There’s perhaps no band I saw play more often in my late ’80s teens than Pop Will Eat Itself – partly because my best friend was their biggest fan and traveled the whole England on their tour, with me his wingman, but equally because the Poppies shows were always entirely thrilling.
Not only did their music sound like nothing else at the time, smashing together squeaky guitar riffs, crazy samples and hip-hop beats, but they referenced the coolest stuff, from bands like Public Enemy and movies like blade runner to graphic novels such as watchmen and V for Vendetta.
One of their frontmen, Clint Mansell, may now be in Hollywood (superbly) scoring movies, but the other, Graham Crabb, still proudly flies the Poppies flag alongside other well-known members. loved by the band throughout their 35 year journey, and on this tour they play their incendiary second album It’s day… It’s time… That’s it! full.
Billie Eilish
September 13-15, Qudos Bank Arena
As the winner of multiple Grammys as a teenager and, this year, an Oscar before the age of 21, Billie Eilish makes most of us feel like underachievers, laggards or the of them.
And even if such awards, and Eilish’s huge commercial success that comes with it, mean nothing to you, you can’t argue with her influence on her generation, the latest evidence of which comes from this string of box office dates. long closed in Sydney.
The young American has certainly impressed live in the past; whether it’s bounding to contagious dark-pop bangers Bad boy and bury a friend or coo through sublime ballads ocean eyes and Attractiveshe killed at Hordern Pavilion in 2019.
My only concern with Eilish is whether an artist so present at this time will be able to maintain relevance and popularity even for a few more years, let alone a long career – but let’s cross that bridge when we get there, and for now, enjoy. his distinctive and exciting take on modern pop.
The cats
September 15, Enmore Theater
When it comes to album titles, they don’t get much better than Get F—ed. (Bonus points for the alternative, non-confrontational connotation when you say it next to the band name: The Chats Get F—ed.)
Word of the sheer genius of these Queensland punk-rockers has long spread, with the rock gods championing them from the US (Dave Grohl and Josh Homme have been fans since at least 2019) to the UK (see Justin Hawkins Rides Darkness frontman’s excellent YouTube show again), with Australia spreading nicely somewhere in between.
Best of all, the Cats remain the same lovable old ratbags they’ve always been on their aforementioned sophomore album: they’re still thrashing through two-minute tracks about relatively mundane things they love (6L GTR) or hatred (The price of cigarettes) and they are always great fun, especially live.
Thelma Prune
September 16, rotunda
After the triumph – with its multiple ARIA nominations and top five success – of his long-awaited and, to date, unique album Better in Blak in 2019, Gamilaraay wife Thelma Plum finally released a follow-up in the form of August Meanjin PE.
Meanjin is what traditional owners of the land call Brisbane, Plum’s beloved hometown, but don’t let any interstate rivalry or other irrelevant nonsense put you off. To begin with, Plum worked on the EP with former Sydneysider, his frequent collaborator Alex Burnett (formerly of the much-missed Sparkadia), but their shared talent for melody and songwriting, as well as Plum’s dreamy voice, transcend any potential distractions anyway.
The last time she performed in Sydney was alongside Paul Kelly at this year’s Vivid Live on the Opera House’s North Promenade, but this show could be just as special. It will definitely be warmer.
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