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November

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Gig ReviewsReviews
November 14, 2022
STM

The Black Crowes @ Enmore Theatre, Sydney 13/11/2022

To say I was a little excited for tonight’s proceedings would certainly be an understatement. Not only have I been a huge fan of hard blues rockers from Georgia since they first formed, but I have always regarded the bands 1990 debut album Shake Your Money Maker as one of my all-time favourite albums, so to hear this gem played in its entirety was something I had been looking forward to witnessing the moment Live Nation announced this tour months ago. I arrived at the venue early to find a large number of fans had the same idea… As the show last night was not only the first on the bands national run, but it was also Sold-out and diehards were there early to make sure they secured the best spots to witness the magic that is a Black Crowes Live Concert experience.

With only minutes left to spare before the show kicked off there was barely standing room left inside the venue and as the lights went down the crowd went wild…. Hitting the stage one at a time and leading the charge was guitarist Rich Robinson who returned to the band in 2019 after a four year absence, next up strutting his stuff across the stage floor was the all rockin ever so charismatic front-man Chris Robinson who you could tell was all revved up and ready to rock. The group which also consists of bassist Sven Pipien; guitarist Isaiah Mitchell best known for his work with San Diego Psychedelic rockers Earthless, drummer Brian Griffin and keyboardist Joel Robinow made for the perfect line-up to present such an iconic album.

The band opened with the killer opening album track Twice as Hard and it was clear instantly that this show was going to be unlike anything I had seen this band do before. Rolling through the album tracks as they play out… Jealous Again, Sister Luck, Could I’ve Been so Blind both the band and crowds sprits were high. Chris worked the stage like to true professional he is.. with more struts than Jagger and rock n’ roll charisma millions would kill to have, Robison performed tonight better than any show I have witnessed in previous years. The band were having a great time onstage, plenty of smiles and laughs and the music…. Well… that’s what it’s all about and on that front the Black Crowes delivered in spades! I must also give props to the backing vocalists onstage with the band, these girls are truly incredible and shine through on gems such as Remedy and Seeing Things which is a personal favourite.

It was clear that the crowd favourites were the smash hits from the debut album She Talks to Angels and the crowd pleasing Hard to Handle, and I must admit witnessing and being part of the sold-out crowd that was singing along to this one was pretty amazing. Thick and Thin, Struttin Blues and the opening album track were among some of my highlights from last night’s show. It is quite hard to pinpoint just one favourite song or moment when the band is on fire the moment, they walk out onstage delivering what I would consider to be an ultimate fan set-list. Outside of playing every track from Shake your Money Maker the band also pulled out some killer tracks that spanned the bands career including By your Side, Thorn in my Pride and Wiser Time to name a few.

The band who are set to perform a second show tonight in Sydney and are going around the country over coming days will no doubt have every punter leaving these shows with a smile on their face and wanting more… The sound was incredible lights beautiful and the entire concert experience just perfect!

If you have a chance to get along to any of these shows do so. Music lovers across Australia will be speaking about these shows for years to come… do not miss this magical rock n roll experience!

More chances to catch THE BLACK CROWES including tonight back at the ENMORE THATRE in Sydney. 

ENMORE THEATRE, SYDNEY                    MONDAY NOVEMBER 14*

FORTITUDE MUSIC HALL, BRISBANE      WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 16* SOLD OUT

FORTITUDE MUSIC HALL, BRISBANE      THURSDAY NOVEMBER 17* NEW SHOW

HARVEST ROCK, ADELAIDE                      SATURDAY NOVEMBER 19

PALACE FORESHORE, MELBOURNE       SUNDAY NOVEMBER 20**

TICKETS ON SALE NOW

 

For complete tour and ticket information, visit: livenation.com.au or blackcrowes.com

 

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Gig ReviewsReviews
November 13, 2022
Midnite Mitch

Enter Shikari @ Forum Theatre, Melbourne 11/11/2022

The Forum in Melbourne would have to be one of my favourite venues, it looks absolutely stunning and I’m yet to hear a bad mix there, it’s magic. It has been a few years since I was last here and it still blows my mind when walking in. For those of you who haven’t been there, think a Greek auditorium inside a venue, an incredibly high ceiling with lights that look like stars, my words won’t do it justice, just go to a show there. It’s the perfect setting for tonight’s upbeat and energetic crowd who are an incredibly mixed bag, there were death metal shirts, the hardcore/punk shirts, the goth chicks, the woo girls and the guys that looked like they just finished work and come straight to the gig! Everyone was keen to be here.

