Sydney's MoshPit Bar marks eight years with free 16-band line-up

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By The Barman

The Barman

09 May 2025

Hits: 1082

_{The Strike-Outs' Simon and Adam Vines will headine Saturday night's gig.}

Sydney’s favourite dive bar, The MoshPit, is marking its eighth birthday with two nights and a day of wall-to-wall rock and roll – and it’s free.

It kicks off on Friday, May 16 at 7:30pm with Newcastle’s Jacques Levy's Desire. The first band to play the venue, Blurter, is back at 8:20.

Young guns Pocketwatch plan to get the joint jumping at 9:10 and will show off tunes they recorded with multi-ARIA award winning producer Wayne Connolly, plus a few others. Veterans Jupiter 5 bring the Sabbath-meets-The Sonics riffarama-lama at 10pm. The indie sleaze of Aria Nova is on at 11pm and plays out until close.

• jupiter 5
• the stallers
• pocketwatch
• moshpit bar
• the strike-outs

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The Dunhill Blues are still shaking things up, two decades down the track

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By The Barman

The Barman

08 May 2025

Hits: 1312

The Big Shake Up! Vol 2 – The Dunhill Blues (Evil Tone/Outta Space)

Never mind the confusing title (Volume 2? Where’s Volume 1?) For those who are numerically challenged (guilty as charged) or not watching closely, this is the fifth full album for The Dunhill Blues. And their best yet, for a number of reasons.

Throughout their 20-odd year career, The Dunnies have been a shifting cast of players, with Dan (vocals and guitar) and Adam (bass and vocals) the constants. They could be a hit or miss proposition on any given night or recording session, depending on how many beers they had on board. 

The band’s mission was always to have fun while rummaging through garage rock’s trash - and if you didn’t like that, there were always Powderfinger gigs to fall asleep at.

• the dunhill blues
• evil tone records
• outtaspace records

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The Johnnys to launch "Live In Lyon" to audiences in Melbourne and Sydney

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By The Barman

The Barman

07 May 2025

Hits: 430

Australia’s pioneering and hard partying cowpunks, The Johnnys, are re-emerging from a round of studio tinkerin’ and drinkin’ for a run of gigs in May, brandishing a live CD and a refreshed set.

“Live In Lyon” is the album, and it captures a rollicking 1990 French gig by the classic line-up of Hoody, Billy, Slim and Spencer P Jones on their only European tour. Restored from the original tape at Turtlerock Studios in Sydney by Rick O’Neill, it’s brimming with Saucisson, Vin Rouge and bawdy cowpunk rock and roll.

• dave favours
• penny ikinger
• spencer p jones
• the johnnys
• the dunhill blues
• rick o'neill
• van ruin
• live in lyon
• murrays bay country club
• the vibrajets
• the australian beefweek show

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How do you like dem green apples? The Pingers might be your new favourite punk rock band

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By The Barman

The Barman

07 May 2025

Hits: 1293

Green Apple – The Pingers (Evil Tone)

Like an episode of that boring TV circle-jerk "QandA", there’s something to offend everyone on the debut album for Aussie punks The Pingers. Excessive drinking; scoring ecstasy from your mum and putting it in your bum; debates about who’s a cunt and who’s a fuckwit and; shitting your pants are among topics debated (and that’s just the first four songs).

Teagz (vocals), Casey (guitar and vocals), Ollie  (bass) and Steeno (drums) don’t come to praise punk rock, they come to colloidally evacuate its bowel, and they’re using base humour as a lubricant.

“Green Apple” is a barrage of rapid-fire punk that’s over in 20 minutes. It’s two girls and two guys with 10 original songs - one briefly reprised in death metal style so I suppose that makes it 11 - and a cover of “Phone keys smokes wallet” by The Frangipanis.

• the pingers
• green apple
• evil tone

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ZOOBOMBS landing back in Australia

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By The Barman

The Barman

06 May 2025

Hits: 551

Tokyo funk-garage rockers ZOOBOMBS are back in Australia after more than a decade away. A May and June 2025 tour will bring them to Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne.

The band will be releasing a new Australian edition of their classic 1999 album “Let It Bomb” via Cheersquad Records & Tapes and May 23.

ZOOBOMBS have captivated audiences worldwide and shared stages with the likes of The Black Keys and Jon Spencer Blues Explosion. First turning heads Down Under on the Big Day Out festival tour in 2001, their high-octane performances leave a lasting imprint.

Regurgitator's Ben Ely is playing with ZOOBOMBS in Brisbane with his band Ben Ely and The Mango Fungo Band, and The Meanies and Rocket Science are each one one of their two Melbourne shows.

