with Dead Love, Bellewether and Capitol Affair at Oxford Art Factory

REVIEW BY: ALEC SMART

RedHook, the dynamic female-fronted four-piece, headlined a bill of four bands at the Oxford Art Factory (OAF) in Darlinghurst, Sydney, as part of their ‘Bring Ya Mates’ national tour.

Main support The Dead Love accompanied them for the Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney, Adelaide and Perth shows, however, Down For Love had to drop out of the Sydney and Perth gigs for personal reasons. Substitutes Bellwether and Capitol Offence were brought in as crowd-warmers in Sydney.

The highlight of the energetic and highly entertaining Sydney concert was undoubtedly a finale featuring most of the tour’s musicians crowding the stage to cover AC/DC’s It’s a Long Way to the Top (if ya wanna Rock ‘n’ Roll).

During this raucous affair, the audience engaged in a mass pillow fight, pummelling each other and the performers as crowd-surfers ricocheted across a flailing sea of hands.

Earlier, openers Capitol Affair kick-started the gig with their pop-rock hybrid. Despite the American spelling of their name, they’re not to be confused with the USA band Capitol Offence (notable for its bassist Mike Huckabee, the former Governor of Arkansas and 2008 Republican presidential candidate).

This 2018-formed Sydney quartet have a few singles under their belt, including Medicate and It’s Too Late and in February 2022 the band released an unusual choice of cover with Justin Bieber’s Hold On.

Onstage they were confident and tight, but in this reviewer’s opinion need a lot more live experience before they can demand - and keep - a crowd’s attention.

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Bellwether – meaning a ‘leader of trends’ - cranked the tempo up significantly, with the audience responding positively. Most of the crowd were familiar with them from dynamic live shows, their 8 April-released EP Impermanence, several music videos, and their debut single, Shortsighted. The latter has been streamed over 10,000 times on Spotify alone since its August 2021 release.

The five-piece feature a lively lead guitarist who’s very nimble on his feet, great tunes and a commanding presence. However, the singer admitted he was puffed-out after the first two songs – that lad needs a bit of work-out time down the gym to build up his stamina!

Aussie music website Wall Of Sound recently listed Bellwether and tonight’s other support, The Dead Love, among the Top 20 Australian pop-punk bands to watch in 2022.

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The Dead Love, a grungey three-piece from Sydney, admitted they’d not played live in their hometown for two years, thanks to Covid lockdowns, time abroad touring UK and, of course, a primary support slot on the RedHook national tour.

Nevertheless, they ignited the audience, their presence launching stage-divers and crowd-surfers aplenty as the tempo went up several more notches and fans sang along to familiar tunes.

The crowd response was so genuine it was difficult at first to see whether RedHook would be able to take the mantle and make the stage their own in The Dead Love’s tsunamic wake.

Unlike many in the so-called ‘pop punk’ genre that prefer singing about personal issues, thanks to the Emo-influenced template set in the 1990s, The Dead Love have opinions about worldly affairs and domestic politics and they don’t shy away from expressing them.

With two albums under their belt - 2016's debut So Whatever and 2019’s The Extinction of Unicorns – plus several singles, including two 2022 releases, Roses and Bones, the band have matured into a powerful live act with articulate lyrics.

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RedHook are a force to be reckoned with on stage while their multi-faceted music is diverse and difficult to pigeonhole. Featuring the songwriting duo Emmy Mack (vocals) and Craig Wilkinson (guitar, saxophone) they combine elements of metal, punk, electronica, hip-hop and pop with occasional saxophone solos and trance-like synthesiser in between grungey guitars.

And flame-haired singer Emmy Mack is a firecracker fizzing with energy and enigmatic allure.

As they ascended the stage at the OAF they launched into Only Bones (from July 2019), followed by latest single, Low Budget Horror, which references famous splatter-gore movies, then Cure 4 Psycho.

The lyrics of Low Budget Horror continue the theme set in their debut six-track EP, Bad Decisions, (upon which Cure 4 Psycho appeared). They subvert the ‘psycho ex-girlfriend’ cliché to feature a woman who’s bounced back from domestic violence to reclaim her space in the world and “raise a middle finger to her would-be-killer.” The EP is dedicated to all survivors of abusive relationships.

Mid-set, prior to performing their new single Jabberwocky, (premiered 16 May on Triple J Radio) the band took a recess while Emmy carefully explained the inspiration for the lyrics.

Perhaps ‘inspiration’ is not the correct description for a soul-destroying ordeal that humiliated her – one that degrades all women.

Emmy revealed that whilst the band was on tour in Europe, on a busy schedule playing concerts to new fans, she was sexually assaulted.

In an online interview (see here on YouTube), Emmy goes into detail about her traumatic experience and how it shaped the song.

“It was based on a really messed-up experienced I had back in 2019 [during] RedHook’s first overseas tour. On the one hand I was having the time of my life, all my dreams were coming true, we were playing our music in front of thousands of people on the other side of the world – incredible.”

However, during a night off in Germany, when the band were returning to their accommodation after an evening celebrating, she became separated. During a trip to a public restroom, a man suddenly barged into her cubicle and sexually assaulted her.

“I didn’t really have time to process it…,” she continues. “The next day we had to pack up the van and drive to another country to play a show... What I did to get through it and not let myself go to pieces was convince myself it was magic and didn’t exist.

“That’s where the whole concept of the Jabberwocky came in. Just like Alice in that movie [Alice in Wonderland], that’s how I vanquished that demon in my mind….

“It’s an apt metaphor for trauma as well.. the way the monster comes out of nowhere at random times to terrify Alice when she least expects it.”

Jabberwocky is a nonsense poem written by Lewis Carroll about the killing of a dragon-like monster called a Jabberwock. The verse, which includes many made-up words (some of which have become regular terms in English, like ‘chortle’ and ‘burble’), was included in his 1871 novel Through the Looking-Glass, the sequel to Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.

At the OAF, the band continued with a few more of their more popular songs, which collectively have been ‘streamed’ over a million times online, before summoning the support bands onstage.

Then began a rowdy rendition of Bad Decisions, RedHook’s best-known composition, while guitarist Chris brought out his saxophone and traded a few jazz scales with a trumpeter and a baritone saxophonist.

The song, which consists of metallic guitar riffs, a mid-section with rapped lyrics, and a very catchy singalong chorus, was originally launched with a hilarious music video featuring the protagonist making questionable life choices. These included waking up in bed with two men, getting a bad tattoo, and falling asleep while sunbathing to reawaken scarlet from sunburn.

The Bad Decisions video also featured a massive pillow fight, which explains why Emmy suddenly handed out pillows to the OAF audience, which, when the music started, immediately began pummelling each other. This continued during the next song, the aforementioned AC/DC cover.

Chris then took over lead vocals for the encore as Emmy retreated backstage and closed the night with spirited audience singalong covers of Sum 41’s Still Waiting and Linkin Park’s One Step Closer.

The pillows, meanwhile, inevitably shredded, however, luckily for the OAF venue staff, they weren’t feather-filled, like the ones in the music video, but stuffed with synthetic material, or they would have faced an awful mess to clean up.

RedHook will be main support for In Heart’s Wake’s national tour throughout August – October 2022. Meanwhile, their Bad Decisions debut EP has been nominated for Best Punk Album at the 2022 Australian Independent Record Labels Association Awards.

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Capitol Affair

https://www.capitolaffair.com/

Bellwether

https://open.spotify.com/artist/1t8CbTXoOS38BZLxuVcNlo

The Dead Love

https://open.spotify.com/artist/0G2ShWwCGT5aGubowNDk2N

RedHook

https://www.weareredhook.com/

RedHook music videos

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVzamOguHVm93nxP6NaL6eQ

MONIKA SMITH 5/16/22 MONIKA SMITH 5/16/22

WAAX with Charlotte and the Harlots + Bakers Eddy at Crowbar Sydney 13th April 2022

REVIEW AND PHOTOS BY: JADE GUIDA

I can say without much doubt, that this was the gig to shoot in 2022. Friday night at Crowbar was full to the brim with talent, energy and sweaty bodies. It was more than to the brim, it was overflowing. From before the doors open there was a line of eager patrons swirling around the crowbar venue entrance and even more scores of them inside. It has been a long time since I have seen so many people filling a venue, especially before Doors open.

I joined the long line of people wearing Waax shirts and donning Waax Tattoos. As soon as I went inside the venue (30min before the first set) the venue was more than half full. Everyone at this show seemed to want to soak up every minute of every band.

