Unforgettable Charlie Tolnay

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By Robert Brokenmouth

Robert Brokenmouth

20 September 2017

Hits: 13202

I was at Muscle Shoals Records Fayre, on Lygon Street in Melbourne, when I received the unwelcome news from one of my dearest friends, a character in and out of bands in Adelaide for decades, who I doubt you’ve heard of, but whose name (when you have to use it) you will always spell incorrectly, as I do: "Bad" Bob Lehermayr.  

I was less than charitable with Bob, and he rightly gave me a serve. 

Then he told me about Charlie Tolnay dying.

After Bob (also rightly) hung up on me, I received a text message from The Barman. Bad news had travelled fast.  

• adelaide
• grong grong
• king snake roost
• fear and loathing
• charlie tolnay

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Fayre-ing well in Melbourne

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By Robert Brokenmouth

Robert Brokenmouth

19 September 2017

Hits: 7390

_{Ripley Hood in front of Brando Rising. Robert Brokenmouth photo.}

In which your scribe receives news and loses it a tad. This is a very partial review… I missed quite a few things … oh, dear.

So, an Adelaidean in Melbourne negotiates buses, trams, and other hurdles (including a Lebanese cab driver who’s lived here for 40 years and still has an accent like a wheel of cheese to a plastic butter knife) to arrive at a record shop.

With a Budget flat-bed truck outside. 

• michael plater
• brando rising
• ripley hood
• johnny livewire
• hornstars
• mia schoen
• rosie harden
• nick batterham
• dean richards
• muscle shoals records
• dean schultz
• tony millman

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Thirty years later: The Conspirators return for one night only

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By The Barman

The Barman

19 September 2017

Hits: 5792

If you remember the halcyon days of Sydney’s exploding live music scene in the 1980s, you need to make a beeline for Marrickville Bowling Club in the city's inner-west on Saturday night. 

The Conspirators were in the thick of it back then, an archetypal garage band formed by five then young Sydney music fans who were sick of paying to get into gigs. 

They became something of a fixture, growing a following and issuing a single and an EP before going on to other bands including The Sweet Ride, Psychotic Turnbuckles and Sheek the Shayk. 

With their last show 30 years ago, The Conspirators are reforming for one gig only. They’ll be joined by The Stukas - punk rock veterans - and rejuvenated mods, The Smart Folk. Special guest DJ will be Steven Danno, spinning his collection of prime ‘60s punk and ‘80s Detroit rock.

The Conspirators are doing a special re-issue CD of their back catalogue (plus a new song) for sale on the nightm and have had T-shirts printed for this auspicious occasion. Tickets available on the door or cheaper in advance here.

• the smart folk
• marrickville bowling club
• conspirators
• the stukas

He Blinded Me With Science

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By Robert Brokenmouth

Robert Brokenmouth

19 September 2017

Hits: 9890

_{Leanne Cowie (nee Chock), Boris Sudjovic, Kim Salmon and Tony Thewlis. Collectively known as The Scientists.} 

Ever have an attack of the stupids?

No? Must be me then. 

See, The Barman asked me to do this interview with Kim Salmon to mark an Australian Scientists tour with the classic "experimental" line-up. A phoner. I wrote back saying, I couldn't, I'd be in Melbourne. 

No answer.

• scientists
• kim salmon
• tour
• boris sudjovic
• leanne cowie
• leanne chock
• australian
• tony thewlis
• 2017

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RIP Grong Grong guitarist Charlie Tolnay

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By The Barman

The Barman

16 September 2017

Hits: 8958

Grong Grong, Lubricated Goat and King Snake Roost guitarist Charlie Tolnay has passed away in Adelaide after a brief and unexpected illness. The news was posted on the Grong Grong Facebook page last night.

Tolnay was an original member of the band, formed by his half brother Michael Farkas in 1983. The band expired with the near death of Farkas in 1984 and reformed in 2009. More details when they come to hand.

• Citadel
• grong grong
• king snake roost
• charlie tolnay
• lubricated goat

Dislocation - The Primevals (Triple Wide)

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By The Barman

The Barman

16 September 2017

Hits: 4332

Rock and roll isn’t dead - it’s just being ground into the carpet like so much stray cigarette ash by the powers of mediocrity and digital division. If you apply the vacuum hard enough and in the right places, you’ll still find it.

So point the nozzle of your Hoover (or Dyson, if you’re cashed up) in the direction of Glasgow, Scotland, and suck up as much of The Primevals as you can. Three decades into their existence (admittedly, with a break in the middle), these gnarly Scots are staking a claim for independence from the banal indifference that passes for mainstream radio rock, Jock.

• primevals
• disinhibitor
• glasgow
• scotland
• triple wide

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Leadfinger hits Europe for October tour

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By The Barman

The Barman

13 September 2017

Hits: 5349

After almost a decade of hanging around the fringes of the Australian music business, Leadfinger are making their first trip to Europe to play a run of gigs this October.

The tour kicks off in Paris before zig zaging across France with support from locals Asphalt Touregs, who feature former Fixed Up singer/guitarist Francois Lebas.

After a layover in Switzerland to play Geneva and a spot of recording in southern Spain, the tour ends with a couple of gigs in Barcelona and Madrid with fellow Aussies, James McCann and the New Vindictives.

Leadfinger is one the best underground rock’n’roll bands in Australia right now.

Since forming in 2007, they have released five albums through various labels, including Spain’s Bang! Records and Australia's Citadel Records.

The most recent Leadfinger album, "Friday Night Heroes” - out through Conquest of Noise Records - was met with high praise as their best yet.

• leadfinger
• tour
• european
• fixed up

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Scott Morgan's back with a new soul record

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By The Barman

The Barman

10 September 2017

Hits: 6431

Detroit legend Scott Morgan is back with his first album in 10 years with the releae of "Rough and Ready" on Rouge Records (LP and download) on October 27.

Morgan has teamed with crack Michigan band The Sights to hammer out "Rough and Ready", a return to his soul music roots first planted with The Rationals back in the '60s.  

The Sights have been around since 1998 and have five albums and numerous US and European tours under their belts.

Morgan is a former member of Sonic's Rendezvous Band, the Hydromatics, Scott Morgan Band, Dodge Main (with Wayne Kramer and Deniz Tek) and many more.

He achieved succcess as a blue-eyed soul prodigy fronting The Rationals, wrote for and performed with the Hellacopters and charted in Scandinavia with The Solution, a soul band he fronted with Nicke Royale (Hellacopters) on drums.   

• rationals
• scott morgan
• the sights
• rouge records
• rough and ready

Eyes Ninety - Eyes Ninety (Swashbuckling Hobo)

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By The Barman

The Barman

09 September 2017

Hits: 4252

Old heads from Brisbane’s Chinese Burns (not to be confused with Sydney band Chinese Burns Unit) and The Standing 8 Count populate this band, which has been kicking around the River City (does anyone even call it that?) for four years. The eponymous record (vinyl and download) is its first output and came out in 2015.

If you know the members’ previous bands you know the postcode in which “Eyes Ninety” resides. There are elements of its predecessors but its music stands alone. Wanna label it? Let’s call it “swampy punk rock”. 

• swamp
• brisbane
• swashbuckling hobo
• eyes ninety

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