Get some funThe news that seminal Aussie pop-rockers THE SUNNYBOYS were playing their first Newcastle show in more than 20 years sent pretty much everyone into a lather. TE caught up with bass player Peter Oxley to find out what all the fuss is about.

Beautiful GirlsThirsty MercGig guide

PROUDLY INDEPENDENT

Pri

nte

d o

n 1

00

% r

ecyc

led

pap

er

the hunter postPROUDLY INDEPENDENT

WED 1 OCT 2014

Buy one main meal & receive the second

main meal for $10(up to equal value, expires 31/10/14)

$10 MEAL VOUCHER11.30am - 9pm

Valid Monday to Friday. Bookings preferred. Conditions apply. Excludes public holidays.

the

georgetavernG R E E N H I L L S

wednesday joker draw$5600

WW7991

WW11227

friday 26th sept from 8.30pm

saturday 27th sept from 8.30pm

DARREN

THE REMEDY

BOTTLESHOP SPECIALS

spec

ials

val

id u

nti

l 31/

10/1

4

Jim Beam White Label 700ml

2 for $65 save $15Pepperjack Shiraz

$19.99 each save $7Wolf Blass Red Label Varieties

Any 3 for $21 save $15

5 molly morgan drive, greenhills • P 4933 3222 • F 4934 7183 • www.georgetavern.com.auYour local pub! THE GEORGE TAVERN SUPPORTS & PROMOTES THE RESPONSIBLE SERVICE OF ALCOHOL

It may’ve been some time between drinks for the Whitlams, with their last hit-out being their 2013 sold-out orchestra tour, however they are redressing the balance with a special show at the Metro Theatre this month.

The Whitlams recorded output spans seven albums since 1993, and includes the double platinum Love This City, the number one Torch the Moon and their Truth, Beauty and A Picture of You - Best of the Whitlams which sat in the Top 10 for six weeks running.More recently Tim released a solo album on Sony titled Australian Idle.

The Whitlams won best group at the 1998 ARIA Awards, as well as song of the year and best independent release for their third album Eternal Nightcap, which was voted number 17 in triple j’s Hottest Australian Albums of All Time.Don’t miss this long-overdue Whitlams fix.

WHAT'S ON

Say what you like about popstress Lady GaGa but, love her or hate her, underneath all of the Bowie and Alice Cooper-esque histrionics, there lies a someone with unmistakable talent - something that cannot be said for many contemporaries - and it certainly shows on this beguiling “standards” collaboration with the King of Croon - Tony Bennett.

The thing that truly surprises about this album is the chemistry that exists the pair here is palpable.Further, while at times GaGa struggles for restraint, Bennett provides the perfect measured foil.

Standouts here include a brilliant version of the Nat King Cole hit Nature Boy, Irving Berlin’s Cheek to Cheek and the Cole Porter standard Anything.Swingin’.

Directed by Steven Speilberg, this fascinating flick tells the true story of Frank Abagnale Jr (Leonardo Di Caprio) who, before his 19th birthday, had successfully conned pretty much everyone he met into believing he was a pilot, doctor and lawyer and who also manages to cash $2.6 million in fraudulent cheques in 26 countries. Tom Hanks also stars as the tenacious FBI agent tasked with bringing Abagnale to justice but is always just one step behind the tenacious con-man.

Jason Bateman (Arrested Development, Identity Thief) stars as Guy Trilby, a 40-year-old who finds a loophole in the rules of The Golden Quill national spelling bee and decides to cause trouble by hijacking the competition. While reporter Jenny Widgeon (Kathryn Hahn, We’re The Millers) attempts to discover his true motivation, Guy finds himself forging an unlikely alliance with a competitor: awkward 10-year-old Chaitanya Chopra (Rohan Chand, Homeland), who is completely unfazed by Guys take-no-prisoners approach to life.

THE WHITLAMSSaturday, October 18 • Metro Theatre

TONY BENNETT AND LADY GAGACHEEK TO CHEEKOut Now

CATCH ME IF YOU CANWednesday, 9.30pm • One

BAD WORDS Out NowRATED MAen

tertainm

ent

We

dn

es

da

y 1

Oc

tob

er

20

14

2th

e h

un

ter

po

st

WW11228

WW12703

Get some fun

In the early 1980s, a band emerged from the disparate post-punk Sydney music scene who, in the 12 months after forming, not only became the first Sydney-based

band to be signed to Mushroom Records, but also managed to produce a debut album that is widely regarded as one of the greatest albums of the era.

