Loving live music isn’t just about attending music festivals and seeing an international artist’s massive arena show. Even the biggest of big-name headliners started in the trenches, on the sticky carpets and bandrooms of your local bars and pubs – which is exactly where you should be if you want to discover your new favourite band or venue. Here’s our picks for this week’s best local gigs from Aussie talent – from Perth to the East Coast – and all for the price of a good meal.
Yeo
Where? Northcote Social Club, 301 High Street, Northcote
When? Friday 6 June, 8:30pm
Why? It’s the long weekend and with this comes an extra day of recovery, right? So why not kickstart your three days of freedom by trekking northside to get loose with Yeo in celebration of his latest single, ‘Kobe’. The track is laden with shimmering synths and a big fat chunky-bass line that is virtually impossible not to bounce to, just ask the 50,000+ plays from listeners of the song over on Soundcloud. Joining Yeo-man is chill-pop crew I’ll Be An Indian that thankfully remind us of The Postal Service as well as disco-beat crew New Gods who released their debut album Beloved for free!
Tickets & Info: $15, www.facebook.com & https://corner.ticketscout.com.au
Sons of Rico
Where? Ding Dong Lounge, 18 Market Lane, Melbourne CBD
When? Sunday 8 June, 8:00pm
Why? Yeah, winter is here, and any Melbourner knows winter nights down here can be pretty damn cruel…but don’t worry, we’ve got just the cure. West Coast outfit Sons of Rico are due to hit the CBD this weekend to rescue us all from the impending gloom with their foot-stompin’, sun-scortched, fat-riffed indie-rock jams. The band will be celebrating the launch of their latest single ‘Adjustable Value’. Despite the band have relocated to Melbourne last year, there is a strong sense of faith in knowing this band hail from Perth, a city that consistently spits out some of the best fuckin’ music talent this country has seen. For a mere $12 you can too dig Acid Westerns and The Living Eyes. Say happy birthday the Queen the right way.
Tickets & Info: $12, www.facebook.com & www.dingdonglounge.com.au
Society of Tastemakers and Elegant People (STEP) feat: Milwaukee Banks + Lower Spectrum + LUEN DJs
Where? Boney, 68 Little Collins St, Melbourne CBD
When? Wednesday 4 June, 7:30pm
Why? Interested in the inner-workings of Australia’s music industry AND want to dig some of the freshest acts in the country? Well, STEP right up! Hosted by the crew at Higher Plains and Viceroyalty, this humpday event will first witness an intimate panel discussion on “Young Labels” which will be moderated by Poncho.tv founder Nick Clarke which draws together four upcoming names in the Australian independent record industry to investigate how each came to be and what separates them practically and ideologically in their approach to releasing music in 2014. The panel cast includes: Louis Papantos & Will Evans of Zero Through Nine (Leaks, Japanese Wallpaper) through to Dan Dalton from Perth purveyors of cool Pilerats (Sable, Deer), mixtape maestro Luen Jacobs of Sydney’s Hand Games and Lorrae McKenna of Dot Dash/Remote Control (King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard, Courtney Barnett.) Following the conference comes the hiphop beats of Milwaukee Banks, the electronica of Lower Spectrum with a LUEN DJ set to kick-on through to Thursday morning. This will be the first of many from STEP so watch this space!
Tickets & Info: $12, www.facebook.com & http://tickets.boney.net.au
Fishing
Where? The Basement, 7 Macquarie Place, Sydney
When? Thursday 5 June, 7:30pm
Why? Alright Sydney, you’ve had enough good treats come your way with Vivid Music these past few weeks and luckily, the fun isn’t quite over yet. Apart of the harbour city’s cutting edge music conference comes the grossly anticipated debut record release of electronic duo, Fishing. In what has taken a harrowing two years to create, the anticipation of Shy Glow has grown exponentially with fans begging for this day to come. And oh boy Sydneysiders, you are in for a real treat. The Basement will be transformed into a party that is dynamic as the record itself, promising a stunning audiovisual performance from the outfit. Forget The Pixies, this is an event on your Vivid calendar that you simply cannot afford to miss.
