Kate Hennessy : Freelance Writer

First published on Mess+Noise, here.

Last time I saw solo guitarist and singer Kirin J Callinan (Mercy Arms/Jack Ladder) he tried to sell me a two-track cassette tape for $40 (ONO) at the merch table. In a display of effeminate pique onstage, Callinan had flung his nylon jacket over a stage light and speculated, “I wonder if you’ll all still be standing here when it bursts into flames?” The coat steamed angrily until an unimpressed security guy plodded over to pluck it off. And somewhere amid the silliness and the eccentricity, Callinan delivered a performance of fitful incandescence that even won over the non-committal early crowd. Me included.

Goodgod crowd (Photos by Rafaela Pandolfini)

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Goodgod is hellishly hot and fire-trappy. The ceiling, always imminent, feels even lower and bodies shine with sweat. Flanked by a bassist and a keyboard player, Geoffrey O’Connor materialises onstage in a wizardly billow of smoke and lasers, his guitar draped Springsteen-style from his shoulder.

Geoffrey O'Connor. Image C/O Chapter Music: chaptermusic.com.au

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First published in The Brag, here.

An atmosphere of fatigue pervades The Factory Theatre. Minnesota band Low are headlining tonight and although support act The Laurels haven’t begun yet fans are already smothering yawns. They coagulate in sleepy circles around seated areas, murmuring quietly. Quiet breeds quiet so it gets quieter still.

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First published on Mess+Noise, here.

By the time doom duo Agonhymn plug in and play it’s about 1.30am. Remaining metal heads are from previous bands (Summonus, Adrift for Days, Bad Voodoo) or are inebriates like the guy swaggering around with a confederate flag hanging from his pocket, wearing a W.A.S.P t-shirt with “I FUCK LIKE A BEAST” emblazoned on the back.

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First published on Mess+Noise, here.

It’s been two years since Machine Translations were in Sydney to launch ‘Seven Seven’ at The Gaelic Club. This time they’ve traded a pub setting for the creature comforts of Newtown’s jazz, blues and roots venue, The Vanguard. What a relief. Yesterday, after walls of rain for weeks, Sydney copped a tornado. Our city is sodden. Our umbrellas are defeated. Water seeps from every imaginable crack and overhang, and the appeal of a warm, civilised dinner/show combo burns as bright as a hearth fire.

J. Walker (Machine Translations). If this photo is yours, please tell me and I'll credit you.

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