On what will surely be remembered as an historic and potentially devastating day for millions in the USA, a lucky few American music fans were able to drown out the election discourse at a Courtney Barnett concert in Denver’s Ogden Theatre.

According to Denver Post blog The Know, the singer-songwriter told the crowd mid-set that she didn’t want to talk about “You-know-what… Let’s just enjoy this moment.”

According to the review, Courtney was in fine form that evening, playing all of her main hits off last year’s sensational and aptly titled debut Sometimes I Sit And Think And Sometimes I Just Sit, providing a happy distraction from the events of the evening before finishing her main set with a solo rendition of Dan Kelly classic Drunk On Election Night.

Armed with just an acoustic guitar Barnett made a small political statement of her own, igniting boo’s throughout the audience with the lamenting lyric that “we gone and made a swing to the right” before delighting the sold-out crowd with the lyrics of the chorus “I’m gonna sail on the next high tide just to get away from that cock-sucking, motherfucker who’s playing on my mind,” a lyric that inspired a huge sing-a-long at the conclusion of the tune.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=koUNOucbPLs

It was a much-needed satirical addition to the night, with the presumably millennial crowd in quite a glum state, according to The Know. One fan commented, “‘I feel conflicted given how the results are going… I’ll probably be distracted through the show.”

Another bought tickets to the show specifically to be a distraction from the election. “I just want to get away…elections shouldn’t be scary. They should be a celebration.”

Image: Forte

Australian superstar and Grammy-nominated rocker Courtney Barnett has released a cracker of a video today for her hit single Elevator Operator. Taken from her debut studio album Sometimes I Sit And Think, And Sometimes I Just Sit, it was one of the most-loved tracks on that record and helped her to BRIT and Grammy nominations and a swag of ARIAs.

Courtney also happens to have a huge swathe of friends in the music and arts, and she’s enlisted the services of a whole lot of them in this latest video. Directed by Sunny Leunig, it features Barnett as a world-beaten elevator operator having to deal with an assortment of oddball people using her lift. Have a watch and see if you can spot them all:

https://youtube.com/watch?v=H-wm0EdoeN8

Get ‘em all? While Courtney might remain deadpan and bored in their presence, you probably didn’t miss folks like Sleater-Kinney, Tim Rogers, Jeff Tweedy (of Wilco), The Drones, Paul Kelly ten-pin bowling or a very punk rock looking Magda Szubanski, but you may have missed other stars like Camp Cope, Fraser A. Gorman, Jen Cloher, Jo Syme (of Big Scary), director Sunny Leunig himself (and his famous cartoonist father Michael Leunig) among an extensive list of others.

Courtney eventually escapes all the madness going on in and around her elevator, making it to the rooftop and jamming out the rest of the song with her bandmates to finish it off. It’s one that will quickly go into consideration for video of the year.

The full list of guests, in order of appearance are as follows:

Sleater-Kinney
Glory! Bangs
Courtney Barnett
Bones Sloane & Dave Mudie
Magda Szubanski
Tim Rogers
The Finks
Tweedy
The Drones
Garret and Will Huxley, Gabi Barton
Sunny Leunig
Vincent Juggernaut
Tain Stangret
Izzi Goldman and John
Nicholas & Thea Jones
Batpiss
Loose Tooth
Camp Cope
Jo Syme (Big Scary)
East Brunswick All Girls Choir
Paul Kelly
Michael Leunig
Meaghan Weiley, Jess Tyler, Thommy Taranto (Milk! Records)
Jen Cloher
Fraser A. Gorman
Ouch My Face
Marni Kornhauser & Radar Rad

Sometimes I Sit And Think, And Sometimes I Just Sit is out now via Milk Records/Remote Control Records.

Image: Supplied

Australian music has always been of the highest quality in our books, but it seems our neighbours in the US take a while to catch on. Thanks to the huge success and influence of late night television shows like The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Conan, Saturday Night Live and many more choosing musicians to play each night of the week, they were bound to pick up some Aussie talent along the way. After Courtney Barnett ripped into a killer performance on Saturday Night Live this weekend, we looked back at some of the best performances of Aussie exports heading over to the US to show what they’re made of, and compiled a nice list below of some of the greatest. Enjoy!

Courtney Barnett, Pedestrian At Best
(Saturday Night Live, 2016)

As mentioned before, Courtney Barnett launched into an absolutely stellar performance of her breakout single, Pedestrian At Best on SNL over the weekend. Blistering guitars, stomping riffs from Courtney Barnett and her band and her Aussie-as-hell accent all sheepishly pulling it off like they’re not actually performing on live television into millions of homes across the US. Her performance of Avant Gardener on Fallon back in 2014 saw her explode onto the international scene, and she hasn’t looked back since.

