Given the incredible music lineup for the Vivid lights festival in Sydney this year, we thought we’d celebrate with our May Playlist!
A tribute to the growth of this exciting Sydney festival, the playlist includes some of our favourite acts from the lineup such as St. Vincent, James Vincent McMorrow, Pixies, Fishing and The Presets.
Enjoy!
By Erin Rooney
Artist: DMA’s
Album: DMA’s
Hometown: Sydney, NSW
Genre: Alternative Rock
DMA’s are too cool for school. We’re talking denim jackets, American Pie, Converse High Tops cool – the best, most 90’s influenced kind.
I was honestly a little confused when I first had a listen to this EP after seeing the artwork: it was not at all what I expected. With those flipped up caps and bucket hat, I was seriously preparing myself for an onslaught of Aussie hip hop. My ears were met instead by fun, almost Oasis-like pop!
The record is very pulled back, with bare guitar lines driving the rhythm and raw vocals, a refreshing sound for today’s brand of alternative rock. You can particularly notice this in tracks like “Your Low” and “Play It Out”.
Interestingly, the Newtown-based trio recorded the standout single of the EP, “Delete”, in guitarist Johnny Took’s bedroom before getting signed with I Oh You. And listening to it, you can almost picture how much fun it would have been to lay down the tracks and hang out; it’s a real throw back to one of the best decades of music.
This is an impressive first release from DMA’s and one that suggests we should keep a close watch on what’s to come! DMA’s are in the process of performing their first live run of shows, with tickets still available for the Brisbane show this Friday 30 May.
By Erin Rooney
If you haven’t checked out Icelandic folk acoustic artist Ásgeir yet, then do yourself a favour and get his stunning song “King And Cross” on your current playlist. Right now.
Besides exhibiting that fabled European beauty with his lazy beanie, neat stubble and icy blue eyes (ahem, back on track now Erin), he creates magic with thick harmonies and simple, bright guitar lines. Think a little of the rhythm of Sigur Rós with a touch of echoey vocal stylings like Dustin Tebbutt.
Like what you hear? Just wait till you check out his live sets:
He strikes a nice balance between relaxing yet energising in his music – something that’s often hard to find in the genre!
You can listen to more of Ásgeir’s sweet tunes in his new album In The Silence or catch him on his Australian tour later this year.
By Erin Rooney
Address: Level 3, 383 Bourke St Surry Hills
The Standard Bowl is my new favourite venue in Sydney. There is bowling, there is live music, there is alcohol, there is a pool table, downstairs there is Johnny Wongs Dumpling Bar and it is free entry…what more could you ask for?
There have already been some great gigs, including D.D Dumbo, The Griswolds and I Know Leopard keep, with a gig line up that is updated weekly, this is the place to be on a Saturday night in Sydney.
The vibe: Grungy 50’s style arcade. It is very cool, and you will instantly feel a bit cooler by just stepping inside.
What to drink: $7 PBR Cans. Pretty standard drinks menu.
Who you’ll see there: Hipster hotties, gig goers, people having fun.
When’s best to go: It is definitely best to go on a busy night because the atmosphere is much more exciting (so Friday or Saturday) also the gigs are generally better on these nights. But if you are just going for a bowling sesh go Thursday, there will be less of a crowd to take away from your bowling time. You can spend a long time in this place and not get bored, so plan to spend most of your night here.
Venue in a song: “Twist and Shout” by The Beatles
Tonight Service Bells and Claws and Organs are playing, why not check it out?
By Sophie Henry
Artist: Northeast Party House
Album: Any Given Weekend
Hometown: Melbourne, Victoria
Genre: Alternative Dance
The debut album release of Northeast Party House, Any Given Weekend, is a young, powerful statement through strong beats and an underground party vibe.
Northeast Party House have always had a difficult style to pin down; they shuffle between danceable beats, jamming bass hits and hard vocals. But who cares about trying to label it when they’ve produced such a unique, consistent style?
The opening track “The Haunted” has gotten a bit of attention and it’s not hard to see why – it’s an addictive dance tune with repetitive, strong lyrics.
There are a lot of angsty kind of tracks on the album. “Youth Allowance” is fun but perhaps not completely appropriate after the recently announced 2014 Budget! It makes you want to boycott society and dance up a storm in protest. “Fake Friends” has a drunken feel and a bunch of striking layers.
“In The Water” is a highlight, and probably one of the easiest tracks to listen to on this album. For those unacquainted with Northeast Party House’s style it’s a nice introduction.
Catch Northeast Party House on their national tour at the newly renovated Newtown Social Club on the 28th June or at The Lair on the 29th June.
By Erin Rooney
Vinyl Garden 