I-94 BAR TOP TENS

Writer, photographer, surf music enthusiast, ex-Stiff Kittens member from Melbourne.

1. Dirtbombs@ The Tote- Years ago I also saw these guys at the Ding Dong Lounge. I squeezed right up front with a pot in each hand and a grin from ear to ear, just fabulous. Nothings changed. Mick Collins vocal/guitar attack and twin drummer energy grooves just blow me away every time.  

2. Ian and the Aztecs-“Don’t Ha Ha” 7inch vinyl. Featuring Ian Carlton from New Yorks Rocky Velvet and the rhythm section from Los Straightjackets, great reverb driven rock and roll.

3. Mojomatics-“Don’t Pretend That You Know Me”.  This Italian duo cover a lot of ground under the garage rock pop umbrella and I’m still diggin’ em! I hope they make it down here next year.

4. Little Red- Listen To Little Red- Impressive debut from young Melbourne band.

5. Dead River Deeps- “You Can’t Fight The Sun”. Rockin alt country from this Melbourne four piece. I caught the cd launch for this their debut release and the performance and buzz in the room was a real turn on.

6. Cramps- Stay Sick.  A friend I haven’t seen for years showed up recently and returned this old Cramps album of mine. I took it on a recent road trip and loved every minute of our reunion.

7. Hunger- The movie. I’ve had trouble getting any free time this year, but this was worth it.

8. Combat- The Best Of Sgt Saunders. A Christmas gift. Nothing like getting out of the midday heat over summer, drawing the curtains, cracking a beer and watching Vic Morrow and squad put the German army to bed in this classic WW2 based B&W US television series.

9. Lowenbrau- Lager. A beautiful beer. Still hangoverless…..PLAY ON!

10. The Atheist Manifesto. A wonderful book for anyone who loves Santa Clause and the Easter Bunny, but has alittle more trouble with Christianity, Judaism and Islam.

Top Five X 2

by Gretchen “Dixiegrrl” Wood, host of the Hanging On For Mercy podcast on garagepunk.com and contributing writer for perfectsoundforever.com and Atlanta’s Stomp and Stammer magazine 

Eddy Current Suppression Ring - Primary Colors (Goner) Yet another high five for their sophomore release. Fresh and angular, aggressive bass reminiscent of Australia’s X, clanging guitars tight like Wire or Gang of Four, seductive chanting melodies, sneering vocal. All at once, distinctly primal and very modern. Can’t wait ’til they return to the States!

Gentleman Jesse - s/t (Douchemaster) This highly anticipated debut full length absolutely delivers on the promise of their “I Don’t Wanna Know” 7″. Infectious angsty power pop out of Atlanta, this be the act tapped by Paul Collins himself to be the Beat on his next tour. 

Charlie Pickett - Bar Band Americanus (Bloodshot) This criminally overdue retrospective from Florida’s rockin’ answer to the Flamin’ Groovies encompasses everything that’s passionate, pissy and smart in Pickett’s catalog. Back in the 80s when he was making records, only the most savvy knew about this cat. Now everyone else can get hip as well…

Mike and the Ravens - Noisy Boys: the Saxony Sessions (Zoho Roots) Forty-five years after a summer of wild-ass shows cut short by hijacking the steeple PA system at the local church to blast the valley with rock n’ roll, these 1962 frat rockers from VT reemerged from their respectable lives to obliterate notions of grandpa rock with a big bluesy voice, snarly guitars, and sophisticated songwriting that reveals a knack for hooks.    

The Finkers - Epilogue (Off The Hip) Where on Earth have these boys been hiding? Few of their Melbourne scenester compatriots have even heard of their perfect pop, their soulful tunes, their yearning hooks, and they sure are missing out. Sure a two-CD set is a bit of a commitment especially when it’s presented as the band’s sayonara, but song for song, this delivers. Even the covers are smart picks from the Stems, Groovies, and Real Kids. I sure hate to say goodbye to this act before I’ve hardly said hello.   

live shows…
Roky Erickson @ 40 Watt - Athens, GA (Aug) Legendary Thirteenth Floor Elevators front man, continues to resurrect himself from debilitating mental illness to hit the stage even more fiery than either of his two appearances at the Ponderosa Stomp. Those in the know  said even more fiery than his most recent show at SXSW… And this came down a scant five minutes from my crib. lucky me!

Mary Weiss/Reigning Sound @ the Earl - Atlanta, GA (Nov) The lady’s hitting her stride, her voice booming, her joy palpable. What can ya say about the Reigning Sound except that they always throw down. The icing was Jayne County down from NYC usurping MC duties. The entire night, nothing short of grand send up for local mag Stomp and Stammer’s lucky 13th birthday.

