Tess McKenna and the Shapiros play the Union Hotel, Union st., Brunswick, Saturday April 16 from 5 to 7.
Review of Tess's latest CD, The New Everything, Martin Jones, Rhythms magazine, Jan 2011
Source: www.tessmckenna.com
Tess McKenna and the Shapiros play the Union Hotel, Union st., Brunswick, Saturday April 16 from 5 to 7.
Review of Tess's latest CD, The New Everything, Martin Jones, Rhythms magazine, Jan 2011
Hey! The New Everything has a four-star review in the AGE / EG. I don’t know how many stars one can potentially earn but none of the other offerings this week have more.
It’s not published on line, so what the hell, that touch typing I learned at school has got to be good for something. Right?
With a vocal comfort zone that in past performances has seemed to swing with ease from melodic balladry to twangy country, what’s new about everything on Tess McKenna’s stylish and thoroughly satisfying fourth LP is that it’s all fallen into place. Recorded in Melbourne with Barry Stockley joining her at the controls, she’s got the mix just right between acoustic singer-songwriter and plugged-in band material. Gentle strummers such as the title track, Pancho Style [should be Poncho style] and Down By the Sea serve to perfectly set up the electric guitar crescendos of numbers such as Fill me Up. Love is Gone, a sinewy blues number, could have come from a hot’n'sweaty Mississippi juke joint, smouldering for nearly eight minutes without ever quite igniting. Better still is energetic rocker Hummingbird, with strategically placed harmonica lines. Rumbling bass and driving drums give Tidy Town a heavier, ominous feel, then it’s back to the blues on nine-minute closer Still our House, which is also the closest she comes to Tamworth on this set of songs. McKenna launches The New Everything at the Northcote Social Club on Sunday at 2 PM.
Jeff Glorfeld
The AGE, EG 18.2.2011
Tess will officially launch her latest CD, The New Everything, at the Northcote Social Club on Sundee week (Sunday 20th Feb). It’s been out in the wild for a few weeks, and you can buy it here.
Tess McKenna’s fourth album, The New Everything, was recorded over a year in the low-fi setting of Fatsound Studio, with Barry Stockley & an ensemble of long time playing pals including Ash Davies on drums. The New Everything eases in between barefaced folk and dirty bang bang blues to sonic rock overdrive. This is singer-songwriter McKenna at her best – authentic, soulful & intimate.
Tess has toured her music extensively, supporting artists such as Nick Cave & Lucinda Williams; has played her music from as far as the Woodford Folk Festival to the East Coast Roots & Blues Festival in Byron Bay, from the Melbourne Concert Hall to Austin’s SXSW Music Festival in Texas, USA. Tess McKenna & her longtime band The Shapiros will be joined by special guests for an afternoon of pitch-perfect harmonies and shimmering guitars to launch The New Everything at the Northcote Social Club 20th February 2011. [Doors open at 2 PM - $12.]The New Everything is out now on HEAD RECORDS & is distributed through MGM.
Ashley Davies, who plays drums on the CD, is off touring with The Dingoes. So I’m occupying the drum seat for the launch, and thereafter. Which is a huge honour, and an exciting day to look forward to.
Come and celebrate with us.
Tess McKenna and the SHAPIROS play two sets for your listening pleasure at the Union Hotel, Union street, Brunswick, at 8:30 on Saturday December 4.
AND!
Tess’s latest CD The New Everything is available now from Head Records or superior music purveyors.
In stunning vocal form Tess McKenna steps up as producer-singer-songwriter of her enticing album #4, The New Everything.
Barefaced folk and dirty bang bang blues to sonic rock overdrive McKenna’s sultry voice pulls you into a thrilling musical journey. Listen to her incredible sweetly styled vocals on the title track, through to hints of country pop on Photograph and new folk twists in Poncho Style; this style is pure Tess. Authentic, soulful and intimate.
Just in time for your Xmas shoppingz!
Sadly (for me), I’m not playing on this one, because I rejoined after it was recorded.
The CD launch is delayed until February – watch this space.
I’ll be playing with Tess McKenna on Saturday, September 4 from 5 to 7 at the Union Hotel
109 UNION STREET
BRUNSWICK VIC 3056
The Union is a lovely pub with a great atmosphere. The last time I was there was in the Great Hailstorm of ’10 (as we’ll all call it when we’re clacking our false teeth in the old folks’ home) and I can tell you it’s a nice place to be when the weather is cold and blustery outside. Or not.
If Abbott wins I’ll be the one sobbing into my beer.
W00t! I’m going to the play two gigs with Tess McKenna at the Apollo Bay music festival.
Also, we’re going to use the bass drum this time, rather than the semi-acoustic snare and brushes shtick which I did last time, so I can lay down da funky grooves better. So much more fun to rock it out a bit more.
Drive down Friday, look at the ocean, stay at a convent, play in the early afternoon on Saturday and again in the evening, check out other performers, drive back on Sunday. Doesn’t sound too tough, does it?
From tessmckenna.com
August 5th 2007 Sunday
The Edinburgh Castle
Cnr Sydney & Albion st Brunswick. Melbourne. Australia
Tess & the Shapiros will serve up one delicious 45 minute set
embedded in an afternoon of sonic magic with das musik mann
Starts 5 pm. NCCAugust 25th 2007 Saturday
The Brunswick Green
313-315 Sydney Road. Brunswick. Melbourne. Australia
Saturday 6-8 pm Tess Mckenna & the Shapiros
preview Tess’ fourth studio album & sixth release
PLUS perennial faves from her albums make me wonder, boom bam and take me to the place
Think Patsy Cline joins the Breeders onstage to play Gillian Welch & The Band
From Tess McKenna.com
JUNE 02 & 09 2007 SATURDAY
BRUNSWICK GREEN HOTEL
All hail the Brunswick Green & all who frequent the favourite haunt of TESS MCKENNA & THE SHAPIROS.
Its a beautiful time of the year be scarved up for fine live music, a drink & some hot food.
See you there with beanies on.BRUNSWICK GREEN HOTEL 313 – 315 SYDNEY RD, BRUNSWICK. MELBOURNE. AUSTRALIA TEL: 03 9381 2413
START TIME 5PM FINISH UP AROUND 7PM.
no cover charge
It’s very New Brunswick.
Tasty samples at Tess’s MySpace page.
Tess Mckenna plays Feloktric at the Brunswick Green
TESS MCKENNA & THE SHAPIROS have valued every note every paradiddle every nuance every heckle every day over 33 degrees every vote every joke every smile every man every woman every child every mix every tear every beef penang every drop of every drink & every irony during our march residency @ the brunswick green hotel but this is the second last opportunity for supporters of australian independent music to come & be so highly valued………….
saturday the 24th of march 2007 313 – 315 sydney road brunswick
we are back to at our original timeslot of 4:47pm
I’m playing with Tess again in March.
Where: The Brunswick Green again (Sydney Road, Brunswick).
When: Every Saturday in March at 4:47 sharp (yeah, right)
Go here for information, clips and downloads.
Light blogging and hiatus definitely possible here till April.
Helen also writes for the Australian Group blogs Larvatus Prodeo, Hoyden About Town and cooking blog Progressive Dinner Party.
Nick Possum
Uncensor