LIVE WIRE – Sydney Live Music Guide Jan 26th
This Australia day, you can spend some time playing lawn bowls, downing a beverage and listening to a whole host of great electronic acts. Greenbeats is hosting the likes of Africa Hitech, Pee Wee Ferris, Mailer Daemon and more. This is all going down at the Coogee Bowling Club. At Goodgod Small Club you can catch Ethopian sensation cum Sydney settler Dereb The Ambassador and his band as they play their 60s and 70s inspired Ethiopian funk which is marked by its Afro rhythms, hypnotic funk grooves and Dereb’s melodic singing. He’s joined by local hip-hop outfit Asthmatix.
On Friday 27th January there’s a unique opportunity to see American psych-soul trio The Stepkids who’re playing as part of Sydney Festival at Keystone Festival Bar. Their sound harks back to early 70s psych-funk freakout jams reminiscent of Sly Stone and Fifth Dimension. The group also have built a strong following based on their amazing live performances, not surprising considering they’re individually known for their session work in the past for acts such as Alicia Keys and Pharaohe Monch. They’re joined by Kiwi soul group Electric Wire Hustle. Over at the Basement charismatic Cat Empire frontman Felix Riebl will be playing songs from his debut solo album Into The Rain. After spending ten years as the voice of the upbeat jazz-funk group his album is a more personal acoustic foray into his psyche and it is a wonderfully absorbing listen. That same night New York city experimental beat duo Black Circle are playing at FBi Social. The duo create tribal and ambient soundscapes with the use of electronic instruments, drums and vocals and the outcome is groovy, glitchy and utterly listenable. They’re supported by the equally experimental Sydney supergroup FLRL – who over time have featured members from Midnight Juggernauts, Lost Valentinos and Jonti – and the Tokyo born, Brisbane based Secret Birds.
On Saturday 28th January, as part of the Big Day Out circus which is rolling through town this week, the Metro Theatre is hosting Cavalera Conspiracy which features metal gods Max and Iggor Cavalera formerly of Brazilian metal behemoth Sepultura. Along with their revolutionary sound they’ve long championed third world political issues as well as the plight of Indigenous Amazonian people. They’re supported by Lynchmada and Contrive. Finally, on Sunday 29th January L.A. electronic synth-pop artist Pat Grossi a.k.a. Active Child is visiting Australia as part of Laneway Festival and is playing what is bound to be an engrossing sideshow at Oxford Arts Factory. As an indication of his sound the single Hanging On is a soulful electronic piece featuring beats, harps, synthy soundscapes and beautifully fragile falsetto.
