Surf trio The Tommys on the single launch trail

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By The Barman

The Barman

27 May 2025

Hits: 890

After a 20-year hiatus, Melbourne slackabilly surf trio The Tommys are back on the live circuit and launching a new singe. 

Well pedigreed veterans Ollie Laurie (Exotics), Jonathan Lickliter (Died Pretty) and Rob Lastdrager (T Bones) are unveiling their red vinyl 45 single, “Born to Follow” b/w “Window Pane”, at the Old Bar in Fitzroy from 4pm on Saturday. June 7.

They'll also play a live-to-air on Melbourne community radio station 3CR's Burning Vinyl Radio show radio on the Friday between 2-4pm. 

The Tommys released their debut album, “Grow Fins”, way back in 2000 and the follow up single, “Chastity Melts”, recorded live and dirty at the Old Bar in Melbourne, four years later.

Reforming for Garage Fest 2024 they toured of duty in Cambodia and now they’re thrilling audiences in Melbourne and Sydney once more with their tsunami of lo-fi garage surf grooves.

Special guests The Kreep 500 are supporting with their own brand of savage howls with garage nous. A duo far beyond the sum of its parts (think Cramps, Scientists, Reigning Sound), their debut album sold out in months and its follow-up is due in late 2025 on the Groovie (Europe) and Off The Hip (Australia) labels.

• died pretty
• the old bar
• the tommys
• the kreep 500

After 50 years, it's the way he makes us feel

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By Edwin Garland

Edwin Garland

22 May 2025

Hits: 2808

Ed Kuepper
D.C. Cross
Camelot Lounge, Marrickville, NSW
Thursday April 25, 2025
PHOTOS: Judi Dransfield Kuepper photos

Ed Kuepper stormed across Australia last year with The Saints ‘73-’78, reclaiming the legacy of his partnership with the late Chris Bailey and the band they created when Ed was a 14-year-old on detention at school.

The Saints ‘73-’78 withstood the usual uproar from purists and the same arguments that had been wheeled out by fans of Queen, Dead Kennedys and the Sex Pistols when their original members were part of reconfigured line-ups.  The point with The Saints '73-'78 (and The Aints! before them) was that Ed was the bloke who co- wrote the songs and the one who had been tearing down musical walls since the original band split.

• ed kuepper
• laughing clowns
• the saints
• the saints '73-'78
• camelot lounge
• D.C. cross

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The Lemonheads weave a satisfying, sometimes sloppy spell over Sydney

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By Josh McNamara

Josh McNamara

21 May 2025

Hits: 3038

The Lemonheads
Crocodylus
Enmore Theatre, Sydney, NSW
Tuesday, May 20, 2025

The cars were not flying up King Street but it didn’t really startle me.

For a decade or so ago, following an apparent increase in alcohol related violence, the New South Wales Government introduced changes to liquor licensing laws in selective suburbs, mainly around Kings Cross, affecting entry into late night venues. Perhaps it did two things: shift the problem to Newtown, and decimate the local Kings Cross businesses, many of which were run by John Ibrahim, which was perhaps the intention all along.

But Newtown is now certainly busy to the point of traffic standstill on a Tuesday night, so much so I get out of my Uber early and walk the last kilometre, happily outpacing the cars to meet my buddy Pete.

• enmore theatre
• australian tour
• lemonheads
• 2025
• Crocodylus

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You'll be pissed off if you miss "The Kiss Off"

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By The Barman

The Barman

15 May 2025

Hits: 1564

Physical stock of the new Chris Masuak single (and the swansong for his killer Spanish band The Viveiro Wave Riders) has landed in Australia and is now shipping.

“The Kiss Off” b/w “Carny Marriage” is on US label Savage Magic Records, and we’re selling a limited number via the I-94 Bar Bandcamp site. If you're overseas, the Savage Magic Records Bandcamp may be your most economical choice or drop us a line This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and we'll quote on postage. 
 
A reminder that the global premiere of the film clip for "The Kiss Off" is imminent and the Facebook event will give you a reminder.

The clip goes live on YouTube at  at 4pm US Pacific Time on Friday, May 16 or 9am Australian Eastern Standard Time on Saturday, May 17 

Masuak has new studio material underway with both his other Spanish band The Revelators and the Australian line-up of Chris Masuak's Dog Soldier. Stay tuned for details of Australian dates for Chris Masuak's Dog Soldier later this year. 

• chris masuak
• savage magic records
• chris masuak's dog solider
• the kiss off

Sydney's MoshPit Bar marks eight years with free 16-band line-up

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By The Barman

The Barman

09 May 2025

Hits: 2083

_{The Strike-Outs' Simon and Adam Vines will headine Saturday night's gig.}

Sydney’s favourite dive bar, The MoshPit, is marking its eighth birthday with two nights and a day of wall-to-wall rock and roll – and it’s free.

