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London’s Beth McCarthy Slays Sydney’s Factory Theatre 13.10.2024 – Backseat Mafia
There’s a curious buzz outside the Factory Theatre before the doors have even swung open. A queue at 7 PM is a rarity, but tonight marks Beth McCarthy’s first appearance in Sydney, and it’s clear that crowd’s ready. McCarthy’s IDK How To Talk To Girls tour has crossed hemispheres, bringing with it the London-based artist’s unapologetically queer voice, which has already resonated across major festival stages in Europe—BBC R1’s Big Weekend, PinkPop, Reeperbahn. She’s a beacon for the LGBTQIA+ community, her presence both defiant and inviting. The opener, Carla Wehbe, has grown leaps and bounds since I first saw her at Oxford Art Factory two years ago. Her set is…
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Ocean Alley – Tangerine – Backseat Mafia
Australian rockers Ocean Alley have returned with a new single titled ‘Tangerine’, the first taste of new music from the six piece since 2022’s critically acclaimed album ‘Low Altitude Living’. Inspired by the breathtaking landscapes band members Baden Donegal and Lach Galbraith encountered moving from Byron Bay to Western Australia, the expansive and inviting “Tangerine” captures the essence of a sun-drenched summer day. Speaking on the track, lead singer Baden said: “We drove across the Nullarbor with our wives and dogs. The long, straight roads, the isolation and the different landscapes were intense and amazing. There was such contrast between the red dirt and crystal blue ocean. Seeing parts of the desert and sunsets on that commute, the sky…
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A Conductor of Moments, Ben Böhmer Performs ‘Bloom’ Live at Hordern Pavilion – Eora/Sydney, 11.10.24 – Backseat Mafia
Ben Böhmer‘s Bloom Live Tour hit Eora/Sydney’s Hordern Pavilion on Friday night, a sold-out celebration of his latest album release. Walking in, it was clear that Böhmer’s music draws a diverse crowd, with outfits ranging from sleek electronic rave-babe fits to earthy, bush doof-inspired ensembles. His reach into both worlds is undeniable, bringing together those who thrive on melodic beats and others who find solace in the immersive soundscapes. I was met with a stranger offering directions followed by an equally casual offer of shrooms, further ahead, another attendee’s baggy of white powder met the bottom of security’s bin. Next door, Cold Chisel’s greatest hits echoed from The Showring in…
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Ocean Alley / Hockey Dad – Roundhouse, London 02.09.2024 – Backseat Mafia
By Henry Groves Saturday night, sold out Roundhouse, Aussie rock band. I’m not sure there are 3 bigger hints that this was going to be one hell of a gig. This was the first of 2 Roundhouse shows for the psychedelic surf rock band, and despite being the other side of the world from home, there was an incredible turnout for it. To make the night even more exciting, Ocean Alley had brought Hockey Dad along with them, one of my favourite Australian bands, and their set did not disappoint. It was the first time I had seen them since the release of their latest album ‘Rebuild Repeat’ which they…
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Ash at the Manning Bar, Sydney 12.10.2024 – Backseat Mafia
Ash, Northern Ireland’s enduring punk heroes, are set to level the Manning Bar tonight, and the energy is palpable. First up though, we’ve got So I Says to Mabel, hailing from Western Sydney. They rip into their set with the kind of reckless energy that can only come from a band born in the backrooms of urban pubs. Midway through, they drop an unexpected, yet oddly fitting, cover of Taylor Swift’s ‘Love Story.’ Gone is the fairytale lilt; instead, it’s driven by grinding guitars and a defiant snarl, transforming the once-sweet ballad into a gritty anthem for anyone who’s been chewed up by romance and spit back out. Ash hit…
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Dreamwave – Polystyrene Irene – Backseat Mafia
In anticipation of a string of nationwide tour dates this autumn, Bristol quartet Dreamwave have shared their psych-blues swagger of new single ‘Polystyrene Irene’ via Velvet Echoes (Wakey Wakey Rise & Shine). The track is the band’s first outing since their debut EP ‘Dreamwave In The Mindcave’ was released in May. Guitarist/vocalist Ben Symonds comments: “I was just feeling creative and had recently listened to Polythene Pam by the Beatles. My nan is called Irene, and she’s a big character who loves smoking ciggies – a real force of nature. I changed the title to polystyrene to rhyme with her name.” Rough blues played with a mega groove under buzzsaw guitars…
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Wilderado – Revolution Hall – Portland, Oregon 2024.10.09 – Backseat Mafia
Oklahoma Indy rock band Wilderado brought their blend of country and rock sound to Portland’s Revolution Hall this past Wednesday. They are currently touring for support of the bands sophomore effort Talker. Supporting Wilderado on tour is Ethan Tasch and Portland’s own The Takes. The auditorium was full of people waiting to take in some excellent rock music mid-week. The audience is fully immersed into music through out Wilderado set, clapping along, dancing on the floor of the theater. The audience in the balcony standing and swaying along with the bands Americana sound. The evening feels like a celebration of Americana’s past and indie rock’s future. Wilderado’s front man Max…
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Big Special And John Grant – Stay Down, Lazarus – Backseat Mafia
Big Special and John Grant have linked up for stellar new collaborative single release ‘Stay Down, Lazarus’, out now via SO Recordings. Big Special recently broke into the Official UK Albums Chart Top 40 with their debut album ‘Postindustrial Hometown Blues’, (read our review here) and have spent their summer drawing huge crowds at festivals including Glastonbury, Green Man, Latitude, and Reading & Leeds. On ‘Stay Down, Lazarus’ the Black Country duo and revered NYC songwriting talent make for a potent force lined up beside each other. Dark, thrumming atmospherics and brooding voices intertwine on a song that talks frankly about being sold a lie, forced to stay in your lane.…
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Duran Duran Inject Disco Swagger Into ELO’s ‘Evil Woman’ With Bold New Cover – Backseat Mafia
With their North American tour looming and the release of Danse Macabre – De Luxe just around the corner, Duran Duran have dropped a surprise—a shimmering, swagger-filled cover of ELO’s “Evil Woman.” It’s a bold move, taking a 1975 classic and drenching it in the glitz of their own synth-driven, disco-rock style. The track is unmistakably Duran Duran—full of glossy production and slick musicianship, with Dom Brown’s sharp guitar licks weaving through a mesh of pulsing strings and electric synths. Simon Le Bon’s vocals glide effortlessly over it all, adding just the right balance of drama and sensuality. The band manages to keep the essence of the original while making…
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Arch Enemy – Manchester Academy, Manchester 04.10.2024 – Backseat Mafia
When it comes to Melodic Death Metal there is a camp of a select few behemoths who lead the way and Swedens Arch Enemy sit firmly rooted at the top of that pile. Since the birth of the band, and the decade that has now passed with Alissa charged with the vocal duties, the trajectory of the band has been nothing but sky wards which has seen the fan base grow and grow, and the sold-out venue in Manchester tonight is only testament to the popularity that the band now has bestowed upon them. As the house lights dimmed and the stage exploded with life and light the band emerged…