Opening tonight are local up and comers Windwaker, who I found out during the set was the “new” singers first time fronting the band, apparently there was a change of the guard recently. For a first show taking the front, this guy nailed it. There is a reason these guys are getting more and more hype, they deserve it! Straight from the opening notes they came out hard and fast, the energy was high, and they smashed through their set with incredible precision. They had the crowd in the palm of their hands from the start with their catchy as hell riffs and then won over the filling room with an awesome cover of Britney Spears, Toxic. Great choice for opening tonight’s gig!

Creeper, punk, goth, English rockers had a hard time following up Windwakers incredible set but goddamn, they got there, won over and made a room full of fans out of The Forum by the end of their set. Going from energetic electro metal to a mix between Misfits and My Chemical Romance was a massive difference and you could feel it in the crowd, people were unsure but for their first Aussie gig ever, Creeper showed us the reason that they are the main supports for Enter Shikari. Their energy was incredible and regardless of crowd reaction or how little they had at the start, that front man riled them up got them to start a crowd chant and sing along. They have a female keyboard player who stayed to the back most of the time and had backing vocals occasionally but mid set she grabs a mic and comes center stage and sings a duet song with the male lead and they played their parts well, it was incredible to watch. Their set on a grandiose big sounding song that was the perfect ending and switch to the headliners.

Enter Shikari, the reason we all came out tonight, they bring with them a message of human kindness and disgust at the corporate/capitalist ideals, anyone who has listened to them or seen them live know they carry this mantra or outlook in life. Their crowd have the same vibe, the entire night, everyone is friendly and there to experience the ride of the show. Coming out to The Great Unknown, the crowd immediately starts singing and it doesn’t let up until the end of their set. Rou sets the rules, forget the outside world for the time of the show and 2nd rule is dance like nobody is watching, which everyone did. They blast through a great set of classics and latest material like The Pressure’s on, Dreamers Hotel and Juggernauts. When playing Destablise and Anaesthetist, the venue physically shakes when it hits the breakdown sections and the crowd are jumping, a man-made earthquake, there is no other feeling like it. The band take to the crowd towards the end of the set during Mothership, Chris and Rory jump down for a mosh and then Rou goes rogue and runs around the entire venue jumping through the crowd and crowd surfing everywhere. They end their set with a crowd singalong to Live Outside with and amazing coloured light show to match.

As previously mentioned, the Enter Shikari message carries some weight to it these days, it’s a reminder that you should be kind to each other, we are each human individuals that should be looking out for each other instead of having this ideal that we are against each other in all aspects of life. To live in the moment of the show and forget the worries of the outside world for 90mins is a small reprieve that they like to remind people. I don’t tend to get preachy in these things, but these guys live by their message, check them out if you haven’t already, well worth the listen.

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Gig ReviewsReviews
November 9, 2022
Cassandra Hale

An Exclusive Evening with TLC @ Palais Theatre, Melbourne 8/11/2022

Melbourne had delivered a stunning day as I made my way around the bay and into my beloved Palais Theatre. The picturesque sunset was breath-taking and it made you feel good to be alive. It has been a long time and yet I felt like I was being welcomed back by an old friend as I entered the iconic theatre.  There was a buzz back around live music, and it was so exciting to be part of it again.

The wait has been long, but TLC have made it back to our shores and we are absolutely ecstatic to get a dose of hip-hop and R & B with the one of the most influential female artists of all time. You could feel the crackle of electricity as the fans took their seats and hum across the venue was alive. It is such a testament to how badly we have missed this and how delighted everyone is to get back to life again. With over 65 million albums sold worldwide it is suffice to say that the diehards have flocked out for this standalone show after the Fridayz Live juggernaut has been rolling across the country.

