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Top Ten for 2023: Matt Ryan of Melbourne zine Munster Times

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Matt Ryan
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  1. Collingwood- having done these Top Tens at the Bar for a few years now, I had to make a best team category, just so I could get my beloved Pies in. Now we won the flag, no need. The Magpies take their rightful spot as the best of the best of 2023.

  2. Test Cricket- great series of cricket from the Aussies in India and England, and a ripper series between England and New Zealand, as well as the Kiwi’s against Pakistan. And while some controversy dominated the headlines (Johnny, what were you smoking?), at least people are talking Test cricket again.

  3. Pat Todd, Mad Macca at the Espy, St Kilda- Having been a Lazy Cowgirls/ Rankoutsiders fan for years, it was incredible to finally see Pat live. Pat for me is one of the all-time greats of American rock. A voice any singer would kill for, and a storyteller up there with the best of them. Just a man and guitar, nothing else needed. Macca played a corker of an opening set. While I’ve seen him live many times over the years with different bands, seeing him stripped back solo was a reminder of how good he is, and like Pat, give him a mic and stage, and the man will entertain you.

  4. Ed Kuepper: National Theatre- Astonishing gig from Edmund and band. A ten minute version of "Electrical Storm" had me wondering for days what I just witnessed.

  5. The Breadmakers: The Gem- had the joy of seeing the Breadies many times this year, including an excellent double bill with Brisbane’s The Far Outs. But a tribute show to Graeme Thomas of Preston Records/Studios was a classy way to praise an important Melbourne figure.

  6. Hoss, Persecution Blues, Dino Bravo: St Kilda Bowls Club- I might look like a twat putting a gig I had a hand putting on in this list, but sod it. One of my all-time personal favourites in Hoss played two killer sets, along with Persecution Blues, who would have fit right in the Melbourne scene of the late '80s/early '90s. Three balls-out rock 'n' roll bands on the one bill in St Kilda, you don’t get that often and was proud to be part of it.

  7. Chris Masuak, River of Snakes, The Fiction: Northcote Social Club- Brilliant setlist choice from Masuak; good collection of his solo work, Birdman, Hitmen, and the Tribesmen. Along with the ever-reliable Fiction and River of Snakes, three wonderful guitar focused bands playing intense rock n roll north of the river.

  8. Cruel Sea: The Palais- Having never seen the Sea before, I was blown away. Nice mix of the greatest hits and instrumentals. Greg once again showed why he’s up there as one of our best frontmen.

  9. Shepparton Airplane-, Affordable Repayments, Persecution Blues: St Kilda Bowls Club- Ok, I put another gig I had a hand in on the list, but this was amazing. And onya Flash for booking 'em.

  10. Hip Priests: Old Bar- Great to finally meet my German correspondent Martin Rabitz at the start of the year. He told me to meet him at the Old Bar on a Saturday, never mentioned his drummer also came along for the trip, and they had a show. I didn’t know he was in a band to begin with. That said, was a classic punk show, angry, little talking in-between, intensity to the max, and all over in 30 minutes. I loved every second of it.
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The Living Eye


Right eye

I-94 Bar presents
Chris Masuak’s Dog Soldier
“The Shiny Side Tour”
OCT
8 - La La La’s, Wollongong, NSW
+ The Sugar Beats
+ Buzz Wagon
Tickets
9 - Smith’s Alternative, Canberra, ACT
+ ZZG
Tickets
10 - Shotkickers, Thornbury, VIC
+ Grindhouse
+ The Girlies
Tickets 
11 - Trash Cult, Bendigo, VIC
+ Trip Hazard
(matinee)
Tickets
15 - Hamilton Station Hotel, Newcastle, NSW
+ SPLODGE
(free)
16 - Federal Hotel, Bellingen, NSW
+ Love City Radio
(free)
17 - The Cave Inn, Brisbane, QLD
+ Mick Medew & The Ursula 4
+ The Spivs
Tickets
18 - Vinnies Dive, Southport, Gold Coast, QLD
+ Mick Medew & The Ursula 4
+ The Spivs
Tickets
23 - Link & Pin, Woy Woy, NSW
+ The Dunhill Blues
Tickets
24 - Marrickville Bowlo, Marrickville, NSW
+ Fuck The Neighbours
+ The Stallers
Tickets

