The Bowery's (almost) Last Man Standing plays on

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By The Barman

The Barman

14 September 2024

Hits: 900

• cbgb
• johnny thunders
• vicious kitten
• james brown
• the clash
• rosewood

Rosewood – Kevin K and The Bowery Kats (Vicious Kitten)

Around these parts, a new Kevin K album feels just like an old pair of slippers. The sound is lived in, equal parts Johnny Thunders, Stones and the New York Dolls, and the lyrical themes (usually loss, drugs and swimming against the tide) sit just right. Familiarity does not breed contempt. 

Some folks say Kevin K is in the thrall of Thunders and there’s an awful lot of JT in his guitar squall and vocal drawl. That being the case, admiration stops just short of mimicry. The more enlightened think he’s giving a nod to (as opposed to being on the nod with) an enigmatic influence.

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Road to Van Ruin

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By The Barman

The Barman

14 September 2024

Hits: 1021

• chickenstones
• panadolls
• crankinhaus records
• sonic garage

 Jails, Death & Institutions – Van Ruin (Crankinhaus Records)

This five-song CD EP is the new project for Sydneysider Phil Van Rooyen, also of Chickenstones and late of Sonic Garage, Circus Chaplins and Panadolls, and for those with short attention spans, in two words it’s: “compellingly great”.

Phil’s on vocals and guitar and is joined by producer Al Creed (New Christs, Panadolls and a million others) on bass and additional guitar, and Stu Wilson (Aberration, New Christs, Lime Spiders, Chris Masuak’s Dog Soldier) on drums. If those credentials strike a chord with you, you’ll take to “Jails, Death & Institutions” like a long-term inmate to a remand hearing.

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Zeke unveils a venomous single to mark Euro tour

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By The Barman

The Barman

13 September 2024

Hits: 929

• hound gawd
• zeke
• european tour
• snake eyes
• the knife

Aussie fans were left amazed earlier this year when Zeke landed Down Under for the first time in 20 years, and it’s Europe’s turn when they go on the road in October and November for a 27-date tour.

German label Hound Gawd is marking the occasion with a vinyl-only single, “Snake Eyes”, on October 4. It follows “Ride Hard Ride Free” on the same label.

Neither track will be streaming and the physical product is available from the label here.

Zeke is a hardcore institution, forming in in Seattle in 1992 and cranking loud, fast and heavy punk rock with a hint of blues. Original members Blind Marky Felchtone (vocals and guitar) and Donny Paycheck (drums) have been joined by Jason Freeman (bass) and Jeff Hiatt (guitar).

We've had a sneak preview and glued-on fans will be happy to hear that “Snake Eyes” is as uncompromising as ever, with a whirlwind rhythm and a tidal wave of fast guitars. Flipside “The Knife” is on the same scale but strikes at an even more furious pace. 

Click MORE for tour dates.

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Those Johnnys chaps get back in the saddle

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By The Barman

The Barman

12 September 2024

Hits: 608

• the johnnys
• brando rising
• marrickville bowlo
• pete ross and the sapphire

Your favourite cowpunks The Johnnys are back for their first Sydney show since 2023 and it’s at their spiritual home, Marrickville Bowling Club, with a killer line-up, presented by The I-94 Bar. Tickets are on sale here.

Joining The Johnnys will be high-energy Melbourne veterans Brando Rising, launching their self-titled album, and the internationally-credentialled swamp rockers Pete Ross & The Sapphire, signed to French label Beast Records but now living in Sydney..  

The show is a home town return from the injured list for bassist Graham Hood, who is bouncing back from a wrist operation.

All is well with Hoody after the equivalent of a grease and oil change, He, Slim and Billy have been in the studio over winter, working with producer Phil Punch to preparing a vinyl re-issue of their debut  album, “Highlights of a Dangerous Life”. 

The gig will be the Sydney debut of Brando Rising, with singer Ripley Hood and bassist Tony "The Kid" Robertson (of Hitmen and The Naked Lunch) back on what was their home turf for many years. 

Peter Ross and his crack outfit are fast making a name for themselves in Sydney and played a memorable support to Charlie Owen at a sold-out Django Bar that still has people talking.

Book your ticket often and early to save and make admission on the night a breeze. Cheap drinks and even cheaper thrills from The Johnnys under The Bowlo's Coppperart ceiling. What else could your heart desire?

Chimers to hit the road in support of new album

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By The Barman

The Barman

10 September 2024

Hits: 957

• australian tour
• chimers
• the saints '73-'78
• through today
• poison city records
• 12XU Records

_{Katelyn Slyer photo.} 

Wollongong duo Chimers is hitting the road in Australia, in support of their new album “Through Today”, which is out on November 8 on Poison City Records in Australia and 12XU in North America.

