GALLERY: UOW’s O-Party (Northeast Party House, Millions, Nantes)

Unibar (O-Party), 23/2/12
Photography by Jack Cowling

Rock The Vote compilation album news

A major part of the Rock The Vote Wollongong campaign has been the curation of a compilation album, featuring tracks from local artists. Illawarra acts have been steadily recording and submitting songs for the RTV compilation, and as the Rock The Vote concert – and, in turn, the release date of the compilation – draws nearer, we’ve finally got news on the final tracklisting for the CD.

Leading local bands including Yardvark, The Conspiracy Plan and The Pennys have made the final cut, as well as a host of up-and-comers including Rocking Horse, Alotta Presha and The Maze. See below for the full tracklisting.

According to the Rock The Vote Facebook, over thirty tracks were submitted for the album – almost three hours of material – but due to time and content restraints, many of these will not make the final 72-minute CD. Therefore, the RTV organisers will release the remaining tracks online, via Soundcloud.

“The songs which did not fit on the CD will be uploaded on the Rock the Vote Wollongong Soundcloud,” stated Rock The Vote organiser, Murray Stace.

“We aim to upload a few tracks per week until the September 2nd concert.”

The first two tracks, from local artists Mind At Large and Pom Pom, are already up and available for streaming; you can check them out by clicking here.

Of course, the concert on September 2nd – the night before the local council elections – is to be headlined by Ox & The Fury, supported by Yardvark and Policing In Crisis. Held at Dicey Riley’s, pre-sale tickets are available now from Music Farmers and Haworth’s Guitars. Click here for all the latest info on the gig.

ROCK THE VOTE WOLLONGONG: CD TRACKLISTING
1. Policing In Crisis – Not Here To Lead You
2. Anni Piper – Bleeding Heart Tattoo
3. Avaine – Tonight
4. Yardvark – Hive Party
5. The Pennys – Dying To Know
6. The Conspiracy Plan – Dangerous
7. Barefooted Souls – Recycle
8. Nekrofeist – Government Ruins
9. Peter Langstaff – Policy of Fear
10. Rocking Horse & The Baby Dolls – Iron Horse
11. Alotta Presha – Without Words
12. Click – The Waiting
13. The Maze – Misery
14. Crash Tragic – The City
15. Motionmotive – World of Love
16. Furious Monk – Antonov
17. Topnovil – The Fight

REVIEW: Young Revelry, Chicks Who Love Guns, Co Lab @ Yours and Owls

It’s rare that any show in Wollongong sells out, let alone two shows on the same night. Let alone on a cold, rainy night like it was on Thursday, when both the Otis Bar’s last show, and the Young Revelry gig at Yours and Owls, were filled to capacity. For those who chose the cosy, hole-in-the-wall cafe that is Yours and Owls, they were witness to a night of powerful energetic rock, guitar squalls, epic feedback, and almost certainly the loudest gig the tiny venue had ever hosted.

Owls packed out early, as the local opening band took the stage (or, more accurately, floor). Heavy Heads had been advertised to fill this support slot, but we were instead treated to a project dubbed ‘Co Lab,’ featuring members of Heavy Heads and fellow locals The Walking Who. Human tessellation proved to be the order of the day for this set – and for the rest of the night – as five musicians, two guitars, two keyboards, half a drumset, a laptop and two tambourines crammed into the tiny performance space. Co Lab served up a brand of slow 1960s-style psychedelia, tinged with elements of dry desert-rock and blues. Spacy keyboard parts mingled with driving, almost tribal drumming and droning, unintelligible vocals to make for a rhythmic, hypnotic performance calling to mind Tame Impala, The Doors or Wolfmother in their spaciest moments. A confident, powerful and polished performance from the collaboration project, and one that surely won them a roomful of new fans.

