The Man He Used To Be: Stewart Cunningham tells the Leadfinger story

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By Edwin Garland

Edwin Garland

13 November 2016

Hits: 7334

_{Leadfinger in full flight at Bulli's Heritage Hotel with Carrie Phillis assiting on backing vocals.} 

They've been around for a decade but I've gotten into Leadfinger a bit late in the piece. I had heard word that they were one of the best bands in Sydney, and I knew their leader, Stewart Cunningham, from previous outfits like Proton Energy Pills and Asteroid B612, with whom I’d shared stages. So we went all the way back to 1989. 

The penny finally dropped at the Tim Hemensley Memorial at the Tote in Melbourne about three years ago. Bombarded by the hard Geelong-Melbourne garage rock sound, it was Leadfinger (along with HITS) who were the highlights for me.

Leadfinger played upstairs. I watched a band that was thoughtful, with a great collection of songs and a broad variety of influences. The guitars chimed and lashed out, there were great vocal hooks, and the tunes were memorable. I decided that I liked them a lot.

• leadfinger
• asteroid b612
• proton energy pills
• dillon hicks
• stewart cunningham
• friday night heroes
• reggie screen
• mick boyle
• yes men

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Thrills & Chills – The New Trocaderos (Uncle Mike's RnR)

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By Ronald Brown

Ronald Brown

12 November 2016

Hits: 3491

“Thrills and Chills” is full of old school rock 'n' roll combined with big power-pop songs. This album is a winner, from the fantastic opening track “What The Hell Did I Do” until the closer, “Business To Tend To”.

This wonderful album is the New England band's first full-length effort after a string of EPs and has a little bit of everything for everyone. Led by the three guitars of Brad Marino , Kurt Baker and Jeff Palmer (who swap between rhythm and lead and bass guitar), the band also mixes the lead vocal role. Kris Rogers and Rick Orcutt fill out the ranks on keyboards/piano and drums respectively.

• the new trocaderos
• thrills & chills
• brad marino
• kurt baker
• jeff palmer

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Dirty and Dumb - Labretta Suede and the Motel 6 (self released)

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By Bob Short

Bob Short

12 November 2016

Hits: 4882

A lot of you guys have got me dead wrong. I don’t actually want to write reviews tearing bloody strips from your flesh. I don’t want to kick you in the balls. I don’t want to take your daydreams of fame, glory and love and cruelly crush them. But sometimes a man has got to do what a man has got to do.

I’d like to say that it wasn’t your fault and it was mine. But I’d be lying. It’s all these crap records you keep making. And you know you’re doing it.

You keep including self-written third person press releases announcing your godhood. You present me with expectational cheques your butt can’t make good on. The general idea is, you have to convince someone else to write something nice about you in the third person. If you write about yourself in the third person, you’re asking to be slapped down. So, find someone else to sing your praises. But that’s not going to be me.

• cramps
• new zealand
• labretta suede
• motel six
• cd baby

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Hi-Fab! - Little Murders (Off The Hip)

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By The Barman

The Barman

10 November 2016

Hits: 6054

Fifteen years ago, talented Victorian songwriter Danny McDonald told me that Little Murders was THE great lost power-pop band of Australia’s halcyon musical underground days of the 1980s. They were defunct at the time and an Off The Hip re-issue of their early material - and another reformation - were away off in the future.

Of course, Danny was right. He’d grown up with the band’s songs and they’d left a permanent mark. Little did he know that in 2015 he’d join Little Murders for their fifth and latest studio album “Hi-Fab!” - or that it might be the best thing they’ve ever recorded.

• off-the-hip
• pop
• powerpop
• mod
• the who
• little murders
• rob griffiths
• tony robertson
• danny mcdonald
• rod hayward
• mick barclay

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Edge of a Dream - The Jangle band (Off The Hip)

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By The Barman

The Barman

06 November 2016

Hits: 5537

If you worship at the altar of Big Star, the Beatles and The Byrds you’ll go nuts for this. The dream cited in the title is all about chiming open chords, (gently) duelling Rickenbackers and tuneful choruses that stick.

