Let’s say you were a fan of Powderfinger and/or Something for Kate, two of the most successful groups from the post-grunge 1990s Australian music scene. What would you expect an album made by their respective frontmen, Bernard Fanning and Paul Dempsey, to sound like? Acoustic ballads? Mid-paced, fire-up-the-lighters arena-rock anthems? Well, it’s happened. And Fanning Dempsey […]
Fanning/Dempsey: The Drought and the Deluge Read More »
Albums of Odds & Sods (the name the Who gave to one of the first compilations of rarities, released in 1974 in an attempt to short-circuit bootleggers) are often more interesting than best-of collections. While the latter are usually predictable roundups for casual fans of an artist, albums of outtakes, B-sides and strays are for the diehards.
Powderfinger: Unreleased 1998-2010 Read More »
There were many poignant moments watching Powderfinger streaming their first show in a decade on Saturday night, but the biggest one was seeing bassist John Collins playing (like all the band members, in isolation) to an empty Fortitude Music Hall, one of two venues he part-owns in Brisbane. The grand 3,300-capacity room opened less than a
Powderfinger: One Night Lonely Read More »
I’m from Melbourne. I spent the first 15 years of my life there, in the outer eastern suburbs of Wantirna South and Ringwood North. I grew up on Australian Rules football and Countdown until punk entered my life 10 years too late. Then, in 1987, my parents relocated the family to Brisbane. Other than a few
Like millions of others, I have fond memories of live entertainment at Festival Hall. Sure, the room was lacking in atmosphere, bonhomie, charm and sound quality – almost anything, actually, that makes a great music venue – but that doesn’t stop me treasuring the experiences of seeing the Ramones in their late-career dotage and Nirvana
Memories not enough to save Melbourne’s Festival Hall Read More »
Bernard Fanning, former singer of Powderfinger, is ruminating about decisions and consequences. The theme runs throughout his third, back-to-basics solo album Civil Dusk. Over the finger-picked guitar of Unpicking A Puzzle, he sings a song from the bottom of the bottle: “Where silences are gold and secrets will abound / The hostage in your conscience
Bernard Fanning: “At least 50 percent good” Read More »