Patterson Hood @ Melting Point - Athens, GA (Oct) Few command a stage with songs and stories like the Drive-By Truckers’ front man. In genteel surroundings with chairs, tables, candles, and even table service, he delivered one of the most compelling solo acoustic performances this side of Richard Thompson or Steve Young.     

Dexter Romweber Duo @ Star Bar - Atlanta, GA (Feb) watching him transcend this old world to fight demons and commune with spirits while he flails away on that old Silvertone, With his sister Sara (Let’s Active, Snatches of Pink) on drums, Dex is free to boom away his best voice ever.

Herman Hitson @ the Earl - Atlanta, GA (Oct) This old school Atlantan’s wrenching performance of “Bad Girl” - a deep soul classic, the best known version by fellow Atlantan Lee Moses - was plenty soaring to earn a year end mention. The few of us that remained at the end of that long night were doubled over in breathless euphoria.  

Arthur S – Native New Yorker, I-94 Bar writer, scholar, gentleman, family man, and eunuch.

As the Barman rings the bell, exclaiming in an urgent voice “Hey loser, you gotta leave, it’s closing time” for the year 2008, there’s a sense of urgency to compiling a “Best Of “ list.  So, in between the holiday parties, frantic shopping for gifts, and unnerving traffic, I like to take a break from the madness.  Usually, for me it consists of relaxing, sitting back with my favorite libation of the moment (right now, it you ask it’s an antacid on the rocks - straight up) and reflect on the years past discoveries.  Happy Holidays, happy new year!! 

Top Ten (In A Particular Order? All are great, what are you kidding me!)

The Black Angels: Directions To See A Ghost (Light In The Attic) - Heavy duty pysch- action from Austin, Texas.  Nice fuzz and drone from this six-piece band who backed Roky Erickson on a recent West Coast USA tour.  The band hits their stride on this being their second album.

Alejandro Escovedo: Real Animal (Back Porch) – Former songwriter for the Nuns, Rank and File, and The True Believers combines efforts with producer Tony Visconti (Bowie, T-Rex) to create a stirring album rich with style and class.  The song “Chelsea Hotel’ 78” is so ironic in it’s use of Sex Pistols gutter glam, strings, and country echo. On top of this, you get Lou Reed’ backing vocals.  Awesome, well worth checking out!

Pat Todd and The Rank Outsiders: Outskirts of Your Heart (Rankoutsider Records) – On a consistent basis, Mr. Todd can always be counted on for raunchy, catchy as all hell songs.  In Mr. Todd’s musical viewpoint, the albums Exile on Main Street and L.A.M.F. encapsulate everything great about rock and roll.  Outskirts of Your Heart makes a good case for following in that tradition.

Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds: Dig, Lazarus, Dig! (Mute Records) – You know, I saw old Nick back in October at the Wamu Theater at Madison Square Garden here in NYC.  He was playing with the crowd, and in a self-deprecating manner, mocking his sex symbol – rock star status.  In short, Nick was having a ball onstage.  As for the music, it was forceful, direct and to the point.  The January 2009 ATP festival curated by Mr. Cave I am sure will offer much of the same excitement.  As for this album, Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!! (and Grinderman) resembles the stylistic change in direction Iggy took with Lust For Life in attempting to get back to a basic, no holds barred approach. 

Jim Jones Revue: Self Titled (punkrockblues) – Jim Jones (of Thee Hypnotics and Black Moses fame) offers a tour de force of crazed, energetic rhythm and blues served up with a chaser of Detroit angst.  Go get yourself some!

The Soundtrack Of Your Lives: Communion 2 CD – A much anticipated release by these ears, and it does not disappoint.  As in any double album / 2-CD format, having twenty-four songs spread out over two discs is a huge task.  However, as a testament to this band’s abilities / talents, TSOOL succeed in keeping your interest, and focus on many of the great songs.  Included is a great cover of a Nick Drake song they make their own.  Overall, this two disc set is a monster release by these Swedish Legends.

The Supersuckers: Get It Together CD – After a brief hiatus, the road worn but never weary Supersuckers return with another disc that as usual will get your house busy in no time lost at all. After twenty years, The Supersuckers are still all about having fun, getting down with your bad self, and respecting the rawk.  On this album, the band raises the I.Q. quotient a bit more, offering a glimpse into the world of a musician (averaging anywhere between 130–150 shows a year), and the sacrifices involved.  No, there’s no thought provoking lyrics included here (if you want that check out the Jonas Brothers); however, if you want clean and mean rock action, its here for the taking.

