Despite it being quite a warm day, there were threatening clouds on the horizon at the start of the third day of Porto’s Primavera Sound festival. On the main Porto stage, Best Youth, Portugal’s indie pop band showed that a little rain was not going to dampen their enthusiasm. They played their infectious music and…
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The National have been regulars to our shores for 16 years, so the six-year gap since their last show in Australia is a fair enough gap to have revived the appetite for the Ohio via New York City group. Bringing Annie Hamilton along for the tour was a stroke of genius. Not only is she…
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The National have returned to Australia for the the first time since 2018, and last night played at the ICC Sydney Theatre, the first of two shows. It was an incredible gig, with leadsinger Matt Berninger as always stalking and prowling the stage as he brings the tunes alive. You had to feel sorry for…
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A24 Music has announced “EVERYONE’S GETTING INVOLVED: A TRIBUTE TO TALKING HEADS’ STOP MAKING SENSE,” showcasing an impressive lineup of eclectic artists to commemorate the recent re-release of Jonathan Demme’s concert film of the same name and the 40th anniversary of its soundtrack. In a triumphant return to theatres in 4K, A24’s acquisition of Stop…
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The National are heading back to Australia, for their first tour since 2018. In exciting news for fans of the iconic Cincinnati band, they will be accompanied by very special guests, Fleet Foxes and Annie Hamilton. The National will be playing at Melbourne’s Sidney Myer Music Bowl, Brisbane’s Riverstage, Sydney’s Aware Super Theatre, and Perth’s…
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With 2023 just past its half way point, we’re taking a look at look at some of our favourite albums released over the past six months. 2023 has started off with plenty quality releases that are sure to remain on repeat as we head into the second half of the year. With the year already…
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Lifted from Julia Stone-curated compilation Songs for Australia, an excellent cover of INXS classic “Never Tears Us Apart” recalls the unbridled creativity oft credited to The National. The Ohio band, set to tour Australia later this month, faithfully recreate the endearing tune with a few drastic changes for good measure. While frontman Matt Berninger is…
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The second day of Lollapalooza was jam packed with much variety and some of the hottest names in music today. The three headliners couldn’t have provided more variety and something for everyone. Dillon Francis played the EDM main stage Perry’s, while Bruno Mars and National played the main stages on the North and Souh ends…
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Boston Calling kicked off the weekend to a mid-sized crowd on a hot, windy day, which gave me major flashbacks to the Big Day Out and Falls Festivals past. Within the first ten minutes I was sweaty, covered in dirt, and had sneezed about a hundred times. But if you don’t get a little grimy and…
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There’s definitely something enigmatic about The National. They’ve been a band for twenty years, are all seemingly grounded family men, and manage to always find themselves in the upper echelons of festival bills. And yet, they don’t rest on their laurels. They’ve just won their first Grammy, and have returned to the Sydney Opera House…
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When Matt Berninger calls me from New York on a Friday morning, he’s punctual and polite. Nerves hit me for a split second, if only because I – like many – consider albums from The National to be associated with some serious moments of emotional torment of uplifting. When posed with the opportunity to interview the songwriter…
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Returning next month for the first time since 2014, The National will be playing shows in Sydney at The Sydney Opera House, Brisbane at Riverstage, and Melbourne at Sidney Myer Music Bowl. Excitingly, this week we learned that special guests Little May as support act for all Australian shows! The connection between the two extends to the…
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When US indie giants The National received a Grammy nomination for best packaging, it seemed fitting that the band would translate their acclaimed album art into video form. The new music video for “Sleep Well Beast”, like the album art, is a collaboration between the band, graphic designer Luke Hayman, artist Casey Reas and photographer…
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The final weeks of 2017 are upon us and as summer playlists continue to come together, we’ve got another slew of new songs for you to listen to. From DZ Deathrays‘ “Total Meltdown” to Sufjan Stevens‘ “The Greatest Gift”, there’s plenty to sink your teeth into this week. Get started by hitting play! ———- This content has…
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The National have had a huge year. Their critically acclaimed new album Sleep Well Beast has just received two Grammy nominations (for Best Alternative Music Album and Best Recording Package) and the band are currently embarking a massive US tour. The National are also due to play some epic shows in Australia in February next year, bringing…
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This week it was announced that The National were to be returning to Australian shores early next year. The shows are going to be some of the band’s biggest in the country, taking in the Sydney Opera House, Brisbane’s Riverstage and the Sidney Myer Music Bowl in Melbourne and will serve as a great introduction of…
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FINALLY. The National have re-emerged with details of their long-awaited new album, Sleep Well Beast, due for release this September 8th. To be released through 4AD/Remote Control Records, Sleep Well Beast is the seventh studio record for The National and saw the Dessner brothers on production duties. Also revealed today was the first taste of the new album from…
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Tribute albums are funny things. Usually formed by a disparate rabble of mainstream artists and indie darlings, they often lack consistency of style and tone. For the most part, Day of the Dead, an extensive tribute collection to The Grateful Dead, avoids this typical problem. Collated by Bob Weir and members of The National, it…
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Today, we find ourselves at the top end of our 101 Greatest Songs of All Time countdown. We’ve already seen some classic gems mixed in with some older favourites further down the list but as we look at this eclectic Top 25, there are definitely some tunes in here that might surprise. When it came…
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Five full days of music will wear even the most vehement live music fanatic thin. Byron Bay Bluesfest is always a big ask for those who are up to the task, but the ones who stick it out for the entire Easter Weekend are rewarded with some of the best, most profoundly satisfying live music…
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The energy was different in the air for Day Two of the 27th annual Bluesfest; compared to the festival’s first night, the crowd was much more relaxed, more in-line with a traditional Bluesfest audience, arguably because those who were only there to see Kendrick Lamar on the Thursday hadn’t returned for more. That or everyone…
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After a worrying spat of cancelled festivals – Soulfest, Echo Fest and Westfest – it would have been understandable for the majority to approach the inaugural Auckland City Limits with caution. The reputation of Austin City Limits, one of the biggest and most loved music festivals in the history of music festivals, may have been…
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Kendrick Lamar is without a doubt one of the most bankable artists in the world right now, so it was only right that Live Nation, C3 Presents, and locals CRS Presents lock in the Compton emcee for a headline slot at the inaugural Auckland City Limits. Taking the Spark One stage right after co-headliners The…
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New Zealand is about to get their first taste of a festival like no other! Auckland City Limit hits Western Springs Stadium in March with Kendrick Lamar and The National topping the bill, while some sick additions in Sydney’s Gang of Youths and Melbourne’s Jarryd James among the latest additions to the whopping lineup! With the…
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The 27th Bluesfest Byron Bay has gotten bigger… again! Held over Easter (Thursday 24th March – Monday 28th March 2016), the festival has released another lineup chock full of artists that give precedence to its name: they are here to help represent the Blues! Added to the line-up is The “Original” Blues Brothers Band, Don…
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Part two of my selection of must-see music documentaries. Part one can be found HERE. The Filth And The Fury – (Julian Temple, 2000) Featured Artist: The Sex Pistols End Of The Century: The Story Of The Ramones – (Jim Fields, Michael Gramaglia, 2003) Featured Artist: The Ramones These films chronicle the careers of punk’s…
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Day 2 shall now forever be known as the Day of the Clash, so many great bands and not nearly enough time to see them all. It’s also the day a special shipment of Strongbow had to be shipped down because the bar had managed to run out after only one day. Up first on…
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