Blank Generation by Pete Astor (Bloomsbury - 33 1/3 series)

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By Robert Brokenmouth

Robert Brokenmouth

28 April 2015

Hits: 6429

Well, this is going to be interesting…

See, the Barman scores books by McGarretts, with three being the top score.

So, the book (one of the 33 1/3 series about "classic" albums) gets TWO separate scores, for two separate reasons. It’s up to you to figure out if I’m being fair or not.

However, I’m not quite sure how to imagine half a Steve McGarrett. Which would be the least offensive do you think, the top or the bottom half..?

You see, the reason Astor gets a half McGarrett is because it’s a bloody effort to read. Astor is now an academic, no longer an enthusiastic and rebellious teen, and there is way too much turf, not enough surf. Astor’s haphazard organisation is apparently designed to prevent you reading it, and he apparently has neither enough understanding of either the time (which is just plain weird) or the impact the LP had, and there is certainly too much literary analysis where it seems superfluous.

• richard hell
• voidoids
• blank generation
• 33 1/3

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Supersuckers call off double-headed Oz tour with BellRays

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By The Barman

The Barman

27 April 2015

Hits: 5676

That highly-anticipated Australian tour by the Supersuckers and the BellRays in May has been canned.

In a statement on their Facebook over the weekend, Supersuckers said that “contractual issues” made it impossible for them to make the trip.

Promoters Nightmare Music say refunds are available from the point of purchase and added: “We hope to bring The BellRays back to Australia in the coming months for their third headline tour of Australia…Details will be announced in the coming months."

Leadfinger with Soberphobia, the C-Bombs, The Toss, Drunky Blunders and Ben Gel & the Boneyard Saints in Adelaide

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By Robert Brokenmouth

Robert Brokenmouth

26 April 2015

Hits: 6189

As far as I was concerned, the night belonged to Leadfinger.

It ain’t often in this town that you wish you could attend three gigs at the same town. However, when I was young and malnourished, in the '70s to about 1983, there was sometimes one brilliant gig, and a handful of ‘hmm, may as well, nothing else is on’ gigs, and always about three or four parties every Friday and Saturday.

Adelaide parties of the very late '60s on were sometimes legendary… the ones which didn’t stop all weekend were rare but they happened from time to time. A band would come from interstate and play Thursday, Friday, Saturday nights, often at the same place, and I remember … uh, I may be about to digress.

The point is that in the actual '70s, you just would never have anything like this; two gigs showcasing 12 or so bands, all the bands good enough to dance to and fling beer over, some much better and some even better than that. So there. You can’t go back. But by fuck you should get out to more gigs. Sod the kids, bring ‘em along, put ‘em in a sound-proof booth like what Pete Townsend bounces around in and drip feed ‘em over the top.

• leadfinger
• live
• stewart
• cunningham
• soberphobia
• c-bombs
• the toss
• ben gel and the boneyard saints

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The One and Only. Peter Perrett, Homme Fatale by Nina Antonia (Thin Man Press)

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By Robert Brokenmouth

Robert Brokenmouth

26 April 2015

Hits: 9722

Well, there are a lot of crappy rock books. This is brilliant, however.

We could start with the book’s blurb:

“‘The One & Only’ is a roller-coaster ride through one of rock’s wildest, most unpredictable careers. Granted full access to the reclusive Perrett and everyone who matters in his story, Antonia unflinchingly traces his path from privileged childhood to drug dealer; from musical obscurity to decadent rock icon submerged in narcotic slumbers in an antique-filled mansion... before the dream spectacularly fell apart. The story of The Only Ones became an industry by-word for how not to succeed in the record business; yet the music, along with the allure of Perrett’s mysterious persona, has endured… Despite the casualties that careen through these pages, including Johnny Thunders and Sid Vicious - Perrett played with both - this is ultimately a story of redemption and rebirth.”

And, frankly, that lot should be reasons sufficient for any self-respecting rock’n’roller to pick this one up, pay at the counter, and scurry home, nose and eyes down. Apart from that, if you own the Johnny Thunders’ album, "So Alone", but no Only Ones, you have a little Perrett in your collection.

• johnny
• thunders
• peter
• perrett
• only ones
• nina
• antonia
• the one and only

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A personal look back at Rock ‘n’ Roll Damnation

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By Andrew Altree-Williams

Andrew Altree-Williams

20 April 2015

Hits: 5490

As fans around Australia rejoice at the news of AC/DC's upcoming national stadium tour this November and December it's worth reflecting on how rough, but yet ultimately triumphant, the past 12 months have been for the band. 