Acid Mothers Temple: Whether in the format of “The Melting Paraiso UFO” or “The Cosmic Inferno”, 2008 bared witness to the band’s highly prolific output of ten releases in this year alone on various independent labels.  Although to not everyone’s tastes, due to in part the avant-garde approach they take (minimalism, free jazz, etc) Acid Mothers Temple (led by the highly talented guitarist / composer Kawabata Makoto) are an amazing collective of like-minded musicians taking music to the extreme.  Each release offers a different side of the band.

Sonics Rendezvous Band: The Second Chance (Easy Action) – Every time another archival recording of this legendary band is uncovered, released on compact disc, the brilliance of this unit becomes ever more apparent.  Here’s a band worth it’s weight in gold.

The Duke Spirit: Neptune’s Call (Artist First) – An outstanding album by this London based band who seem to be gathering steam as we speak.  Rocking songs such as “Send A Little Love Token”, “The Step and The Walk”, “Into The Fold”, “You Really Wake Up The Love In Me”, “Lassoo”, “My Sunken Treasure” all live up to the pre-album hype. 

Honorable Mentions:Nebula: Heavy Psych CD EP, Seger Liberation Army: Down Home CD, The Flaming Sideburns: Back 2 Grave LP, The Bellrays: Hard, Sweet, and Sticky CD, Mark Lanegan / Isabel Williams: Sunset at Dirt Devil CD, The Radishes: Strychnine CD EP, and On the Road Again TV Series focusing on a culinary road trip through Spain. Rioja / Tempranillo, and Seafood: two tastes that go great together.

I-94 Bar occasional writer and Melbourne man-about-town TJ Honeysuckle’s all-Australian ten of 2008. TJ also blogs here.

In no real order…

ECSR- Primary Colours (Aarght! Records) A plain wrap cover conceals some top-shelf stuff. Excellent live, too, though shows were limited this year.

Witch Hats- Cellulite Soul. (In-Fidelity)  Messy, sprawling bratty noise. They dumped most of this from their set list after flogging it every night on their US tour. The new album (already in the can) will be very different.

Oogas Boogas- Song Of Romance And Adventure. (Aarght!) Good time filth and fun. Contains some of the best lyrics of the year, definitely has the cover art of the year.

Snowman- The Horse, the Rat and the Swan (Dot Dash) Noisy and abrasive, this was different to any other record I listened to this year. A great way to say goodbye before the band relocated to London.

Sand Pebbles- Ceduna (Sensory Projects) A concept album about going to a lonely beach and taking drugs? Oh, you old hippies. Thanks.

Lurid Yellow Mist- We Wuz Curious (Illustrious Artists) Two stalwarts of the Melbourne music scene, Dave Graney & Clare Moore, make it sound effortless, fresh and kinda sleazy all at the same time.

Nathan Hollywood- Red Night Falling. (In-Fidelity) Intensely realised, dark country that never strikes a false note. Hollywood is also the handsomest bastard in town.

Beaches- Beaches (Mistletone) A late entry, this is mesmerising stuff. Extended three-guitar instrumental jams, for the most part, from a relatively new outfit.

Crystal Thomas and The Flowers Of Evil- self titled (Stovepipe) A country-ish confident debut, dedicated to Ian Rilen and infused with a lot of his spirit. Booze, motels, lovers and arguments. Hopefully she will do more in 2009.

Mandu- To The Shores Of His Heaven (Aztec) Reissue of an amazing 1974 gem. Aztec call this one of the greatest Australian records ever made, and they should know. For what it’s worth, I absolutely agree with them.

Another list of Ten Soul Classics

YOU LOST THE SWEETEST BOY-MARY WELLS

I HEARD IT THROUGH THE GRAPEVINE-GLADYS KNIGHT AND THE PIPS

MIND OVER MATTER-NOLAN STRONG AND THE DIABLOS

JAILBAIT-ANDRE WILLIAMS

DO YOU LOVE ME-THE CONTOURS

EVERY LITTLE BIT HURTS-BRENDA HOLLOWAY

BAND OF GOLD-FREDA PAYNE

SHE’S NOT JUST ANOTHER WOMAN-EIGHTH DAY

SMILING FACES-THE UNDISPUTED TRUTH

WHEN THE LOVLIGHT STARTS SHINING INTO HIS EYES-THE SUPREMES

For more soul and rock, go to…

http://www.ScottMorganMusic.com

http://myspace.com/ScottMorganDetroit

http://www.sonicsrendezvousband.net

I-94 Bar regular and Beat magazine contributor, Melbourne

1. Patti Smith, Hamer Hall, October 2008.  Counter intuitively, the older I get, the less inclined I feel towards the reverential treatment of the bands I loved in my formative years (which possibly puts me at odds with many Bar patrons).  I hate – with unbridled passion – the myopic dismissal of contemporary bands as pale imitators of artists of yore (with notable exceptions, of course).  So it was in that context that I wondered if Patti Smith could hold a candle to her legendary status.  And, by fuck, did she.  At age 62, Ms Smith can still rock out with the best of them, with all the punk rock empathy she brought to the stage 30 odd years ago.

