When Kyle Jenkins sings ‘I fell in love with your methadone eyes, upon the ground where we lied’, it gives you an idea of the territory that Suicide Swans are operating in – warts and all human emotion and experience. It’s tempered with a sympathetic and empathetic casting of Augusta’s characters and presented in a … Continue reading
Category Archives: Rock
ALBUM REVIEW: Ruby Boots – Don’t Talk About It
Since her 2014 debut album Solitude, Ruby Boots (Bex Chilcott) received the Australian Government’s Council for the Arts’ Nashville Songwriter Residency grant, packed up her belongings, headed to the USA, wrote her new album and recorded with the Texas Gentlemen as her backing band. Don’t Talk About It is a leap forward for Chilcott, both … Continue reading
NEWS: PTW Launches the Post To Wireless Music Show
Today we’ve posted the first episode of our brand new online music show Post To Wireless. Its current home is on Mixcloud where we’ll be publishing a new show each fortnight. Join me, Chris Familton, for a selection of alt-country, folk, blues and rock ‘n’ roll songs, information and interviews. We’ll be drawing from the … Continue reading
NEWS: Josh T. Pearson announces new LP ‘The Straight Hits!’
The enigma that is Josh T. Pearson first made his name at the helm of the epic and apocalyptic post-rock trio Lift To Experience (The Texas-Jerusalem Crossroads). Following the band’s dissolution he went solo, releasing the intense Last Of The Country Gentlemen in 2011. Now, after reuniting with LTE and playing a handful of shows, … Continue reading
VIDEO: Suicide Swans – Yearling
Suicide Swans released one of our favourite alt-country albums of 2017 and now they’ve released a clip for one Augusta’s many highlights – ‘Yearling’. You can read a review of the album in the current Jan/Feb 2018 issue of Rhythms magazine. ‘Yearling’ explores the confusion, isolation and pain that can come with finding your way … Continue reading
LIVE REVIEW: Marlon Williams @ Oxford Art Factory
Marlon Williams + Archer @ Oxford Art Factory, Nov 15th 2017 With a career that continues to go from strength to strength, this was a key and fascinating moment to hear and see Marlon Williams perform songs from his forthcoming second album Make Way For Love, ahead of its February release. Archer opened the evening with a … Continue reading
NEW MUSIC: Ruby Boots – It’s So Cruel
Ruby Boots is back with ‘It’s So Cruel’ the first single and video clip from her forthcoming new LP Don’t Talk About It. The song is Ruby Boots going technicolour with a big post-modern soul/pop stomp on the back of buzzing guitar and that voice that emanates coyness and attitude as it unleashes a … Continue reading
LIVE REVIEW: Son Volt @ Factory Theatre, Sydney
Son Volt, Jason Walker, Fallon Cush @ Factory Theatre, Oct 18th, 2017 Locals Fallon Cush had a short opening slot but they made the most of it, showcasing songs from their brand new album Morning and making a strong case for them being the most in-form country-rock band in Sydney at the moment. Cascading melodies and harmonies … Continue reading
LIVE REVIEW: Justin Townes Earle + Joshua Hedley + The Sadies @ Factory Theatre, Sydney
Justin Townes Earle, Joshua Hedley, The Sadies @ Factory Theatre, Sydney, Oct 17th, 2017 After the failure to get Melbourne’s Out On The Weekend Americana music festival up and running in Sydney, we should feel lucky we still get to experience all the acts playing their own sideshows here. It amounts to a week of treats … Continue reading
ALBUM REVIEW: P.C. & The Biffs – One Way In
Pete Cullen has doubled down on releases in 2017 with the more alt-country album No Way Out also being released at the same time as One Way In. The difference is that this one is firmly in the rockabilly camp. Electric guitars bristle and distort, drums stomp and hit a heavy shuffle while the bass … Continue reading
LIVE REVIEW: Dashville Skyline Festival 2017
Now in its third year, Belford’s Dashville Skyline is fast becoming a fixture on the alt-country, psych and rock’n’roll calendar, this year showcasing artists from Australia, New Zealand, the USA and Ireland. Only 2.5 hours north of Sydney, it all comes together on the Johnston family farm, with the festival (plus Gum Ball and Thrashville) managed … Continue reading
VIDEO PREMIERE: Suicide Swans – Horses
Suicide Swans are a five-piece alt-country/rock band from Toowoomba QLD who have been strumming their way through South East Queensland since 2012. ‘Horses’ is the first single to come from their LP Augusta, due of November 17th. This will be their second full length album following Ghosts We Forget in 2015. ‘Horses’ has a great sound … Continue reading
LIVE REVIEW: Ruby Boots @ Brighton Up Bar, Sydney
Ruby Boots + James Thomson @ Brighton Up Bar, Darlinghurst NSW, Sept 27th 2017 Back in Australia to play Out On The Weekend, the Australian Americana Music Honours event and some solo shows to showcase her forthcoming new album, Ruby Boots is on the cusp of another exciting chapter in her musical career. This was … Continue reading
NEWS: Dylan announces massive Bootleg Series release of the ‘gospel years’
This has always been one of the more fascinating periods of Dylan’s career, when he started exploring gospel music and religious-leaning song subject matter. Due from Columbia and Legacy on November 3rd, Trouble No More: The Bootleg Series Vol. 13 / 1979-1981 focuses on Dylan’s so-called “gospel years”. The Deluxe Edition features nine discs – 8 … Continue reading
ALBUM REVIEW: Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit – The Nashville Sound
In the space of his last two albums Jason Isbell’s status has rocketed from ex-Drive-By Trucker and respected songwriter to Grammy and Americana Association awards winner and one of the most acclaimed of this generation’s Americana/country artists, alongside Sturgill Simpson and Chris Stapleton. The Nashville Sound is a re-framing of Isbell, with his long-serving band … Continue reading