The Vasco Era - news

THE VASCO ERA ON TOUR W/ALBERTA CROSS (NYC) & CABINS

July 13, 2010

It is fitting that one of Australia’s most energetic performers, The Vasco Era join America’s Alberta Cross for a trifecta of Splendour sideshows later this month in Sydney, Newcastle and Melbourne.

Lead by the enigmatic Petter Ericson Stakee, Alberta Cross have quickly become THE band’s band, with musicians from all walks of life requesting their presence on stage. Fans Mumford & Sons invited Alberta Cross to come aboard for their select Australia headline shows. They’ve also toured the UK at the request of Oasis, Coldplay, and others.

Alberta Cross also grace the stage of major festivals the world over including Reading and Leeds in the UK, Coachella in the US and, of course, our Splendour In The Grass. Have a taste of their live show here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRFzmcd0Q4o

The Vasco Era burst onto the scene some five years ago in an arrival that was difficult to ignore. The noisy Apollo Bay natives presented a range of musical conundrums: a surf coast band fuelled by a furious racket; a three-piece that made as much noise as a whole festival; a band that seemingly ran alongside the other entrants in the new rock race and yet outran them all. The country sat up and took notice, and their 2006 debut, “Oh We Do Like To Be Beside The Seaside”, chronicled their journey to that point. Their sophomore album, “Lucille” came out of an intense 3-week studio session with Scott Horscroft and expanded their musical horizons. The Vasco Era has just wrapped up a national tour with Gyroscope and are set to fire up the stage with Alberta Cross.

Similarly, Sydney powerhouse trio Cabins join this impressive line-up. Having recently toured with Children Collide, The Mess Hall, and The Soft Pack, Cabins know how to turn it up. Their debut album “Bright Victory” has been receiving props from aficionados around the country.   

Secret Sounds Presents
ALBERTA CROSS
With Special Guests The Vasco Era and Cabins
Supported by Street Press Australia and Fasterlouder.com.au


Saturday, July 24th: Annandale Hotel, Sydney
Tickets from venue (02) 9550 1078 or www.annandalehotel.com


Sunday, July 25h: Reverb’s 4th birthday - Cambridge Hotel, Newcastle
Additional acts to be announced
Tickets from Moshtix, Ph 1300 GET TIX (438 849), www.moshtix.com.au
Supported by Reverb Magazine and FasterLouder.com.au


Tuesday, July 27th: The Corner Hotel, Melbourne
Tickets from 57 Swan St, Richmond, (03) 9427 9198 or www.cornerhotel.com

TICKETS ON SALE NOW

THE VASCO ERA SUPPORT POWDERFINGER & JET 'SUNSETS FAREWELL' TOUR

July 2, 2010

Tue SEPT 7 Tamworth, NSW, Tamworth Regional Entertainment Centre  (Powderfinger, Jet, The Vasco Era) Thu SEPT 9 Wollongong, Win Entertainment Centre (Powderfinger, Jet, The Vasco Era) Fri SEPT 10 Melbourne, Rod Laver Arena  (Powderfinger, Jet, The Vasco Era) Sat SEPT 11 Melbourne, Rod Laver Arena  (Powderfinger, Jet, The Vasco Era)

Gyroscope, The Vasco Era, After The Fall @ The Forum Theatre, Melbourne (11/06/2010)

June 18, 2010

A cold winter night could not diminish the heat that was to explode at Melbourne’s Forum Theatre on Friday, June 11.

Opening the night of pure Australian rock ‘n’ roll was New South Wales Central Coast band and local favourites, After The Fall. Despite the crowd not reaching its full capacity so early in the evening, the band pulled in an alarming response. Playing a majority of their recently released tracks, they kept onlookers satisfied with an old favourite, Mirror Mirror. For a set that seemed to finish in no time, the crowd seemed to have poured into the artificially star-lit venue thick and fast by this point.

