Say goodbye? Hunnas have still got it

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By Robert Brokenmouth

Robert Brokenmouth

05 March 2017

Hits: 4571

_{Mark Seymour of Hunters and Collectors.   Mandy Tzaras photo}

Hunters and Collectors at the Clipsal 500 in Adelaide? Dunno about you but we started the year behind and so far we’re still behind. So we didn’t think we’d be able to go to this, and planned accordingly to see Fear and Loathing at the Metro instead.

It’s a nightmare place to navigate, is Adelaide. Circling the city are roadworks (which take four times longer to do than in Syd or Melb) and go-slower signs everywhere which result in funding for local government. This week’s big car race this week has caused 40 percent of the public transport and cars to divert, thus clogging up the rest of the roads; Festival and Fringe are cluttering up the place with doofus tourists in daggy clothing and "duh" expressions...

I know people who only visit the city between April and November because they can't stand it and are fed up with struggling through the traffic. A lot of "normal" businesses lose money because of it. And all, one suspects, to sell alcohol.

• live
• adelaide
• hunters and collectors
• baby animals
• battlehounds
• byzantines

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The Glory Days of Aussie Pub Rock Vol 1 - Various Artists (Festival)

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By The Barman

The Barman

01 March 2017

Hits: 5315

“What's he doing reviewing THAT?”

Only people of a certain age will “get” this review. The term "Guilty Pleasure" will not be used at any point.

Admit it, punk. If you grew up in Australia in the 1970s and ‘80s (OK, you were might have been underage and still growing up, but you could sneak into licensed premises) and lived anywhere outside of Melbourne and Sydney’s inner-city regions, a dose of Pub Rock was unavoidable. A way of life, even.

• lime spiders
• paul kelly
• radio birdman
• ted mulry
• cold chisel
• jimmy barnes
• glory days of aussie pub rock
• screaming tribesmen
• the saints
• boys next door
• the church
• richard clapton
• swanee

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The Velvet Underground. Complete Released Works. Part Five

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By Robert Brokenmouth

Robert Brokenmouth

01 March 2017

Hits: 8773

So on to "The Velvet Underground" (aka The Third LP). As Velvets fans know, this is the first LP with Doug Yule replacing John Cale.

Disc One is the more usually recognised Val Valentin mix (the mix used for the 1980s reissue onwards); Disc Two is Reed’s slightly later ‘closet’ mix (the mix used for the original 1960s LP), or or Peel Slowly) and, for the first time in any broader sense, the Promotional Mono Mix (with the two shorter songs from the single).

The Val Valentin mix is the one I grew up with, as did several generations of later fans and musicians; so both mixes are obviously essential in the same box set, as is the rarely-heard promotional mono mix - it was several years became stereo became the norm, rather than mono. Curiously, the mono mix reduces the length of several songs, but adds a few bare seconds here and there.

In 2014, Discs Five and Six here were revelatory, ensuring purchase (one of the reasons I forked out). Most of these recordings were unreleased in 2014, but today, in the light of the "Matrix Tapes", surely they’re surplus to requirements.

I mean, there’s nothing wrong with these last two discs in themselves, or the order in which the songs appear here; these discs present the band doing two very different gigs; they’re at their most ferocious and their gentlest. Me, I rather enjoy the different tracking (to the "Matrix Tapes") which the Deluxe Box provides here, so I’ll be returning to these discs myself. But you shouldn’t need this box for that reason if you already have the "Matrix Tapes".

• lou reed
• velvet underground
• doug yule
• john cale
• mo tucker
• sterling morrison
• third album

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The Undertones go chasing Teenage Kicks in Australia

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By The Barman

The Barman

28 February 2017

Hits: 3559

Legendary first wave Irish punks The Undertones will make their live Australian debut this July.

The Undertones earned seven top 40 UK singles and three top 20 UK albums between 1978 and 1981. Their debut single "Teenage Kicks" was influential English DJ John Peel'’s favourite single of all time.

• tour
• australian
• the undertones

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Gypsy Mojo - The Hollerin Sluggers (self released)

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By The Barman

The Barman

28 February 2017

Hits: 5403

Born out of a surf club fundraiser, this trio from the Manly Dam Delta on Sydney’s Northern Beaches have just rolled out album number two. “Gypsy Mojo” makes it clear that if The Hollering Sluggers have sold their souls to the Devil at the Brookvale Oval crossroads, they ain’t getting a refund.

