Industrial Strength: February 6

TAME IMPALA/ ZHU COLLABORATION CONFIRMED

Tame Impala have recorded a track with exciting Chinese American artist ZHU – best known for his 2014 hit ‘Faded’.

The collaboration, first teased by the producer on Twitter as “TameImpalaxzhu???”, was confirmed at last week at the Sony/Tencent joint venture launch in Asia.

A track called ‘ID’ unveiled at his set at FOMO festival in Sydney last month with what seems to feature Kevin Parker on vocals has emerged online, but no details as to when the recorded version will drop.

Parker has also been working with Mark Ronson and SZA.

Last November he said that he’s writing constantly and working on a couple of things and that while he’s got Tame Impala on his mind constantly.

But there’s nothing definite regarding a follow up to their 2015 album Currents.

“But if I forced myself to finish a Tame Impala record now, it’d be my least inspired one.”

POP UP VENUES FOR DZ DEATHRAY’S NEW BEER

DZ Deathrays mark their 10th year in existence with their Bloody Lovely album on I OH YOU and a national run in May with Clowns, These New South Wales and Boat Show.

After opening for Foo Fighters in Brisbane, the DZs on the weekend hosted three Bloody Lovely pop up venues – at Brisbane’s Greaser Bar, Sydney’s Ramblin’ Rascal Tavern and Melbourne’s The Beaufort.

These were to launch their limited edition beer Bloody Lovely Czech Pilsner with Sydney brewery Young Henrys.

The brew was on tap at the pop-ups, at which the band DJ’d, hung out with patrons, tended the bar and sold some exclusive merchandise including limited edition pink vinyl.

NUTTY FAN OF THE WEEK

Police in Orlando, Florida, swooped down on a 43-year old man outside a Lana Del Ray concert who was wielding a knife and slapped the handcuffs on him.

Michael Hunt had made social comments which allegedly suggested that he was going to kidnap the singer.

He was “running away” with his “queen” and “leaving town for good”.

CANBERRA’S PHOENIX PUB REMAINS …

Canberra’s Phoenix Pub – which last month revealed it was close to bankruptcy – looks like it might pull through, says manager Netti Vonthethoff.

This has come after patrons and supporters of the city’s live music scene raised $50,000 via fundraising events, an online campaign, and just turning up in person to support the business.

The venue, which has been showcasing live acts for 25 years, ran into financial setbacks after a fire broke out in the Sydney Building on East Row in which it is one of the tenants.

Of late it’s been having issues with landlord and property manager LJ Hooker.

The new funds could put it in a stronger position to negotiate a more permanent reprieve.

…WHILE GOLD COAST EAST NIGHTCLUB CLOSES…

After ten years in operation, East nightclub on the Gold Coast quietly closed its doors on a Saturday, with administrators Worrell’s Solvency taking over on this Monday.

Published reports suggest that the club, situated in a laneway off Surf Parade at Broadbeach, has debts of $1 million, mostly to the Australian Tax Office.

Worrells is holding a creditors meeting at its offices in Robina on Thursday February 8.

…AND NEW GLOBE TO FLICKER OUT

Brisbane’s New Globe Theatre is closing at the end of April “after extensive discussions with landlords, banks and just about every other stakeholder we have.”

As they count down the last weeks, promoters of the Fortitude Valley establishment say, “We’d love to see all our patrons to say goodbye – but even if you can’t make it at some point, just get out and support local live music and arts. It’s really really worth it!”

KESHA ENJOYS BIGGEST POST GRAMMY SALES BUMP

Of all the artists who enjoyed new leases of sales and streams in the wake of January 28’s Grammys, Kesha had the biggest boost.

All the songs were streamed more than 9.3 million times on audio streaming services on the day after, up nearly 2.1 million streams compared to their combined totals on the day before the awards, and a total of 74,000 downloads.

Nielsen Music reported Kesha’s emotive performance of ‘Praying’ had the highest rise. It was up 720% (8000 units) while the parent album Rainbow was up 289% (nearly 500 units).

The song almost doubled (99%) to 867,000 audio streams.

The night’s six-time winner, Bruno Mars, also enjoyed a round of clicks.