Within a matter of minutes, The Vasco Era was next to don the stage. All of their eccentricities intact, the band began their set with a heavy blues/rock ‘n’ roll rendition of the Beatles classic, Why Don’t We Do It In The Road?; a song which was very well assembled by the band, and received by punters alike. Although I have listened to the band for years, I could not anticipate what I was about to witness… nor just how unique the band’s lead singer, Sid O’Neil, truly is. The band performed many of their hits, including When You Went, Honey Bee (When It Was Making Weird Love Songs ) , and even an incorporated rendition of the Motown classic, Ain’t Too Proud To Beg. The band pulled out all the stops; O’Neil singing (if not, almost shouting) at the crowd with his husky blues voice; the entire band running rampant on stage. It was the quintessential performance to define Melbourne rock ‘n’ roll.

The archaic venue began to resemble a sardine can, as the packed crowd waited anxiously for the four Perth boys to grace with their presence. A crowd favourite for years, it was 2008’s Breed Obsession that warranted Gyroscope as not “just another band”. In particular, it was their song Snakeskin that firmly planted them into the Australian music scene, even becoming that year’s AFL season song.

Performing tracks from their fourth and most recent LP, Cohesion , Gyroscope were not going to let the crowd miss out on hearing some of the classics, including Sound Shattering Sound’s Safe Forever, Fast Girl off Are You Involved? and Breed Obsession’s 1981. However, it was 2003’s Doctor Doctorthat genuinely riled them up. In came the chorus of that song, and out went the insanity of all onlookers. Gyroscope had set the standard for chaos that night, far outweighing anything that Sid O’Neil or his Vasco Era bandmates were capable of.

Closing the set on their latest hit, Some of the Places I Know, the band exited the stage, only to return for a well-received two-song encore; the first of which wasAustralia . Accoustic guitar in hand, the bare-chested frontman, Dan Sanders , led his band in performing their tribute to the country.

The entire set, though, there was one thing, and one thing alone on my mind: “When is Snakeskin coming?” Fear not, it arrived. The perfect way to end a perfectly crafted and performed set, Sanders, along with his bandmates, led the crowd into sheer pandemonium with the opening lyrics: “Hang up the phone, no need to cry…”

The chaos that followed was one which I wish I could remember. At that point, however, I was far too busy trying to see through my mop of hair as it nodded back and forth, whilst also trying to see the band. Sanders, in all of his frontman glory, enjoyed prime position, standing with his back faced towards the crowd on drummer Rob Nassif’s kit.There were jumps, guitar flicks, shout-outs and stage-dives. All in all, it was the definition of live Australian rock ‘n’ roll. No disappointments, only sore necks and the need for more.

Check out full article and link to photos at:http://www.fasterlouder.com.au/reviews/events/24233/Gyroscope-The-Vasco-Era-After-The-Fall--The-Forum-Theatre-Melbourne-11062010.htm 

NEW TOUR DATES ANNOUNCED & LETTER FROM SID

June 12, 2010

Here is twenty facts about my current life (this is my first ever Newsletter so if you cut me some slack I promise to improve): 

We finished touring, it went good, we played for two and a half hours in Launceston, we have five new songs that we have been rehearsing in the bush (five new songs is french for half an album), the new tame impala record sounds pretty good, so does the new LCD sounsystem one but still not as good as prince though (then again no one is), I am homeless but that makes for cheap rent, still have not seen Avatar, we are doing more gigs starting from the 10th of June, you should come, Astral Weeks is the best album ever, I am going to Splendour 'cause our manager got me a ticket which is lucky (I don't have $450), If anyone knows of any parties in melbourne next weekend they should tell us, Big Scary are our new favourite party friends, I have realised that I'm not very good at piano, I have four hundred cousins on my mums side (my grandma had 39 children and they all had ten kids, except for the 32nd kid who had 20), americans spell mum mom and centre center, I smoke 100 cigies when I drink and none when I'm sober, Sid loves youse all, Ted loves youse all, I have run out of facts (sorry to Fitzy who loves youse all as well). 

Thanks for coming to the tour if you did, you all have beautiful voices, peace. 

