Unapologetic and explosive, noise pop-rock project Midnight Drags has today announced a new single It’s True (I Can’t Stand Myself), a blistering look at self-loathing, out today, January 29. Midnight Drags, the solo project of artist Lucas James, has also announced the release date for his highly anticipated new album Bad Business, out February 26 2021 and available for pre-order now.

It’s True (I Can’t Stand Myself) has a darker edge to it than preceding single Ronnie – heavy yet still with tinges of glam rock, It’s True is all sneering, fiery guitar lines and heavy, irresistible percussion (not to mention, everpresent cowbell). It feels like Cheap Trick, almost like a heavy David Bowie, but not without modern influences such as Catfish and the Bottlemen and Eskimo Joe. Offering some insight into the inspiration behind the track, James says, “It’s True is really a song about self loathing and being in an emotionally dark place. It’s about not feeling worthy of being in a relationship and pushing somebody you really care about away. It’s another dark song that I loved sweetening up with some bigger pop-rock elements.”

It’s True precedes Midnight Drags’ new album Bad Business, and the title of the album pretty much sums it all up – it’s a heavy, at times sparkling, rocking record about truly bad business, and everything that surrounds it. Classic rock influences meet head on with modern taste, and the varied and colourful record is sure to impress both new and old fans alike. Describing the record, James says, “The main themes of the album are loss, longing, drugs, criminal endeavours, the music industry and depression.. ha! I guess it is pretty dark – it’s called ‘Bad Business’ and that is what it is about. Although it covers some pretty grim subjects and touches on fairly depressive content, I think it still has an upbeat vibe musically. I wanted to make an album that had loud guitars and guitar solos, ballads, rocking drums, big melodies and instrumental songs…A ‘classic’ album vibe you could say! It was tracked to tape and played by real instruments, and it’s was conceived as a ‘whole album’ over two sides. I can’t wait to put it out on vinyl.”

Speaking on the recording process of Bad Business, James continues, “I recorded the album at my studio with the help of a talented friend (and ex bandmate) Wez Prictor, he helped press the buttons and engineer when I was busy playing crappy fuzz solos! Bad Business was co-produced with Ash Naylor who is a god-send when it comes to musical decisions, he has such a great instinct and was the perfect sounding board for me. The album was mixed by Matt Wallace (Faith No More, Maroon 5, The Replacements). He is a legend in the industry and was a joy to work with.”

If It’s True (I Can’t Stand Myself) is anything to go by, Bad Business is going to be a ripper of a record. Speaking on the formation of the Midnight Drags project, James reveals, “Midnight Drags was borne out of a desire to play some of my slightly scuzzy power-pop with a band as I’d usually always recorded on my own and tried to cover all bases by myself. This was a chance to let go of some of that creative control and allow other amazingly talented people to become part of the process and outcome. Glad I did.”

Midnight Drags is Lucas James.

It’s True (I Can’t Stand Myself) is out now.

Bad Business is out February 26, 2021.

Stream: It’s True (I Can’t Stand Myself) Smart link : It’s True (I Can’t Stand Myself) Pre-order: Bad Business

From Rolling Stone US: AC/DC’s video for Realize, the thunderous opening track of the hard rockers’ recent Power Up album, presents a closeup of the band in dizzying detail. The camera gets right in Brian Johnson’s face and perches on the headstock of Angus Young’s guitar as they rock out in front of Young’s deafening wall of Marshall amps — and then it spins in circles on the floor, aiming up at the Aussie hellraisers. Each frame of the clip is disorienting.

Now, Young and creative director Josh Cheuse are revealing how they made the video in a new behind-the-scenes mini-doc. In the doc, Cheuse explains that the way photographer Gavin Elder used a 360 camera during the band’s Shot in the Dark video shoot inspired Young. “I just looked at how it looked, and I saw that wide frame, and I thought it looked pretty good,” the guitarist says. “It looked different.”

AC/DC then hired co-director Clemens Habicht, who made the clip with Cheuse, to shoot some members of the band in Australia; because of the Covid-19 pandemic, each band member was shot individually, wherever he happened to be in the world at the time. But before they got to filming, Habicht made cutouts of the band members and stuck them in a diorama to show how it would look. “I just thought it was really cool,” Cheuse said in the clip. “I was like, ‘Oh this guy is as bonkers as we are.’”

“That’s about the best I’ve ever looked on a modeling outfit,” Young rejoined with a laugh.

The behind-the-curtains look includes a few shots of Young playing the song’s chords unplugged; it also demonstrates how they shot the band members one by one. Before Brian Johnson starts to sing, he proclaims, “This one’s a fucker.” And it’s on from there.

Check out the lineup of acts who’ll be descending on Launnie’s picturesque Cataract Gorge for a massive two days and nights of live music and good vibes in March!

In alphabetical order:

BALL PARK MUSIC
BOO SEEKA
HOLY HOLY
KIM CHURCHILL
KASEY CHAMBERS
SPACEY JANE
SPIDERBAIT
THELMA PLUM
BEC STEVENS
CARL RENSHAW
IN THE FLOWERS
MEDHANIT
SLAUGHTERHÄUS SURF CULT
THE HOLIDAY COLLECTIVE

Join us on Friday 26 & Saturday 27 March at The Basin for a weekend-long celebration! Rally your crew, pre-sale tickets on sale from 6pm tonight and general on sale from 8am tomorrow 🌞

The Under The Southern Stars spectacular rock music concert series is thrilled to announce their new show dates for April and May with new tickets on sale from February 5!

