MC5 to be honoured - by real people back home

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By The Barman

The Barman

22 September 2024

Hits: 1512

_{Original image by Leni Sinclair.}

A few hours before the clueless moguls of the music industry rattle their jewelry at a black-tie knees-up in Cleveland to officially induct the MC5 into the Rock and Roll Hall of Lame, a more appropriate commemoration will take place in the band’s home state of Michigan.

Friends and supporters will gather at Memorial Park in Lincoln Park - the city where Rob Tyner (Derminer), Wayne Kramer (Kambes), Fred Smith and Dennis Thompson (Tomich) attended high school - from 3pm on the afternoon of October 12.

• fred smith
• mc5
• wayne kramer
• rob tyner
• dennis thompson
• michael davis
• lincoln park
• lincoln park historical museum
• leni sinclair

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Gentle Ben kicks off tour

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By The Barman

The Barman

20 September 2024

Hits: 679

Rock noir extraordinaire exponents, Gentle Ben and His Shimmering Hands, kick off their Australian East Coast tour to promote their album “Brut” at The Cactus Room in Melbourne tonight with Screensaver and Tali & The Arms.

After that it’s off to Major Tom’s in Kyneton (September 21). Marrickville Bowling Club in Sydney (with The Holy Soul on September 27) and The Bearded Lady in hometown Brisbane (with Refedex and Anna & The Morphics September 27).

The band fronted by Ben Corbett (SixFtHick) is fresh from a blistering run of 13 shows in France including the prestigious Binic Festival (pictured above).

Gentle Ben & His Shimmering Hands
SEP
20 – The Cactus Room
Tickets
21 – Major Tom’s, Kyneton
– Major Tom’s
27 – Marrickville Bowling Club, NSW 
Tickets
28 – The Bearded Lady, West End, QLD
Tickets

• tour
• gentle ben and his shimmering hands

Los Chicos back to notch Aussie Tour Number Seven

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By The Barman

The Barman

19 September 2024

Hits: 2264

Genre-hopping Spanish garage-punk/country/gospel/soul luminaries Los Chicos are set to tour their home away from home, Australia, for the seventh time this November, and will release their eighth album, “Never Is Too Much”, to coincide.

Produced by Mike Mariconda (guitarist of the legendary Raunch Hands and producer of classic albums by the Cosmic Psychos, Powder Monkeys and New Bomb Turks). “Never Too Much” is out on Cheersquad Records & Tapes on November 1.

• los chicos
• australian tour
• 2024
• never is too much
• mike mariconda

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Perfect pop and a touch of glam pulls a crowd at Clyde's birthday bash

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By The Barman

The Barman

16 September 2024

Hits: 1908

_{Glenn Morris of The On and Ons.}

The On and Ons
(aka Clyde Bramley's 70th Birthday Bash)
+ The Hovering Spooks
Marrickville Bowling Club, NSW
Sunday, September 15, 2024

Sunday afternoons at the Bowlo have become a Sydney institution for live music goers of a certain vintage. This one had the added attraction of being a celebration of On and Ons bassist and all-round nice guy Clyde Bramley’s 70th birthday, so there was ample reason for the big crowd in evidence.

First up, The Hovering Spooks and the bands that their members haven’t played in can be accommodated on the big end of a pin. These Spooks bill themselves as psych but that label’s about as imprecise as they come these days. How about pre-proto-punk dressed-down glam?

• sunnyboys
• clyde bramley
• new christs
• the on and ons
• richard burgman
• celibate rifles
• marrickville bowling club
• paul larsen
• glenn morris
• brian morris
• phil hall
• the hovering spooks

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Deadbeats, making no excuses for growing old DISGRACEfully

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By The Barman

The Barman

16 September 2024

Hits: 1314

Bright Lights & Dead Beats – DISGRACELand (self released)

It’s hard to translate a live band to tape/hard drive, but DISGRACE Land have given it a damned good shot on their sophomore CD “Bright Lights & Dead Beats”. In doing so, they’ve also wound the clock back to Sydney circa 1986 when the city resonated with the sounds of the garage and the swamp in equally large measures.

“Bright Lights…” is a major sonic advance on “A Beginners Guide to DISGRACEland” and that’s largely down to engineer, mixer and masterer John Cobbin, but the band gave him the songs and performances to make it fly.

It’s a no-frills recording but the energy is palpable on songs like the surging “Sweet Salvation”, brooding opener “Border Town” and the urgent and lean “Better Call Saul”. Granted, you don’t get frontman Carl Musker jumping on top of your stereo to preach at you in person but listening to the CD is the next best thing.