That band is the Sunnyboys and after more than 20 years away (a gig opening for Elvis Costello at Bimbadgen notwith-standing), the original line-up will be making a more-than-welcome return to Newcastle this month.

“I honestly can’t remember how long it would’ve been - possibly even 30 years ago,” bass player Peter Oxley told TE.

“I remember it was with Midnight Oil and we played on Redhead Beach and there were thousands there - it was pretty bloody wild, but Newcastle always was in those days, we always had a really good following up there.”

After the release of their self-titled debut - with songs like Happy Man, Alone With You, Tunnel of My Love and Trouble in my Brain bristling with a power pop inten-sity - the Sunnyboys were touted as the next big thing - largely due to enigmatic frontman Jeremy Oxley’s whip-smart pop

STEPHEN BISSET

MUSIC

sensibility and undeniable songwriting talents.

However, after just four years and three brilliant albums, the band broke up, largely due to Jeremy’s battle with schizo-phrenia (a subject that is covered more than adequately in Kaye Harrison’s beau-tiful documentary The Sunnyboy - one of the best music docos in recent memory) and, (despite a swansong record Wildcat) had remained dormant ever since.

That was until the band performed, under the moniker of Kids in Dust at the 2012 Hoodoo Gurus-curated Dig it Up Festival. Since then, it has been a flurry of activity, with a sold-out national tour, a reissue of the debut and a best-of compi-lation once again reigniting interest in the band.

“We were all really nervous about the Dig it Up show because we weren’t sure if, firstly Jeremy would be up to it and secondly if he would even enjoy playing,” Oxley said.

“As it happened we needn’t have worried because he played really well and he had an absolute ball - it really felt like yesterday.

“With Jeremy’s health issues, everything could’ve gone either way but since that show his playing is just getting better and better - it’s really quite inspiring.”

Catch the Sunnyboys at Newcastle Panthers on Friday, October 10 with special guests the New Christs.

THE SUNNYBOYSNEWCASTLE PANTHERSFRIDAY, OCTOBER 10

entertainment

3W

ed

ne

sd

ay

1 Oc

tob

er 2

014

the h

un

ter po

st

WW12615

Jeremiah Jones

Boutique Fish & Chips

“Through the wild and stormy seas the tale of Jeremiah Jones’

quest for fresh fish every day was

legendary”

Everything is prepared fresh daily!Gluten free options available • See our daily specials

Open 7 days, 11am - 7pm | Mobile 0412 166 192Cnr Hunter & Newcomen St, Newcastle NSW 2300

2014 FINALIST IN THE HUNTER LOCAL BUSINESS AWARDS

BEST FISH & CHIPS TAKEAWAY

ENTRANCE LEAGUES CLUB: Friday, Enter-tainemnt.EXCHANGE HOTEL: Friday, Incognito; Satur-day, Phase III.GATESHEAD TAVERN: Friday, The Flicks.GATEWAY HOTEL: Sunday, Sunday Sessions.GEORGE TAVERN: Friday, Darren; Saturday, The Remedy.GRAND HOTEL: Tuesday, Jazz.GREAT NORTHERN HOTEL: Tuesday, Open Mic.GUNYAH HOTEL: Friday, Troy Kemp; Saturday, Jungle Kings.GWANDALAN BOWLING CLUB: Friday, Enter-tainment.HALEKULANI BOWLING CLUB: Saturday, Mali-hini’s over 30s Nightspot.HAMILTON STATION HOTEL: Wednesday, Tim Crossey, Hank Elwood,(backroom) Vices,

Ambleside, Hourglass, Pasha Bulka; Thurs-day, Madhouse DJs feat. Rapaport, P. Smurf, Tycotic, Johnny Utah, Trigz & Talakai, Gabreal (backroom), Safe Hands, Kirj, Old Shoes In A New Town, King Trio; Friday, Karaoke, (back-room) Life Pilot, Young Wolves, Nekrology, Eqanimity, Avera Skies; Saturday, Karaoke.HARRIGANS IRISH PUB: Friday/Saturday/Sun-day, Live Bands.HEXHAM BOWLING CLUB: Saturday, Solid Gold.HONEYSUCKLE HOTEL: Saturday, Kylie Jane; Sunday, Hire Hats.HOTEL DELANY: Wednesday, Jon T; Friday, Twinsanity Trio; Saturday, Loose Bazooka.HOTEL JESMOND: Friday, Phonic Duo.HOTEL PREMIER: Friday, Brooke Harvey.