First up was Charlotte and the Harlots. They are an incredible band in absolutely every way. They tick every box. They are high energy, loud and excessively talented individuals from the ACT. They have created this thick honey like sound. Their songs are so full bodied and well written that they seem almost tangible, like I could reach out and grab it, hold it in my hands. This was probably the most impressive opening band I have ever seen. I love going to gigs even in my personal time, and I almost always go for the full show and watch every band on the line-up. I love the experience of seeing new bands and especially ones who are fresh to the scene, but this was an extraordinary experience. This could have been a headline set. This band is energetic, enigmatic and a lot of fun. The best thing about Charlotte and the Harlots (outside of lead singer Charlotte’s light up belt) was that they all looked like they were having the best time. This band is fun, and they bring an immense amount of energy. They have a headline tour coming up and I strongly recommend you catch them before the explode.

I love Bakers Eddy. I love them. I was ecstatic at finally being able to shoot a show. This band is notorious for high energy, explosive sets and my god did they deliver. By the time this set rolled around the room was already full, no one was missing out on this set. This band is pure, untamable energy exploding from four individuals to create a masterpiece of music and stage presence. There is something about this band live, you don’t want to look away or miss a minute. I think there are some bands you go and see, and you leave just feeling good, the rest of your life sort of melts away and evaporates into the sea of sweaty people you stand shoulder to shoulder with for the set. Bakers Eddy has that quality, they just have a presence about them that is indescribable. After the Set I texted my friend (long time fan) and was like “Man WTF they are the sickest band I have ever seen” and then he replied with a long lecture about how I never listen to his music recs. This band blew my mind, I will count down the days until I can see them again.

Waax. I mean if you know Waax, like Waax or have heard of Waax there is probably nothing I can write that will come as a shock or even be helpful. This band has some of the most loyal fans I have ever witnessed. I was slightly caught off guard by just how many Waax tattoos I saw on Friday, how many permanent signs that this band has and will continue to change lives. I saw people crying in this mosh pit from pure joy. I stood in the hottest, sweatiest and most full Crowbar I have ever seen. I experienced Waax in all its glory. I think it can’t go without saying that if you asked anyone about Waax they would probably reply with ‘they are the nicest band’, I heard that a lot on Friday. People chatting about the kindness of band members and inclusivity they felt as a part of the fan base and I think that is a really touching point and something that I could really feel at the show on Friday. This was a show for the Fans. Front women Maz is for the people, and you can see that. There was an electricity in the air from the first note played. Waax are consistent, they are loved, they are talented, and they are fucking loud. Loud in every sense of the word. Loud music, Loud stage presence, Loud messages, Loud love for their community. The show on Friday was extraordinary, I thought Crowbar might explode from joy and talent. The Waax community was treated to a show that was bursting at the seams. If you are sleeping on Waax, you are sleeping on one of the most talented, hardworking, kind and relatable bands in the scene and you need to wake up.

MONIKA SMITH 5/16/22 MONIKA SMITH 5/16/22

The Veronicas with Taigh Wade and CXLOE at Palais Theatre on April 11th

REVIEW BY: BRITTANY LONG

On Monday night April 11th, The Veronicas finally brought their long-awaited Godzilla versus Human tour to Melbourne‘s Palais Theatre. After multiple rescheduled dates due to Covid, eager fans packed the iconic Melbourne venue. The elegant backdrop of the Palais setting the mood for the evening’s sold out show.

Opener Western Australian Taigh who was the Tik Tok UNDSCVRD competition winner was a hit, treating early comers to acoustic guitar and keyboard with his tracks ‘Lifeline’ and sharing stories behind many of the tracks including a poignant song in honour of his grandma and his dad not getting a chance to say goodbye to his mum. Closing with ‘Lost and Found’ those earlycomerslucky enough to witness his set couldn’t get enough of his heartfelt lyrics and sweet voice. I for one look forward to seeing what this talented man does in the future.

Next up was Sydney artist CXLOE. She delighted with her newest release ‘New Trick’ and treated fans to a cover of hit track Zombie by The Cranberries which she had previously debuted on Triple J’s Like A Version. This proved to be a great opportunity for a crowd singalong and sing they did! Accompanied by a talented band in their own right, guitarist Timi was a familiar face, also wowing on the violin, with Darryll on drums and Cam on keys ‘and everything else’. Her performance gave me Olivia Rodrigo vibes and her last song ‘Show You’ left the crowd wanting more.

There was a decent crowd for both support artists which was nice to see. Taking a chance to get in their ‘pee breaks’ the excitement and anticipation among the packed audience was palpable. Finally it was time for the moment everyone had been waiting for, a moment more than a year in the making. As the lights dimmed and the sound of sirens and alarms echoed through the theatre, flashing lights and the announcement of a ‘Security breach’ accompanied an entrance like no other. To the thunderous applause and screams of a sold out Palais Theatre The ladies of the hour entered the stage in style, guns blazing armed with CO2 guns to newest track ‘Godzilla’. They began the evening by treating fans to some older classics including ‘When it all falls apart’, ‘Take me on the floor’ and ‘Hook Me Up’ as well as newer track ‘Stealing Cars’. Fans even joined in on the Stealing cars choreography, flicking their wrists to the lyrics “wasting time”. Despite being a seated show the audience were thankfully allowed to dance in and in front of their seats and they sure made the most of it. Following ‘This Is How It Feels’ the twins underwent an outfit change, ditching the black latex for something a bit more ‘human’ in school-girl style skirts tshirts and jumpers, “we’ve put The Veronica’s monster away for a minute and it’s just Lisa and Jess in the room with you now” signifying that we had reached the ‘Human’ part of the tour. Taking a moment to reflect, not just on starting the tour over a year ago and all the obstacles they’d been faced with to get to that point, but also overall on their illustrious 17 year career “we’ve watched you guys grow up, have babies, lose loved ones..”. The girls shared how it was their ‘greatest blessing that the stories they tell and the music they make have the power to help whatever their fans were going through in their own lives’ echoing the sentiment of being “with family in the room tonight” and all being ‘on this journey together’. ‘Human’, a personal favourite of mine, left me with goosebumps and I’m sure I wasn’t the only one. It was such a beautiful moment. The twins kept delivering, fans were treated to iconic hits ‘and crowd favourites ‘You Ruin Me’ followed by ‘Everything I’m Not’, ‘In My Blood’ and ‘Lies’.

With yet another outfit change the twins re-entered the stage and were a vision in pink sitting on stools dazzling in fluffy pink dressing gowns adorned with feathers performing ‘Sugar Daddy’. Before leading into ‘Lolita’ Jessica shared a sincere moment reflecting that 17 years ago she came out and how the LBTQ+ community had ‘carried both her and the Veronica’s on their backs for 17 years’. The track was accompanied with keys and guitar, complete with headbanging.

In an ode to sibling rivalry, an onstage mishap where a microphone was incorrectly removed from stage saw one of the Origliasso twins joking that it was ‘finally her moment as a solo Veronica’ and she had ‘paid him $500 to carry that microphone off’. Crowd favourite 4EVER was dubbed their fake last song “we got one more song for you”. As the girls left the stage the Palais erupted with chants for Untouched and deliver they did. Returning to the stage the twins asked the crowd to “please rise for the national anthem” which everyone did to thunderous applause and cheers. The roar of the crowd was deafening with everyone joining in singing ‘the national anthem’. As the final notes rang out the twins embraced each other and blew kisses to the crowd, telling them “we’ll see you soon”.

The one night only extravaganza catered to fans, young and old, with the twins delivering a wide array of hits spanning their impressive 17 year long discography that took attendees on an emotional journey. The show was one for the books and the girls truly left it all on the stage leaving fans wanting more!

Set list

Godzilla
When It All Falls Apart
Take Me On the Floor
Revenge Is Sweeter
Stealing Cars
Silent
Hook Me Up
This is How It Feels
Human
You Ruin Me
Everything I’m Not
In My Blood
Lies
Sugar Daddy
Lolita
4EVER
Untouched

Rawing Team 5/10/22 Rawing Team 5/10/22

OUR FIRST KISS Melbourne (Saturday May 7th 2022)

Photos & Review By: Taylor Dylko and Ollie Midson

If one had to sum up the events of last Friday night in one word, it would be NOSTALGIA. The emos of the last decade have all grown up but their defiant spirit and angsty rebellion have stayed forever young. Black and neon clashed in the giant ballroom of the Melbourne Pavilion for a night of reminiscing, rocking, and repeatedly insisting to our mums that “it’s not a phase!” Complete with giant mirrors where punters could express themselves with lipstick messages, and a dedicated emo makeup station, this was a throwback to remember.

To kick off Our First Kiss we had Melbourne’s own pop punk Terra. Opening the event with their tracks Wishful and Arrows from the latest release of their EP Reverie this year. With the help of friend Tim Irwin playing guest vocals for Arrows, and James Hibble doing a phenomenal job for Confidence, Terra gave a dynamic performance like always. Keeping their dedicated fans who came down on time, having a dance throughout their set with new and older songs combined. Seeing them play live is never a disappointment. Watching their set, it is very evident that they enjoy themselves and have a great time whilst being on stage. Their smiles are contagious that you can’t help but have a great time too. Ending with the track Fear, it was a no brainer having Terra on the lineup for Our First Kiss.