The Jangle Band bills itself as “Australia's second-best Rainyard/Header/Mars Bastards tribute act” because they’re three of the powerpop bands its members have played in. Throw in The Palisades and Jack and the Beanstalk as well. The membership has form.

• powerpop
• the jangle band
• jack and the beanstalk
• rainyard
• mars bastards
• header

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Tumbling Heights – The Come 'n Go (Voodoo Rhythm)

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By Ronald Brown

Ronald Brown

04 November 2016

Hits: 3959

Welcome to the crazy world of acid trash/garage punk rock n roll  that’s populated by the wonderful Come ‘n Go.

They’re busting guitar strings and spitting out no bullshit licks, throwing a bit of Swiss chic punk around like there is no tomorrow. In short, this album is very good.

It’s on the Voodoo Rhythm label and production is handled by Markus Staehli (Roy and the Devils.) “Tumbling Heights” is the fourth offering from The Come ‘n Go, who formed in Biel/Bienne in Switzerland in 2001. These punks have had some line-up changes over the years, but seem to have settled on Marina (drums and vocals), Philippe (guitars and drums), Franz (guitar), Rob (bass), Alain (vocals, harmonica and keys) and Markus (noise.) Benu guests on guitar on “What It Is”.

• garage
• voodoo rhythm
• swiss
• come 'n go

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Know Your Product: The art of Australia's underground 45s

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By Edwin Garland

Edwin Garland

04 November 2016

Hits: 7677

_{Hoodoo Guru Dave Faulkner adds his autograph to a copy of "Product 45" at the Sydney Spencer P Jones Benefit.                       Emmy Etie photo}

It was a few weeks ago that a parcel was waiting for me on my veranda. This is not unusual as I often order my vinyl from overseas. I even get the odd review copy of a record. This package was much larger and there was much more weighty. It was the stunningly beautiful book “Product 45 Australian Punk/Post-Punk Single Record Covers”.

I sat down and carefully unwrapped the packaging, opening the first few pages, and my first impression was the high-weighted GSM quality silky paper.  This was not the standard book that you would pick up at Dymocks. It had the sense of a limited edition, extremely high-standard production by people who had taken so much care and pride with their talent invested in the design.

• australian
• radio birdman
• product45
• citadel records
• murray bennett
• underground
• the saints
• phantom records

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JU-87 - The Stukas (self released)

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By The Barman

The Barman

01 November 2016

Hits: 5473

No ballads were written in the making of this album.

If you’ve heard or seen The Stukas, you knew that already. The Stukas are Sydney’s most enduring punk act, luxuriating in the glow of being known as their hometown’s “most hated band”. They play old school, take-no-fucking-prisoners punk rock.

But you probably knew that already, too.

• punk
• sydney
• stukas

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You'll be Damned if you miss this

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By The Barman

The Barman

31 October 2016

Hits: 4184

English psychedelic punk legends The Damned are returning to Australia and New Zealand in March 2017 for their 40th anniversary tour.

Since their formation in 1976 and playing their first gig as supports to the Sex Pistols, The Damned have carved their own path.

They released UK punk’s first LP, followed by 10 studio albums, 15 live records and countless more 45s.

Known for songs like “Neat Neat Neat”, “Love Song”, Smash It Up” and “Eloise”, they’re ranked one of the most influential punk groups.

After a series of line-up changes and a temporary break-up, the band have continued to release masterful music, with their latest offering “So, Who’’s Paranoid?” their first album in seven years.

The tour will be lead by original members Captain Sensible on guitar and the remarkable David Vanian on vocals, as well as long time members Monty Oxy Moron, Pinch and Stu West.

Dates and ticketing dertails after the break.

• live
• australia
• damned
• tour
• new zealand

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