Rod McLeod and his part in the Punk Wars of Brisbane 1977-83

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By Donat Tahiraj

Donat Tahiraj

18 December 2023

Hits: 6503

Brisbane music stalwart Rod McLeod died last week after a short and aggressive bout of lung and liver cancer which went to his brain. LCMR Records head, Queensland underground music archivist and friend Donat Tahiraj has penned this remembrance. 

* * * * * 

I first met Rod McLeod sometime in the 1990s when record fairs in Brisbane happened only quarterly. It was a time when vinyl records weren’t exactly in the front of many music listener’s minds.

The occasion was in the sheds of the Mt Gravatt showgrounds. My fellow record-collecting friend Mick Baker and I had noticed a man wearing a seemingly homemade t-shirt with a white iron-on transfer among a sea of people.

Upon closer inspection, he was holding a small handful of 7” singles which, prior to the explosion of eBay, were only obtainable by chance or through want lists. Facing towards our line of sight was one by the Bodysnatchers – a Brisbane punk band that played one show in 1979 and happened to release a record that same year. Its cover with the band’s name done in spray paint in white on a black background was in fact inspired by the “Neu! ’75” shirt that Rod had thrown on that Saturday morning.

• brisbane
• leftovers
• LCMR Records
• donat tahiraj
• fun things
• rod mcleod
• bodysnatchers
• just urbain
• warren lamond
• ed wreckage

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A coast with the most

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By The Barman

The Barman

14 December 2023

Hits: 1694

Indie Sounds From The Cenny Coast - Various Artists (Vinil Records)

A lot of people try before they buy physical CDs or vinyl, whether it be via streaming or the ubiquitous Bandcamp website. 

Fair enough, too; If the various post offices around the globe are going to ream you and make you take out a second mortgage just to have something shipped across international borders in a padded envelope, you wanna be sure it’s music that’s worth playing more than once. 

Unless you’re one of those vinyl-fixated numb-nuts that buys every coloured variant of the latest release and photographs the sealed copies on a custom-built shelving unit for other fools to admire on Insta, you probably care more about the music than the medium.

Just remember, they’re records not vinyls, and that we’re here to help.

• vi-nil records
• indie sounds from the cenny coast

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Stones or Diamonds? A Penny for your thoughts

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By Robert Brokenmouth

Robert Brokenmouth

11 December 2023

Hits: 2742

Catipalism: Where cats become dissatisfied with its lot they are unable to rise up in revolt clutching scythes, axes and burning brands (for all sorts of reasons) and decapitate their 'owner', so whenever able, they head to nearby houses in search of better pats, better food and some peace and quiet.

This happened with my first cat Doody who, after shimmying through the side door, zipped off and simply never came back. A street crowded with houses with small yards, and a main road nearby ... I was desolate, until a few weeks later I spotted the little bugger on a wall nearby. He knew me, sniffed my hand, turned his bumhole on me and sodded off.

I'd fed the little bugger for 18 months and helped him whereever I could. Of course, I'd also had him desexed, for which he might not have forgiven me. And he managed to burn his whiskers once, before I could get to him. So, gratitude might not have been high on his list of priorities.

• rolling stones
• penny ikinger
• mick jagger
• travels and travails
• hackney diamonds

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Stu and his Connections are crawling back to you

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By The Barman

The Barman

05 December 2023

Hits: 2887

In the ever-evolving landscape of Australian rock and pop, Stu Wilson, the rhythmic backbone behind acts like Lime Spiders, Chris Masuak’s Dog Soldier, Aberration and New Christs, steps into the spotlight with his latest project, Stu & The Connections. 

Their new single, "Crawling Back to You" b/w "Best Of Me," marks a departure into a realm that's darker, moodier, yet unmistakably Stu.  

It intertwines Stu's signature pop sensibilities with a more brooding undercurrent, a blend that's as intoxicating as it is introspective. 

The flip side, "Best Of Me," offers a lyrical introspection matched with an acoustic backdrop that's both raw and refined. This release showcases the band's versatility, navigating the fine line between rock's ruggedness and pop's catchy melodies.

Both tracks are available digitally now on Bandcamp.

Check the video after the MORE link.

• new christs
• stu wilson
• lime spiders
• crankinhaus records
• Stu & The Connections
• crawling back to you
• chris masuak's dog solider

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Pat Todd weaves street-level magic Down Under

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By Edwin Garland

Edwin Garland

04 December 2023

Hits: 4256

Pat Todd
+ Mad Macka
Golden Barley Hotel, Enmore, NSW
Saturday, 25 November 2023 

Australian music legend and label owner Sebastian Chase once said to me: “Punk rock is folk music with volume - street music, if done right”. And with local bands like Cosmic Psychos and X, a case can certainly be prosecuted that street music and its stories can be  found in bars and pubs across the land.

