Osees are just a pure and spectacular force of nature. One of the best bands that you could ever see live. They proved it again Friday night at a sold out and very sweaty Metro Theatre. This is the fifth time that I have seen them live and I will never tire of seeing them. For close to two hours they played with the force of three suns. The five piece band have incredible energy and don't stop from open to finish. With such a wide and vast catalogue they have plenty of songs to choose from, but I appreciate that they try to play from all eras and play the 'hits'. John Dwyer is a manic and committed leader and guitarist and is magnetic to watch. Of course they have the two drummer set up which is unique and powerful and centred up front. But the bass is also important and the keyboard adds plenty of lovely flourishes. It all adds up to an intoxicating mix. I loved every minute, but thumpers like 'I Come From the Mountain' and 'Toe Cutter-Thumb Buster' are especially memorable. If you have never seen the Osees live I implore you fix that at your next opportunity. 

Set List

Plastic Plant

The Static God

Funeral Solution

A Foul Form

Scum Show

Tidal Wave

The Dream/The Daily Heavy

Chem-Farmer/Nite Expo

Intercepted Message

Rogue Planet

I Come From the Mountain

Sticky Hulks

BLIMP

Drug City

Withered Hand

Toe Cutter-Thumb Buster

Ticklish Warrior

You Will Find It Here

Encrypted Bounce

C

Minotaur

The Flaming Lips are fun with a capital F. They always bring the goods live and Sunday night at the Hordern Pavilion was no different. I have seen them a few times over the years but I am very happy I bought a ticket to this one. Especially as they were playing their classic album in 'Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots' in full. It was great to hear it in order and the band in full flight. Giant robots were blown up, there were great visuals, there were giant balloons and confetti and streamers. And front man Wayne Coyne was his usual charismatic self. It was a very fun hour, with 'Do You Realize??' an obviosu highlight. Then the band took a brief break before they returned with set of hits and favourites. 'She Don't Use Jelly' was an obvious starting point and the whole venue was rocking. But my personal favourite was 'Pompeii Am Gotterdammerung'. But honestly, it was all great from the absolute kings of fun.

Set List

Fight Test

One More Robot/Sympathy 3000-21

Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots, Pt. 1

Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots, Pt. 2

In the Morning of the Magicians

Ego Tripping at the Gates of Hell

Are You A Hypnotist??

It's Summertime

Do You Realize??

All We Have Is Now

Approaching Pavonis Mons by Balloon (Utopia Planitia)

She Don't Use Jelly

Flowers of Neptune 6

The Spark That Bled

Pompeii Am Gotterdammerung

Waitin' For a Superman

Riding to Work in the Year 2025 (Your Invisible Now)

Christmas at the Zoo

Love Yer Brain

The Yeah Yeah Yeah Song (With All Your Power)

A Spoonful Weighs A Ton

Race for the Prize 

Gillian Welch and David Rawlings have put in a very early claim for the best show of 2025. It's only January but their show on Friday night at the Sydney Opera House will be very hard to beat. This was the second night of three and it was as perfect as you could possibly hope for. Their first tour in ages was hotly anticipated and they delivered in spades. They divide their shows into two sets. About an hour each before the encore. I loved everything minute. Welch is a supreme songwriter and conveys beauty and emotion just perfectly. She plays rhythm on her trusty Gibson acoustic. Whilst David Rawlings astounds with his incredible lead guitar on his 1930s Epiphone. Sometimes Welch breaks out the banjo. But that's it. Just the two of them. Alone on stage, in perfect unison. No frills, just the best of songs and melodies. I think they did switch out the set list a little, which meant 'Wayside/Back in Time' was left out. But that was my only complaint, a minor one at that. The rest was just a stream of greatness. And I was ecstatic that they pulled out a very early song in 'Caleb Meyer' at the end of the first set. And all of the songs they played from 2024's excellent 'Woodland' were great. Especially 'Empty Trainload of Sky' and 'Hashtag'. Then in the second set 'Revelator' and 'Six White Horses' soared like wild beasts. The encore was perfect. 'Look at Miss Ohio' had grown men crying (me), whilst 'I'll Fly Away' was a perfect singalong. But wait, they came back for more and closed with the country classic 'Jackson'. An awesome way to end an awesome show.

