Introducing Steve Smyth
I first met Steve a few years ago. I was walking past a bar in Sydney when I heard him playing from the street, I was drawn in and went in to hear a bit more. I’m glad I did. I have yet to hear such beautiful and raw talent any better than his. He’s got a folky, bluesy, acoustic soundthat is uniquely unforgettable. AMANDA DAVENPORT WRITES.
Image courtesy of Amanda Davenport
Born in NSW, the son of Ministers, he’s been playing the guitar since he was young. For me, his guitar is his supporting instrument – his voice is undoubtedly his finest asset. Imagine the range and soulfulness of a Buckley (Tim or Jeff), mixed it up with a bit of Bob Dylan and the occasional deep gravelly sound of Kurt Cobain and you have something pretty special. Steve is one mighty fine troubadour.
Over the last few years Steve has been travelling around Australia and Europe, touring with the wonderful Angus & Julia Stone, Howling Bells and Ben Harper. He’s now on the road with Kitty, Daisy and Lewis.
A: Let’s start with a little bit of background. Have you always wanted to be a singer/songwriter/musician?
S: Always, there’s never been anything else I’ve wanted to do. When I was younger I did my fair share of time washing dishes, serving coffee, even cleaning and restoring yachts in the Sydney harbour, but music has only been my passion.
A: You’ve been living over in London for the last year or so, what prompted the move?
S: Various things, but largely because I believe change can be good. I like to ramble, I’m a wandering soul. Seeing new places and experiencing different cultures is important to me and London gives me a good base to tour around Europe.
A: Where do you think 2012 will take you, back to London?
S: My life seems to be in a state of perpetual TBA, and I’m happy with that. I’ll probably be moving around a lot, so no fixed abode. I’ll go wherever my music takes me.
A: You’ve been a solo artist for some time, do you ever get lonely?
S: Yes, a little. But all in good time. I’m very happy with my life right now, and loving doing my own thing. Don’t get me wrong, being in a band can have it’s benefits, but it’s a bit like a good song – you need to keep to the same beat. Being solo, you experience things differently and can be more expressive.
A: If you could choose between short-lived fame and a lot of money, or a lifetime of just about making a living from your music, which would you take?
S: I wouldn’t. I’d choose both (he says with a smile). The longevity of my music is what’s truly important to me. I couldn’t ever see myself doing anything else. I love playing at intimate venues, connecting with people in the audience and stumbling upon new artists. Some of my best nights have been in the smallest if places.
A: What’s your style when you’re penning new lyrics?
S: I usually just sit down and start writing. Travel has definitely had an impact on my lyrics. I wrote “Bar Made Blues” when I was living in Cambodia for a month. I was sat at the bar, not feeling like I was getting anywhere in life. Drinking, getting thrown out of bars. I saw some kids playing in the streets with their kite. For a country formerly under Khmer Rouge rule, to today, seeing these kids smiling with such a sense of freedom. Something just clicked inside me. The lyrics just started flowing.
(Steve then apologises for getting a bit deep and meaningful. He’s so polite!)
A: Please don’t apologise Steve – I’m not here for an interview with Britney Spears.
A: Who do you rate today as a great musician?
S: I really like Chilly Gonzales and I admire TV On The Radio. I also think Jack Ladder is amazingly talented and doesn’t get the recognition he deserves.
How do I rate Steve Smyth?
Nothing less than 5 stars. My favourite track is probably “Stay Young” , which is a duet with Juanita Stein.
Do yourself a big favour and see him before he returns to colder climates.
Upcoming local tour dates
Wednesday 25th Jan. The Study @ The Gaelic Hotel. Surry Hills.
Thursday 26th Jan. @ Festival of The Voice The Rocks.
Sunday 29th Jan. @ The Vanguard. Newtown.
Debut Album “Release”
Take a listen for yourself!
