Eskimo Joe '99 Ways' + 2022 National Tour - Interview With Kav Temperley

“LITERALLY INFECTIOUS”

Multi-platinum selling household names of Aussie rock ESKIMO recently released their "literally infectious" new single '99 Ways' plus announced the 'Black Fingernails Red Wine In The City' National tour, playing both iconic albums 'Black Fingernails Red Wine' and 'A Song Is A City' in both their entireties plus a surprise! "the surprise being..."

Brendan the blind guy was thrilled to catch up with Eskimo Joe lead singer Kav to chat about the new single, tour, Barry Gibbs' vocal warm-ups and much more to throw a ball at!

Check out tour dates, all relevant info and buy tickets for Eskimo Joe’s ‘Black Finernails Red Wine In The City’ 2022 National Tour via the official Frontier Touring website here

Josh Pyke 'Rome' - Podcast Interview

“YOU CAN’T ESCAPE WHO YOU TRULY ARE IN YOUR CORE”

They say everything leads back to Rome, so it's fitting that one of Australia's best story-tellers, Mr. JOSH PYKE has returned to his home in music after a three-year hiatus! Brendan the blind guy caught up with Josh to chat about his new album 'Rome' plus upcoming intimate tour, projects on his hiatus and more! Like, Share and follow Keen Eye 4 Concerts via our e-newsletter at www.keeneye4concerts.com/sign-up

They say "all roads leads back to Rome", with "Rome being a kinda metaphor for yourself" so it's fitting that one of Australia's best story-tellers, Mr. JOSH PYKE has returned to his inner home in music after a three-year hiatus!

Brendan the blind guy caught up with Josh to chat about his new album 'Rome' plus upcoming intimate tour, projects on his hiatus and more!

Like, Share and follow Keen Eye 4 Concerts via our e-newsletter at www.keeneye4concerts.com/sign-up

Check out the press release announcing Josh Pyke’s new album, intimate tour and more here.

Montana Sharp 'Greenhouse' Single - Podcast Interview

“I WISH I WAS A SLICE OF CHEESE”

"I WISH I WAS A SLICE OF CHEESE" Classically trained pop new-comer MONTANA SHARP drops her mysterious, theatrical and spine-tingling debut single 'Greenhouse' Brendan the blind guy had a chat to Montana about the single and more to make you feel like a Disney Princess!

Classically trained pop new-comer MONTANA SHARP drops her mysterious, theatrical and spine-tingling debut single 'Greenhouse' Brendan the blind guy had a chat to Montana about the single and more that’ll make you feel like a Disney Princess!

“Apart from it having the obvious humorous lyrics, it’s actually quite beautiful as far as the music goes and all in all, shows a rare creativity and talent for songwriting which I think people will love!” Brendan - ‘A Slice Of Cheese’

View the press release for ‘Greenhouse’ by Montana Sharp here.

Like, Share and follow Keen Eye 4 Concerts on social media and via our e-newsletter at www.keeneye4concerts.com/sign-up

DIP ROAD DOGS 'Shakshuka EP' Q&A

PERFECT FOR A LAZY SUNDAY LISTEN!

DIP ROAD DOGS 
DROP NEW SINGLE ‘LAZY’ 
AHEAD OF FORTHCOMING EP ‘SHAKSHUKA’

Reemerging from that dusty dirt track deep in the Mallee are the Dip Road Dogs, who have today dropped their dreamy new single, Lazy, a comforting, hypnotic journey into Americana.  Lazy is the third taste of their new EP, Shakshuka that is set for release on May 21. 
 
Dip Road Dogs are back with some of their finest music to date. Lazy is exquisite Americana folk rock from the fun loving Aussie country boys.  For fans of The National and The Church, haunting cello, and mesmerising, deep vocals will entice the listener, but it’s the unassuming emotional force that will sock you right in the feels and keep you coming back for more.  Contrastingly, Lazy is a song about a relationship where one partner is not pulling their weight with the household chores and the other becomes fed up with this behaviour and finally leaves for greener pastures. “It’s a warning to everyone to make sure you mow the lawns and do the dishes or you will end up alone!” Jests lead singer and songwriter Dave Chirnside.
 
