The King of Vice

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By Robert Brokenmouth

Robert Brokenmouth

06 September 2023

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_{Richard Sharman photo.}

The label "Elder Statesman" doesn’t do Ed Kuepper justice. His career started in 1973 and spans the Saints, Laughing Clowns, The Aints! and scores of bands bearing his own name. His solo work explores a wide range of musical styles, including punk (whatever that is), folk, rock, blues, and jazz. 

His landmark solo records, "Electrical Storm” (notably his first) and "Honey Steel's Gold" (his break-out effort) were recently re-mastered and re-issued. Sounds like a good excuse for an Australian tour, not to mention an interview at the hands of Robert Brokenmouth. Here’s how it played out. 

• saints
• ed kuepper
• laughing clowns
• the aints
• rowland s. howard
• australian tour
• electrical storm
• honey steel's gold

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It's Time for Pocketwatch

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By Edwin Garland

Edwin Garland

31 August 2023

Hits: 3594

It’s Time - Pocketwatch (self released)

Pocketwatch sprang out of the garage and onto the Sydney music scene just on a year ago, and within months were a “must see” with their infectious and full-on energy shows.  

Capturing the spirit of 1977 and the melodic British punk of The Jam and The Clash, they had lashings of melodic hooks. Their youngest member was only 15-years-old which limited the venues they could play. Despite that handicap, they had a work ethic - and it showed. They became tighter with every gig and delivered some blistering shows.

Songwriter Angus Ross emerged out of his bedroom with a batch of songs he’d been creating for a fews years and teamed with the amazing rhythm section that is Jamie Woodward on bass and Sam McInerney-Wand on drums. 

• pocketwatch
• it's time
• Angus Ross
• sam mcinerney-wand
• jamie woodward

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Those Hollywood Nights are winding down

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By Edwin Garland

Edwin Garland

24 August 2023

Hits: 5933

The Loud Hailers.
Hollywood Hotel, Surry Hills, NSW
Thursday, August 14, 2023 

Photos: Nick Bleszynski 

Sydney was once a dangerous place.

As a teenager from the bush, I had read about live music venues like French’s and The Southern Cross Hotel; actually being there was a baptism of fire. 

It was the music that attracted me to the inner city in – particular, Surry Hills. It was the heart of a city where there was a pub with music on every corner, and where you could see your first band at 8pm and move from one venue to the next. You could still be watching a band at 3am in Kings Cross – even on a week night.  

It was dangerous yet romantic, a place of beauty with a view of its Harbour but one with a dark undercurrent of lawlessness, corruption and gangs that went back to the Rum Rebellion.

• loud hailers
• christa hughes
• hollywood hotel
• doris goddard
• ben fink
• Ivan jordan
• Catherine Gregory
• Surry Hills

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You're invited to a three-day party by some blokes you can trust

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By The Barman

The Barman

22 August 2023

Hits: 2454

Australia's Cosmic Psychos have racked up 40 years and will play three very special shows in rural Castlemaine, Victoria - a short stagger from mainman Ross Knight’s farm.

The main shindig takes place at the Theatre Royal on December 1-3 with Cosmic Psychos rounding up all their favourite bands (and some very impressive surprise guests) for a wild weekend down at Knighty’s local. 

In addition to the big bash, there will be more events and parties around town so grab some mates, load the esky and fang it to Victoria’s goldfield country for a big ol’ bender.And, because it’s their anniversary, Cosmic Psychos also want to kick back and enjoy the festivities, so they’ve roped in some very special bands to headline each show.

• mad macka
• cosmic psychos
• pat todd
• thee cha cha chas
• blowers
• the prize
• the chats
• dean muller
• Castlemaine

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A little bit of wonderment from a Surry Hills "vocal booth"

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By Bob Short

Bob Short

20 August 2023

Hits: 2714

Mother - Members of The Professors (self released)

You'd think that all the barrels had been scraped. It's not as if there hasn't been a pile of annotated double CD sets purporting to present a Nuggets-style reproduction of the punk/new wave, not-so-halcyon Australian sounds of the late ‘70s.

Okay, I know that Filth were recorded at the Adelaide University gig but I can only assume those tapes have vanished.

But other than that, what could be still out there?

I should have known something was up when late '70s inner-Sydney raised guitarist Bruce Tindale started posting gleeful pictures of yore on his Facebook page. This morning I was rudely awakened by a ding on my phone. The ding led to this.

