By Marty Boulton
Tales of two cities
It's a good day when you wake up knowing that once the sun sets, you'll be off to see one of you favourite bands, live and loud on stage. Today, as Sticky Carpet pokes it's nose north of the great state of Victoria into the pages of the Sydney Morning Herald, that band is seminal rockers Radio Birdman, who formed in Sydney in the mid '70s. The new, no-holds-barred documentary Descent into the Maelstrom by filmmaker Jonathan Sequeira, tracking the heady early days of Radio Birdman up to the present time, premiered in Sydney this month and opens nationally in July. As the director notes, his film "isn't just the story of Radio Birdman, it's the story of a scene, a movement, in Australia ... it's about doing your music, and your art without compromise" and when Birdman hit the Croxton stage on Friday, June 30, they'll do so with fellow Australian music stalwarts Died Pretty. In the years since Radio Birdman and Died Pretty roared to life 10 years apart in Sydney, Australian music has gone from strength to strength, unearthing extraordinary talent in everything from rock 'n' roll to soul to hip hop. Last weekend's annual Community Cup in Melbourne highlighted how our eclectic music scene can celebrate our world-class local talent. On August 5, the Community Cup returns to Sydney, but whether it's outdoors on a cool winter day, soaking up a summer festival or standing on some sticky carpet in the local pub, there's nothing like the feeling you get supporting Australian music. Yeah hup.
album of the week
Radios appear: An early promotional shot of the Birdmen.Credit: Citadel Records
WAAX
Wild & Weak
Died Pretty are playing at the Croxton.Credit: PDONOVAN@theage.com.au
(Independent)
★★★
On five songs (OK it's an EP, their second after 2015's Holy Sick) classy Brisbane five-piece WAAX waste no time, throwing everything into the title track and barely backing off until closing track You Wouldn't Believe. Marie DeVita's vocals storm to the front early, joining a barrage of drums and she's soon in full battle cry, Wild & Weak building into a clear, no frills statement of intent. At times her ferocious howl, combined with a rock-solid rhythm section, echoes New York punk rock outfit Bloody Hollies, albeit with a female twist on Wes Doyle's pipes.
selecta
WAAX album 'Wild & Weak'.
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