“The Hard Stuff: Dope, Crime, the MC5, and My Life of Impossibilities” by Wayne Kramer (Da Capo)

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By The Barman

The Barman

19 September 2018

Hits: 5885

It’s a truism that stated fact sits at one end of the scale and fiction at the other, with the truth lying somewhere in-between. Ex-MC5 guitarist Wayne Kramer has been a divisive figure at times - the stillborn “A True Testimonial” documentary, anyone? - so parts of his story will be disputed by some.

Ultimately, though, it’s pointless buying into all that. “The Hard Stuff” is Kramer’s own story and it’s told from his own perspective. None of the other people still standing are offering alternative perspectives (although the posthumous autobiography from bandmate Mike Davis is out there, too.) On its merits, “The Hard Stuff” is a rollicking read with only a few stones left unturned.

The plotline for dummies: Kramer’s the working class Detroit kid from a broken family who shook off the handicap of an abusive stepfather and forged his own musical way. He was a founding member of the radical chic MC5 and remains a compellingly lyrical guitar player who’s influenced countless others. 

“The Hard Stuff” takes us through the rise and fall of the 5, Kramer’s slide into crime, his imprisonment for drug dealing, ongoing battles with booze and smack, career revival and personal redemption through hard work and love.

• mc5
• wayne kramer
• the hard stuff
• rob tyner
• dennis thompson
• michael davis
• fred sonic smith
• a true testimonial

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The Church of Simultaneous Existence - The Aints! (ABC Records)

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By The Barman

The Barman

18 September 2018

Hits: 7372

Have you heard that the people at Warner Bros are working on a re-make of the Road Runner cartoon? Hollywood has unfailingly screwed up the legacy of almost every other iconic TV show with a lame makeover, so why the hell not?

Rock and roll has its own history of reinvention and Australia’s master of the art is onetime Saint, Ed Kuepper.

Kuepper’s enduring career has been through more twists and turns than Wile E. Coyote navigating a cliff-side road on an ACME corporation-sponsored suicide mission, but unlike the bird-seeking missile of cartoon fame, he usually delivers his payload with unerring accuracy.

So make no mistake:  “The Church of Simultaneous Existence” is a controlled demolition that’s worthy of comparisons to his most seminal work.

• ed kuepper
• peter oxley
• the saints
• paul larsen-loughhead
• abc records
• the church of simultaneous indifference

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Everything’s Gonna Be Alright – Handsome Jack (Alive Naturalsounds)

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By The Barman

The Barman

12 September 2018

Hits: 4503

A word about words: Albums should be all about music, but descriptors count because they convey an identifiable concept of what the music sounds like. Lockport, New York, Handsome Jack’s record label, Alive Naturalsounds, calls them “boogie soul”. That cap fits…so you know the rest about wearing it.

Fourteen years into the game and “Everything’s Gonna Be Alright” is the third long-player for Handsome Jack since they kicked off as a trio of precocious teens in a ubiquitous garage. Two of the three members remain - drummer Bennie Hayes is a newcomer - and while stability like that is a rarity, it’s also a virtue.

Guitarist Jamison Passuite summons up John Fogerty with his rich and resonant vocal on opening track “Keep On”; other places he echoes Southern rock and Stax soul. Throw in some Delta blues and the rest of this sure-footed, grooving album doesn’t stray far from the inspirational well. Many, if not most, of their influences seem to have been around before these guys were born. Is that a bad thing?

• boogie pimps
• alive natural sounds
• memphis soul
• handsome jack
• everything's gonna be alright

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Electric Demon - The Deadvikings (Zodiac Killer Records)

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By The Barman

The Barman

11 September 2018

Hits: 4441

They might not be Japan’s most prolific rock and roll band but The Deadvikings’ two full-length albums each pack a considerable punch. This one dates from early in their 11-year history and delivers their Hellacopters style jams in spade-loads.

The Deadvikings toured last year’s “Libertatia” in Australia - well, in Sydney - and they're back in 2018, confusingly pushing their first CD from 10 years ago. Ours is not to reason why...

"Electric Demon" has some wayward moments (the ragged "The Ripper" and the low-key opening title track, which sounds underdone) but for the most part, it's surging high-energy rock songs. They're clearly in the thrall of the 'Copters and their Scandi Rock contemporaries, but this is hardly a bad thing when done right.

• live
• japanese
• hellacopters
• australian
• dead vikings
• electric demon

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Born Out Of Time festival just days away

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By The Barman

The Barman

11 September 2018

Hits: 4224

Do you have tickets yet for the garage punk gig of the year? It's on in Sydney this Saturday night and you can buy a ticket for Born Out Of Time #1 here. All pre-sales will receive a free CD of bands playing the series of bills.