Tickets & Info: $15.90, www.facebook.com & www.moshtix.com.au
Stand Out: Lunatics On Pogosticks + Tim Fitz + The Money Go Round + Birds With Thumbs
Where? The Oxford Arts Factory, 38-46 Oxford St, Darlinghurst, Sydney
When? Thursday 5 June, 8:0opm
Why? As a live music fan, there should be nothing more important than supporting your up and coming talent, which is the exact sentiment instilled in the mind of event organiser Michael Hardy. Stand Out is his first initiative to bring “good music to venues to Sydney” which features a handful of fresh-faced artists that you are going to dig. Headlining is none other than Triple J Unearthed winners Lunatics on Pogosticks with their in incredibly infectious bratty-punk low-fi tunes. Alongside this trio is the ambient-looping folky-tinged vocals of Tim Fitz, the harmonic psychedlica sounds of The Money Go Round and the bash n’ crash surf-punk sounds of Birds With Thumbs. For under $10, the good news for Sydney just keeps on coming.
Tickets & Info: $8.20, www.facebook.com & www.moshtix.com.au
Lurch & Chief
Where? Beach Road Hotel, 71 Beach Road Bondi Beach, Sydney
When? Saturday 7 June, 8:00pm
Why? There’s no question that Lurch & Chief are on the rise, with their first single ‘We Are The Same’ charting in Triple J’s Hottest 200, the band’s national fan base is growing. This emphatically warranted by their second single, ‘Mother/Father’ that witnesses the howling vocal back and forth haunts of dual vocalists Lili Hall and Hayden Somerville whilst backed by swirling guitars. The power that emits from this sextet is jaw-dropping which translates seamlessly to their live performance. If that’s not enough, Lurch & Chief will be supported by Zeus and Wish. You’ll leave this venue feeling guilty that the show was for free, trust us.
Tickets & Info: FREE, http://beachroadbondi.com.au
Rag N’ Bone
Where? Rosemount Hotel, 459 Fitzgerald St, North Perth
When? Friday 6 June, 8:00pm
Why? West Coast friends, have we got a corker for you leading into the long weekend! Local quartet Rag n’ Bone have recently finished piecing together their debut EP and are now looking ahead at “phase two of the process” (as the band like to put it) that will witness this weekend’s performance as a live recording. The band have drawn comparison to the bluesy-grit rock of PJ Harvey as well as post-punk elements of Aussie fuzz legends The Birthday Party for their track ‘Crossing’ – pretty bloody nice accolades, eh? Partying down with the four-piece are local growling grungers FOAM, feisty rockers Catbrush and low-fi surf-punkers Aborted Tortoise.
Tickets & Info: $10, www.facebook.com & http://rosemounthotel.com.au
Leure
Where? Mojo’s Bar 237 Queen Victoria St, North Fremantle
When? Saturday 7 June, 8:00pm
Why? Calling all Perth pals, your beloved Leure is leaving the West Coast for the canaled pastures of Amsterdam for an artist residency and to write her debut record, but before she goes – she wants to throw one last hurrah and guess what? You’re invited! If you’re unfamiliar with the workings of this solo artist, Leure is an ambient-electronica purist that produces mind-warps into the stratosphere that are perfectly partnered with her wispy, dream-like vocals. This ‘last time for a long time’ party will include the likes of the incredibly lush chill-beats of Leon Osborne and the looping Catlips. Send Leure the best way you know, Perth!
Tickets & Info: $10, www.facebook.com & www.mojosbar.com.au
The Bear Hunt
Where? The Zoo, 711 Ann St, Fortitude Valley, Brisbane
When? Thursday 5 June, 7:00pm
Why? We’re not sure what it is about Queensland and the staggering amount of quality garage rock that the sunny state produces, and so long as it don’t stop – frankly we don’t care! The Bear Hunt are a shining example plucked from this ever-growing pool of talent of the north. The quartet produce that kind of desert rock championed by the likes of Kyuss but with a more low-fi fuzz and buzz best found in the wondrous golden alt-rock years of the 1990s. Supporting the Built To Spill sound-alikes are homegrown grungies The Buzzrays and pop-punkstress Mallory Vanetti.
Tickets & Info: $8, www.facebook.com & www.thezoo.com.au
