Sunnyboys bring the magic

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05 February 2017

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_{Murray Bennett photo}

I set out this afternoon towards the Enmore Theatre with every intention of taking some notes, keeping a rundown of the songs, and trying to come up with the sort of review that some people actually get paid to write.

Unfortunately, this grand plan fell apart by the time I’d been at the Warren View Hotel for an hour and met 26 (yes, I counted them) people I knew and ended up in more shouts than it was feasible to manage. Coopers Red is a great beer but a lousy friend when you’re trying to make a plan come together.

By the time I got to Phoenix (or at least the Enmore) it was 7.15pm, the Shy Impostors had just come on stage, and I was carrying enough Red on board to ensure that an in-depth profound analysis of the gig was as unlikely as AC/DC inviting Dave Evans back into the fold. So you’ll have to put up with this instead.

• live
• sunnyboys
• flaming hands
• shy impostors
• enmore theatre

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Chris Masuak announces Sydney show

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By The Barman

The Barman

03 February 2017

Hits: 4557

Chris Masuak’s musical history reads like a muscle car ride through the mean streets of Australia’s rock and roll underground, but appearances Down Under have been few and far between since he relocated to Spain. Masuak is about to right that wrong with a handful of select shows in NSW in March and April, his first in four years.

Riding the best reviews of this solo career with his album “Brujita”, recorded in Spain, the ex-Radio Birdman guitarist will play a handful of selected Aussie dates with a hand-picked Australian band, The Harbour City Wave Riders, featuring Tony Bambach (Lime Spiders) on bass and Stuart Wilson (New Christs, Loose Pills) on drums.

• live
• australia
• chris masuak

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All Through Paradise - The Braves (Spooky Records)

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By Robert Brokenmouth

Robert Brokenmouth

31 January 2017

Hits: 4474

You might not get it first listen. You almost certainly will if you see them.

Remember when you used to follow a local band? Thought the world of them, and they took you all over the city, into dark corners you’d never normally go? Pubs filled with sad, bitter old men?

Everywhere The Braves go around Melbourne, there’s a crew of their fans who follow them. So even out in the tedium of the bored burbs, when The Braves play, the dancefloor is filled with dancing shapes. And the locals get it, and join in. And when The Braves go back, there’s more people.

• spooky records
• the braves
• all through paradise

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He promises not to sing "Louie Louie"...

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By The Barman

The Barman

31 January 2017

Hits: 4848

"Yeah, I don't care if you throw all the ice in the world. You're payin' 5 bucks and I'm makin' 10,000 baby, so screw ya!"

It won't won't cost you five bucks, actually, and it probably won't remotely resemble "Metallic KO" but do we have your attention yet? 

Acclaimed Adelaide writer/filmmaker/journalist/musician/I-94 Bar reviewer Robert Brokenmouth will be doing a very special reading from his latest work "101 Nights" at the Lyrebird Lounge in Melbourne on Saturday, February 4, accompanied by Michael Plater and Nick Spaulding.

Also performing will be Duet (Harry Howard, Edwina Preston and Craig Williamson), Michael Plater, and Cabin Inn.

• edwina preston
• michael plater
• cabin inn
• harry howard
• nick spaulding
• robert brokenmouth
• craig williamson

"Portraits, Punks & Pits" lifts the lid on 25 years behind the lens

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By The Barman

The Barman

31 January 2017

Hits: 4384

Rod Hunt is a passionate sharp shooting Sydney music photographer and has been perfecting his craft for more than 25 years. Now an accomplished and sought-after snapper, he has many published works and awards under his belt.

Hunt’s upcoming exhibition, “Rod Hunt: Portraits, Pits & Punks” draws on his extensive catalogue of work for his first major solo show taking place from February 16-26 at Chrissie Cotter Gallery in Camperdown, Sydney. Legendary Australian music photographer Tony Mott will be guest speaker on opening evening.