***Closure In Moscow Photo By Taylor Dylko***

These Melbourne prog rockers have been going strong for over 15 years and their musicianship was on full display, seamlessly shifting through a diverse array of genres like pop, fusion, funk and even a few jazzy passages made it to the ears of the audience. One could even make the comparison to heavy fusion titans Twelve Foot Ninja, albeit for an audience that aren’t that partial to heaviness and more inclined to vibe and dance. CIM have a new album in the works which will be released sometime very soon.

***Dream On Dreamer Photo By Taylor Dylko***

Dream On Dreamer confidently strode onto a blue and red lit stage and immediately launched into Let It In, their mainstay opening track for the last four years which got the audience off their feet. Marcel Gadasz and Zach Britt are vocal powerhouses and play off each other to great effect. The collective energy the band exuded was certainly contagious as the crowd opened the first pit of the night to Downfall, off their now 11 year old debut album Heartbound. The band closed out their set strongly with fan favorite Stay and a reminder that they only have two more shows left as Dream On Dreamer. So, if you missed out on Our First Kiss, your last chances to see DOD will be at Crowbar in Sydney on May 28, and the Corner Hotel in Melbourne on June 3rd, where they will bid farewell forever. Tickets now on sale.

***The Getaway Plan Photo By Taylor Dylko***

The anticipation for these boys was certainly tangible as the crowd grew in size before The Getaway Plan took to the stage and launched into the opening notes of The Reckoning. The Melbourne four piece showed no signs of age after the last 18 years they’ve been together, and everybody hung on every single note. The audience wasn’t standing still as they carried on through to other favorites like Landscapes, Shadows and Red Flag, but what really captured the hearts of all in attendance was the timeless classic, Where The City Meets The Sea. Vocalist Matt Wright was suddenly and effortlessly drowned out by the entire audience as they sung along to every word and made the tune their own. A true highlight of the evening.

For only their second show since their breakup post “Homecoming” and announcement of their signing to UNFD, Short Stack showed no signs of slowing down and got the crowd off their feet as Burn You Down - off their latest album Maybe There’s No Heaven - set the room on fire. What followed was a throwback set to all the three piece’s bangers of their heyday when they captured the hearts and minds of emo kids everywhere. The iconic opening riff of Shimmy A Go Go had the audience screaming for more and dancing til their legs dropped to other tunes like We Dance To a Different Disco, Honey and Planets. Following a surprise cover of blink 182’s All The Small Things, the band capped off their set with Sway Sway Baby to rapturous applause and never-ending screams.

***The Veronicas Photo By Taylor Dylko***

By this point, we had all truly gone back in time to the noughties and started to bear witness to the twin titans of pop rock, The Veronicas. Due to COVID concerns, Lisa and Jess elected to forego their live band and perform the show themselves, but their presence alone combined with the dazzling light show more than made up for it as they commanded the crowd with confidence and charisma. This was the payoff for the nostalgia everyone in the room craved and it was glorious. Their iconic silhouettes and choreographed synchronicity cast an exciting shadow over the crowd as they all relived their youth, singing and dancing to tracks like When It All Falls Apart, Hook Me Up, Everything I’m Not, and lesser heard track Mother Mother off their debut album which allowed Jess to flex her screaming chops to tremendous effect. The night closed out to 4ever, the first taste the world got of The Veronicas, and under the shadow of a Rainbow Pride flag with a declaration that this is a safe space for everyone, the crowd ravenously lapped up the “new national anthem”, Untouched.

FULL GALLERY

Terra

Closure In Moscow

Dream On Dreamer

The Getaway Plan

Short Stack

The Veronicas

MONIKA SMITH 5/7/22 MONIKA SMITH 5/7/22

Delta Riggs with Annoying Neighbours & Le Shiv at Crowbar Sydney 8th April

PHOTO AND REVIEW BY: JADE GUIDA

The night started with Annoying Neighbours. It’s a fun name for a fun band. These guys had onlookers edging closer to the shiny purple and green lit stage every song. This band was just cool. Not only did one of the guitarist look like my favourite Criminal Minds characters, they all just looked happy to be playing music. I love that feeling you get when you watch a band for the first time and they just emit a welcoming energy. The moment the first song ended, I messaged our team leader at Rawing in the Pit and told her how much I loved this band. This band is energetic and bright in every way. They exude confidence in both musicianship and performance. I could not do justice to this band in words, they had what I thought was going to be a reluctant crowd up and dancing in no time. This band is a must see. You will have to go interstate to see this band of not Sydney locals but the trip would be well worth it.

Le Shiv. What can I say about this band. They really drew in the crowd. By the time I had made my way back to the front of the pit to take photos, the room was ¾ full of eager fans ready to groove and shake. There was definitely some seasoned fans in the crowd because I noticed a few faces eagerly signing along to every word. The best way to describe this band is like if Byron Bay and Newtown had a love child, it would have produced this band. They had that cool sultry and effortless grace you associate with Byron but with a bit of Spicy innerwest charm. They were fun, loud and made you want to dance. Again for me, the stage presence was phenomenal. As a photographer, that is something I have really started to notice. These folks just ooze charm and confidence on stage, you don’t want to tear away from the set for a minute.

I have loved the Delta Riggs Since I was in High School. They were who we considered cool. I covered my books in their photos before wrapping them in clear contact. They were that indie pop dream with their smooth sound and cool clothes. Never did I think that many years later I would have the opportunity to photograph them. It was incredible to see this band from this perspective. Everything my teenage self-had imagined about them and more was true on Friday night at Crowbar Sydney. They had that untouchable quality. They were just as cool as I remembered and frankly, even though almost a decade has passed since we would sit and idolize them during school lunch, they were even better than I could have imagined. The Delta Riggs are electric and enigmatic, the way all the best Rock bands are. They are so smooth. From vocals to the technicality of their musicianship they are flawless. Watching the Delta Riggs is like staring at the sun, they shine so bright and captivate you. I had a lot of fun shooting this set. I was struck by Elliott Hammond and how dazzling he is to watch sachet around a stage. It was like I was watching a music videos from an underground band in the 70s. It was so light and effortless and yet full of charisma, it felt quite unreal. I was a little dazzled by the band, I wont lie. This set was everything I could have hoped for and more.

Rawing Team 4/29/22 Rawing Team 4/29/22

Wolf Alice with Body Type at Big Top Sydney 26th April 2022

Photos & Review By: Emerald Violet

There is truly no greater experience than seeing one of your favourite bands perform live. It really is a magical moment of euphoria when you can watch them up on stage playing through songs that mean so much to you, songs that connect with your heart and your soul. For me, I got to live a dream of mine and photograph that band that means so much to me - Wolf Alice.

It has felt like forever since we have seen international artists hit our shores amid the pandemic but finally that seems to be changing as UK band Wolf Alice touch down in Australia to not only play at Groovin The Moo festivals, but to delight their fans with three headlining dates in Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane. The Sydney show took place on a cold and rainy Tuesday night at Luna Park’s Big Top, but the rain certainly didn’t scare anyone off as more and more fans filled through the park and eagerly headed inside for the show to begin.

Sydney four-piece Body Type hit the stage as the supporting band for the night and man were they impressive. They each had such great energy throughout the entirety of their set that the crowd instantly fed off. All smiles between them as they put on one hell of a show and kept everyone thoroughly entertained.

When it was time for Wolf Alice to come out, you could feel the energy from the audience absolutely buzzing throughout the air as they eagerly awaited for the band to start. As soon as the lights dimmed, the whole room erupted into loud and excited screams as Wolf Alice walked out with huge smiles on their faces. The strums of the guitars leaded into the powerful riff of “Smile” which is just the perfect song to kickstart the set off strongly as the track holds so much power and force throughout it and with the crowd jumping up and down, hands in the air, and screaming the lyrics back to vocalist Ellie Rowsell it was definitely a surreal moment.

Wolf Alice are a band that have no boundaries, they don’t stick to one sound and everything they create always hits you hard and sounds perfect so hearing all of these songs live was a truly magical experience. The boys play their instruments so effortlessly and let all their talent shine through while hyping and interacting with the audience most of the time, and Ellie has one of the most incredible voices. She can go from sounding like an complete angel during the slower songs to screaming her guts out in the heavier ones - so fucking fantastic. The band finished up the show with “Don’t Delete The Kisses” which was incredible. The sea of fans all sang along and the lyrics echoed throughout the entire venue and even flooded outside into the park, it was unreal.

