2024 TOP 10 THINGS OF A ROCK & ROLL NATURE -  BY FOX

1. “ROCANROL IN MONO” LP by PLEASANTS
This LP rocketed to my fave album of the year in March and has maintained its unassailable lead til now. The band first came onto my radar with their  adrenalin charged cover of the Troggs’ “A Girl Like You” a couple of years ago and the debut long player has transitioned me from keen listener to mega fan. Pleasants play up tempo pub punk along the lines of singer/guitarist Alex Patchings’ other (also great) band Dennis Cometti  but with a bit more of a llofi/egg punk flavour. What sets it apart for me is their ear for classic pop rock hooks - it really feels like high speed garage Cheap Trick or Status Quo at times which fuses it right  to my wheelhouse. Cruelly located in Perth and seemingly touring Europe more than East Coast Oz let me put on the record I am ready and willing to receive them here when they are. This album  fucken rules - I absolutely love it.

2. “BIG BREAKFAS”T LP by HANS CONDOR
I discovered this unhinged Texan rock and roll machine a couple of years ago courtesy of the greatest music video ever made and have been ride or die with them ever since. They play vaguely Motorhead-y, AC/DC-y gear but with big swings into classic Americana and country which completes a super authentic, honest and sweaty sounding experience I cannot get enough of. Kind of feral, kind of soulful, super duper fun.

3. THE STRIKE OUTS LP by THE STRIKE OUTS
If you live in Sydney and are remotely plugged into the underground rock and roll scene you would have come across these guys at some point. Awesome straight ahead no-nonsense two-piece and a great example of the embarrassment of rock and roll riches we have in Australia these days. Absolute gentlemen. too, which is a nice touch if you don’t prefer your rock stars to be utter arseholes. Their debut long player rips - recorded with the steady hand of The Pet Food Factory at the tiller.

4. RIVER ROCKS FESTIVAL at the BARWON CLUB, GEELONG
I’ve given a little plug to Perth, Texas and Sydney and that’s great - but let’s get serious here. Melbourne (or greater Melbourne to fit this narrative) is to rock and roll what Silicon Valley is to nerds and the sheer weight of incredible bands generated down there needs to be studied in case there's some kind of additive in the water supply we can reproduce and distribute across the globe. Until then, heading down to Geelong for the mighty River Rocks festival is the only course of action. It’s a brilliantly curated no frills festival where one can comfortably meander from the main band room to the beer garden all day and not see a dud band. No lines, no fuckwits, no worries. Highlights were my personal saviours Stiff Richards, the late ‘70s punk/metal revivalists Fly, the glammy hard rockers Hot Machine and the evergreen Grindhouse.

5. TURNS THE COLOUR OF BAD SHIT LP BY ALIEN NOSEJOB
Another ripping release by this supergroup of Jake Robertson’s. The ‘Job love to play around with genre and the back catalogue is a heady mix of punk, hardcore, new wave and garage rock (you must check out the unique Albert’s era AC/DC homage “Stained Glass” if you haven’t already). This one is an energetic punk romp that maintains a less obvious but still vital link to the Aussie pub rock godfathers, along with Jake’s distinctive grasp of jagged riffs and earworm hooks.

6.  JACK WHITE LIVE AT THE ENMORE THEATRE, SYDNEY
I really enjoyed the terrific return to form by Jack White on his new “No Name” LP. If it weren't for that release I don’t think I’d even have considered going to this show as I’d kind of drifted away from him in his post-White Stripes career. Anyway - he has really dragged me back in! Despite a kind of weird crowd (hardly any band shirts, everyone looked like they were taking their kids to the beach or attending a BBQ with golf friends) the show was pretty incredible. The four-piece band were absolutely shit hot and Jack remains the greatest rad guitar tone puller of the modern era. They played lots of songs from the new album and a smattering of other tunes including some much appreciated early Stripes gear (Stop Breaking Down, Hello Operator) before closing with the heavy hitters (“Blue Orchid”, “7 Nation Army”). It was one Ball and Biscuit away from the perfect show.

7.  BAD IMPRESSION 7” by WET DENIM
This Indianapolis based outfit's “Neon Nights” mini album last year was a huge favourite of mine and this new tune knocked my bloody socks off. Super hooky upbeat punk rock and roll with a fist pumping key change down the straight. The vocalist has a backstreet Rod Stewart vibe about him which I’m here for in a big way. Super keen for them to put out a full length album in the very near future.

8.  THE SAINTS (I’M) STRANDED REISSUE BOX SET
Sitting in the top shelf of the upper deck of the Pantheon of Australian punk rock releases. “(I’m) Stranded” has received the deluxe treatment from In The Red Records (a bloody awesome label whose roster I routinely adore). This box set has a remastered version of the album which sounds as fresh, vital and ahead of the curve as ever, along with a couple of blistering live sets that capture The Saints at their absolute peak, along with some singles and alternate album mixes. It’s all packaged with some very nicely presented printed materials that even at an exy price point will no doubt bedazzle suggestible record collector nerds into handing over their hard earned.. (Oh hang on.. I REGRET NOTHING).

9.  THE UNKNOWNS LIVE AT "DO THE POP"
“Do The Pop” was yet ANOTHER incredible two-stage/Two-day festival in the River Rocks style, that took place at picturesque Port Campbell on the Great Ocean Road earlier in the year. Expertly curated by Grindhouse frontwanker Mick “2 Fingers” Simpson, the fest was a blast with my highlight a cracking set by The Unknowns late Saturday evening. Despite being a huge fan of their work  it was the first time I had managed to see them live and they did not disappoint. They were tight, loud, melodic and aggressive and totally blew me away. One of numerous killer punk bands Australia is producing atm.

10.  PAYCHEQUE BLUES EP BYWHERE’S JIMMY
Awesome debut EP from these Novocastrian firebrands.  Uptempo pub/punk rock but with a distinctive flavour thanks to their excellent vocalist and a few smart arrangement choices. The title track here drifts from an intro that nods musically and lyrically to the Easybeats, segues into classic Aussie pub thrash then momentarily shifts into a psych jam. As an avowed gear shift lover I was entranced - killer tune and a band to keep one’s eye on. Once again I will say, Australia = Embarrassment of rock & roll riches.

Find Mike Foxall's graphic art and aniomation at The Art of Fox

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