The Undertones go chasing Teenage Kicks in Australia

Details

By The Barman

The Barman

28 February 2017

Hits: 3555

Legendary first wave Irish punks The Undertones will make their live Australian debut this July.

The Undertones earned seven top 40 UK singles and three top 20 UK albums between 1978 and 1981. Their debut single "Teenage Kicks" was influential English DJ John Peel'’s favourite single of all time.

• tour
• australian
• the undertones

Read more …

Gypsy Mojo - The Hollerin Sluggers (self released)

Details

By The Barman

The Barman

28 February 2017

Hits: 5396

Born out of a surf club fundraiser, this trio from the Manly Dam Delta on Sydney’s Northern Beaches have just rolled out album number two. “Gypsy Mojo” makes it clear that if The Hollering Sluggers have sold their souls to the Devil at the Brookvale Oval crossroads, they ain’t getting a refund.

The Sluggers are a trio playing blue collar blues with a distinct rock and roll edge. There’s no new ground being broken on “Gypsy Mojo” but that’s not going to worry fans of this style. It’s honest and unpretentious blues-rock.

• sydney
• blues rock
• hollerin sluggers
• chain

Read more …

How Dave Weyer helped Jimi and Neil shape the sounds of the '60s

Details

By Ken Shimamoto

Ken Shimamoto

27 February 2017

Hits: 12667

_{Dave Weyer circa 1969: Sought after Hollywood sound architect.}

DATELINE 1999 - If you're a regular here at the I-94 Bar, chances are good that you have a more than passing interest in the music of Deniz Tek. Granted, the Radio Birdman mastermind's music has taken a markedly experimental turn over his last couple of albums -- one which hasn't found universal favor among fans of Birdman and his earlier solo work. But give the Iceman his due for hewing true to his uncompromising vision and never failing to make challenging, stimulating music.

Since the "Italian Tour" and "Bad Road" EPs and the "Le Bonne Route" album, a key element in the Deniz Tek sound has been one David Weyer, owner/operator of the studio in Laurel, Montana, which bears his name. As engineer and co-producer, Dave is the man who's helped realize Dr. Rock's prescriptions on tape and disc, and he has a fascinating story of his own to tell...

He's been a musician, inventor, a resident of L.A.'s Laurel Canyon during the frenetic '60s, amp technician to a host of guitar greats including Neil Young and Jimi Hendrix. Over a virtual beer or two, we talked about Dave's facinating past and his work with Deniz on projects past, present, and future.

Dave Weyer bellied up at the bar with me from his home in Laurel, Montana, on Sunday afternoon, October 3, 1999.

• radio birdman
• deniz tek
• jim dickson
• jimi hendrix
• dave weyer
• kent steedman
• nik reith
• jimi hendrix experience

Read more …

…disasterpiece – Powerline Sneakers (Kasumuen Records)

Details

By The Barman

The Barman

24 February 2017

Hits: 7568

There’s a beautiful, sleazy rock and roll feel to “…disasterpiece” that’s refreshingly hard to pin down. From the rumbling and seedy “Dream Feature” to the girl-group-on-steroids swagger of “Don’t Shit Me Now”, and even more Spectoresque glow of “Spectre” (ha!), it’s an avalanche of hard-boiled hard Rock Action.

That Powerline Sneakers rock like motherfuckers should come as no surprise, given the pedigree of the players. Lead guitarist John Nolan was in the Powder Monkeys and Bored!. Sly Faulkner, on vocals and guitar, fronted the Splatterheads, who were well regarded even if I never got into ‘em. Bassist Katie Dixon was in Ripe and Mark Hurst pounded the tubs for The Yes-Men and Gutternsipes.

• powder monkeys
• bored!
• powerline sneakers
• Kasumuen Records
• guttersnipes

Read more …

Datura4 bring their heavy jams east

Details

By The Barman

The Barman

21 February 2017

Hits: 7051

_{Robbie Harrold photo}

One of the album highlights of 2016 was "Demon Blues", the debut release by Perth-based rock-psych-boogie band Datura4.

A quartet led by Stems/DM3 songwriter Dom Mariani and ex-New Christs, You Am I, Bamboos and Monarchs guitarist Greg Hitchcock, With Stu Loasby (bass) and Warren Hall (drums) completing the line-up, Datura4 conjure a heady mix of guitar-raunch 'n' roll and heavy melodic jams - in the tradition of the Colored Balls and Masters Apprentices, yet unlike any other Australian band currently treading the boards.

Their second album "Hairy Mountain" has recently been unleashed by US label Alive Natural Sounds and we chased down Dom Mariani for a brief grilling, ahead of a quick-fire tour of Australia's East Coast.  

• stems
• majestic kelp
• datura4
• you am i
• dom mariani
• greg hitchcock
• stonefish
• stu loasby
• warren hall

Read more …

TENZEROEIGHT - The Undermines (self released)

Details

By Robert Brokenmouth & The Barman

Robert Brokenmouth & The Barman

20 February 2017

Hits: 6429

It’s taken me a little while to get to this one, and I wish I’d got here sooner.

There’s 12 tracks, nine by guitarist Dylan Webster, three by other guitarist Jason Sharples. With your bass by Dave Lundquest, drums by Serge Ou (no, really, that’s what it says here) and vocals by Michael Preiss… we’re looking at a band capable, if we read the back of the CD right, of constructing and delivering the twin guitar assault.

Do they?

My oath they do.

• detroit
• the fools
• radio birdman
• deniz tek
• rob younger
• undermines
• the visitors

Read more …

Turn On With - The Stoneage Hearts (Off the Hip)

Details

By The Barman

The Barman

19 February 2017

Hits: 4722

The best re-issues are a reminder of how great an album was the first time around. “Turn On With” is exactly that - 11 songs of prime garage pop, exhumed and revived after 15 years.

The Stoneage Hearts started as a vehicle for drummer Mickster Baty (Finkers, Pyramidiacs, Crusaders) to play with some mates and collaborate on writing some spiffing tunes after he moved from Sydney to Melbourne. It was also the first CD on his own Off The Hip label and 160-plus releases later it’s still going strong. There have also been several incarnations of the band, with Dom Mariani a notable member. Another version of the band lives on today.

• garage
• pop
• stoneage-hearts
• turn on with

Read more …

Broken Blues - Evil Twin (Off The Hip)

Details

By The Barman

The Barman

18 February 2017

Hits: 4101

It sneaks up on you. “Broken Blues” kicks off modestly enough with “I Don’t Mind”. It sounds like a sparse blues and winds up sounding like a monstrous fuzz workout, in the vein of Midwest duo Left Lane Cruiser. From then on in, the ride gets better.

Evil Twin set a high bar with the 2014 debut “Kill The Funk” and set out to record a follow-up EP. When he heard the new songs, label boss Mickster Baty suggested something more substantial. (He probably had a Cooper’s in his hand at one of the bacchanalian fests that pass for an in-store at his shop, and he’s one bloke you don’t argue with when he’s got beers on board.) So “Broken Blues” came into full bloom.

• evil twin
• broken blues
• garage blues

Read more …

See the Descendents and you will believe that biochemists can dance.

Details

By Robert Brokenmouth

Robert Brokenmouth

17 February 2017

Hits: 4577

_{Andreas Heuer photo}

You heard about the body of a murdered man being found in Goodwood, South Australia?

After the gig, me, Ocky and Robert Stafford (of Meatbeaters fame) were perched at the back of the tram as it lurched and whined its way homeward. This is Adelaide, not Melbourne, and we can only afford one tram. So it whines.

Anyway, we’d got through the city and were on the last stop before the parklands when suddenly there were cop cars everywhere, zig-zagging before parking on the tram tracks. A crim ute appeared, and a rather scary-looking Alsatian as one cop ran up to the driver while others peered in at us with a worrying hopefulness.

• tour
• australian
• descendents
• the clowns
• so-cal
• black flag

Read more …