Richard Cuthbert
Pop Rock
Sydney bloke Richard Cuthbert would’ve fared well in the Recovery era. His lighthearted pop rock tunes portray him as a nice guy leading a somewhat aimless, haphazard life. He’s trying his darndest though, tempering earnestness with loose arrangements and oddball pop mechanics.
Thursday November 10 – Newtown Social Club – Sydney, NSW
Cat Dog Bird
Folk
Cat Dog Bird, three animals, a simple descriptive band name. Though, it leaves plenty to the imagination. Is this trio friends? Do they live together? HAVE THEY EVEN MET? Goodness me. Anyway, led by Jen Lush and Andy Voigt, Adelaide’s Cat Dog Bird make folky pop songs that speak of experiential disappointment and steadfast endurance. And they sound like a group of friends.
Thursday November 10 – Grace Emily Hotel – Adelaide, SA
Lowtide
Shoegaze
Flippin’ tit Lowtide, would you hurry up and make some more music? It’s now gone 16 months since the Melbourne shoegazers’ ‘Julia/Spring’ 7”, and even that was made up of a cover and an album outtake. No complaints though – the band’s rework of Asylum Party’s ‘Julia’ was one of the songs of 2015. But still, give us some brand new shit already. Friday November 11 – The Old Bar – Melbourne, VIC
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Alice Ivy
Electrosoul
Alice Ivy has appeared in this column more times than just about anyone else. And yet, I haven’t actually seen her play live. “What’s you problem?” I hear you ask. “That’s another story for another time,” I humbly reply. But more to the point, Ivy makes friggin’ groovy electrosoul numbers with help from such vocalists as Chloe Beckwith and the members of RaRa. I hotly anticipate seeing it go down live. Friday November 11 – The Foundry – Brisbane, QLD
Laura Jean
Folk/Indie
A Laura Jean show is the gift that keeps on giving. That’s a hackneyed phrase and she deserves better than that, but no matter how times you’ve seen the Melbourne songwriter, the appeal refuses to dwindle. Jean is one of the most incisive and singular observationalists working in contemporary Australian music. At present she’s touring to celebrate the tenth anniversary of her 2006 LP Our Swan Song.
Friday November 11 – Northcote Social Club – Melbourne, VIC
Ceres
Emo
Melbourne emo dudes Ceres have a new record called Drag It Down On You. It’s full of switched on emotion – not characterised by a yearning or listless tone; it just feels honest. And there are some pretty loud guitars in there too.
Saturday November 12 – Newtown Social Club – Sydney, NSW
Loobs
Garage Punk
If you write 58008 into a calculator then turn it upside down, I’m fairly certain it spells Loobs. OK, perhaps not quite, but Loobs’ loose, slacker garage tunes suggest they might’ve done a fair portion of dicking around in their teens.
Saturday November 12 – The Tote – Melbourne, VIC
TEES
Dance/Pop
If this year’s global affairs have left you feeling despondent and lacking in verve, then stick on Tees and fucking let rip on the dance floor. This is feel good shit with some earworm melodies to boot.
Saturday November 12 – Woolly Mammoth – Brisbane, QLD
Foam
Alt Rock
Grungey Perth three-piece Foam have a new single. It’s called ‘Get On Board’. The chorus lyrics are thus: “Don’t go wasting all your time / There’s no such thing as real life.” I can dig it. At least in the privileged world, we’ve got a choice, some room to move, a chance to pursue our dreams, so to speak. All of it’s real life, though.
Saturday November 12 – The Bird – Perth, WA
Ben Salter
Rock
Ben Salter’s still hopping around playing tunes from last year’s The Stars My Destination LP. The record puts the spotlight on Salter’s personable vocal demeanour, which makes it sound like he’s right there having a yarn. That’s even more the case when he’s standing in front of you on a stage.
Sunday November 13 – Republic Bar – Hobart, TAS