We Love you,
Sid

**NEW TOUR DATES ANNOUNCED**
FRI JULY 2 Karova Lounge (Ballarat)
Venue: 03 5332 9122
New Generation: 03 5333 2444
Oztix: 1300 762 545; www.oztix.com.au

SAT JULY 3 Loxton Hotel (Adelaide)
Venue: (08) 8584 7266
Venuetix: 08 8225 8888; www.venuetix.com.au 

FRI JULY 9 The Loft (Warnambool)
Capricorn: 03 5562 2803

SAT JULY 19 Barwon Heads Hotel (Barwon Heads)
Venue: 03 5254 2201
Oztix: 1300 762 545; www.oztix.com.au 

FRI JULY 23 Sand Bar (Mildura)
Venue: (03) 5021 2181

Rolling Stone's 4 Star Review of "Lucille"

May 8, 2010

Another expectation-defying album from concept-obsessed rockers.

It’s hard to believe Sid O’Neil from The Vasco Era has written another concept album.  After the band’s baffling concept debut Oh We Do Like To Be Beside the Seaside from 2007, you’d expect them to release the pop album they must have promised Universal in the contract negotiations.   Lucille is not that pop album.  It is another ripper from a band hell-bent on defying the iTunes model by making cohesive sets full of songs that don’t always stand completely alone.  Highlights here are the eerie early Springsteen moments that pop up throughout.  And that isn’t just Scott Horscroft’s production – it bubbles up from the lyrics as well.  After hanging out at Crown Casino in Melbourne for a few drunk days, Sid stumbles upon a stripper, Lucille, and her beau Sam.  The album is a lyrical gyre:  Sam and Lucille’s story swirling around in Sid’s head.

 

Carlisle Rogers

Key Tracks:  “For No One”, “Not Stuck Here”, “Casino”, “Lucille”

The Vasco Era/The Shiny Brights/Big Scary- Fowler's Live

May 4, 2010

With this being their first visit to Adelaide, I'm sure we're yet to see the last of Melbourne duo, Big Scary. Comprising of Tom Iansek on guitar, vocals and keyboards and Jo Syme on drums; the band opened with the militant nursery rhyme musings of Autumn, and delivered a well measured set that highlighted Iansek's natural nod towards the more primal side of Jeff Buckley, both in voice and ragged, but knowingly precise, use of bending the sounds from his guitar. 

Locals The Shiny Brights were next, and here I defy anyone to find a tighter live band. Capitalising on their obvious love of the more frenetic and urgent Eighties post-punk, Brit-pop bands, the 'Brights, headed by the ever-strident and affably extroverted Wolfgang Marwe, rollicked and rocked their way through a power packed set where very second counted, and nothing was going to phase them. Even when Chris Plummer's bass decided to die a sudden death during the intro to their last song, Electric Tigerland, the band failed to miss a beat with Plummer quick to take up a second set of sticks and fulfill his part of completing the rhythm section on Miles Wilson's kit and, more humorously but no-less masterfully, by tapping away the bass lines on his shoulders. Brilliant! 

Now, it's been eighteen months since we've last seen The Vasco Era play here, and the crowd were fully hyped for a much needed fix. Opening slowly with an ragged, refrain-filled take on The Beatles' Why Don't We Do It In The Road, it was only after letting loose mid-song that they had totally arrived. Following on with three new songs off their latest album, 'Lucille': Not Stuck Here, For No One and the title track, it appeared that vocalist Sid O'Neil was partly uncomfortable about testing the audience. He needn't have worried though, as the following When It First Showed Up, soon ignited the crowd back into a frenzy. Recent single, Oh Sam, was next and as it turned out became the surprising live favourite for the night with each chorus inciting a full blown mosh pit. 

Fluctuating between old and new material, with some great covers in between, including Screaming Lord Sutch's early Sixties' shock rock classic, Jack The Ripper (although they acknowledged The White Stripes' version), and The Smiths' I Know It's Over, their set list was simply incredible to say the least. The exceedingly heartfelt Already Won I'm sure will stand out as a concert going highlight for the rest of my life. 

