Tex Perkins and the evolution of Aussie Rock
By BILLY DIXON It’s hard to pin down exactly what kind of impact Tex Perkins has had on the Australian music industry, or on music more broadly. He’s not your typical front-man superstar, yet he’d be more widely recognised than the lead singers of most modern-day pop groups. He’s been making music for more than 30 years, but is barely a smidge over 50 years old. Although he did find his feet and a degree of early success with the...
The Conway Resilience
By MELISSA WALSH Deborah Conway has never shied away from hard work. With a career spanning three decades, she continues to be a creative force in the industry, singing songs that chronicle the essential elements of life, love, loss, memory, the mundane and the spiritual. A significant and eloquent contributor to Australian music, Conway’s natural talent and gutsy attitude has ensured a strong following from the moment her band, Do Re...
Eddie Wearn – Mint’s Q&A with ShedNine mastermind
Eddie Wearne, the Owner and operator of ShedNine Core Store has been running his local Surf, Skate, Snow shop tucked away in a quiet strip of shops near the Rye Ocean Beach for going on Ten years. Bricks and Mortar retail vs the Internet in the modern world is no easy challenge. Eddie is a hardworking, community supportive man always busy helping promote and support local youth, musicians sports clubs, his shop team and running...
The Odd Birds
By ANDREA LOUISE THOMAS Neil Simon’s play, The Odd Couple, featuring a persnickety neat freak and a complete slob, was such huge success that it was made into a wildly successful television program, but Simon also penned a female version of the Odd Couple and it’s just as funny. Roy Thompson directs the Frankston Theatre Group in this all-female version of the play. Olive Madison, a divorcee and self professed slob and Florence Unger...
Kim Churchill and the British pub grub
By BILLY DIXON MINT: I heard your track Single Spark on Triple J on the way into work this morning. How important was Triple J to your recent success? It’s aimed at a slightly younger demographic – is that who you were intentionally trying to target, or were you just seizing opportunities as they came along? KIM: To be honest I love most of what is played on Triple J. The more I travel the world, the more I realise how cool it...
Thirsty Merc
By BILLY DIXON “I don’t know if anyone really thinks five years ahead in any tangible way… I’ve taken a long term approach to being a musician and my career with this band.” It’s a solid answer to a seemingly innocuous question asking what Rai Thistlethwayte has been doing with his life over the last half-decade or so. Far from laying low, hiding from the spotlight in some small outback town, Rai’s been immersing himself in the...