After a quick changeover, and the addition of a full drumkit, Sydney five-piece Chicks Who Love Guns took charge of the evening. Kicking off with the groovy – and subtly titled – ‘Smash Fuck,’ the band initially seemed to lack energy. After a static beginning, band picked up the energy and enthusiasm to match their raucous, bratty garage-punk. With a brash, in-your-face punk rock somewhere between The Bronx, The Hives and The Ramones, CWLG kicked the night up several gears from the shoegaze-y, noodling psych-rock of Co Lab; but it seemed that local punters weren’t all that receptive. “This room was full before we started. Thanks for making us feel welcome,” laughed diminutive frontman Cass Navarro around halfway into the set, as the room dropped to around half capacity. Maybe as a “fuck-you” gesture to departing fans, the band’s on-stage energy spiked after this.

Navarro walked the length of the venue, twice, then climbed a wall, knocking down several hanging paintings in the process, before the set’s highlight; the sudden arrival of a lycra-clad, obviously drunk middle-aged man wearing neon Crocs, who danced wildly through the last two tracks. Finishing up with a flawless rendition of new track ‘God Love & Satan,’ and old favourite ‘Vomit On The Dancefloor,’ Chicks Who Love Guns probably departed feeling disappointed at the crowd reaction; but it was a solid, energetic set that deserved a greater crowd response.

Perth’s Young Revelry started their set playing to literally a handful of fans, but as those milling about outside Yours and Owls heard the almighty racket that the trio kicked into, the room again filled. A groovy, 60s-psychedelia number pricked the ears of attendees, who were soon swaying and nodding along to the band’s heavier, almost hypnotic rhythms. Comparable to Led Zeppelin or – again – Wolfmother, the three-piece also channelled a grungy aesthetic that was at once powerful and groovy, heavy yet danceable.

The band took off on a sonic journey through their set, jumping between heavy psych-rock, more conventional rock’n’roll, garage-punk and some poppier moments, variously calling to mind the Pixies, Children Collide, The Who and Nirvana. It was a bit of a mix’n’match, with almost no flow or transition between tracks; each was executed brilliantly and competently, and it made for an interesting listening experience, but it was difficult to follow the set from one song to the next. The band might benefit from narrowing their musical focus, to ensure a more cohesive, coherent performance.

Nevertheless, it was an exciting set that never lacked energy, precision or enthusiasm, and signalled that this was a band almost ready to step up to the big leagues of Australian indie music. Armed with a slew of radio friendly rock tracks (don’t be surprised to see them feature in a Triple J Hottest 100 list in the next year or so), Young Revelry are certainly one to watch in coming months.

See below for video of Young Revelry’s headline set. For more videos from the night, see Yours and Owls website.

Young Revelry 140711 from Laww Media on Vimeo.

GIG GUIDE: July 11-17

GIG OF THE WEEK:

It proved too difficult to choose just ONE, so Radar is nominating TWO “gigs of the week”!

G.O.T.W #1: WEDNESDAY: Tonight Alive, The Conspiracy Plan, Critics, Avaine @ CBD Bar
8pm, $15, 18+
The first is the Tonight Alive show on Wednesday night, at Rydges CBD Bar. These guys are one of Australia’s hottest up-and-coming young bands, having already toured extensively overseas and acting as tour partners to The Wonder Years, Amy Meredith, Heroes For Hire, Lost Prophets, Forever The Sickest Kids and more. They play the CBD Bar on Wednesday, as part of a national headlining tour. Three local bands will warm the stage for the Sydney-based five-piece;  The Conspiracy Plan, Critics and Avaine will play support slots, with each having impressed at local in past months. If you like your music a little poppier, and/or you are an unashamed fan of bouncy pop-punk (I include myself in that description), this is one show you shouldn’t miss. But be quick; tickets are almost all sold out!

