Aussie Hard Roock is what Melbourne's Ablaze are all about.In 2023 they honed in on their craft, popping up on shows all across Victoria and taking us back to the heydays of Pub Rock goodness from yesteryear. In early 2024 you'll be able to catch the band at Glam Fest up the East Coast in February followed by some new material they've been working on...Until then, drummer DanMangano rips into our #WoSYearInReview series with his bets bits...
TOP 5 RELEASES OF 2023
5 - Big Red Fire Truck - Trouble In Paradise4 - Warbirds - Order From Chaos3 - The LA Maybe - Shout Fire2 - The Screaming Jets - Professional Misconduct1 - MammothWVH - Mammoth IIhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uy0mCPvGFeY
TOP 5 SONGS OF 2023?
5 - Wicked Things - 'Good Time'4 - Warbirds - 'Bring Back Your Love'3 - Mammoth WVH - 'Another Celebration At the End of the World' 2 - The Southern River Band - 'Stan Qualen'1 - The LA Maybe - 'The Long Road' https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y961jgO-b7g&pp=ygUWbGEgbWF5YmUgdGhlIGxvbmcgcm9hZA%3D%3D
FAV AUSTRALIAN ACT YOU CAN’T GET ENOUGH OF RIGHT NOW?
I absolutely cannot get enough of The Southern River Band! Caught them live a couple of times this year and the music just hits a sweet spot - Great riffs, fantastic lyrics, awesome bluesy grooves, and the live show is just next level. Cal Kramer is one of the best frontmen in the country right now, if not the world. If you’re not on to this band already, you need to correct that immediately.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62Vfzet8XIA&pp=ygUXVGhlIFNvdXRoZXJuIFJpdmVyIEJhbmQ%3D
BEST GIG YOU PLAYED THIS YEAR AND WHY?
Our ‘Gasoline’ single launch at Northcote Social Club was an amazing night. NSC is a well-respected venue for a reason; that stage is one of my favourites. The crowd was amazing and as our first hometown show since releasing our first new music pre-covid AND the last show of a national tour, we could feel the love and the energy from the moment we walked out on stage. Supported by some of our best buds in Dangerous Curves and The Dreadful Tides, it was just an incredibly fun night from start to end. My voice was actually a bit rough from a cold (a full tour’s worth of partying will have that effect) and when it came time to perform ‘Bottom of My Bottle’ - a track I get to sing lead on - I asked rhe crowd to back me up and bugger it if they didn’t sing every word at full volume. Hearing that just hits you right in the chest. Just awesome.https://www.instagram.com/p/CtDuipuycSj/
WHAT WAS THE RECEPTION LIKE FOR YOUR NEW MATERIAL THIS YEAR?
Overwhelmingly positive! Our last album cycle ended literally a matter of weeks before the whole world shut down, and being back at square one in the world’s most locked-down city for two years made it very hard to get much momentum going. FINALLY being able to release new music felt SO DAMN GOOD, and to see our fans lap it up and sing along - it’s been absolutely ace.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5H8Eg96RoyU
ANY SNEAK PEEKS OF INBOUND PLANS NEXT YEAR?
Oh we have plans alright! More new music, more shows, more touring, some awesome new merch, and a few special surprises in store already - just a whole lot more Ablaze!
BEST ADVICE GOING INTO 2024?
Support. The. Local. Rock. Scene! Australia has some absolute world-class rock acts right now. Yes, we all love those classic albums from 30 or 40 years ago but those big bands were once little local acts that got the support they needed. That need for support hasn’t changed, but commercial radio play for these new rock bands is almost non-existent despite how fantastic it is. Your new favourite band could be playing a pub down the road from you this week, don’t be afraid to go look for them!Written by Dan Mangano @mango_ablaze
Follow Ablaze here
Stream 'Old Scratch' here
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKvZfzyWess
