Strange Birds - Giant Moths (self released)

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By Robert Brokenmouth

Robert Brokenmouth

06 November 2017

Hits: 4300

A 30-minute EP. Four songs. Melbourne band. Bring ‘em to your town. However…caveat emptor, baby.

The Giant Moths ain’t for everybody. They are, frankly, a little peculiar, and rather endearing. I’ve heard this EP quite a few times since it was thrust into my hands, and I tell you now, not only is it a grower as well as an immediate smacker, you’ll seek out Giant Moths to see them live not just once, but over and over.

I’m sure the band would not be happy if I were to imply that the band is Andrea Scarlett’s baby - and I suspect that the rhythm section described on the back cover, the lynchpin of the outfit, would be at great pains to protest.

• melbourne
• giant moths
• andrea scarlett
• strange birds

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Spine 96 - Spine 96 (Off the Hip)

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By Robert Brokenmouth

Robert Brokenmouth

06 November 2017

Hits: 3476

What a great cover! I mean, what a fucking great cover! And the inside is really interesting too. Now for the music. 14 songs of it.

I had no idea what to expect other than it’s on Off the Hip, and that apparently there’s a Green Circles connection, they’re from Adelaide, and this was recorded 20 years ago and there will be no reformation, no live gigs. There’s also no bio, no lyric sheet, no other info bar a negative-style image of the band, so … if I get these lyrics wrong, blame the band. Bastards. 

So you’d better dig it ‘cos this is all there is.

• green circles
• adelaide
• spine 96

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Yesterday's Town - Suzie Stapleton (self released)

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By Robert Brokenmouth

Robert Brokenmouth

06 November 2017

Hits: 4999

"Yesterday’s Town" is huge. You think you know where she’s going, but she doesn’t take you there. The lyrics are like a stripped-back novella. Suzie really nails the slow/uptempo dynamic with her romantic guitar and sweet and smoky (by turns) voice.

Suzie’s been going about her career the right way (photos, film clips  bios and downloads

). She's moved from Melbourne to London and is building a profile. Her production on "Yesterday’s Town" is superb, and the song itself begs for mainstream airplay, and I can only assume the majors are scampering with intent toward her right now.  

• melbourne
• london
• spencer p jones
• suzie stapleton
• yesterdays town

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From Barracuda to Unbeing Sage: The art of Jeremy Gluck

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By Robert Brokenmouth

Robert Brokenmouth

05 November 2017

Hits: 11210

The more art I make, the more persuaded I become that there is no other art than mine, and no other artist than I. - Jeremy S Gluck

Currently Artist-in-Residence at Eltham Hill School (Greenwich, London), ex-Barrcudas member Jeremy S. Gluck is piloting a pioneering new digital art project, "Game of Memes". The first exhibition opens in London on Saturday November 11. The Barman owes me a huge backlog of wages so I’ll be there too. 

Now cast your eye over this pin-up, a centrefold from "Smash Hits" (one of those dubious teenage mags which proliferated in the late 1970s and early '80s). Observe the mop-top hair, the sharp shirts with snappy lines and the aw-shucks expressions. Not to mention that banana-coloured surfboard.

Not quite as dangerous as the gang in The Archies. Never mind the Barracudas being squeaky enough to take them home to meet Mum, you could take these boys to meet Granny.

She’d chuck them under the chin, pinch their cheeks and call them "lovely" before making them all nice cups of tea (from a teapot in a home-made tea-cosy) with a digestive biscuit.

• jeremy-gluck
• barrucudas
• rowland s. howard
• nikki sudden

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Part Time b/w The Day That Cribb & Munday Got Away - Dave Favours & The Roadside Ashes (Stanley Records)

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By The Barman

The Barman

04 November 2017

Hits: 4133

Dave Favours & The Roadside Ashes is a Sydney band that plays both sorts music - Country and Western - whose debut single recalls T Tex Edwards, the maverick punk-country artist from Dallas, Texas.  