G.O.T.W #2: SATURDAY: Totally Unicorn, Ironhide @ The Patch
8pm, 18+
Totally Unicorn are simply one of the region’s finest, hardest-working and best-respected acts, and their hometown show at The Patch will be the final show on their ‘Get Chilled or Tie Dying’ tour with Brisbane band Ironhide. The show on Saturday (originally scheduled to occur at Headlands Hotel before its closure) will be the band’s first local show with their new bassist, and their first hometown headline show for some months, after supporting The Chariot, Oh Sleeper and Frenzal Rhomb in recent times. In the recent absence of Mary Jane Kelly, Totally Unicorn have established themselves as Wollongong’s best – and most entertaining – heavy band, and this show is sure to disappoint no-one.
There’s a second reason why you should attend, of course; both Totally Unicorn and Ironhide have recently been swindled by an unscrupulous label manager, and are probably substantially out of pocket, financially. Read more details about the Six Nightmares Productions saga here; then buy a ticket, buy some merch, and help the dudes out.
Get along, grab a party hat, don’t stand in the front row unless you’re prepared to give frontman Drew a piggy-back… and get psyched for some magical animal hardcore.

ALSO THIS WEEK:

WEDNESDAY: Jack Carty, Jordan Millar, Leroy Lee @ Yours and Owls
8pm, 18+

THURSDAY: Young Revelry, Chicks Who Love Guns, Heavy Heads @ Yours and Owls
8pm, $10, 18+

THURSDAY: The Pennys, Rhys Stamnas, Obscura Hail, Jack R Reilly @ Otis Bar (last show!)
8.30pm, $5, 18+

THURSDAY: The Pennys, A Cat Named Kesey @ Sol Studios
8pm, all ages

THURSDAY: Lost In Verona, Basil’s Kite @ Wollongong Youth Centre
6pm, free, all ages

FRIDAY: The Walking Who, Curious, Jonny Sight and The Peripherals (members of Tommy M, Alotta Presha, The Howling Tongues, The Good God Damned, Space Invadas, and Good Buddha) @ Dicey Rileys
9pm, free, 18+

FRIDAY: The Half Pints, Stomp The Dog, HeadButt, Rukus @ The Patch
8.30pm, $7, 18+

SATURDAY: Forever Archie, Jack R Reilly, Obscura Hail @ 5 Crown Lane
2pm, free, all ages

SATURDAY: The Strides @ Heritage Hotel
8pm, 18+

GIG GUIDE: July 4-10

WEDNESDAY: Seeker Lover Keeper, Toby Martin @ Heritage Hotel, Bulli
8pm, SOLD OUT

THURSDAY: Seeker Lover Keeper @ Sea Notes record store, Stanwell Park (in store appearance)
5.30pm

THURSDAY:Seeker Lover Keeper, Toby Martin @ Heritage Hotel, Bulli
8pm, SOLD OUT

THURSDAY: Pom Pom, Chainsaw Mascara, Narly, Leo J, Paul Danger @ Sol Studios, Wollongong
8pm, $7/$10, all ages

THURSDAY: The Butcher Boys, Isi & I @ Yours and Owls
8pm 

THURSDAY: Avaine @ Wollongong Youth Centre
6pm, free, all ages

FRIDAY: Jebediah, Violent Soho @ Waves Nightclub, Towradgi
8pm, $22 pre-sale (tickets through Moshtix), 18+ 

FRIDAY: Three Wise Monkeys, The Good God Damned, Yardvark @ Dicey Rileys
9pm, free, 18+

FRIDAY: Chainsaw Mascara, Steel City Allstars, Rainbow Monsters, Moroccon Holiday, Greg Niven & The Forgotten Few, The Raids, Distract, Crash Tragic, Endeavours @ The Patch
3pm, $10, 18+

FRIDAY: Common Grounds, Mass Effect, Kade MC, V-Def @ Rydges CBD Bar
8pm, $8, 18+

FRIDAY: Elite Element, On Empty, Distract, Transitory, Fiend @ The Patch
8pm, $5, 18+

FRIDAY: Dave Brown, Lukas Simonas, Rob Hughes @ 5 Crown Lane
8pm, $5

SATURDAY: Sarah McLeod, Axle Whitehead, The Firetree @ Waves Nightclub, Towradgi
8pm, $17 pre-sale (tickets through Moshtix), 18+ 