As a teen, Rod frequented his local music venues, shooting punk outfits such as Hard-Ons, Massappeal and the Hellmenn, at places like Sutherland Royal Hotel and Penshurst Den, the Lansdowne, the Journo’s Club, the Hopetoun and the Evil Star.

• sydney
• rod hunt
• photographer
• exhibition

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Descendents descend down under

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By The Barman

The Barman

30 January 2017

Hits: 4353

Back in Australia for the first time since 2012, punk rock pioneers Descdents are touring next month in support of their new album, “Hypercaffium Spazzinate”.

Many say that the Descendents invented pop punk. t. They perfected the warp-speed amalgam of adolescent angst, snotty attitude and championship melody infesting the airways today. They took a genre that was about spikes, chaos and anarchy, and brought it to earth, singing about girls, growing up and food.

• tour
• australian
• descendents

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The Winter Journey - Julitha Ryan (self released)

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By Robert Brokenmouth

Robert Brokenmouth

30 January 2017

Hits: 5273

“The Winter Journey” has been such a difficult album to review. Why? Well, I can’t concentrate on typing, I keep falling into it and staying there, hypnotised. It’s just bloody wonderful. I’ve tried with pen and paper, same thing. Just dragged in. Fabulous, really.

Seven bottles, Barman. This is the second of Julitha’s solo albums, hopefully of many more. Her first LP, “The Lucky Girl” I responded immediately to and “The Winter Journey” does the same. Sure, if you’re expecting a wall of guitars, you might pause when you get a wall of … Julitha’s delicate voice. But then everything else kicks in: piano, organ, guitars, pedal steel, synthesizers, strings, brass section, and oh, yes, her all male choir (The Wall of Men) used to intensely powerful effect.

• nick cave
• pj harvey
• julitha ryan
• the winter journey
• mick harvey

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The Clouds return with their first single in decades

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By The Barman

The Barman

30 January 2017

Hits: 3548

Sydney’s sublime popsters, The Clouds, are returning with their first new recording in 20 years.

The Clouds were among the leading lights of the Australian indie scene in the early to mid-‘90s, fronted by the dual vocals of Jodi Phillis and Patricia Young. With three Top 50 Albums - including the classic "Penny Century" - The Clouds were well loved by critics and their huge fan base. They reformed briefly in 2014 to play a national tour.

The new single, “Mabel's Bookshop“, is from a forthcoming EP “Zaffre” out on February 14, 2017 as a digital download. They’ll also play their first headline show in Sydney for three years at Newtown Social Club on March 31. It’s a warm-up to national dates on the Day on The Green tour with Blondie and Cyndi Lauper in April.

THE CLOUDS launch “Zaffre” EP
FRIDAY 31ST MARCH 2017 - NEWTOWN SOCIAL CLUB
Plus Special Guests Melodie Nelson + Jack Tickner
Tickets $35.00+BF from http://newtownsocialclub.com

• live
• clouds
• a day on the green

Williamson and Tek team for acoustic EP

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By The Barman

The Barman

28 January 2017

Hits: 4577

After collaborations for singles with Petra Haden (“Blues Jumped The Rabbit”), Lisa Kakuala (“I Love My Tutu”) and Maia (“Sickkk”) in the last six months, ex-Iggy & the Stooges guitarist James Williamson is poised to release an acoustic EP with Radio Birdman’s Deniz Tek.

“Acoustic KO” is being released digitally and as a vinyl EP on March 31. The track listing is “I Need Somebody”, “Penetration”, “Night Theme” and “No Sense Of Crime” and you shouldn’t need to be told that the first two come from “Raw Power” and the others from the Williamson-Pop “Kill City” album. Tek provides vocals and guitar on three cuts and Williamson contributes guitar (naturally) but expect acoustic drums, guest singers and an orchestra in there too.

• james williamson
• radio birdman
• deniz tek
• iggy & the stooges
• acoustic ko