ABBA isn't the only rockin' thing that's Swedish

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By The Barman

The Barman

20 November 2021

Hits: 3583

I Wish Life Could Be… - Swedish Magazines (Rubber Records)

Underground rock on Australia’s East Coast really needed a well-organised interstate exchange program in the 2000s. 

Despite a smoothed-out Hume Highway between Melbourne and Sydney making long-haul road-trips safer and a flood of cheap airfares, the flow of bands between the two big smokes slowed, largely in part to Sydney’s declining number of live music venues. 

After all, bands can’t do reciprocal deals to play in each other’s cities if one hometown has 20 venues and the other has four. If the balance had been more equitable and audiences less fragmented, it’s a fair bet that Melbourne’s Swedish Magazines would have household names across the nation in the mid-00s and not juist in Melbourne.

• rubber records
• van walker
• cal walker
• swedish magazines
• i wish life could be

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Monstrously good

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By The Barman

The Barman

17 November 2021

Hits: 4123

You’re Class, I’m Trash – The Monsters (Voodoo Rhythm)

Two weeks to write, a fortnight to record - cynics would doubt both claims - and the eighth album from these Swiss lunatics is testament to what you can achieve when you set out to annoy the living shit out of audiences.

“You’re Class, I’m Trash” is unadulterated fuzz guitar abrasion, a boil on the arse of commercially safe and bland music, with occasional diversions into sonic weirdness. And it sounds fucking great.

• thrash
• beat-man
• garage
• trash
• voodoo rhythm
• the monsters
• You’re Class, I’m Trash

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Justice is served - 18 years later

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By Ron Brown

Ron Brown

16 November 2021

Hits: 3370

Redline EP – Sweet Justice (Eternal Music Group)

Hello Barflies! Well folks, The Farmhouse has been rocking these past few weeks. Los Angeles’ Sweet Justice have released the follow-up to their debut album - and it's only taken 18 years.

Why so long? Well, these boys are always busy, what with their other band the fabulous Streetwalkin’ Cheetahs (among other projects) keeping these fine musicians very busy.

Sweet Justice is a three-piece band featuring Frank Meyer (guitar and vocals), Bruce Duff (bad ass bass) and Mike Sessa on the skins (replacing original drummer Chris Markwood.) What as pedigree these blokes have. having worked with James Williamson (Iggy & the Stooges), Eddie Spaghetti, Jeff Dahl, ADZ and Wayne Kramer (MC5).  So you know this ain’t no garbage or garage band I’m talking about.

• stooges
• mc5
• wayne kramer
• james williamson
• frank meyer
• streetwalkin' cheetahs
• mike sessa
• bruce duff
• sweet justice
• adz
• redline

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I-94 Bar premiere for new James McCann project

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By The Barman

The Barman

12 November 2021

Hits: 2731

Not content with co-producing the recent tribute album to Spencer P Jones, Melbourne muso James McCann (James McCann and the New Vindcitives, Harpoon, Nucnhcukka Superfly, The Drones) took the chance during lockdown to write and record a new album. His solo project, for whjich he played all the instruments, is called SKAG and "13 Moons (Burn Out)" is the lead-off video single for the forthcoming long-player "Death Groupie". Grab the track at Bandcamp. 

• james mcann
• skag
• death groupie
• jj mccann

Tour "souvenir" breathes real fire

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By The Barman

The Barman

12 November 2021

Hits: 3461

Back For More – Rocket Science b/w Sick – Supergrass (Sound Pressing)

This is a double A side to mark the 2020 Australian tour that never was by Brits Supergrass and home-grown psych-garage rockers Rocket Science. COVID killed off that run, which was part of an ambitious world tour by Supergrass. Plans are afoot to make up for that, but for now this offering will have to do…

First to Rocket Science: Roman Tucker's throaty organ and some stop-start fuzz guitar dominate the breathless “Back For More”, recorded live at an in-store at Tym Guitars (R,I.P.) in Brisbane after the release of their fabulous reformation album, “Snake”. It’s a reminder that simple songs are often best - and that the album ruled if you didn’t wrap your ears around it at the time of release.