Band leader Dave Favours used to be in The Delivery and has been at this alt.country thing a while. Like T. Tex, Favours has an appreciation for country’s less-travelled roads and a bit of punk in his background. 

“Part Time” has a laconic, resigned feel, with pedal steel bleeding through the lyrics about demons, deep inside, and drinking. Dave Hatt (bass) and Simon Li sit in the pocket nicely. 

• dave favours
• stanley records

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Original 7” Tracks /Demos LP - ME 262/Trans 262 (Buttercup Records)

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By The Barman

The Barman

04 November 2017

Hits: 6788

Most serious musicians would have an aneurysm if someone wanted to release recordings from their callow youth. They’ll tell you they’ve been hidden in a sock drawer for 40 years for good reason, and that demo recordings are just that. 

Of course, people with OCD, completists and the truly curious and/or obsessed - and any or all of these descriptors could apply to most of us - vehemently disagree. This release from the amazing Buttercup Records label in Melbourne satisfies our shared jones. 

• joeys coop
• buttercup records
• radio birdman
• mark roxburgh
• andy newman
• the visitors
• ME 262
• Trans 262
• the other side
• tony gibson
• alan marr

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Sunnies sell-out Sydney again, announce third and final show

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By The Barman

The Barman

01 November 2017

Hits: 4681

It is literally the hottest ticket in town - Sunnyboys at Sydney's Factory Theatre - and nearly as desirable everywhere else. After selling out their two shows at the inner-west venue in just four days, Sunnyboys are pleased to announce a third and final Sydney show.

The new date is Sunday, February 11 at The Factory Theatre in Marrickville with support (again) from the Celibate Rifles. The gig runs over the schoolnight-friendly times of 6-9.30pm.
 
The sold-out shows are the fastest-selling Sydney Sunnyboys shows since the band’s reunion in 2012. Elsewhere, the iconic band - born in the ‘80s but with all-time appeal - set a first-day sales record at Sunshine Coast venue The Shed @ Aussie World, selling a third of all tickets.

It's the band’s first performance on the Coast since their reformation and just their third appearance in the region ever, their last visit being in 1983 at the Noosa Hop,  an all day festival featuring Skyhooks, Midnight Oil, The Church and others.

Tickets for The Factory are on sale now via www.factorytheatre.com.au You'll find the rest of the gig dates and ticketing informaiton here.

 

 

• feelpresents
• sunnyboys
• tour
• australian
• ticketing
• gigs

Scientists bring a sackload of magic

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By Robert Brokenmouth

Robert Brokenmouth

01 November 2017

Hits: 7942

_{Kim Salmon in full flight. Photo by Barry C. Douglas of Barry Takes Photos.}

Before we start: The Scientists were bloody brilliant; Geelong hosted a magical gig. See them while you can, you may never get this chance again.

Now, then. There really are times when not being a multi-millionaire is, frankly, a bit of a fucking niggle.

So there I was, reading that a certain band were going to tour Australia - they’ve played a few reunion gigs overseas as one of the two guitarists lives in London - but they haven’t toured Australia in well over a decade. So there’s every chance this could well be the last time I’ll ever see them.

• alive
• geelong
• kim salmon
• tour
• boris sudjovic
• leanne cowie
• leanne chock
• australian
• tony thewlis
• the scientists

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Win an ME 262/Trans 262 LP package

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By The Barman

The Barman

30 October 2017

Hits: 5377

Those folks at Buttercup Records have done themselves proud again, digging up the recorded artefacts of another lost Australian underground band and putting them out there in a deluxe vinyl package.

“Original 7" /Demos LP + 7" Flexi-Disc” compiles the EP and demos of Sydney underground band ME 262 (later Trans 262) and you can win one of two copies with us.

ME 262 followed on from the initial wave of bands springing up in the wake of Radio Birdman, The Other Side, Hitmen and The Visitors. The Buttercup package compiles their “Don't Hold Me Down” EP from 1982 and a swag of killer unreleased demos, produced by Rob Younger.

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