Review: Alpine at OAF
Melbourne band ALPINE returned to Oxford Art Factory on Friday night in support of their new single Hands bringing with them glitter, triangles and of course, their beautiful blend of ethereal, indie pop.
Having just played Falls Festival over the new years period, Alpine returned to a venue they’ve played before, and while I didn’t get to see them at Falls (devastated!), I’m going to say a venue that’s probably more suited to their style of music. They’ve been compared to bands like Phoenix and The xx and their sound is not unlike the experimental, psychedelic tunes of all girl gang Warpaint. As such, the intimate space that is Oxford Art Factory suited this co-ed team well.
The band’s female lead singers, Lou and Phoebe, graced the stage with glittered faces, swapping frequently between lead vocals and harmonies as well as coming together in unison at times. This variety is a strength of their music. The girls were obviously enjoying themselves, dancing in a free-flowing and floating style that was, if not for the inhibitions of most audience members, rather infectious. They even brought out a triangle at one stage, and played it in a similarly dream-like fashion.
‘Too Safe’ from the band’s EP Zurich was an early highlight of the evening, while the recognisable strum of ‘Villages’, another track off the band’s 2011 release, was obviously one of the more recognisable tracks of the set as far as the audience was concerned. Concluding a relatively short set, to be expected given the band’s short history, it was certainly a crowd pleaser and a good note to finish on.
If the band were to be criticised for anything it would be their lack of stage presence. Their performance was polished and measured but they weren’t all encompassing and whatever it was that was missing, meant there was some chatter amongst the audience throughout the evening.
Alpine are still finding their feet and stage presence will more than likely come as they develop their live shows. If the cheer let out by the audience – the loudest of the night – as the band commenced their newest single ‘Hands’ is anything to go by, they’re definitely on their way up and a band to watch in 2012.
Tijuana Cartel at Oxford Art Factory
After playing a string of summer festivals, including an awesome set at Peats Ridge, Tijuana Cartel are all set to take Oxford Art Factory this February.
The band has a gift for stirring up energy with their unique mesh of world music and thumping electronica. Fans can expect a powerful set, featuring a slew of new tracks.
Details
Where: Oxford Art Factory, 38-46 Oxford St, Darlinghurst
When: Saturday 18 Feb, 8:00 PM
Price: $25
Follow the link to book
Laneway timetable out now!
If you’re heading to Laneway this year it’s time to get planning! Timetables and maps are out so you can get the most out of this AH-MAZING lineup. If you’re not going…why the f*#% not?!?
http://sydney.lanewayfestival.com.au/show-day/playing-times/
Pyramid Rock in review…
Pyramid Rock’s location – Phillip Island – is what summer festival posters are made of…hot, dry days, pink sunsets over the water, and tipsy crowds dancing in the moonlight. Or stumbling in the moonlight. EDWINA STORIE WRITES.
This year’s show was the eighth in its history. Groups who had made the pilgrimage from around Australia arrived fresh faced on the first day and lined up to see if the bottles of vodka stuffed in their sleeping bags and goon glued into soft drink boxes would make it into the festival.
As tents were erected and flags raises to aid the inevitable drunken treck back in the early hours, the keen kids kicked things off in the Pharaoh’s Annex tent with Rockwiz and a set from Western Synthetics.
Things really got going on the second day with the main stage set to host Cloud Control, Sparkadia and The Living End. Weary faces stumbled out of their tents into the impending heat, and the dedicated ones lined up for the showers. The rest of us broke out the alcohol stash and analysed the program.
At noon, San Cisco played a tight and fun set to a small but excited crowd with Hottest 100 hopeful ‘Awkward’ igniting everyone’s enthusiasm. Ball Park Music followed and injected the welling audience with more of a party vibe, getting the festival in the full swing.
Spiderbait played bursts from their entire career, and as the sun set, Goyte gave a magical performance of the atmospheric ‘Hearts a Mess’, despite recent mixed reviews of his set at other festivals.