Melbourne hip hop artist KYE opened the nights proceedings after a short DJ set from DJ TJ, KYE warmed up the crowd with vigour and had peeps bobbing in their seats within minutes. It was terrific to see the hometown support and KYE lapped it up, still quite stunned to be opening for her idols. Her last two songs saw the arrival of six dancers join her onstage, the crowd loved the new addition and it lifted her set to a new level.  With only a 30 mins slot, time flew by but it was filled with some very cool tunes and killer moves which I really enjoyed, KYE was engaging and worked the stage like a professional, definitely one to check out.

After a brief interval the hum had doubled and the fans were champing at the bit to get their share of TLC. As the DJ worked the tables and the band took their place the screams were ear piercing, and the theatre erupted as T-Boz and Chilli appeared to hands in the air and exciting gasps from every corner. Not a person was left seated as TLC opening with Ain’t To Proud To Beg to whoops of joy, the girls strutted their stuff and boy can they still strut! The stage was a flurry of dancers and lights and a huge screen added to the atmosphere reeling pictures and dazzling displays throughout the show. While TLC are still going strong after 30 years the girls do not seem to have aged a day, still looking young and fresh and cutting the moves with the best of them. Baby-Baby-Baby was a fan favourite, the crowd raising their voices to sing along. There was no time for breaks as the songs flowed on swiftly with some mind-blowing dancing in between filling the gaps while the girls caught their breath.

Creep had everyone up and about and Unpretty was glorious with a stunning montage of butterflies and the like on the big screen. A song that resonates strongly with the judgement being weighed on people constantly. I think we all need to remember to love yourself for who you are and not what people expect you to look like! The stage glistened red as Red Light Special rang out. Then T-Boz took to the decks for a quick spin while Chilli wowed us with her dance moves, jumping in with the four sensational dancers who did not stop the whole night. Their energy was infectious, and their faces glowed with enjoyment, a true sign of a unified group.  

No Scrubs needed no introduction, but Chilli took the time to tell the younger members of the audience to by-pass the boys that are ‘hanging out the passenger side of their best friend’s ride’, and to dream big. It was refreshing words and hopefully ones that are taken under advisement. The crowd was electric and they enjoyed every word, hands in the air swaying from side to side as Waterfalls rang out, a beautiful song and the perfect closer for the night. The water washed from the on-stage screens and the theatre was alive with love singing every word from heart. Our DJ for the night roused the crowd for applause for each member which included the much loved and forever missed Lisa ‘Left Eye’ Lopez. A fitting way to end the night, and the smiles on the faces of the departing fans showed just how much they needed a little TLC in their life.  It was a night filled with nostalgic brilliance and I urge anyone who can get along to the rest of the tour to not delay. You will relive your youth and forget your worries for just a few hours, and you will love every minute.

You're last chance to catch them is this Saturday in Sydney at Fridayz Live

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Album ReviewReviews
November 7, 2022
Midnite Mitch

Devin Townsend – Lightwork

Strap yourselves in and get ready for another journey across the soundscapes with your friendly and loveable Canadian, Devin Townsend. You’re about to go down into a wormhole of strange and wondrous creativity coming out in aural form. Prepare for Lightwork, aptly named, this album is dynamic, creative, cinematic and above all, epic, it makes for incredibly easy listening, which is great because when it comes to Devin Townsend’s music, there are so many layers to it and you can never get everything on the first listen.

Straight off the bat, this guy’s voice is just phenomenal, the range, the way he uses it to set the mood and tone of a song, just as much as his guitars or synths, is just unreal. Yes, that might sound obvious to some people but there are bands out there who use the vocals as the filler part of the song, it’s all about a riff, definitely not the case when it comes to this guy’s music! He keeps his voice cleaner and more ethereal throughout this album but does also throw in some of his classic screams to change it up and make great use of his dynamics. The track Heavy Burden creates a strange effect with multiple voices being blended and layered over each other to sing one line, it’s incredibly well done to have it so clean, it took a few listens to grasp the full effect and hear the multiple layers, this is the kind of creativity that I appreciate, out of the normal thinking that makes the music much more interesting.