His 24K Magic, which took Album of the Year had a 157% lift in downloads (over 2100), the Record of the Year title track up 176% (nearly 2,300 units) and ‘That’s What I Like’, the Song of the Year, went up by 186% (nearly 2000 units).

In addition, ‘24K Magic’ and ‘That’s What I Like’ were streamed a total of 1.3 million the day after.

‘Finesse’, which he performed with Cardi B, streamed 2.3 million times.

In terms of streams, benefits also seeped through for Childish Gambino’s ‘Terrified’ (240,00-, up 892%) and ‘Redbone’ (880,000 streams, up 57%).

Other streaming success hikes were for ‘1-800-273-8255’ by Logic, Khalid and Alessia Cara (1 million), SZA’s ‘Broken Clocks’ (450,000), Lady Gaga’s ‘Joanne’ and ‘Million Reasons’ (collectively 90,000), P!nk’s ‘Wild Hearts Can’t Be Broken’ (51,000) streams), Sting’s ‘Englishman in New York’(27,000), U2’s ‘Get Out of Your Own Way’ (33,000) and Metal category triumphs Mastodon’s ‘Sultan’s Curse (31,000).

Nielsen tracked 41.5 million social interactions about the broadcast. Most (59%) were on Instagram, followed by Twitter (26%) and Facebook (15%).

Last year, Adele’s 25 took off by 150% just minutes after it was crowned Album of the Year.

SAN CISCO NEW LINEUP MAKING DEBUT NEXT MONTH

San Cisco’s new lineup, with the addition of bassist Jennifer Aslett from Fremantle, will make its debut during their The Distance regional tour, which kicks off at Villa Noosa in Noosaville in Queensland on Friday March 16.

Nick Gardner left “to pursue new adventures outside of music.”

The band posted, “We started this band in 2008 and have been playing together for almost 9 years, so saying goodbye was never going to be easy.

“We will miss him dearly but we are so excited to see what success awaits him in this new and exciting chapter of his life.”

Gardner’s final show with them was marked in fine style: to a packed crowd at Beyond The Valley last month.

TWO MORE SEXUAL ASSAULTS AT AUSSIE FESTIVALS

Two more sexual assault allegations have been made at an Australian music festival.

This time it was at Victoria’s Rainbow Serpent, whose directorTim Harveyposted, “We are heartbroken these incidents have allegedly occurred at a gathering founded on principles of peace, respect, love and community,”

A 23-year-old from the Melbourne suburb of Ivanhoe faces Ballarat Magistrates’ Court in March on sexual assault charges.

He also has to defend charges that he assaulted a security guard and an emergency worker, and using a drug of dependence.

A second alleged sexual assault is still being investigated.

PROMOTER WOES CANCELS A TOUR, MAYBE TWO

The detailed financial woes of Sydney promoter Scott Allwyn Mackenzie which saw his enforced exit from running the Bald Face Stag has seeped through into his tour promotion company Stag Music Touring.

The debut tour by California’s melodic death metal merchants Once Human has been cancelled, saying that Mackenzie “was not able to fulfil his contractual obligations.”

The 12 dates, which saw shows added to the original schedule, were between February 28 and March 18.

While Mackenzie sorts out his financials, another of Stag’s tours, Swedish industrial metal act Pain in May, are currently looking to pick up another promoter and will drop the tour if unsuccessful.

WALK HIRED POWER LAWYER

Republic Records Group President Charlie Walk has brought in the big guns in his fight against sexual allegations levelled at him.

He has hired Patty Glaser of one of America’s most powerful entertainment legal firm Glaser Weil Fink Howard Avchen & Shapiro LLP to be on his corner.

As reported in TMN, Walk has been put on gardening leave until an independent investigation is finalised, and will not also appear on the finale of the US reality show The Four, on which he is a judge.

Since the first accusation by South California wellness studio owner Tristan Coopersmith from the days the two worked at Epic Records, two more allegations have made anonymously – one claiming her harassment was after he took the top job at Republic.

SONY/ATV RECLAIMS TOP SHARE IN Q4

Number crunching by Billboard of publishers’ performance in the fourth quarter of 2017, Sony/ATV was back on top with 24.1% of the period’s Top 100 radio songs.