2. Dolly Rocker Movement, Birmingham Hotel.  Killer gig from arguably Australia’s premier psych outfit.  It started out good, morphed into excellent half way through the night, and by the end of the evening had reached stratospheric levels of quality.  Only a member of the Frowning Clouds inadvertently causing a blown fuse curtailed the set.  The third Dolly Rocker Movement album – due early 2009 – promises to be one of the premier releases of 2009.

3. Flip Out! Festival.  We were in the midst of a flu break-out in the house, but I dragged my sorry arse out of bed to ride to the Corner in the early evening.  I missed half the festival, but it almost didn’t matter.  The bands were fantastic – Beaches, MOTO, King Automatic, Deaf Wish, Eddy Current Suppression Ring – and the inter-band house music (courtesy of Leon from Sailors/Ooga Boogas) was the perfect foil.  What better choice to follow King Automatic than George Michael’s Careless Whispers?  Culture jamming rocks.

4. Beaches.  As a concept, five women playing psychedelic freak-outs is enough to make a cocaine ravaged PR flack ejaculate in a storm of superlatives.   If there’s a criticism to be made, it’s that the songs could be longer, and the sets stretch way into the evening.  Bend it like Garcia.

5. Johnny Casino, live and on record.  There’s a temptation to become blase about the man born John Spittles – even on a bad night, the bloke shits all over his closest contenders.  Forget ‘the Australian Greg Cartwright’ – Greg Cartwright is the American Johnny Casino.

6. Ooga Boogas, Romance and Adventure.  The leading Australian garage rock release for 2008.   I’m an Ooga Booga, and my cock’s made of wood, it drags on the ground, yeah and it still tastes good.  Shakespeare, Keates, Shelley, take your pick – the Ooga Boogas do it all and more.

7. Kim Salmon and the Surrealists, Tote.  The purists moan that it’s not the ‘real’ Surrealists without Pola and Hooper (Sportsbet is taking 100000-1 on a reunion of that line-up) – and if you ever want to pick a fight with Mr Salmon, tell him that to his face.  But the Surrealists was always a sound, and a feel, and Kim has found his Surrealists voice again.  Watch out for the new Surrealists album on Bang! in 2009.

8. Deaf Wish, whenever.  The vitality of youth in its perfect punk rock guise.  In 20 years time these guys will all have done shitloads of other stuff, and people will wax lyrical about the halcyon Deaf Wish days.  See ‘em while you can.

9. Extreme music nights.  Two examples:  firstly, Tina Arena at Hamer Hall, followed by Hitmen at the East Brunswick Club.  Possibly the most bizarre night of music I’ve ever encountered.  Secondly, Bon Jovi at Myer Music Bowl (I never thought I’d find myself in a crowd of 5000 people seeing Living On a Prayer), followed by a night of psychedelia at the Esplanade Hotel.   Gold nights, both of ‘em.

10. Los Dominados, Pet Head album launch, Public Bar.  In front of 50 punters, with Cooper’s ale on tap at flattering prices, Los Dominados tore the place to pieces.  Helen Cattanach (Escape Committee, Moler) and Mike Alonso (Jape Squad) deserve more recognition.  But no-one ever said we live in a just world.  

Guitarist/vocalist with Canadian bands BUM and Budokan. Contributor at the I-94 Bar and for Ugly Things magazine.

Let’s see, saw a few great rock ‘n’ roll shows this year, bought lots of music (most of it, unfortunately, old), honeymooned in Japan (bootleg heaven). So, some highlights.

Albums (in no particular order):

Supersnazz-Get Down (Meerkat)
I remember playing with these Japanese heroes, oh, 14 years ago (and subbing for them at Garage Shock ’93) and being blown away. They still got it. Awesome songs with big hooks, played with reckless abandon.

BellRays-Hard, Sweet and Sticky (Anodyne)
Not quite as solid as Have a Little Faith, but still pretty fine.

Hellacopters-Head Off (Psychout)
Pleasantly surprised by how good this is, maybe bowing out with a covers album was the charm. Now I gotta find out who originally did ‘Midnight Angels’.

Carlene Carter-Stronger (Yep Roc)
After some years in the wilderness Carlene is back with a great set of country-tinged pop songs…and the voice sounds as pure as ever. 

Baseball Project-Vol. 1: Frozen Ropes and Dying Quails (Yep Roc)
Hmm, good year for Yep Roc. Scott McCaughey (Young Fresh Fellows/Minus Five) and Steve Wynn (Dream Syndicate) team up to record an album’s worth of songs about baseball. You don’t have to love the game ‘cos the storytelling’s outstanding and the tunes are top-notch. 