Gig Guide

SEND YOUR FREE ENTERTAINMENT LISTINGS FOR THE GUIDE TO: stephen.bisset@newcastlepost.com.auor phone 4032 8373

1-6.10.2014

5 SAWYERS: Friday, DJ Jonathan; Saturday, DJ Patsan; Sunday, DJ Jonathan.ADAMSTOWN CLUB: Saturday, Kids’ Disco, The Cruisers, Sunday, Bob Henderson & Brad Child.ANNA BAY TAVERN: Saturday, The Piranha Brothers.AVOCA BEACH BOWLING CLUB: Friday,. Graeme Wright; Saturday, Tom & Jess.BAR 121: Friday, Ben Woodham; Saturday, LokoBEACHCOMBER HOTEL: Friday, DJs.BLACKBUTT HOTEL: Saturday, Rubber Bullet.BELMONT 16s: Wednesday, ABBA Girls Experi-ence feat Lisa Page & Danette Knight; Friday, The Rockin Eddie Band; Saturday, The Years; Sunday, Backbeat Duo.BELMORE HOTEL: Friday, Black Bird Blue; Saturday, Moonlight Drive.BERESFIELD BOWLING CLUB: Friday, Rock Oz; Saturday, Mardmax; Red Dirt Country Band..BRADFORD HOTEL: Friday, Open Fire; Satur-day, Purple Hearts.BUDGEWOI SOCCER CLUB: Saturday, Enter-tainment.CAMBRIDGE HOTEL: Thursday, Ash Grunwald; Friday, Sticky Fingers, Woodlock (Side Bar)CANTON BEACH SPORTS CLUB: Friday, Soul Agent Duo; Saturday, V8 Jukebox.CARDIFF RSL: Friday, Adam and the Talents; Saturday, Cover 2 Cover.CATHO PUB: Sunday, Dirty Deeds AC/DC Show.CAVES BEACHSIDE HOTEL: Friday/Saturday,

Live Entertainment.CENTRAL HOTEL, Stroud: Saturday, Darren Jack, Radio Waves.CESSNOCK LEAGUES CLUB: Friday, Dave Live; Saturday, HumdingerCHARLESTOWN BOWLING CLUB: Friday, DR Zoom Duo.CLARENDON HOTEL: Friday, Tom Buckley; Saturday, Troy.CLUB AZZURRI: Sunday, Latinova.CLUB MACQUARIE: Friday, Mike Vee.COLLIERY INN: Friday, Karaoke; Saturday, Pete Sneddon.COMMERCIAL HOTEL, Boolaroo: Friday, James Naldo.CRICKETERS ARMS: Saturday, Jon Matthews.CRITEREON HOTEL, Singleton: Sunday, Troy Kemp.CROWN AND ANCHOR: Friday, Dane Fitzsim-mons; Sunday, Ryan Daley.CUSTOMS HOUSE: Wednesday, Perry Carter; Friday, Jason Bone; Saturday, Jon T; Sunday, Howard Shearman.DAVISTOWN RSL: Thursday, Dr John’s Jukebox Night; Friday, Rock and Roll with DJ Dave Greville; Saturday, Dayton Monahan.DENMAN HOTEL: Saturday, Graeme Mills; Sunday, Graeme Mills.DUKE OF WELLINGTON: Wednesday, Mark Wells Trio; Friday, The rattle; Saturday, Dane Fitzsimmons.EAST MAITLAND BOWLING CLUB: Friday, Janey’s Alibi; Saturday, Overload.

KIM THE RACECOURSE HOTEL SATURDAY, OCTOBER 4

JANEY’S ALIBI EAST MAITLAND BOWLING CLUB FRIDAY, OCTOBER 3

In an era where youthful female singer/songwriters tend to either travel the Britney Spears manu-factured pop path or the laid-back road of Norah Jones, it’s refreshing to discover the music of Australia’s own Kim.

An energetic performer whose music defies categorisation, Kim has progressively built a crowd-pleasing reputation since branching out from her Toowoomba base in 2002.

