Trusty Chords

For lovers of Australian music, the name Jamie Hutchings would be a familiar one.  Most notably, he’s known as the frontman of Sydney rock outfit Bluebottle Kiss, who lasted for 14 years and issued a raft of amazing records before their split in 2007. They’ve been called “Arguably Australia's most idiosyncratic guitar band,” and their music is arguably not as marketable as critics would like it to...

If you’re someone with a fondness for indie music, then the chances are good that your life has been touched in some way by Mac McCaughan. On one hand, he’s known as the vocalist for the likes of North Carolina band Superchunk, whose very output feels like the blueprint for any aspiring indie rock band of the ‘90s. Then, he’s been the head of groups like Portastatic, and played in the likes of Bri...

I think it’s fair to say that my music taste would not be what it is without Dave McCormack.  Hailing from Brisbane, McCormack is the prolific musician best known as the frontman for beloved alt-rock outfit Custaro… uh, Custard. Together, the group are best known for classic tracks like 'Apartment', 'Girls Like That (Don't Go For Guys Like Us)', and 'Music Is Crap', along with other exceptional tu...

If you found yourself listening to the so-called ‘alternative music’ coming out of Australia across the late ‘90s and early ‘00s, then you very well might have listened to Machine Gun Fellatio. As their name might indicate, controversy was a bit of a staple for the group throughout their career, but another thing that was a constant was the quality of their music. Firstly, it’s worth pointing out...

If you’ve been listening to music over the last decade, then the name ILUKA might be one you’ve come across. After all, when you give even a cursory listen to her music, it’s easy to see why her profile has been rising so rapidly in recent years. Born in Australia but now based in America, ILUKA grew up playing music, with this love being fostered by classic names like Stevie Nicks and Janis Jopli...

It’s the standard story that any band goes through. You’re watching a David Lynch adaptation of a Frank Herbert novel when you decide to name your band after a word you heard during the film, only to misspell it, and before you know it, you’re one of the most successful bands to ever come out of New Zealand. Of course, if you recognised the story I just told you, then you’re either Shihad’s Jon To...

For as long as I’ve loved music, I’ve loved that sort of music that connects with people for so many different reasons. When I was in my teenage years, I discovered a Sydney band called Tonight Alive, who managed to find themselves as one of the more prominent purveyors of pop-punk out of Australia. Across four amazing albums over the span of seven years, Tonight Alive found themselves dishing out...

Fans of the Melbourne music scene were this year excited to hear about the return of Ceres. For those playing along at home, it’s a pretty exciting prospect to have them back in our lives, especially given that they effectively disappeared at the end of 2019, leaving fans to wonder what the future held. After making their debut with ‘I Don't Want To Be Anywhere But Here’ in 2014, Ceres followe...

In the world of post-hardcore bands, it’s often easy to find groups which feel as though they follow the paths and trends crafted by the trailblazers before them. Then, of course, there’s groups like La Dispute. Formed in 2004 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, the US group have been hard at it for two decades now, garnering critical acclaim with almost every move they make.  Following a series of EPs and...

When it comes to prolific, diverse, and unafraid musicians, it’s a little hard to look past the unstoppable Darren Cross. If that name doesn’t sound familiar right off the bat, then you might remember him as one third of the enigmatic Sydney outfit Gerling. Formed back in the early ‘90s, Gerling were hard to pin down. Beginning with a blending of alternative rock and noise, they soon incorporated...

There’s no denying that the Adelaide music scene is one which is equally small and large. Small in the sense of its physical size, but large in just how far and wide its influence reaches thanks to the talented, welcoming people who comprise it. One of those people is Jason Katsaras, a musician whose influence over the last decade is still felt despite his current absence from his hometown. If you...

If you’ve spent a bit of time in Melbourne venues over the years, then there’s a good chance you might have come across the wonderful Felicity Cripps. For most people, Felicity would have landed on your radar as a member of Houlette back in the day, which soon evolved into the three-piece band Hoy. As time went on though, Felicity kept evolving, with music under her own name arriving before too lo...

I’m going to be completely transparent right from the start and tell you that I am entirely biassed when it comes to today’s artist. This week, I am talking about Echo Social Club, a Melbourne rock duo who I have been completely enraptured by since I first saw them live in early 2023. Featuring former Pseudo Mind Hive and The Hum Drums member Jake Bicchieri on guitar and vocals, and former Heavy A...

