Latest news with #FayeWebster
Japan Times
03-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Japan Times
Who will stop the rain?
The avant-punk band YHWH Nailgun (pronounced Yahweh Nailgun), played at the Red Marquee at 2:00 pm when it was still hot outside. By the time they finished 45 minutes later, it was still hot outside, but it would start raining soon. Despite their very unconventional take on punk, the audience soaked it up in a head banging way. Lead singer Zack Borzone writhes and convulses in line with the group's fitful industrial rhythms, screaming incoherent lyrics into space. It was bracing stuff and we admire the folks in the shed who actually tried to dance to it. Faye Webster @ White Stage By the time Faye Webster took the White Stage it had already been raining fairly heavily and continued doing so through her set. (The laundromat backdrop was appropriate seeing as we had all really been thoroughly soaked by the downpour.) The sizable crowd was even more subdued due to the precipitation, but Webster's quiet soft rock doesn't provoke a big reaction anyway. As expected she brought out Japanese singer-songwriter Mei Ehara, with whom she's worked before, for a duet.
Sydney Morning Herald
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Sydney Morning Herald
Muzak is back: Tik-Tok and Faye Webster have a lot to answer for
A crowd going wild for easy listening tunes resplendent with smooth saxophone and country-but-not-too-country lap steel guitar would make sense if it were, say, the 1970s and the audience was made up of accountants. But when it's 2025, the music is coming from a hip 28-year-old and the adoring gig-goers are Gen Z teenagers, things start to feel a little weird, like time has collapsed in on itself. The hip 28-year-old is Atlanta's Faye Webster, and the reason her very Boomer-friendly, lite country-folk-rock is so popular with a room full of giddy youth, is because of TikTok - where, apparently, any artist can blow up and become famous off a viral song or two. To be fair, those viral hits - Kingston and I Know You - have obviously led to genuine fandom for those in attendance, as screams and singalongs meet almost every song, most of which are from Webster's 2024 album Underdressed at the Symphony. The screams are deployed quite generously, even at odd moments, like when the middle-aged lap steel guitar player does his thing, or a fiddle is played, or a saxophone is picked up and blown at a mood set to 'Kenny G'. The music is what the kids would call a 'vibe', a constant procession of mid-tempo, wistful songs sung sweetly by Webster that become almost indistinguishable after a while, such is their insistence on sticking to a formula that rarely strays (Lego Ring, with its fuzz guitar and increased tempo, is one of the rare exceptions). A large part of Webster's appeal to teens likely stems from relatable songs with simple sentiments, like Feeling Good Today, He Loves Me Yeah! and Thinking About You, the latter outstaying its welcome by repeating the song's title ad nauseam in the chorus - a problem found on several of the songs played. Faye is clearly a talented singer and musician, but not an especially engaging performer. Banter is kept to a minimum, save for the usual 'What's up, Sydney?' and band introductions made toward the end of the set. There's the odd highlight - Wanna Quit All the Time sounds like Fleetwood Mac at their breeziest - but even Kingston, the predicable final song that gets a hero's welcome, suffers from sounding a little like every other song played. A victory for consistency perhaps, but not one for substance over style.
The Age
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Age
Muzak is back: Tik-Tok and Faye Webster have a lot to answer for
A crowd going wild for easy listening tunes resplendent with smooth saxophone and country-but-not-too-country lap steel guitar would make sense if it were, say, the 1970s and the audience was made up of accountants. But when it's 2025, the music is coming from a hip 28-year-old and the adoring gig-goers are Gen Z teenagers, things start to feel a little weird, like time has collapsed in on itself. The hip 28-year-old is Atlanta's Faye Webster, and the reason her very Boomer-friendly, lite country-folk-rock is so popular with a room full of giddy youth, is because of TikTok - where, apparently, any artist can blow up and become famous off a viral song or two. To be fair, those viral hits - Kingston and I Know You - have obviously led to genuine fandom for those in attendance, as screams and singalongs meet almost every song, most of which are from Webster's 2024 album Underdressed at the Symphony. The screams are deployed quite generously, even at odd moments, like when the middle-aged lap steel guitar player does his thing, or a fiddle is played, or a saxophone is picked up and blown at a mood set to 'Kenny G'. The music is what the kids would call a 'vibe', a constant procession of mid-tempo, wistful songs sung sweetly by Webster that become almost indistinguishable after a while, such is their insistence on sticking to a formula that rarely strays (Lego Ring, with its fuzz guitar and increased tempo, is one of the rare exceptions). A large part of Webster's appeal to teens likely stems from relatable songs with simple sentiments, like Feeling Good Today, He Loves Me Yeah! and Thinking About You, the latter outstaying its welcome by repeating the song's title ad nauseam in the chorus - a problem found on several of the songs played. Faye is clearly a talented singer and musician, but not an especially engaging performer. Banter is kept to a minimum, save for the usual 'What's up, Sydney?' and band introductions made toward the end of the set. There's the odd highlight - Wanna Quit All the Time sounds like Fleetwood Mac at their breeziest - but even Kingston, the predicable final song that gets a hero's welcome, suffers from sounding a little like every other song played. A victory for consistency perhaps, but not one for substance over style.
