SWEET AS SUGAR

EVELYN MORRIS, otherwise known as PIKELET, speaks to STEPHANIE PICKETT about her upcoming tour co-headlining with RICHARD IN YOUR MIND, album release and all the necessary ingredients in creating good music.

Big dreams turned to big success for this Australian wonder, who at 3 and a half made it clear to her mother that she wanted to be a concert pianist, and since then has traveled the world with her distinctively charismatic music.
Once a small town Melbourne girl, now a world-renowned musician, Pikelet is one sweet act you will never forget. Evelyn Morris uses the artist name Pikelet as a tribute to her mother, who used to cook her pikelets to cheer her up when she couldn’t afford much else. Pikelet’s very distinctive and original style, which is usually a mixture of pop, ambient and psychedelic, is just one factor that highlights her musicality and versatility between genres. “I feel like music is something I want to get a response from, when I listen to it I want to feel something emotionally…that might sound in one instance like a dance track and in another like a folk song”. Although you would never guess it, she is also the drummer from the hardcore band True Radical Miracle, but felt that she could do more for herself as a musician by expanding her horizons and working on her solo work as well. “I was really keen to play with melodies and harmonies, it was also an exercise in learning confidence in myself by doing something on my own and being proud of it.” Pikelet used to perform her own work as a lone ranger, however, as different aspirations and expectations of herself arose, the inclusion of other band members seemed to be an excellent step forward for this brilliant musician. “We’re writing heaps of new material together at the moment, it’s definitely got to the point where I write more when I’m with them”. The timing for this progression was perfect with the emersion of her new album Stem and upcoming tour, co-headlining with Richard In Your Mind (RIYM). Although Pikelet and RIYM have played together before, it is now that they are in such similar places, with both of them releasing their second album, that these two prestigious acts have chosen to join forces. Pikelet has toured all over the world, from Europe to the USA, but when asked where she is most looking forward to touring to, she answered “I’m really keen to check out heaps of the smaller places that we are going like Katoomba… although having said that, this will be the first band show in Brisbane, so I’m really excited about that too!” This tour is certainly not one to be missed, as there will be a vast array of songs that have never before been heard or performed. “We are still in the middle of writing a few new songs so we are getting them ready for the tour, ‘cause it would be really awesome if we could road test them out”. Needless to say, this tour is going to be a huge success for Pikelet, her band and co-headliner Richard In Your Mind and you would be crazy to miss it!

STEPHANIE PICKETT

(As seen in Rave Magazine - Brisbane Street Press)

- Cowgirl In The Sand

COLOURFIDE / OCEANICS Hard Rock Café - Saturday Nov 13

There is a vibrant energy that fills Hard Rock Café, as local Gold Coast band, and support act for tonight, Oceanics, enter the stage. Opening with a roots/folk style introduction, that contrasts well with their pop-rock standards. With catchy hook-lines and captivating melodies their appreciative audience is dancing energetically throughout their set.
Applause erupts as Gold Coast’s very own Colourfide, introduces their set, which soon reveals to be a mix of roots and reggae with a distinctive rock edge. Their rare on stage chemistry and passion is complimented by the unique style each of their wide assortment of instruments (from electric guitar, to bongos, to trumpet) creates. With bass and drum working together to craft a Cat Empire-esque funk beat, the audience dances sporadically in sync with the vibe. The sweat-filled celebration continues throughout the entirety of the set, but as Colourfide’s encore comes to a dramatic end, each member of the band smashing out every note theatrically, drinks are spilt and balance is lost as the audience breaks into their final fits of erratic dancing.

- Cowgirl in the Sand

Charlie Mayfair/ Woe and Flutter/ Russian Kidd/ Alone With Wolves/ Kate Tanner: The Loft 6/11/10

Kate Tanner

The night begins with Kate Tanner and her beautiful set of folk/ acoustic numbers that has the audience hanging onto her every heart-felt lyric. Accompanying her vocally and on electric guitar is Evert Du Plessis, lead singer of the band Russian Kidd, and together these two create an intimate, tangible ensemble. Kate engaged the audience with her interpretation of Angus and Julia Stone's song 'Jet Plane'. Her set was well rounded and professional, a brilliant effort from a first support. Check Kates Music out on http://www.myspace.com/katetannermusic