SATURDAY: Saskia Sansom, Transcription of Organ Music, The Singing Skies @ Yours and Owls
8pm

GIG GUIDE: June 27 – July 3

GIG OF THE WEEK:

SATURDAY: Ten Years of HOPE fundraiser @ The Patch
(feat. Obscura Hail, Mind At Large, Disco Is Dead, The Nice Folk, Baby Machine, FUgG, Damn Fine Gentlemen, Topnovil, Bulldoze All Bowlos, Ye Luddites, The Merchants, Money Killed Jonny, Smasheddybash, George Eliot, Swinging Beef and the Daptoids, Hytest)
3pm, all ages, free

For sheer local talent, the HOPE fundraiser at The Patch on Saturday is our gig of the week. The 10th instalment of the annual suicide prevention fundraiser, it features a bumper, diverse lineup of new and old local talent from Hytest, FUgG and Mind At Large, to Topnovil, Ye Luddites and Obscura Hail. Kicking off at 3pm, and running into what will probably be the wee hours of the next morning, it’s a fantastic range of local talent, in aid of a wonderful cause.
Entry is FREE (though punters are encouraged to buy some merchandise on the day, proceeds from which go to associated charities), and we’re told that it will be open to ALL AGES until 8pm.

ALSO THIS WEEK:

THURSDAY: Fait Accompli (acoustic), The Dead Gang, Obscura Hail @ Yours and Owls
8pm, $10, 18+

THURSDAY: Ghostwood, Chicks Who Love Guns, Carpet @ Rydges CBD Bar
8pm, $10, 18+

THURSDAY: Damn Fine Gentlemen, Kenny Bartley @ SOL Studios
8pm, all ages 

THURSDAY: We are the Emergency, Wake The Giants, Seek The Silence, Dividers @ Hostage X Nightclub
9pm, $15, 18+

THURSDAY: Vulpes Vulpes, Sylvain @ Wollongong Youth Centre
6pm, free, all ages 

FRIDAY: Helmet, Hytest, Arc Icarus @ Wollongong Unibar
8pm, $47, 18+ 

FRIDAY: Gossling, Ryan Meeking @ Otis Bar
8pm, $10, 18+

FRIDAY: Grenadiers, Never Content, Let Me Down Jungleman, Handsome @ The Patch
8pm, $10, 18+

SATURDAY: Syndicate, Young Braves @ Dicey Rileys
 8.30pm, free, 18+ 

SATURDAY: Blackbear @ Old Courthouse (Cliff Rd & Harbour St, Wollongong)
6pm, $10/$15

SATURDAY: Thy Art Is Murder, Wish For Wings, Never Content, New Blood, Transitory, Directions @ Lake Illawarra PCYC
5pm, $15, all ages 

RADAR ILLAWARRA JOINS ‘ROCK THE VOTE’ CAMPAIGN

In a bit of exciting news, Radar has officially come onboard the upcoming ‘Rock The Vote‘ campaign.

‘Rock The Vote’ is aimed at “celebrating the return of democracy” in Wollongong. As most of you would know, Wollongong council was sacked in 2008 after the infamous ICAC corruption and development scandal. The local area has been overseen  by unelected council administrators ever since. However, with the new government announcing that local council elections will be held on September 3rd, democracy is set to return to the Illawarra.

The ‘Rock The Vote’ campaign is aimed at increasing awareness about issues facing local voters and citizens, to ensure that we elect the right people with the right ideas for the future of Wollongong. Rock the Vote Wollongong will culminate in a CD compilation featuring local bands, as well as a live rock show featuring local and touring bands.

And now, Radar has come onboard as an official partner of the initiative and campaign.

Rock The Vote organiser, Rob Carr, had these nice things to say:

“We are very pleased to announce that we have added Radar Illawarra to our growing list of partners… The list of supporters from the music scene and the business community has grown exponentially – even before the official call was put out for local businesses to be involved, we have been overwhelmed with support from a lot of generous and community minded people.”