But a series of live performances up and down Australia’s east coast is merely an entrée for what lies ahead.

Kim has always maintained a rare honesty in her vocal delivery and musicianship, whether it’s perform-ing her own catalogue of well-crafted material or re-interpreting the tunes of some of the world’s most respected songwriters. Kim’s unique take of Bob Dylan’s All Along The Watchtower, often used to close the show at her live concerts, is indicative of a performer capable of shattering all musical boundaries.

Beguiling talent

entertainm

ent

We

dn

es

da

y 1

Oc

tob

er

20

14

4th

e h

un

ter

po

st

ENTERTAINMENT MEMBERS‛CASH DRAW

Amount correct at time of publication

(If not won will increase by $100 each draw until won)

BERO BOWLO Anderson Drive, Beresfi eld Call: 4966 3361www.berobowlo.com.au

Information for members and their guests. Think! About your choices Call Gambling Help 1800 858 858 www.gambling help.nsw.gov.au

Drawn Tuesday 6.30pm, 7.30pm & 8.30pm

JACKPOT$8,900LTPS/14/01649

ALSO SWIPE YOUR MEMBERS’ CARD BETWEEN 5-6.30PM FOR YOUR CHANCE TO

WIN 1 OF 3 $100 CASH PRIZES

FRIDAY 3RD OCT from 8pm

ROCK OZSATURDAY 4TH OCT from 8pm

MARDMAXSUNDAY 5TH OCTNRLGRAND FINAL

Buy $10 worth of tickets. Present this voucher and receive $20 worth of tickets FREE

Voucher redeemable at Beresfi eld Bowling Club. Tickets available 5.30pm. Drawn 6.45pm. Valid until 30/11/14. Club entry conditions apply.

FREE$20 RAFFLE TICKETS

MEAT RAFFLE VOUCHERTUE, FRI OR SUN NIGHT

MEMBER‛S LUCKY NUMBER DRAWWIN $1000

CASHDrawn on Sunday 30th November at 7.30pm.

The winner does not have to be present to win. Membership is $10 for 1 year, $25 for 3

years and $35 for 5 years ALSO New members will receive $40

worth of raffl e tickets FREE to be picked up when joining the club.

LTPM/14/00023

Every Thursday Night 6pm & 7pm

30/9/14

25/9/14 LTPM/14/00023Jackpot $1,900

Become a member of Bero Bowlo in Oct or Nov to go in the cash draw

WW11264

PRINCE OF WALES: Friday, Zane Penn; Satur-day, Matt McLaren; Sunday, Bearded Gents.QUEENS WHARF BREWERY: Saturday, Arley Black; Sunday, Frets With Benefits; Monday, Jerome.RACECOURSE HOTEL: Saturday, Kim.REGAL HOTEL, Kurri: Saturday, The Hepburns.RIVER ROYAL, Morpeth: Friday, Steve Werren; Sunday, Matt McLaren.ROYAL FEDERAL, Branxton: Saturday, Mad-dison Jay.ROYAL HOTEL, Denamn: Saturday, The Flicks.ROYAL HOTEL, Singleton: Sunday, Rock n Mash.ROYAL INN, Waratah: Saturday, Brooke Harvey.RUTHERFORD HOTEL: Saturday, Good Grief.SEVEN SEAS: Thursday, Jam Night.

SHOAL BAY RESORT: Friday, Karen Soper, The Urge; Saturday, Misbehave, James Naldo, Dar-ren Rolling Keys; Saturday, The Zillers.SMALL BALLROOM: Friday, Dune Rats; Satur-day, Untaymable, SOLDIERS POINT BOWLING CLUB: Friday, Bec Willis; Saturday, Snape Brothers.SOUTHS LEAGUES CLUB, Merewether: Sunday, Beer Nuts Duo & Open Mic NightSTOCKTON BOWLING CLUB: Sunday, The Liars.STOCKTON RSL: Friday, DJ Vinnie; Saturday, Mitch Capone and the Wise Guys; Sunday, Delta Skelta.SUNNYSIDE TAVERN: Saturday, Mick Jones.SWANSEA RSL: Saturday, Rok Candy.SWANSEA WORKERS CLUB: Saturday, MT Pockets.SYDNEY JUNCTION HOTEL: Thursday, Black-board Sessions; Friday, Overtone.TEA GARDENS HOTEL: Friday, Entertainment.TELARAH BOWLING CLUB: Friday, Karaoke; Saturday, Free Juke box.TERALBA BOWLING CLUB: Friday, Emile.THE POURHOUSE, Maitland: Saturday, Kate