Recorded in Nashville, Tennessee between The Amber Sound Studio, The Secret Genius Studio and producer Josh Frigo’s home studio, and mastered by John Davis (The Killers, Gorillaz, Royal Blood, The XX) at Metropolis Studios in London, the EP is a real mixed bag, with all six tracks working as a commendable package that showcases the band’s diversity and capability.  “The EP title Shakshuka is a very apt analogy for the EP as it is a delicious tomato-based dish that can be served at dinner or breakfast and you can throw nearly anything in to make it work. Our EP is a collection of old and new ideas that have created quite a variety of genres and sounds, so it’s a bit of a mixed bag but we think the songs gel well together,” explains Chirnside. “Once we had recorded the demos we got in touch with Josh Frigo in Nashville and set a date in June 2019 to head over and start recording. Josh’s time was very tight between touring so I locked in the dates without asking Matt, Ollie and Jack - better to beg for forgiveness than ask for permission, Jack had been travelling around Australia and was in Rockhampton when I called him to ask if he would come and record in Nashville, he had to put his trip around Australia on hold, but there wasn’t a whole lot of objection!”
 
Dip Road Dogs are a group of friends who once shared a house on Dip Road in the Mallee – now living miles apart from each other all around regional Victoria, they are one of the few bands that haven’t been hugely affected by these bizarre Covid19 times.  “We have been practicing isolation all our lives, so we feel we are well placed in these interesting times. There are a lot of challenges living so far away from each when it comes to live touring, but it doesn’t affect our writing, as long as our internet doesn’t cut out!  And we have a studio in Appin where we can put our collective ideas together - demos for the next release are well underway.”

Dip Road Dogs is Jack Pay, Dave Chirnside, Oliver Close and Matthew Close.
 
Lazy is out now and Shakshuka will be released on May 21.
 
Stream: Lazy
View: Lazy lyric video
Stream: Shakshuka

DIP ROAD DOGS - LAZY (lyric video)

DIP ROAD DOGS - LAZY (single artwork)

DIP ROAD DOGS - SHAKSHUKA (EP artwork)

Q&A WITH DAVE CHIRNSIDE (LEAD VOCALS)

What’s the inspiration behind your new single & EP? 

“The EP is a bit of a mixed bag of ideas stemming back from around 6 years ago up until early last year but the main inspiration was to create music that people can enjoy, whilst challenging ourselves musically.  it sounds very cliché, but it’s pretty much all it came down to!”

Who are your greatest musical influences? 

“I’m a big Tool fan so I’d have to say Maynard James Keenan, his story is pretty impressive and not your typical “rock star” story. I also love that he’s in Agriculture as well with his vineyard in Arizona! The Brian Jonestown Massacre is another big influence for the band.”

What do you bring to the live stage? 

“The Dogs bring plenty of Fazazz to the stage that’s for sure. If you have been to any of our concerts you have most likely been on the stage with us or played an instrument for us. We love to get everybody involved!”

How was the recording process?

“The process was amazing and a little unconventional I guess. We found our producer Josh Frigo online and he liked our demos and invited us to record with him in Nashville, because of his touring requirements we had a week to get the EP done. This meant our time in Nashville was very full on but we loved every minute of it. We still managed to fit in some honky tonks of a night.” 

What was the inspiration behind the music video? 

“Nate Hill was the man behind this one and we love it, he had about 3 nights to get it done as we were very disorganised and what he came up with was terrific. He really bought our album cover to life and the video is incredibly soothing.”

How would you describe your writing process? 

“Our writing process to date usually starts off with a riff on guitar or a drum beat and then thrown to the band for input, once we have the song basically done the lyrics are usually the last thing that comes to us. With the exception of our latest single, Lazy where the lyrics came pretty early on in the writing process.”

Give us an interesting personal fact! 

“I’m a scorpio!”

Check out Brendan the blind guy’s review of Dip Road Dogs ‘Shakshuka EP’ here.

Harper Bloom 'Mary' Q&A

HOLY MOTHER OF MARY!

HARPER BLOOM SHARES DEBUT SINGLE & VIDEO MARY 

Upcoming folkster Harper Bloom (otherwise known as Hayley De Pledge) has today announced her debut single Mary, a gorgeous, empowering romp about taking control back over your life, out April 2.  Harper Bloom has also announced a moving clip to accompany the release, directed by David Hansen (notable for his short film Anija).  