I could listen to this band play for hours on end and I think everyone in the audience would agree with me. Their music honestly makes you feel every emotion possible and wraps itself around your soul. If you ever get the chance to see them play live then I can’t recommend it enough, it’s life changing and you won’t regret it.

MONIKA SMITH 4/29/22 MONIKA SMITH 4/29/22

Byron Bay Bluesfest Day Five - Monday 18th 2022

PHOTOS BY: MONIKA OBERSCHEVEN-SMITH

REVIEW BY: YASMIN MORRIS (Yazmindi), MONIKA OBERSCHEVEN-SMITH & THERESA WILSON

Rockwiz is always a hoot at Bluesfest! It’s something I always look forward to as I’m a big fan and grew up watching it. It brings something different to the festival, a music quiz show that chooses twelve lucky music lovers to compete against each other and see who was the wittiest music fan in the room. Original RockWiz main host Julia Zemiro is a wonderful breath of fresh air who knows how to entertain a crowd. The added bonus to this particular show was that our dear friend and one of the industries most talented live music photograhers’s Ruby Boland was on stage, kicking butt and winning the day. A dream of Ruby’s for a long time so it was beautiful to see her be able to have such an incredible experience and create a magnificent memory for herself. Later that evening as Ruby and I walked away from The Teskey Brothers set a couple of ladies said “Are you Ruby from Rockwiz???”. Which was hilarious and wonderful to see my friend get recognised. After SBS announced that RocKwiz will not be returning to our TV screens in 2019, officially putting an end to the show, many made the most of the opportunity to see it in person.

Like days before I decided to head to some acts I had not heard of before and I am so grateful I took time to go to see Emily Wurramara and I am so happy that I did. The award winning Indigenous artist not only managed to captive everyone with her mezmerising voice but the stories she told in between songs had me tearing up, and the pure emotion she drew from these stories she put right back into the songs she has written. As I stood back after shooting her set with a friend amongst the crowd. Everyone’s eyes were fixed on the staggeringly amazing performer as we all smiled, swayed and danced with each other as Emily captivated everyone there from start to finish.

Ride on time or should I say right on time with The Bamboos who graced the Delta stage two nights in a row. Bandleader Lance Ferguson and his nine-piece outfit from Melbourne impressed with their funky soul movements getting the crowd amped early for what was ultimately the biggest night of Bluesfest. The brass trio really added that extra pizazz and funk needed playing tracks like ‘Hard Up’ to ‘On the Sky’. The Bamboos have consistently exceeded expectations, like the metamorphosis of a caterpillar to a butterfly they refuse to let themselves be pigeonholed. Kylie Auldist sparkled at the forefront of the band in her colourful outfit and hairpiece she managed to captivate all of us as she glided across the stage and her voice carried across the air to the outskirts of the festival grounds.

All the way from New York, American singer-songwriter, pianist, organist, and record producer Cory Henry graced the Delta stage 3 times over the weekend with his captivating show. I couldn’t believe the huge sound this 3 piece created and they were so cool, calm and collected the entire time being fully engrossed in the music. There is no doubt these men have dedicated themselves to their music and the practicing is now paying off, their musicianship is impressive and it makes total sense that they were Grammy Nominated for Progressive R&B Album of the year. Cory got the crowed joyously clapping along and always put the people as priority even though he literally had 6 keyboards on the go! Definitely a festival favorite and one act that had many people excited to see.

Sam Teskey and his band transported me to the 70’s. A lovely contrast seeing his very own show before switching stages to join his brother Josh from The Teskey Brothers, to close out the Mojo tent on the last night. Sam’s band consisted of groovy long haired men dressed in fabulous flared jeans and tops making me feel like I was at woodstock. They all sang amazing harmonies which gave me goosebumps and reminded me of a mix of The Eagles and a bit of Pink Floyd. Sam's songs are a beautiful experience to be engrossed in live and you could tell his tight band who backed him loved every minute of it. We all loved his enthusiastic tambourine player who tapped two tambo’s together as the sound man put extra reverb to make it a dreamy effect. Nice!

After fake rumors spread around Bluesfest that Josh Teskey had covid and couldn’t join his band The Teskey Brothers for their set on the final night, it was a wonderful surprise watching him walk on stage and perform a killer show! These guys were definitely one that many punters travelled far and wide to watch. Josh’s iconic soulful blues voice is one that we will never get sick of. The band performed well loved songs that had everyone singing along too. We could see how grateful they were to be here in Byron after the festival's two year cancellation and after the devastating floods impacted the community, reminding us that music soothes the soul in these hard situations. The show got even better when the band invited the funk and soul lead singer Kylie Auldist from The Bamboos on stage to sing a tune together. These two powerful voices combined absolutely wowed the crowd. We love a Bluesfest collab! This seemed to be a common thread at the festival watching bands jump up, jam and sing a song together, it was great to see and we think it should happen more at festivals.

All in all the 5 day event was well organised, there was ample food available for most people to enjoy, despite the mud pits (which staff compacted every single day), everyone I spoke to both friends and random people I made conversations with had nothing but positive things to say about the whole event. It may have taken me

PHOTOS BY: MONIKA OBERSCHEVEN-SMITH

Emily Wurramara

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The Bamboos

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Cory Henry

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Kate Ceberano

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The Teskey Brothers

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Rawing Team 4/28/22 Rawing Team 4/28/22

Full Tilt Festival at Eatons Hill Hotel 23rd April 2022

Photos & Review By: Brad Fry

Driving over to the Eaton Hills Hotel the sky had me guessing, and just when I thought I knew what was happening, it changed. The 15 minutes I spent behind the wheel saw me encounter grey clouds (without rain), grey clouds (with rain, both heavy and light) and blue sky. Was the weather going to shine favourably on us all? Only time would tell. As a music photographer, the Eaton Hills ballroom has always been an iconic venue for me. On my bucket list of venues, I have seen so many amazing shots of performers doing their thing underneath the ballroom’s classic millwork. To find myself with the opportunity to shoot and review the Full Tilt Festival at this venue was a very surreal moment for this photog. After having two postponments, due to COVID, the team battled through to bring the festival back in April. Not only was the ballroom in play but there was an outdoor stage giving punters double the fun for the day with a stacked line up set to explode on both stages. Rawing In The Pit sent me along and here’s how I spent my day. Full Tilt Brisbane, let’s go!

*Late Mail*

Unfortunately Bennies had to pull out of the festival due to health reasons. We wish the guys a speedy recovery and hope they are back to their rocking best ASAP.

Sydney-based band Reliqa drew first blood, kicking off the days action on the outdoor stage. The crowd were ready and made their way to the front of the stage while the band unloaded their form of pure prog joy. As their set rolled on you could see the enjoyment on the faces of the band members and it had the crowd frothing for more. Exuberant front woman Monique touched the crowd with her incredible vocals and the band sounded tight and ridiculously gig fit. Reliqa set the bar high for the bands that would follow them and I couldn’t think of a better, more epic way to start the day. Go and check out their music if you haven’t before. It’ll take you on an enjoyable journey that you won’t want to end.

At the stroke of two o’clock, the lights went down in the ballroom and the cheers reverberated around the room. Brisbane-based band Stepson were about to take the stage and the punters couldn’t have been more excited! The boys were opening the day’s antics on the ballroom stage and the local lads always draw a big and enthusiastic crowd. Missing their regular front man due to an injury, guitarist Nicholas Farr held down vocal duties and Robert Southern was back on stage filling in for Nicholas. The crowd went absolutely crazy from the first song to the last, and the moshing started very early. The band were all over the stage and displayed amazing energy and enthusiasm. Nicholas got down in the photo pit at one stage and thrust the mic into a sea of fans singing along with him. Like moths to a bright flame, they surged as close as they could while those upstairs watched on with delight. Every time Stepson take the stage they leave nothing in the bag. The guys pour out their heart and soul into every performance and leave all those in attendance blown away.

Tassie boys Luca Brasi took to the outdoor stage full of smiles at the warm reception handed to them by the Full Tilt crowd that had gathered around the outdoor stage. “How the fuck are you Brisbane?” asked front man, Tyler Richardson. The answer was a resounding cheer from the accumulating crowd (which I interpreted as “stoked to see you Luca Brasi, thanks very much”). The boys came out swinging and didn’t let up as they delivered their brand of energetic punk rock. There was so much choral singing and clapping from the crowd that the set had the fun festival feel that has been missing for so long (COVID you suck). The smiles on the crowds faces were only matched by those of the band and their contagious energy made for a super fun set. The bands Facebook bio says “Empty bottles, full hearts and no regrets” and that is just how they left the stage and all those in attendance (just replace bottles with cans, it was a festival after all). Luca Brasi are loyal soldiers to their craft (just like their namesake) and top shelf entertainers.