Keighran.THE DEPOT ON BEAUMONT: Wednesday, Garth and the Apprentices; Friday, Karen Anne; Saturday, Tom Blake.TILLIGERRY RSL CLUB: Friday, Frets With Benefits; Saturday, Lennie Live.TORONTO DIGGERS: Friday, John JayTORONTO WORKERS CLUB: Saturday, Talk of the TownTOWN HALL HOTEL: Saturday, Karaoke.WALLARAH BAY REC CLUB: Friday, Brassick; Saturday, Open Fire.WALLSEND DIGGERS CLUB: Friday, 4 Letter Word; Saturday, Silverhair.WANGI HOTEL: Sunday, Katrina Burgoyne.WANGI RSL: Wednesday, Carter Edwards.WANGI WORKERS CLUB: Friday, Maryanne Rex; Saturday, beach Boys Tribute.

WARNERS AT THE BAY: Thursday, Dave Carter; Friday, Grand Theft Audio; Satsurday, Incog-nito.WARNERS BAY HOTEL: Thursday, Karaoke; Friday, DJs; Saturday, Rock Oz.WESTS NEW LAMBTON PIANO LOUNGE: Wednesday, Frank Wakewood; Thursday, Angamus; Friday, Warren Hunter; Saturday, Stuart Hamilton; Monday, Chris Hanley; Tues-day, Terence Koo.WESTS NEW LAMBTON MARBLE BAR: Friday, Gen R8; Saturday, The Big Bang.WEST WALLSEND WORKERS CLUB: Friday, Kim and Mik; Sunday, Karen O’Shea.WICKHAM PARK HOTEL: Wednesday, Jam Night with Josh Callaway and Kerry Miller WINDSOR CASTLE HOTEL: Friday/Saturday, Live Entertainment. WYONG BOWLING CLUB: Friday, Chris Bu-chananWYONG LEAGUES CLUB: Friday, Rock Monster; Saturday, Baxter’s Revenge.

SILVERHAIR WALLSEND DIGGERS SATURDAY, OCTOBER 4

DEUCE PIPPIS AT THE POINT SATURDAY, OCTOBER 4

Deuce is an acoustic/electric en-semble playing a very diverse range of classic and modern songs - sure to keep you dancing all night.

They have the ability to move between many styles of music in-cluding R&B, rockabilly, rock n roll, pop, funk and more.

They can also keep you enter-tained with chilled out tunes for you to sit back and relax.

Whatever the occasion, Deuce have got it covered.

Sari Kelana’s eclectic vocal style compliments Mick Marendy’s diverse guitar ability as they swiftly move from reggae to rock to roots.

Come along to one of their gigs and see for yourself.

With the likes of Bon Jovi, The Ea-gles, Jewel, The Waifs, Elton John, James Blunt, Amy Winehouse, Michael Jackson, The Police, Tracey Chapman, Bryan Adams, Bob Marley, Aussie Crawl, Matchbox 20, Crowded House, John Mayer, Cliff Richard, Cyndi Lauper, Choir Boys, Missy Higgins, Pink, Abba and Whitney Houston getting the Deuce treatment, there will be few who leave disappointed.

Catch them in action this Satur-day night at Pippi’s At The Point at Speers Point.