The band closed with Honey Bee (When It Was Making Weird Love Songs), a proven live stick of dynamite in which Ted O'Neil managed to snap the head off his bass amongst the fury. It left the crowd fully sated and collectively reeling from the experience. The Vasco Era are without doubt one of the best live bands, ever! 



Steve Jones

The Vasco Era, Simon Carter, Big Scary @ The Corner Hotel, Melbourne (10/04/2010)

April 24, 2010

Every time I have seen The Vasco Era it feels like they are playing as if it’s the last show they will ever play. It might sound clichéd but the best way to describe the feeling is raw energy. And that energy does not stop until the curtains are drawn and your ears are ringing like hell. Saturday night at the Corner Hotel was no different and the Vasco Era played a blistering set to a highly amped up crowd.

The night kicked off with an impressive riff laden set from local two-piece Big Scary; Tom Iansek on guitar and Jo Syme on the drums. While a clear comparison could be made with a similar boy guitar girl drummer line up, and there is no doubt comparisons will be made, Big Scary confidently display a chemistry on stage that is certainly their own. To be able to get such a big sound from just drums and guitar was also impressive and insured that we will be hearing a lot more about Big Scary in the future with releases for each season due out in 2010.

Next up was Simon Carter of The Cops, playing tracks of his newly released album The Black Book of the Universe. There were some traces of The Cops but it’s clear that Carter has a thorough understanding of pop music with catchy melodies and cinematic atmospheres. While the music was a little more laid back the new tracks went down well with the growing crowd. Most of the excitement was, however, reserved for the headline act with anticipation and the crowd growing for The Vasco Era.

Opening with Why Don’t We Do It In The Road? from The Beatles White Album, one of three covers for the night, The Vasco Era had the crowd singing from the very first line. From the very beginning the crowd was in raptures as the band tore through tracks off their new album Lucille. The Vasco Era have received fantastic reviews for their new concept album, based on a couple lead singer Sid O’Neil met at Crown Casino, with the new tracks translating amazingly well to the live stage, thanks to the incredible energy from the band. Other covers included Jack The Ripper, a fairly well covered tune from Screaming Lord Sutch and The Smiths’ I Know It’s Over.

Definite highlights came from the new album Lucille, with the ridiculously catchyOh Sam and Already Won getting a rousing response from the hectic crowd, legs and arms flailing about and this reviewer copping an elbow to the top of the head. While the distorted guitar of O’Neil, pounding bass from brother Ted and thumping drums from Michael Fitzgerald was just what the crowd had come to see, it was a welcome change to see the band accompanied by Tom from Big Scary on keyboards for tracks from the latest album.

With the set spanning a little over an hour, the finale was undoubtedly the biggest highlight of the night. An ear bursting version of Honey Bee from 2007 album Oh We Do Like To Be Beside The Seaside, sent the already crazy crowd into a frenzy with Sid screaming ‘Yours! Yours!’ to end the song and an amazing set of loud blues rock from one of Victoria’s great live acts. These guys are a must see.

-  Faster Louder

View Article At:  http://www.fasterlouder.com.au/reviews/events/23294/The-Vasco-Era-Simon-Carter-Big-Scary--The-Corner-Hotel-Melbourne-10042010.htm 

 

 

TVE & AFTER THE FALL SUPPORT GYROSCOPE'S COHESION NATIONAL TOUR - TIX ON SALE THIS MONTH!

April 24, 2010

Gyroscope has been stomping stages as a unit for more than a decade and with the band’s fourth album debuting at #3 on the ARIA charts, the band has solidified its status as one of Australia’s finest rock acts.

After a whirlwind March tour, this tour sees Gyroscope taking things up a notch to play some of the largest venues of the band’s career.

These dates will see Gyroscope performing tried and true crowd pleasing favourites, but also a hefty helping of selections from the new record Cohesion – some for the very first time on stage.

Melbourne’s The Vasco Era and Sydney’s After the Fall take on the support duties, except for the West Australian dates where Break Even take the honours.

