Ex-Happy Hate Me Not Paul Berwick's pop light still shines

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By The Barman

The Barman

19 February 2022

Hits: 3161

Step Into The Light – Paul Berwick’s Magnetic Quartet (self released)

At the risk of damning with faint praise, Paul Berwick made an indelible mark with the shoulda-been-huge Happy Hate Me Nots in the 1980s and ‘90s and he and his new band, The Magnetic Quartet, have much to live up to. This four-track EP “Step Into The Light” is a good start.

Sydney’s HHMNs developed from punk-pop to bona fide power-pop contenders over their first existence but never quite broke out into the mainstream. Another run in the 2000s after the sad loss of bassist Christian Houllemare tried but never scaled the same heights.

Berwick is a talented songwriter with a sharp ear for a melody and has assembled a superb band of old hands in Matt Galvin (guitar), Jim Dickson (bass) and Nick Kennedy (drums). Berwick fills out their sound on acoustic guitar. COVID has limited their live appearances to a handful of well-received gigs, so the question was would their recordings do them justice? 

• happy hate me nots
• matt galvin
• jim dickson
• paul berwick
• magnetic quartet
• nick kennedy
• step into the light

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X headlining I-94 Bar Stage at Sydney Rock and Roll & Alternative Festival

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By The Barman

The Barman

14 February 2022

Hits: 2893

We may be biased but you'd be mad not to want to go to this.  X, White Knuckle Fever, Jupiter 5 and Rubber Necker on the I-94 Bar Stage in Sydney on March 20. Tickets here.

• steve lucas
• x band
• factory theatre
• white knuckle fever
• jupiter 5
• rubber necker

Leadfinger hitting the road for new record

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By The Barman

The Barman

10 February 2022

Hits: 2953

Australian rock band Leadfinger and Golden Robot Records are pleased to announce the release of “Silver & Black”, the  long-awaited new album and their first since 2016’s “Friday Night Heroes”. 

The album will be launched at Marrickville Bowling Club on Saturday, April 2 with support from Rubber Necker and Hellebores and tickets are on sale here.  Tour dates appear below.

The story of “Silver & Black” began not long after the career high of the first tour of Europe in October 2017 when the band's singer/songwriter, Stewart Cunningham fell ill and was shockingly diagnosed with lung cancer.

Following almost two years of treatment that included losing one of his lungs and a long, painful recovery the band began to try and regroup, not even knowing whether Cunningham would be able to play and sing again.

Somewhat miraculously things slowly fell in to place in the isolation (and therapy) of the rehearsal room and then in and around Covid and lockdowns the band managed to write and record the new album at Garth Porter's Rancom Street Studio in Sydney with Brent Clark producing.

• leadfinger
• stewart cunningham
• golden robot
• silver and black
• silver & black
• rubber necker

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Joeys Coop touring with second album imminent

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By The Barman

The Barman

09 February 2022

Hits: 2718

Seasoned Sydney-via-Newcastle outfit Joeys Coop are prepping to release their sophomore album, “Lachlan Valley Dirt”, and the first video single, “I Am Alive”, has been unveiled.

Featuring the songwriting talents and playing of Brett Myers (Died Pretty) and Mark Roxburgh (Decline of the Reptiles), the line-up is rounded out by ace bass wrangler Marc Lynch (from 90s JJJ faves Glide) and Lloyd Gyi (drummer for Perry Keyes and Dave Warner). "Lachlan Valley Dirt" is out on February 26 and is the follow-up to "Service Station Flowers". 

Joeys Coop will be playing dates to support the album:

Link and Pin, Woy Woy - Fri March 4
Moshpit, Newtown -  Sat Mar 26
Federal Hotel, Bellingen - Sat April 2
Cave Inn, Brisbane-  Sat April 30
Hamilton Station Hotel, Newcastle - Sun May 8
Flow Bar, Old Bar - Sun May 22

• died pretty
• joeys coop
• decline the reptiles
• brett myers
• mark roxburgh
• lachlan valley dirt
• service station flowers
• i am alive

Riders on the COVID storm

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By The Barman

The Barman

08 February 2022

Hits: 2981

_{Wendy Morrisey photo}

Having trouble keeping up with COVID stalled gigs? You’re not the only one. Ex-Wreckery and Bad Seeds member and leader of The True Spirit, Hugo Race, is pushing on with his postponed shows to celebrate the Doors’ “LA Woman” album’s 50^th anniversary.  He’ll play shows with the True Spirit in Melbourne later this month to make up for past postponements.   

