Gig Review - The Love Junkies

The Love Junkies
Live @ Black Bear Lodge (12/06/2014)
Reviewed by Katie Langley

After visiting Black Bear Lodge on Thursday for a cider and the music stylings of The Love Junkies, I couldn’t help but think about Jo’s recent post on choices. Yes, the cider was delicious and warmed my innards on a cool evening (by Brisbane standards), but that was an added bonus really. My choice on Thursday evening was all about the music, man, and a band that peaked my interests earlier in the year. As I glanced around Black Bear Lodge I wondered - do people in Brisbane not leave the house on a Thursday evening? Do the people of Brisbane not leave the house on a Thursday evening when the temperature drops 3 degrees? 

Whilst disappointed by the choices of the people of Brisbane, my vantage point meant that I was in prime position to eyeball the band. Wait. Stop. That’s not to sound as creepy as I mean it to be. Who doesn’t enjoy being up the front to really take in the full experience? It’s the best place to be, alongside other people who have also made excellent choices on a Thursday. And sure, then there’s the eye-balling.

Yes, there is good music around. But there’s not always a lot of interesting music. Music that makes you feel. Music that makes you react. Music that makes you nod your head. But The Love Junkies managed to do that for me with the release of ‘Chemical Motivation’. It was not what I expected, in the best possible way. So when I found out that they were touring following the release of their latest EP Flight Test, the choice was easy – go to Black Bear Lodge. And I was not disappointed.

The Love Junkies treated us to songs old and new, including ‘Baby Come Home’, ‘Chemical Motivation’, ‘Maybelene’, ‘Oxymoron’ and my new favourite ‘Blowing on the Devil’s Strumpet’. Hell, there was even an awesome rendition of Refused’s ‘Rather Be Dead’. They were the perfect hosts, checking in with the audience at different points throughout the set, including the stragglers up the back – “you’re probably thinking that if all people from Perth sound like Tame Impala then we’re fucked”.

Earlier in the year I had described ‘Chemical Motivation’ as the end product of a dalliance between The Dandy Warhols and The Vines. A dalliance that occurred after a moonlit stroll during which they held hands and stared longingly into each other’s eyes. Six months later, watching the band live, this description proved to be accurate. The Love Junkies have a grunge, garage rock sound that appeals to my 90s heart. But it’s not all flannelette and messy hair – not that there’s anything wrong with that. They manage to dance between this raw, unapologetic, guitar heavy sound with a more melodic, surfy vibe. That’s what I mean about the romance I described. Courtney Taylor-Taylor and Craig Nicholls are holding hands, but neither of them is squeezing too tight.

The Love Junkies have been handpicked by Triple J as one of the Top 20 artists you will love in 2014. So, when you get an opportunity to see them live, I’m sure you’ll make the right choice.

Gig Review - Ella Hooper

 Ella Hooper

Supported by Airling and Gena Rose Bruce

Live @ Black Bear Lodge (15/05/14)

Words by Matt Bond

Pics by Nayt Housman

 Good things come to those who wait…


Everyone has been raving this week about the Rocky Horror twitter joke that took five years to pay off. If you’re unfamiliar, it went down a little something like this:

If you condense the timeline from five years to two, the release of Ella Hooper’s debut solo album, In Tongues is quite similar to faux Furter’s antici... patory build up. The recently re-released single, ‘Low High’ initially surfaced around this time in 2012. Catchy and all mysterious like, ‘Low High’ showed a new side of Hooper, a stalwart of the Australian music industry since the late 90s. Her transition to indie chanteuse was solidified with ‘Häxan’, a bewitching number that stands in line with the best songs of 2013. But where was the follow through? In Tongues would pop up on release schedules and then quietly disappear. My heart would break… *cough*. What? Nothing. And then it was announced late last year that Ella would be taking on the role of team captain on a revamped version of ABC’s popular music quiz show, Spicks and Specks. Some prominent exposure on national television can go a long way (just ask anyone that’s ever been on Home and Away), so what better time than now to really have a crack at launching that solo career! After quite some time between visits, Ella Hooper returned to Brisbane on Thursday night on one of the last stops of the Low High Tour. We were finally going to get a real sense of what In Tongues will be. It’s been a long road that has felt like forever, but the pay off? Let’s just say our antici… pation is going to pay off in spades.