Alone With Wolves

The room is filled with a thick textural ambience as local Gold Coast band 'Alone With Wolves' introduces their set. As their first song progressed, it ignited into an eclectic array of ambient rock which spreads throughout the entire atmosphere like a warm current. Their rhythmically enchanting mixture of ambient music, rock and electronic samples had audiences captured and not wanting to be let go. Although there were a few hiccups with the PA, a forgotten capo and a broken string, lead singer Eimhin Healy carried the performance with a high class of professionalism. Eimhin's clean vocals have an alternative edge to them, however are still articulated and well spoken allowing for the audience to understand the emotion behind every word. Their extended break-downs are reminiscent of 60's-Zappa-'freakouts', with a modern ambient/ rock zest. Give these boys a listen, you will not be disappointed.
Alone With Wolves: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Alone-With-Wolves/138113592885718





Russian Kidd

The audience dances energetically to Russian Kidd's catchy melodies and clever hook-lines. 2 guitars, 1 synth, 1 bass, a drum kit and an array of beautiful harmonies are the ingredients Russian Kidd uses to define their distinctive electro-rock sound. Their interesting spin on Robin S's track, 'Show Me Love', keeps the set active and has the audience tuning in as they recognize the familiar tune. It is obvious the musicianship that this band has, constantly thanking the audience and letting other bands performing on the night use their gear. They have as extremely exciting future ahead of them, with their debut EP to be released at the beginning of next year. In the mean time, check them out on their Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Russian-Kid/100055807731, listen to their music on their Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/russiankiddmusic, or follow their latest music on Triple J unearthed. http://www.triplejunearthed.com/artists/View.aspx?artistid=31960





Woe and Flutter

Distorted ambient rock rings in my ears as Woe and Flutter, a brilliant Gold Coast band, introduce their set. With the rough, genuine vocal delivery of Dusty Anastassiou cutting through the mix it is clear how distinctively different and tangible their sound really is. The charismatic approach they have to their music is clearly why they had such a huge following on the night in question, it is inspiring to see just how connected each individual is with their instrument and the amount of passion being emitted from the band during the performance is enough to leave you moved. The audience, who if they stood any closer would have been chewing on the lead singer Dusty's luscious mound of hair, seemed to be very familiar with all of the music that this awesome band were performing. For such a freshly new band, their following is remarkable. Check their latest music out on their Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/woeandflutter, or follow them on their Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Woe-Flutter/138682019501961





Charlie Mayfair

Brisbane's Charlie Mayfair were the cherry on top of the musical cake tonight, delivering their divine folk set, polished off with thick, textural harmonies and pushed forward with a driving rhythm. Each member of this 5-piece band seems to have a distinctive importance and belonging, without any of them, the sound created just would not be the same. Their uplifting energy and sensational melodies create a vigorous atmosphere, complimented by an interesting array of sounds from tambourine to electronic/ atmospheric synth. The audience laps up the music in awe, showing obvious excitement when a recognizable song from their new film clip 'If I Fell Down' is played. Their set had a certain tasteful essense about it that was held throughout the entirity of their time on stage, but it wasn't until their last song, 'Blue Water', that the crowd was left speechless, totally encapsulated by such a moving performance. The song begins extremely ambient and soulful with a bassy timbre and reverberant thick texture; literally feeling like a wide blue ocean. Their mezmorizing layered harmonies and ambient synth effects were accentuated with percussive build ups and break downs, finally climaxing to an astonishing ending with the audience in a fit of applause. A brilliant finale to a outstanding night. Check their website out: http://www.charliemayfair.com/, listen to their latest music on :http://www.myspace.com/charliemayfair, or follow them on Triple J Unearthed: http://www.triplejunearthed.com/Artists/View.aspx?artistid=32976





To find out when more amazing events like this are on, follow Realm of Anarchy:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Realm-of-Anarchy-Its-about-Art-Music-Subculture/157120940975297?v=wall

The next Artist Showcase is on December 4th at the Loft and is sure to be an incredible night, featuring Vauxal Arches (HelloYoko) and many other extremely talented musicians. Find the event on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=162551007109761

(photos by Mitch Hammer, Gleb Tugushev and Katerina Kaliviotis

- Cowgirl In The Sand

Misguided

It is not one or the other.
It is a choice.
I choose neither.

- Cowgirl in the Sand

Authenticity For Sale

"Art and suffering walk hand in hand like butterfly wings and the pins we stick them with"
Beston Barnett


- Cowgirl in the Sand

Finally

So close I can almost taste it.
So frightened at a point of danger.
So happy to be seeing finality.

Freedom, for the precious and lonely.

- Cowgirl in the Sand.

Belated Promise Ring

"The weather can close the world within it's hands".
Iron and Wine

- Cowgirl in the Sand