For fans of Alex The Astronaut, Courtney Barnett and Paul Kelly, Harper Bloom’s Mary is a wonderful example of brilliant Australian songwriting from beginning to end.  Deeply personal, affecting and sweet, Mary shines with acoustic guitars, driving percussion and Harper Bloom’s wonderfully unique, gentle vocals.  Working alongside Benjamin McCarthy (G Flip, Thelma Plum, Megan Washington) to bring Mary to life, Harper Bloom is sure to impress with this brilliant single.  Speaking on the inspiration behind the track, Harper Bloom enthuses, “The single is essentially about not being afraid to be vulnerable and take risks, no matter who you are or how old you are.  It’s about having the strength to leave a comfortable, mundane existence behind in search of enriching experiences and a new lease of life.  The idea really came from observing people on trains and buses…some of the verses came from overheard conversations or things I saw on public transport, and watching  the body language and expressions of people doing a job they didn’t really want to be doing.”

The clip for Mary is so well done, so touching, that it will absolutely stay with the viewer for hours after viewing.  It follows the story of an elderly wife, who finally liberates herself from the hum-drum nature of daily life, bucking all expectations for what elderly people should and shouldn’t do and having a ball all throughout.  It’s a beautiful, cinematic clip – every freeze frame looks like a spectacular photograph.  Reflecting on the narrative of the video for Mary, Harper Bloom says, “The story begins in Mary’s run-down suburban home – which was my sharehouse at the time – with her husband drunk and unresponsive on the couch.  After moments of taking in her life over the past 60 years, she gains clarity and decides to finally leave.  The story then follows Mary on her journey of rediscovery.”

Mary is set for release on April 2. 

“Loving this debut release from Harper Bloom.  Good luck resisting this song’s stirring pull and Harper Bloom’s storytelling nous” Dave Ruby Howe, triple j unearthed

“Fans of Alex The Astronaut should keep an ear out for your charming, stream of consciousness, observant songwriting and the fun-as-hell musical bits and bobs that accompany it” Abby Butler, triple j unearthed

Listen: MARY

Watch: MARY

   Q&A WITH HARPER BLOOM

What’s the inspiration behind your new single ‘Mary’? 
”It’s a narrative about an older lady who is living a mundane existence who finds the courage to leave in search of enriching experiences and a new lease of life. I think subconsciously the initial idea came from working with a few middle-aged women who weren’t happy with their lives and had a lot of regrets about avenues they didn’t pursue. So, its just about having the courage to move forward and make a change, which is scary because change is uncertain. The song was then glued together by things I had seen or conversations I had heard on public transport between New York, Perth and Melbourne.”

 Who are your greatest musical influences?
”I would say artists whose music has longevity and resonates with multiple generations. A huge influence has been Bob Dylan because of his ability to take observations from the world around him to convey thought provoking messages about society in his songs. Then there’s the metaphorical writing style of Stevie Nicks. I think by being more symbolic in lyrics, their meaning can be inferred differently by different people and in that way the songs can be more personal. Also, the Beatles and their ability to push out catchy hooks that resonate with people. They also got me into arranging fingerstyle melodies.”  

 What do you bring to the live stage? 
”I have formed a full 4-piece band early this year, which I am really excited about. All the band members are extremely seasoned and talented musicians (Keyboardist- Jack Saward, Bassist- Joe Kniepp and Drummer- David Quested) and I am stoked to have them on board. As I was formerly playing solo or as a duo, it’s nice to have a full band as it helps bring the single and debut EP to life. The live show is pretty energetic and upbeat with acoustic-pop driven songs and a couple of open-hearted ballads in between.”

 How was the recording process? 

“It was a lot of fun. I was lucky enough to work with an amazing producer called Benjamin McCarthy! He has worked with a bunch of talented artists such as G-flip, Thelma Plum and Alex The Astronaut. He has a studio set up at his Carlton house which is where we recorded the track. Ben arranged keys and the driving drum beat which really made the song pop.”

 What was the inspiration behind the music video? 