Airling

Four out of five It’s My Kind of Scene-sters were on hand at the Black Bear Lodge for Ella’s show (we missed you Lou!), a night jam-packed full of the very best in live music. There was also a lot of unnecessary pelvic thrusts coming from Nayt and surprisingly Katie (Jo’s dignity remains intact), but that’s a tale for another time. Up first was Brisbane’s own Airling aka Hannah Shepherd, who was joined by multi-instrumentalist Graham Richie for their first ever gig! Airling’s dreamy sound is just so full of win, with Shepherd’s ethereal voice shining amongst the beats and fancy electronic wizardry. Technical terms are not my strongpoint, but Shepherd and Richie had some cool looking gear on stage with them. The previously released track ‘Ouroboros’ was a highlight of the set, with other tracks like ‘Runner’ and ‘Take Care Of You’ showing off Shepherd’s skills as a songwriter. One might even call them ‘mad’ skills. Bro. Shepherd and Richie make quite the team and if they hadn’t mentioned it, you wouldn’t have guessed this was their first gig. Anyway, Airling… release some more recordings soon please. You provide many good feels.

Gena Rose Bruce

After a short break, Gena Rose Bruce walked on up to the stage and picked up her dream catcher adorned guitar. She had a big, floppy red hat on that left an eyebrow raised because, you know, nighttime and indoors, but as soon as soon as she started to sing… wow. What a voice. There’s a bit of Taylor Swift in here, but it’s like if T-Sweezy let go of the nice girl act and embraced the fact that she’s the problem in all of her relationships. Rose dropped songs on the crowd like ‘Homewrecker’, ‘Cheated’ and a stellar rendition of Nancy Sintatra’s ‘Bang Bang’ for the encore. I’m pretty sure there was a song in there about killing someone too. The darker lyrics against the sweet vocals are all kinds of crazy good. It’s safe to say Bruce won over many new fans at the Black Bear, myself and Nayt included. We each picked up a copy of her ‘Wild One Baby’ EP, which I’ve only just realised Katie has in her bag. Katie, if you’re reading this, I know where you live, thief!

Ella Hooper

Just after 10pm the night’s headliner, Ella Hooper joined her band before graciously thanking her Brisbane fans for coming out on a school night. An announcement came that In Tongues would be released in June… or July. But it is coming this year. For reals this time, y’all. Ella had been out hitting the Brisbane op shops during the day and was rocking an all-white ensemble, complete with a silver moon necklace. A sister of the moon, she was. Before you can sing, “just like the white-winged dove, sings a song sounds like she’s singing… ooh… ooh… ooh,” Hooper launched into the opening number. She was ready to rock and or roll, busting out quirky dance moves that had you wanting to bop along with her. As compelling a performer as ever, her charismatic presence on stage draws you in. Those killer yodeling vocals have always been a trademark and with years of experience, from Killing Heidi to The Verses and now as a solo artist, Ella is in complete control of it. The live performance of ‘Haxan’ is a perfect example. Seductive and sultry one moment and seething with a fiery rage the next, Hooper can wield her voice like a weapon.


My favourite ‘artist banter’ line was delivered as Ella said she was, “going to take it down” for a couple of songs. Which is always code for ‘taking a trip to ballad town via the emotional train’ and we got not one, but two of the quieter moments from In Tongues, ‘Everything Was…’ and ‘Reels’. Apart from two drunk chicas wearing ugly sweaters, Hooper had the crowed completely transfixed, particularly with ‘Reels’ which was written for some friends in the crowd that had made the journey up from Melbourne for the gig. I didn’t need any more convincing, but ‘Reels’ reaffirms my belief that In Tongues is going to kick all kinds of awesome music booty. I forgot to mention, but the album’s title track was shit hot too. It was the second song of the night and has a hook that will grab you and jab in its claws. Like all of the other non-ballad tracks, it too came with quirky choreography you will never be able to successfully emulate.