Set List

Elvis Presley Blues

Midnight Train

Empty Trainload of Sky

Cumberland Gap

North Country

The Bells And The Birds

Howdy Howdy

Ruby

The Way It Will Be

Caleb Meyer

Lawman

What We Had

Hashtag

Hard Times

Midnight Bones

The Way It Goes

Six White Horses

Revelator

Red Clay Halo

Look at Miss Ohio

I'll Fly Away

Everything Is Free

Jackson

So many great songs in 2024 and it's always nearly impossible to single them out. But I made a list so here we go. Ultimately it was the MJ Lenderman song in 'Wristwatch' that I returned to over and over. I just loved it so much. The lyrics, the guitar, the melody. It truly had it all. Song epic songs pushed it hard though. Especially towards the end of the year. 'Screamland' by Father John Misty was a song I truly fell in love with. And 'Six Deaf Rats' by The Hard Quartet felt like a song that was truly written for me. And 'Mary Boone' by Vampire Weekend came very close as well. My favourite song from my favourite album of 2024 made a very strong case. A great year for music with many great songs.

1. Wristwatch-MJ Lenderman

2. Mary Boone-Vampire Weekend

3. Screamland-Father John Misty

4. Six Deaf Rats-The Hard Quartet

5. Slow Pain-Rosali

6. Empty Trainload of Sky-Gillian Welch & David Rawlings

7. Foxglove-Haley Heynderickx

8. Revelator-Phosphorescent

9. Right Back To It-Waxahatchee

10. Void-Ty Segall

11. Crimes of the Heart-Waxahatchee

12. Sadness As a Gift-Adrianne Lenker

13. On Tonight-Rosali

14. Non-Metaphorical Decolonization-Mount Eerie

15. Classical-Vampire Weekend

16. Planetarium-Blitzen Trapper

17. New Air-Ben Seretan

18. On My Knees-MJ Lenderman

19. A Hole In the Ground-Porridge Radio

20. Hashtag-Gillian Welch & David Rawlings

21. To Get It Right-Phosphorescent

22. Broom of Wind-Mount Eerie

23. Everyone Out-DIIV

24. Crashing Through-Friko

25. Rio's Song-The Hard Quartet

26. Joan in the Garden-The Decemberists

27. Old Scratch Blues-Jack White

28. My Room-Ty Segall

29. Mahashmashana-Father John Misty

30. The Circus Egotistica and the Girl Who Cried Bad Wolf-Floral Tattoo

31. Earthling-Osees

32. Conversion-Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds

33. Babys In a Thundercloud-Godspeed You! Black Emperor

34. Friend of a Friend-The Smile

35. Love Changes Everything I-Dirty Three

36. Cliche Town-Sunset Rubdown

37. Ride Around-Goat Girl

38. Gemini-Haley Heynderickx

39. Water Underground-Real Estate

40. Renegade-The Hard Quartet

41. Joker Lips-MJ Lenderman

42. Cubic Zirconia-Katy Kirby

43. Vampire Empire-Adrianne Lenker

44. Rewind-Rosali

45. Zero Sum-The Smile

46. Hope-Vampire Weekend