“I think the narrative of the song inspired the foundation of the music video. I also worked with an amazing director called David Hansen who was able to generate a storyline that didn’t follow the lyrics so literally, instead he used the general message of the song to form the story-line in the video. So, we came up with ideas of scenes that represent freedom and then ended on a scene that was symbolic of moving onto a new chapter in life.”

How would you describe your writing process? 

“Most of the time I catalogue lines in my notebook or phone. Maybe it’s something that I thought of, or read or heard somewhere. I am kind of obsessed with doing that. I won’t watch a movie or go anywhere without my notebook. Then when I am feeling inspired, I write sections of songs or a melody. Most of the time, I write a little bit then sit on it and let it stew and then come back to it. Then other times, but not as often, a whole chorus or verse can come out of no-where.”

 Give us an interesting personal fact!

“I worked as a beach lifeguard for 4 years and was lucky enough to work and live on an Island off the W.A coast!”

KIT (All Our Exes Live In Texas) 'Good Guy' Single Q&A

THE GOOD GUY IS BEST!

KIT ANNOUNCES DEBUT SINGLE AND VIDEO GOOD GUY

An integral part of the beloved Australian group All Our Exes Live In Texas, Kit (otherwise known as Katie Wighton) has today announced her debut solo release, Good Guy.  A gritty, guitar-led powerhouse of a single, Good Guy calls out every dude who’s ever gotten away with bad behaviour.  Kit has also released a stellar clip to accompany Good Guy, created in collaboration with Gina Somfleth of Pop Candi Films (Merpire, Peach Noise, Press Club).  

Following the outbreak of COVID-19, Kit has had to be creative with her single launch shows. After performing at ISOLAID on March 22 she was inspired to do her single launch show live on Instagram. With support from Bonnie Songs , Nancie Schipper & Hannah Blackburn, Kit will perform live from her livingroom on Friday April 17 at 7pm AEDT. She will have a Bandcamp set up with the idea that people can buy the single and donate what they may have paid to come to the show, and a percentage of the proceeds from the night will also go to Support Act to help those who are seriously suffering in our musical community."I find it very interesting that at the moment the things we seem to be talking about are our healthcare workers and hospitals, schools and universities and The Arts. In a crisis, these things become the most important and I hope that when we get through this awful time we will remember that.” Kit remarks.  “Being creative can sometimes be a burden but right now, it's our biggest asset. I've been doing the crossword on Instagram live and also have started an insta-choir – which is so much fun. I was sitting in my room playing a Hank Williams song and really missing the harmonies, so I chucked it up on my socials and asked people to send in their harmonies. The second week has really taken on a life of its own - we did Two Strong Hearts and had drums and bass and even a wine bottle solo! It’s so beautiful to connect with people safely and bring a little smile to people across the interwebs!”

Co-written with Ali Barter (also featured on backing vocals) and created with producers Dave Symes (Boy and Bear, Sarah Blasko, Missy Higgins) and James Seymour (Merpire, Eaglemont), Good Guy is a sharp, hard-hitting track with a vital message.  One for fans of rockers Alex Lahey, Angel Olsen and Ruby Fields, Good Guy leads with its heart on its sleeve; with amps cranked and driving percussion alongside clever and playful melodies, this track is impossible to ignore.  Speaking on the inspiration behind the track, Kit explains, “I wrote this song with Ali Barter last year after having one too many conversations with amazing women about men in the entertainment industry getting away with bad behaviour.  There is a long and specific story behind it, basically I was tired of hearing sad songs by incredible women about other remarkable women who were wronged – I just wanted to get mad about it. The chorus is kind of a G-rated ‘fuck the patriarchy’.  One of the lyrics is 'it's bigger than us both’.  The conversations stopped just being about my own sadness, anger, disappointment and horror and turned into ‘What the actual shit is going on around us?  How can we fix this?’”

The clip for Good Guy reinforces the message behind the track wholeheartedly.  Reflecting on the video, Kit says, “It's kind of alluding to the experience of someone seeming like a lovely person at first and lulling you into a semi-false sense of security.  Then bam, they do something shit and you're all confused.  And I feel like it's so common now.  Sometimes it's not even something that bad.  Ghosting and not replying to texts, not going straight for a condom, not being honest and open about where they're at.  Anyway, it's that.  In a film clip.  You'll just have to watch it to get the full scoop!  And it's shot in Melbourne at some of my favourite spots!  The patriarchy is giving me a lot of creative fodder, ha!”