Teenage Head-Teenage Head w/ Marky Ramone (Sonic Unyon)
Canadian punk vets recruit one of the best drummers ever to re-record their classics. As good as you would hope. Sadly, lead singer Frankie Venom just recently succumbed to cancer. RIP Frankie.

New York Dolls-Live at the Fillmore East (Sony)
This album is too short.

Dirtbombs-We Have You Surrounded (In the Red)
This one jumps all over the stylistic map and almost everything hits. 

Gary Louris-Vagabonds (Rykodisc)
Former Jayhawks frontman is one of the best songwriters (in the truest sense of the word) around.

Black Crowes-Warpaint (Silver Arrow)
Oops, I’m guessing this isn’t a very cool choice. Go ahead, take your shots.

Reissues, Archival releases, etc.:

Iggy Pop-Where the Faces Shine Vol. 2 (Easy Action)
Gotta agree with the Barman on this one.

 Sonic’s Rendezvous Band-The Second Chance (Easy Action)
Ditto.

Detroit Cobras-Original Recordings: Singles and Unreleased 1995-1997 (Munster)
Nice to have the early stuff plus some other gems all in one easy package.

Replacements-Reissues (Twin-Tone/Sire)
Yep, all of them. Boy, do I ever miss these guys.

Byrds-Live at Royal Albert Hall 1971 (Sundazed)
That Clarence White sure could pick.

Dennis Wilson-Pacific Ocean Blue (Columbia)
Beautiful.

Clash-Live at Shea Stadium (Epic)
Thought this might suffer from the absence of Topper on drums but Terry Chimes actually acquits himself admirably.

Live Shows:

New York Dolls-Plaza, Vancouver.
Seen the reformed line-up three times now and they really have become a super-rockin’ machine, whatever that might mean.

Dirtbombs-Sugar, Victoria.
Pros that they are, the Dirtbombs took a sparse, Sunday night crowd and got them to MOVE. Even the hipsters were dancing.

Neil Young-GM Place, Vancouver.
You want guitars? Oh, okay.

And, finally:

Best Bar-Poor Cow, Shimatikazawa (sp.?), Tokyo.
Fifi, formerly of Teengenerate and now of Firestarter, runs a joint that is more like a clubhouse or the bedroom of the coolest teenager in the world. Impeccable record collection, if you care about that stuff, and good beer. Why don’t we have a place like this in my town? Oh yeah, because we’re lame.

Best Music of 2008  by Roya Butler

(http://punxrukus.blogspot.com/ and US-based I-94 Bar punk rock contributor)

1. Coldplay-Viva La Vida

2. Portishead-3

3. Sick of it All -Death to Tyrants

4. Anti-Flag -Bright Lights of America

5. Leftover Crack -Rock the 40oz

6. Beyonce -I am Sasha Fierce

7. Muse -The Document

8. Interpol -Our Love to Admire

9. Joell Ortiz -The Brick: Bodgea Chrinicles

10. Eyedea & Abilities -E&A

Melbourne-based guitarist and songstress, Citizen of the World

In no particular order:

Low (Minnesota, USA) Brunswick Club, Melbourne. Low opened my mind to plenty of new musical possibilities in song writing and arrangements…

Visitors – The Espy, Melbourne. I only heard one complaint from the audience: “more guitar solos!”

Died Pretty – The Forum, Melbourne. Big, bald and beautiful 

Dimi Dero inc (Paris, France) Australian tour. On ya mate!

The Bellrays (California, USA) – Corner Hotel. The closer I got the better they got.

Selfish Gene – Spanish Club. James McCann and co – energetic, inspired and sacrilegious 

Big Bang! Night (Bang! Records, Spain) at The Tote, Collingwood, Melbourne. Juan and Gorka continue to support the crème de al crème of Australian (and international) music. Highlights for me included The Bakelite Age, Hugo Race, Brian Hooper, Spencer P Jones, and Kim Salmon & the Surrealists. 

Venue - Aoiheya (Blue Room) Shibuya,Tokyo. A very cool underground venue in Tokyo with great sound and atmosphere. It was a real treat to listen to the diverse range of Japanese bands who were sharing the bills at my gigs including: blgtz – a young sonic/ power pop band from Tokyo who were dynamite; Peacock Babies – a unique blend of traditional (oriental 60’s pop) and retro (garage and glam) sounds; the Losers (great drummer!), Darkside Mirrors, and Golden (reminded me of the Dirty Three) were also highlights for me. 

DJ’s Gaku Torii from the Blue Room, (Tokyo) and Pat (DJ of sorts) from La Feline (Paris). Their repertoire showed a vast knowledge of music and great taste too. For me it was a blessing for my ears and soul and restored my dwindling faith in the world of rock’n’roll.  

