Things will get fuzzy with return of the Green Spiders

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By The Barman

The Barman

02 January 2023

Hits: 2363

It’s a bill to have fans of lysergic acid punk reaching into the cupboard for their paisley shirts and Cuban heeled boots, when the Green Spiders pair with old school punks Moot and garage throwbacks The Jane Does at Marrickville Bowling Club on Friday, February 24.

The Green Spiders come from the DNA of the Lime Spiders, Adolphus and The Most – all staples of the Strawberry Hills-Sydney Trade Union Club circuit in Sydney in the early ‘80s. They play the songs of the Lime Spiders that Green Spiders members penned.

Lime Spiders members Ged Corben (guitar), Tony Bambach (bass) and Tom Corben (drums) are joined by Ripley Hood (Mushroom Planet) on vocals to deliver a potent parade of hard rock and ‘60s punk gems.

• lime spiders
• marrickville bowling club
• green spiders
• moot
• jane does

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R.I.P. Scotty Nash of Asteroid B-612

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By The Barman

The Barman

29 December 2022

Hits: 4187

_{Asteroid B-612 with Scotty Nash, second from the right.}

Founding Asteroid B-612 bass player Scott Nash has passed away after a protracted illness.

His partner Sarah posted the following on Facebook earlier today:

With no fuss and a little bit of pain relief, the one-and-only Scotty Nash took his final bow last night. He loved and was loved by so many and leaves a hole that no-one will ever fill. Evie, Sam and I could not be more proud of who he was and how he lived his life, particularly these past few very difficult months.  Rest in peace now Scotty Nash .  We will love you forever.

The Asteroids released four studio albums during their original lifespan – “Asteroid B-612” (1993), “Forced into a Corner” (1994), “Not Meant for this World” (October 1996) and “Readin' Between the Lines” (2000), before disbanding in 2004.

One of the best bands of the '90s (or any other decade) to emerge from Sydney's Northern Beaches, they recently partially reformed for shows in Spain but Nash was unable to make it. More recently, Scott played with Newcastle band Rangers of The Universe. 

• asteroid b612
• vale
• scotty nash

Get messed up with JJ and The Real Jerks

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By The Barman

The Barman

27 December 2022

Hits: 2020

Mess You Up – JJ and The Real Jerks (Heavy Medication Records)

The lines are so blurred these days that you can’t guess where most bands applying a defibrillator to rock and roll’s ailing heart come from. So-called scenes are fragmented and the means of production rest in many sets of hands, thanks to technology and the information democracy of the Internet.

Wind back the clock a couple of decades and JJ and The Real Jerks could be from snowed-in Sweden or inner-city Sydney rather than sprawling Los Angeles.

This 12-inch, eight-song EP is razor sharp, fun garage rock and roll in the style of The Hives crossed with Dead Boys. Big twin guitars and occasional sax punctuate the songs, which throw up plenty of hooks.  

• los angeles
• heavy medication records
• jj and the real jerks
• mess you up

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Preytell, exhumed release is a corker

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By The Barman

The Barman

27 December 2022

Hits: 2777

The Lost(Ish) Tapes – The Preytells (Fantastic Mess Records)

It’s a four-song EP from an obscure (at least on the other side of the country) Adelaide band that deserved prominence - and might have managed it if they’d come from Sydney. The Preytells formed in 1986, shared stages with just about every worthwhile underground local band of the era.

These songs were among sixn recorded in ’92 for release by Greasy Pop. Alas, the band fell apart before that could happen, and singer Mick Reed left this world a month later. The tapes have been exhumed by boutique label Fantastic Mess Records and are superb ‘60s punk-inspired rock and roll.

• adelaide
• fantastic mess records
• preytells
• the lost(ish) tapes
• greasy pop

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Taking a trip on a Silver Machine

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By The Barman

The Barman

24 December 2022

Hits: 1800

Supersoncic Stargazer – Trip Pilots (self released)

No shock to discover Hawkwind is a cited influence for this UK trio. The EP’s title and band name are obvious clues. The revelation is that the CD’s four songs are a solid addition to the psych-stoner rock genre.

Swirling feedback and electronic chirping, some talking and a repetitive rhythm bed build an ethereal platform on opening track “Supersonic Stargazer” from which guitarist-vocalist Johnny Sharp solemnly intones. Spiralling guitar lines abound.

• hawkwind
• supersonic stargazer
• trip pilots
• johnny sharp

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Harry Howard's songs will stay with you

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By Robert Brokenmouth

Robert Brokenmouth

21 December 2022

Hits: 2056

Harry Howard Presents: Slight Pavilions – Harry Howard (Cranes Records)

If you'd made this LP, you'd be bloody proud. It's a triumph, as far as I'm concerned. 

How to get your attention?

Ah.

Remember those “Nuggets” compilations when they first came out, tipping what we knew of the 1960s upside our heads? How so many of those tracks had such a unique joy of life, such a moving intimacy?

“Slight Pavilions” sounds nothing like those “forgotten” independent records of the 1960s, but it certainly does have that joy of life, a profound intimacy, and more than a touch of the backyard rebel. It also echoes that strange late 1970s and early '80s period when so much experimentation was taking place... Technologically, the difference between then and now is profound and borderline unbelievable.

• nde
• harry howard
• crime and the city solution
• slight pavillions

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Serenades to darken your soul

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By Robert Brokenmouth

Robert Brokenmouth

21 December 2022

Hits: 2315

Wayward Serenades - Long Hours (Spooky Records)

The cover features a topless Julian Medor on his back on what looks like a garage floor covered in oil, eating his necklace, mic in hand and eyes shut. Shades of Darby Crash, and Iggy Pop.

Which are pretty good introductory comparisons, though Long Hours don't sound much like Iggy (well, alright, maybe “A Ghost To You”), but perhaps a bit like The Germs. But that's where comparisons pretty much end. 

• suicide
• spooky records
• the cramps
• wayward serenades
• long hours
• julian medor
• the germs

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Joey Bedlam has your Xmas charity angle covered

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By The Barman

The Barman

20 December 2022

Hits: 2279

Feeling Festive? Here’s a present for you in the shape of four songs from Joey Bedlam, leader of Melbourne band Dollsquad and better half of X frontman and solo artist in his own right, Steve Lucas.

Joey has assembled film clips for her tunes - all of them Shocking Blue covers - recorded with various bands outside of Dollsquad, including Perth's Chevelles. In the spirit of making somebody else’s Christmas a little brighter, she’s asking you to consider donating something to the Cancer Foundation.

Joey’s donation link is here and we’ll repeat it at the end of this story just to make it super easy, OK?

• chevelles
• dollsquad
• joey bedlam
• x band
• shocking blue

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Where's Wally? Everywhere, now that you ask

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By Patrick Emery

Patrick Emery

17 December 2022

Hits: 3043

 _{A tense moment at a Meanies band meeting: Wally Kempton-Meanie (right) comes to the realisation that it's his shout and he left his wallet in Spain.}

Wally Kempton is a busy man. Fresh from a Meanies tour of Spain (more on that later) last month, Kempton hopped off the plane in Melbourne and into the van for various tour managing duties.

In the coming days he’ll be rehearsing with Ash Naylor and Matt Cotter in preparation for next week’s annual Even Christmas shows, then regrouping with The Meanies for a gig at Hotel Westwood with Super American Eagle and Rocket Science. Then there’s the raft of current, imminent and potential signings to his Cheersquad Records label and associated promotional and general label managerial activities. “I just can’t stop!” Wally laughs.

• los chicos
• rocket science
• even
• wally kempton
• wally meanie
• cheersquad records
• super american eagle
• westwood hotel

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