48. Love Takes Miles-Cameron Winter

48. Free-Ben Seretan

49. Sick of the Blues-Porridge Radio

50. Hammer-Hana Vu

51. Hangman-Wand

52. Say It Like You Mean It-Sleater-Kinney

53. The Bell-Ty Segall

54. Play It Down-Goat Girl

55. I Got the Fear-Torres

56. All In Good Time-Iron & Wine

57. Squabble Up-Kendrick Lamar

58. Lose-Boeckner

59. For Ella-Friko

60. Soul-net-DIIV

61. Bye Bye-Kim Gordon

62. Alpharetta-Local Natives

63. Cheap Fantastical Takedown-Blitzen Trapper

64. Bored-Waxahatchee

65. Real House-Adrianne Lenker

66. Bite Down-Rosali

67. Party at Monster Lake-Strand of Oaks

68. Marigold-Why?

69. Care-Hana Vu

70. Move-Meatbodies

71. Termination Officer-Osees

72. Capricorn-Vampire Weekend

73. That's How I'm Feeling-Jack White

74. Speyside-Bon Iver

75. The Rolling Stones-Cameron Winter

76. Spaghetti-Beyonce

77. Two Brothers-Young Jesus

78. Andy-Jake Xerses Fussell

79. What Do We Do Now-J Mascis

80. Untidy Creature-Sleater-Kinney

81. Final Summer-Cloud Nothings

82. Buffalo-Hurray for the Riff Raff

83. Clock Rats-Charles Moothart

84. Greyhound-Foxing

85. Postcard-Bedbug

86. Eight Tired Starlings-Nap Eyes

87. Sister Christian-Current Joys

88. Return To Life-Boeckner

89. What Occurs-Islands

90. Vines-Cameron Winter

91. Child of Mine-Laura Marling

92. Get Still-Alan Sparhawk

93. Head-Claire Rousay

94. Where's Your Love Now-This Is Lorelei

95. The Fences of Stonehenge-Wild Pink

96. Mourir Demain-Corridor

97. If It's Gone-Good Looks

98. Hot Sun-Wilco

99. TV Off-Kendrick Lamar

100. Rugby Child-Amen Dunes

I think 2024 was a great year for music. So much to love and get excited by. But this exists outside the commercial side, which I think has never been lower in terms of quality. But the spirit of Indie, whatever that means these days, lives on. Some great music from veterans and some from newer acts. I try to listen to each new album released weekly and there is always something worth discovering. In 2024 it was a band that I guess is now considered a veteran one that I believe delivered the best album of the year. Vampire Weekend take their time with their records but the results speak for themselves. Their new album was immaculate and just bursting with beautiful melodies. My perennial favourite in Ty Segall released another stellar record, whilst wonderful artists like Rosali, Adrianne Lenker and Waxahatchee gave us superb gems. True icons such as Gillian Welch and Mount Eerie showed time is not sIlowing them down at all. Then MJ Lenderman returned with a new album, proving himself to be one of the most talented new talents on the planet. Very excited to see him again in March.