Mad Macka has played his fair share of pubs and bars for almost 40 years, originally with The Onyas and lately with Cosmic Psychos. Macka’s music mirrors what you’ll still see and hear in drinking establishments across the land: cynical yarns by blokes on the punt and into their sixth schooner.

• mad macka
• cosmic psychos
• lazy cowgirls
• pat todd
• the onyas
• golden barley
• rankoutsiders

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Hellacopters to revisit "Grande Rock"

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By The Barman

The Barman

01 December 2023

Hits: 2956

Remember when high-energy Swedes The Hellacopters ruled in the ‘90s? They were everywhere and their 1999 album “Grande Rock” revealed the extent of the influence of good ol’ blue collar Midwestern rock and roll (read: MC5 and Sonic’s Rendezvous Band) on their music.

In case you weren’t aware, the reformed ‘Copters released their eighth studio album, “Eyes Of Oblivion” in 2022 – their first  since “Head Off” in 2008 - and it charted #1 in Sweden, #3 in Germany and #6 in Finland.

An now they’re re-issuing the out-of-print “Grande Rock” on February 16 in both remastered and remixed-and-remastered vinyl and CD versions, on Nuclear Blast Records in Australia. 

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The Damned to farewell Australia with Rat Scabies back on the kit

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By The Barman

The Barman

29 November 2023

Hits: 2771

The Damned are the unassailable living gods of Punk Rock; and for the have assembled the absolute classic line-up of the band for their farewell Australian tour in 2024.

Drummer Rat Scabies has rebuilt bridges and will rejoin the ranks, which these days comprises vocalist Dave Vanian, guitarist Captain Sensible and bassist Paul Gray.

The word from the Rat: “It seemed like the right time. We wanted to do this while we are all still upright, breathing and capable of doing it at a high level and challenge ourselves and each other for the fans. 

“We will play the best of ‘Machine Gun Etiquette’, ‘The Black Album’ and ‘Strawberries’ albums and chuck in all the other classics. Paul’s playing great (just did the Professor and the Madmen album thing with him), as is Captain and Dave’s singing great too so it’s going to be amazing to be back."

You know the history: “New Rose” is recognised as the first single by a punk band, coming out five weeks before the Sex Pistols’“Anarchy In the UK”… the first British punk band to tour the United States…pathfinders for Goth Rock. 

The Damned havce been regular Australian tourists but the band is billing this as their last tour here. They'll be doing it on the back of a 2023 album, "Darkadelic" that comes 46 year after their debut LP.

Pre-sale tickets are on sale here at from December 5 

The Damned Australian Tour
2024
MAR
20 - The Tivoli, Brisbane
21 - Enmore Theatre, Sydney
22 - Northcote Theatre, Melbourne
24 - Hindley St Music Hall, Adelaide
26 - Astor Theatre, Perth

• rat scabies
• the damned
• australian tour
• 2024

Completely At Ease

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By Patrick Emery

Patrick Emery

28 November 2023

Hits: 3309

_{Kim Scott.}  

Formed in Adelaide in the early 1980s and based on the core membership of brothers John (guitar) and Kim Scott (bass), The Mark of Cain was always something of an enigma in the Adelaide, and Australian independent music scene. 

The Mark of Cain took its initial musical cues from English post-punk bands like Joy Division and Gang of Four; the band’s muscular sound was complimented by a existentialist lyrical bent, inspired by John Scott’s interest in the writing of Jean-Paul Sartre, Albert Camus and Herman Hesse, spliced with figurative militaristic imagery. 

The fact that the Scott brothers, both qualified engineers, held down day jobs in the Department of Defence added to The Mark of Cain’s mystique. 

• the mark of cain
• australian tour
• 2023
• john scott
• kim scott
• ill at ease

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This Cousin's kiss contains a kick

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By The Barman

The Barman

27 November 2023

Hits: 1948

Cousin Betty – Cousin Betty (Vi-Nil Records)

You know you’re in for a different trip when the title of the opening track is: “If This Makes You Off Your Family, Please Contact Us For The Royalties”.

Cousin Betty are non-conformists in an age of conformity. Their music is a mix of hard-psych, high-energy Desert Sessions rock, industrial-tinged metal and lyrical blizzards. Sounds messy in print but somehow it works. 

The band is the brainchild of guitarist Damien Stofka (ex-Molten Universe) and vocalist-keyboardist Matt Downey (ex-Death Mattell). Originally a studio project, overseas airplay led to the assembly of a full-blown line-up. Members are scattered around Greater Sydney and its environs. Drummer Andi Dyson (Nitrocris), bassist Tara Doyle (Spurs For Jesus) and guitarist Astrid Carr (Madam Fatale, Quiet Carriage) completed the ranks and this is the debut long-player.

• cousin betty
• damien stofka
• matt downey
• nitrocris
• vi-nil records
• andi dyson
• astrid carr
• tara doyle

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