DoGs re-issue on vinyl is just the medication you need

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By The Barman

The Barman

02 October 2023

Hits: 1837

Hypersensitive – The DoGs (Heavy Medication Records)

Here are two truisms: Life is full of great bands that you’ve heard of but never heard. Hindsight is fantastic because it lets you make up for what you missed the first time around.

This album by the Los Angeles-via-Detroit trio (not to be confused with the French band of the same name) came out on CD in 2002. If you missed it, you’re excused because it didn’t have massive distribution. It re-appearance as a vinyl LP on Heavy Medication is your chance to make amends.

The DoGs grew up in Michigan in the late ‘60s – outside the axis of Detroit and Ann Arbor, it must be said – and were on undercards to bands like the MC5 and the Stooges. They made the move from Lansing to the Motor City as its place in the rock and roll firmament began to decline.

• detroit
• stooges
• mc5
• the dogs
• killed by death
• heavy medication records
• hypersensitive
• slash your face

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Masuak's Junkyard Dog set to bite France

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By The Barman

The Barman

01 October 2023

Hits: 2754

Chris Klondike Masuak will hit the road in France in November, armed with a band that has an impeccable underground rock pedigree.

Junkyard Dog boasts Masuak (Radio Birdman, Hitmen, Screaming Tribesmen) on guitar and vocals, guitarists Laurent Ciron (Dogs, Hydromatics, Cinders, Belleville Cats) and Gregory J Bowen (The Outside),  bassist Bruno Perrin (TV Men, Gunners and Trotskids) and drummer Gooloo (Holy Curse).

In a time when real rock and roll is struggling to retain a foothold in Europe, that sort of heritage is going to be hard to beat. Check with local venues for times and tickets. There’s a Facebook event here.

Chris Masuak & Junkyard Dog
French Tour
NOV
22 – Paris (tba)
23 – Breville/Mer @ Les Valseuses
24 – Vannes @ Le Barailleur
25 – St Brieuc @ Le Fût Chantant
26 – Rennes @ La Trinquette

• french
• holy curse
• gregory bowen
• 2023
• chris klondike masuak
• junkyard dog
• bruno perrin
• gooloo
• tv men
• toiur

Sonically speaking, Album Number Two is leaving the Garage

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By The Barman

The Barman

30 September 2023

Hits: 3094

Sydney veterans Sonic Garage will unveil their second album, “Dark Country”, at an early Friday night show at The Old Manly Boatshed on 6 October. 

Supports are hard rock supergroup Bahne Super Flex, featuring ex-members of the Trilobites, Celibate Rifles and Mushroom Planet, and new comers Capital Romantics.  

• launch
• sonic garage
• dark country
• old manly boatshed

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Spurred on by the touring life, Jenny Don't heads back down under

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By Matt Ryan

Matt Ryan

30 September 2023

Hits: 2900

 _{Ravin Divito photo}

Portland outfit Jenny Don’t and the Spurs have been recording and playing for the last 10 years and show no signs of slowing down. A supergroup combining members of Don’t, Wipers and Pierced Arrows, the Spurs combine the fast energy of garage and punk, with the attitude of outlaw country. If Patsy Cline started a band with some ratbags hanging around CBGB, it would sound like this.

We spoke with singer/guitarist Jenny Connors and her husband, and also Spurs bass player Kelly Halliburton from their Portland home just before they land in Australia for their second Spurs tour. 

• dead moon
• australian tour
• 2023
• Jenny don't
• the spurs
• wipers
• pierced arrows

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Starcrazy send out an S.O.S. with video reveal

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By The Barman

The Barman

21 September 2023

Hits: 3893

Sydney's finest purveyors of glam alt-rock, Starcrazy, are back with a hard hitting, hard rock rendition of ABBA's, “S.O.S”' and have given I-94 Bar first look at the brand new music video, which is due for release on streaming channels tomorrow. You can pre-save it here.

You can catch the band live at The Lady Hampshire in Sydney on Saturday, September 23 along with local up and comers, Mayeflower, The Polymics and DEDPAN. Tickets are here.

In only a few years since forming, Starcrazy have sold out multiple electrifying shows, released two independant EPs, received ongoing radio airplay from Alice Cooper, opened for world class artists (such as The Animals, Faster Pussycat, Wednesday 13, Chris Klondike Masuak and Hard-Ons), and even performed on national television!

Lead singer, Marcus Fraser, says of the new single:" We've always been into anything 70's and decided to incorporate a rocked up version of ‘SOS’ into our live set. 

“It took a little patience learning the three-part vocal harmonies and transposing the piano part to guitar but audiences have been super responsive so we decided to record it in the studio. It's really fun putting our own spin on a classic pop tune. 

