Every year I do a best of list and this year is no exception, But this time I’m gonna be straight and blunt to the point. So if your not on this list, this year, Who know as you may be on it next year. So I was in America in January and being able to see good music on a Monday and Tuesday night well Melbourne needs to take notice and start to do this. Make Monday and Tuesday nights a reason to go out and see good music.
Let’s get down to business. Albums these are the ones I loved this year.
Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds – Chasing Yesterday. Did not know he had an album coming out and I am a die heart Oasis tragic fan and boy this album delivers, What a way to open up with Riverman, his song writing is great and voice is on fire.
Kate Boy – One – This is an album I was excited about getting known Kate Akhurst for ages, yes I have interviewed her and reviewed her music in the past and this album is first rate. Higher is my favourite song off the album.
Twenty One Pilots – Blurryface – Totally love this band, these guys are genius, the music is exceptional. They just know how to mix it up and totally throw you off course with the way the album changes.
Jasmine Nelson – Hercules – Ok so she was on Parx-e Volume 4 but this album is really something special. Great song writing and great vocals ensure that this album delivers with beautiful and haunting music that you won’t forget in a hurry.
Beth Hart – Better Than Home – Beth Hart is the real deal to me as far as singer songwriters go, she got a voice and she has such killer tunes. But her songs so honest, real and you really do feel what she is saying all over this album.
I loved Emily Kinney debut album This Is War, she is amazing singer songwriter no wonder she is doing good.
EP’s And Singles
The Vaudeville Smash new song Richter Scale is divine and the b-side Dangerous wow such a song. Love the video clip for Richter Scale which they filmed in Japan. This Aussie band are going from strength to strength.
Nova and the Experience single Whole Body is an amazing tune, I got invited to their show at Shebeen and when I heard it live, I went and downloaded it straight away off Google Play. Even better for the band they got on the Aria charts, amazing for an indie Aussie act.
Laces debut ep which is self titled is amazing and I have been a fan of her music well 2004 that how long I’ve been behind her and the various projects she has done in the past. The opening track Love Me Sober ticks all the boxes for what a killer opening track should be.
Chelsea Lankes new song Home is such a good pop song, yeah I like good pop music and this is no exception. Beautiful sung and performed. Chelsea can sing, if she keeps making gems like this. The sky is the limit.
DMA’s new song Lay Down is pure brit pop and I love what these cats are doing. I can’t for the album next year.
Julia Henning – Away From Here is such a good tune and she kindly let me use it for The Parx-e Show.
Gypsy & the Cat & Client Liaison – Evolution, well I am a huge Client Liaison fan so this song is a no brainier being on this list. I just wish they would hurry up and release Hotel Stay as a single. I just wanna own a copy of the song, is that too much to ask.
Heather Longstaffe – Jack Daniels. What I can say but I love what Heather does and this song is a winner in my book. I know she is going to go far and this only helps.
Gigs
Any gig I went to in America and being able to see Jimmy Gnecco twice was awesome.
Seeing Headcat that Lemmy from Motorhead other band. Seeing Jack White for $20 American dollars was pretty cool. Seeing Powerman 5000, HED PE and Lagwagon.
Belmont Lights and Lanco two amazing bands that just blew me away and I didn’t know anything about them. Will Tucker what a blues musician he is and seeing him at BB King Club in Memphis was way cool.
The two Client Liaison gigs. I went to. I just love them
Nova & The Experience at Shebeen, what a gig.
The Women Of Soul album launch.
Passerine new single launch
Tully On Tully so good live.
Movies
99 Homes is the only movie you should be seeing this year.
Beauty Of The Year
Ella Cannon
What can I say but Ella really is the complete package. She is incredibly beautiful, she has an amazing figure, she really is flawless and she is a complete total sweetheart. She is incredibly talented as an actor. She has her head switched on and America will get to see why she is an incredible acting talent. She really is beautiful and one of the nicest people I have ever interviewed. Proud to know this amazing talent.
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm3749036/
http://www.starnow.com.au/ellamaycannon/
The person to watch out for in 2016
Michelle Ellen Jones
First photo by Cortney Russell.
Michelle Ellen Jones is a hard-working American actor, who not only acts but is a beauty pageant coach, ball room dancing instructor and a yoga teacher. She is really hard working and determined and I know she will go far in all that she does and she really incredibly beautiful too. What I have seen her do so far impresses me, with a work ethic like hers she deserves to be successful and I have no doubt she will achieve it. Quite possibly one of my favourite interview I have done this year was with her and I was excited to do it too. Will always keep supporting her.
Find out more about her here
Last two photos by Rapheal Brown- Digital Icon Photography.
Julia Henning
Julia Henning is the complete package, she is incredible talented, incredibly beautiful and I think she will be the next big thing in Australian singer songwriters.She has some awesome tunes like Away From Here is such a good tune and she kindly let me use it for The Parx-e Show.
So I was deciding what to call this section but it lists people and bands that well I think it speaks for itself.
Michelle Page
Michelle and I are friends after doing this website for so long and when she found me we stayed in touch and a friendship was formed. She really is an incredible person, really kind and caring. She is also one of the most beautiful people I know. She gave up what time she had to hang with me in America when I came over and really is the real deal to me. She is an acting talent and is studying Psychology too. I will always be behind her 100 percent.
Photos by Patric Massou and used with permission.
Melissa Johnston
Another person who is an actor who hanged out with me and was lucky to be able to do that when I came over to America. She is also an incredibly talented actor who I know is going to go far.
Heather Longstaffe
Incredible singer songwriter, gave up her time to hang with me in LA, let me interview her and all. She is the complete package and a total sweetheart. Jack Daniels her latest amazing new song is getting traction in Canada with radio stations picking it up
Hilary Kennedy
We got to hang in Dallas and we did lunch plus she kindy gave up her time which was much appreciated. I had a lot of fun. She and I are friends now and it’s an honor to know this amazing broadcasting TV host.
Karen Waldrupt, Kelsey Lewis & Heidi Schwartz also for hanging out with me and giving up your time to let me interview you and Heidi and I just did coffee.
Tori Tate
We didn’t get to hang, But I still believe in what she is doing and will keep continuing to do so.
Passerine
OK so they are a band but they really are something special. Totally awesome live and put on an excellent show.
The Strain
These guys are like brothers to me. They mean the world to me. First band ever booked and introduced me to one of my best friends. I will always continue to work with them.
If you ever need a soundie for a gig in Melbourne or a DJ Give http://www.fedoraproductions.com.au/ run by one of my best mates Nigel
Smoking Martha
Great Brissy band who can do no wrong by me. Just the real deal.
Mike Altamura
Great dude and all round nice guy. He a boxing manager and a screenwriter. One of the nicest guys I know.
Demi Louise
A hard working Australian singer songwriter who will ensure a very successful career as a musician as She is the real deal
Christie Lamb
Finally being able to see Christie Lamb play live was totally awesome and being able to interview her for the video show was incredible. She really is a fantastic singer songwriter.
Destiny Love
I love what she does as a singer songwriter, incredible voice and such beautiful tunes. She is a beautiful person, a beautiful soul inside and out.
Olivia May
Singer songwriter, actor, this talented lady can do it all and always deliver to me.
My Mates and Family
Thanks for being there always.