ZOOMBOMBS (JP)
Australian Tour
MAY
29 – The Crowbar, Brisbane
+ The Unknowns + Ben Ely and The Mango Fungo Band 
30 – The Crowbar, Sydney
+ The Unknowns + Liquid Zoo 
JUN
1– The Evelyn, Fitzroy
w/ The Meanies + The Vovos 
2 – Kindred Studio, Footscray
w/ Rocket Science 
Tickets

• australian tour
• 2025
• zoobombs

Oz shows for noise rock kings The Jesus Lizard

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By The Barman

The Barman

06 May 2025

Hits: 1234

_{Photo by @thetinfoilbiter.jpg}

The Jesus Lizard are returning to Australia for the first time since 1994, playing three shows in October. The 2024 release of their seventh studio LP, “Rack” has marked a re-birth for band and the album has garnered great reviews.

Since their inception in Austin, Texas, in 1987, the Jesus Lizard has thrilled audiences all over the planet. The rocket-thrust rhythm section of bassist David Wm. Sims and drummer Mac McNeilly remains the perfect launchpad for guitarist Duane Denison’s jagged riffing and vocalist David Yow’s mercurial vocalisations.

The Jesus Lizard
Australian Tour
OCT
15 - The Croxton, Melbourne, VIC
+ The Nation Blue
Tickets
17 - Liberty Hall (ex Max Watts), Sydney, NSW
+ The Nation Blue
Tickets                        
19 -  Crow Bar, Brisbane, QLD
+ The Nation Blue
Tickets

• australian tour
• 2020
• the jesus lizard
• david yow

New Christs announce European, Australian dates

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By The Barman

The Barman

06 May 2025

Hits: 1805

The New Christs have confirmed a UK and Europe tour in August 2025 – their first gigs on the Continent in 11 years.  The 18-date tour kicks off in Manchester, UK, on August 19 and includes Glasgow and London before making its way to Italy, France and Spain.

Closer to home, tickets are on sale for their Sydney show with The On and Ons on June 6 here and they’ll play with Tumbleweed at the Hamilton Station Hotel in Newcastle on June 21. Tickets for that gig are here. 

Click MORE for overseas dates.

• tumbleweed
• new christs
• rob younger
• european tour

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Vale James Baker. Born To Be Loved.

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By The Barman

The Barman

06 May 2025

Hits: 2201

The term “legend” is readily applied in rock and roll it but it belonged to James Baker. Drummer, at various times, for the Hoodoo Gurus, Scientists, The Victims, Beasts of Bourbon, The Dubrovniks and The Beasts, James succumbed to cancer at home in Perth last night, aged 71.

Tributes have been flying around the Interwebs all day and two of the best come from Melbourne and Sydney. They bear repetition here.

• beasts of bourbon
• james baker
• hoodoo gurus
• the scientists
• the beasts
• the victims
• the dubrovniks

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Budd team with some heavy hitters for run of split-single shows

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By The Barman

The Barman

05 May 2025

Hits: 531

The current iteration of ‘90s alternative rock band Budd (right) are releasing their new split seven-inch single with Geelong band Smoke Witch ahead of a run of New South Wales and Victorian shows.

Budd has lasted through numerous line-up changes, since the heady days of the early ‘90s, releasing four albums and three EPs that captured the of grunge, stoner rock, punk, and hard rock.



Originally from Brisbane, the current Melbourne-based line-up is original guitarist Jeremy Finlayson, with drummer Cris Wilson (Warped, Hoss, Johnny Casino, Legends of Motorsport) and bassist Kez (Holocene, Autohaze, Sunset Strip, Magnolia Strip).  

“Banger” is the single and you can hear it here.

Budd will be joined at the NSW shows by Sydney heavy blues/doom rock band Hekate, Melbourne's Spitting Chips (ex Cosmic Psychos members), and reunited ‘90s Sydney band Drill, who will also head to Melbourne for release shows in Geelong and Melbourne.

MAY
9  – Link & Pin, Woy Woy 
w/ Hekate + Spitting Chips
FB EVENT  TICKETS
10 - Moshpit, Sydney - 2 SHOWS!
Afternoon show w/ Spitting Chips + Drill
FB EVENT  TICKETS
Evening show w/ Hekate + Spitting Chips
FB EVENT  TICKETS
11 - La La La's, Wollongong
w/ Hekate + Spitting Chips
FB EVENT  TICKETS
23 - Stone Vault Studios, Fyansford (Geelong)
w/ Smoke Witch + Drill (NSW)
FB EVENT  TICKETS AT DOOR
24 - Last Chance Rock & Roll Bar
w/ Smoke Witch + Drill (NSW)
FB EVENT  TICKETS

• cosmic psychos
• budd
• spitting chips
• drill