Devin Townsend is a busy man, Lightwork is the 5th album he has released in the last 2 years. He released the Quarantine Sets he streamed during 2020, then also Snuggles and The Puzzle and now releasing this little gem. Releasing this amount of content or music just goes to show that he is in this for the art and enjoys showing off his creativeness or it could be that he just needs to get all the crazy music out of his head and will just unleash it upon the world, either way, its good fun.  During the creation process there was a drop of Call of the Void that would be named one of the singles for this album, the other being Moonpeople. These two tracks are probably on the lighter sounding side of the album, but they are just as experimental as the rest. They set the tone that the vocals and synth instruments are more the focal point here than the heavier element. It’s all still there and is more the foundation or the gel holding the songs together.

It wouldn’t be a Devin Townsend album without some completely out there sounds and when you get to Dimensions and hear that incredibly in tune guitar solo (he writes in sarcastica font) you will just smile and laugh because, why the hell not!? Dissonant, I think is the term professionals use with these types of things. Heartbreaker shows a bit more of the weirder side of his creativeness with the number of layers to his music, the guitar riff in this song just has a really nice sway to it, you won’t be able to help but get into it. My favourite track on this album is Celestial Signals, this song is epic, it has a massive sound and will make an incredible addition to the live set. I can see a stadium singing and moving to this one.

From start to finish, Lightwork will have you moving and singing along in no time. It is light at times, it is heavy at times, it can also be downright strange at times, but that’s why you come along to the Devin show, something new and different.

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Gig ReviewsReviews
November 1, 2022
Daron Jacks

George Thorogood @ Forum Theatre, MELBOURNE 28/10/2022

When you’ve been on the road for 50 years there’s sure to be generations of fans, and the snaking line of punters down Flinders St waiting to get into the Forum was a testament to the appeal George Thorogood and the Destroyers have had over the decades.

That eagerness to get into the sold-out venue and plant feet with a cold drink was rewarded with Aussie blues guitarist Hamish Anderson set the tone with some groovin’ blues.

His three-piece band’s 45-minute set was enough to whet the appetite of the full house and gathered new fans along the way.

But everyone was waiting for George, and Barry McGuire’s Eve Of Destruction was cranked up and started a sing along to bring out the band.

The aging blues star and his bandmates shuffled rather than leapt on to stage, and there was an early moment where one could be justified in thinking the old fella, wearing aviators and a bandana, might need a chair.

It was a few minutes into Rock Party before the sunglasses were flung overhead and the bandana was flicked off, and he let his fingers do the heavy lifting with his trademark blues and frequent banter.

He ripped into the band’s latest release, a cover of Bo Diddley’s Who Do You Love?, followed by Shot Down and Night Time.

The Destroyers pay homage to drinking and youthful rebelliousness, which at times seemed comedic seeing they’re all aged either side of 70, but it was lapped by an audience clearly reliving their party days.

From House Rent Blues they slid into One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer. Fortunately, the classic was finished before what was supposed to be a jam, while George took a break off stage, but was muffled as a sound glitch left the band jamming away oblivious to the fault.

With that finally fixed, the band were back at it and the house were all shouting Get A Haircut.

Born To Be Bad was always going to be the highlight and the band stretched out this classic before slipping into a Tequila.

Hamish Anderson joined the band on stage for Hank Williams’ Move It On Over, which was a guitar love-in before they all left stage.

The band re-emerged to ice the night with Born To Be Bad and farewell a satisfied audience.

Oddly the curtains drew with Advance Australia Fair and George saluting the crowd.

The Destroyers were back at the Forum the next night for another sell-out, which is testament the band’s longevity and fan base here.

For a wet and miserable Melbourne night, some grooving dirty blues was perfect.

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