Warmth below an old man's skin

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By Robert Brokenmouth

Robert Brokenmouth

13 February 2023

Hits: 2175

Mercy - John Cale: (Domino)

I confess my age: I missed John Cale’s Australian tour in 1975 (being 11 is no excuse, of course) but caught him at the Tivoli in Adelaide in ‘83, and again a few years later. Heard and have many of his albums, but confess that some are hit and miss, while others are (for me) spectacular. 

I-94 Barflies will recall that Cale was one of two “foundation members” of the Velvet Underground (which didn't stop him from being booted when Lou Reed felt threatened) and, shortly after, he produced a record by a bunch of laid-back savages from Detroit. If you're not sure who I mean, ask The Barman, he'll fill you in.

• mercy,
• lou reed
• john cale
• velvet undeground
• domino
• fat white family
• actress
• weyes blood
• sylvan esso
• animal collective

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Taking the musical moral high ground

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By The Barman

The Barman

12 February 2023

Hits: 2088

 Superioridad Moral – Dr Explosion (Slovenly)

Long story short: Spanish garage rock band that’s been on hiatus for 11 years resurfaces on an American label with a German office that sells records to the USA, Mexico and Japan as well as the EU. Sounds about right in today’s digital world, but it’s also proof that rock and roll still spans multiple cultural borders.  

As a confirmed Monolingual, I know when I’m beaten. “Superioridad Moral” (“Moral Superiority”) is sung entirely in Spanish. I have no clue what Dr Explosion is singing about. But the songs sound strong with touches of psych rock and pop running prominently throughout.

• slovenly
• spain
• supeiroidad moral
• dr explosion
• jorge explosion

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Swing meets that old swagger with Dave and Clare

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By Robert Brokenmouth

Robert Brokenmouth

12 February 2023

Hits: 1970

"In a MistLY" - Dave Graney and Clare Moore  (Cockaigne)

It's an astonishing thing, the passage of time. One minute we're slavering over the new LP by our superstar heroes and the next, it seems, we're old, fat and bald and fuck me sweetly, is this the 24th Dave Graney album? 

Sorry, not counting his time with The Moodists, live LPs, compilation LPs and soundtracks... 

How the fuck did that happen?

(Looks down at unacceptably fat tum, peers bewildered into mirror at fat bald git) 

(Winces as recognises self)

Ah well, at least there's the Dave Graney and Clare Moore LP, “In a MistLY”.

• clare
• cockaigne
• dave graney
• moodists
• stu thomas
• in a mistly
• stuart perera
• dave gray

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Dez Dare continues his fuzz war

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By The Barman

The Barman

08 February 2023

Hits: 1701

• geelong
• dez dare
• perseus war
• blooodbath-on-hi

Anger is still an energy as Bikini Kill heads Down Under

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By Patrick Emery

Patrick Emery

08 February 2023

Hits: 4343

_{Photo by Allison Wolfe}

“Punk is many things and has so many different definitions but, definitely, yes it’s ideological,” says writer, musician and feminist activist Tobi Vail on the eve of an Australasian tour with Bikini Kill.  “In my definition, it’s counter hegemonic energy. It’s opposition, it’s questioning the status quo and creating an alternative.”

As founding member of the seminal riot grrrl band Bikini Kill, a punk rock polemicist and a protagonist in the Pacific North-West alternative scene of the 1980s and 1990s, Vail is in a privileged position to muse on the nature of punk rock.

• riot grrrl
• tobi vail
• bikini kill
• nirvana
• go team
• kathleen hanna
• kathi wilcox

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Magnificent offering served up by expat Plater

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By Robert Brokenmouth

Robert Brokenmouth

06 February 2023

Hits: 2030

Ghost Music - Michael Plater (Hypostatic Union)

Now, you may know that I've written about Michael Plater before for The I-94 Bar, and I know some of you have gotten out to see him play live, which is where I first saw him. The very first night, I wasn't sure. The second, with little difference between the two gigs, I absolutely was. In fact, I was bowled over. More or less accidentally I made the chap's acquaintance, to the point where I'd now call us friends.

I've tried to attend every gig the man's played here in Adelaide, and managed to see him in Melbourne and Sydney as well. I have a set-list covered in his blood (because, in case he's ever run over by an omnibus, I'm going to get the bugger cloned).

• michal plater
• ghost music
• hypostatic union

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Sunnyboys and Ups & Downs issue split single to mark the gigs that never were

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By The Barman

The Barman

06 February 2023

Hits: 2127

When the Sunnyboys and Ups and Downs were announced to play Brisbane together back in October 2021, locals couldn’t believe that they’d see the cream of Aussie guitar pop playing a pair of back-to-back gigs at a newly refurbished Princess Theatre.

COVID had other ideas and those shows, and rescheduled dates in March 2022, never came to fruition.

Boutique label Soundpressing has released a split Sunnyboys/Ups and Downs seven-inch single to mark the gigs that never were, just in time for the farewell Sunnyboys tour.

It’s a limited edition of 300 copies in three different coloured variants.

And it’s two modern-era songs – “Can’t You Stop” by the Sunnyboys and a new mix of Ups and Downs' “Gideon” - that clearly show the bands have not lost their love of driving guitars and soaring melodies.

Get yours here before they run out...just like Sunnyboys live shows.

• sunnyboys
• ups and downs
• soundpressing
• can't you stop
• gideon

Q: Tell me, Sister Morphine, when are you coming round again? A: Thirty years later.

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By JD Misfortune

JD Misfortune

01 February 2023

Hits: 2576

Hello all my brothers and sisters and friends of the revolution, I-94 Barflies, and incorrigible sleazepunks of all ages , it's your ole pal JD here.

Ya know, I don't do a lotta interviews no more mostly cause I'm a lazy sod and probably still salty about takin' all that time to pen questions for little known artists who couldn't be bothered to reply after agreeing to do the interview-rock 'n' roll is full of flakes and fakes, as you know, and that shit gets old quick.

But one new band that ain't fakin' it is from South Wales of all places and they're making a real gorgeous fuckin' wild and untamed rocknroll racket you're gonna love, called SISTER MORPHINE, who my dear comrade Laur from Vague Scare turned me onto.

Wow! What a fuckin' GREAT band! They reminded me of the Diamond Dogs and Rock City Angels, the Quireboys and Rose Tattoo! I already said somewhere else those guitarists remind me of Thunders, Jeff Drake's Joneses, and Greg and Brent or whatever studio dudes played on that first Pussycat record.

Sister Morphine’s Gaz has an awesome and exemplary rock ‘n’ roll voice somewhere between Angry Anderson and Zodiac Mindwarp. These guys write glamtastic songs, part grebo, part sleaze, with power pop hooks, and vintage lads at the pub Hoople/Faces heartfelt sentimental alcoholic feeling. Fuckin' A righteous! Only thing I've liked this much in modern years is Richard Duguay's stuff! What a beautiful, romantic myth they've carved!

• sister morphine
• gaz tidey
• ghosts of heartbreak city
• uber rock
• SBS records

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Homegrown powerpop extravaganza sprouts in Brisbane

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By The Barman

The Barman

31 January 2023

Hits: 2177

_{The Chordites head a night of brisbane powerpop.}

Hey Brisbane! The Chordites, Generation Jones and Gift Horse: Three of the local scene’s finest exponents of Powerpop together for a night of hooky, guitar-driven rock n roll - how can you not love that formula? 

They’re coming together from 6pm on Saturday, March 4 at the Cave Inn in Woolloongabba for a night of short songs, catchy melodies, power chords and Rickenbackers.

• the chordites
• generation jones
• the cave inn
• gift horse

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