Top Ten for 2023: Chris Klondike Masuak

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By Chris Klondike Masuak

Chris Klondike Masuak

31 December 2023

Hits: 2380

CHRIS “KLONDIKE” MASUAK TOP SEVERAL FOR 2023

1.   APPARENTLY, THERE ARE TWO SIDES TO EVERY GENOCIDE.
This year has demonstrated beyond any possible doubt that the human race is blithely and psychopathically genocidal.

And if daily reminders of this sad and truly distressing reality aren’t enough, next to nothing has been effectively done to redress the horror because of the not entirely surprising confirmation that a great number of the people you know are …

a. Cruel and nasty.
b. Wilfully ignorant.
c. Racist.
d. Chickenshit.
e. All of the above.

Protest, agitate, donate … do something. Anything.

Let’s at least pretend to be interested in creating a better future.

• stu wilson
• radio birdman
• chris masuak
• tony bambach
• viviero wave riders
• los revelators
• chris masuak's dog solider

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Top Ten for 2023: Brisbane duo Mick Medew and Ursula

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By Mick Medew & Ursula

Mick Medew & Ursula

30 December 2023

Hits: 3335

1. In February, we played a gig at the now closed Platform 5 in Clayfield, Brisbane. This venue was always good to us and we were very sorry to see it go.

2. In March, we used our frequent flyer points to head to Melbourne to launch our 2022 album, “Love Is Calling”. (ED: WHAT NO RECORD COMPANY TAB?)Dave Graney and Clare Moore invited us to open for them at The Night Cat in Fitzroy. What an honour! And what a great turn-out. We then played on the southside at The Lyrebird Lounge with special guest Penny Ikinger. Thanks to Suzi and all our Melbourne (and even Tasmanian) friends and fans who made this trip so special for us. We'll be back!

• top ten
• dave graney
• clare moore
• penny ikinger
• the johnnys
• love is calling
• 2023
• mick medew and ursula

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Top Ten for 2023: Squatter the Cockateil from Brisbane

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By Squatter The Cockateil

Squatter The Cockateil

29 December 2023

Hits: 2041

Righto, Squatter the Cockatiel here with my Top Ten for 2023.  

For those of you who don't know how famous I am, I allow Chris Converse and Cathy, both of Punkfest Brisbane and 4ZZZ, to share a house with me so I meet a lot of cool people.  I would say cool cats, but I don't get on well with cats.

Five out of five chirps for the following (in no particular order):

Glitoris - Self titled album

The Go Set-- The Warriors Beneath Us album

Blowhard- All the Kings Horses 

Vicious Circle – “Split This Open” album

Dad Fight - “Guillotine” single 

The Owen Guns - “Monks in Sexyland” mini album

Whoroboros – “Consuming and Being Consumed” EP 

Piss Shivers - Self titled album

Painters and Dockers – “Advance Australia Where” single

Square Tugs – “One Minute Love Song” single

• top ten
• painters and dockers
• the owen guns
• 2023
• square tugs
• glitoris
• squatter
• cockateil

Vale Melbourne music writer Patrick Emery

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By The Barman

The Barman

28 December 2023

Hits: 10629

Melbourne music writer and good friend of the I-94 Bar, Patrick Emery, has passed away suddenly, aged 52.

In a brief statement posted on Facebook earlier tonight, Spooky Records chief Loki Lockwood spoke on behalf of Patrick’s family.

On behalf of Patrick’s loving wife Bettina, and children Babette and Baptiste, I’ve been given the solemn task of sharing the untimely passing of my beautiful friend Patrick. On Christmas Eve at home, Patrick suddenly collapsed and was rushed to the Austin Hospital where he was diagnosed with a stage 4 inoperable brain tumor. He passed peacefully with his beloved family by his side. 

Patrick was a passionate and beautiful soul. There will be many from the music community around the world that will be shocked by this news. Patrick wrote for many publications across Australia over the years I knew him: Beat, The Australian, The Age and The I-94 Bar, to name a few. There’s no doubt that anyone with a passing interest in music will have read his music reviews and interviews for thousands of bands.  

For those that he wrote about, I know they will be overwhelmingly shocked by the news of his untimely passing. His greatest gift to us all was his belief in his beloved local music scene - always wanting to help elevate some little known artist through his writing because he could. 

• patrick emery
• obituary

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Top Ten for 2023: I-94 Bar's Man in Dimboola, Ronald Brown

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By The Barman

The Barman

28 December 2023

Hits: 2154

01 - L7 in Melbourne. 
This was a blast. Playing “Bricks Are Heavy” in full ,plus all those other wonderful tracks from the ‘90s. It’s number-one because it’s recent.