• rocket science
• back for more
• supergrass
• sound oressing

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Lockdown lifted, Ron Peno and Co head back to live stages

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By The Barman

The Barman

11 November 2021

Hits: 2982

• live
• died pretty
• superstitions
• ron s peno
• do the understanding

Pillbox re-issue proves they were the real deal

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By J.D. Misfortune, Burned-Out Recluse

J.D. Misfortune, Burned-Out Recluse

04 November 2021

Hits: 4007

Jimbo’s Clown Room - Pillbox (Yeah Right Records)

"I've been sold, been passed around, been abandoned when I was down..." - Chris Barry

The best record of the ‘90s is finally released on old time, rock ‘n’ roll, vintage style, black wax - I guess Rich Jones from MM and Black Halos had sumpthin’ ta do with it being re-released on vinyl - so high fives and thumbs up, and please everyone do buy a round for Rich Jwhen ya see 'im at the big rock show.

This sleek, snazzy version of the exemplary "Clown Room" even comes with a cuppla bonus (!!!) Pillbox tracks you're all gonna love, the seldom heard, "Come Back To The Planet" and "Down In Style", and a splendidly insightful LYRIC SHEET. I thought I knew all the words by heart, but some are even better than I remembered-dude's an underrated writer, as you'll see upon reading both the words to his songs and his liner notes that come with the record.

In addition, there’s a beautiful gatefold sleeve collage of old Pillbox live rock shots, and all your favorite songs like, "Sinister Urge", "Holly", "Get Hip" (my main jam since I was like 23 or somethin') , and "Come Up Heroin"!

• waldos
• sour jazz
• mr ratboy
• pillbox
• jimbo's clown room
• rich jones
• chris barry
• yeah right records
• joe rizzo
• steve mach

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Friends go all the way to salute SPJ

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By The Barman

The Barman

28 October 2021

Hits: 5393

On what would have been his 65^th birthday, the late Spencer P Jones has been paid tribute by way of a double LP of his own songs played by some of his friends. French label Beast Records and Melbourne imprint Spooky Records have released “All The Way With SPJ Vol 1” as a unique international tribute to the New Zealand-born, Australian rock'n'roll cult hero and underground icon.

Spencer died on 21 August 2018 at the age of 61 and was a noted guitarist and singer-songwriter, known for his work with the Beasts of Bourbon and the Johnnys as well as wider associations with artists including Rowland S. Howard and the Drones.

• saints
• beast records
• beasts of bourbon
• spooky records
• spencer p jones
• the johnnys
• james mccann
• kid congo powers
• chris bailey
• alejandro escovedo
• all the way with spj

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Single launch for ex-Happy Hate Me Nots leader's new-ish combo

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By The Barman

The Barman

28 October 2021

Hits: 3176

_{Check out the magnetism: Paul Berwick, Jiom Diockson, Matt Galvin and Nick Kennedy.} 

You could say they’re about to “step into the light” because that’s the name of the debut single for Sydney band Paul Berwick’s Magnetic Quartet. Bandleader Paul Berwick was the guitarist, singer and songwriter for Sydney’s late 1980s favourites Happy Hate Me Nots and has teamed with old friends Matt Galvin (guitar), Jim Dickson (bass) and Nick Kennedy (drums) to produce new original songs.

The individual band members have a wealth of experience (Happy Hate Me Nots, Radio Birdman, New Christs, Knievel, Big Heavy Stuff, Died Pretty, The Orange Humble Band and Settlement) but have played only a couple of shows together as Paul Berwick’s Magnetic Quartet. They’re a class outfit as evidenced by their I-94 Bar promoted support to Leadfinger earlier this year.  

They’ll launch the single with good mates Joeys Coop (featuring Died Pretty guitarist Brett Myers) at Sydney’s MoshPit Bar on Friday, November 12. Limited numbers of in-person tickets (and unlimited streaming passes) are selling here. (We’ll post a link to the single on Bandcamp after the gig.)

• happy hate me nots
• died pretty
• radio birdman
• moshpit
• paul berwick
• magetic quartet

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