Ella Hooper

Following the ballads, it was onto a track described as Hooper’s disco number, ‘Dead Star’ which saw the energetic, upbeat vibe return and then we were suddenly at our last song of the night, ‘Low High’. Everything was ending too soon… but time flies when you’re having fun or something, right? Hooper had addressed that she loves a bit of a chat with the audience, so she found herself running a bit behind. This meant no encore, but whatever, ‘Low High’ sent us off on way more of a high than a low and got those shoulders shaking. If Ella Hooper proved anything at the Black Bear, it’s that she’s an artist worth waiting for. We’ve waited patiently for her to return to Brisbane and to get our hands on In Tongues. She certainly proved with the former that good things come to those who wait. As for the latter, that long shiver with antici… pation is almost over. June… or July… can’t come soon enough.     

Gig Review - Ginger And The Ghost

Ginger And The Ghost

Live @ Black Bear Lodge (30/03/2014)

Words and pics by Nayt Housman

Once in a while I am introduced to a voice and sound that is pretty much unique and unmistakably individual. In September 2013 at Big Sound was one such introduction when I happened along the Sydney duo Ginger & The Ghost. Although it was only a half hour set, they pulled out all the trimmings. Bold props, bright colourful costumes, light projections and attitudes to match their respective band names, Ginger, spicy and vibrant, The Ghost, steely and haunting.


Taking the stage six months later at Brisbane’s Black Bear Lodge it’s the usual deal of two support bands and a bunch of cute hipster kids waiting patiently, looking nonchalant, or as I like to think, the perfect time for nachos. I missed the first support but made it in time for the second, AViVAA, who pleasantly surprised me with what I’d like to call an electro-classical sound reminiscent of Kate Bush with maybe a hint of Enya (that’s a good thing) a beautiful, powerful voice (19 year old singer Aviva) and a lot of big drums and rhythmic guitars.

Then came the glorious and eccentric Ginger And The Ghost. The stage was decked out with elaborately decorated Iron Man masks covered in many, many, layers of colourful wool, lengths of tinsel and other such textural and visual joys. The atmosphere was then layered in patterned light from a projector (which in Black Bear Lodge is bliss because their own lighting is dodgy at best) and the Sydney duo was costumed and ready to blow some minds. Sadly being a Sunday night possibly wasn’t the best night to perform in Brisbane, as it seems everything pretty much shuts down past 8pm including people’s enthusiasm for amazing music but as they say “The show must go on!” and those of us that were there were ready to throw our enthusiasm all over the place.

I gathered my small posse of friends and staked claim front row centre of the stage where we made ourselves comfortable. We all chirped and chimed over how much we loved their costumes while we eagerly awaited the tunes. I had my camera ready and a smile planted on my mug. Gingers is something special, highly animated with a look of Julianne Moore x Susan Sarandon and a voice that is both child like and beyond her years, smoky yet smooth. Then there is Ghost who, as his moniker suggests, haunts his space on the stage with an icy demeanor, looking like a young devastatingly handsome Marlon Brando as he wields his instrument like a weapon and casts the occasional cheeky smirk in Ginger’s direction, letting us know there’s warmth simmering inside.


With their fantasy laden, idiosyncratic electro pop encasing my ears I was rendered unaware and uncaring about my surroundings, it was just me and my camera being serenaded with songs like 'Where Wolf', 'The Mark Of Hearts', 'Red Balloon', 'One Type Of Dark' among others from their last and their forthcoming EP.

I can’t wait to see what the future holds for Ginger And The Ghost. They have a unique sound brimming with pop hooks, depth and fantasy bundled into a package that extends into different genres and is capable of piercing the mainstream music market. So if you haven’t yet experienced this divine world created by Ginger And The Ghost, open the door, walk through and lose yourself.