Adrian Belew Power Trio – Guitar maestro Adrian Belew accompanied by Julie Slick (bass) and her brother Eric Slick (drums) at The Basement, Sydney. Rivetting, diverse and refreshing to hear their mix of sonic guitar, songs, feel and improvisation.

In Penny world - My tour of France and Spain with Dimi Dero & Vinz Guilluy (penelope inc) and my solo gigs and show at the all night party: The Blue Velvet Night (with Japanese band White Shadows playing some Penny songs and covers) at The Blue Room (Tokyo) …plus recording my album at Hothouse (Melbourne).

Baby-faced Parisian bass-player for Dimi Dero Inc, Penelope Inc and Holy Curse

A Top Ten? Aah, that’s a good exercise for me, cause I never know what day it is - ask my bandmates : whenever I have to design a flyer for a show, I fuck up on the date everytime. And I mean EVERYTIME. So that will be good to help me remember where I was and when, since January, 2008. Yeah,  whatever. Here we go - in no particular order, 10 memorable shows of 2008 :

Dead Clodettes @ Machine à Coudre, Marseille. 
Three girls, who can  hardly play together, but there’s more ideas, style and sound in two of their songs that many bands will have in their whole career.

Bellrays @ Corner Hotel, Melbourne. 
As performers, few can compare -  cliché, I know, but so true - The thing is that if they can put on fantastic shows like that, what will it be like when they have a great song or two ?

The Holy Soul @ Pony Club, Melbs. 
They were good before, but their new drummer Kate really brought them to a new level.

New Christs European tour in May.  
On top of playing from very  good to excellent shows, you could see the guys are happy doing it, get along well, and Brent’s switching from guitar to keyboards adds a new  dimension to their sound. Can’t wait for the new album.

Dirtbombs Maroquinerie, Paris. 
Nothing beats a packed place, two drummers in full groove and the rest of the band working their asses off to make the audience be part of the show.

Spoils + Don Lurie, le 1929, Rennes. 
The Spoils are a great Melbourne band, in the Dirty Three/ Black Pony Express family… Don Lurie is alone with his guitar, and though not a brilliant guitarist, this limitation only enhances and strengthens the emotion with which he delivers his songs. Raw, moving, and intense.

The Groovers @ le Volume, Nice. 
Awesome show from this classy  rock/power pop band. These guys should be on Off the Hip (Chris & Mickster, are you listening ?)

Whodunit @ la Miroiterie, Paris. 
They stole our thunder that night…

Ron Peno trying to show Penny Ikinger how she should play and sing  the song they wrote together while we were recording the bass & drums  tracks @ Hothouse studio. 
Dimi and I were looking at them through the  window of the control room where they were, and could hear them talk and sing through the headphones. Ron dancing and singing around Penny… the kind of moment that makes up for all the shit you go through as an underdog rock’n'roller. OK, that’s not a show, but it was great all the same.

6FtHick @ La Mécanique Ondulatoire, Paris. 
A bit like seeing the Beastie Boys of Bourbon. Fantastic show, rocking harder than the rest by far, and they play an X cover (”The Feel”, if I’m not mistaken). What more can you ask?

I-94 Bar critic and solo artist

My top 10 for 2008 (in no particular order) -
  
Pierced Arrows @ Annandale Hotel, Sydney :
Some incredible ‘new’ tunes like ‘Caroline’ and ‘Walking Wounded’ plus some old Dead Moon chestnuts thrown in for good measure, long live Fred Cole. 
  
The Dirtbombs @ Oxford Art Factory, Sydney :  
Mick Collins and co. were probably the revelation of the year for this barfly and had the local constabulary (police) dropping by, possibly due to the incredibly high volume experience that the Mick Collins and co. were at this gig.
     
‘Soul Deep’ - six part series screened on ABC Television : 
For this barfly this series was another major revelation, with episodes one to five providing plenty of moments of absolutely essential viewing.
    
Respect Yourself : The Stax Records Story (screened at Sydney Film Festival) :-
A further revelation on Soul and this seminal Soul label which launched the late Otis Redding and the late great Isaac Hayes.   
   
Steve Earle @ Newport Folk Festival (heard via www.npr.org) / Enmore Theatre, Sydney :
At both Newport and the Enmore Theatre, plenty of older and newer Earle gems were heard and at the Enmore Theatre, Earle delivered the late great Townes Van Zandt’s classic ‘Poncho and Lefty’.
    
Tift Merritt - Another Country :
A Texan born, North Carolina bred female singer-songwriter whom is a little bit Emmylou (Harris), Linda Ronstadt, Dusty (Springfield) and Aretha (Franklin) and whose third album has her most personal, consistent and best writing to date, including a song “Mille Tendresses” sung in French.
    