Justice For The Damned were next to take the ballroom stage and, as they did a quick sound check, everybody in attendance got a prequel for the brutality that was to follow… we were not mistaken! A sea of punters swarmed the room awaiting the Sydney-based band to take the stage. As the electricity in the room reached fever pitch, it began! From the first song the band had the crowd pumping with their hard hitting music and ridiculously tight performance. The twin guitar attack of Kieran and Nicholas roared from the stage (met by the cheers and screams from the crowd) as Bobak Rafiee delivered his vocals with savagery and power. The lockstep bass and drums pumped through the room (and your chest) forcing heads to bang in unison as far as the eye could see. I went upstairs to watch the crowd after our time in the pit was over. The floor below me was absolute chaos, filled with fans in a massive circle pit, the heaving mass did not let up! I can only imagine what the band were feeling up on stage as all this happened in front of them. “Pain is Power, pain is power. Pain is pure. Pain is power” Bobak roars on the title track of their 2020 album and there was nothing but power delivered by the guys on the stage during their set! It was an incredible thing to experience!

Have you ever watched two friends catch up after a long time apart? Maybe it’s at a pub or restaurant that they arrange to meet at a certain time on a certain day. They lock eyes when they arrive and smile, maybe they hug and a space is chosen to sit. The conversations are loud and there are laughs and smiles throughout. They reminisce on old times and talk about what has happened since they last met. Future plans are discussed and at its end, the friends insist on not letting it go so long before they catchup again. This is what the whole Slowly Slowly set felt like. It felt like old friends catching up after too long apart. There was an infectious joy that washed over the crowd, the band wanted to be there and it was more than evident in their performance. Amazing stagecraft combined with smiles and pure fun. As Frontman Ben Stewart took his place in front of the microphone, he seemed to have a look on his face that said, it’s been too long. The crowd loved them and like a conversation held over a meal, there were smiles and laughs from both sides of the photo pit (in it too by the way). We need to catch up again soon Slowly Slowly, let’s not leave it so long though.

Wow! Wow, wow, wow! Void of Vision know how to put on a show and the 4 piece band from Melbourne were the epitome of going at Full Tilt! The stage was dark as the band kicked into their first song. Front man Jack Bergin arrived at the mic in goggles that resemble those that a welder might where, outstretched his arms and proceeded to tear the stage to shreds! There was no let up to their skull crushing and ruthless musical prowess. The crowd were wild for the guys and if the stage was twice as long Void Of Vision would have covered every inch go it! I constantly had to snap myself out of punter mode, when I found myself watching the performance instead of shooting it. It is hard to put into words just how incredible the show was with all members of the band displaying the stage craft and musicianship of the headline act that they so clearly are. They are a tight unit that have that X factor that all great bands do. I could have shot these guys all day and was in awe at what I saw and heard from them! Bravo guys, that was killer!

As I walked toward the outdoor stage for Thy Art Is Murder, I was drawn to the skeleton-adorned microphone stand, I knew we were in for a treat! The Sydney-based 5 piece are an absolute monster of a band, the complete package from their look, to their sound and their performance. All of these aspects were on show as they laid waste to the Full Tilt stage during their blistering set. Heavy enough to create their own gravity (I swear) the crowd were pulled into the stage area at a great rate of knots. While the astonishingly tight and brutal rhythms exploded from the stage, front man, CJ leapt around with his head covered by a black hood and his demonic like vocals accosting you without relent or repent. Watching their show from the outskirts of the stage was like watching the ocean crashing onto rocks, an unstoppable force that will change all it touches. I saw shoes, shirts and people getting ejected from all angles as the set rolled on. Pure insanity ran rampant through the crowd as the music rained down on them. From the stage as the madness took hold, Andy Marsh’s yellow XXXX bucket hat barely hid his rye smile. Thy saw what they had made, and it was good!

Closure were meant to be the first band on the ballroom stage but found themselves moved up the set. The Sydney trio hit the stage with the all built up tension of having to wait and put on a great show. Front woman Lucy May ran to the mic and proceeded to rock hard in the bands trademark style. Guitarist and vocalist Connor Stewart laid down tight and tidy riffs and worked well in with Lucy’s vocals. Behind the Kit was Callum Gowing who kept time like a Swiss watch. The trio was having a great time, performing on a Brisbane stage for the first time, and the crowd was enjoying what they were laying down. It was easy to see why Closure are getting more and more support and festival acts. A definite band to get behind and follow on their upward trajectory.

Who doesn’t love Frenzal Rhomb? Seriously, I want names! They are legends of the Aussie music scene! What’s not to love? 30 odd years of dedication to their craft, classic anthems that sound as fresh today as when they first hit our ears… but I digress, let’s talk later. 3 songs in a Frenzal photo pit is over fast, very very fast! So here’s a few dot points:

Walked on to we built this city on rock and roll.
Lindsay and his pig mask
One of their crew had the set list hanging around his neck
Peter Dutton got a mention (peruse their catalogue and decide which song was dedicated to him)
Hi-vis vests
Oh, it’s over? Three already? Shit!

Frenzal are like everybody’s favourite uncle at a family BBQ when you are young. You are always excited to see them, they have the best jokes, put shit on your Dad (like you wish you could) and deep down you hope to be this cool in the future. I think everybody in the crowd was that little kid during their set. We love you Uncle Rhomb!

Hot off a tour of the USA, Alpha Wolf burst onto the ballroom stage at full force! This was a performance to remember! The crowd were absolutly surging, so much so at one point, front man, Lochie Keogh, had to get the ensuing throng of fans to move back. Security were right onto us to get out of the pit ASAP just incase the wave of madness didn’t abate. I was blown away by the guys as they laid down a performance, like a band as game fit as they come. The crowd was hectic and packed in (clearly the guys were one of the “must see” bands on the day). From start to finish the guys were at full throttle, never taking their foot off the show’s throat. Alpha Wolf are a class act, a band chock full of incredible musicians who combine to create performances that are as visually appealing as they are sonically. It is easy to see why they are so busy and in demand not only in this country, but all over the world. An Aussie band kicking serious ass around the world, it’s a beautiful thing!

Byron Bay band In Hearts Wake took to the stage clad in gas masks and ready to rock hard! High energy music and exciting visuals met the eager crowd and it was hard to tell who was more exited for the show, the band or the punters. At one point in the set, the boys were joined on stage by Alpha Wolf front man, Lochie Keogh, who shared vocal duties with Jake Taylor (much to the crowd’s approval). All the band pulled out their A game and and gave a faultless performance of their well know songs and signature sound. They all moved effortlessly around the stage with carefree abandonment as did their music to all those in the packed and very vocal crowd. Such an entertaining set from the guys, I hope to get to see them again soon. Loved it! Congrats on the new baby Kyle P.S.

Between You And Me closed out the action on the ballroom stage in what would be their first Australian show in 2.5 years, and didn’t they enjoy it! The Melbourne-based punk band were fun and energetic and the joy they all felt was obvious to all in attendance. Closing out the show was huge for the boys, and vocalist Jake Wilson couldn’t believe the honour bestowed on them despite being the “pussiest band on the festival lineup”. Their set rocked hard and they used the stage and the air above it (lots of jumps) to their advantage, displaying a maturity that only playing lots (and lots and lots) of shows gives a band. All the the things that make punk music great are in the bands arsenal and they’re weren’t shy about unloading on the crowd. Tight rhythms and hooky lyrics at a hectic pace make Between You And Me a must see band! Pleased to meet you.

And then there was one, headline act Northlane were the final act of the day. The crowd amassed around the outdoor stage ready to see off the day with a bang. Pyrotechnics erupted from the stage and the heat could be felt in the crowd. Frontman Marcus Bridge ducked and weaved between the flames as he delivered his lyrics with nothing but 100% honesty. Drums surrounded entirely by smoke the sound permeated the stage and crowd while the twin guitar attack intertwined with one another creating a wall of sound that hit the crowd with full force. The bands sound is complimented nicely by the mission control setup on stage left driven by Jonathon Deiley. The rig, along with his guitar, seems to consist of a looper and a MacBook amongst guitar pedals etc. Watching him work between all the different devices intrigued me because a mutitasker, I am not. Northlane have a huge sound and one could be forgiven in thinking that the was double the musicians on stage than there were. There was so much to love about this performance. The musical skill was top notch, the stage craft exceptional. The flames, the sparks and the smoke all provided an atmosphere that bought the crowd to their vocal and enthusiastic best. Northlane are heavy hitters and as the final act of the day they proved this a thousand times over!

Full Tilt is back and everything seems right again. I had an amazing day! The Eaton Hills Hotel know how to host a party! The rain came and went all day but not for long enough to dampen the spirits of crowd! Massive numbers there all day long! Good food and facilities made for an enjoyable day of live music with both musicians and crowds at their best. Well with the wait for this festival, bring on the next Full Tilt here at the Eaton Hills Hotel July 16th. Until next time friends, big love.

