New Dictator Keith Roth flanked by (from left) Andy Shernoff, Albert Bouchard and Ross The Boss.
As far as reformations go, it was a longshot at best. We speak not of Oasis, but the much more seminal and important Dictators, out of New York City, who all and sundry figured had drawn their last collective breath after some bitter internal fallings-out.
The May 2020 announcement that the Dictators were reassembling - sans longtime frontman Handsome Dick Manitoba) - caught the world unaware. Before the first single, “Let’s Get The Band Back Together”, hit the Interwebs, it seemed similarly implausible that the new line-up was recording.
A new album, the plain language-titled “The Dictators” will be released online and on CD in September, with vinyl to follow in October. Which leads us to ask: How did punk rock’s original misfits and premier proto-punk influences find their way to being a band again?
Co-founder and songwriter Andy Shernoff gives us all the answers, live and on the line thanks to the wonders of Zoom…
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- By The Barman
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Explosive Japanese band King Brothers are returning to Australian shores for the first time since 2016 this month. A mix of blues and outta control ‘90s garage, King Brothers are an example of a band that take two genres with deep roots and manage to make a sound that sounds original.
With a reputation for loose and rowdy shows, this run of gigs by the band from Nishinomiya City are a must see.
Lead singer and guitarist Keizo spoke to Matt Ryan via email.
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- By Matt Ryan of Munster Times
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“Searching For Charlie Owen”
Charlie Owen
Cam Butler
Pete Ross and the Sapphire
Django Bar, Marrickville
Friday 16 August 2024
WORDS: Edwin Garland
PHOTOS: The Barman
The Camelot Lounge and its smaller cousin Django Bar, really are the most unheralded venues in Sydney’s inner-west. They’re in a great location, directly opposite Sydenham Railway Station, with Django holding about 120 people and the other about 200.
There has been a lot of love and attention to detail put into the fit-out with all sorts of antiques and obscure paintings on hand. Food and bar prices are reasonable, the sound is immaculate and there’s loads of atmosphere and vibe. In a time when it’s a struggle for venues to keep themselves alive, big kudos to the owners.
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- By Edwin Garland
- Hits: 2736
Ash Naylor, Dave Shaw. Dom Mariani and Julian Matthews are The Stems in 2024. Craig MacLean photo @shot.by.mac.
It’s called anticipation. You’re in a band. You’ve re-convened after a very long lay-off. The line-up’s now well-rehearsed, fed and watered, and it’s the lull before the storm that will be the first day of your 40th anniveresary tour.
Rock and roll is more waiting than playing. Dom Mariani knows it well. He’s on the line from a hotel in Melbourne where The Stems are poised to undertake their first Australian tour this week in five years (thanks COVID) before taking off on a sweep through Spain and Italy.
Oh no. There’s a brief coughing fit. It's from Dom’s end.
“You all right?”
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- By The Barman
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Break Out - PocketWatch (self-released)
Pocketwatch burst onto the Sydney scene about two years ago. With the two youngest members just turning 16, they put on infectious live shows and had attitude. With a range of influences (Power-pop, Britpop and Grunge), these kids were no shoe gazers. The band’s rise has been meteoric on the street-level live circuit and they are now packing out the likes of Marrickville Bowlo.
It's less than year since their debut release, the “It’s Time” EP. It captured their live sound, pointing to a raw punk ethos served with a side dish of meat and potatoes, no frills production. And it was the right record at the time.
Young bands need to spread their wings and find an empathetic producer who can bring to the table their decades of skills and create a shared vision. Enter Wayne Connolly.
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- By Edwin Garland
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Demolition – Rob Griffiths (Swerve Records)
The Girl Belongs To Yesterday Rob Griffiths (digital single through Swerve Records)
As long as I've been a music fan, I've regularly become obsessed with particular songs. At age 10, it was “Devil Gate Drive” by Suzie Quatro. It was “Department of Youth” by Alice Cooper at 12. It would be “London Calling” by The Clash and “Another Girl, Another Planet” by The Only Ones in my late teens.
I'd buy a single and replay a song again and again. The tune would stay my head for weeks and I would wear out that seven- inch single until it was a crackling mess.
I came across “The Girl Belongs To Yesterday“ by Rob Griffiths a few weeks ago on Facebook and like all the classic three-minute singles, I replayed it again and again. Just like that kid bringing home a seven-inch vinyl by Suzi Quatro or Alice Cooper. Except this one’s a download.
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- By Edwyn Garland
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Nothing Grows on St Kilda Beach: Original Sacred Cowboys in their element.
Eclectic label Kasumen Records is marching past its 10th anniversary with some compelling releases and the latest is “Cowboy Logic”, a compilation douible CD anthology of Sacred Cowboys live and studio material.
The band will return to live stages at Shotkickers in Thornbury, Melbourne, on October 11, trckets for which are here.
Founders Garry Gray (ex-Negatives) and Mark Ferrie(The Models) will be joined in the new line-up by Tim Deane (Ron Peno's Superstitions), Anthony Paine (Black Cab) and Damian Fitzgerald (Sore Eyes.) There are plans to record a new album and to play more shows.
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- By The Barman
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Brash Sydney glam-pop-rockers Starcrazy are releasing their self-titled debut album on October 18 and have unveiled a teaser film clip. “I Ain’t That Crazy” was written by bassist Jack Barratt and produced by Mo Mayhem (Mucho Sonar, ex-Hell City Glamours). The video was shot by Connor Barratt. You can stream it here.
Announcing the album, the band says: “This release successfully transports the fire and glitter of our live performances into the recording studio with no loss of heat or dynamics. We’ve been a band for over four years now and feel that with this full length release, we’ve finally honed in on our own sound.
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- By The Barman
- Hits: 1110
Brando Rising – Brando Rising (self-released)
Kelly Hewson’s pungent guitar tones and vocalist Ripley Hood’s sense of high drama make Brando Rising sound markedly different from most of the Melbourne rock scene. The “Brando Rising” album is a brooding, occasionally brutal, with lyricxs that are like a walk through somebody else’s psychiatric file.
Let’s talk pedigree: Hewson was a member of Gun Control (with future New Christ and Celibate Rifle, Pauly Larsen), and Hot Tomatoes in Adelaide in the 1980s and currently plays in punk mainstays Glen & The Peanut Buttermen. Rip was in Gun Control, too.
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- By The Barman & Ronald Brown
- Hits: 2735
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