I saw Luca Brasi kick out some jams at Ding Dong Lounge last weekend, and in keeping with every live Luca Brasi show I’ve ever seen, it was a jolly good time. The band are in possession of several key elements of an endearing live show. I will one day determine the perfect formula and then publish a book called The Secret and make millions. For now though, I know for sure that having a backup vocalist who hold’s their own can automatically set a band head and shoulders apart from their peers. Your harmonies don’t need to be complex, in fact, I don’t feel like they need to vary much at all, but the power of two voices providing that breadth of sound in a live context just can’t be beat. It shares the load in the most obvious way. In the same way that dual guitars has always seemed a totally necessary presence, few bands really seem to create the same partnership with their vocalists. Full disclosure: I play approximately zero instruments so I can and may be ordered to promptly get fucked with my musical denigrations, and rightly so. Just sayin’.
Further details have been revealed for UNIFY: A Heavy Music Gathering. The boutique music and camping festival will be held in South Gippsland. 3000 tickets will be made available for the event, which will have BYO, licensed areas and a punter-friendly atmosphere. The Amity Affliction will headline, while Northlane, In Hearts Wake, Thy Art Is Murder, Deez Nuts, Break Even, Confession, Buried In Verona, Hand Of Mercy, Antagonist AD, Hellions, Storm The Sky, Endless Heights, Aversions Crown, Stories, Electrik Dynamite and Earth Caller also confirmed. It all happens on January 10 and 11. All tickets include onsite camping and will be available from October 2.
Comeback Kid have invited Warbrain and Earth Caller to play with them at Richmond’s Central Club on October 18, and Iron Mind, Outright, Free World and Born Free will accompany on the massive Phoenix Youth Centre show on October 19.
Texas Is The Reason front man Garrett Klahn has signed to Rise Records to release his debut solo album. Lead single I Don’t Care At All is out soon while Motion For Action will become available on November 18.
Violent Soho are working hard at maintaining their position atop the Australian music podium. They’re announced a massive Australian tour that will see them go, uh, everywhere. They’re playing 170 Russell in Melbourne on November 28 and the Barwon Club on November 19. If you’re in Ballarat, don’t miss the chance to see them at Karova on November 27. Their newest album Hungry Ghost just reached gold status (30,000+ copies sold). Tickets from September 23.
Gwar have announced a new co-vocalist that will replace the recently deceased Dave Brockie. At Chicago’s Riot Fest, they revealed Vulvatron will be the first female member since the departure of Slymenstra Hymen back in 2000. Vulvatron is portrayed by clothing designed Kim Dylla and we’re told she shoots geysers of blood out of her nipples. Glorious.
Northlane’s vocalist Adrian Fitipaldes has revealed why he decided to leave the band, right at the peak of their powers. He explained vocal issues had been bothering him for most of his career. “My voice had fully blown out more times than I could count and overtime has reduced my vocal endurance to the point where any screaming at all takes a toll on my voice… It has become increasingly difficult to manage the situation and started becoming a real source of stress physically and mentally for myself.” He concluded, “Sadly it got to a point where I wasn’t able to enjoy the dream we had worked so hard to realise”.
