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aberration

  • big al top ten 2018As another year draws to a close, your friend and mine, Mr. Craig T. Barman has requested I compile my top ten list for 2018 to be published on the esteemed I-94 Bar.

    So, I turned my mind to the events of the year – and there have been as many standouts as low points – however, I think a lot of those have already been covered in a very heartfelt way by some of my compatriots here.

    Needless to say, the loss of so many great musicians this past year – and the stellar support lent to those in dire need of it – has exemplified the way the “rock n roll community”, both performers and punters alike, pull together and lend of themselves a little bit more for who and what they love when the going gets tough. It’s been both saddening and heartening in one.

    Now onto the list: I was reading a recent post on the social medias about a study that posited most people ceased seeking out new music around the age of 28-years-old. “What bollocks!”, I exclaimed to the socials.

    Well, this may be true of a lot of people – but not the kind of people I know (and I’m sure not you, kind reader, being a lurker on the I-94). These are the ones who are forever curious; always hungry for the new; always the ones with the gleam in their eye when they are telling you about some new band or artist “you’ve just gotta hear!”; the ones who never declare “rock is dead!” or “there is nothing new that’s any good!”

    I thank all of those people for keeping me in the loop of what’s going on because I too crave and thrive on new music; whether it’s all new or undiscovered (for me) gems from bygone eras.

  • born out of time1 webCall it a gathering of the garage rock tribe or a gig for underground music’s disaffected, but the “Born Out of Time #1” bill of high energy bands is going to rock Sydney’s socks off.  
     
    A mini-festival of awesome proportions at Marrickville Bowling Club in Sydney on Saturday, September 15, it’s the first of a series of national shows to showcase the best REAL Rock n Roll in the land. 
     
    Presented by Off The Hip Records and I-94 Bar, “Born Out of Time #1” features a line-up of motor-headed Melbourne punks Grindhouse; kings of fat ‘n’ drunken stupidity The Crusaders; new voodoo crew The Beat Taboo; revived and resurgent Sydney punks Aberration;  and young Melbourne band The Devours. 
     
    “The concept of Born Out Of Time is to take bands from the label, and others, to places where they might not otherwise play,” says Off The Hip Records honcho Mick Baty. 
     
    “It’s a value for money, five-band bill that echoes the sort of nights that made the Sydney Trade Union Club famous in the 1980s.”
     
    Grindhouse will be promoting their brand new third album, “Can I Drive Your Commodore?”, which has attracted stellar reviews. 
     
    The Crusaders will be making one of their all-too-rare appearances and their first since supporting The Sonics in Sydney two years back. 
     
    The Beat Taboo is a group of Melbourne veterans with a swamp-voodoo album "Dirry Stash" making noise in Australia and overseas. 
  • seas on fire cvrSeas on Fire – East Coast Low (Crankinhaus Records)

    The promise of their first recordings (an album and a promotional EP) has been realised and “Seas On Fire” showsEast Coast Low has the requisite rock and roll cojones to take on all comers.

    A five-piece with most of its membership drawn from the matter-of-fact city of Newcastle, a couple of hours north of Sydney, East Coast Low is a product of its home-town: Nothing is overly dressed up and most of the songs get straight to the point, with no fucking around. 

    This is a well-travelled band. Grizzled, if you like. High rotation on the national youth network doesn’t beckon (though we all know they don’t program anything with a hint of ageism about them.) The Low formed in 2015 with members playing in Newy bands like The Fools and No Reason. The influences are myriad, although the ‘70s punk lineage is strong.

  • defiled smDefiled! A Heavy Medication Tribute to New Bomb Turks - Various Artists (Heavy Medication)

    Can’t profess over familiarity with the back catalogue of New Bomb Turks.Nothing personal, mind you, it’s just that when they were at their busiest back in the ‘90s, there was so much else around. Their potency can’t be disputed.

    These Ohio high-energy punks churned out nine (yes, nine!) studio albums until life got in the way and ushered them into semi-retirement, and this tribute record from Polish label Heavy Medication testifies to their take-no-prisoners reputation.

    Rember when tribute albums were all the rage, back before the Interwebs became fully embedded in our heads via vaccine-encased 5G chips? They grouped bands of a common mindset and showcased sounds you might not have otherwise heard. Like Spotify without ridiculously microscopic royalties.

  • defiledWhat did we say about it being high time for a tribute to New Bomb Turks? Just when you think it’s safe to put your PayPal password away, here’s a second collection from Poland-based Heavy Medication.

    Label owner and expatriate American, Derrick Ogrodny, first laid ears on the Turks in 1992 and has been loving them ever since: “Almost 30 years later, we’re still finding traces of the Turks’ flamethrower DNA in hundreds of other bands.

    “So it’s in their honor we put together an international tribute of bands interpreting their songs, from garage-punk to motorpunk, from speedrock to action rock — and a few surprises too!”

    Pre-orders for vinyl or CD editions are open now and here’s the line-up which includes Aussies Aberration and Howlin’ Threads:

    Hell Nation Army– “Point A to Point Blank”
    Poison Heart – “Snap Decision”
    Aberration – “Rat Feelings”
    Doojiman & The Exploders – “Automatic Teller”
    Red Crap – “If I Only Could”
    Randy Savages – “Leaving Town”
    Howlin’ Threads – “Professional Againster”
    Ville Fantome – “Born Toulouse-Lautrec”
    Flash House – “I’m Weak”
    Dog Toffee – “Id Slips In”
    The Satanic Overlords Of Rock ‘N’ Roll– “Tattooed Apathetic Boys”
    Smalltown Tigers – “Girl Can Help It”
    Puffball – “Never Will”
    Moron’s Morons – “Wine & Depression”
    Jack Saint– “Grounded Ex-Patriot”
    Tongue Action– “Telephone Numbrrr”
    Hell Nation Army– “I Want My Baby… Dead ?!”
    Jet Boys – “Killer’s Kiss”

  • the baddiesUnderground music would be even further below the radar without community radio. That's why a group of Sydney-Central Coast bands are putting their weight behind a fund-raiser for 2RRR next month.

    Aberration, The Balkan Grill, The On and Ons and The Baddies (pictured right) are playing North Ryde RSL on October 7. The gig runs from noon and admission is $20 at the door.

    2RRR Fundraiser
    Aberration
    + The Balkan Grill
    + The On and Ons + The Baddies
    North Ryde RSL
    - Oct 7
    (Noon-6pm)

  • crawling back to youCrawling Back To You – Stu & The Connections (Crankinhaus Records)

    There’s a lot of ground covered on this mini-album (digital only) from Stu Wilson and his all-star collective The Connections. The drummer with Lime Spiders, New Christs, The Crisps, Loose Pills, Leadfinger, Aberration and Chris Masuak & Dog Soldier, Stu contributes lead vocals, keyboards harmonica, drums and percussion..

    Looking at his c.v., you might have certain expectations. Leave your preconceptions at the door. This is a cohesive collection of  seven songs that cajole and captivate rather than assault. 

  • tuckerboxAberration are one of those bands who you have probably heard of word of mouth. Did you ever see them live back in the ‘80s? No recordings survive so you just have to believe they where good if you didn’t see them kicking around Sydney in 1983-87.

    Aberration were playing high-energy British metal/punk until as the liner notes to this album “Tuckerbox” attest, destructive forces took their toll. The band split with little to show for their wild live reputation.

    Fast forward 35 years. “Tuckerbox” is the first release for Aberration, one member of which survives in Alan Creed. It‘s newly-recorded and 10 tracks of sheer raw power.