Negative Approach (US)
Australian Tour
OCT
21 - Lynott’s Lounge, Perth, WA
22 - Ed Castle, Adelaide, SA
23 - The Tote, Melbourne, VIC
24 - Singing Bird Studios, Frankston, VIC
29 - The Baso, Canberra, ACT
30 - La La La’s, Wollongong, NSW
31 - The Chippo, Sydney, NSW
NOV
6 - Vinnies Dive Bar, Southport, QLD
7 - The Brightside, Brisbane, QLD
8 - Black Box Theatre, Nambour, QLD
Tickets

Troy Tempest
Ace Traffic Reporter
presents
"Apocalypse Mayhem 2026"
The Dark Clouds
+ Slack Punks
+ Van Ruin
+ Kung Fu Grip
+ DISGRACELand
MoshPit, St Peters, NSW
- Oct 23
Tickets

Shonen Knife (Japan)
“Re-cuttin’ Australia/NZ 2026”
OCT
14 - The Tote, Melbourne, VIC
+ Moler
15 - Volta, Ballarat, VIC
+ Moler
16 - Sooki Bar, Belgrave, VIC
+ Moler
17 - Croxton Block Party, Melbourne, VIC
18 - Altar, Hobart, TAS
21 - Milk Bar, Perth, WA
+ Turnstyle
22 - The Gov, Adelaide, SA
+ Moler
24 - ZED51
Roma Street Parkland, Brisbane, QLD
w/ Mudhoney
+ Custard + The Mark Of Cain
+ Cash Savage & The Last Drinks
+ Tape/Off
25 - Alice Springs Brewing Co,
Alice Springs, NT
28 - The Baso, Canberra, ACT
+ Turnstyle + Media Puzzle
29 - Crowbar, Sydney, NSW
+ Turnstyle + Media Puzzle
30 - Keystone 1889, Bathurst, NSW
+ Turnstyle + Media Puzzle
31 - Avalon RSL, Avalon Beach, NSW
+ Turnstyle + Media Puzzle
NOV
1 - King Street, Newcastle, NSW
+ Turnstyle + Media Puzzle + Nursery Crimes
24 - Trash Cult, Eaglehawk, VIC
7 – 8 Tidal Sounds Music Festival
w/ Hard-Ons, Bodyjar, The Porkers,
Youth Group, The Grogans + Peach Fur and more
Hoey Moey, Coffs Harbour, NSW

New Christs
NOV
21 - The Brightside, Brisbane, QLD
+ Suicide Country Hour
+  Mick Medew & The Ursula 4

The Bawdies (JP)
“This Is The Party” Australian Tour
6 - Factory Floor, Sydney, NSW
+ PocketWatch + Jupiter 5
7 - River Rocks 2026, Geelong, VIC
8 - Bergy Bandroom, Brunswick, VIC
Tickets

Joeys Coop
NOV 
28 - Blah Bar, Lismore, NSW
29 - Junk Bar, Brisbane, QLD (arvo)

The Cribs (UK)
"Selling A Vibe" Australian Tour
OCT
4 - 170 Russell, Melbourne, VIC
5 - Factory Theatre, Sydney, NSW
6 - The Triffid, Brisbane, QLD
8 - Rosemount Hotel, Perth, WA