New Christs @ Excelsior Hotel, Sydney; May 2008 / @ Annandale Hotel, Sydney with Dimi Dero Inc :
With the current line-up and new material; Rob Younger and co. can’t seem to put a foot wrong with either the old classics and new material alike and at the ‘dale, French visitors Dimi Dero Inc were as great as ever.
    
The Visitors @ Empire of Annandale Hotel, Sydney :
Not sure if I agree that the recently added sax player was the sterling addition to the band that The Barman thought, but it was great to hear all those Visitors classics and the odd Deniz Tek Group tune.
   
Hoss @ Excelsior Hotel, Sydney :
When watching Hoss and in particular guitarist Jimmy Sfetsos, this barfly can’t help but think that they remain one of/if not the truly great Melbourne rock-n-roll bands, that don’t play nearly enough gigs more often in Sin City (from the generation that gave us the likes of Bored!, The Powder Monkeys, The Freeloaders and The Yes-Men amongst many others).
    
(Last, but probably least and to follow in the footsteps of fellow ‘Barfly - Ken Shimamoto and his Top 10 of 2007 and a few other ‘Barflies)
  
Simon ‘the troubadour’ - playing gigs throughout Sin City from the inner city in King’s Cross to the outer south west at “Walls Come Down” in Wiley Park; mostly solo and also on occasion in duos with old friends such as Spike Thomson (ex-Ghost Valley/The Nosebleeds/Drug Squad 77/Drug Squad 66) and newer friends such as Yu Si Liu and Melanie Sawayama (nee Guest), alongside having 50 Million Beers pedal steel guitar player Graham Griffith playing on “new” recordings.
  
RIP - Isaac Hayes, Mitch Mitchell, Odetta, Paul Newman, George Carlin, The Nosebleeds/Drug Squad 77, Ray Baldwin (Sydney/ex-West Australian folk/country identity).
  
Honorable mentions:
Mick Thomas/Sarah Carroll/Van Walker @ Cooks River Boat Club, Tempe, Sydney; Kathleen Edwards - Asking for Flowers, Lucinda Williams - Little Honey, Hank III - Damn Right, Rebel Proud; Radio Birdman ‘Rockpalast’ concert screening @ Mojo Records, Sydney.
    

Melbourne rock and roll publicist with Aztec records and Lance Rock. Rumoured to have left her heart in Europe. 

Top Ten :

1. The Sonics - Barcelona, Primavera Music Festival

2. Discovering Tex Napalm : go to http://www.myspace.com/texnapalm

3. Dimi Dero Inc and Mark Steiner, Café gig in Paris

4. Patti Smith, Hamer Hall, Melbourne

5. Witch Hats/Dimi Dero Inc/Kim Salmon & The Surrealists, Northcote Social Club, Melbourne

6. Mudhoney, Forum, London

7. The Wreckery, Northcote Social Club, Melbourne

8. Dirty York CD single No Apologies (local Melbourne band - one to watch for 2009!!)

9. Dirtbombs at La Maroquinerie, Paris

10. Jay Reatard Aussie Tour

Dave IS rock and very heavy. Leader of The Lurid Yellow Mist and one of the guitar dab hands of SALMON. Australian pop royalty. His web presence is here. 

NAS “untitled”
The most “conscious” album to be heard in years. He keeps up the outrage and the lyrical brilliance all the way through.Two great albums ina  row, (following “hip hop is dead”). 

Lil Wayne “Tha Carter 111″
Punk from New Orleans who owns his label and sold a  million copies ina  week. First guy to do so in five years. It’s a sprawling and comic epic. This album and Dr Johns album of this year tell the real story of post Katrina New Orleans. 

Dr Dooom 2
aka Kool Keith and he kills his other alter ego, Dr Octagon. This is deathly funny, especially if you’re a  musician. He delivers a song for all the people who’ve ever put out a record into a world that doesn’t give a  fuck except to give you a lot of jive in the track “you’re talkin out your ass!”. No samples, all horror synths. 

Kevin Ayers “the unfairground”.
Used to be the singer for the Soft machine and made this album with a  lot of young American and English musicians in tight stretch jeans. 

Rodney Crowell “Sex and gasoline”
Used to play guitar and sing for Emmy Lou Harris. This is class all the way through. Nothing alt, just class.

Kaye Louise Paterson “International travel”
Melbourne piano playing singer songwriter. Classic reach for a  “West Coast” sound that dragged something else into the world.

Tactics “the sound of the sound volumes 1 and 2″
These are worth it for the liner notes alone.