“We added a completely new backing vocal part in the last chorus written by our bassist, Jack Barratt."

The music video was filmed and directed by John Flaws and edited by their very own, Jack Barratt. It pays homage to the original ABBA video from 1975 with crazy spinning camera effects and unique mirrored close ups of the band members.

• hard-ons
• sydney
• alice
• cooper
• the animals
• starcrazy
• S.O.S.
• ABBA.
• faster pussycat
• premiere

The Victims sign-off in Melbourne and Sydney

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By The Barman

The Barman

20 September 2023

Hits: 3813

Legendary '70s Perth punk group The Victims - who introduced the world to both Dave Faulkner and his original drumming partner in the Hoodoo Gurus, James Baker – will say a final farewell with shows in Melbourne and Sydney in early December. 

The announcement follows the release of a new and final Victims single "Girls Don't Go For Punks"/"Victim", on esteemed Los Angeles label In The Red.

Since regrouping in late 2014 with uber  fan Ray Ahn of the Hard-Ons on bass, The Victims have released two vinyl records (an E.P. and the new single), as well as an anthology of their '70s classics, all on In The Re. They have also played a handful of shows on the Australian East and West both coasts. But now the time has come to say goodbye. 

A Perth farewell show, played in front of hundreds of heaving fans at the Rosemount back in June, was so great that plans were put into effect straight away to get the group over to Sydney and Melbourne. It just wouldn't have been fair to fans in both cities otherwise - including a new generation of '70s punk loving kids who need to see what the fuss is all about. 

The Victims play Brunswick Ballroom in Melbourne on Friday December 1,and the Crowbar in Sydney on Dec 2. And then they're done. Joining the band in both cities will be Wollongong's fantastic Chimers.

THE VICTIMS - LAST SHOWS
with special guests Chimers
DEC

1 – The Brunswick Ballroom, 
Melbourne
w/ Lice Trays
Tix on sale now
2 – Crowbar, Sydney
Tix on sale now

• melbourne
• perth
• sydney
• james baker
• ray ahn
• the victims
• dave faulkner
• final shows

Black Flag bring their War back to Australia

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By The Barman

The Barman

18 September 2023

Hits: 3128

Iconic punk rock pioneers, Black Flag, will tour Australia for the first time in a decade in December, playing two sets a night.

Four shows have been announced and Black Flag will reprise its 1984 album, “My War”, in full over the course of one of them. 

Black Flag is built around founding guitarist Greg Ginn and vocalist/pro skateboarder Mike Vallely, and are joined by Joseph Noval on bass, and Isaias Gil on drums,

Ironically, Vallely stepped up to the mic and assumed the job in Perth on the final show of the band’s fractuous 2013 Australian tour after Ginn sacked then incumbent Ron Reyes onstage.

One of the harbingers of the Southern Californian punk scene since forming in Hermosa Beach in 1976, Black Flag has had a string of frontmen including Keith Morris and Henry Rollins. 

Tickets are on sale here.

Black Flag December 2023 Australian Tour
DEC 

7 - GOLD COAST, Mo’s Desert Clubhouse
8 - BRISBANE, Mansfield Tavern
9 - SYDNEY, Factory Theatre
10 - MELBOUURNE, Corner Hotel

• tour
• australian
• black flag
• 2023
• greg ginn

Rockin' great art show springs up in Sydney

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By The Barman

The Barman

17 September 2023

Hits: 2681

Some of Austrealian rock and roll’s best-known underground artists fwill be featured in an exhibition opening in Sydney next month.

The Rock ‘n’ Roll High School Art Class of 2023” runs at Ambush Gallery at 4 James Street, Waterloo, from Friday, October 13 until Sunday, October 15 from noon until 4pm.

Described as “a group show by artists that rock and rockers who art”, it will show art from the likes of Reg Mombassa (Mental as Anything), Warwick Gilbert (Radio Birdman), Glenno Smith and Gina Monaco (Hellebores), Mike Foxall (Sick Fizz, Neptune Power Federation), Celia Curtis (White Knuckle Fever), Ray Ahn (Hard Ons), Ben Brown (Hellmen), Link Meanie (The Meanies), Rick Chesshire and Simon Day (Ratcat).  

You’ll find the Facebook event here. 

• ray ahn
• radio birdman
• warwick gilbert
• neptune power federation
• mike foxall

Get Up Close and Personal with The Johnnys next Friday night

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By The Barman

The Barman

17 September 2023

Hits: 1690

• the johnnys
• white knuckle fever
• the strike-outs