It’s the second album for husband-and-wife Padraic and Binx  following their self-titled debut in 2021 and they’ll play their own shows in four states and as special guests to Party Dozen (Sydney in October) and The Saints ’73-’78 (in November).

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Unwelcome? Unloveable? Ed Clayton-Jones lets YOU be the judge

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By Robert Brokenmouth

Robert Brokenmouth

09 September 2024

Hits: 899

• the wreckery
• ed clayton-jones
• golden robot
• interloper

Interloper - Ed Clayton-Jones (Golden Robot Records)

The past is a mystic portal. You know? Maybe not so much if you're under 24 years; but, if you survive long enough, you draw on the past more than the present, simply because 1) there's a lot more of it, 2) there's a lot you missed the first time, 3) you're finally beginning to put the pieces of your youth together and 4) your thirties and forties will just have to remain unexamined.

Not all of us ponder our beginnings, but we should, because it's how we got here. And some of that getting here was pure luck as much as anything. Anyone who thinks that they were predestined or that their life was written by god ... sorry, chum, you think you're way more important than you actually are. Remember that last roast lamb? Could've grown up and had a happy life, but guess what..?

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Turnbuckles wind up "40 Years Undefeated Tour" in Brisbane

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By The Barman

The Barman

04 September 2024

Hits: 933

• brisbane
• psychotic turnbuckles
• the dangermen
• the busymen
• killpill
• black bear lodge
• punkfest

The I-94 Bar's favourite World Tag Team Champions, Psychotic Turnbuckles, wind up their "40 Years Undefeated Tour" with a Punkfest-promoted show at Black Bear Lodge in Brisbane on Saturday. Supports are The Dangermen, KillPIll and The Busymen and it's an early show with doors at 6.30pm. Tickets are here. 

But there's more! Turnbuckles frontman Jesse The Intruder and whichever other band members can be pried out of the fleshpots of Fortttude Valley will be Judy Jeston's special guests on her Subterranea show on 4ZZZ from 4.30pm AEST on Friday and you can stream it here.

Sonic grandeur - and numb bum - in a magnificient setting

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By Robert Brokenmouth

Robert Brokenmouth

03 September 2024

Hits: 965

• josh lord
• ash wednesday
• the mission to seafarers
• norla drone
• david pittaway
• jennifer lea
• sasha braganca
• blood of a pomegranate

_{Josh Lord and Ash Wednesday.}

Melbourne Drone Orchestra presents Norla Drone edition 6
Ash Wednesday & Josh Lord
+ David Pittaway
+ Jennifer Lea & Sasha Braganca
+ Blood of a Pomegranate
Norla Dome, The Mission to Seafarers
Docklands, VIC
Sunday, August 25, 2024

So, there's this fantastic venue in Melbourne which I'd never heard of, never mind been to. The Mission to Seafarers.

It's a bloody beautiful building to look at, quite distinctive and engaging. The website says this "recently renovated Flinders St building is architecturally significant and is considered a fine urban example of a merging of the "Arts and Crafts and 'Spanish Mission Revival' architectural styles in Melbourne.

"The enchanting design offers a unique venue for functions and events of all styles and sizes; with full bar facilities, beer garden, a commercial kitchen, and all within the heart of Docklands and a short stroll from the CBD."

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The Stems cast a spell in Sydney

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By The Barman

The Barman

02 September 2024

Hits: 1891

• sydney
• new christs
• julian matthews
• manning bar
• dom mariani
• the stems
• ash naylor
• australian tour
• dave shaw

 
_{Murray Bennett photo.}

The Stems
+ New Christs
Manning Bar, Sydney
Saturday, August 30, 2024
Photos: Tony McNamara unless otherwisde credited.

Shows by The Stems are reverential experiences, And for good reason. The band’s membership is scattered over two coasts of Australia and gigs don’t occur often. When they do, you know they're going to be something worth bottling.

What’s the special sauce? It’s Dom Mariani’s timeless pop songs being delivered by top-shelf players who have a chemistry that can only come from most of them playing together for years.

The foundation is Mariani on guitar and vocals, drummer Dave Shaw and bassist Julian Matthews, with a guitar foil of Ash Naylor (this tour) or Davey Lane, who are both ubiquitous and gifted in equal measures.

As far as recordings go, The Stems have not been prolific, with just two full-length studio albums since 1987, so it’s all about the quality and not the length. Their first LP, “At First Sight Violets Are Blue”, was a fully formed pop classic, and the 2007 “follow-up”, “Heads Up”, was substantial in its own right, although is not as well-known.

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