Sony/ATV also claimed Q4’s top songwriter, Ed Sheeran, who was involved in four of the songs on the Top 100, including ‘Perfect’ (at #7) and Liam Payne’s ‘Strip That Down’ featuring Quavo (#97).

Warner/Chappell Music was #2 with 20.5%, then Universal Music Publishing Group (18.2%), Kobalt Music (10.03%). BMG (4.17%), Words & Music/Big Deal (1.68%); Pulse Music Group (1.64%); Round Hill Music/Big Loud Shirt (1.55%) Big Machine Music (1.53%) and Reservoir with 1.34%

MUSIC NT SURVEY

Northern Territory’s peak music association Music NT has anonline survey up until Friday February 23 to get feedback on the industry and public’s perspectives on music in the Territory.

AMA’S ROB WALKER HONOURED

Longtime Australian music products executive Rob Walker was honoured at the NAMM Show in America with the Believe in Music Award.

It is given to those who’ve contributed for a long time with “passion and innovation” and helped build the sector globally.

Walker is the CEO of the Australian Music Association, co-founder of Australian Musician and Director of the Melbourne Guitar Show.

MIDDLE KIDS ANNOUNCE US, UK DATES

Middle Kidswill release their debut album, Lost Friends on May 4 on EMI Music Australia.

Meantime they have a new single ‘Mistake’, which they follow with opening slots for The War On Drugs in Melbourne and Sydney and team up with Gang of Youths for a one-off in Adelaide.

They also announced one-off headliners in Sydney at Oxford Art Factory on March 11, and Melbourne’s Howler on March 19.

After a quick stop in London in April, the band will kick off a U.S. tour including festival plays at Governors Ball in New York City and Firefly Music Festival in Dover.

COUNTRY WA OPENS PROJECT FUNDING

Country Arts WA has opened up for applications to its Project Fund. The initiative is designed to benefit regional and remote artists, arts workers, audiences and communities by supporting and promoting participation in, and access to, art and culture.

Funding can cover artist, arts worker and cultural adviser fees, as well as travel, accommodation, materials, venue, equipment hire and insurance.

Activity in all art forms including visual arts, theatre, dance, creative writing, music, multi-media and cultural projects including recording and preservation of language & stories are eligible.

The Project Fund offers two funding categories: up to $15,000 for individuals, and up to $30,000 for community groups.

Applications close midnight March 16 at https://www.countryartswa.asn.au/our-services/funding/other-funding/project-fund.

STUDIO MAX BACK ON SCREEN

After the success of its first series – delivering MAX’S highest-rating local production for 2017 –Studio Max returns with the second season of intimate and exclusive concerts on Sundays from 10am.

The Script kicked it off last weekend, with upcoming episodes featuring Daryl Braithwaite (February 11), Ian Moss (18) and Vance Joy (25).

DAMIEN LEITH APP TO INCLUDE CD

The Damien Leith Storytime app, originally scheduled for a February release, has been postponed until March 2 in order to include a CD.

It will see a collection of stories released, both digitally and through a limited edition hard-copy.

Leith wanted the app to be delayed until the CD could be released simultaneously to families. When he first announced the app, he was contacted by families asking for a CD version.

Leith reveals, “When I first began creating the app, it didn’t occur to me to release a CD, but over Christmas I gave a special story called Where’s Santa to everyone.

“The feedback was fantastic, people really enjoyed the story and many asked if it would be available on CD.

“Some people said CD would be great for long drives, or babysitting grandkids, others thought it would make a lovely gift.

“It made me think about all the long road trips I’ve done with my own kids and how they always bring a favourite CD to listen to for the journey.”

The Damien Leith Storytime app started as a chance for the Irish-born singer-songwriter and author to record his original stories for his own kids – Jarvis (12), Jagger (10) and Kikki (6) – to listen while he was away on tour.

EARLY RELEASE FOR BALL PARK MUSIC

The release date of Ball Park Music’s Good Mood album has been brought forward from February 23 to February 16.

The idea is to give fans the chance to familiarise themselves with the record before their tour begins on February 23 with a sold-out show at Brisbane’s Tivoli. The run of shows winds up on March 9 at Enmore Theatre in Sydney, before the band joins Groovin The Moo.