It kicks off on Friday, May 16 at 7:30pm with Newcastle’s Jacques Levy's Desire. The first band to play the venue, Blurter, is back at 8:20.

Young guns Pocketwatch plan to get the joint jumping at 9:10 and will show off tunes they recorded with multi-ARIA award winning producer Wayne Connolly, plus a few others. Veterans Jupiter 5 bring the Sabbath-meets-The Sonics riffarama-lama at 10pm. The indie sleaze of Aria Nova is on at 11pm and plays out until close.

• jupiter 5
• the stallers
• pocketwatch
• moshpit bar
• the strike-outs

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The Dunhill Blues are still shaking things up, two decades down the track

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By The Barman

The Barman

08 May 2025

Hits: 2918

The Big Shake Up! Vol 2 – The Dunhill Blues (Evil Tone/Outta Space)

Never mind the confusing title (Volume 2? Where’s Volume 1?) For those who are numerically challenged (guilty as charged) or not watching closely, this is the fifth full album for The Dunhill Blues. And their best yet, for a number of reasons.

Throughout their 20-odd year career, The Dunnies have been a shifting cast of players, with Dan (vocals and guitar) and Adam (bass and vocals) the constants. They could be a hit or miss proposition on any given night or recording session, depending on how many beers they had on board. 

The band’s mission was always to have fun while rummaging through garage rock’s trash - and if you didn’t like that, there were always Powderfinger gigs to fall asleep at.

• the dunhill blues
• evil tone records
• outtaspace records

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The Johnnys to launch "Live In Lyon" to audiences in Melbourne and Sydney

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By The Barman

The Barman

07 May 2025

Hits: 1170

Australia’s pioneering and hard partying cowpunks, The Johnnys, are re-emerging from a round of studio tinkerin’ and drinkin’ for a run of gigs in May, brandishing a live CD and a refreshed set.

“Live In Lyon” is the album, and it captures a rollicking 1990 French gig by the classic line-up of Hoody, Billy, Slim and Spencer P Jones on their only European tour. Restored from the original tape at Turtlerock Studios in Sydney by Rick O’Neill, it’s brimming with Saucisson, Vin Rouge and bawdy cowpunk rock and roll.

• dave favours
• penny ikinger
• spencer p jones
• the johnnys
• the dunhill blues
• rick o'neill
• van ruin
• live in lyon
• murrays bay country club
• the vibrajets
• the australian beefweek show

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How do you like dem green apples? The Pingers might be your new favourite punk rock band

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By The Barman

The Barman

07 May 2025

Hits: 2270

Green Apple – The Pingers (Evil Tone)

Like an episode of that boring TV circle-jerk "QandA", there’s something to offend everyone on the debut album for Aussie punks The Pingers. Excessive drinking; scoring ecstasy from your mum and putting it in your bum; debates about who’s a cunt and who’s a fuckwit and; shitting your pants are among topics debated (and that’s just the first four songs).

Teagz (vocals), Casey (guitar and vocals), Ollie  (bass) and Steeno (drums) don’t come to praise punk rock, they come to colloidally evacuate its bowel, and they’re using base humour as a lubricant.

“Green Apple” is a barrage of rapid-fire punk that’s over in 20 minutes. It’s two girls and two guys with 10 original songs - one briefly reprised in death metal style so I suppose that makes it 11 - and a cover of “Phone keys smokes wallet” by The Frangipanis.

• the pingers
• green apple
• evil tone

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ZOOBOMBS landing back in Australia

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By The Barman

The Barman

06 May 2025

Hits: 1234

Tokyo funk-garage rockers ZOOBOMBS are back in Australia after more than a decade away. A May and June 2025 tour will bring them to Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne.

The band will be releasing a new Australian edition of their classic 1999 album “Let It Bomb” via Cheersquad Records & Tapes and May 23.

ZOOBOMBS have captivated audiences worldwide and shared stages with the likes of The Black Keys and Jon Spencer Blues Explosion. First turning heads Down Under on the Big Day Out festival tour in 2001, their high-octane performances leave a lasting imprint.

Regurgitator's Ben Ely is playing with ZOOBOMBS in Brisbane with his band Ben Ely and The Mango Fungo Band, and The Meanies and Rocket Science are each one one of their two Melbourne shows.

ZOOMBOMBS (JP)
Australian Tour
MAY
29 – The Crowbar, Brisbane
+ The Unknowns + Ben Ely and The Mango Fungo Band 
30 – The Crowbar, Sydney
+ The Unknowns + Liquid Zoo 
JUN
1– The Evelyn, Fitzroy
w/ The Meanies + The Vovos 
2 – Kindred Studio, Footscray
w/ Rocket Science 
Tickets

• australian tour
• 2025
• zoobombs