Double trouble

IRON HORSE INN: Saturday, Tom Buckley.JEWELLS TAVERN: Saturday, DiscoJUNCTION HOTEL: Friday, Kylie Jane.KENT HOTEL: Thursday, Karaoke, DJ.KING STREET HOTEL: Friday, Sticky Fingers After Party; Saturday, J-Trick; Sunday, Any Given Sunday.KURRI WORKERS CLUB: Saturday, Outer-phase.LAKE MACQUARIE TAVERN: Friday, Purple Hearts.LAMBTON PARK HOTEL: Friday, Bobby C; Saturday, Gabriel Emillia Duo.LASS O’GOWRIE HOTEL: Wednesday, Hey Lady, Dave, Aerials, Rob Moir; Thursday, Creative Creatures Open Mic Night; Friday, Grand Master Monk, Winterspoon, Baltic Bar Mitzvah; Saturday, The Worriers, The Hedon-ists, Riley Warren.LIZOTTE’S NEWCASTLE: Wednesday, Van-derAa, Duke Erling, Lissy Stanton, Plastic Voyage; Thursday, Jon Stevens, Allon; Friday, Mia Dyson, Justin Carter, Ashleigh Mannix; Saturday, Mental as Anything.LONG JETTY HOTEL: Saturday, Bob Allan; Sunday, Open Mic With Kate Keighran.MARK HOTEL: Friday, The Levymen; Saturday, Hayden Johns; Sunday, DV8MARY ELLEN: Friday, Hey Poncho.MATTARA HOTEL: Friday, Bob Allan.; Saturday, Disco & Karaoke.MAYFIELD HOTEL: Friday, Karaoke.MEREWETHER SURFHOUSE: Sunday, Kylie Jane.MILLIE’S HOUSE OF FOOD AND MUSIC, Kurri: Sunday, Brian Summers.MJ FINNEGANS: Friday, DJs; Saturday, DJs, Janey’s Alibi.MUNMORAH UNITED BOWLING CLUB: Friday, Girls Talk; Sunday, John Noble.NAG’S HEAD HOTEL: Saturday, Hey Poncho.NELSON BAY BOWLING CLUB: Friday, Loko.NELSON BAY DIGGERS THE LOUNGE: Friday, Overtone; Saturday, Daley Holliday; Sunday, Dave Live.NEWCASTLE CRUISING YACHT CLUB: Sunday, Mick Jones.NEWCASTLE UNITED SPORTS CLUB: Saturday, Karaoke.NORTHERN STAR HOTEL: Friday, The Bad and the Ugly; Saturday, Allon.OCEAN BEACH HOTEL: Friday, Jake Folbigg; Sunday, Sean Frazer.OCEAN VIEW HOTEL, Dudley: Saturday, Defaced.OLD PUB, Woy Woy: Friday, Allstar; Saturday, Tres Hombres.ORANA HOTEL: Saturday, AC/DC Tribute.PEDENS, Cessnock: Wednesday, Karaoke; Friday/Saturday, Entertainment.PIPPI’S AT THE POINT: Friday, Howie and Alex, Mick Jones; Saturday, Deuce; Sunday, Brooke Harvey.PLOUGH INN: Friday, Tim Usher.POTTERS BREWERY: Friday, Arley Black.

entertainment

5W

ed

ne

sd

ay

1 Oc

tob

er 2

014

the h

un

ter po

st

River Royal Inn• 97 Swan Street Morpeth NSW 2321 • Ph: 4933 6202 www.riverroyalinn.com.au • riverroyalinn@bigpond.com

WW11060

Wednesday Steak Night - Free Schooner or Glass of Wine

Thursday Fishy Thursdayyyyy$10 LUNCH SPECIALS

$12.50 2-COURSE SUNDAY ROAST

LIVE BANDS

EVERY FRIDAYFROM 7.30pm & SUNDAY 2.30pm

dddddddddd ddddd ddd dddddd dd ddddddddd d

Tuesday $10 Schnitzel

Phone hotel forCOURTESY BUS

OPEN FIREPLACE

Don’t call it a comeback

It may’ve been four years since we’ve last heard anything from the Beauti-ful Girls, but they’re redressing the

balance with album number five - Dancehall Days - and a national tour in support of the release, although as frontman Mat McHugh explained, don’t go thinking it’s a reunion as the band never really went away.

“What it really is, is just bringing the Beautiful Girls name back, I mean since the last album [2010’s, Spooks] I’ve been playing with the same guys but as Mat McHugh and the Seperatista Sound System so it’s not really what you’d call a reunion,” he said.

“The funny thing is that I would be on the road and I’d play some Beautiful Girls stuff and people would come up to me and ask, “why are you playing that band’s songs,” and it kind of got to a point where it was making me crazy.

“My whole thing is I want to play music to as many people as possible and I guess with the Beautiful Girls I had all of these preconceptions about what it should be - you know, bass, drums, guitar.

“But this album has a lot more of an 80s dancehall and dubby influence so it was more about realising that these boundaries were created by me and once I lost them I realised I could make any kind of album I wanted.”

