WILD HONEY
Surf Pop
The Beach Boys’ Wild Honey is a fantastic album of challenging yet digestible pop. It followed the excessively laborious Smiley Smile LP, and switched things up with an emphasis on soul and R&B. I reckon Sydney foursome Wild Honey have listened to a bit of Beach Boys, though their sound takes more cues from ‘60s contemporaries like The Zombies and The Byrds.
Thursday February 25 – Oxford Art Factory – Sydney, NSW
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EVANDA
Hip Hop
Perth MC Evanda is talented behind the mic. He’s got a lot of self-confidence too, which is more or less essential in the realm of hip hop. He teamed up with producer Mateo on the single ‘Yellow’, who matched Evanda’s liquid flow with old-timey melodic sounds and a dirty boom bap beat. It’s good shit. I look forward to an expansion of his lyrical capacity.
Thursday February 25 – Mojos – Perth, WA
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MITCH MITTY HALL
Chamber Pop
This is music that encourages you to cry. Not in a “go have a cry about it” way, but to remind you of how healthy, even uplifting, a good hearty cry can be. Mitty Hall has a comforting baritone that swims in synchronicity with chamber pop chord sequences, cleansing you from the distractions of the present.
Thursday February 25 – The Bird – Perth, WA
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ECCA VANDAL
Punk/Electronic
Ecca Vandal stormed into sight a couple years back, announcing her arrival with an idiosyncratic blend of punk rock and alternative electropop. She’s not all about big gestures though, and the title track of her new EP End of Time shows her music is just as effective when handled with restraint.
Friday February 26 – Rocket Bar – Adelaide, SA
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ZEFERELI
Indie Pop
Zefereli is a few consonants short of Italian cinematic knighthood. Franco Zeffirelli’s 1967 film production of Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew is just a Heath Ledger short of perfect. But don’t confuse him with Brisbane musician and studio wiz Zefereli, who’s known for pumping out light-infused, neatly produced indie pop.
Friday February 26 – Newtown Social Club – Sydney, NSW
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THE UV RACE
Gutter Glam
UV Race performances haven’t been unbearably rare of late, but every time they play you get the sense it could be the last time. It’s at the essence of the band to sound like things are falling to pieces. Only, where that’d be a detractor for many musicians, The UV Race know how to make magic happen in the cracks.
Saturday February 27 – The Tote – Melbourne, VIC
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EWAH
Electronic Pop
Some of my favourite contemporary cricketers are from Tasmania: George Bailey, James Faulkner, Tim Paine. Test cricket’s a very superstitious game, and also one that requires loving commitment from its players. Tasmanian solo artist Ewah has a new single called ‘Superstition or Love’. It’s elegant and leisurely at the surface with plenty of emotions brewing below – a description that could be applied to test cricket.
Saturday February 27 – Brisbane Hotel – Hobart, TAS
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FLOWERTRUCK
Garage Pop
Here we go again – a bunch of good for nothings holed up in the garage making simplified Springsteen power-belters. Flowertruck aren’t doing anything you haven’t heard before – the guitars jangle, the drums hit like there’s no tomorrow, and the melodies don’t know whether to smile or frown. But that doesn’t mean it’s not a joyous ride.
Saturday February 27 – The Foundry – Brisbane, QLD
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BANFF
Indie Pop
Big things happening around Brisbane this Saturday arvo/evening courtesy of the Valley Crawl. On board is a stack of the city’s finest rising indie pop and alt rock bands. Banff falls towards the folk end of the indie spectrum, more Bon Iver than Kurt Vile. His music takes itself seriously, but it’s not too up-itself to let you in on a few secrets.
Saturday February 27 – Black Bear Lodge – Brisbane, QLD
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CLOSET STRAIGHTS
Alt Pop
Closet Straights have a song called ‘Eight Days’. The hook extends the line to “Eight days a week.” Is it brave to interpolate The Beatles? Probably not, especially compared to something like climbing the Arts Centre spire in support of fair treatment of refugees. Anyway, Closet Straights get away with it thanks to a song that’s catchy and witty in its own right.
Sunday February 28 – The Old Bar – Melbourne, VIC
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