Good Guy is a far cry from the exquisite folk stylings of All Our Exes Live In Texas that fans might know Kit best for, but it’s all a melting pot of influences as she explains, “I've been listening to different music – more rocky, raw stuff.  We played folk songs for a long time and I got to a point where I wanted to yell a bit.  Get my punk on!  And have my own voice too.  The band has definitely been a part of KIT, even if it isn't conscious.  Those women are a really important part of my music and emotional history and it would be naïve to think it hasn't influenced KIT.”

Good Guy is out April 3 through Believe.

Listen: GOOD GUY

Watch: GOOD GUY

 FRIDAY 17 APR @ 7pm AEDT | LIVE ON INSTAGRAM WITH BONNIE SONGS, NANCIE SCHIPPER & HANNAH BLACKBURN

Q&A WITH KIT

What’s the inspiration behind your new single Good Guy? 

“I wrote this song with Ali Barter last year after having one too many conversations with amazing women about men in the entertainment industry getting away with bad behaviour. There is a long and specific story behind it, basically I was tired of hearing sad songs by incredible women about other remarkable

women who were wronged – I just wanted to get mad about it. The chorus is kind of a G-rated ‘fuck the patriarchy’. One of the lyrics is ‘this is bigger than us both’. The conversations stopped just being about my own sadness, anger, disappointment and horror and turned into ‘What the actual shit is going on around us? How can we fix this?”

Who are your greatest musical influences?

“Phoebe Bridgers, Merpire, my mum. “

What do you bring to the live stage? 

“I HOPE good banter and open, honest music. “

How was the recording process? 

“Long haha! But so fun. I was just so picky about this first single that it took awhile. Thankfully I had a lot of very kind, patient, BRILLIANT musicians and friends around me so that helped. And in the end I’m really proud of where we got to so it was all worth it!”

What was the inspiration behind the music video? 

“Well we’re tackling what I think is pretty heavy subject matter so Gina Somfleth (from Popcandi and who I made the clip with) and I were keen to stay away from that. We wanted to find a humourous route to take so we went with going on a date with the devil - except I don’t know he’s the bad guy!!”

How would you describe your writing process? 

 “I think it changes all the time. BUT I would say I mostly start with an idea or a melody. Then I usually build it from there. Honestly there’s no one way though! “

Give us an interesting personal fact!

“I once baked a cake with a BB8 (Star Wars) on the top of it for a friend’s birthday. I still sleep with a teddy bear called White Bear and he’s actually a cat. “

Nic Rollo 'Monster' Q&A

LET THE INNER MONSTER OUT!

  NIC ROLLO ANNOUNCES NEW SINGLE & VIDEO MONSTER 

Perth based producer and songwriter Nic Rollo has today announced his driving, eerie new single Monster, about identifying and quelling the monster within us all, set for release on February 5.  Accompanying the track is a dark, revolving film clip, directed by Alex Montanari (Cub Sport, What So Not, Khalid) and Matthew James.  Monster follows the 2019 release of Nic’s brilliant, iridescent EP What Happened to the Kid. 

Monster will feel familiar to anyone who has said something in frustration or anger that they regret after the fact – the track is an introspective interrogation of that remorse, and what it’ll take to tame the inner monster who is responsible for those biting remarks.  Reminiscent of synth-pop auteurs M83 and indie rockers The Wombats, and mastered by pop royalty Chris Gehringer (Harry Styles, Rihanna, Halsey), the track is buoyed by glistening synths, hooky guitar and driving percussion – while Nic’s gentle vocals and arresting lyrics take centre stage.  Reflecting on the inspiration behind the track, Nic explains, “Monster was written during a previous relationship of mine when things were a bit shaky.  There were a few times that I’d said something to my ex that had started to cause fractures in the relationship and unnecessary conflict.  Monster is about that side of myself that I don’t always like  - the part that is impulsive and lashes out when I should just hold my tongue instead.”

