Pat Todd throws out his rearview mirror

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By Matt Ryan

Matt Ryan

09 August 2021

Hits: 5366

 ^{Michael Passman photo.}

Pat Todd is one of the greats of American music in recent times. I say that not just because he has one hell of a set of pipes on him, and is an incredible songwriter, but because he’s also combined elements of garage, punk and country all into one mix. I can’t think of anyone that has done that as long as he has, or has done it so well.

Todd makes music that I find hard to believe anyone could dislike. He’s one of the great American songwriters. Todd formed his latest outfit The Rankoutsiders in the mid-2000s and they pick up where his legendary group the Lazy Cowgirls left off. Their latest release “…….there’s pretty things in Palookaville” is up there with his best work, but every LP he does is brilliant and it’s hard to pick a standout “classic”.Pat spoke to me from his Los Angeles homebase via Zoom, where Rankoutsiders guitarist Nick Alexander greets me before Pat comes on.

• ghost highway
• los angeles
• lazy cowgirls
• pat todd
• hound gawd records
• heavy medication records
• rankoutsiders
• there’s pretty things in Palookaville

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Sonic sounds from the heart

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By The Barman

The Barman

08 August 2021

Hits: 4575

Space Travels – Sonic Garage (self released)

It’s a a couple of years since Circus Chaplains from Sydney’s Northern Beaches fell by the wayside after the passing of Luke Lovelock, but his bandmates Phil Van Rooyen (Dr Fruitworld, Panadolls, Chickenstones) and Peter Bourke aren’t ones for standing still.

They’ve gone on to a new band with ex-Mushroom Planet bassist Pete Trifunovic, drummer Ronny Welsh and pianist Russell Parkhouse (ex-Riptides).

Sonic Garage recorded their album at Zen Studios in Sydney in these odd COVID times and it’s a wonderful, ragged and righteous collection of songs that recalls familiar Harbour City high energy rock reference points.

• sydney
• bandcamp
• radio birdman
• circus chaplains
• celibate rifles
• sonic garage
• space travels
• northern beaches

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Escape Act

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By The Barman

The Barman

07 August 2021

Hits: 3346

Defective World – The Escapes (Evil Tone)

The debut single for Sydney’s The Escapes has none of the sloppiness they make such a virtue of live. Guess it was a dry recording session. Not likely…

The title track is a garage snarler and a soild way to kick off. Sticksman Alan Hislop drives the other A side song, “Gonna Cry”, with a feel that’d peel paint. And who doesn’t love a drop-out and handclaps? Flip it over and “Electric Burden” doesn’t go anywhere fast, but closer “Don’t” sounds like The Monks on a VB bender, reduced to one-guitar minimalism.

It's a vinyl EP that was recorded by Jay Whalley at The Pet Food Factory in Marrickville so you know The Escapes will never sound better. Owen Foley’s cover art comes in two colours and is real enough to be scary. The only thing you need to take seriously here is putting your credit card or Paypal account on the line to make sure you get a copy before they sell out. 

 Buy it 

• frenzal rhomb
• evil tone records

Tim Rogers-Hard-Ons album already on its way

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By The Barman

The Barman

04 August 2021

Hits: 3616

A quick follow-up to the news that You Am I's Tim Rogers has joined the Hard-Ons. Pre-orders are open for their album "I'm Sorry Sir, That Riff Has Been Taken" which is out on Cheersquad on LP, CD and digital on October 4. Grab your copy here.

The announcement certainly has people takling. And the official word from the principals? Hard-Ons’ Ray Ahn says: “I’m thrilled to have Tim on board, and I am loving his contribution!” 

Bandmate Blackie concurs, "How fucking good is this!!"

And Mr Rogers? “I was already the luckiest goof in rock’n’roll, and I get asked to make a racket with my heroes? Strewth. Wake me up sometime, will ya?”

The first fruit of the partnership, a single “Hold Tight”, is out on all streaming platforms on Friday, August 13.

• hard-ons
• blackie
• ray ahn
• you am i
• tim rogers
• im sorry sir that riffs been taken

Where did he come from? Tim Rogers joins the Hard-Ons

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By The Barman

The Barman

04 August 2021

Hits: 5672

Australia most enduring musical contradictions the Hard-Ons have pulled another surprise out of the hat by recruiting You Am I’s Tim Rogers as frontman.