Mudhoney
Australia-NZ 2026
OCT
16  - The Thornbury Theatre, Melbourne VIC 
17  - Torquay Hotel, Torquay VIC
18 - Theatre Royal, Castlemaine VIC 
20 - Volta, Ballarat VIC 
21- Felons Barrel Room, Manly NSW
22 - Factory Theatre, Sydney NSW
23 - King Street, Newcastle NSW 
24 - ZED 51, Brisbane QLD
25 - The Northern, Byron Bay NSW 
28 - Blue Smoke, Christchurch NZ 
29 - Meow, Wellington NZ 
30 - Totara St, Tauranga NZ -
31 - Harbour Hotel, Raglan NZ 
NOV
1 - Double Whammy, Auckland NZ

The Exploding Universe of Ed Kuepper
Ed Kuepper 50 Years Retrospective
RESCHEDULED
OCT
29 - Avoca Theatre, NSW 
30 - Canberra, The Street Theatre, ACT
31 - Wombarra Bowlo, NSW
NOV
4 - Adelaide, The Gov, SA
5 - Melbourne, National Theatre, VIC 
6 – Geelong, Barwon Heads Hotel, VIC
7 - Sydney, Factory Theatre, NSW
(matinee & evening shows)
13 - Fremantle, Freo Social, WA
15 - Brisbane, Princess Theatre, QLD
Tickets

Reverend Horton Heat (US)
Australian Tour
NOV
11 - Crowbar, Brisbane, QLD
+ The Linelockers
+ Jake & The Cadillacs
+ DJ Lori Lee
12 - The Gov, Adelaide, SA
+ The Satellites
13 - Factory Theatre, Sydney, NSW
+ The Johnnys
+ Pat Capocci
14 - Croxton Bandroom, Melbourne, VIC
+ The Johnnys
+ Ezra Lee & Jumpin' Jethro
15 - Theatre Royal, Castlemaine, VIC
+ The Johnnys

Hoodoo Gurus
"Rewind Tour - All Killer, No Filler"
+ Ratcat
+ The Stems
NOV
28 - Hindley Street Music Hall, Adelaide, SA
DEC
1 - Ice Cream Factory, Perth, WA
5 - Tumbalong Park, Sydney, NSW
6 - Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne, VIC
11 - Fortitude Music Hall, Brisbane, QLD
16 - Odeon Theatre, Hobart, TAS

The Saints 73-78
UK Tour with The Damned
NOV
25 - Brighton, Dome
27 - London, British Airways ARC
28 - Bristol, Beacon
30 - Manchester, Academy
DEC
1 - Newcastle, O2 City Hall
2 - Derby, Vaillant Live Derby
5 - Birmingham, O2 Academy

The Saints 73-78
Australian Tour
JAN
21 - Newcastle, King St
+ Chimers
22 - Sydney, Metro
+ Antenna
23 - Wollongong, Waves
+ The New Christs
29 - Brisbane, Tivoli
+ Tape / Off
30 - Gold Coast, Miami Marketta
+ Mick Medew & The Ursula 4
FEB
2 - Perth, Astor
+ Last Quokka
4 - Barwon Heads, Barwon Heads Hotel
+ dB4
5 - Melbourne, Croxton
+ Public Figures

 Public Image Ltd
Australia and NZ
JAN
20 - Auckland, Powerstation
22 - Brisbane, The Tivoli
23 - Sydney, Enmore Theatre
24 - Melbourne, The Forum
26 – Adelaide, The Gov
28 - Perth, The Astor

"Superpussy 2"
The Supersuckers
+ Nashville Pussy
+ Nine Pound Hammer
FEB 2027
18 - Crowbar, Brisbane, QLD
19 - Mo's Desert Clubhouse, Gold Coast, QLD
20 - Crowbar, Sydney, NSW
24 - Ed Castle, Adelaide, SA
26 - Barwon Club, Geelong, VIC
27 - Croxton Bandroom, Melbourne, VIC
28 - Young Street Tavern, Frankston, VIC

Respect The Rock Australian Tour
The Hellacopters + Gluecifier
MARCH
17 – Brisbane, The Triffid
18 – Sydney, Manning Bar
19 – Melbourne, The Croxton
20 – Adelaide, Ed Castle
Tickets

 

 

 

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