Frontman Sam Cromack explained: “We’ve never done anything like this before but we’ve decided to bring the release of Good Mood forward by a week.

Everything has come together, it’s ready to roll early and we just wanna give our delicious fans a bit of extra time with this new album before we hit the road late Feb. Let’s do this!”

The band will celebrate album release day with a free BBQ and signing party at Brisbane’s The Triffid.

There will also be an in-store at Sonic Sherpa the following day for any under-18 fans who can’t make the Friday. More details to be announced shortly.

Recorded in Brisbane, produced by the band and mixed by ARIA award-winning producer Paul McKercher, Good Moodfollows up the #3 ARIA album Every Night The Same Dream from 2016.

NE OBLIVISCARIS MASTERCLASS

When Ne Obliviscaris hit Adelaide, band member Tim Charles will present an evening masterclass on Thursday February 8 at Gawler Place for ARMI.

Charles is a violinist, singer and manager, as well as owner, promoter, booking agent and label manager at Welkin Entertainment (which includes the nationwide PROGFEST).

The one-hour class focuses on the future of the music industry.

It will guide aspiring musicians on management approaches, with a particular focus on self-management and empowering artists to take their careers into their own hands.

Learn more at the official Facebook event page.

VALE

* Shane Collins was a key figure in Brisbane’s punk scene, best known as singer with The Gifthorse, who were signed to Poison City Records.

But he also went through the ranks of Standalone, Crimson Hellkite, Headaches and TNNL CNTS.

Friends and colleagues recalled a man passionate about hardcore music and its impact on its audience, as well as his love for animals.

A public service is on Friday Feb 9 at 2:30 pm at Marcoola Beach (near the Surf Club) where his ashes will be scattered in the ocean, and then a wakeceremony at the Surf Club.

* Michael Gordon, lauded as a Walkely-winning political journalist started out with three passions, surfing, rock music and AFL football.

He penned music articles for The Age and rock weekly Juke and set up his own short-lived surf magazine (later his books included those on surf champion Layne Beachley) before he went on to covering politics for The Age.

Gordon died aged 62, apparently suffering a heart attack during a morning surf at Cowes, on Phillip Island.

AND A FEW OTHER THINGS …

Cold Chisel alter-ego Barking Spiders play their first gig in 35 years at the Enmore Theatre in Sydney on February 28.

Sydney based R&B singer Paulini has dumped plans to appeal her suspended sentence for bribing an official to get her driver’s licence. A judge threatened to give her a harsher sentence, the Daily Telegraph reckoned.

Seems that Kylie Minogue’s ex-fiancé Joshua Sasse, whose alleged cheating ways inspired most of her new album, has himself been dumped days before he was to marry his actress girlfriend. Listen closely… is that the sound of Kylie laughing?

Qantas dropped the ‘I Still Call Australia Home’ theme song from its TVCs, saying it was time for something fresh – but has brought it back for its in-flight safety video (you know, the bit which no one watches because they’re too busy wondering when the drinks cart will come around).

Sydney sibling alt-pop band Tigertown have decided to split after seven years, with the possibility of solo projects. “We are all continuing to create music, together and separately, but we are excited to just be family again,” they said. The band is made up of husband and wife Chris and Charlie Collins, Chris’ brother Alexi and sisterElodie, plus Charlie’s siblings Kurt and Crystal.They play a final farewell show at Sydney’s Oxford Art Factory in April.

Internationally-renowned Aussie drag queen Courtney Acthas won Celebrity Big Brother UK.

Camila Cabello says she originally titled her album The Hurting. The Healing. The Loving – but that made her depressed when she talked about the title in pre-release interviews, so went for Camila instead.

Sydney duoJess + Matt, (Jess Dunbar and Matt Price) open for the Rick Price and Jack Jones California Dreaming tour in May.

Southern Cross Austereo has revived its Saturday morning Dead Set Legendsshow in Melbourne, this time with former player Leigh Montagna and Triple M Footy boyo Jay Clark.

Brisbane’s last video rental shop, Network Video located in Oxley, is closing its doors for good on February 14.

School of Rock is coming to Australia, beginning in Melbourne in late October. The rock musical is currently auditioning kids aged 8-12.