“As usual Radar Illawarra has been one of the first to get on board and support this major music scene initiative. Radar is a huge supporter of the Wollongong music scene and it is fantastic that both organisations are equally enthused about the campaign”

Carr says grassroots movements like Rock the Vote Wollongong! are central to progressive voters having a voice come election time, and encourages all members of the community to be involved.

He added: “There are a number of ways you or your business, school or community organisation can get involved in Rock the Vote Wollongong!”

“We are quickly growing in terms of grassroots support. We also need financial sponsors, community partners and in-kind supporters from all sectors of the community.”

For more information on how to get involved and support Rock the Vote Wollongong!, email robcarr09@yahoo.com.au, and keep up to date through their Facebook page.

GIG GUIDE: June 20-26

Quite a bit of stuff happening, gig-wise, this week in Wollongong. Wednesday sees the final show from long-time local favourites Slow Waves (formerly Paper Moon) at the Otis Bar; while NZ reggae-funk-roots group Katchafire headline the UOW end of exams party on Thursday; Blackbear, the solo project of Mother & Son’s Bodie Jarman, releases his demo on Saturday at Yours and Owls; and on the same day, a rare all ages hardcore show at Lake Illawarra PCYC, with old favourites Another Days Remains also playing their final ever show.

 

WEDNESDAY: Slow Waves (final show), Nothing Rhymes With David @ Otis Bar
8pm, 18+

THURSDAY: Shady Nook, My Little Underground @ Wollongong Youth Centre
6pm, free, all ages

THURSDAY: Katchafire, Alotta Presha @ Unibar
8pm, $35 (tickets from Bigtix), 18+

THURSDAY: Southerly Change, Beatmeisters @ Sol Studios
8pm, all ages

FRIDAY: Tokyo Spares, Smitty & B.Goode, Smasheddybash @ Dicey Rileys
9pm, free, 18+

FRIDAY: Nobody Knew They Were Robots, Inside The Exterior, One Time Menace, Heart Set To Fail, Bloodshed Of The Innocent @ The Patch
8pm, $10, 18+

SATURDAY: Justin Frew’s Loose Intentions, Steve Mursic @ Music Farmers
2pm, free, all ages

SATURDAY: Blackbear (demo launch), Keep On Dancin’s, The Vagabond, DJ Honeybear @ Yours and Owls
8pm, $6, 18+

SATURDAY: Another Days Remains (final show), Aftermath, Transitions, Lockdown, Skyward, Get Real @ Lake Illawarra PCYC
5pm, $15, all ages

SATURDAY: Sydonia, Contrive, Elite Element, Troldhaugen @ The Patch
8pm, $12, 18+

GIG GUIDE: June 13-19

GIG OF THE WEEK:

FRIDAY: Formal Fundraiser gig @ Rydges CBD Bar
feat. A Cat Named Kesey, Rocking Horse, The Good God Damned, Pat Arnold
7pm, $5

Radar’s pick of the week is the ‘formal fundraiser’ gig happening at Rydges CBD Bar on Friday. Featuring a sweet lineup of up-and-coming local talent – A Cat Named Kesey, Rocking Horse, The Good God Damned and Pat Arnold – for just $5, and with all proceeds going towards the Starlight Foundation children’s charity, how can you go wrong? Cheap night, central CBD location, awesome local bands, and all for a good cause! And of course, it’s an opportunity to break out that suit, tuxedo or cocktail dress that you’ve been waiting to show off.

It’s happening at CBD Bar on Friday night, kicking off at 7pm. In addition, we’ve heard that a few other local bands will have CDs and other goodies to give away or sell, so you won’t be going home emptyhanded!