Silverchair, Abuse Me
(Letterman, 1997)

Aside from the eyebrow ring Daniel Johns is rocking, this performance is pretty high up there not only in the ranks of the best, but also the most iconic for Australian music. Going over to the US to support their sophomore album, Freak Show after selling a whopping 2 million copies of their debut (Frogstomp), the Newcastle trio landed themselves the coveted spot on Letterman to play their droning grunge to millions of viewers across America. Letterman said it himself when he remarked, “Not bad for a bunch of school kids.” You’re damn right, Letterman!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hzKc6TZMad8

INXS & Ray Charles, Please (You Got That…)
(Letterman, 1993)

I’m not sure why this performance isn’t played on television screens across Australia every single morning due to how iconic and incredible it is. One of the biggest Australian bands ever, INXS, sharing the stage with one of music’s greatest artists, Ray Charles. You really can’t get much better than that. Frontman Michael Hutchence sitting on a stool beside Ray, both grooving away and singing at their absolute best whilst the rest of the band have a ball on stage. Taken from the Full Moon, Dirty Hearts record, Please (You Got That…) was already a standout track, but this just takes it to a whole new level.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bL0IOj8OA7o

Tame Impala, Let It Happen
(Conan, 2015)

I’m putting this one here as sadly, their previous US late night TV performances have been taken down from the internet. Perth psych-pop rockers Tame Impala returned in a blaze of glory last year with their third album, Currents, and landed a spot on Conan to herald their comeback in the US. One of the best performances on late night TV in recent memory thanks to exceptional work with lights, camera angles and visual effects, Tame Impala hit the ground running after this performance. They have previously performed twice more on US TV, both times on Jimmy Fallon’s show. However, it seems Fallon likes to keep the good memories to himself, as they clips are no where to be found (FYI, they first played Why Won’t You Make Up Your Mind? in 2011 and Elephant in 2013).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qay6t5UpnhM

Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, I Had A Dream, Joe
(Letterman, 1993)

I can’t go past Nick Cave. Already at veteran status, Nick Cave brought his brooding tune I Had A Dream, Joe on stage for a memorable performance on Letterman all the way back in 1993. Certainly not their usual standard of TV performances, Americans would have been a bit caught off-guard with this howling set, complete with a skulking Cave commanding your attention from start to finish. Hardly a commercially successful artist in the US, this performance goes to show Nick Cave could not care less if he tried about what the audience, or Americans everywhere thought of him, his music and his band. He’s just doing him, in the most dark and mysterious way.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hr7rnjM28_s

Image: Music Feeds

There can be little question that Courtney Barnett‘s been absolutely tearing it up in the United States.

Returning to Coachella for a second time ahead of another leg of US tours dates, the diminutive singer took a few minutes to chat to festival reporter Jason Bentley. Humble as always, Barnett described herself as going “pretty really good.” Having last played at the festival in 2014, the singer seemed fairly relaxed despite being minutes away from taking the stage.

“I’ve been writing since the last one I guess,” Barnett revealed when asked if she was working on a follow-up to Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit (read our review here). But she was quick to dismiss that another studio LP would be arriving anytime soon. “I’m not very good at having goals and timelines, so I’m kind of just writing with no final thing in mind,” she continued.

“A lot of the new songs I haven’t even shown the band yet, I’m still trying to write them…It’s a vulnerable time,” she added. It also seems that even someone as critically acclaimed Barnett isn’t above those time-worn songwriter anxieties. “I get nervous showing them to anyone in case the suck or something,” she concluded.

Her remarks reflect her non-committal comments to DIY earlier, where she stated that she had the second half of 2016 “logged off” to “maybe make an album or do something.”

But as Bentley noted, this doesn’t mean fans won’t be hearing any new material from the Melbourne based artist. She’s recently contributed a cover of Speedway Boogie to the 59-track Grateful Dead tribute Day of the Dead out May 40 via 4AD. Barnett also dropped a loving triubute to Ramen noodles back in January, which appears on Milk! Records‘ compilation Good For You.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dj00V0tJubk

Image: Pitchfork 

It seems every way you turn, the rest of the world is eagerly cottoning on the something we’ve known for a while; the palpable excellence of Australia’s own Courtney Barnett. Somewhere between the first leg of her tour, which started out in her native Australia, the release of her ode-to-ramen, Three Packs A Day, last month and her first appearance at the Grammy Awards, Barnett found time to take to stage on the “Late Show With Stephen Colbert”.

