3 Digger and the Pussycats 21st Birthday Show
Another fun, fun, fun shindig. Vegas Kings played their first show in ages. Sam and Andy are up there with Eddy Current and the Drones as one of the most important Melbourne bands of the 21st century. Please get that David Boon song recorded.
4 Slander Tongue
My favourite Overseas Tour/Discovery of The Year. Bunch of Berlin boys doing Real Kids-style powerpop; the kind of music you can’t not like.
5 The Breadmakers and Gnome at the Townie, North Melbourne
The Breadies did two nights at Melbourne’s garage hub, the Townie in North Melbourne, to promote there cracking new LP, “Lonesome Sundown”. Night One saw Melbourne’s hottest new pop sensations The Gnomes, back when they were just called Gnome, open proceedings. They play a style that one punter describes as “Gun Club meets the Sunnyboys”. Then the Breadies (as always) slayed it. The master and the appreciate of Melbourne garage were on display that night.
6 Harder and Harder Hard-On Documentary
Some bands get one shot at a doco. I’m so glad such an important band like the Hard Ons gets two. I laughed, cried, and felt everything in between. Through the highs and the lows, Blackie and Ray soldered on to keep making incredible music. The doco was a reminder of their DIY/punk ethos, and why Blackie and Ray will always be an inspiration to me.
7 Toody Cole at the Tote
So great to have Toody Cole of Dead Moon and Straight Arrows playing music again. A wonderful retrospective of her and Fred Cole’s back catalogue, with a on fire band. At 75 years-of-age, Toody had more energy and passion then a lot of performers half her age has.
8 Johnny Casino/Asteroid B 612
One of Australia’s best guitar slingers finally returned home. Two nights back-to-back with two different bands. No matter the outfit, Johnny is always a must see.
9 Ned Heyden Book “Scene Loser”
Action Swingers frontman Ned Heyden released his account of the underground scene, pre-Grunge and right in the thick of it. Action Swingers for me where one of the three best bands from that so called Seattle era, and while they had the respect in the UK, they were slugging it hard to make inroads in the states. Ned dishes the dirt, give praise and criticism when needed. For those that have slugged it on the road trying to “make it” I’m sure they can relate to a lot of Ned’s accounts.
10 Ruby and the Clumsy Dollies, Two Am I at St Kilda Bowls Club
Tim and Davey (Two Am I) opened the show with some You Am I tracks and a few solo numbers from each. Stripped bare to just their voices and acoustic guitars, they made the songs rawer and even more beautiful. Then Ruby and the Dollies came on and played a blitzing set of garage and powerpop. Just the one single out on Cheersquad, but man, I’m keen to hear more.
11 The Johnnys Live in Lyon CD
A sensational live document of one of Oz Rock’s premier pub bands playing in France. In 1990. The songs and the set are a band at the peak of its powers. All killer no filler.
