Jody
Indie pop
I recently sustained a back injury during an especially aggressive game of ten pin bowling. It caused several weeks of serious pain. After enduring an endless stream of complaints, a friend gave me some codeine. What followed was the best night I’d had in ages – no back pain and a wonderful cloud of bemusement to sit within. Jody wrote a perky indie pop song that explains my joy. It’s called ‘Codeine’.
Thursday June 9 – Newtown Social Club – Sydney, NSW (w/ Last Dinosaurs)
UNEARTHED | FACEBOOK | SOUNDCLOUD
Banoffee
Electropop/R&B
I had some initial reluctance towards Banoffee, largely due to the tentative feeling that was present during her early shows. But while I wasn’t paying attention, Banoffee became one of Australia’s more interesting electro/R&B artists. She could probably excel at straight down the line pop numbers, but the sense of unease conveyed by her latest single ‘I’m Not Sorry’ suggests that’s not where her talents would be best deployed.
Thursday June 9 – The Foundry – Brisbane, QLD
Wabz
Garage/house
The champion of Melbourne’s garage/house underground, Nick Wuksta is on a roll. As Wabz he released one of last year’s standout releases, Argyle, which took Boards of Canada atmospherics for a melancholic cruise. He recently dropped the Sleep Less EP, which has a disturbed ebb and flow, like a child after a bottle of butterscotch schnapps.
Thursday June 9 – The Evelyn Hotel – Melbourne, VIC
BANDCAMP | SOUNDCLOUD | UNEARTHED
Fat Yahoozah
World fusion
Fat Yahoozah look out at world music and grab a bit of everything that takes their fancy. There’s klezmer, mariachi and afrobeat merged with Middle Eastern scales and ska rhythms. Is this what we’d call cultural appropriation? Well, it’s all done respectfully, and it sure as shit beats some fuckin’ idiots declaring themselves a “real rock’n’roll band” while detailing their misogynistic worldview.
Friday June 10 – Oxford Circus – Sydney, NSW
BANDCAMP | SOUNDCLOUD | FACEBOOK
Crepes
Dream pop
Crepes have a nice n’ dreamy new single called ‘Hidden Star’. It’s a pleasant slice of nourishment, even if the intro is modelled on ‘Strawberry Fields Forever’. Or maybe it’s because of that? Either way, I’ll not hesitate to press play again once it’s done.
Saturday June 10 – Black Bear Lodge – Brisbane, QLD
SOUNDCLOUD | FACEBOOK | BANDCAMP
The Vilenettes
Rock/psychobilly
Does anyone remember Friendly, the late’90s/early-‘00s dance producer? He had a hit with the song ‘I Love You But…’ The second half of the titular line was “…if you treat me like shit you can just fuck off.” Jeez, calm down mate. Adelaide’s The Villenettes have a new single with a similar title: ‘I Love You But… Rum Is Better’. I much prefer the sentiment, and the power pop hooks are pretty great too.
Saturday June 11 – Grace Emily Hotel – Adelaide, SA
Possible Humans
Mope rock
Possible Humans have a new single out through the Day Ravies-led imprint Strange Pursuits. The A-side ‘Cuz’ features guitars and downcast vocals, but Possible Humans aren’t just delivering more of the same indie clutter. The track’s got an unexpected weight. It’s not maudlin or led by pea-brained self-loathing. Rather, there’s melodic finesse infused in the ruminative arrangement, sparking empathetic engagement.
Saturday June 11 – The Old Bar – Melbourne, VIC
BANDCAMP | SOUNDCLOUD | FACEBOOK
Caitlin Harnett
Folk
Caitlin Harnett’s singer-songwriter folk rock is patently indebted to ‘60s/’70s bigwigs like Joni Mitchell and Jackson Browne. Then again, so is much of the folky singer-songwriter fare that’s come out in recent years. But by going back to the source material, Harnett writes songs at once nostalgic and flickering with new possibilities.
Sunday June 12 – Lazybones Lounge – Sydney, NSW
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Lost Animal
Art pop
Last time I saw Lost Animal’s Jarrod Quarrell he was dressed up as a Transdev employee and presenting Alex Cameron’s business partner/saxophonist Roy Molloy with an award for best tram conductor of the year. Perhaps he’s taken a method-acting approach to the project’s next album, inserting himself into the shoes of everyday Australians. Even if that were the case, I doubt he’d be able to supress the weirdo pop impulses that caused 2011’s Ex Tropical to become such an addiction.
Sunday June 12 – Shadow Electric Bandroom – Melbourne, VIC
Mt Mountain
Psych/drone rock
As soon as I hear the words “doom” or “stoner” used as prefixes for “rock” I get dizzy and fall asleep, hoping to wake up somewhere far away from whoever was trying to subject me such nauseating, middle of the road music. Anyway, Mt Mountain have associated themselves with acts in this vein, but their new LP Cosmos Terros isn’t one of those “look at us we’re blokes with facial hair and guitars tuned to drop C” affairs. Yeah, it’s got riffs, and songs that last eight minutes, but there’s also a meditative aspect and sections of psychedelic intrigue.
Sunday June 12 – The Bird – Perth, WA