As that moonlight dancing broke out, The Ashton Shuffle in the Pharaoh’s Annex tent warred with Spank Rock. The Ashton Shuffle made a clear win while Spank Rock gave a private show to a tiny group of a few dozen. And while they pumped the group up, they didn’t play their hip-grinding track ‘Bump’. Festival goers stumbled home stopping by the gourmet walkway of seafood stalls and Hare Krishna vegetarian – who had their own party going.
The final day of 2011 saw a slow start with the campers stumbling around struggling to find the energy to get to the early acts. Owl Eyes burst onto stage in a flash of silver glitter makeup, and took her music from summer afternoon tunes to dance-inspiring tracks. She jazzed up her Like a Version cover of Foster the People’s ‘Pumped Up Kicks’ with dramatic dancing and her own xylophone solo.
Happy beach boys Loon Lake made hearts swoon with their rough-around-the-edges summer sound and cheeky wit. Their cover of ‘Valerie’ and ode-to-the-ocean, ‘In the Summer’, officially got the crowd amped up and ready for the last day of the year and the coming party. From then on it was running around and counting down to the random midnight pash.
Back in the sun of the Main Stage, Illy proclaimed his pride to be playing on the stage that he’d once watched back in 2006 and celebrated the end of his set with an appearance from Owl Eyes for ‘It Can Wait’.
The Getaway Plan, Drapht and The Panics followed before Boy & Bear played the pivotal show of the festival at sunset. Their clean and warm sound washed over what felt like literally the entire festival as everyone devotedly sung along. TheirCrowded House Cover of ‘Fall at Your Feet’ made us wish it wouldn’t end before Blue Juice came onto the stage with neon-lined suits and then Scissor Sisters for the countdown.
While half the crowd was at Scissor Sisters just to be with their friends for the tick over to midnight, their theatrical performance won everyone over, taking the crowd into the New Year with ‘Take Your Momma’.
Finally, Purple Sneakers DJs made party mashups in Pharaoh’s Annex of anything from SBTRKT to old-school Temper Trap, starting 2012 with sore feet and new fans.
Pyramid Rock is growing from a plan b of those who missed out on Falls tickets, into a festival of its own right and calibre. All I can say is next year, choose Phillip Island over Lorne.
The Kills celebrate 10 years with a special music video
The Kills - Jamie Hince and Alison Mosshart – will celebrate 10 years together with the release of the beautiful new single ‘The Last Goodbye’ on the February 17. The video for the track has already been released. Directed by Oscar winning actress Samantha Morton, it really is something…
GRINDERMAN RMX 2 OUT MARCH 9
If you’re a Grinderman fan and you loved the band’s 2010 critically celebrated album Grinderman 2, you should definitely check out their upcoming release – a collection of remixes, reinterpretations & collaborations based on that very album.
The album will be available in a deluxe double vinyl edition with CD insert, as well as digital formats on March 9.
Grinderman 2 RMX tracklisting:
Grinderman / Fripp “Super Heathen Child”
A Place to Bury Strangers “Worm Tamer”
Nick Zinner “Bellringer Blues” (exclusive)
UNKLE “Hyper Worm Tamer”
Joshua Homme “Mickey Bloody Mouse”
Cat’s Eyes with Luke Tristram “When My Baby Comes”
Barry Adamson “Palaces Of Montezuma”
Silver Alert(featuring Matt Berninger) “Evil”
SixToes “When My Baby Comes” (exclusive)
Andy Weatherall “Heathen Child”
Factory Floor “Evil”
Grinderman “First Evil”
St George Open Air Cinema on now!
It’s summer…even film fanatics should be able to enjoy the outdoors!
This year’s season of the St George Open Air Cinema kicked off last night with an opening night premiere of My Week With Marilyn.
What could be better than chilling out and watching a film with a couple of friends and beautiful views of the harbour from Mrs Macquaries Chair on a balmy summer evening? Not much.
Presale tickets have already sold out but tickets will still be available each night at the door (so to speak).
