Vale Gary Rasmussen of Sonic's Rendezvous Band

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By The Barman

The Barman

29 November 2024

Hits: 5676

 _{Gary Rasmussen (left) with other members of Sonic's Rendezvous Band, Scott Morgan, Fred Smith and Scott Asheton. Joann Uhelszki photo.} 

Sonic’s Rendezvous Band bassist Gary Rasmussen has passed away after a short illness. He was aged 72.

A resident of Howell in Michigan, Rasmussen played bass with some of the region’s most influential bands in the late 1960s and ‘70s. He was a member of Scots Pirates, The Rendezvous Band, The Scott Morgan Group, The Up and more recently, Broken Arrow Blues Band. He also appeared on Patti Smith’s “Dream of Life” album.

After suffering a sore throat and back pain on Tuesday, Gary was admitted to hospital. He was transferred to University of Michigan Hospital where he was put into an induced coma after doctors diagnosed meningitis. He passed on Friday, surrounded by family and friends including longtime partner Marla Swartz.   

• sonics rendezvous band
• fred smith
• john sinclair
• gary rasmussen
• scott asheton
• scott morgan
• vale
• the up
• broken arrow blues band
• pattis smith

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The D4 are back for NZ and Oz shows

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By The Barman

The Barman

28 November 2024

Hits: 2863

High-energy Kiwis The D4 are reforming for a string of dates in their home country in 2025 as well as three shows across the ditch in Australia.

Promising all the hits for their two albums “6Twenty” and “Out Of My Head” as well as a slew of unreleased material, The D4 play Brisbane (February 13), Sydney (February 15) and Melbourne (February 16) with Tape/Off, Hard-Ons and Mach Pelican respectively. 

Australian and NZ tickets are here.

• tour
• australian
• the d4
• new zealand

Sing For The Crime: The Saints '73-'78 play Sydney

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By The Barman

The Barman

23 November 2024

Hits: 4667

The Saints ’73-‘78
Kim Salmon and The Surrealists
Enmore Theatre, Sydney
Friday 22 November, 2024

Words: THE BARMAN
Photos: MURRAY BENNETT

Polarising was the Word of the Night. You could have argued that there was no way Mark Arm would successfully replace the late Chris Bailey in a reconstituted version of the Saints and if you did, you probably didn’t go to the show anyway.

It’s a truth that Arm’s yowl is as far removed from the patented snarl of Bailey as Brisbane is from Seattle. If you didn’t take Arm at his word that he wasn’t trying to fill the original singer’s shoes, you were never going to dig this show. He clearly isn’t Bailey and didn’t try to be.

• ed kuepper
• kim salmon
• surrealists
• mark arm
• the saints
• enmore theatre
• aints
• ivor hay
• the saints '73-'78

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The Beasts are back - with new recordings -  to say goodbye

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By The Barman

The Barman

22 November 2024

Hits: 5113

_{Martin Philby photo.}

The band that we thought couldn’t be killed, The Beasts – aka surviving members of the Beasts of Bourbon – are releasing a new studio album and it will be the last chapter.

“Ultimo” was recorded over two days at Melbourne’s Union Studios, during a break from the nationally sold-out Alive Tour earlier this year, and it will be released on December 13 via Slick Productions through MGM.

An 11-track live recording, it includes a collection of Beasts’ classics and fan favourites, none of which appeared on the limited edition “be suburban” EP that was sold on tour.

• album
• the beasts
• ultimo

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Nashville Pussy and Supersuckers on hit and run double-bill

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By The Barman

The Barman

18 November 2024

Hits: 2547

_{Nashville Pussy.}

Trucker cap rock fans watch out:  It’s a larger-then-life double bill that the promoter promises will “tear Australia a new one” in a florid media release - and who are we to argue? The Supersuckers and Nashville Pussy are due in these parts in January.  And of course they had to call the tour "Superpussy".  

Nashville Pussy headlines Sydney (Manning Bar on January 23) and Adelaide (The Gov on January 26 ) with Supersuckers doing the honours in Melbourne (The Croxton on January 24) and Brisbane (The Zoo on January 25). Tickets go on sale on Wednesday here.