The video for Monster feels like the beginning of a horror film – there’s a sense of suspense, as though the calm atmosphere of the night-driving scenes will not last for much longer.  It’s a beautiful watch, too – the lights passing in the night as the song plays out feels like a perfect representation of the moody nature of the music.  Speaking about the clip, Nic says, “The video for Monster is a narrative based video that features a lot of driving and aims to be aesthetically pleasing.  Matthew James, Alex Montanari and I came together to think about the video a few months back and we all had this vibe of the song revolving around driving and having dark colours. The story itself is supposed to be slightly confusing - am I driving to the burial or from the burial?  Am I burying the monster or is the monster burying me?”

The release of Monster is a killer way to kick off 2020 for this exciting young artist, as he enthuses, “It feels fantastic to finally be releasing Monster.  I wrote the song over a year ago and have been sitting on it for what feels like forever now.  To date, it is probably my favourite song that I’ve written, and I’m super stoked to finally be able to share it with people.”

Monster is out February 5.

Listen: MONSTER

Watch: MONSTER

Q&A Interview with Nic Rollo.

Q; What’s the inspiration behind your new single Monster?

A; I wrote Monster during a pretty turbulent time in a previous relationship where it felt like I kept saying things that would damage it, and inevitably caused fractures in the relationship itself.  The song is also commenting on how often, we shouldn’t be worried about other people, we should be more cautious of our own monsters.  I think the song came from the guitar line that goes throughout the song - I vaguely remember coming up with it whilst in the studio with a band I play in and instantly knew I could write something around it.

Q; Who are your greatest musical influences?

A; I used to listen to so much Radiohead when I was younger that I’m sure they’re still impacting some of my musical decisions today.  I think there’s something exciting about having weirder elements in pop music, so Radiohead definitely helped a lot there.  In terms of synth sounds and all of that, bands like Tears for Fears, Fleetwood Mac and Tame Impala all gave me a look into that world about 5 years ago (starting with Tame).  More recently artists like The Weeknd, Drake, Charlie Puth (and many others) have been really big influences on me as I’ve gotten more and more into writing pop music.  

Q; What do you bring to the live stage?

A; Aside from INCREDIBLE musical prowess (I’m kidding), I feel like the live show is pretty fun.  We’re all just up there having a good time, trying to not mess up too badly.  I’m planning on upgrading the live show over the next few months with another member and potentially starting to look into incorporating lights and visuals, which I’m super pumped about.  I’ve always been so fascinated by lighting and visuals in music.

Q; How was the recording process?

A; I love the recording process, I feel most comfortable when I’m in the studio.  Working on Monster was good fun since I had been so fond of the song in its demo form.  I was really excited to polish it up and see how it sounded.  I recorded it at Blackbird Studio in Perth with Dave Parkin, and had Felix Parker with me (who played those ripper guitar solos).  Some songs have historically been an emotional rollercoaster in the studio due to a number of reasons, but luckily Monster was pretty easy going.  

Q; What was the inspiration behind the music video?

A; I caught up with Alex Montanari and Matthew James, who both worked on the clip, a few months before we were planning on beginning filming to figure out the story and what we wanted to achieve.  Alex and I both had this idea in our heads about the film revolving around driving… something about Monster had a ‘driving a car’ kinda feel.  After that point the hard part was figuring out how to incorporate driving into an interesting story line and keep the video interesting over nearly 4 minutes.

Q; How would you describe your writing process?

A; Sometimes it’s manic, sometimes it’s relaxed.  I’ll typically just shit down at a keyboard and start playing chords until I come up with a chord progression or melody that inspires me to keep working on it.   At that point I’ll begin to build a track from there.  Sometimes I’ll write the bulk of the song in 20 minutes and be done with it (spending the next month or two producing it), other times I’ll spend 3 weeks trying to finish the actual songwriting (the chords, melodies, lyrics).  I guess it can be hard to put a method to being creative, so to an extent you just have to let it happen as it does.

Q; Give us an interesting personal fact!

A; I’ll give you two - I’m a literal caffeine fiend, like I drink enough coffee to be considered ¼ coffee myself.  It’s in my blood now.  I also get a stupid amount of nose bleeds during summer, I think I have really weak nose lining or something, but damn does it suck.  I’m surprised I’m not dead yet from blood loss.