Sydney Morning Herald
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Sydney Morning Herald
The hottest gigs in town to beat the winter blues
Instead, the Faroese-Icelandic duo of multi-instrumentalists Janus Rasmussen and Ólafur Arnalds combine pulsing beats with melodic ambient music and orchestral flourishes. Get along to experience what the group call 'emotional rave' – music designed to get your feet moving while simultaneously tugging at the heartstrings. King Street Crawl Various venues, July 13 Now in its 11th year, this free live music festival is a suburb-wide celebration of Newtown's music, culture and community. A whopping 150-plus acts will be playing across 25 venues, with artists set to appear including Sydney alt-pop artist Annie Hamilton and a reactivated Deep Sea Arcade at Pleasure Club, Melbourne garage rockers Delivery and shoegazer Julia Why? at Vic on the Park, local retro rockers Salarymen at The Trocadero, and dance/hip-hop artist Dante Knows at The Botany View Hotel. Faye Webster Enmore Theatre, July 15-16 The delicate and delightful music of Atlanta's Faye Webster offers some fascinating clues to her past: the dalliances with alt-country can be traced back to a bluegrass-playing grandfather and a fiddle-playing mother, and the seemingly odd appearance of rapper Lil Yachty on new album Underdressed at the Symphony makes more sense when you discover Webster used to be in a rap group as a teenager. Barack Obama counts himself a fan; you'll probably be one too after hearing her exquisite tunes live. Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers The Landsdowne, July 18 Formed by singer Anna Ryan, guitarist Scarlett McKahey, drummer Neve van Boxsel, keyboardist Pip Gazard, and bassist Jaida Stephenson when they were 15-year-old students in Canberra, rock band Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers have come a long way in a relatively short period of time. The band opened for Foo Fighters in 2023 and for Pearl Jam on their American tour in May; catch them playing old and new tunes at this pub gig before they inevitably start filling stadiums themselves. The Hives Enmore Theatre, July 23 The Swedish garage rock band, which comprises Pelle Almqvist (vocals), Nicholaus Arson (lead guitar), Vigilante Carlstroem (rhythm guitar), The Johan and Only (bass), and Chris Dangerous (drums), have a reputation as one of the best live bands on the planet, a lot of which comes down to the deranged energy of frontman Almqvist. As evidenced by their names, the band don't take anything too seriously, except their decades-long mission to blow audiences away with a killer rock show. Georgia Lines Low 302, July 25 Here's a chance to see one of New Zealand's biggest singers in a cosy, intimate venue. Hailing from Mount Maunganui, Georgia Lines has scooped numerous Aotearoa Music Awards, was the most played New Zealand-female artist on radio in 2023, and had a number one album in NZ with last year's debut The Rose of Jericho (which includes four number-one singles). This is a rare chance to hear Lines' soulful, R&B-inspired pop songs up close and personal. Dope Lemon Enmore Theatre, July 31 Sydney could currently do with less chill: the temperature, and more chill: the attitude. Northern beaches singer-songwriter Angus Stone brings plenty of the latter under his Dope Lemon guise, particularly on the project's latest album, Golden Wolf, which was released in May. It's more experimental than the popular music Stone makes with his sister Julia, mixing up sun-drenched psychedelia, electro-pop, indie-pop, and several other genres that will no doubt make this show a cure for the winter blues. Bloc Party Hordern Pavilion, July 31-August 1 Touring artists playing a beloved album in its entirety is obviously a nostalgia-driven cash grab, but it's not something to get upset about when it's giving fans exactly what they want. UK post-punk band Bloc Party are getting in on the action, promising to play their classic album Silent Alarm, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, front to back. Gig goers may also be treated to tunes from Bloc Party's upcoming seventh album, which is being recorded with legendary producer Trevor Horn. Australian artists playing shows in Sydney this month include rapper 360, James Reyne with Alex Lloyd, Pete Murray, the Angels, Meg Washington, Melbourne rockers the Smith Street Band, ARIA-winning hardcore band Speed, the Dreggs, Karnivool, Kita Alexander, Donny Benét, and Choirboys, who are celebrating 35 years of their signature song Run to Paradise with a show combing music and storytelling. Overseas visitors include Swedish rapper Bladee, Touché Amoré with Militarie Gun, Theo Katzman, Billy Strings, the Juliana Theory, Simon Svoboda, Yhwh Nailgun, Bear McCreary, Jenny Mitchell and Nepal's Samir Shrestha & Good Boyz. Who will you be checking out? Let us know in the comments.