Gyroscope Cohesion national tour
Saturday 5th June – Prince of Wales, Bunbury
Sunday 6th June – Metro City, Perth
Friday 11th June – The Forum, Melbourne 
Sunday 13th June – The Tivoli, Brisbane
Thursday 17th June – HQ, Adelaide 
Friday 18th June – Metro Theatre, Sydney
Saturday 19th June – ANU Bar, Canberra

Tickets on sale Thursday 29th April

TVE AT OAF - GREAT ARTICLE BY THE AU REVIEW!

April 24, 2010

In the years that followed the success of their breakthrough debut LP, Oh We Like To Be Beside The Seaside, Australia has eagerly awaited new material from Melbourne's The Vasco Era. Finally, they have returned, emerging with a new album, Lucille, and an energy that sees them reborn. It had been well over two years since I last had the opportunity to see the Melbourne three-piece, and so it goes without saying that I was looking forward to the show...The Vasco Era  arrived on stage to rapturous applause, the crowd full of fans and friends, well versed in their material, waiting anxiously to see the band return to the Sydney stage. The set weighed heavily on the new album Lucille, with Tom from Big Scary playing keys to help out on some of the more developed numbers. “Oh Sam” off Lucille was an easy highlight, with a cover of “Why Don’t We Do It In The Road” – one of the more underloved Beatles tracks – also proving a success. They threw a bit of “Happiness is a Warm Gun” into “When It First Showed Up”, too, and covered “Jack The Ripper” by Screaming Lord Sutch (more recently made popular by the Horrors). “When You Went” was another Seaside track to make an appearance.There was a lot more mayhem on stage that I remember – they were jumping around like there was no tomorrow – Sid occasionally sitting down to jam on the slide guitar – Ted ending the show crowd surfing  – Michael bashing the shit out of his drums, screaming into the mic along the way. It was pure energy from start to finish.But there is no energy like what comes at the end. As it did in 2007, their set ended with ‘Honey Bee (When It Was Making Wierd Love Songs)’. It remains a song of pure, catchy energy – with both the band and the crowd screaming and dancing in unison. It’s not easy for a band to have the perfect set closer – but they’ve definitely found it in 'Honey Bee'. And it’s so perfect, in fact, that not only do they not bother with an encore – you have to agree that they don’t need one, either. It was an hour long set of kick arse rock and roll, one that I hope appears more frequently in our fine city. Next time I'll be more familiar with album deux, I promise!-  Larry Heath  

The VASCO ERA on tour w/GYROSCOPE & AFTER THE FALL in JUNE! T

April 21, 2010

The VASCO ERA on tour w/GYROSCOPE & AFTER THE FALL in JUNE! Having packed rooms on their whirlwind and very noisy Some of the Places I Know tour throughout March, Gyroscope is now preparing to take things up a notch, on June’s Cohesion Tour. Audiences all over the country are now invited to participate in the collaborative effort that Cohesion has come to represent.

 

Melbourne’s The Vasco Era is fortunate enough to also be a band renowned for their energetic live performances.  As such they are a fitting match for the tireless Gyroscope on this Cohesion tour. Having recently toured Australia off the back of their recently unleashed sophomore record Lucille, the trio is poised to bring their most lush and rocking sounds to the stage in support of Gyroscope.   

 

Meanwhile, After the Fall is a band not entirely inexperienced in sharing the road with Gyroscope. With the two bands having toured together in their infancy, it is very exciting that After the Fall will once again be hitting the trails with Gyroscope. The Sydney quartet will round this huge bill with songs from their most recent melodic release [IN] Exile Out.  

 

ON TOUR IN JUNE with GYROSCOPE & AFTER THE FALL! FRI JUNE 11 THE FORUM - MELBOURNE :: SUN JUNE 13 THE TIVOLI - BRISBANE :: THU JUNE 17 HQ - ADELAIDE :: FRI JUNE 18 METRO THEATRE - SYDNEY :: SAT JUNE 19 ANU BAR - CANBERRA - come party...

www.myspace.com/thevascoera

www.myspace.com/gyroscope

www.myspace.com/afterthefallaustralia

 

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