STACK J#165 Jul 2018

MUSIC NEWS

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SPLENDID SELECTIONS The blessed, bright weekend of Splendour in the Grass approaches; amongst a very worthy line-up, Zoë Radas andTim Lambert choose their top acts to see live at Byron Bay's best fest over July 20, 21 and 22. Words Tim Lambert & Zoë Radas

Lorde She’s always been considered an incandescent performer, but Lorde’s recent set at Barcelona’s Primavera festival in June was, apparently, sock-yer-face stunning. She performed tracks from both of her albums – 2017’s Melodrama and 2013’s Pure Heroine – and finished with the former’s Green Light , telling the crowd: “This song has a lot of joy, and pain, and jealousy, and pettiness, and craziness. And to bring this song to life – to make this song exactly like the night I wrote it – [you need] to get all of that into your fingertips and into your feet, and f-cking dance with me right now .” The best part of the song is how deep (in pitch) the lyric “I hear sounds in my mind” is – when the New Zealander sings it live, you can hear how hard it is for her to contain her excitement and remain controlled in anticipation of the energy that’s about to bust out. It’s like a lid clattering atop a boiling pot, and it’s going to be the gleeful zenith of that Friday night. Bully Is it possible that Alicia Bognanno sounds the same live as she does recorded? All signs (YouTube deep dives) point to yes, and that’s why Bully should be high on your list of must-sees. The ferocious Nashville three-piece released

TIM

Gang Of Youths Undoubtedly Australia’s current premier rock band, ARIA Award winners Gang Of Youths are heading home to play their second Splendour in the Grass set celebrating their critically acclaimed second album, Go Farther In Lightness . Frontman Dave Le’aupepe's live performance really needs to be seen to be believed: tribal, emotional and passionate. The Sydney band have just about sold out 20 dates around the country in November; if that is anything to go by you can expect one of the biggest crowds of the weekend. Kendrick Lamar Well, the Sunday headliner is a no-brainer. Pulitzer Prize-winning rapper Lamar is a social and cultural pioneer, re-shaping the hip hop landscape with every release he drops. There isn’t much more to say about K.Dot that hasn’t been said before, but what can we expect from his headline set? A stacked setlist that will make us think, dance and give us a story to tell the grandkids in the years to come.

WAAX Brisbane band WAAX continue their

seemingly endless touring schedule – which has included a sold-out national tour and support turns for Biffy Clyro and Fall Out Boy – with an afternoon set on Saturday. If you’re looking for huge sing-alongs, mosh pits and general good vibes, look no further. While all five members own their stage presences, frontwoman Maz De Vita has earned a reputation as one of the most commanding – maybe even a little possessed – in the country at the moment.

Losing late last year, which showcases all the facets of former producer Bognanno’s voice: her scuffed, livid screams and cloud-soft harmonies depict tales of noxious interpersonal relationships, crushes, and intimate confessions, all collected in a super-tight grunge style. Baker Boy He got my shoe at

Golden Plains earlier in the year, and the North East Arnhem Land rapper absolutely smashed his Marryuna tour throughout May and June. At just 21, the Top End talent has proven fame doesn’t scare him whatsoever

West Thebarton South Australian pub-rock bosses West Thebarton are on a roll of late: their latest album Different Beings Being Different is blowing up, they’ve sold out headlining tours all over the country, and after Byron Bay they're heading off to play Reading and Leeds festival. Led by blue collar frontman Reverend Ray and anchored by Caitlin Thomas behind the kit, pop Thebbies on your Do Not Miss list for Day One.

– his live shows are a veritable knees-up of energetic dancing, singing, rapping and didge- playing. ALSO AWESOME: Methyl Ethel, Soccer Mommy, NO MONO, Henry Rollins.

ALSO AWESOME: Mallrat, Cub Sport, The Jungle Giants, Stella Donnelly.

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JULY 2018

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