For full program details check out and all the details you could possibly need check out http://www.stgeorgeopenair.com.au/.
This year’s season runs until February 18 so make sure you get there asap!
Peats Ridge shots!
Just a few awesome pics from an awesome festival courtesy of AMANDA DAVENPORT – roving photo journalist extraordinaire!
Tijuana Cartel
Paul George
Eastside Radio live at 505 with Hobo Bordeaux
Januaryʼs Eastside Live at 505 with HOBO BORDEAUX is drawing near!
This month’s instalment will also include a late night jazz set by Arun Luthra, NewYork City-based saxophonist. Merchants of Sound, Eastside’s much loved DJ’s, will be playing soulful dirty blues on the evening as well.
Eastside Live at 505 featuring Hobo Bordeaux is the fourth installment of Eastside radioʼs monthly live music night at venue 505. This regular event has been a huge success to date, with The Vampires, Alphamama and Mucho Mambo gracing the 505 stage for Eastside Radio. The night is broadcast live of 89.7FM.
Hobo Bordeaux will be playing tracks from their critically acclaimed EP Gunslinginʼ Ways plus a few crowd favourites.
DETAILS
When: Thursday 12 January, 7:30 -11pm
Where: Venue 505, 280 Cleveland St Surry Hills
Price: $15 at the door, $10 for Concession and Eastside Supporters
Peats Ridge super early-bird 2012 tickets…Cheapest ever!
Feeling a little down now that Peats Ridge is over?! We are too. BUT we had so much fun we can’t resist this offer…
Following from a huge year in 2011, Peats Ridge organisers are offering Festival fans the incredible opportunity to buy early bird tickets for the 2012 Peats Ridge at the same price as the 2010 release.
Music lovers have the chance to get in early and snap up a limited round of tickets for just $195 + bf (adults 18+), $75 + bf (youth 13-17 years) and $20 +bf kids (6-12 years) – this is a 40 percent saving on the 2011 regular ticket price and is the same price as the 2010 early bird ticket release.
All you have to do to secure your tickets is round up some friends or family and head over to Oztix at www.peatsridgefestival.oztix.com.au at 10am Monday January 16 to select the number of tickets you want to purchase.
Organisers are advising people be on time to ensure they don’t miss out. That means no sleep in if you want to take advantage of this awesome offer!
And now a little something to help you relive the memories of the most recent festival as you attempt to face work this week!
Sydney Festival 2012
Running from January 7 till January 29, the Sydney Festival showcases everything that is great about our city in summer. Art, music, theatre and all things creative – there’s certainly something for everyone on this year’s program.
There are simply too many exciting events happening as part of this year’s Sydney Festival to list them all. It’s a great event on our cultural calendar so for all the information you need to be a part of it head to www.sydneyfestival.org.au.
Here are just a few of the highlights…
FESTIVAL FIRST NIGHT – Saturday January 7 – 3-11pm
From Holly Throsby performing her children’s album to the breathtaking aerial performance of As the World Tipped and late night music, film and performances at The Art Gallery of NSW, Festival First Night will go off with a bang as always. Best thing about the night is it’s free and there’s also free bike riding on offer from The Domain and Hyde Park.
PJ HARVEY – January 18/19 – The State Theatre – 8pm
PJ Harvey doesn’t need much of an introduction. As part of the festival, she’ll be performing songs from her latest release ‘Let England Shake’ as well as those from her earlier works.
BLACK CAPITAL – January 8-29 – Carriageworks
A series of performances, seminars and exhibitions reflecting the diversity of contemporary Aboriginal practice in the heart of Redfern.
WASHINGTON PRESENTS INSOMNIA – January 25 – Sydney Opera House – 8pm
As if Megan Washington’s music isn’t enough to make us drool, she’s now giving us a chance to check out her art, poetry, photography and designs. Insomnia is the singer’s new conceptual work created to be performed just four times – once in Sydney, Paris, London and New York.