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.
Fraser A Gorman
Where? Ding Dong Lounge, Melbourne CBD
When? 9pm, Saturday 6th September
Why? Let’s start off this week with a bargain from one of Melbourne’s favourite musical sons. Flush from helping celebrate the (hugely successful) Milk! Records Pozible campaign with an all-in launch gig with his labelmates, Fraser A. Gorman is match-fit for this weekend. He’ll be bringing his full band in tow, along with a few secret special guests, to Ding Dong on Saturday (and be sure to check out the venue’s fresh N’Orleans grub). Dig on the songsmith’s latest, ‘Sugarcane Motorcycle‘, then get your butt to Chinatown on Saturday night. Simple.
Tickets & Info: $14 (+ b/f) via dingdonglounge.com.au
Vaudeville Smash & Hodor
Where? The Beach Road Hotel, 71 Beach Road Bondi, Sydney
When? 9pm, Wednesday 3rd September
Why? How’s this for a drool-worthy cultural match-up? A glam-disco rock outfit who scored a worldwide viral hit for an unofficial World Cup anthem and a DJ set from someone best known as playing a dimwitted benevolent man-mountain on Game of Thrones. You’ll get both for the price of a smile tomorrow night as part of the Bondi Beach Rd Hotel’s ongoing free Wednesday night series. Vaudeville Smash will perform a live set while Kristian Nairn, aka Hodor, will spin tunes as part of his Rave of Thrones Aus visit. You thinking what we’re thinking? Hodor reading out the soccer player rap for Vaudeville’s ‘Zinedine Zidane’? You’ll have to get down tomorrow to find out.
Tickets & Info: FREE, www.facebook.com
Rag N’ Bone
Where? Flyrite, 110 Aberdeen Street St, Perth
When? 8pm, Friday 5th September
Why? How does five thrilling Perth bands for $2 a piece sound? Well, Rag N’ Bone are launching their new single this Friday and have a bunch of great acts to help them do it. The four-piece have got their debut EP in the can, leading with ‘Wood & Wire’, a spiky cut o’ post-punk and features the mythical Cowboy John (last heard raving on Pond’s Hobo Rocket). Joining the party will be surf punk ones-to-watch Aborted Tortoise, power popsters Night Signals, shoegaze five-piece Dream Rimmy, and “albocore” outfit Shit Narnia. What’s not to love?
Tickets & Info: $10, www.facebook.com.au
Cam Avery (The Growl)
Where? Black Bear Lodge, level 1-322 Brunswick St Mall, Fortitude Valley, Brisbane
When? 7pm, Thursday 4th September
Why? Frontman of The Growl. Bassist for Tame Impala. Perth music maverick. No matter how you introduce him, Cameron Avery is a talent. Embarking on his first solo jaunt this month, Avery is roadtesting material for a forthcoming new album and “aesthetically this is a massive departure,” he’s said. “Consider it an expensive and time consuming memoir of the past couple years, sonically shared.” What isn’t costly is the price tag – just 15 clams for a pre-booked ticket. Spinning Top labelmate (and Pond member) Shiny Joe Ryan is supporting. A twosome not to be missed – so don’t!
Tickets & Info: $15 (+b/f) www.blackbearlodge.com.au
The Pink Tiles
Where? The Tote Hotel, 67-71 Johnston St, Collingwood, Melbourne
When? 8pm, Friday the 5th September
Why? Self-described “Melbourne throwaway pop band” The Pink Tiles have just released their self-titled debut LP, on hot pink wax no less, and are “painting the town PINK” to commemorate the occasion. Warming up ahead of the headliners’ set of raggedy bubblegum pop (give the charming ‘Agony Aunt‘ a chew) will be a cavalcade of fellow locals. Namely, the red hot ride that is SMB, the crazy fun Plague Doctor (soon bidding farewell to their bassist *sob*), disco garage sextet Sugar Fed Leopards, and PBS DJs Stone Love Richie 1250 and Grace K (of punks Wet Lips) will hit the decks between sets. The gig promises “pop & trash & fun & laughter” and we believe they’ll more than deliver.
Tickets & Info: $10, www.facebook.com
King Of The North
Where? Jive Bar, 181 Hindley St, Adelaide
When? 8:00pm, Friday the 5th September
Why? Radelaide locals King Of The North are “A brilliant band with a big future,” who “were the unquestionable highlight of CherryRock 2014,” according to our reviewer. Then brace for impact, the whirlwind duo are ready to tear down the City of Churches on Friday, chiefly because they can but also to launch ‘It’s Been Too Long‘ the latest riff-hungry beast unleashed from their debut album, Sound The Underground (now on vinyl). Tabula Rasa and Glass Skies will be on hand as support to sweeten what’s already a great deal – for both your wallet and your ears.
Tickets & Info: $10 (+b/f) www.jivevenue.com & www.facebook.com
Klo
Where? Boney, 68 Little Collins St, Melbourne
When? 8:30pm, Friday 5th September
Why? KLO is the new musical project of cousins Chloe Kaul and prolific muso Simon Lam (I’lls, formerly The Ocean Party, ex-Kins, etc.) and they’re christening their first live shows this month with the release of their dizzying first single ‘False Calls’. They’ll treat the Boney bandroom to a taste of their forthcoming Dot Dash/Remote Control-released EP – with a lil’ help from their friends. Beat-making maestros Silent Jay and Electric Sea Spider will play support, while Rat & Co. DJs will be spinning tunes as well. It’s just 12 bones on the door, but if you wanna get really thrifty, save $2 by grabbing a KLO ticket online now.
Tickets & Info: $10 (presale, $12 on the door) www.facebook.com & www.boney.net.au
Sleepy Dreamers
Where? The Evelyn Hotel, 351 Brunswick St, Melbourne
When? 8pm, Wednesday 3rd September
Why? Crafting the kind of lush indie folk-pop you’d expect of a band called Sleepy Dreamers (scoped debut EP Creatures for further proof), the band have a new single ‘Hunk’ to showcase for the Brunswick faithful in a mid-week hump show. Before they take the Evelyn stage at 10.30pm, there’s sets from surf pop aficionados Seven Year Itch and alt-folkies Young Vincent to warm the ears. Price-wise, this trifecta is a lucky number seven you should be backing.
Tickets & Info: $7, www.facebook.com.au