02 MONAROS – “Can’t Polish a Turd”.
As good as it gets. What a bloody great record with songs like “Kareen”, “Best Cop In Town” and the awesome “Mum Washed Me Cum Sock”. It’s a no-brainer for the #2 slot.

• dave graney
• clare moore
• rolling stones
• radio birdman
• alice cooper
• chris masuak
• mick medew
• frank meyer
• hanoi rocks
• mick medew and ursula
• trading aces
• highway 61
• hackney diamonds

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Top Ten for 2023: Deanov of Wollongong's The Dark Clouds

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By Deanov The Dark Clouds

Deanov The Dark Clouds

27 December 2023

Hits: 3520

(Vale) Top Ten

10. Star Crazy. Great, rockin’ live band, cool humans and for me without doubt, the award for earworm of the year:."Egging Me On".  Check ‘em out.

• ramones
• psychotic turnbuckles
• the dark clouds
• starcrazy
• cousin betty
• the strike-outs
• c.o.f.f.i.n.
• the stripp

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Top Ten for 2023: Matt "Spats" Allison of Spurs for Jesus, The Jane Does and Sydney's Redeye Records

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By Matt Allison

Matt Allison

26 December 2023

Hits: 2803

_{Jo Forster photo}

PETER BLACK/ TIM STEWARD @Frank’s Wild Years…two of my local faves doing an intimate  double header.

LUCINDA WILLIAMS/ STEVE EARLE @Enmore Theatre…a master class in Americana from two of the best.

THE DELINES @The Great Club…Portland county soul comes to the Sydney Inner West, featuring one of my favourite authors aka Willy Vlautin.

JENNY DON’T & THE SPURS @Enmore Hotel…speaking of Portland, retro rockin, honky tonkin’ good times always guaranteed. Don't miss them when they return!

AMENDS @Mary's Underground...walked into a bar on a quiet Sunday night & these western suburbs kids blew my head off! Kinda like Husker Du meets Drive-By Truckers...the Los Angeles headliners were like lukewarm water in comparison. Bonus points for the singer rockin' a Flying V.

• johnny casino
• descendents
• the church
• allniters
• charlie owen
• jenny and the spurs
• devo
• ROCKS

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Top Tens for 2023; Ex-Smart Folk bassist and Sydney gig-goer Keith Claringbold

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By Keith Claringbold

Keith Claringbold

21 December 2023

Hits: 3313

2023 Top Ten(ish)

Gigs

The Smart Folk/ The Golden Rail/ The Autumn Hearts, Marrickville Bowling Club, NSW. A bittersweet occasion for me as a member of The Smart Folk but it was a great night thanks to the stellar support of The Golden Rail and The Autumn Hearts.

The Apartments/Halfway - The Great Club, Marrickville, NSW.

Raising Ravens/DOWNGIRL/Gaia Rising: Marrickville Bowling Club, NSW.

The On and Ons/ Penny Ikinger Band: George Lane, St Kilda. Great venue, great bands, great company.

The Silversound - Brunswick Ballroom, VIC: Mind blown, album immediately purchased.

Snarski Circus Lindy Band - The  Great Club

Jo Meares’ Silver Bullets - The Gasoline Pony, Marrickville, NSW:  Jo brought his Melbourne combo with him and wow, did they deliver.

Dane Blacklock and the Preacher’s Daughter: The Duke Hotel, Enmore, NSW: Satanicabaret!

• penny ikinger
• sunnyboys
• the on and ons
• keith claringbold
• the smart folk
• the apartments
• raising ravens
• lindy morrison
• robert snarski
• the silversound

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The men don't know but Little Girls understand

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By The Barman

The Barman

19 December 2023

Hits: 2986

Valley Songs – Little Girls (Playback Records)

If only all retrospective collections were half as fun - and done as well - as this look back on 1980s Los Angeles surfer girl power-poppers, Little Girls. There are 26 bouncy rave-ups on this CD, it’s accompanied by a booklet full of photos and liner notes, and it took an Australian label to put it out.

Little Girls were diminutive sisters Caron and Michele Maso, two Coloradoans transplanted to L.A. who turned heads as a duo at a 1980 party by singing alternative lyrics to “Anarchy in the UK”. Now, who hasn’t wanted to do that?

Things got serious after they met guitarist Kip Brown, freshly late of local punks SHOCK, while hanging out at The Troubadour club. A full band ensued.

• playback records
• valley songs
• little girls
• kip brown
• SHOCK
• caron maso
• michele maso

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