Performing Nobody Really Cares If You Don’t Go To The Party, the singer was back at home in a low-key Midnight Oil tee (a huge shout out to one of Australia’s favourite rock bands) and jeans, after a concession to the glamour of the Grammys, where she appeared in a black button down shirt. But still with the jeans.

Treating the audience to a relaxed but energised performance of the song, taken from her album Sometimes I Sit And Think, And Sometimes I Just Sit, Barnett made for an impressive musical guest on Colbert’s show. The performance also comes ahead of the US leg of her tour, which kicks off in April and sees Barnett playing venues all around North America and Canada.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zBy7JyV9_E]

And just in case Courtney isn’t quite doing enough for you, Milk! Records released a new compilation last weekend, Good For You, featuring Three Packs A Day along with tracks from Jen Cloher, Fraser A. Gorman and Ouch My Face, amongst others.

Read our review of Courtney Barnett’s ‘Sometimes I Sit And Think, And Sometimes I Just Sit’

Image via CBS

Everyone loves ramen. It’s basically the life giving sustenance of all university students and the go-to lazy dish for everyone who just can’t be bothered to cook food with, well, proper nutrition.

But some people love it so much, they have to immortalise it in song. The misleadingly titled song Three Packs a Day details Courtney Barnett’s crippling addiction to ramen noodles. Barnett admits, “I’m down to three packs a day,” and declares that “the MSG taste so good to me.”

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQw2qj2utOg&w=560&h=315]

The irreverent track will be on the upcoming six-track Milk! Records compilation Good For You, out on Valentine’s Day and a follow-up to 2015 enormously successful and critically acclaimedSometimes I Sit And Think, And Sometimes I Just Sit. Barnett has a huge year coming, playing at Coachella as well as scoring a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist.

For now, Barnett will continue her tour, starting in Sydney before heading over to the states for her Coachella appearance, as well as performing at other locations across the U.S.

Courtney Barnett Tour Dates

Saturday 16 January – Enmore Theatre, Sydney NSW

Friday 22 January – Palais Theatre, Melbourne VIC

Friday 15 April – Indio, CA – Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival

Friday 22 April – Indio, CA – Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival

Tuesday 19 April – Commodore Ballroom, Vancouver, British Columbia

Wednesday 20 April – Crystal Ballroom, Portland, Oregon

Thursday 21 April – Moore Theatre, Seattle WA

April 26-27 – First Avenue, Minneapolis MN

Thursday 28 April – Riviera Theatre, Chicago IL

Wednesday 25 May – Rams Head Live!, Baltimore MD

Thursday 26 May – Electric Factory, Philadelphia PA

Sunday 29 May – Virgin Mobile Corona Theatre, Montreal Québec

Tuesday 31 May – Majestic Theatre, Detroit MI

June 2-5 – Nelsonville Music Festival, Nelsonville Ohio

June 3-5 – The Governors Ball Music Festival, New York NY

Since Courtney Barnett took out triple J‘s Album of The Year last week, the national broadcaster and Barnett herself have absolutely copped it from listeners who do not agree with the decision. Not being able to let it go, some people have actually gone absolutely HAM on social media, and now The Basics have had enough of it.

Taking to their own Facebook page, the band voiced their frustration at Australians and their “apathetic attitude” toward major stations like Nova and Triple M, whilst doing the complete opposite when it comes to the red drum.

“What is it about the station that attracts the ire of so many?” They asked, before continuing to say, “Is it because maybe they’re the only National broadcaster that actually *does* give two shits about trying to champion new music and sounds?”

Anyone that has had the sometimes misfortune of listening to other major stations like Nova or Triple M would know what they’re talking about, considering it sounds like they get given a 10 song quota each day, and they must only play those songs for the next 24 hours – and normally, those songs are not by up-and-coming local acts.

Before asking for a ceasefire of triple J and Richard Kingsmill “bashing”, the band pointed out the difference in approaches between “mainstream” stations and the alternative, saying quite frankly, “When are we going to start putting pressure on DMG (Nova) and Austereo (Fox, Triple M, etc etc) to significantly increase their support of locally-made music? We always excuse them from scrutiny because ‘they’re just after the advertising dollars’.” 

The band, which includes Wally De Backer aka Gotye, are no strangers to calling out injustices as they see them, so any kind of backlash really would not have any effect on the guys. Maybe this will be one of their policies should they try their hand at politics again?

Over the weekend, two powerhouse performers played Austin City Limits. Austin native Gary Clark Jr. and Australia’s own Courtney Barnett brought their unique, ripping performance styles to ACL, each treating the audience to extraordinary sets, which are now available to stream in full online thanks to PBS and the magic of live recording.