• supersuckers
• nashville pussy
• australian tour

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The Saints '73-'78 debut: Memories Are Made of This

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By Robert Brokenmouth

Robert Brokenmouth

15 November 2024

Hits: 5866

_{The Saints '73-'78 take flight. Nazz Nassari photo.} 

The Saints ’73-‘78
+ The Double Agents
Hindley Street Music Hall, Adelaide
Thursday, November 14, 2024
WORDS: Robert Brokenmouth
IMAGES: Nazz Nassari

The media release says the tour coincides with the release of The Saints' “’(I’m) Stranded’ boxset, a deluxe four-disc set available on both LP and CD, which serves as “the final word on album that is one of the all-time great Australian records and as well as an all-time classic punk rock record."

This boxset is long, long overdue. It is essential. And I hope they release a record of these current shows. Put me down for two, thanks.

On stage: original members Ed Kuepper and Ivor Hay, with Peter Oxley (a former Sunnyboy who's been playing alongside Kuepper for seven years or more), Mick Harvey (former Birthday Party/Bad Seeds and expert musical arranger and accompanist) and Mark Arm (best known for Mudhoney, but similarly accomplished with a wide variety of bands).

• bad seeds
• ed kuepper
• sunnyboys
• peter oxley
• mark arm
• chris bailey
• the saints
• ivor hay
• saints '73-'78
• hindley street music hall
• the double agents

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Joe Normal's dreams of a Blue (collar) Christmas

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By The Barman

The Barman

14 November 2024

Hits: 2020

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It’s only November but that means it’s nearly December. Soulful American underground rocker Joe Normal is here to remind you that it’s almost Xmas with a song. “Christmas In a Blue Collar Town”,  written for “fans of Phil Spector, Westerberg, Lennon, and Springsteen”.

Joe Normal has been on Pat Todd's Rankoutsider Records label and is endorsed by the I-94 Bar’s Man in America, JD Stayfree, so if you like what you hear, you can check him out here.

• joe normal
• christmas in a blue collar town

Chris Charlesworth's ripping yarns from when rock's giants strolled the world

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By Robert Brokenmouth

Robert Brokenmouth

10 November 2024

Hits: 6160

Who is Chris Charlesworth? Well, you may well have a few of his books in your overflowing rock book shelves; a couple on David Bowie, four on the Who, one apiece on Cat Stevens, Deep Purple, Slade, and Elvis. Go search Trove or Abebooks dot com and see what you can find.

In short, he is an acclaimed author, editor and interviewer. He was staff writer for UK music magazine Melody Maker in the ‘70s when it was arguably at the peak of its power. As its News Editor - and from 1973, US Editor, based in New York - he interviewed and/or wrote about just about every rock icon of the era.

• ramones
• the who
• david bowie
• john lennon
• the dictators
• chris charlesworth
• melody maker
• new music express
• just backdated
• rock's back pages
• jimmy page
• yoko ono
• spenwood books ltd

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Stu Spasm/Gray's life laid bare - brilliantly

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By Robert Brokenmouth

Robert Brokenmouth

06 November 2024

Hits: 8845

I Should Have Been Dead Years Ago The Raw Life of Stuart Gray
Directed by Jason Axel Summers
(Magic Umbrella, Inc.)

Never was a truer phrase uttered. But you have to see the film for the vivid, stupid, quite astonishing reality about Stuart Gray - and aka Stu Spasm of Lubricated Goat, Salamander Jim, The James Baker Exprience and many more - to sink in. 

What you really need to know, though, is that “I Should Have Been Dead...” is an essential rock documentary. Director Jason Axel Summers allows truths to emerge gradually, along with a relentless demonstration of Stuart Gray's talent and determination to play - I should add that his bandmates are people you want to hear more of as well.

Oh, yeah? Well, look: Mudhoney alert. Tex Perkins alert. And, importantly, neither dominate. 

And, thankfully, “I Should Have Been Dead...” is MARKED SAFE from Henry Rollins AND Bono.

So, spoiler alert: either look away now and buy a ticket, or read on, and then buy two, or three tickets. Here's the Facebook page.

The film opens with Gray's current band, the Art-Gray Noizz Quartet. And they're damned good. So much coiled energy. I could waffle about the band but I won't (but you'll love Ryan Skeletonboy and his deliberately-wonked two-string bass and Bloody Rich's eloquent drums, and ... get the idea?)

• tex perkins
• lubricated goat
• stu spasm
• stuart gray
• jason axel summers
• james baker experience
• I Should Have Been Dead Years Ago

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