Author: Emily Booth

Book Review: Oliver Burkeman – The Antidote: Happiness for People Who Can’t Stand Positive Thinking (2013)

For anybody struggling — whether it’s with sickness, relationships, or finishing that last task for your boss — phrases like “but it’s not that bad” and “you’ll be fiiiiiiine” are sometimes more harmful than helpful. Guardian journalist Oliver Burkeman seeks to challenge these frustrating fragments of advice with what he calls “the negative path to…

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the AU interview: Alana Hunt (Western Australia)

Tea is commonly thought of as a sweet and calming beverage. We do not immediately associate it with salt, death, and the political upheaval in Kashmir, because we do not speak about it — but that is exactly what artist Alana Hunt is trying to change. “Cups of nun chai; a memorial” is a work…

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the AU interview: Rose Wintergreen (Melbourne)

Rose Wintergreen may be in the middle of her co-headlining tour with Rosie Catalano, but she still has time for her fans. Emily Booth caught up with Rose about her hectic year: awards confusion, musical evolution, crowdfunding, and sand. Lots of sand.

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Book Review: Anna Romer – Thornwood House (2013)

Romer’s debut novel is a murder mystery spanning four generations, set against the unique landscape of the Australian outback. It’s an ambitious project, and while it’s not without it’s weaknesses, the end result is an engaging story that would appeal to fans of suspense and stories about family secrets.

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Album Review: She Rex – Self-Titled (2013 EP)

It’s no secret that She Rex are one of my favourite up-and-coming Sydney bands. Having been lucky enough to see them live several times in the past year, I was keen to hear the results of their work in the studio. As expected, they didn’t disappoint.

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Live Review: Amanda Palmer And The Grand Theft Orchestra + Jherek Bischoff + Die Roten Punkte – The Enmore Theatre (14.09.13)

Amanda Palmer has an intensity that colours her musical career as much as it does the relationship with her fans. We love it. Standing outside the Enmore Theatre, it was clear we’d been touched by it too: the floor length black coats, shirts from last tour, lacy corsets, and various piercings earn us weird looks…

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the AU interview at BIGSOUND: Chance Waters (Sydney)

In the lead-up to the release of his second album, Larry Heath sat down with Chance Waters at BIGSOUND to discuss the evolution of his songwriting, the possible death of the “superfan”, and the ever-changing form of music. Let’s talk about the launch of the new imprint of Shock Records. You guys have partnered up…

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Book Review: Peter Goldsworthy – His Stupid Boyhood (2013)

Peter Goldsworthy may be one of Australia’s most accomplished writers, but you wouldn’t know it from the title he’s chosen. Or perhaps you would: this self-deprecating mood colours his memoir — from the bizarre range of childhood obsessions to the first fumblings of adolescence — with sunny, occasionally glaring insight that can only be attained…

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Live Review: Anberlin + The Maine + William Beckett + Masketta Fall – The Hi-Fi, Sydney (07.09.13)

Having only become an Anberlin fan in the past year thanks to the recommendation of a close friend, I wasn’t sure what to expect from their live show. Yes, they made rock music, but how would the energy transfer to the stage? However, with such a strong line up, it wasn’t hard for my friend…

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Live Review: Tonight Alive + Hands Like Houses + D at Sea + Forever Ends Here – The Hi-Fi, Sydney (05.09.13)

For Tonight Alive, the past two years have been dedicated to the promotion of their debut album — an effort that has been a huge success. But their recent show at The Hi Fi marked the last show in that era. With the release of their second album awaiting them the next day, our Aussie…

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the AU interview: Michael David of Classixx (California)

Fresh from the stage of the FYF Fest in LA, Michael David of Classixx took the time to chat with Larry about the duo’s new record, meat pies and their upcoming trip to Australia as part of the Listen Out parties.

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Album Review: William Beckett – Genuine and Counterfeit (2013 LP)

It’s only been two years since The Academy Is… announced their disbandment, but William Beckett has accomplished a lot in that time. Three EPs, an album of acoustic sessions, and a fair bit of touring is more than you’d expect from somebody who’d spent the previous nine years creating music with the support of a…

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Live Review: ‘Femme Locale’ feat. Brotherfunk + Inês + Rachael Zella and the Blackbirds – The Camelot Lounge, Sydney (08.08.13)

Femme Locale’s momentum has been increasing at a rapid rate. Not only have there been three showcases in the last four months, but the crowds and artists have both been getting bigger. The most recent touchdown was at The Camelot Lounge, featuring the talent of Rachael Zella and the Blackbirds, Inês and Brotherfunk. As an…

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Reading with the AU: Koraly Dimitriadis – Love and Fuck Poems: The Deluxe Edition (2012)

Sexually repressed, separated Greek girl on a rampage. There’s no love here, just fucks. But is she fucking him or fucking herself? Koraly Dimitriadis’ work was first published as a zine in 2011. It quickly sold out of stores. Now reissued as a book with extra poems, her first erotic verse novel strips itself down,…

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the AU interview at Oz Comic Con: Patricia Quinn and Little Nell from Rocky Horror Picture Show

Stars from the cult classic The Rocky Horror Picture Show Patricia Quinn and “Little Nell” (Nell Campbell) sat down with Larry Heath, to discuss their enduring love of Rocky Horror, each other, the wackiest tributes they’ve been given and the impact the show still has today.