Almost exactly a year ago whilst working a camera shift for the ABC's 7.30 programme I had the enviable task of working on a story about AC/DC: one of my all-time favourite rock bands. But the feeling was bittersweet: troubling rumours were swirling around about the band's rhythm guitarist and unofficial leader Malcolm Young, elder brother of the more recognisable schoolboy uniform-sporting lead guitarist Angus.

The word was he was suffering from an undisclosed debilitating sickness, rendering him permanently unable to play guitar and therefore leaving the band's plans for a 40th anniversary tour and new album in ruins. The band was to call it a day. Such an integral piece of Australian cultural history: no more?! The 'other greatest rock 'n' roll band in the world' (next to the The Rolling Stones): done and dusted?

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Going Back Home - Wilko Johnson & Roger Daltrey (Chess/Universal)

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By Robert Brokenmouth

Robert Brokenmouth

19 April 2015

Hits: 3978

Now, I’m going to write one small phrase. If you don’t know who Wilko Johnson is, they should be enough to get your interest. If the phrase doesn’t get your interest, I’m sure you can find something else more interesting to do, like taking pictures of your lunch and sending it to your closest pals on instagrit.

The phrase is: dirty british R ’n’ B .

And of course, r’n’b refers to that peculiarly affecting, tough-man-hard-tears style which the Brits pioneered in the early 196ts; a platform which lead to stuff like The Beatles (you may have heard of them), The Rolling Stones (hmm, they sound familiar), The Yardbirds … and on and on into the Jam and the Sex Pistols (along the way, admittedly including some of the most appalling pub bands about whom the less said the better, although their very dullness lead to a musical revolution which began brewing, it seems, in about 1972 and finally found a popular name in 1977, propelled by events on a hamfisted kid’s show in December 1976).

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Here comes a new Cosmic Psychos record

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By The Barman

The Barman

17 April 2015

Hits: 3714

Everybody's favcourite yob rockers, Cosmic Psychos, are unleashing their first studio album in six years in June and will spruik it with an Aussie tour in tandem with with likeminded mates, Dune Rats.

“Cum The Raw Prawn” is the new LP and it’s described (unsurprisingly) as “beer-soaked, bulldozer-fuelled pub anthems accost at every turn and it's as grotty and unapologetic as ever”. You expected yacht rock ballads?

“Cum The Raw Prawn” was recorded on Ross Knight's farm in January this year and the lead-off song is “Better Not Bitter”, which you can listen tro and watch ivia th ewonders of the embedded clip above. Click more for tour dates and ticketing: 

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This man will play mistLY for you

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By The Barman

The Barman

15 April 2015

Hits: 3360

With his entire back catalogue now available digitally, including the latest, “Play mistLY For Me”, the first of two live collections available now, Dave Graney and The mistLY are playing some shows in New South Wales in May.

The tour is a mix of band and solo shows in a range of venues. 

27/05 Wednesday - Bearded Tit –Redfern - Dave Graney solo 
28/05 Thursday Heritage Hotel Bulli - Dave Graney and the mistLY
29/05 Friday Django Bar – Camelot Lounge - Dave Graney and the mistLY
30/05 Saturday Bunker - Coogee Diggers - Dave Graney and the mistLY
31/05 Sunday Newcastle - Royal Exchange - Dave Graney solo

We asked Dave what fans should anticipate: "Expect many wildly shining gems from their enormous and highly individual songbook. Plenty say they do their own thing – none have done it for so long and so fearlessly!"

Indeed.

We have three winners

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By The Barman

The Barman

15 April 2015

Hits: 3360

The entries are in and the winners have been drawn in our contest to win a Joeys Coop pack of a band T-shirt and their double A-sided single, “Take Me Away” b/w “Down To The Sea”.

 They are Rob Minogue  and Guy Bohan of NSW and Matthew Woods from Queensland, who all correctly named Joeys Coop guitarist Brett Myers’ prior bands as Died Pretty and The End. (No Dance would have got you the money, too.)

Thanks to all who entered and congratulations to the winners. Your packs will be in the mail as soon as The Barman drags his sorry arse away from the fridge and to a post office.