1. Only God Was Above Us-Vampire Weekend

2. Three Bells-Ty Segall

3. Manning Fireworks-MJ Lenderman

4. Bite Down-Rosali

5. Night Palace-Mount Eerie

6. The Hard Quartet-The Hard Quartet

7. Woodland-Gillian Welch & David Rawlings

8. Bright Future-Adrianne Lenker

9. Revelator-Phosphorescent

10. Tigers Blood-Waxahatchee

11. Mahashmashana-Father John Misty

12. Below the Waste-Goat Girl

13. No Title as of 13 February 2024 28,340 Dead-Godspeed You! Black Emperor

14. Clouds in the Sky They Will Always Be There For Me-Porridge Radio

15. Love Changes Everything-Dirty Three

16. Allora-Ben Seretan

17. Romanticism-Hana Vu

18. Seed of a Seed-Haley Heynderickx

19. Heavy Metal-Cameron Winter

20. Always Happy to Explode-Sunset Rubdown

21. 100’s of 1000’s Millions of Billions-Blitzen Trapper

22. Boeckner!-Boeckner

23. Wall of Eyes-The Smile

24. Where We’ve Been, Where We Go From Here-Friko

25. Frog in Boiling Water-DIIV

26. Flora Ocean Tiger Bloom-Meatbodies

27. Wild God-Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds

28. Little Rope-Sleater-Kinney

29. No Name-Jack White

30. The Collective-Kim Gordon

31. Blue Raspberry-Katy Kirby

32. Cutouts-The Smile

33. The Fool-Young Jesus

34. The Well I Fell Into-Why?

35. East My Love-Current Joys

36. When I’m Called-Jake Xerxes Fussell

37. Light Verse-Iron & Wine

38. Black Holes Don’t Choke-Charles Moothart

39. Cowboy Carter-Beyonce

40. The Neon Gate-Nap Eyes

41. No More Apocalypse Father-We Are Winter's Blue and Radiant Children

42. What Occurs-Islands

43. Final Summer-Cloud Nothings

44. Sorcs 80-Osees

45. Love Rudiments-Ty Segall

46. Daniel-Real Estate

47. The Avett Brothers-The Avett Brothers

48. What an Enormous Room-Torres

49. GNX-Kendrick Lamar

50. Miracle Focus-Strand of Oaks

 

The Hard Quartet are my idea of a supergroup. An Indie Rock supergroup. Last year when the project was announced I was quite excited, but even I couldn't predict just how good it would turn out. Their debut album self titled album was very, very good. But with that sort of talent assembled what would you expect. Of course Pavement legend Stephen Malkmus heads the band. But throw in Jim White, Emmett Kelly and Matt Sweeney and you have a true collection of supreme talent. Their Australian tour was the first time they have toured as a band. They played three shows in the US last year, so Saturday night in Sydney was only the fifth time they have played live together. It doesn't show though, they are very tight and together. The set was just the album. So about an hour in length. Malkmus does most of the lead singing, but Sweeney sneaks in there too. His songs are more country tinged, adding a nice counter balance to the angular and twisty songs of Malkmus. Emmett Kelly is an exceptional guitarist whilst Australia's own Jim White is just an incredible drummer. They are the heart of the band I believe. I don't know what the future holds for The Hard Quartet, but for now I am just happy they exist.

   

Set List
Earth Hater
Rio’s Song
Our Hometown Boy
Renegade
Heel Highway
Killed By Death
Hey
It Suits You
Six Deaf Rats
Action for Military Boys
Jacked Existence
North of the Border
Gripping the Riptide
Thug Dynasty 
Chrome Mess

My first show of 2025 was a special one indeed. Friday night at the Factory Theatre was a double banger that brought together two great American acts that I guess could be grouped in the Americana category. The lead act was Phosphorescent. This was the band's first visit in over ten years so it was so great to welcome them back again. The small tour of Australia is off the back of 2024's excellent album in Revelator. The band played several songs off that record and they went down a treat. But it was older tunes that went down the best. 'Terror in the Canyons (The Woundest Master) into 'The Quotidian Beasts' was an absolute treat. I loved the epically beautiful 'Wolves' and of course the masterpiece in 'Song for Zula' was beautiful indeed. In the encore Matthew Houck went solo for two songs and showed what a beautiful singer he is. He also seems to be a beautiful soul, connecting and thanking the audience on many occasions. Then the band, who were truly excellent joined him again for the rousing closer in 'Ride On/Right On'. Hopefully it won't take another decade for this excellent band to return to these shores.

The opening act was just as exceptional. It was none other than the great Will Sheff. Sheff is carving out a solo career but is better known as the lead singer of the great Okkervil River, a band very close to my heart. Sheff is a remarkable songwriter and he gave us eight beautiful songs, mainly those he wrote for the band. 'A Stone' was its incredible self of course, whilst a stripped back 'No Key, No Plan' was a sonic wonder. Sheff now has a shaggy beard and plays with a beaten up acoustic, but his music is just as beautiful as ever. Hopefully he will be back again soon too.

Set List
C’est La Vie No.2
Revelator 
Impossible House
Wide As Heaven
Terror in the Canyons (The Wounded Master)
The Quotidian Beasts
New Birth in New England 
There From Here
The World is Ending
Tell Me Baby (Have You Had Enough)
Wolves
Song for Zula

Endless (solo)
Joe Tex, These Taming Blues (solo)
Ride On/Right On