Presented by Off The Hip Records and I-94 Bar., the first of a swries of shows will feature Grindhouse, The Crusaders, The Beat Taboo, Aberration and The Devours. Make a beeline for Marrickville Bowling Club. Doors open at 7pm and the event runs until 1am.   

• punk
• garage
• marrickville bowling club
• born out of time

Get Off My Wah Wah…And Suck This – Bored! (Bang! Records)

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By The Barman

The Barman

11 September 2018

Hits: 5876

Issued as a cassette in 1988 in a limited run of 300, these are the first recordings of Bored! Expect no studio wankery or sonic polishing, other than the obvious mastering from cassette to vinyl. This is how the band sounded when they were a bunch of pups from Geelong, playing on the floor of their local record store.

Bang! Records is run by a couple of Basque Country rock and roll fanatics who have championed Beasts of Bourbon and various spin-offs, a host of scuzzy Downtown Manhattan noise-makers and the so-called Geetroit Sound. This recycled gem is on LP only and follows 2016’s “Piggyback” compilation of lost recordings on the same label.

While chowing down on early Stooges songs might be ho-hum in these Post Pop Reunion times, Bored! was really pushing envelopes in post-punk Melbourne and its environs. That explains the three-in-a-row inclusion of “I Wanna Be Your Dog”, “No Fun” and “TV Eye”. “No Fun” especially has intuitively weaving guitar fireworks from Dave Thomas and John Nolan that should make your jaw gape.

• melbourne
• bang! records
• john nolan
• bored!
• get off my wah wah...and suck on this
• dave thomas

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Sydney bands get behind 2RRR

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By The Barman

The Barman

10 September 2018

Hits: 4920

Underground music would be even further below the radar without community radio. That's why a group of Sydney-Central Coast bands are putting their weight behind a fund-raiser for 2RRR next month.

Aberration, The Balkan Grill, The On and Ons and The Baddies (pictured right) are playing North Ryde RSL on October 7. The gig runs from noon and admission is $20 at the door.

2RRR Fundraiser
Aberration
+ The Balkan Grill
+ The On and Ons + The Baddies
North Ryde RSL
- Oct 7
(Noon-6pm)

• the on and ons
• 2rrr-fm
• aberration
• fundraiser
• the baddies
• the balkan grill

Are you ready for the Space Boozzies?

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By The Barman

The Barman

10 September 2018

Hits: 3703

Sydney’s Dunhill Blues are on hiatus so what’s a poor boy to do but to sing and play in (another) rock and roll band? Adam Brzozowski from the Dunnies has formed Space Boozzies, described as “a mongrel dog from the Central Coast featuring members of all the popular surf/garage/rock bands you've never heard of”.

Space Boozzies’ Mikey Young-mastered debut album ”I Feel Alright” is being pressed right now – pre-orders are open here  - and the band is doing a run of shows in Northern New South Wales and Queensland to celebrate.

They’ll be touring with Son of Jaguar, the Coffs Coast's “kings of sweat-drenched, hip-shakin' rock'n'roll since 2016”. Their debut record “King Hit” is a twin-axe attack that gnaws at garage-punk's bones and is out on Conquest for Noise.

Space Boozzies-Son of Jaguar
Australian East Coast Tour
SEPTEMBER
28 - The Gollan, Lismore
+ The Antibodies
29 - East Brisbane Bowls Club (Space Boozies only)
with Public Execution + Fred Band + Koko Uzi
OCTOBER
12 - MoshPit, Newtown
w/Good Pash + Tweerkerz
13 – The Lass, Newcastle
+ Bitchcraft

• the dunhill blues
• space boozzies
• the antibodies
• son of jaguar

Japanese protopunks The Deadvikings set sail for Sydney's shores

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By The Barman

The Barman

09 September 2018

Hits: 4012

Japan’s The Deadvikings return to claim their stake and expand their domination over Sydney this week with their ultimate heavy protopunk.

Their four-day Japanese invasion - their second in a year - starts at The Old Manly Boatshed on September 27 with locals Tshatki and 4 Barrel Hemi. Entry is free. 

Day 2 (September 28) sees a foray in to new territory via Paddington's Captain Cook Hotel sharing the helm with goth rockers RK Ally, Black Knuckles and Black Heart Breakers. Entry is $10 at th door. 

The third gig is a return to iconic inner west venue The Townie at Newtown on September 29, with Eightball Junkies and BUNT. Free entry.

Day 4 peaks at the empyrean of Sunday venues, Frankie's Pizza, in the CBD on September 30 with Stu G's Cloak & Dagger kicking off followed by cosmic sludge monarchs Lord Dodongo and US trio BOYTOY, making their Aussie debut. No cover charge. 

• sydney
• australian tour
• dead vikings

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