Say what you will about Triple J (and people have been saying a lot) but it’s hard to fault the Like A Version series.
The national youth broadcaster’s long-running tradition of getting bands to cover their favourite songs and artists on air has already helped Triple J make ARIA chart history, but it can provide some pretty great zeitgeist moments.
Case in point: this morning’s edition – the first Like A Version of the year – saw one of Sydney’s most internationally recognised and most blogged about acts tackling one of Australia’s most beloved Sheffield rock groups.
Jagwar Ma took to the air with Triple J hosts Alex Dyson and (new Breakfast addition) Matt Okine to offer their psych-dance infused take on ‘Why’d You Only Call Me When You’re High?’ by Arctic Monkeys. And the results are pretty ear-grabbing.
Starting off with an unrecognisably stripped-back intro, aside from the dubby bassline, Jagwar Ma transform the AM single with their trademark ‘Manchester’ swagger and electronically-hewn squiggles, including Jono Ma’s needling keyboard line that sounds like a refugee from G-funk gangster rap.
Gabriel Winterfield’s vocals also infuse Alex Turner’s original lyrics – all party-induced paranoia and desperate lust – with a vaguely disaffected tone that’s more sleazy comedown than come-on.
Jagwar Ma’s Arctic Monkeys tribute is particularly fitting given their success in the latter’s home turf. British press postively fell over themselves to sing the praises of Jagwar Ma’s debut album, Howlin‘. The band and their LP has also been name-checked as a favourite of Noel Gallagher, Paul ‘The Modfather’ Weller, as much as Tone Deaf readers, who ranked Howlin’ as the fifth best Aussie album of 2013.
Just as Jagwar Ma have been fêted over in England, so have Arctic Monkeys found huge success Down Under. AM, the Monkeys’ fifth full-length album, hit #1 on the ARIA charts and swiftly reached Gold sales status, as well as being named as the best International Album of 2013 by Tone Deaf readers and Triple J listeners alike.
The’re set to capitalise on their Australian popularity as the band give audiences a dose of their “dirty guitars” for a headline tour of the country this May.
Meanwhile Jagwar Ma’s touring schedule saw them storming audiences at the Hi-Fi in Melbourne last night, in the first of their pair of Laneway Festival 2014 sideshows – playing Sydney’s Metro Theatre tonight ahead of their full tour with the Laneway Festival.
The boutique event sees Jagwar Ma playing Laneway’s Auckland and Singapore editions later this month before it starts the Australian edition in Brisbane on 31st January, taking in sold out dates in Melbourne and Sydney, then rolling through Adelaide and Perth.
Jagwar Ma were also recently announced as a number of Aussie bands invading the Coachella 2014 lineup, set to stun American audiences alongside a bill that features headliners Muse, Arcade Fire, and the reformed (and possibly Splendour In The Grass-bound) Outkast.
Laneway Festival 2014 Lineup
Adalita
Autre Ne Veut
Cashmere Cat
Cass McCombs
CHVRCHES
Cloud Control**
Danny Brown
Daughter
Dick Diver
Drenge
Earl Sweatshirt
Four Tet
Frightened Rabbit
Haim**
Jagwar Ma
Jamie XX
King Krule
Kurt Vile
Kirin J Callinan
Lorde**
Mount Kimbie
Mt Warning
Parquet Courts
Run The Jewels (El-P & Killer Mike)
Savages
Scenic
The Growl
The Jezabels
Unknown Mortal Orchestra**
Vance Joy
Warpaint
XXYYXX
Youth Lagoon
Triple J Unearthed Winners:
The Creases – Brisbane
Client Liaison – Melbourne
Little May – Sydney
Bad // Dreems – Adelaide
Crooked Colours – Perth
**Exclusive to Laneway 2014, no sideshows.
Laneway 2014 Dates & Venues
Brisbane: Friday 31st January – RNA Showgrounds, Fortitude Valley
Melbourne: Saturday 1st February – Footscray Community Arts Centre/River’s Edge – SOLD OUT
Sydney: Sunday 2nd February – Sydney College Of The Arts, Rozelle – SOLD OUT
Adelaide: Friday 7th February – Harts Mill, Port Adelaide
Perth: Saturday 8th February – Esplanade Park and West End, Fremantle
Tickets and info at http://lanewayfestival.com/
