If you read this column with any regularity you know I’m a huge Australian-prog-scene nutswinger. I think we have some of the greatest heavy technical bands in the world. Melbourne’s Progfest started in 2008 and in 2018 it will expand to include Sydney and Brisbane as well, with a massive lineup that includes headliners Leprous (Norway) along with some of Australia’s biggest names in the genre: Ne Obliviscaris, Caligula’s Horse, sleepmakeswaves and Twelve Foot Ninja, all of whom have headlined the festival in the past. Also on the bill are Perth prog legends Voyager, Melbourne’s Alithia and Orsome Welles, Sydney’s Meniscus and Adelaide’s Dyssidia. It’s on Saturday January 27 at The Corner Hotel.
Sydney heavy rockers Our Last Enemy are back after an extended hiatus, and they’re in Melbourne on Saturday October 21. The band has been sequestered in their home studios writing material for the follow-up to 2011’s Fallen Empires, and after this run of shows they’ll convene in a regular studio to record the album. It’ll feature new drummer Frankie Macri (The Chaotic Borderline, As Angels Bleed). Meanwhile, this month’s tour features guitarist Wade Norris (Face Of Mutiny, Candypain) stepping in for Bryce ‘Bizz’ Bernius who’s taking some time off for family reasons. See them at the Workers Club on Saturday October 21 with Witchgrinder, Coffin Carousel, The Creptter Children, Death of Art and Nosferotica.
Gilby Clarke has a reputation as one of the most reliable, solid rhythm guitarists in rock, with a resume that includes Guns N’ Roses, Slash’s Snakepit, RockStar Supernova, MC5, Heart and his criminally underappreciated ‘80s band Kill For Thrills. Gilby will be gracing us with his rock-god-like presence when he rolls into Cherry Bar on Friday December 1.
Here’s your little reminder that Alice Cooper and Ace Frehley are here on Friday October 20 at Rod Laver Arena, and aside from the fact that both Alice and Ace are legends, you also have to see this show because Cooper’s band is incredible. Alice’s band features Nita Strauss on lead guitar – an incredibly dedicated and talented player, and she’s also extremely supportive of her fellow guitarists. Strauss joins co-guitarist Ryan Roxie for meet-and-greets on show days, so if you’d like to say hello to Strauss and Roxie, snap some pics, geek out about guitar and pick up some merch, visit the Rock N Roll Parking Lot Facebook Page and mark yourself down as attending the Melbourne event so you can be notified of the exact time and location.
I’d love to cover more local music in this column, so if you’re doing something you’d like Melbourne (and the world) to know about, email me at [email protected]. It doesn’t matter if it’s a gig, a video, a demo, a home recording you’re really proud of, whatever you’ve got going on. Let us know what you’re up to.
