Loving live music isn’t just about attending music festivals and seeing an international artist’s massive arena show. Even the biggest of big-name headliners started in the trenches, on the sticky carpets and bandrooms of your local bars and pubs – which is exactly where you should be if you want to discover your new favourite band or venue. Here’s our picks for this week’s best local gigs from Aussie talent – from Perth to the East Coast – and all for the price of a good meal.
Thigh Master
Where? The Catfish, 30-32 Gertrude St, Fitzroy, Melbourne
When? 8:00pm, Saturday 12th July
Why? Melbournians, our saviour from the miserable mid-Winter comes in the form of four lads of the north, Thigh Master. Hitting the open road for their “Heads Of The Witch” tour, this four-piece produce high-octane sun-soaked tunes at a burning Pixies pace with loutish vocal chants. With ripping tracks including the Summer-brat anthem ‘Goon Punch’ and the searing ‘Gab Cab’, these four Brizzy boys are exactly what the doctor ordered to pack some heat into your otherwise dreary Saturday night. On top of this, there are four supports including: Go Genre Everything, Gold Class, School Damage and Cold Life. Man we do we love fine music for cheap!
Tickets & Info: $8, www.facebook.com
Batpiss (Last Show For Ages!)
Where? Ding Dong Lounge, 18 Market Lane, Melbourne CBD
When? 8:00pm, Friday 11th July
Why? Melbourne’s favourite mud-stained sludgerockers Batpiss have announced they are taking the rest of the year off from live performance “to let our drummer Marty learn what it’s like to be a Dad” as well as work on a new record. Fuckin’ heart-breaking, we know! So that’s why we’re telling you to ‘Drag Your Body‘ to Chinatown this Friday night and knock out a few ‘Loose Screws’ while you can. Supports include The Peep Tempel, A.D Skinner and Acid Vain. Warning: this free-for-all slimepit will sell out, so be sure to get your grimy mitts on pre-sales now!
Tickets & Info: $10.00, $15 On The Door www.facebook.com & www.dingdonglounge.com.au
Howlin’ Steam Train
Where? The Gasometer Hotel, 484 Smith Street, Collingwood, Melbourne
When? 8:00pm, Saturday 12th July
Why? Man, are we so damn stoked to have The Gaso back in business. This Saturday the refurbished northside venue will be emanating the boogie grooves of the soulful Howlin’ Steam Train. In case you missed their killer 2013 release Green Jelly, you can devour the wobbling plate via Bandcamp, or if you’d like just a piece, slip your fork into the fat-riffed rock ‘n roller ‘Chinatown.’ The Howlers will be joined by Kira Puru (of ‘& the Bruise‘ fame) as well as Arthur Penn & The Funky Ten. This is going to be one hell of a party and in the words of the Stream Train lads, “it’s gonna get toasty,” ow!
Tickets & Info: $10.00 www.facebook.com & www.thegasometerhotel.com.au
Peezo
Where? Laundry Bar, 50 Johnston Street, Fitzroy, Melbourne
When? 9:00pm, Saturday 12th July
Why? Who doesn’t love to drop they booty and get a little sensual to some lush beats and twisting poetic lyrics? As always, Laundry have delivered the goods – and this time it’s for free! Introducing one of the finest examples of new-wave hip-hop on the rise in Australia’s scene, Peezo The MC dropped his record Old School Futuristic at the end of May this year, drawing on contemporary Australian and throwback American sounds to create a stellar 11-track release. If you’re one whom tends to shy from Aussie MCs, dig ‘Water,’ this track alone has got our feet in the Laundry door this Saturday. And hell, if that ain’t enough, our boy Allday named Peezo in his list of the best up and coming rappers.
Tickets & Info: Free Entry, www.facebook.com & http://laundrybar.com.au
Cash For Gold
Where? Beach Road Hotel, 71 Beach Road Bondi Beach, Sydney
When? 8:00pm, Saturday 12th July
Why? Every week, the crew at Bondi’s Beach Road deliver the best local talent at the most cost-effective of prices (that’s free, yo!) This week is absolutely no question as the coastal venue will be annexed by the fuzz-pop duo, Cash For Gold. This pair have drawn comparisons from Jane’s Addiction and Jesus & the Mary Chain to Kasabian and T-Rex – pretty expansive, yeah? But that’s just it, these two produce a multitude of killer tunes, typically building a reverberating wall of sound that’d make Phil Spector’s head explode. Have a spin of ‘Don’t Cry,’ you won’t be disappointed. Oh and the incredibly slick psychedelic surfers The Upskirts are supporting. Do we need to remind you that it’s for free? Enjoy.
Tickets & Info: Free Entry www.facebook.com & http://beachroadbondi.com.au
Black Zeros, The Nuclear Family, The Pinheads & BLT
Where? FBi Social Kings Cross Hotel, 248 William Street, Kings Cross
When? 8:00pm, Friday 11th July
Why? Are you a fan of lo-fi? Do you love surf rock? Or are you more of a jumpin’ jack that digs brutish punk? If you tick any of these boxes then you’d do well to get to this show. The FBi Social is overflowing with damn fine local talent this Friday, headlined by the Black Zeros who with their wavering tune ‘I Want You’ will transport you to Malibu Beach in the 60s. The Nuclear Family will be packing all the punches with their abrasive raw anthems (like ‘Radiator’), whilst The Pinheads turn it down just a notch with their psych-garage fused jams and BLT beat out their ‘Attitude’ punk sounds. This one is all about the past becoming the present.
Tickets & Info: $10.00, www.facebook.com & http://fbisocial.fatsoma.com
Spartak
Where? The Bird, 181 William Street, Northbridge, Perth
When? 8:00pm, Friday 11th July
Why? The weekend has arrived and you’re in the mood for something, but you’re not quite sure what? Let us show you the way. Introducing the experimentalist Canberra/Sydney three-piece Spartak, who have taken Australia by storm with their forward-thinking release Five Points. The shimmering art-rock inspired 5-track release comprises of enchanting electronica-laden tunes like ‘Nightshift’ to more schizophrenic post-meets-noise punk tinges ‘On Conditions‘ (similar to that of Melbourne outfit NUN). The trio will be joined by minimalist popsters Erasers and breeze rockers Lanark.
Tickets & Info: $5.00, www.facebook.com & www.williamstreetbird.com
Canyonero
Where? The Zoo, 711 Ann Street, Fortitude Valley, Brisbane
When? 8:00pm, Friday 11th July
Why? Hey Brizzy, want a band that you can dance your ass off to? Or do you prefer to lean back on the bar with a glass of your favourite poison and quietly dig quality live music? We got the answer, local quartet Canyonero (and no, we’re not talking about the trusty Simpons SUV either.) Producing slippery-squealing riffs and banging pop-hooks like ‘Gator Hunter‘ that are virtually impossible not to groove to, as well as deep soul-searching folk twangs – such as the gorgeous ‘Derbyshire Moors‘ – Canyonero are the kind of cruisy Aussie rock that we all require a regular dose of. The four-piece are celebrating the release of their debut EP Muskets At Dawn and they want you to dig it. This is an all-Brisbane affair, with support acts The Worriers and The Bassethounds.
Tickets & Info: $12.00, $10.00- Students www.facebook.com & www.thezoo.com.au