The Lurid Yellow Mist ” we wuz curious”
Its an r&b album. I don’t know how we strayed so far away from what’s going on in the festival paddocks but we just did…

Queens of the Stone Age “Era Vulgaris”
Probably last year but I saw them this year and played the album all the time.

Paul Westerberg “stereo”
2002 but I got to tune into it this year. Tons of people try to do this but he just owns that sound. 

Leadfinger (aka Stewart Cunningham).... has again lost his shirt on rock'n'roll!!!

“Inspired by Brian Wilson’s penchant for hanging out in his bathrobe all day playing piano, in 2008 I really enjoyed spending lots of time in my PJ’s and slippers, strumming a guitar - 20 odd years of playing in bands can do this to you but it beats working and it’s too hot for leather jackets in Australia. I suppose I should mention that I have a new album of rock’n'roll songs called ‘Rich Kids’ out any day now on the Bang! Records label. Merry Xmas.”

1. The Devil at My Door by The Nice Folk….won’t be officially released till 09 but throughout 08 I spent most of my free time producing and mixing this album by a young up and coming band from my home town, Wollongong. Despite rejection from a few rekid labels this killer album from a new gen of Aussie songsters is coming out on the Music Farmers label (www.musicfarmers.com ) in February. It’s kinda like Nick Cave, Tom Waits and Ed Kuepper dancing on Johnny Thunders grave…. on St Swithins day. The band has more members than the Barman has one liners but it’s fresh and new, amazing songs.

2. Eye by Robyn Hitchcock - released in 1981. Yes, it took me a long time to discover this but better late than never - send me a coupla bucks when you realise how good it is.

3. Brian Henry Hooper live at the Annandale Hotel 8th June 08. Brian was having some trouble for his solo acoustic set on this night, the guitar and vocal mic were feeding back etc., he wasn’t happy but for some reason it made the whole thing even better and it was still more rock’n'roll than the other bands I saw that night. Brian wears his heart on his sleeve with his songs. He threw his guitar down on the last song and stormed out of the venue.

4. Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner by Warren Zevon.

5. The Big Bang! Festival at the Tote Hotel, Melbourne August 15/16 - a celebration of all things to do with Bang! Records with Kim Salmon, Kill Devil Hills, Spencer Jones, Penny Ikinger, Bored! et al….and my own band, Leadfinger got to play too….one cynical Sydneysider suggested to me that it would be a weekend of back slapping, oh well…..it definitely was two brilliant nights of Australian underground music. 

6. Busking on my Dobro guitar at various places round Sydney and ‘the Gong’….good ‘craic’.

7. Eye Mind - the Saga of Roky Erickson and the 13th Floor Elevators by Paul Drummond. I still can’t believe those guys did what they did.

8. Acid Reign by The Hellacopters

9. Popsicle by Diamond Nights. Not sure when this came out but it’s a killer album to drive to.

10. Rory Gallagher - Irish Tour 74 DVD, a film by Tony Palmer. I have to thank Tim Rogers for telling me about this one…takes you back to the gritty glory days of 70’s rock… A totally non-digital world of denim and plaid in an Ireland of post-industrial gloom. After gig hootenanny’s in real Irish pubs where hirsute locals all join in with the band and everyone has a turn at the mic, guinness in hand, real people and music so far removed from reality tv, itunes and Hollywood it makes me cry in my beer thinking rock’n'roll was never so good. The live footage is fantastic too, I’m a fan.

Honorable Mentions…….You Am I live at The Cambridge Hotel in Newcastle, Electric Aboriginals by Awesome Color, Through the Cracks CDep by Leadfinger (well I liked it!!)

Occasional I-94 Bar contributor, drummer for Ghost Valley and The Kelpies. Ex-drummer for The Panadolls and guitarist-throat for Roll cage. Major nosebleed.

Red Fang - found this band using stumble upon, fuck now i love em, great mix of stoner, grunge and 70s rock, with a fair whack of themselves throw in, check this out for clip of the year.

Believe it or not R.E.M’s new record Accelerate. Fuck, I ain’t brought an REM record for yonks (15 years or more?) but it’s such a great album, bunch of short songs, most of em’ fast, and they sound pretty vital and present.

The Stones’ Shine A Light movie. I did a review here, and loved it.

Wall E - my favourite movie all year.

Butcher Birds - Brisbane - amazing.

Hits - Brisbane - amazing.

Brisbane - Bands - amazing.

Obama - Amen.

The Hard Ons live - such epic winding songs, best guys, they just keep on keeping on and keep on getting better.

Sex - I really thought i’d be sick of eating pussy at 47, but I hassle my missus every day for a root. Her cunt is sore but i’m happy.

Playing with my kid and his mates in Ghost Valley - best band i’ve been in since the Kelpies. hard to keep up though.