The Sluggers are a trio playing blue collar blues with a distinct rock and roll edge. There’s no new ground being broken on “Gypsy Mojo” but that’s not going to worry fans of this style. It’s honest and unpretentious blues-rock.

• sydney
• blues rock
• hollerin sluggers
• chain

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How Dave Weyer helped Jimi and Neil shape the sounds of the '60s

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By Ken Shimamoto

Ken Shimamoto

27 February 2017

Hits: 12677

_{Dave Weyer circa 1969: Sought after Hollywood sound architect.}

DATELINE 1999 - If you're a regular here at the I-94 Bar, chances are good that you have a more than passing interest in the music of Deniz Tek. Granted, the Radio Birdman mastermind's music has taken a markedly experimental turn over his last couple of albums -- one which hasn't found universal favor among fans of Birdman and his earlier solo work. But give the Iceman his due for hewing true to his uncompromising vision and never failing to make challenging, stimulating music.

Since the "Italian Tour" and "Bad Road" EPs and the "Le Bonne Route" album, a key element in the Deniz Tek sound has been one David Weyer, owner/operator of the studio in Laurel, Montana, which bears his name. As engineer and co-producer, Dave is the man who's helped realize Dr. Rock's prescriptions on tape and disc, and he has a fascinating story of his own to tell...

He's been a musician, inventor, a resident of L.A.'s Laurel Canyon during the frenetic '60s, amp technician to a host of guitar greats including Neil Young and Jimi Hendrix. Over a virtual beer or two, we talked about Dave's facinating past and his work with Deniz on projects past, present, and future.

Dave Weyer bellied up at the bar with me from his home in Laurel, Montana, on Sunday afternoon, October 3, 1999.

• radio birdman
• deniz tek
• jim dickson
• jimi hendrix
• dave weyer
• kent steedman
• nik reith
• jimi hendrix experience

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…disasterpiece – Powerline Sneakers (Kasumuen Records)

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By The Barman

The Barman

24 February 2017

Hits: 7579

There’s a beautiful, sleazy rock and roll feel to “…disasterpiece” that’s refreshingly hard to pin down. From the rumbling and seedy “Dream Feature” to the girl-group-on-steroids swagger of “Don’t Shit Me Now”, and even more Spectoresque glow of “Spectre” (ha!), it’s an avalanche of hard-boiled hard Rock Action.

That Powerline Sneakers rock like motherfuckers should come as no surprise, given the pedigree of the players. Lead guitarist John Nolan was in the Powder Monkeys and Bored!. Sly Faulkner, on vocals and guitar, fronted the Splatterheads, who were well regarded even if I never got into ‘em. Bassist Katie Dixon was in Ripe and Mark Hurst pounded the tubs for The Yes-Men and Gutternsipes.

• powder monkeys
• bored!
• powerline sneakers
• Kasumuen Records
• guttersnipes

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Datura4 bring their heavy jams east

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By The Barman

The Barman

21 February 2017

Hits: 7064

_{Robbie Harrold photo}

One of the album highlights of 2016 was "Demon Blues", the debut release by Perth-based rock-psych-boogie band Datura4.

A quartet led by Stems/DM3 songwriter Dom Mariani and ex-New Christs, You Am I, Bamboos and Monarchs guitarist Greg Hitchcock, With Stu Loasby (bass) and Warren Hall (drums) completing the line-up, Datura4 conjure a heady mix of guitar-raunch 'n' roll and heavy melodic jams - in the tradition of the Colored Balls and Masters Apprentices, yet unlike any other Australian band currently treading the boards.

Their second album "Hairy Mountain" has recently been unleashed by US label Alive Natural Sounds and we chased down Dom Mariani for a brief grilling, ahead of a quick-fire tour of Australia's East Coast.  

• stems
• majestic kelp
• datura4
• you am i
• dom mariani
• greg hitchcock
• stonefish
• stu loasby
• warren hall

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TENZEROEIGHT - The Undermines (self released)

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By Robert Brokenmouth & The Barman

Robert Brokenmouth & The Barman

20 February 2017

Hits: 6448

It’s taken me a little while to get to this one, and I wish I’d got here sooner.

There’s 12 tracks, nine by guitarist Dylan Webster, three by other guitarist Jason Sharples. With your bass by Dave Lundquest, drums by Serge Ou (no, really, that’s what it says here) and vocals by Michael Preiss… we’re looking at a band capable, if we read the back of the CD right, of constructing and delivering the twin guitar assault.

Do they?

My oath they do.

• detroit
• the fools
• radio birdman
• deniz tek
• rob younger
• undermines
• the visitors

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