• JP Shilo
• hugo race
• wreckery
• true spirit
• la woman
• stu thomas

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Hoodoo Gurus release details of new album, 40th anniversary tour

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By The Barman

The Barman

05 February 2022

Hits: 3887

_{Christopher Ferguson photo}

Hoodoo Gurus are poised to release their long-awaited new studio album, “Chariot of the Gods” on February 11. “Chariot of the Gods” is the band’s first album in more than a decade (the longest interval between Hoodoo Gurus’ albums in their history) and is available to pre-order today here.

“The last twelve months have been frustrating and nerve-racking for everyone but, for the Hoodoo Gurus, this dark cloud has had a silver lining,” says frontman   
Dave Faulkner. “Forced to rely on ourselves instead of the outside world for validation, there has been a creative rebirth within the band that has resulted in a string of singles and a new album.

“Most important of all, the musical bonds between the four of us have never been stronger. When the discussions are all about which songs we're sad about having to leave off the record, that's a damn good sign. I'm tellin' ya, folks, we've got a real spring in our step right now”. 

“Chariot of the Gods” is 14 tracks (17 on the deluxe double-vinyl edition) and the first full-length recording with relative new recruit to the Hoodoo Gurus’ line-up, on drums, Nik Reith. The tracklists for CD/digital and vinyl versions are below.

Fans across the globe can hear “Chariot of the Gods” played in its entirety for the very first time when eMusic Live streams a special event recorded at Damien Gerard Studios on the NSW Central Coast.

• hoodoo gurus
• australian tour
• dave faulkner
• nik rieth
• chariot of the gods
• dandy warhols

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Tour marks 30 years of the need for the Weed

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By The Barman

The Barman

05 February 2022

Hits: 2898

_{Jye Talbot Area photo}

Following the release of their sold out 7" singles boxset and run of five nights of hometown celebrations at La La La's in Wollongong just before Xmas, Tumbleweed steps into the new year with an announcement that was meant to come last year.

• tumbleweed
• australian tour

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Hard to pass up

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By The Barman

The Barman

30 January 2022

Hits: 2843

Hard – Fast Cars (Method Records and Music)

In a digital world where old rules are made to be re-written or not read, Fast Cars have resolutely done things their own way.

The one-time Sydney mod band reformed virtually in 2015, assembling music from composite parts written and recorded by principal members, vocalist-guitarist Di Levi and guitarist Fabian Byrne, on opposite sides of the world. It was polished pop with hints of its Sussex Hotel beginnings, lush in lots of places and moiving into the realm of dream pop. 

Virtual band, huh? Live shows were where Australian bands traditionally honed their act and of course people interacting in a studio adds an energy that can’t easily be replicated. With Levy visiting Australia from the UK, Fast Cars did a handful of pre-pandemic shows, and part recorded “Hard” with Peter Bennett (The Welcome Mat, Fiction Romance) on drums and David Pye on bass.  

• method records and music
• fast cars
• di levy
• fabian byrne
• hard
• peter bennett
• david pye

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Wham, bam, thank you Dang!!!

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By The Barman

The Barman

29 January 2022

Hits: 3134

Sociopathfinder - Dang!!! (Apollon Records)

What the difference between a “supergroup” and a “super group”? 

The answer and five bucks will get you a cappuccino, but only if the pandemic-induced labour shortage that’s hit coffee shops in these parts mean there’s someone on deck to make it for you.

While you’re pondering the problem you might go cold turkey with your Wordle obsession and cock an ear to what’s in these grooves.

Dang!!! is a Norwegian studio collaboration that started with Arne Thelin (ex-Lust-O-Rama, Kwyett Kings) and Stu Manx (ex-Gluecifier) swapping guitar riffs over the Internet during lockdown. One thing led to another and by the time they convened in a real studio with drummer Havard Takle Ohr and keyboardist Geir Nilsen, emailed music parts were flying in from all over the globe like members of the International Olympic Committee on their way to a fine dining festival.

• norway
• dang!!!

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