Rawing Team 4/28/22 Rawing Team 4/28/22

Bugs with Loser & Voiid at Cambridge Hotel 22nd April 2022

Photos & Review By: Monika Oberscheven-Smith

It has been a while since I stepped inside The Cambridge Hotel in Newcastle. I missed the place! Tonight was about getting to feast on the goodness of Voiid, Loser and Bugs; and feast we did!

Voiid jumped on the stage to an enthusiastic crowd that was packed on the barrier for the first set of the night. The Meanjin/Brisbane-based band had everyone eating from the palm of their bands. I kind of felt like I was back in the 90s listening to some dank and delicious grungy vibes spilling from out of the speakers. Anji Greenwood’s eyes rolling back in her head like an angsty teens shrugging off some crap that was said to her as she rasped her killer vocals into the mic and soaking up the interactive crowd in front of her. The band worked well together pulling through a clean (but diiirrrrtyyy) set but also fed a lot from each other which rounded out the whole thing perfectly.

"I forget what its like to play a show and stuff. We haven’t been to Newcastle for like 2 or 3 years" said Greenwood to a roaring response from the punters.

The Loser line-up has changed a little bit recently. So now they have changed into a three piece which has done no damage or made no negative changes to the line up at all. The smile on Craig Selak’s face lit up the room and you could tell how excited he was to be back up on the stage doing his thing with the highest energy burst from the night. Selak informed us they drove all the way from Melbourne to Newcastle that day, unfortunately Tim Maxwell does not drive which meant he took over as the DJ to swing between tracks and podcasts to keep Selak’s mind active and assist with the concentration from the 12hr ish drive! Loser sounded amazingly polished like they never took a covid break, and the crowd felt it. They were bouncing all around for the whole show feeding of the Loser boys and they all were singing the lyrics back to them. "Thank you very a lot. We are Loser and our job tonight is to warm you up for Bugs! Are you warm yet. I think you’re lukewarm". People were drumming along on tables, cheering and really getting into it all.

It’s not often you see a band live and forget that you’re supposed to be working. What I mean by this was I so distracted by the sheer brilliance of Bugs live I got so into the show I forgot to take notes after the first 3 songs and joined the moshing crowd getting drenched in sweat and getting swept up in the moment. The crowd was well and truly packed in for Bugs, a lot of people were covered in their merch looking pretty damn good. You could tell that this is the moment that everyone was waiting for and that everyone had missed seeing these Brisbane lads to much. Everyone looked like they were covered in sweat (which used to be gross but now I guess we all missed it, maybe even just a little?). We stood back and watched the crowd bouncing around together as one big mega mosh. The whole set was fun, perfect and we left in need of a massive feed from dispensing all of our energy and happiness into the night.

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MONIKA SMITH 4/28/22 MONIKA SMITH 4/28/22

Byron Bay Bluesfest Day Four - Sunday 17th 2022

PHOTOS BY: MONIKA OBERSCHEVEN-SMITH

REVIEW BY: YASMIN MORRIS (Yazmindi), MONIKA OBERSCHEVEN-SMITH & THERESA WILSON

Ash Grunwald and Josh Teskey are the pure meaning of a stellar blues and roots combo. This 1 hour set was a real treat and the guys even did their own sound check which showed their grass roots humbleness. It was beautiful to see Ash, local Byron Bay musician, share a stage with Melbourne musician Josh who is a blues genius in his own right. The two both bring a different sound to the duo, Ash holding the floor with impressive vocals, insane blues guitar, percussion and drums while Josh’s famous voice melts like honey, playing the harmonica and acoustic guitar. It was a joy watching these two perform their ‘Push the Blues Away’ album live.

Dami Im well known for winning X-Factor, her powerful vocals and pianist talent graced the Juke Joint stage. A heapregnant Dami rocked out on stage in a gold dress paired with knee high electric green boots, she looked fabulous. She got going with one of her popular jazz tracks ‘I hear a song’ while seated playing the keyboard, a great little tune with an upbeat feel. It did seem like Dami Im was feeling those motherly instincts as a soon to be mama herself her next song was a tribute to her own mother called ‘Marching On’ from the 2021 album ‘My Reality’ which played strengths to her beautiful voice. She did an amazing job on her one-hour set.

Aussie trio The Waifs, hit up the Crossroads stage set to play two sets over Sunday and Monday nights. Vikki one of the sister duos was unwell so it was all on Donna to keep the crowd happy, which she did a great job of by fuelling the crowd with laughter in between belting out tracks, and just as the sun was kissing the earth the Waifs gave us all something to sing-along to with hits like ‘London Still’ and ‘Lighthouse’.

One of Australia's best live blues 'n' roots bands and Byron Bay local power house Hussy Hicks were heavily impacted by the recent floods from losing their entire studio. With all the odds against them, they did not fail to put on a truly amazing show and as always remained the most positive shining lights for their music community. I walked away feeling very lucky and inspired to have witnessed the pure raw talent this band has with Leesa Gentz' soul vocals and Julz Parker's revered guitar skills.

Henry Wagons alongside his side man Lachlan Bryan was a fun, memorable and entertaining show to watch. Henry is known for his outrageous stage presence, witty comedic humor involving the audience, deep low voice and banter on stage which never disappoints and the audience is always mesmerized. The energy and talent between these two swanky badass blues boys was exactly what Bluesfest is about. Real music and real entertainment!

Mama Kin Spender serenaded the Juke Joint stage on Sunday as the sun set and the full moon rose. This show was truly special and one that I could watch for hours. With beautiful stories, songwriting and sweet strong vocals and harmonies from the duo’s very own choir (dressed in shiny gold robes) accompanying them with a lively choirmaster. There was always something to look at whether I sang along with the choir's call and response, grooved along to Mama Kins powerful drum beats or watched the talented Dingo Spenders guitar and smooth vocals as they bounced off one another, harmonizing perfectly.

Fat Freddy’s Drop eased the crowd in slowly, everyone warming up their bodies to the track ‘Coffee Black’ from their 2021 album ‘Wairunga’. The seven-piece band hailing from Wellington, NZ did not disappoint with their heavyweight live reputation. They gave us a taste of some older tracks from their albums ‘Wandering Eye’, ‘Blackbird’ and the track ‘Shiverman’ from the 2009 album ‘Dr. Boondigga and the Big W’ which really got the crowd shaking that ‘Shiverman’ loose. By this stage the audience had mostly lost any inhibition that was left leaving Fat Freddy’s to enter some newer tracks such as ‘Special Edition’ from their 2020 album ‘LOCK IN’. The set felt rather experimental at times, as if the audience were a part of a jam session, the group took a fair bit of old school dub mixed psychedelic almost trance in between tracks, keeping everyone on their toes as to what was to come next. All in all, it was a full house, and everyone was dancing, screaming and wailing the lyrics alongside Dallas Tamaira (vocals). Finally what kind of a fan would I be if I didn’t mention the infamous Joe ‘Hopepa’ Lindsay who always brings his theatrics to the stage, inviting us to a front row seat at his Tuba solo. Fat Freddy’s Drop is always a good vibe.

Australian Rock n Roll icon Jimmy Barnes first appeared on the music scene with Cold Chisel in the early 1970’s and after going solo in the mid 1980’s he is proving that he still has what it takes to captivate a crowd at 65 years of age. Playing some new tunes such as ‘Til the Next Time’ and ‘Gateway to Your Heart’ from his 2021 album ‘Flesh and Blood’. Of course, what would be a Barnsey show be if he didn’t take us on a walk down memory lane with his powerhouse ballads of ‘Working Class Man’ and the like, giving the audience an hour and a half to understand just how the man had come to set the record for having the most number one albums in Australian chart history.

John Butler treated us to a solo performance. The singer-songwriter, producer and activist began his set by thanking the indigenous elder’s past, present and future of the Bundjalung Country. Then he opened the night with ‘Better Than’ one of his biggest hit singles with the trio released 2007 follow by ‘Betterman’. John Butler is essentially a part of the Bluesfest family with around 20 years’ experience at the festival and his talent with multiple instruments could be felt through his style of reggae, political folk, blues and acoustic soul.

PHOTOS BY: MONIKA OBERSCHEVEN-SMITH

Dami Im

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The Waifs

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Fat Freddy’s Drop

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John Bulter

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Jimmy Barnes

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George Benson

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Crowded House

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MONIKA SMITH 4/27/22 MONIKA SMITH 4/27/22

Byron Bay Bluesfest Day Three - Saturday 16th 2022

PHOTOS BY: MONIKA OBERSCHEVEN-SMITH

REVIEW BY: YASMIN MORRIS (Yazmindi), MONIKA OBERSCHEVEN-SMITH & THERESA WILSON

As the rain had settled down a little more on Saturday and the sky not making its mind up. Occasionally opening up but not for too long. The staff had compacted the muddy ground to make for solid goodness (it didn’t last long but was way more manageable to walk around in. Muddied gumboots and sensible footwear. I spotted a few brightly coloured cons covered in caked on mud and wished that persons soggy looking feet well for the rest of the festival.