Some of my favourite artists are those who do so much amazing work yet often find themselves flying under the radar. While I’m a huge proponent of the fact that they should all be household names due to their exceptional output, they continue to operate as well-kept secrets, beloved by their diehard fans. A great example of this is the wonderful Caiti Baker. For years now, Caiti has been crafting...

If you’ve been paying attention to artists coming out of the Gold Coast over the last six years, then you might have come across Chavez Cartel.  A five-piece alternative rock band, Chavez Cartel wasted almost no time in making a name for themselves on a local scale. Releasing a handful of singles in their debut year, the band shared both the ‘Lucky, Lucky’ and ‘Confidence Is All I’m Taking Home’ E...

I feel it’s rather customary for me to say that if you’re a fan of bands who blend genres like garage rock, punk rock, and hardcore punk, then I know exactly a band you should be listening to. That band, my friends, is California’s Destroy Boys. Formed in late 2015 by Violet Mayugba and Alexia Roditis, Destroy Boys took influence from all manner of classic punk and rock bands to craft something th...

If you’re someone who enjoys a bit of rock music and you haven’t found yourself listening to Kingswood at some point over the last decade or so, then you need to change that immediately. Formed in Melbourne around the late 2000s, Kingswood wasted no time in letting their music get heard by the world. Following a self-titled EP in 2010, and their ‘Change Of Heart’ EP in 2012, a competition run by t...

When it comes to Melbourne indie/alternative/punk bands, I would say that I’m in a pretty good position to talk about Dental Plan. First formed in 2018 by guitarist and vocalist Niam Hegarty, bassist and occasional vocalist Jo Gardiner, and drummer Stu Young, the band kicked off writing, recording, and gigging pretty quickly, establishing a respectable fanbase around the city as they did so. Follo...

The world of alternative rock would likely not be anywhere close to what it is today without bands like The Jesus And Mary Chain. Forming in Glasgow back in 1983 by brothers Jim and William Reid, the Scottish outfit are these days considered to be pioneers of genres like alternative rock, shoegaze, and noise-pop. Combining these genres with their own unique take on post-punk and indie-rock, and yo...

If you’re not across Iranian-born, New Zealand-raised artists, you’re not only doing yourself a disservice, but you’re missing out on the magnificent CHAII.  Ever since the Persian musician moved to Auckland at eight years old, she’s been a firm fan of hip-hop, and as her creativity flourished, so too did she become involved within the world of music, crafting her own unique blend of beats, lyrics...

If you’ve not yet heard of English trio Tors, there’s a very good chance that’ll be changing soon. Formed by brothers Matt and Theo Weedon in 2016, the “three-piece harmonic indie band” were joined by drummer Jack Bowden after picking him up on Gumtree.  However, the band’s history can actually be traced back quite some years, with Matt’s career as a songwriter beginning with a casual appearance o...

For the majority of the last 20 years, one of the most explosive performers on the music scene has been Frank Carter. Unassuming with his short stature and red hair, Frank burst onto the scene as a member of Gallows back in 2005, blowing away everyone with his intense stage presence and mesmerisingly powerful voice. After six years with Gallows, Frank left to form Pure Love, an alternative rock ba...

If you’ve only heard of one punk band, it’s likely the Ramones. After all, they pretty much wrote the book on the leather-jacketed aesthetic, and the musical delivery of short, sharp, and punchy songs that influenced the genre’s earliest years, and is still heard to this day. Though all of the band’s founding members have long since passed, their lineup wasn’t static for their existence, and in 19...

If you’ve been listening to this podcast for the last 12 weeks, you’re probably aware I tend to focus on artists who aren’t exactly household names. That much is certainly true for this week’s artist, Lancaster duo The Lovely Eggs. Comprising married couple Holly Ross and David Blackwell, The Lovely Eggs have been going for 18 years now, having played their first gig in New York back in 2006. Sinc...

If you’re listening to this podcast in Australia, there’s a chance you know The Tea Party. In fact, they’ve probably played more live shows in this country than you’ve had hot dinners. That might sound impressive, but it’s all the more admirable given they’re a Canadian outfit who have been on the scene since 1990. Formed by Jeff Martin, Jeff Burrows, and Stuart Chatwood (who apparently didn’t get...