ALSO THIS WEEK:

WEDNESDAY: Daniel Lee Kendall, Georgia Fair @ Otis Bar
8pm, $10 (tickets through Moshtix) 18+

THURSDAY: Karnivool, Shock One, Over-Reactor @ Waves Nightclub, Towradgi
8pm, $45 (tickets through Moshtix), 18+

THURSDAY: Jevon Tawhai, Dane Overton, Shelly May @ Yours and Owls
8pm, free, 18+

THURSDAY: I Escape, Transitory, Where The Enemy Sleeps @ Hostage X Nightclub (‘Grimewave’ club night)
9pm, $5, 18+

THURSDAY: Spy v Spy, Mother & Son @ Sol Studios
8pm, $15

FRIDAY: The Potbelleez @ Waves Nightclub, Towradgi
8pm, $20 pre-sale (tickets through Moshtix), 18+

FRIDAY: The Maze, Blood Guts & Firetrucks, Bennie James @ Dicey Rileys
8pm, free, 18+

FRIDAY: Crash Tragic, From This Day Forward @ The Patch
8pm, $5, 18+

FRIDAY: Kim Churchill, Benjalu, Laura Hill @ Heritage Hotel, Bulli
8pm, $15 (tickets available through Oztix), 18+

SATURDAY: LAZE @ Headlands Hotel, Austinmer
feat. Vanguard Party, Al Young and the Detail + (DJs) Kass Kidd, Dan Le Beat, Paul Danger, AKA, Salilig, Grimace, Catherine & May, Lachlan Holland
3pm, $5, 18+

SATURDAY: Broadway Mile, Nine Sons of Dan, Finibah @ The Patch
8pm, $10, 18+

We’re always happy to help out! If you would like to include an event in Radar’s weekly gig guide, contact:
radar.illawarra@gmail.com

WEEKLY PREVIEW: June 6-12

Lots of local action happening this week. Bec Sandridge has her final Australian show before heading overseas, with Brisbane band Holland and local rhythm & blues group Rocking Horse also playing at the Otis Bar on Wednesday; Elite Element, fresh off supporting Parkway Drive at the WIN Entertainment Centre, play a FREE, all ages show at the Youth Centre; dad-rockers Airbourne stop into the Unibar on Friday; and The Bungalows launch their new album with a show and listening party at Yours and Owls. Huge week!

WEDNESDAY: Bec Sandridge, Holland, Rocking Horse @ Otis Bar
8pm, $5, 18+

THURSDAY: Elite Element, Grey Tempest @ Wollongong Youth Centre
6pm, free, all ages

THURSDAY: Tim Fitz + more @ Yours and Owls
8pm, 18+

FRIDAY: Airbourne, The Casonovas, Tonk @ Wollongong Unibar
8pm, $28 (tickets available through BigTix), 18+

FRIDAY: Chainsaw Mascara, Holdfast, Cabin Fever, Rukus, Last Call, Psychotic Numbskulls @ The Patch
8pm, $8, 18+

FRIDAY: Vulpes Vulpes, The Pennys, Soiled Earth @ Dicey Rileys
9pm, free, 18+

FRIDAY: Distract, Try Fire, Chainsaw Mascara @ Headlands Hotel, Austinmer
8pm, $5, 18+

SATURDAY: Vulpes Vulpes, Roaring Griffin @ 5 Crown Lane (Music Farmers)
2pm, free, all ages

SATURDAY: Moroccan Holiday, Avaine + more @ The Patch
8pm, 18+

SATURDAY: The Tom & Dave Show, A.D.D, Fiend @ Palm Court Hotel
8pm, free, 18+

SATURDAY: Van The Man @ Dicey Rileys
8pm, $10, 18+

SUNDAY: The Bungalows (performance + album listening party) @ Yours and Owls
5:30pm, $20 (includes copy of new album ‘Monkey Mountain Road’), 18+

SUNDAY: Illy + special guests @ Waves Nightclub, Towradgi
8pm, $20 presale (tickets available through Moshtix), 18+

SUNDAY: The Villains @ Thirroul Bowling Club

We’re always happy to help out! If you would like to include an event in Radar’s weekly gig guide, contact:
radar.illawarra@gmail.com