Pierce Brothers had two slots on the Bluesfest schedule. Sadly the lovely Jack Pierce was struck down with the evil spicy cough which meant he was not able to attend. I had the honour of shooting the set on Saturday and to also be a punter on Sunday, so I could actually soak in the set. Getting both perspectives of the sets was a blessing. All I have to say is WOW! I have worked with Jack for a little while in the background in the media industry but I have not yet had the pleasure of catching a live show. Pat took to the stage a solo Pierce Brother but was accompanied by Dara Munnis on keys. Pat took on the main vocals while juggling everything else and boy did he do a phenomenal job. Despite this unexpected set back Pat absolutely KILLED IT. He was probably the biggest hype man of the whole festival getting the crowd to join in and be part of the band. The crowd was right behind the solo twin, as they joined as backing vocalists from the front right to the back of the tent. You could see Pat feeding off their energy and from what I could gather taking what must have felt like a rather scary moment and turning it in to a memorable and beautiful experience. To express how much Jack brings to the twin lead band; not only did Dara Munnis get added to the line-up, but they brought out the absolutely magical Kim Churchill and Harry Lee; much to everyone’s delight to join in for a few songs which bolstered the whole set even more. An extra Pierce Brother aka Justin (YES THERE ARE MORE OF THEM) joined the stage on Saturday, with their brother in law Harry joining Pat on stage on Sunday. So it took four extra people to fill in Jack’s shoes who was very much missed. You gotta give it to Pat for absolutely kicking ass with the circumstances presented to him and still giving the punters a full Pierce Brother experience despite missing his twin by his side. For myself the way I was blown away by this set with ONE of the brothers to one day see the twins in action together is going to knock my socks off and eject me from the planet.

LamBros. hailing from Sydney’s Northern Beaches, brothers Connor and Harry Lambrou were ready to entertain. The people were seated and a scattering of them were leaning on the barrier. While I was busy picking up my jaw from the ground while I was shooting and these talented guys were playing. It was distracting but in the best of ways. I had never heard of this band before and took it upon myself to try to shoot a few bands unknown to me to expand my horizon. I am so grateful that I did as the power from these lads rained upon us all and it was spectacular. As I turned around after the third song I noticed the crowd was now incredibly packed as the lads drew the people from their seats and who were walking around the festival. In the beginning they came out roaring with determination and straight into an upbeat track lighting up the frequencies with Harry playing drums and the didgeridoo simultaneously. They have a lot of energy for a two piece, who delivered an array of original tracks in an assortment of genre’s spanning from folk, blues and rock n roll. A personal favourite of mine from the entire festival and now added to my daily rotation.

Ash Grunwald kept the crowd captivated with his belted-out blues, rock tune of ‘Whispering voice’ the crowd filling in quick to catch a glimpse. Acclaimed as one of Australia’s finest storytellers and live performers Ash kept his guests happy resurrecting some old tracks like ‘Skywriter’ from his 2006 album ‘Give Signs’. This man was very busy over the Bluesfest Easter weekend.

Christone “Kingfish” Ingram left a very impressed crowd by the end of a mind-blowing set. This young 23yr old American man hailing from Mississippi has been named one of the most exciting young guitarists in years and has quickly become the defining Blues voice of his generation, according to the Rolling Stone. With influences such as B.B King and Hendrix. His backing band were also just as invested as he was playing four days of the festival. At one-point Christone walked out into the crowd during a guitar solo shredding for what seemed 20mins embracing everyone who wanted to get near him. Keep a close eye on this man and his music, he will be the next big heavyweight in blues, the Stevie Ray Vaughan of his generation.

Saturday was a day full of strong femme power performers ONLY on the Mojo stage, that being All Our Exes Live In Texas as one. These four folk babes are total rock stars in their own right, each one playing a different instrument and bringing something completely different to the group while having their own solo projects outside of the band. This group really is a package, not only are they fashion icons with their fabulous vintage outfits, their stage presence is eye grabbing as they bounce off one another, making the funny and ironical lyrics with gorgeous harmonies sound much sweeter… and make me chuckle.

Casey Barnes is one of the hottest acts in Australian country music, his set was focused on the album ‘Light it Up’ which he only just released earlier this year. The five-piece band gave the crowd some solid country music that which Barnes has been extremely successful for in the last two years. Rolling Stone Magazine (Au) made the following assessment “While the last two years have been bleak for most, Barnes was able to turn musical lemons into lemonade”. When he took the stage you could hear a combination of the men cheering and the ladies hollering at the superstar. He moved with ease all over the stage bouncing around along with his band mates, and eating up everything the people in the crowd were throwing at him. You could not remove the smile from his face even if you tried your best. He is a force to be reckoned with and is an insanely superior front man. His lifeforce is one of which you need to check out live even if his tunes are not to your taste because despite all of that you are just so consumed by his infectious joy that you cannot help but get into the music. On the stage is where Casey Barnes was born to be and where he most certainly belongs.

The War & Treaty another band to spoil us to not one, but five sets on stage. One of the only bands to hit the stage every day of the festival. With a very Southern soul, Gospel genre the betrothed couple of Michael and Tanya Trotter held their audience clapping hands and stomping the gravel below them, they were truly a delight to witness. Playing tracks from their 2020 album ‘Hearts Town’ which is named after their devoted fan base. The elated exchange of energy between the band and the crowd was amazing and it was so easy to get caught up in their love for music.

Baker Boy what can be said about this artist that has not already been said? He is an absolute joy to behold on the stage and holy, hecking, heck. Does he know how to entertain! His voice, and music along would get anyone moving. The beats are on point, but his show is so visually stimulating that is brings it all together in the most perfect package. Baker Boy and his dancers moving together in brilliant choreography. His whole band moving in sync but to a beat of their own made it for one of the most eyeball delight which made your brain explode into sheer happiness. Pulling out the digeridoo to the roar of the crowd. From start to finish his hip hop, rap and funky mix had everyone dancing on top of a cloud the whole show. It makes you realise why Baker Boy has been nominated and won so many awards.

Nostalgia was in the air at the Crossroads and Mojo stages tonight as iconic Aussie frontrunners singer songwriters Kasey Chambers and Missy Higgins performed their classic hit singles from their debut albums from the late 90’s early 2000’s.

Myself (Yazmindi) being a singer songwriter, Missy Higgins was a personal highlight and big influence of mine as I thrashed her ‘The Sound of White’ album on repeat when I was a young girl. I wasn’t the only one who was feeling all the feels as the energy in the room was pure innocent delight, singing along to her youthful songs about heartbreak and growing up, these ballards are still so relevant today making Missy one of Australia's most influential female singer songwriters and she still continues to write bangers. Performing songs from her triumphant new mini-album ‘Total Control’ and her classics, it was a perfect setlist of new and old music but the cherry on top was when Kate Miller-Heidke joined her on stage for a song. The crowd went berserk! These women are constantly producing new amazing music and will continue to inspire young singer songwriters forever.

Kasey Chambers teared up on stage, alongside other fans (like myself), as the entire crowd sang the words to ‘Not Pretty Enough’ and she stated that she performed the song 20 years ago at Bluesfest for the very first time thinking it was just a silly little song she wrote in her bedroom and had no idea the amount of success it would then become. Her quick witted tongue and cheek humour is refreshing as she keeps it real and keeps her fans engaged. Warning the crowd in a hilarious way that they should leave now as she is about to sing with her ‘annoying country twang’ voice that the industry has slammed her for in the past. Telling stories that come straight from the heart while having banter with her bandmates on stage, it is no wonder why she is always a festival favourite and an inspiration to many young women.

Xavier Rudd started out at a slow pace but was quick to express and share his musical talents. Collaborating drums and the didgeridoo at the same time is one serious talent, as the tracks progressed Xavier Rudd convinced even the most sceptical of fans as to why he can hold a crowd of this magnitude. With every headlight motion for every song ending, it was obvious Xavier came with a political motive. Follow the Sun resonated with the crowd.

Australian roots-soaked blues rock band The Black Sorrows fronted by Joe Camilleri, entertained the masses on the Delta stage Friday and Saturday night. It was a great set featuring tracks from their 2021 album ‘Saint George Road’ which bears witness to Joe Camilleri’s 50th release, a huge feat for any musician. The audience got a taste of ‘Livin Like Kings’ and ‘Revolutionary Blues’ the second track of which has a very honky tonk, feet tapping groove with back up singers giving you an insatiable taste for more.

