By 
It’s Saturdaaaaaaaay!
I mean, not that it really matters at the moment – Sydney has been in lockdown for over a month now, and at this rate, we’re not gonna be out of it for at least another two. It’s times like these I feel incredibly privileged to live with my parents on their five-acre property. If it weren’t for all my recent health dramas, and Melbourne’s fourth lockdown, Milo and I would most likely be living in a tiny one-bedroom apartment right now, so… Thank god my body decided to fuck itself up when it did, right?
Anyway, it’s been a crazy little while! We sent the next issue of Australian Guitar to print this week, after the most brutally hectic three-week crunch. I picked up a third part-time job this week! I have to keep the details secret for a hot minute, but I am very excited about it, and I can’t wait to dive headfirst into it next week. I have been enjoying my time away from the grind, though, especially now that AG #144 is in the bag. Today Milo and I watched The Suicide Squad, which I thought was fucking brilliant. I hope James Gunn gets to make more bold, balls-to-the-wall kinds of movies like this.
We also watched the Olympic women’s park skating finals (I had to miss the live stream because I was working, womp womp), and I’m a little bit conflicted: Misugu Okamoto is my favourite skater in the whole league, so I’m upset she didn’t place in the top three, but Sky Brown did absolutely annihilate in her last run, and she 100% earned her medal. Literally all of those girls crushed it, though. What a pack of fucking CHAMPIONS.
It’s been a huge couple weeks in music, as you’ll see below. It’s a little soul-crushing to have all these reports of economic chaos pop up, and all these cancellations, postponements, etc. But I think it’s imperative we focus on the positives wherever possible – like Jack River’s campaign to get more Australian music played out there in the wild! My highlights from this week’s news roundup are:
1. The title track from Billie Eilish’s new album, Happier Than Ever, which I had fairly low expectations for, but ended up being totally blown away by.
2. The trailer for House Of Gucci, which looks fucking bonkers in all the best ways.
3. The return of Underoath! Can’t wait to get my ears around this new LP.
WEDNESDAY, 28/07/21
Martin Shkreli’s $2million Wu-Tang Clan album has been sold by the US government
BIGSOUND award JK-47, Sycco, Ashwarya and more with 2021 Levi’s Music Prize
Bliss N Eso link up with Dizzee Rascal for vibe-heavy new single ‘On One’
THURSDAY, 29/07/21
Lizzo responds to bizarre rumour she killed somebody while stage-diving
‘The X Factor’ is ending after 17 years
Australia has lost $64million in live entertainment revenue since July 1, ongoing survey shows
Watch Isabella Manfredi debut a new track at her first ever solo gig
FRIDAY, 30/07/21
Watch Angels & Airwaves dance up a storm on the Vegas strip in ‘Losing My Mind’
Watch Lady Gaga and Jared Leto in the first trailer for ‘House Of Gucci’
Teenage Dads share summery new single ‘Cheerleader’
Hollow Coves tap into their lockdown woes on emotive new single ‘Hello’
SATURDAY, 31/07/21
Billie Eilish fights a literal flood of emotion in striking new video for ‘Happier Than Ever’
Kurt Cobain’s childhood home is now a heritage-listed landmark, will be turned into an exhibit
Bluesfest leads the fourth round of RISE funding with $2.4million boost
Listen to a string-filled remix of Stand Atlantic’s latest single ‘Deathwish’
Listen to DZ Deathrays thrash out a powerful cover of Blur’s ‘Song 2’
SUNDAY, 01/08/21
Bright Eyes postpone four dates of their first tour in ten years
Little Mix become first girl group to land 100 weeks in the Official Singles Chart’s Top 10
The New York street renamed in honour of MF DOOM has been unveiled
Gerard Butler sues ‘Olympus Has Fallen’ producers for £7million
Ruel teases poignant new song co-written with Cub Sport
TUESDAY 03/08/21
Happy Mondays’ Bez feared for his life during battle with COVID-19
Busta Rhymes, Ice-T pay tribute to Biz Markie with memorial service: “He is what we call hip-hop”
New report finds Bluesfest’s 2021 postponement cost NSW over $181million
The Terrys announce 18-date ‘TerrySonic’ tour in support of debut mixtape
Listen to Children Collide shred out in new single ‘Man Of The People’
THURSDAY 05/08/21
Underoath share new single ‘Hallelujah’, announce self-produced ninth album
Justin Bieber apologises for giving Morgan Wallen album a shoutout: “I had no idea”
Hiatus Kaiyote tap into the weird and wonderful for their Tiny Desk (Home) concert
Birdz shares spirited new single ‘They Don’t Know’, announces rescheduled tour dates
Andy Golledge shares two luminous new singles, ‘New Stamp’ and ‘Baby Mumma’
Illy reveals he suffered years of “malicious abuse” at the hands of a cyber-stalker
Boy & Bear tease fifth album in the making: “It’s all feeling really good”
FRIDAY 06/08/21
Joey Jordison’s post-Slipknot band Sinsaenum issues statement on his death
Kanye West and Jay-Z said to be reuniting for ‘Watch The Throne 2’ this year
Usher says he and T-Pain have spoken since Auto-Tune comments: “We’re good”
Watch a trailer for Gurrumul’s posthumous compilation ‘The Gurrumul Story’
Watch TOWNS embrace their romantic side in new video for ‘98’