The announcement was quietly made on Facebook via a change to their page’s` listed line-ups on Tuesday. A photo of the reconfigured Hard-Ons was released on social media overnight, along with word that a single with their new singer would appear digitally on August 13.

The band parted ways with founding drummer-turned-frontman Keish de Silva in March this year after historical allegations of sexual impropriety.   

You Am I released their 11^th studio album, “The Lives Of Others”, in May.  

Online reaction to recruitment of Rogers has ranged from incredulous to delighted. Rogers' recruitment has beewn a closely-guarded secret for some months.  

There’s no word on live shows yet although lockdowns in Australia are making touring problematic for any act with dispersed members.  

• hard-ons
• you am i
• tim rogers

Raunch and roll video from Flowers for Jayne to premiere here

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By The Barman

The Barman

28 July 2021

Hits: 3262

We're living in dangerous and uncertain times. One thing you can be certain about is Sydney band Flowers For Jayne's new single “Dangerous Woman” packs a punch. Former Lime Spiders members Jayne Murphy and Phil Hall teamed with renowned Australian drummer Jess Ciampa to form one of Sydney's more formidable power trios.

Their video for the song makes its premiere via The I-94 Bar at 3.45pm (AEST) on August 3. You can view it here, or register for the Facebook event and receive a reminder when it goes live. "Dangerous Woman" will be available as a download or stream across all platforms.

Lifted from their soon to be released Flower for Jayne album, “Dangerous Woman” could be described as the new generation of power anthems. Mixed by ARIA award winning engineer Anton Hagop, the fuse is already lit before the band ignites into explosive sounds reminiscent of the 70's British rock invasion.Catchy pop melodies driven by a raw and raunchy soundscape, deliver a message that “Dangerous Woman” will be a favourite for listeners across generations.

• youtube
• flowers for jayne
• dangerous woman

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All revved up: The Datsuns storm back

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By Matt Ryan

Matt Ryan

29 July 2021

Hits: 4574

For me, the best band to come out of the so-called garage revival of the late ‘90s and early ‘00s was New Zealand’s The Datsuns. Mainly because while they had a garage sound, they actually managed to be their own thing and not sound like some lame retro rip-off band.

While it’s been a long time coming, their latest release “Eye to Eye” is the band’s first record since 2016 and finds them in full flight. It’s also possibly their best release yet. Frontman and guitarist RUDOLF "DOLF" de BORST spoke to MATT RYAN about all things Datsuns, as well as his membewrship of Nicke Andersson's  bands the Hellacopters and Imperial State Electric.

• hellacopters
• new zealand
• imperial state electric
• the datsuns
• eye to eye
• dolf de borst

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Turning lemons into lemonade

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By The Barman

The Barman

28 July 2021

Hits: 2726

Thwarted by COVID in his attempt to launch his new song “Skin and Bones” live, locked-down MD Horne in Sydney gathered a few friends to stage an online musical party to mark the tune's released, on the day of his birthday.

I-94 Bar patrons will recognise some familiar faces, among them Johnny Casino (dialing in from Spain), Kylie and Llouis of Thee Cha Cha Chas, Al Creed (Aberration, ex-New Christs, Hell Crab City), Craig Jackson (ex-Brother Brick) and Carrie Phillis (ex-Booby Traps.) Cop the digital single here.

• md horne's last call
• skin and bones
• last call

A record that fondles your vitals

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By Robert Brokenmouth

Robert Brokenmouth

28 July 2021

Hits: 4507

Negativity - The Scientists (In the Red)

Holy crap. First Scientists long-player since 1987.

You know, I'm old enough to remember when I first heard powerpop. And I also remember the first time I heard the Scientists' first single, which I thought was rather bloody wonderful. I was lucky enough to always hear Scientists' records before purchase and every record they put out, no exceptions, had to be in my collection.

We were often startled, because you never quite knew what the hell was going on in this band. It was like they had these ... bees in their bonnets, and took delight in shoving them into people's faces, much to their alarm. Once they'd got used to the bees, of course, the band found (or invented) wasps.

• kim salmon
• leanne cowie
• leanne chock
• in the red
• tony thewlis
• the scientists
• boris sujdovic
• negativity

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