4zzz

It’s a match made in the sub tropics: Dave Smith, founder of ARIA-nominated Brisbane synth act Boxcar, has teamed with Queensland rock and roll hall of famer Mick Medew and partner Ursula to launch a series of steamy dancefloor remixes of the title track from Mick Medew and Ursula’s “Love Is Calling”album.

Dave and Ursula go way back - to Brisbane in the ‘80s, in fact, when Dave helped make a video for Ursula's then band, Ironing Music.

Mick Medew is the former leader of the legendary Screaming Tribesmen, whose “Igloo” single is an all-time Australian underground classic, and more recently vocalist and guitarist for Mick Medew and The Mesmerisers.

“Love Is Calling” was 4ZZZ’s Album of the Week on its release on I-94 Bar Recordsin early 2022. The remix project has realised four Boxcar remixes whose titles are inspired by Dave Smith’s love of Roma and Brunswick Streets in Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley entertainment precinct.

The artwork is by Ash Moses and the songs were meticulously mastered by Melbourne sonic wizard Ernie O. 

The ”Love is Calling Boxcar Remix” EP will debut on the Heyday program on 4ZZZ on Saturday after 6pm Brisbane time and will go live on all streaming services from Monday. Save the streaming songs here.  

Their single “Punk Grandma” is number-three on the 4ZZZ playlists in Brisbane and attracting airplay all round the country. The album it comes from, “In The Zone”, is out next week. So I-94 Bar Recordsartists Mick Medew and Ursula are officially launching the album in their home town in style.

The “Meduo” will play It’s Still A Secret in South Brisbane with The Mick Medew and Ursula 4on Saturday, November 16 with Lovejoy Surf.The gig is at the grandparents friendly hour of 2pm and tickets are here.

“In The Zone” hits retail and digital channels on November 1 but you can procure a pre-sale CD copy here.

The Mick Medew and Ursula 4 plays a New South Wales show at Northern Rivers Hotel, Lismore, on Sunday, December 8 from 2pm. (Sheesh, what is it about these early starts?) Details in the Facebook event here.  Stay tuned for news about Newcastle and Sydney launches early in 2025.

 
_{Sean St Leone. Keith Claringbold photo.}

10 things that made me hoppy this year (in no particular order) 

Mudhoney at Wollongong Uni
A band I’ve wanted to see for many, many years and every time I’ve been close to seeing them, something has gone wrong, so I was stoked just to make it to this show. I was even more stoked when they played an amazing set, chock full of classics. Not showing their age in the slightest. 

Descendants at the Metro, Sydney
Another band I’d always wanted to see but always missed - been a fan ever since someone put "Everything Sux" in my hand sometime in the late ‘90s. Didn’t know what to expect given Milo had a heart attack less than two months before the gig, but i needn’t have worried. They started and just kept going till the end - pretty much no breaks - just one killer song after another. Tight and more than alright. 

The Mark of Cain at the Metro, Sydney
Playing their album "Ill At Ease" from start to finish (and throwing in a few from “Battlesick” and “This Is This” to close out the night). Tight as a fishes arsehole. One of the best things I’ve seen in years. crowd loved it and every song was spot on. Brutally good. If there was any justice in the world this band would have been huge.