Gigs This February

Here are a list of some Australian gigs happening this month that I recommend. Hopefully I’ll be able to repeat this kind of thing once a month and make it more comprehensive.

Acid Mothers Guru Guru (dates)

Alice in Chains - Soundwave Sideshow (dates)

Black Mountain (dates)

Chick Corea and John McLaughlin 5 Piece Band (dates)

Crabsmasher (dates)

Cult of Luna supported by Laura (dates)

Damo Suzuki [ex-Can] (dates)

David Byrne (dates)

The Dillinger Escape Plan, Poison the Well, Every Time I Die and Evergreen Terrace - Soundwave Festival Sideshow (dates)

El-P (dates)

For Tet – Laneway Sideshows (dates)

Inappropriate Tough Guy Behaviour (dates)

Kid Koala (dates)

Lamb of God – Soundwave Sideshow (dates)

Laneway Festival featuring, amongst others, Stereolab, Pivot, The Drones, Jay Reatard, For Tet and No Age (dates)

Leonard Cohen (dates)

Monarch (dates)

Nine Inch Nails – Soundwave Festival Sideshow (dates)

Propaghandi (dates)

Scissor Lock (dates)

Soundwave Festival featuring, amongst others, Nine Inch Nails, Alice in Chains, The Dillinger Escape Plan, Lamb of God, Poison the Well and Every Time I Die (dates)

Stereolab – Laneway Sideshows (dates)

Summer Tones Festival featuring, amongst others, Dan Deacon, Beaches, High Places, Lawrence Arabia and Mark Barrage (dates)

Send your listings to adrianclement (at) me (dot) com.

Filed under: Acid Mothers Guru Guru, Agonhymn, Alice in Chains, Brian Eno, Cult of Luna, Damo Suzuki, David Byrne, El-P, Evergreen Terrace, Every Time I Die, Everything that Happens Will Happen Today, Experimental Music, Festivals, Grindcore, Heathen Skulls, Kid Koala, Lamb of God, Laura, Monarch!, Nine Inch Nails, Poison the Well, Post-Metal, Post-Rock, Soundwave Festival, Sydney Opera House, The Dillinger Escape Plan

Songs of David Byrne and Brian Eno at SOH 2009

David Byrne will be performing The songs of David Byrne and Brian Eno at Sydney Opera House on the first of February, 2009. Consisting of material from My Life in the Bush of Ghosts and Everything that Happens Will Happen Today, which just got released recently through Topspin. Supporting them will be 1980s Australian rock band The Church. More info below:

David Byrne 2009 Australian Tour
“Songs of David Byrne and Brian Eno”

“Byrne delivered a two-hour show as enigmatic and adventurous as his three decades-long career. …… In short, the man was the same as he ever was: brilliant.” (The Boston Globe Nov 1)

Does anyone get better live concert reviews than David Byrne? Seriously. If there is a more uplifting, stimulating, innovative, memorable or just plain joyous concert than David Byrne’s, we’d like to hear about it.

And so it is with great pleasure that Andrew McManus Presents announces the return to Australia of the wonderful David Byrne in February 2009 to perform his extraordinary new concert “Songs Of David Byrne And Brian Eno”.

Byrne’s new album ‘Everything That Happens Will Happen Today’ is set for release in the US on November 25 (and for purchase via iTunes and as a stream and digital download through everythingthathappens.com) and is his first collaboration with long-time friend Brian Eno in 25 years. It continues the association began when Eno produced three classic Talking Heads albums and the ground-breaking solo record ‘My Life In The Bush Of Ghosts’ (1981).

The partnership, which has produced much of Byrne’s best work, has inspired the current touring show. Whilst Eno may be absent physically, he is more than present spiritually as Byrne covers classic and current Byrne/Eno material in a concert which, although only four weeks old, has been lauded by U.S reviewers and may well be Byrne’s most acclaimed ever!

With a ten-piece band – five musicians, three backing singers and three dancers – all dressed in white, Byrne has raised the bar yet again in the marriage of music, art and theatre.

It’s not surprising that Byrne has once again created something very special. Since the beginning with his band Talking Heads, he has always pushed the envelope, taking popular music into new directions, both in terms of sound, lyrics and visual presentation. Outside of music, he remains a prolific artist, photographer and film-maker.

In “Songs Of David Byrne and Brian Eno”, Byrne performs songs from their numerous collaborations including the new album, the three Talking Heads albums and ‘My Life In The Bush Of Ghosts’. The show has just commenced a six-month world tour in the US and is absolutely not to be missed.

The Church are the tour’s special guests. As their 25th anniversary approaches, the band continues to push the boundaries of what a rock band should be. They make music without regard for current trends and have remained enigmatic and innovative. The sonic perfection of The Church will be a wonderful appetiser.

Running Times:
7.30pm – 8.30pm The Church
8.30pm – 9.00pm Interval
9.00pm – 10.50pm David Byrne

Tickets on sale this morning at 9:00 AM!

Any copyrighted material on these pages is included as “fair use”, for the purpose of study, review or critical analysis only, and will be removed at the request of copyright owner(s).

Filed under: Brian Eno, David Byrne, Sydney Opera House, Topspin

Chick Corea and John McLaughlin – Five Piece Band Second Show

Chick Corea and John McLaughlin, who are teaming up with a few other people to form a five piece band for some shows around Australia, have just announced a second show at the Sydney Opera House. Tickets for this event go on sale this morning: don’t miss out. More info below:

Drummer Brian Blade will now join Chick Corea and John McLaughlin’s Five Peace Band when they head to Australia & New Zealand this summer, February 2009.

Blade replaces Vinnie Colaiuta on drums, teaming up McBride (upright bass) and Garrett (saxophone), and of course the legendary Chick Corea and John McLaughlin. Colaiuta has become unavailable due to other continuing tour commitments.
Hailing from a Louisiana childhood infused with the sounds of Gospel, Blade’s musical development began in the school band, gaining an early appreciation for Jazz. Graduating to University Blade moved to New Orleans, establishing himself as a versatile & accomplished drummer, becoming apart of the local scene with inspiring & nurturing musicians such as Ellis Marsalis, John Vidacovich, to Harry Connick Jr & Daniel Lanois. In 1998 Blade & friend Jon Cowherd formed Fellowship, eventually evolving into his highly acclaimed Blue Note debut Brian Blade Fellowship. Blade has since appeared on albums with Joshua Redman & Kenny Garrett, & more recently recorded with Bob Dylan, Emmylou Harris & Joni Mitchell.

This will be the first time Grammy Award winning pianist-composer-bandleader Chick Corea & guitarist John McLaughlin have joined forces since they were members of Miles Davis’ Bitches Brew era band over forty years ago. Playing music from then & now, with Kenny Garrett, Christian McBride & Brian Blade, the Chick Corea & John McLaughlin Five Peace Band is poised to elevate new audiences with series of legendary concerts.

With illustrious musical careers dating back over more than four decades, Chick Corea & John McLaughlin created explosive live bands melding rock with jazz, Return To Forever & the Mahavishnu Orchestra, two of the most popular instrumental groups of all time. Their music went far beyond the ordinary, fusing energy, spirituality, emotion, with improvisation & hard rock. These groups inspired a new generation to expand their own musical horizon.

Don’t miss this chance to witness these incredible artists shine on stage.

Any copyrighted material on these pages is included as “fair use”, for the purpose of study, review or critical analysis only, and will be removed at the request of copyright owner(s).

Filed under: Brian Blade, Chick Corea, Christian McBride, John McLaughlin, Kenny Garrett, Sydney Opera House

John Scofield: Tonight at the Sydney Opera House

John Scofield will be performing tonight at the Sydney Opera House. If you can make it, make sure you don’t miss it as it sounds like it’s going to be a terrific night. Unfortunately, I’m tied up with other commitments, so I won’t be able to make it. Here are the full details:

Joe Lovano ‘One of the greatest musicians in jazz history’ New York Times

John Scofield ‘Arguably the most influential jazz guitarist.’ International Herald Tribune

Sydney Opera House is proud to present two of the most dynamic players in contemporary jazz, Joe Lovano and John Scofield, sharing top bill with their quartet for one night only.

When this Grammy Award-winning tenor saxophonist and master guitarist come together they make one of the most exciting jazz collaborations of our time. Close friendship shines through formidable musicianship in a technically brilliant performance beaming intensity, skill and fun.

The highly anticipated merger of Joe Lovano and John Scofield reunites the stellar duo that led one of the most popular jazz groups of the early 90’s and the powerhouse group ScoLoHoFo. Teaming up once again, these stellar musicians will play repertoire from their Blue Note classics ‘What We Do’ and ‘Meant to Be’ as well as new compositions.

Grammy Award winner and perennial poll winner, Joe Lovano is one of today’s most formidable and stylistically eclectic tenor saxophonists. Lovano’s playing possesses in abundance the sense of spontaneity that characterises the music’s finest improvisers.

Hailed by Down Beat magazine as “King John,” John Scofield is a true legend of jazz guitar, collaborating with the Miles Davis band, Herbie Hancock, Bill Charles Mingus and Pat Metheny. Armed with his trusty Ibanez, he continually explores the outer edges of contemporary jazz.

Don’t miss these masterful jazz improvisers, joined by Matt Penman (bass) and Matt Wilson (drums) for one night only!

Duration:
Low Fidelity: 8pm – 8:30pm
Interval: 8:30pm – 8:50pm
Joe Lovano and John Scofield Quartet: 8:50pm – 10:20pm

You can book tickets at this location.

Any copyrighted material on these pages is included as “fair use”, for the purpose of study, review or critical analysis only, and will be removed at the request of copyright owner(s).

Filed under: John Scofield, Sydney Opera House