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.
Johnny Ajax
Where? Rosemount Hotel, 459 Fitzgerald St, North Perth
When? 8:00pm, Saturday, 13th December
Why? Local punk scene veteran John Black, known to fans as Johnny Ajax of infamous and incorrigible punk mainstays The Homicides, is making a break for the East Coast (probably to escape the law, but you certainly didn’t hear it from us). While he’s not sure if he’ll be staying for a little while or forever, one thing’s for sure, and that’s that he’ll be having one hell of a farewell party. Featuring sets from the likes of Aborted Tortoise, Secret Buttons, Darling Rangers, Emu Xperts, Dirtwater Blom, and Don Rat, this is one going away shindig not to be missed.
Tickets & Info: $10.00, http://rosemounthotel.com.au
Hey Frankie
Where? Boney, 68 Little Collins St, Melbourne
When? 8:30pm, Friday, 12th December
Why? We seriously love this crew, and what’s not to love? Crossing the boundaries between neo-soul, jazz, and electronica, Melbourne natives Hey Frankie are bringing a new world of sonic narratives born out of five diverse musical voices. Having unveiled a debut EP to rave acclaim and performing to a sold-out crowd during their Melbourne International Jazz Festival debut, Hey Frankie now welcome fans and newcomers alike to join them as they launch their new ‘Guess Who’ EP at Boney in Melbourne this Friday.
Tickets & Info: $10, http://www.facebook.com & http://boney.net.au
Ayleen O’Hanlon & Munro Melano
Where? The Aviary, 1/269 Johnston St, Abbotsford, Melbourne
When? 9:00pm, Saturday, 13th December
Why? This Saturday at The Aviary, you should come along and see two old mates right a terrible wrong. Longtime buddies and mutual admirers Ayleen O’Hanlon and Munro Melano always seem to book gigs on the same night, and as such, they never get to see each other play. They’ve finally come up with the blindingly obvious solution and are set to celebrate the launch of their respective new releases by playing over two nights at The Aviary Recording Studio and Creative Hub in Abbotsford, one of Melbourne’s most intimate music venues.
Tickets & Info: $15.00, http://www.facebook.com
The Animators
Where? The Workers Club, 51-55 Gertrude St, Fitzroy, Melbourne
When? 7:30pm, Thursday, 11th December
Why? The Animators were formed in 2009 after Dave Cuthbertson uploaded a demo EP online, quickly striking a chord with an audience on MySpace. Soon, Cuthbertson’s group was headed for the stages of St Kilda Fest, Peats Ridge Fest, The Gum Ball & The Hills Are Alive. All the while, their 2012 release Dualis saw single ‘Shiver’ on rotation at Triple M as the clip was named ‘Indie of the week’ on Rage. Following an almost two-year hiatus, The Animators return with the unreserved use and abuse of piano, drums, guitars, synth and fuzzy bass we love them for, as well as a new EP titled Adaptation.
Tickets & Info: $15.00, http://theworkersclub.com.au/
Hey Geronimo
Where? Spectrum, 34 Oxford St, Darlinghurst, Sydney
When? 8:00pm, Friday, 12th December
Why? If you still haven’t checked out Hey Geronimo, then don’t miss out on this one. You know them because you still can’t get their single ‘Carbon Affair’ out of your head, but the good news is the band have a brand new single release that’s sure to put its hooks deep into you. It’s called ‘Finale’ and the band will soon be making the rounds premiering it in venues around Australia to what’s sure to be some rave reviews from fans and critics alike. Don’t miss out on seeing one of the country’s most innovative and quirky purveyors of indie music.
Tickets & Info: $11.73, https://qbar.iwannaticket.com.au
These Wild Animals
Where? Jive, 181 Hindley St, Adelaide
When? 8:00pm, Saturday, 13th December
Why? Dark and understated soundscapes placed against raw outbursts of heavy aggression. Observations of a failing society and the exploration of the inner workings of a cryptic mind – that’s the sound of These Wild Animals. If you’re still having trouble, think ’90s grunge rock meets early ’70s hard rock, mixed in with the best of today’s alternative sounds. Got you interested? We thought so. Following on from their well-received debut EP, the Adelaide-based three-piece are now preparing to release their highly anticipated Enstasy EP on Saturday, 13th December at Jive.
Tickets & Info: $15.00+BF, http://jivevenue.com
Moana
Where? Babushka, 742 Newcastle Street, Leederville, Perth
When? 7:30pm, Friday, 12th December
Why? Having cemented their place in the tight-knit fabric of Perth’s local music scene, Moana are now set to stun you once again with the premiere of their music video for ‘Echo’, taken from their debut EP ‘A Mouthful of Birds’. The band promises that this will be the last official celebration of this body of work before they move onto new material and assuredly new heights. Helping the crew celebrate will be the esteemed likes of Usurper Of Modern Medicine, Kitchen People, Joni In The Moon, and Hokra, who are sure to make this one unforgettable night of audiovisual and musical delights.
Tickets & Info: $10, https://www.facebook.com
Waxhead
Where? Black Bear Lodge, 1/322 Brunswick St, Fortitude Valley, Brisbane
When? 5:00pm, Saturday, 13th December
Why? Waxhead recently announced an extensive East Coast tour to celebrate the release of ‘Home’, the first single to be taken from their debut EP of the same name, and now they’re bringing their good-time vibes and psychedelic surf style to the Black Bear Lodge. These self-described surf rats, whose sound sits somewhere between Oz rock and psychedelic, draw on influences as diverse as Pink Floyd and Talking Heads, and are still riding a wave of momentum (no pun intended) generated by the release of ‘Home’, meaning this performance is not to be missed.
Tickets & Info: Free Event, http://www.blackbearlodge.com.au