Clark kicked his second ACL appearance off with a shit-hot rendition of Grinder, following it with four other cuts from his latest LP, The Story of Sonny Boy Slim. Cold Blooded had him flexing his muscles as an R&B vocalist before he wrapped things up by essentially ripping the audience a new one with The Healing.

https://youtu.be/vD05pJ-pP0g

Barnett’s set, which starts around the 27 minute mark in the video below, not only featured the cutting, wry songs we’ve come to know and love, but also a cover of “the greatest song ever written”, You Am I‘s Heavy Heart. Before she launches into the song, which she plays as a solo number, she states that while she hasn’t played it often for crowds, it was a risk she was willing to take. And you best believe it’s a good thing she did.

Armed with her guitar, Barnett’s rendition of the You Am I classic is commanding, as illustrated by audience: entirely captivated and silent.

https://youtu.be/Z81cxI4vfAs

Gary Clark Jr. — Set List, Oct. 31, 2015
Grinder
Cold Blooded
Our Love
Church
The Healing

Courtney Barnett — Set List, Oct. 31, 2015
Elevator Operator
Nobody Really Cares If You Don’t Go to the Party
Dead Fox
Depreston
Heavy Heart (You Am I cover)
Pedestrian at Best

 

Triple J has announced the nominees for the 2015 J Awards, an annual celebration during Aus Music Month.

It’s the 10th anniversary of the ceremony, and we have a huge list of fantastic home-grown artists who have impressed us throughout the year. Some of these including Tame Impala, Courtney Barnett, Alison Wonderland, Alpine, Gang Of Youth, Hermitude, Jarryd James, The Rubens, Parkway Drive and Seth Sentry, who are all in the running for Australian Album of the Year.

The other categories include Unearthed Artist of the Year, Double J Artist of the Year and Australian Music Video of the Year. 

The nominees are…

Australian Album of the Year

Alison Wonderland – Run
Alpine – Yuck
Courtney Barnett – Sometimes I Sit And Think, And Sometimes I Just Sit
Gang Of Youths – The Positions
Hermitude – Dark Night Sweet Light
Jarryd James – Thirty One
Parkway Drive – Ire
Seth Sentry – Strange New Past
Tame Impala – Currents
The Rubens – Hoops

Unearthed Artist of the Year

Boo Seeka
Feki
Gordi
Tired Lion
Vallis Alps

Double J Artist of the Year

Blank Realm
Emma Donovan & The PutBacks
Hiatus Kaiyote
Paul Kelly
Tim Rogers

Australian Music Video of the Year

Boy & Bear – ‘Walk The Wire’ Director: Darcy Prendergast & Josh Thomas
Briggs – ‘The Children Came Back’ Executed by: Heath Kerr & Josh Davis
Courtney Barnett – ‘Pedestrian At Best’ Director: Charlie Ford
Flume (feat Andrew Wyatt) – ‘Some Minds’ Director: Clemens Habicht
Life Is Better Blonde – ‘Mine’ Director: Natalie Erika James

The winners will be announced in a live broadcast on Triple J at 4.30 pm AEST on Thursday 19th November. Listen in and see if your favourite claims the top prize.

Courtney Barnett and Paul Kelly have combined to produce a cover of the Archie Roach classic Charcoal Lane, for the 25h anniversary of Roach’s debut album Charcoal Lane.

The pair pay tribute to Roach’s tune with a steady rhythmical drive, laying the foundation for Kelly’s trademark harmonica and Barnett’s grungy yet tender guitar tones. The second verse sees the introduction of that acoustic line we know all too well from the original, whilst Kelly and Barnett trade lines and share the chorus together. Listen below via The Guardian 

Charcoal Lane is celebrated for its songwriting and politically-charged lyrical content, with other cuts including Roach’s infamous Took the Children Away.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VeHGlJ32tak

The collaboration is just another box for Courtney to tick off the bucket list for 2015, having also recently supported Blur at Madison Square Garden, torn American TV a new one with her raucous performance on ‘The Tonight Show’ and collaborating on a new single with Jack White.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Njb3JTZ1ibY

She is just one of an impressive list of guest musicians for the Charcoal Lane re-issue, with the likes of Briggs, Gurrumul, Dewayne Everettsmith, Emma Donovan and Dan Sultan all contributing covers.

Who knows? Maybe we can expect a guest appearance if Barnett chooses to include the cover in her set when she tours Australia next January. Dates Below.

Tour Dates

Thursday, Jan 7th- Astor Theatre, Perth

Saturday, Jan 16th- Enmore Theatre, Sydney

Friday, Jan 22nd- Palais Theatre, Melbourne

(All dates supported by Cloud Control)