The series is also very excited to announce that the one and only Cheap Trick have been added to the line up that features global rock superstars, Bush and the Stone Temple Pilots!

With over 5,000 performances spanning four decades, 20 million records sold worldwide, and inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Cheap Trick are undoubtedly one of the most influential classic rock groups of the past 50 years.

The band was formed in 1974 and while it has evolved throughout the years, Cheap Trick has continued to reach mainstream and critical success. Hits such as “I Want You To Want Me,” “Dream Police,” and “Surrender” have cemented the group as one of America’s top rock ‘n’ roll bands of all time.

Cheap Trick will be releasing their 20th brand new album, In Another World, on April 9!

Cheap Trick comment; “We look forward to joining Bush and Stone Temple Pilots in one of our favourite countries! We will have new record out and are excited to play some of our new songs”

While every effort was made to keep +Live+ on the bill, due to scheduling conflicts and the on going difficulties the world has been subject to, the band are unable to make it to Australia during the new timeframe.

UTSS promoter Andrew McManus comments; “I’m so proud of my team in securing exemption from Commission of Border Control and thankful to all the Captains of Industry, Ministers, Lord Mayors and SA Premier for their letters of support. We are very excited to now be able to announce Cheap Trick as an addition to the line-up, it’s a shame LIVE’s schedule won’t permit the new time frame yet I am sure this triple bill will rock our UTSS audiences to the core!

Being the first live on stage International tour, we are aware the eyes of the world will be on us championing the re-opening of live International touring not only in Australia but globally.
Under the Southern Stars ’21 will be part of history, I urge fans to get in quickly and applaud all for supporting live music and the whole entertainment sector so badly damaged by Covid.”

The new dates and locations for UTSS2021 are as follows

UNDER THE SOUTHERN STARS: APRIL – MAY 2021
Friday, April 30: WIN Entertainment Centre, Wollongong NSW
Saturday, May 1: Camp Shortland Field, Newcastle NSW
Sunday, May 2: The Entertainment Grounds, Gosford NSW
Wednesday, May 5: Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney NSW
Friday, May 7: Bonython Park, Adelaide SA
Saturday, May 8: Foreshore Reserve, Hastings VIC
Sunday, May 9: Showgrounds, Yarrawonga VIC
Wednesday, May 12: The Timber Yard, Port Melbourne VIC
Friday, May 14: Kings Beach Amphitheatre, Caloundra QLD
Saturday, May 15: Southport Sharks, Gold Coast QLD
Sunday, May 16: Riverstage, Brisbane QLD

Australian rock royalty Rose Tattoo and rock icons Electric Mary will be performing at all shows!

UTSS will see all three international headliners rotate their playing positions at each show allowing each of them to headline several events. The playing order for each date will be advised in the near future.

The original event scheduled for Perth has been unfortunately cancelled. No action is required from Perth ticket holders, Ticketmaster will contact you directly to arrange a refund.

All ticket holders for all UTSS events will be contacted directly via email in the coming days, with information on the rescheduled UTSS2021 dates and the options available to them in regard to ticket transfer or refund. No action is required from ticket holders until they receive our emailed communication.

We hope you can make the new dates and strongly encourage everyone to #KeepYourTicket and show your support for our industry. All 2020/2021 tour tickets already purchased are valid for the rescheduled festival dates and no exchange is necessary, so just hold on to your tickets and we’ll see you there!

New UTSS2021 tickets are on sale, February 5, 2021
Presale starts Wednesday, February 3: 12.00pm AEDT
General On Sale Friday, February 5: 9.00am AEDT

To purchase and for detailed information about all shows, visit
www.underthesouthernstars.com.au

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#keepyourticket
#UTSS2021

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Melbourne chaotic rockers Belle Haven have announced the ‘Nobody Likes A Hospital‘ Australian tour presented by Greyscale Records and Destroy All Lines. The tour will see the quartet play to fans in Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide in celebration of the return of live events and brand new music. Tickets available now at destroyalllines.com!

After selling out two stripped back shows in December, Belle Haven are returning to take their energetic and engaging live show on the road, bringing along with them Adelaide rock outfit alt.

“I’m keen to leave the state of Victoria again, finally” says guitarist and producer Christopher Vernon. “Especially cause it’s to play music. It’s even better because I get to see alt. perform every night and play some new songs that we’ve been sitting on for a while.”

Belle Haven and alt. will begin the string of shows in Brisbane on Thursday 11th March at Black Bear Lodge before heading to Sydney on Friday 12th March to play Factory Floor. Melbourne’s Workers Club is up next on Saturday 20 March before rounding out the tour in Adelaide on Friday March 26 at Fat Controller.

New Rule is the debut EP by Melbourne dirty / sleaze rock band The Mercy Kills. Written and produced in 2010, this five-track release has strong elements of the four members influences, with elements of post-punk, grunge and rock ‘n’ roll. TMK are proud that it stands strong, alongside the music they have produced over the ten years since.

Initially New Rule was only available as a short run of CD’s and was never officially released. The band have always felt this as a thorn in their side and are now happy to see it getting out there through Golden Robot Records and will be released on 12^th February.