Cool Charmers Guitarist and way too infrequent I-94Bar contributor (my fault)
My list of fave raves for 2011 (I’m sure I’ve left something out??) and these are not in order.
The Victims Sleeping Dog Die LP
Way cool Official Japanese only LP/CD. Side 1 is all of the officially released tracks sounding pretty darn solid, Side 2 is a never before live in the studio session proving those 7”’s were not flukes.
Great to get a lyric sheet as well (James Baker was the Dylan of his generation). It’s expensive though (flimsy paper cover to) but you do get a free badge.
Modern Family DVD series 2.
Great comedy series. The Seinfeld for today’s generation.
Huxton Creepers reunion.
Looking a very slight tad older (unlike the rest of us) but sounding no different to days long gone. Great classic songs that are timeless (why weren’t these guys as big
as The Gurus??)
Cool Charmers.
My post-degenerate music combo, every gig a blast (except maybe the last one). Must get our album out in 2012.
Sydney Trade Union Club Reunion. Drop Bears / Spectres Revenge / Samurai Trash.
Always great seeing bands and folks from another lifetime. The Drop Bears songs were sounding much better live than the over-produced records. Big fun re-uniting with my ’80s band Spectres Revenge (with guest spot from Chris Flynn from Dubrovniks / Headstones)
New York Dolls at The Manning Bar, Sydney.
Hey, I am as much a cynic as thee, but this was a great gig. What’s in a name anyway??? I was there to see Johansen, Sylvain and new-uns playing those great songs – which they delivered in fine style.
Dogs in Space DVD reissue.
I always liked this movie, took me back to the ’80s, it did. Re-packaged with a ton of great extras.
Sydney Big Day Out – Iggy and the Stooges.
I am not a fan of seeing bands in overly large football fields surrounded by 30,000 Southern Crossed-tattooed bogans but it was close as one can get in Australia to seeing this mighty band.
Screaming Tribesmen.
2 great gigs at the Sandringham Hotel. Nothing has changed with this band except maybe a extra shot of enthusiasm (via having not played in over a decade or two).Yeah hup to Mick,
Bob, Klondike and Warwick for getting together against the odds and playing those great songs again and salute to the folks that brought it all together = Barman, Rossy, Alison and Zombie Dog.
Harvey James memorial show with Sherbet.
I have always had a soft spot for Sherbet; they had a stack of great 1970s pop songs which sadly only got as far as our dear country. Tragically later day guitarist Harvey James who this benefit show was originally planned for passed away mere weeks prior to the gig , a memorial it became and Sherbet with guest musicians played for one final time . An era has ended.
International Swingers in Sydney.
Super groups…now, there is no rhyme or reason to their quality (Cream vs. Travelling Willburys…take your pick??) International Swingers, it must be said, were a true celebration of rock ‘n’ roll. Face it, chuck Clem Burke and Glen Matlock together as a rhythm section and it’s going to be rocking solid, James Stevenson from Gen X , CHELSEA (we have the right to work !!) and was in the Kim Wilde video clip Kids in America (yeah !!) all fronted by Gary Twinn from Supernaut and you have a bunch of dudes who know their stuff - and hey the rest of Supernaut were in the audience!
X-Spurts.
Probably my my fave release of the year. It’s taken over 35 years for this great first ever recording of X to surface. This is REAL punk rock! Great songs, incredible playing and attitude.
News of Black Sabbath reunion.
Hopefully they will make it to Australian (but PLEASE, not that open air Metal festival that gets cancelled …I’ve forgotten the name??). They are doing a new album and the odds are on it being a 1990s sounding lamo metal album (big drums, fake guitar sounds ..you know the story). In a perfect world they could do a new album which would sound like 1972 (which would ironically would make them sound more contemporary !!), but it won’t happen (unless producer Rick Rubin gets brave and kicks their flabby butts).
Rose Tattoo Sando.
In 2011 “Rose Tattoo” (much like the New York Dolls) are not really Rose Tattoo as we knew them. Sadly Wells, Digger, Cocks, Rilen have left this world, and guitarist Rockin Rob Riley (writer of We Can’t Be Beaten, Branded, and Scarred For Life) has had a falling -out with Australian Knight Angry Anderson. However it was a good show! Angry, with a mix of old and new members, put in a great rockin’ set.
New Christs 7 inch The Ledge / Meanwhile
First stand-alone N.C single in a while, one of the best things this band has ever done (done ever ??) .
Stooges reissues.
I’ve lost track of what actually came out this year but it was great stuff.
Alice Cooper OLD School Box.
Expensive and could have been better, but this is still a great collection of original A.C Band era unreleased recordings.
Tyranna LP.
Incredible Canadian punk combo from 1978, in the style of Avengers, Sex Pistols etc . Great songs and performance (which was a big ask of a lot bands from that era).
Loretta Lynn Van Lear Rose on vinyl.
Jack White-produced comeback release = fantastic heartfelt original autobiographical songs and beautiful playing. Finally re-released on vinyl.
Rainbow Rising reissue.
One of my fave 1970s hard rock LPs gets the expanded 2CD remaster treatment.
13th Floor Elevators Music of The Spheres.
A 9 LP box set. Stereo/ mono editions, unreleased tracks plus a Live in California LP. Very nice to have although various aspects have been criticised on various chat groups.
Sloths – Makin Love
7” reissue. 60s garage great reissued by the great Ugly Things magazine and if you got in quick you scored a autographed edition.
Lucy De Soto at the Sando.
Pub rock lives, sounding more like Rose Tattoo then Rose Tattoo these days, mind you; most of this band has a connection to that group.
Honorary mentions
Paul Collins Beat at the Sando, New Christs Excelsior, NY NY Sando,PJ Harvey LP Let England Shake, Berlin Brats Believe it or Rot 73-76 LP ,Jimi Hendrix West Coast Seattle Boy LP box set,
Jimi Hendrix Blues LP (great to have this finally reissued on vinyl ), Cheetah Chrome book , Dirty Deeds book – Mark Evans , Third Man Records Singles Release 2010 2 LP comp.
2012 look forward
… to Redd Kross tour; Do The Pops finally, The Church Sing Songs reissue, Damned and Roky Erickson tours, Cool Charmers album! Black Sabbath in Australia, Hoodoo Gurus 30 year celebrations.
RIP Waldo
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