The Age
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Age
The hottest gigs in town to beat the winter blues
Instead, the Faroese-Icelandic duo of multi-instrumentalists Janus Rasmussen and Ólafur Arnalds combine pulsing beats with melodic ambient music and orchestral flourishes. Get along to experience what the group call 'emotional rave' – music designed to get your feet moving while simultaneously tugging at the heartstrings. King Street Crawl Various venues, July 13 Now in its 11th year, this free live music festival is a suburb-wide celebration of Newtown's music, culture and community. A whopping 150-plus acts will be playing across 25 venues, with artists set to appear including Sydney alt-pop artist Annie Hamilton and a reactivated Deep Sea Arcade at Pleasure Club, Melbourne garage rockers Delivery and shoegazer Julia Why? at Vic on the Park, local retro rockers Salarymen at The Trocadero, and dance/hip-hop artist Dante Knows at The Botany View Hotel. Faye Webster Enmore Theatre, July 15-16 The delicate and delightful music of Atlanta's Faye Webster offers some fascinating clues to her past: the dalliances with alt-country can be traced back to a bluegrass-playing grandfather and a fiddle-playing mother, and the seemingly odd appearance of rapper Lil Yachty on new album Underdressed at the Symphony makes more sense when you discover Webster used to be in a rap group as a teenager. Barack Obama counts himself a fan; you'll probably be one too after hearing her exquisite tunes live. Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers The Landsdowne, July 18 Formed by singer Anna Ryan, guitarist Scarlett McKahey, drummer Neve van Boxsel, keyboardist Pip Gazard, and bassist Jaida Stephenson when they were 15-year-old students in Canberra, rock band Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers have come a long way in a relatively short period of time. The band opened for Foo Fighters in 2023 and for Pearl Jam on their American tour in May; catch them playing old and new tunes at this pub gig before they inevitably start filling stadiums themselves. The Hives Enmore Theatre, July 23 The Swedish garage rock band, which comprises Pelle Almqvist (vocals), Nicholaus Arson (lead guitar), Vigilante Carlstroem (rhythm guitar), The Johan and Only (bass), and Chris Dangerous (drums), have a reputation as one of the best live bands on the planet, a lot of which comes down to the deranged energy of frontman Almqvist. As evidenced by their names, the band don't take anything too seriously, except their decades-long mission to blow audiences away with a killer rock show. Georgia Lines Low 302, July 25 Here's a chance to see one of New Zealand's biggest singers in a cosy, intimate venue. Hailing from Mount Maunganui, Georgia Lines has scooped numerous Aotearoa Music Awards, was the most played New Zealand-female artist on radio in 2023, and had a number one album in NZ with last year's debut The Rose of Jericho (which includes four number-one singles). This is a rare chance to hear Lines' soulful, R&B-inspired pop songs up close and personal. Dope Lemon Enmore Theatre, July 31 Sydney could currently do with less chill: the temperature, and more chill: the attitude. Northern beaches singer-songwriter Angus Stone brings plenty of the latter under his Dope Lemon guise, particularly on the project's latest album, Golden Wolf, which was released in May. It's more experimental than the popular music Stone makes with his sister Julia, mixing up sun-drenched psychedelia, electro-pop, indie-pop, and several other genres that will no doubt make this show a cure for the winter blues. Bloc Party Hordern Pavilion, July 31-August 1 Touring artists playing a beloved album in its entirety is obviously a nostalgia-driven cash grab, but it's not something to get upset about when it's giving fans exactly what they want. UK post-punk band Bloc Party are getting in on the action, promising to play their classic album Silent Alarm, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, front to back. Gig goers may also be treated to tunes from Bloc Party's upcoming seventh album, which is being recorded with legendary producer Trevor Horn. Australian artists playing shows in Sydney this month include rapper 360, James Reyne with Alex Lloyd, Pete Murray, the Angels, Meg Washington, Melbourne rockers the Smith Street Band, ARIA-winning hardcore band Speed, the Dreggs, Karnivool, Kita Alexander, Donny Benét, and Choirboys, who are celebrating 35 years of their signature song Run to Paradise with a show combing music and storytelling. Overseas visitors include Swedish rapper Bladee, Touché Amoré with Militarie Gun, Theo Katzman, Billy Strings, the Juliana Theory, Simon Svoboda, Yhwh Nailgun, Bear McCreary, Jenny Mitchell and Nepal's Samir Shrestha & Good Boyz. Who will you be checking out? Let us know in the comments.