• cramps
• celibate rifles
• john cobbin
• DISGRACEland
• Bright Lights & Dead Beats
• carl musker

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The Bowery's (almost) Last Man Standing plays on

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By The Barman

The Barman

14 September 2024

Hits: 1157

Rosewood – Kevin K and The Bowery Kats (Vicious Kitten)

Around these parts, a new Kevin K album feels just like an old pair of slippers. The sound is lived in, equal parts Johnny Thunders, Stones and the New York Dolls, and the lyrical themes (usually loss, drugs and swimming against the tide) sit just right. Familiarity does not breed contempt. 

Some folks say Kevin K is in the thrall of Thunders and there’s an awful lot of JT in his guitar squall and vocal drawl. That being the case, admiration stops just short of mimicry. The more enlightened think he’s giving a nod to (as opposed to being on the nod with) an enigmatic influence.

• cbgb
• johnny thunders
• vicious kitten
• james brown
• the clash
• rosewood

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Road to Van Ruin

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By The Barman

The Barman

14 September 2024

Hits: 1326

 Jails, Death & Institutions – Van Ruin (Crankinhaus Records)

This five-song CD EP is the new project for Sydneysider Phil Van Rooyen, also of Chickenstones and late of Sonic Garage, Circus Chaplins and Panadolls, and for those with short attention spans, in two words it’s: “compellingly great”.

Phil’s on vocals and guitar and is joined by producer Al Creed (New Christs, Panadolls and a million others) on bass and additional guitar, and Stu Wilson (Aberration, New Christs, Lime Spiders, Chris Masuak’s Dog Soldier) on drums. If those credentials strike a chord with you, you’ll take to “Jails, Death & Institutions” like a long-term inmate to a remand hearing.

• chickenstones
• panadolls
• crankinhaus records
• sonic garage

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Zeke unveils a venomous single to mark Euro tour

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By The Barman

The Barman

13 September 2024

Hits: 1148

Aussie fans were left amazed earlier this year when Zeke landed Down Under for the first time in 20 years, and it’s Europe’s turn when they go on the road in October and November for a 27-date tour.

German label Hound Gawd is marking the occasion with a vinyl-only single, “Snake Eyes”, on October 4. It follows “Ride Hard Ride Free” on the same label.

Neither track will be streaming and the physical product is available from the label here.

Zeke is a hardcore institution, forming in in Seattle in 1992 and cranking loud, fast and heavy punk rock with a hint of blues. Original members Blind Marky Felchtone (vocals and guitar) and Donny Paycheck (drums) have been joined by Jason Freeman (bass) and Jeff Hiatt (guitar).

We've had a sneak preview and glued-on fans will be happy to hear that “Snake Eyes” is as uncompromising as ever, with a whirlwind rhythm and a tidal wave of fast guitars. Flipside “The Knife” is on the same scale but strikes at an even more furious pace. 

Click MORE for tour dates.

• hound gawd
• zeke
• european tour
• snake eyes
• the knife

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Those Johnnys chaps get back in the saddle

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By The Barman

The Barman

12 September 2024

Hits: 924

Your favourite cowpunks The Johnnys are back for their first Sydney show since 2023 and it’s at their spiritual home, Marrickville Bowling Club, with a killer line-up, presented by The I-94 Bar. Tickets are on sale here.

Joining The Johnnys will be high-energy Melbourne veterans Brando Rising, launching their self-titled album, and the internationally-credentialled swamp rockers Pete Ross & The Sapphire, signed to French label Beast Records but now living in Sydney..  

The show is a home town return from the injured list for bassist Graham Hood, who is bouncing back from a wrist operation.

All is well with Hoody after the equivalent of a grease and oil change, He, Slim and Billy have been in the studio over winter, working with producer Phil Punch to preparing a vinyl re-issue of their debut  album, “Highlights of a Dangerous Life”. 

The gig will be the Sydney debut of Brando Rising, with singer Ripley Hood and bassist Tony "The Kid" Robertson (of Hitmen and The Naked Lunch) back on what was their home turf for many years. 

Peter Ross and his crack outfit are fast making a name for themselves in Sydney and played a memorable support to Charlie Owen at a sold-out Django Bar that still has people talking.

Book your ticket often and early to save and make admission on the night a breeze. Cheap drinks and even cheaper thrills from The Johnnys under The Bowlo's Coppperart ceiling. What else could your heart desire?

• the johnnys
• brando rising
• marrickville bowlo
• pete ross and the sapphire