Morcheeba was oh so cool and down right the grooviest laid back but totally mesmerizing band at Blues. The entire crowed were a swaying ocean of the more alternative hippie punters feeling at one with the music while some flocked to see Aussie icon Paul Kelly. The English electronic band took us straight back to the 1990s playing classics alongside songs from their 2021 stellar album ‘Blackest Blue.’ Vocalist Skye Edwards captured my complete attention like magic as she danced in the lights, her iconic hat, joyous smile and black tassel dress was a show in itself as she twirled on stage. The crowd was full of smiling friendly faces with closed eyes, many of us saying to each other “how good is this!?”

Another legendary legend to hit the stage at Bluesfest was Paul Kelly. I honestly was so absorbed in the entirety of his and his bands performance that I took less notes which I think is a compliment when I end up in this frame of mind. The fact after all of these years that this man is so grateful for what he does, acknowledging that he is so appreciative of the fans, he started to tear up as the crowd was matching and exceeding his energy. As Paul began to cry in appreciation of everyone standing in front of him, I started to cry, and people around me also started to cry. There were shouts of “WE LOVE YOU PAUL” from the audience, the cheers became louder, everyone was clapping loudly and everyone mustered the loudest “Woooohs” that they could do. The lovely Vika & Linda were on stage with Paul as his backing vocalists which turned an incredibly beautiful performance to the most ridiculously wonderfully show of the evening. Everyone walked away on the highest of highs from that one.

Melbourne Ska Orchestra making sure everyone had used every ounce of energy dancing. If you love a good Ska drop, or upbeat tunes this group of talented musicians were a must-see playing Saturday and Sunday night. They didn’t miss a beat and played my all-time favourite cover of the movie soundtrack ‘Get Smart’ from their 2018 album ‘Tv & Movie Themes’ and as the name suggests they put their Ska twist on each track making them authentically Melbourne Ska Orchestra. The crowd was electric as the Orchestra gave out their joyous and energetic vibes, the many people who were seated at the start of the set were all up on their feet having a boogie by the end.

PHOTOS BY: MONIKA OBERSCHEVEN-SMITH

Pierce Brothers

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LamBros.

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Ash Grunwald

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Christone “Kingfisher” Ingram

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Kara Grainger

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Casey Barnes

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Baker Boy

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Missy Higgins

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Xavier Rudd

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Kasey Chambers (unfortunately I lost all my photos apart from two…)

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MONIKA SMITH 4/24/22 MONIKA SMITH 4/24/22

Byron Bay Bluesfest Day Two - Friday 15th 2022

PHOTOS BY: MONIKA OBERSCHEVEN-SMITH

REVIEW BY: YASMIN MORRIS (Yazmindi), MONIKA OBERSCHEVEN-SMITH & THERESA WILSON

Day two saw the grounds of Bluesfest a little bit more muddy, the footwear from everyone varied from bare feet, to sandals to the good old trusty gumboots. The sky could not decide on what it was doing, opening up, showering down on us in short bursts or gently falling on us sporadically. People mostly came prepared with ponchos, or rain coats or ran towards some of the food or stage tents to shelter from the drizzle. One of the biggest days to shoot and review. The team filled with coffee ran from stage to stage and tried to keep up with Day Twos epic line up of acts.

Vika and Linda’s set was a little late due to the traffic delays for all the new arrivals to Bluesfest, due to this influx of new bodies, and camping folks to the site. As the legendary sisters ran on to the stage you could tell they were a little flustered by the delay and told us they were in the clothes that they had worn to the event making it a priority to get to the stage over getting changed, but despite that they looked absolutely stunning and no one would have noticed. The second that they opened their mouths to sing not a single person in the audience recalled the delayed start at all. Their harmonies and the individually powerful voices of these sisters wafted over the crowd melting everyone into the happiest of states.

Multi talented Indigenous Australian rapper, record label owner, comedy writer, actor, and author Briggs, rocked the house down at Mojo tent and got us all in the festive Friday afternoon spirit. His performance was full of passion with punchy lyrics and big energy while being a proud kid from Shepparton, he has come a long way with major success but hasn’t lost touch with his roots. From the crowd's response, it is obvious that he continues to inspire many Australians by being an advocate for a better future for all, which put a smile on my face after being in his presence. When Troy Cassar-daley joined him onstage for a song, it made the show even better with the complimentary blend of country and hip hop.

I could hear Kim Churchills crisp acoustic folk rock and blues tunes dance in the air as I made my way to the Jambalaya stage. This was a blissful sight watching families and young children happily dancing together to positive music that soothes the soul. A perfect afternoon set that suited the Bluesfest relaxed vibe, being a solo one man band with lovely chats in between songs, Kim was an invigorating and talented act to watch.

High energy, infectious riff and groove based blue-billy-grass-rockin'-roots band 19-Twenty rocked the night away when they jumped on stage at 9:30pm Friday night. These lads were absolutely electric! Many punters stayed in the Jambalaya stage during the headliner acts because this band had them on the edge of their seats wanting more. The band had 3 shows over the weekend, definitely a crowd favourite and will most likely play on the main stage in no time…

The Angels are legends in their own rights, the have made a name for themselves from the early day pub scenes to playing to massive crowds on huge stage. They are a staple in the Aussie diet and any time “Am I ever Gonna See Your Face Again” comes on we all vocally add the “No Way, Get Fucked, Fuck Off” and from my research even The Angels themselves could not work out where it came from. They did say perhaps it came from a blue light disco when a DJ apparently got the crowd to do the chant but I do like that the mystery may never be resolved. This raucous hard rock band are among the longest-lasting bands to have emerged from the Australian pub circuit. Having made their mark on generations since the mid-1970’s. The crowd at Bluefest not only lost their minds when this track came on but the people but the people from the barrier to the front of the crowd right to the back of the packed tent were bouncing around and eating up the incredible live performance from the rock stars watching Dave Gleeson’s seemingly never ending energy darting around the stage made the crowd keep up with him for the entire set.

Australia Rock royalty The Living End were greeted to an absolutely packed marquee. The crowd were amped as the day turned into night. Double J live attended and were live recording the session for the people who could not make it to the festival. Chris Cheney’s high energy and spectacular finger plucking genius melted the faces and souls of everyone present to catch these top rate musicians and long standing fan favourites as he rushed all over the stage. Scott Owen’s following their high energy as he climbed all over his double bass with the theatrics and adrenalin fuelled balancing act which traditionally pulls the crowd into even more of a frenzy. This band is not only extremely talented but as performers their energy, enthusiasm and happiness leaked out into the bodies that were non stop bouncing, singing to the band, to each other and they were probably the biggest highlight of the entire festival.

Tex Perkins the Man in Black, one of Australia’s Rock n Roll outlaws walked onto the Delta stage as the American singer-songwriter Johnny Cash. As a Bluesfest only performance he proceeded with a band in toe to delight his fans with an hours’ worth of covers, that of which he did a fantastic job in paying homage to the late Johnny Cash who passed away in September 2003.

L.A.B formed by drummer, producer Brad Kora after his split from much-loved New Zealand band Kora hit the stage with full fire in their bellies. Their eclectic mix of reggae, electronic, funk and rock sent out a groove that could be felt amongst the masses as everyone lost their inhibitions and danced like no one was watching. A sure crowd favourite and their most popular track ‘In the Air’ resonated on into the atmosphere. L.A.B have released an album every year since their first album debut in 2017 proving themselves to be one of New Zealand’s hardest-working acts, with no signs of slowing down.

Sydney rock band Hoodoo Gurus gave us a taste of what it was like to be a young impressionable human living in the early 80s. David Faulkner looking very much at home front and centre in his silver suit jacket. This was Hoodoo Gurus first ever Bluesfest and the crowd was very much delighted to see them play some of their best tracks such as ‘What’s my Scene’, ‘Bittersweet’ and ‘1000 Miles Away’.

Midnight Oil, were a huge draw card for the majority of the audience as they absolutely packed the tent and were spilling out all around the outside of the tent covering almost every inch surrounding the stage. Peter Garrett's iconic dance moves in real life definitely lived up to expectations. Almost everyone in the crowd was singing along to their famous songs and a lot of people had fresh T-Shirts that they bought from the merch stand. The long staying band kicked off a two-hour show stopping performance as a part of their World tour ‘Resist’. The show was electric as they gave everyone under the big top a full scope into their newly released album and as we edged every closer to midnight the crowd were quick to rise and sing along to some of their older anthems like ‘Beds are Burning’ and ‘Power and the Passion’. Midnight Oil have said that this tour will be their last, taking it to the World stages in June beginning in the U.S.A before Europe and New Zealand so if you’ve never seen them, now may be your last chance.

PHOTOS BY: MONIKA OBERSCHEVEN-SMITH

Round Mountain Girls