• sydney
• the professors
• steven vineberg
• bruc tindale
• Sydney punk

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Iggy and the Stooges: The Truth Is In The Book They Made

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By The Barman

The Barman

19 August 2023

Hits: 3036

The Truth Is In The Sound We Make 
by Carlton Sandercock and Per Nilsen
Wintergarden Books 

It is The Last Word in illustrated Stooges books.

Big statement, and the competition has been stiff. 

Change my mind. 

First there was 2009’s lavish “Stooges: The Authorized and Illustrated Story” by Robert Matheu (R.I.P.) and Jeffrey Morgan that chronicled the band’s two careers in pictures and essays. 

Ten years later, photographer Ed Caraeff’s “Iggy & the Stooges: One Night at the Whisky” was a beautiful visual document of a 1970 Los Angeles show during the recording. of “Fun House”. It was limited in scope but evocative in execution.  

A few years later, “Iggy & The Stooges: Raw Power” by the late Mick Rock followed. Rock not only captured the memorable image on the cover of “Raw Power”, taken at the Stooges’ only UK show, but a slew of images of the boys during downtime.

“Total Chaos” by Iggy and Jeff Gold contained rare documents and handbills, but was mainly text and most of the live photos were familiar.  

So Wintergarden Books (publishing arm of Easy Action Records), has scooped the pool with this 300-page, hard cover behemoth. 

• iggy pop
• james williamson
• carlton-sandercock
• scott asheton
• iggy & the stooges
• ron asheton
• iggy and the stooges
• dave alexander
• per nilsen
• wintergarden

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Rats in the ranks

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By The Barman

The Barman

19 August 2023

Hits: 1988

Should Have Smelt a Rat – The Howlin’ Rats (self released)

 The debut album from this Newcastle, Australia, trio is an auspicious one. Its sound harks back to the early ‘70s, and it sits out in the blues rock cosmos like an orphan child of Chain, Blue Cheer and the early Deep Purple. 

Unlike the body of work that Chain left behind, it’s light on for the boogie beat. The Howlin’ Rats cook up a main of prog rock-tinged doom with a mild sense of psychedelics-induced foreboding on the side. It’s the blues, Scotty, but probably not as you know it. Someone get them on a bill with Datura4.

The Howlin’ Rats came about from a jam at a 2019 open mic at Hiss & Crackle Records in Newcastle’s Wallsend Delta when nobody else showed up.

• hiss and crackle
• howlin' rats
• the parade
• should have smelt a rat

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JJ McCann Transmission previews album with "Forces At Work"

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By The Barman

The Barman

17 August 2023

Hits: 2479

Veteran rock and roll force of nature James McCann is previewing his forthcoming Rob Younger-produced album with a fresh single, “Forces At Work”, co-written with his late mate, Spencer P Jones.

Now going under the name JJ McCann Transmission, the Melbourne-based singer-guitarist will release the full-length “Hit With Love” on Cheersquad Records on September 15.  

The new single and album are McCann's first new releases since he co-produced the acclaimed tribute to Spencer P Jones, “All The Way With SPJ”, which included Chris Bailey of The Saints, Kid Congo, Adalita, Violent Femmes, Alejandro Escovedo, Jim Moginie of Midnight Oil and The Drones.

A 30-year veteran of the Australian rock’n’roll scene, McCann knows something about the brutal reality of the independent music scene. After cutting his teeth in the vibrant Perth music community, McCann moved to Sydney in the early 1990s where he joined the Hard-Ons spin-off outfit Nunchukka Superfly.

• spencer p jones
• james mccann
• cheersquad records
• jj mccann
• transmission

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Johnny Casino back for shows in Sydney and Melbourne

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By The Barman

The Barman

15 August 2023

Hits: 1836

Ramblin’ gamblin’ guitar man Johnny Casino is taking leave of his adopted home of Spain in October to play two shows in Australia. 

Sunday, October 8 he and The Secrets play Petersham Bowling Club on a tribute to late Asteroid B612 bandmate Scotty Nash.

Support will come from The Carrie Affair, The Escapes, Dave Favours and The Roadside Ashes and Scotty and the Family Nash, a supergroup of Nash musical mates.

The handful of tickets that remain for the 4pm gig are here. 

In Melbourne, Johnny and The Secrets will play one night only at The Old Bar, Fitzroy, on Friday, October 6. Special guests are the Simon Juliff Band and Rockin' Pelmets. Tickets for that one can be had here.

• sydney
• johnny casino
• tribute
• Scott Nash