Gig Review - Holy Holy, Govs and Eves

Holy Holy

Live @ Black Bear Lodge (21/11/2013)

Supported by Govs and Eves

Words by Jo Michelmore

Pics by Cordell Sanders

It had been a long week. Actually, it had been a long month and by the time it got to last Thursday night, the last thing I wanted to do was smile politely at strangers and climb those stairs of the Black Bear after eight long hours at my day job and what felt like a lifetime of tiredness (exxaggeration, but damn I was tired). My addiction to live music over rides tiredness though, like it over rides almost everything, so Black Bear it was.

As the dedicated blogger I am though, I pulled on my second favourite pair of boots (everything feels better with good boots on) and dragged myself out of my house to find myself probably the best carpark I'd ever found (until Saturday nights excellent park, but my carparking skills are another story) and ran to the Valley Mall, knowing I might be late for the first band.

Alas, my day job had kept me from my true love of live music once again and while I only caught two songs of Eves, they were really, really good songs. I tried to spy as much of the stage as I could through the silhouetted heads of tall hipsters, but couldn't make out much other than the blinking lights of the sound desk. They blinked in some kind of rhythmical manner so I know I must catch more of these fabulous sounds sometime soon. Eves is good, really good, even from behind the sound desk. Have you heard 'Zen'? You must, you simply must listen and like me, you must see her live ASAP.

While the crowd dispersed and made their way to the bar, I did my usual trick and headed for the stage and as usual, I got my lucky spot in this cozy little venue, a little seat right against the wall, left of stage. I usually prefer the right, but you can't have everything, can you? GOVS made their way on to the stage shortly after I asked a polite gentleman whether "that seat was taken?" and I was so delighted to have found such a fabulous spot to see such a fabulous bunch of musicians. Playing absolutely brand new tracks like 'Husband'; "we've never played this in front of people before" and tracks that have earned them the hype they are currently receiving like 'Holy Trinity', their set was one I'd like to see again and again. I'm still trying to comprehend that Josiah Birrell hails from the Gold Coast; land of spray tans, tourists and gold accessories. This is not a doof doof bang bang Gold Coast sound and while there's nothing wrong with any doof doof bang bang sounds, the heartfelt emotion from GOVS is something special, something a little more real than all the the Gold Coast usually offers. I think I love and a little musical love is exactly what I needed on an exhausting Thursday night.

By the time GOVS left the stage, most of my exhausting day had disappeared and all that was left was a little buzz, the buzz I'm addicted to. That little feeling that live music creates was certainly there on Thursday night, as I'd seen Holy Holy live before and quite loudly and happily proclaimed one Holy Timothy Carroll as having one of Brisbane's best voices. I didn't have to wait long to hear that delicious voice again. Joined by three other musicians (including an imkos fave sometimes known as MKO and another, probably the tallest man to ever grace the Black Bear stage) Holy Holy took to the stage like they owned it and yes, owned it they did.


It's a pretty special band when I can't really name you many of the tracks they played, because I don't know many of their tracks (yet) and it's a pretty special band that can capture your attention from their first sounds after my own long and exhausting day. It's a pretty special band that can gain the amount of attention they have and back it up with an incredible amount of talent and a sound that is not only at times surprising, but also incredibly comforting. Their single 'Impossible Like You' is only the first taste of what these two, Timothy Carroll and Oscar Dawson, are capable of. Timothy's voice is divine and Oscar's skills are mesmerising. Together they are perfectly wonderful, with every song sounding like something I desperately need to hear again.


By the time I got home and took off my second favourite pair of boots, I was still exhausted, but I was smiling. This time I was genuinely smiling because sometimes, forgetting I have a day job and being a dedicated blogger is so worth the effort. Holy Holy, GOVS and Eves from behind the sound desk were such a sweet reward for a little bit of effort. Next time, I'm wearing my favourite pair of boots and I'm running up those Black Bear stairs, because I know there's always happy at the top of that staircase.