BUD ROKESKY OUTSIDER RAINBOW VALLEY RECORDS A tall, lanky, dark-haired, truck-driving, songwriting stranger. It might sound like a country music cliche but that’s a snapshot of the enigmatic and supremely talented Bud Rokesky, who was interviewed in the last issue of Rhythms. It’s been a while coming for this late bloomer but Outsider is a … Continue reading
Category Archives: Alt-Country
ESSENTIAL AMERICANA ALBUMS: Gram Parsons – Grievous Angel (1974)
Gram Parsons is something of a golden inter-connector, a conduit between the worlds of country music and rock ’n’ roll. You can add folk music to the mix to, given his late teen years as a member of the Shilohs in South Carolina. Through the International Submarine Band, the Byrds and the Flying Burrito Brothers, … Continue reading
VIDEO PREMIERE: Hana & Jessie-Lee’s Bad Habits – Arrowhead
Melbourne-based Hana Brenecki and guitarist Jessie-Lee Zubkevych are working towards the release of a new album in early 2024 but the good news is they’re already releasing music from it. First up it’s the stunning single ‘Arrowhead‘ which drifts and sways with a gentle rock ‘n’ roll sashay, draped in heavenly country-soul. Hana’s voice has … Continue reading
ALBUM REVIEW: Steve Lane – The Great Imposter
STEVE LANE THE GREAT IMPOSTER Last Night From Glasgow The day I put Lane’s new LP – and yes, it’s vinyl, and sort of camouflage green at that – on my turntable, on his Facebook he announced the fact, as much a surprise to him as to his followers, that The Great Imposter is #8 … Continue reading
VIDEO PREMIERE: Rusty Pickups – Canary
South Queensland band Rusty Pickups have a new EP called Rattle In My Heart on the horizon and last week they released the title-track single ‘Canary’, under licence from Near Enough Records (Mt. Morning, Kyle Jenkins). It’s a gently anthemic song that showcases the desperation of lost love, and yet still builds to leave a … Continue reading
SIX STRINGS Q&A: MATT JOE GOW
Matt Joe Gow has a brand new album out tomorrow (Fri, March 10th) and between his just completed Aotearoa/NZ tour and the start of a new run of dates in Australia, Matt kindly took the time to answer our Six Strings Q&A. The new album, Between Tonight & Tomorrow is a superb collection of Americana … Continue reading
MT. MORNING TAKE FLIGHT ON THEIR FIRST SINGLE UNDER THEIR NEW NAME
The Toowoomba QLD / Tokyo Japan band have today released the first taste of their forthcoming album Restorations, their first release since the band retired their previous incarnation (Suicide Swans) and a refreshed line-up reconvened as Mt. Morning. With the ever prolific Kyle Jenkins at the helm it’s clear the band are steering into a … Continue reading
SIX STRINGS Q&A: Bud Rokesky
I’ve been hooked on the music of Bud Rokesky since seeing him play at Dashville Skyline last October and over the last couple of months I’ve been lucky enough to listen to an advance copy of his exceptional debut album Outsider, which will be released on February 17th via Rainbow Valley Records. I’ve got a … Continue reading
SINGLE PREMIERE: MFV – Twin Cowboy
MFV are a six-piece band hailing from the Wollongong area who first began as life-long friends jamming in various garages and halls south of Sydney in 2019. Some of the members also play in shoegaze band Miners (check out their self-titled 2021 album) and you can definitely hear the textural nuances and dynamics of that … Continue reading
DAN BRODIE FEELS THE LOVE IN NEW VIDEO CLIP
Dan Brodie has been a mainstay of Australian alt-country and heartfelt rock ‘n’ roll for nigh on three decades now and he keeps on delivering, whether it’s dark, hot blooded rock or brooding, atmospheric country ballads. His latest single ‘(I Can Feel) Love Closing In’ falls into the latter camp. It’s draped in melancholic romanticism … Continue reading
TEX PERKINS & THE FAT RUBBER BAND RELEASE NEW SINGLE OF LUSTFUL INTENT
Tex Perkins & The Fat Rubber Band are proud to reveal single number two from their forthcoming album Other World with the hypnotic and languid groove of ‘(I Wanna Be) Close To You‘. It’s a song that slinks into the room with a sultry swing and swagger, a wink and a beckoning finger. Tex describes it as “pop, rock … Continue reading
LUCERO RELEASE NEW SINGLE ‘MACON IF WE MAKE IT’, ALBUM OUT FEB 24TH
Based on the sound of the songs already released, Lucero look to be in fine form on their new album Should’ve Learned By Now, out Feb 24th via Liberty & Lament/Thirty Tigers. Inspired by an impending hurricane, the song draws parallels between a literal storm and a troubled relationship back home, before the listener is … Continue reading
VIDEO: Dave Favours & The Roadside Ashes – There Goes The Neighbourhood
Dave Favours and band released their latest Cheap Motels After Midnight album in April and to round out a successful year the Sydney alt-country group have released the video clip for the single ‘There Goes The Neighbourhood‘, a song that takes a bleak look at the changing times, people and places of their hometown. According … Continue reading
FAVOURITE AU/NZ ALBUMS 2022
As always, it’s been another strong year for local releases in 2022, as artists find their feet again and cast their creative efforts out into the world after a couple of years of turmoil. Ahead of our main album list for the year, here are our eleven favourite Australian and Aotearoa/NZ albums for 2022. As … Continue reading
FLEUR WIBER BUILDS A SWEET COUNTRY GROOVE ON ‘PLASTIC SKYSCRAPERS’
Sydney songwriter Fleur Wiber has impressed with her previous releases, both solo and with Chris Carrapetta. Her latest release is ‘Plastic Skyscrapers‘, a song that perfectly the blends classic and contemporary strains of country music, yet still with a gentle cosmic folk drift in its DNA. Drums shuffle, guitars twang & tumble along while a … Continue reading