McHugh added that there was a palpable

STEPHEN BISSET

MUSIC

sense of relief upon seeing the light at the end of the album tunnel, given the circum-stances in which it was conceived.

“The last few records, I pretty much played all of the guitar parts and the horn parts I came up with on the keyboard and gave them to the players to interpret and

it’s a very intricate process - especially with Spooks which took about a year,” he said.

“But , with this one, which is kind of more intricate, I had to get it all done in about three months because it was crowdfunded and there was a timeframe to meet, so it was a really intense period where I was trying

to do all of this and try and look after my three year old son - I mean there were times where I wasn’t sure if what I was making was music - it sounded like weird alien noises, but we got there in the end and it has definitely been a very positive learning experience.”

THE BEAUTIFUL GIRLSCAMBRIDGE HOTELSATURDAY, OCTOBER 18

entertainm

ent

We

dn

es

da

y 1

Oc

tob

er

20

14

6th

e h

un

ter

po

st

Ph 4940 0006 Hamilton Piazza Shop 5, 79 Beaumont St Hamilton

WW9634

While they may’ve been a little quiet on the recording front of late, with their last album

Mousetrap Heart dropping in 2010, don’t go thinking that Thirsty Merc have ran out of puff.

This year marks the tenth anniversary of their breakthrough self-titled debut and to celebrate, they’ve released the Acoustic Anniversary Album - a collec-tion of acoustic renditions of some of their best-loved songs such as Mousetrap Heart, 20 Good Reasons and Someday Someday. The band will also be hitting the road in support of the record and frontman Rai Thistlethwayte told TE that the prospect of getting back on Aussie roads was always an exciting one.

“We always had so much fun out on the road and I’m hoping that this tour will be no different - there’s a great feeling in the band at the moment - it’s a great time to be a member of Thirsty Merc,” he said.

With more than 200,000 album sales under their belts and a slew of classic pop-rock fare in their gig bag, it’s pretty much a free kick that Thirsty Merc have well and truly left their melody driven mark on the Aussie music landscape.

Thistlethwayte said, after an intensive period of recording and touring form their debut self-titled album in 2004 through to Mousetrap Heart, the band felt a sabbatical was in order.

MUSIC

Mercurial men

THIRSTY MERCWESTS LAMBTONWEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22

“I guess we were pretty busy with three albums back to back - we really needed a break from it all to fill up the wind in the sales again.”

While Thistlethwayte has been busying himself with a solo career in the US, it’s obvious that his passion for the Merc burns as intense as ever and he hinted that fans may not have to wait too long for new material.

“I was actually thinking about it the other day, and I really want to keep all of that quite organic - I don’t want to force anything. Although, I’m almost positive that we’ll get some stuff out of this tour - stuff always tends to come up on the road.”

STEPHEN BISSET

entertainment

7W

ed

ne

sd

ay

1 Oc

tob

er 2

014

the h

un

ter po

st

WW9974WW8903

DINE IN - FULLY LICENCEDTAKE-AWAY & HOME DELIVERY

LUNCH: TUESDAY to FRIDAY

Restaurant

DINNER: TUESDAY to SUNDAY

TAKEAWAY DEAL! 10% OFF (PICK-UP ONLY)

HENG LOONG

4951 5000 67 COWPER ST, WALLSEND(Formerly, the old Wallsend Library next to BWS & Henny Penny)

BOOK YOUR PARTY ORFUNCTION

NOW!

WW8903

WW11263

WW10550

H e x h a m B o w l i n g C l u b

FRIDAY OCT 10TH 7:30PMTICKETS | $30 ADULTS | $15 CHILDREN

BIG ACTS AT

HEXHAM BOWLING CLUB

ADAM HARVEY & KAYLENS RAIN

290 OLD MAITLAND RD, HEXHAM, PH 4964 8079 WWW.HEXHAMBOWLINGCLUB.COM.AU

WW11727

CHHINH ESESE RRRESTAAURRAANTA

PEACOCK PALACECHINESE RESTAURANT

24 Lake Street, Warners Bay (parking at rear)

LUNCH 12pm to 2.30pmDINNER 5pm to 9pm (Mon to Thu) 5pm to 10pm (Fri to Sun)

4948 9249

OPEN 7 DAYS!

WW11727

LUNCH SPECIALS!Take away $7.90

Dine-in including a soft drink orglass of wine only $14.00