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Live Review: ‘Femme Locale’ feat. Rosie Catalano + Imogen Bel + Christine Jane – The Hive, Sydney (21.06.13)

Less than a month after taking over The Vanguard, the Femme Locale showcase made its return for round four on Friday night. This time, the crowd gathered in the cozy second floor of The Hive Bar to watch Christine Jane, Imogen Bel, and Rosie Catalano perform an intimate concert.

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Live Review: Emma Louise + Thelma Plum + Patrick James – Metro Theatre (17.05.13)

Emma Louise’s vs. Head vs. Heart is easily one of the most captivating records to be released this year, proving that the attention she found with 2011’s “Jungle” was more than luck — she is undeniably talented and utterly deserving of the success she’s having. I attended her show with high expectations, and was not…

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Live Review: Tonight Alive + Because We Can + A Sleepless Melody – The Factory Theatre (16.05.13)

When I saw Tonight Alive at Manning Bar just over a year ago, it was easy to see that they had a lot of potential. However, as strong as their performance was, they were still a fairly new band — on stage, their presence merely asked for the audience’s attention. When I saw them this…

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Live Review: Owl Eyes + Collarbones + Mammals – The Standard (11.05.13)

Owl Eyes’s debut record Nightswim has a very laid-back atmosphere, so I was under the impression that her live show would be just as smooth. Between the performances of her support acts, the technical mishaps, and the surprising amount of energy she possessed, the night was somewhat scattered — but ultimately, enjoyable.

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Live Review: Bec and Ben + The Chitticks + Burn Antares – FBi Social (10.05.13)

I first heard Bec and Ben’s “This Is Why I Love You” last year, on a compilation released by My Sydney Riot. I’ve been a fan since then, but it’s only recently that I’ve had the chance to catch them live. Supported by Burn Antares and The Chitticks, they filled the FBi Social with rock…

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Album Review: Misty Miller – Next To You (2013 EP)

Misty Miller has come along way since 2011. Back then, she was strumming her ukulele and singing sweetly about boys. Now, at eighteen, she’s got an electric guitar, a stronger voice, and a helluva lot more to say. Next To You is her second EP release this year — and if you read the title…

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In Memoriam – Chrissy Amphlett: Only You

When the world loses a legend, everybody rushes to define what exactly it was that made them so extraordinary. For Chrissy Amplett, the most common descriptions will be these: singer, actress, icon; sufferer of drug and alcohol abuse, of breast cancer, of multiple sclerosis. But many people will wonder who she was, and those who…

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Live Review: Deap Vally + Gung Ho + Steve Smyth – Oxford Art Factory (05.04.13)

The structure of “support-support-headliner” is a common one, so it’s rare for it to produce a well-balanced line up. But Steve Smyth, Gung Ho, and headliners Deap Vally are each as talented as they are stylistically diverse; making their recent show at Oxford Art Factory an unusual delight.

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Live Review: Emilie Autumn – The Factory Theatre (30.03.13)

I’ve been a fan of Emilie Autumn for six years now. I first fell in love with her music at the age of fourteen, and was subsequently mocked for it by my high school peers, who didn’t appreciate her eccentric style. A few nights ago, I had the opportunity to see her live, and as…

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Live Review: Zac Brown Band + Busby Marou – The HiFi Sydney (27.03.13)

While I’ll admit to not being a huge listener of country music, I do have an interest. I’ve always found it to have a balanced perspective on life. So when an opportunity arose to see Zac Brown Band, supported by Busby Marou, I was intrigued enough to take it.

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Live Review: Fall Out Boy – Metro Theatre (25.03.13)

Fall Out Boy’s hiatus might have only lasted four years, but it was swarming with rumours: was it a permanent break? Or would they be back next week? When their official return was announced earlier this year, I assumed it was a joke. A few weeks later, when I turned up to the Metro Theatre…

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Live Review: Ellie Goulding + Contrakids – Metro Theatre (08.03.13)

Ellie Goulding has made a fool of me. Her recent show at The Metro Theatre so exceeded my expectations that I’m actually embarrassed by how much I misjudged her. I had anticipated a rather laid-back night: a tender performance, lighthearted banter with the crowd, maybe some acoustic renditions of her music. What I got was…

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Live Review: Garbage – The Star Event Centre (06.03.13)

I never expected to have the privilege of seeing Garbage live. They were already on hiatus by the time my teenage self found her way to their section in the record store, so the idea of attending a show was only ever a daydream. Skip forward seven years to when it all changed. 2012 brought…

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the AU interview: Ben Caplan (Canada)

In the midst of preparing himself for a journey to Australia, Ben Caplan talked to Larry, about the upcoming tour, his plans for new music, and his devotion to his music.

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the AU interview: El-P (Brooklyn)

In the middle of his preparations to visit us down under as part of the Laneway Festival, El-P phoned Larry Heath to discuss everything from the process of making his latest album, to what he thought was the best record of 2012. So you’re about to return to Australia for the first time since 2009….

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