The Lemonheads took a trip down memory road as they delivered a nostalgia filled performance at Melbourne’s Croxton Bandroom on Friday 16 May 2025, celebrating the 30th anniversaries of their seminal albums It’s a Shame About Ray and Come On Feel the Lemonheads. The sold-out show was part of their Australian tour, which included multiple dates at the Croxton due to high demand. In the 1990s, The Lemonheads carved out a unique place in pop culture, particularly among Gen X audiences navigating a post-grunge, alternative-rock landscape. Fronted by the charismatic Evan Dando, the band blended catchy pop melodies with a slacker ethos that…
Author: Caroline Duncan
Controversy has erupted over a large Ralph Lauren billboard installed at Melbourne’s heritage-listed Federation Square. The advertisement, prominently displayed on the façade of the square’s main building, has sparked public outcry and debate about the commercialisation of one of the city’s most iconic public spaces. Critics argue that the billboard undermines the cultural and architectural significance of Federation Square, which was granted heritage status in 2019 to preserve its unique design and civic purpose. Many Melburnians have taken to social media to express their disapproval, describing the advertisement as “jarring” and “out of place” in a space meant for public gatherings…
A mural in a Fitzroy laneway depicting a bound and gagged woman has caused a major controversy over the past few days. Titled Kinbakubi , the artwork was painted by Los Angeles-based queer artist Lauren YS and is said to be inspired by Japanese shibari rope art. It was commissioned by a local photographer specializing in queer and sex worker-safe content. Lauren YS, who uses they/them pronouns, described the piece as a celebration of queer identity and empowerment, noting that it was installed in a low-traffic area with tenant approval. However, the mural has drawn more than 1,000 complaints to the…
Californian punk outfit The Offspring returned to Melbourne this week for the second time in six months, bringing their “Supercharged” worldwide tour to Rod Laver Arena, delivering a high-energy performance that delighted fans. They were previously here playing a one-off show at The Forum in November to a much smaller group of fans as part of the Victorian Government’s Always Live initiative. The night began with Canadian pop-punk band Simple Plan, who set the tone with hits like “I’m Just a Kid” and “Welcome to My Life,” engaging the audience with their nostalgic anthems. When The Offspring took the stage,…
Seminal Australian indie rock outfit, The Cruel Sea, delivered a stellar performance at Melbourne’s Athenaeum Theatre on Friday, 2 May as part of their Straight Into the Sun tour. The tour is a celebration of the album of the same name – their first studio album in more than two decades. The show was structured in two sets – the first playing the new album in its entirety, followed by a second set with the band delving into their back catalogue. Both sets highlighted the band’s evolution, blending their signature surf-rock and blues influences with fresh, soulful melodies. Rather than…
The Arseless Chaps is the new collaboration between TISM frontman Damian Cowell and comedy icon Tony Martin. They made their Melbourne stage debut at Howler in Brunswick on Sunday night (13 April) to an intimate crowd of superfans who were there for the absurdly entertaining experience of biting satirical lyrics set to “electrobanger” music. Entering the stage clad in all white get-ups, Cowell introduced them as the “world’s oldest” hip hop act. Cowell’s high energy, bouncing around the stage, was subdued ever-so-slightly by Martin’s comic presence of standing looking sullen and/or confused (occasionally breaking into awkward dancing during the show).…
You Am I delivered an unforgettable performance at Melbourne’s Forum Theatre on Friday 11 April 2025 as part of their ‘Hi Fi Daily Double Down’ tour, celebrating the 30th anniversary of their seminal album, Hi Fi Way. The evening was a testament to the band’s enduring legacy and their profound connection with fans. The concert was structured into two sets, each dedicated to one of their classic albums. The first set featured Hourly, Daily, showcasing the band’s versatility and emotional depth. Tracks like “Soldiers” and “Mr Milk” highlighted their dynamic range. Frontman Tim Rogers kept the crowd entertained with his theatrics – sashaying with maracas…
1980s pop superstar Cyndi Lauper is touring for the last time. The first Australian stop of her Girls Just Wanna Have Fun Farewell Tour was at Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena on 2 April 2025 where she delivered an unforgettable experience that I will cherish forever. As a longtime fan of her music I approached the evening with a mix of excitement and nostalgia and just a bit of sadness, and I was not disappointed. Cyndi’s entrance was met with thunderous applause, and she immediately launched into “She Bop,” setting the tone for a night of high-energy performances and heartfelt moments.…
I caught that satirical musical at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival that in no way, shape or form represents Australian Olympic breakdancer Rachael “Raygun” Gunn. Nope, Breaking: The Musical was a tale about a young lass named Sprachael aka “Spraygun” from the Hornsby Shire in Sydney, who fulfils her dreams of going to the Paris Olympics to compete in breakdancing and any similarities to anyone living or dead is completely coincidental. I put those disclaimers in as it turns out Raygun is a bit litigious when it comes to protecting her “brand” and famously threatened comedian and musician Stephanie Broadbridge…
Dr. Jo Prendergast’s “Cancer and Cartwheels” is a standout performance at the 2025 Melbourne International Comedy Festival that delves into the comedian’s personal journey with breast cancer. The show at the Moteley Bauhaus in Carlton revolves around Dr. Jo’s determination to regain her ability to perform cartwheels after her right arm was disabled due to having her lymph nodes removed. Through comedic skits and musical numbers, she addresses topics such as early cancer detection, menopause symptoms, and the emotional impact of cancer treatments. What struck me most was how effortlessly she found comedy in some of life’s darkest moments to turn…
Post-punk new-wave icons, New Order, played at Melbourne’s Sidney Myer Music Bowl on 8 March 2025, delivering a performance that evolved from a shaky start to a triumphant finish. The evening commenced with noticeable sound issues that plagued the first few songs, starting withthe opening track, “Transmission” (a cover of a Joy Division song). At first it wasn’t completely clear if this was intentional or not, but quickly became obvious when it continued into the next song, “Crystal”. The distorted sound also made it difficult distinguish Bernard Sumner’s vocals from the instrumentals. By the fourth song, the sound techs had…
Melati Suryodarmo’s Lapse is a performance art piece that made its Australian debut at Asia TOPA 2025, promising to delve into themes of ethical decline and societal collapse through dance, absurd imagery, and live music. However, the execution left much to be desired. The performance felt disjointed, with sequences lacking coherence, making it challenging for the audience to grasp the intended narrative. We began by standing in red-lit foyer of the Martyn Myer Arena in Southbank, watching (or in my case, attempting to watch because I couldn’t see properly through the crowd) as two black-clad performers stood silently with large red…