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ashley thomson

  • ashley thomson 2020ASHLEY THOMSON
    Ex-Kelpies, Rollcage, Brother Brick, Panadolls
    Sydney, Australia

    Top Ten Gigs I wish I was at drunk

    Beatles - @ the Kaiserkeller - Hamburg, Germany. October 1960.
    From the era when the Beatles played four sets a night, 50 days straight, making themselves an extremely tight rock n roll machine. Heineken ja ja!

    The Doors - @ Whiskey a Go Go - Los Angeles, USA. August 1966
    Mostly I just want to hear a fat version of “The End”. I’d probably drop a trip as well. JD. 

    Coloured Balls/Lobby Lloyd - @ Sebastians, Melbourne. Saturday April 15, 1972 
    I’d make sure I was fucking hammered and slammed my head into the PA when they did their “torture rock porn” version of Heartbreak Hotel, suck more piss indeed. Just beer. 

    Robert Johnson @ anywhere around the Mississippi Delta, USA. 1935
    “Hellhound on my Trail” is one of the most beautiful songs I’ve ever heard. Moonshine. 

    The Byrds @ Whiskey a Go Go - Los Angeles, USA. 1966
    So influential, changed everything, still listening to them. A trip as well? Not sure. Watermelon wine. 

  •  panadolls 2026The reformed Panadolls (from left) Big Al Creed, Ash Thomson, Ken Archbold, Matt Bannerman and Phil Van Rooyen,  at Link and Pin in Woy Woy.

    For the second half of the 1990s, Dangerous Rock and Roll had an address on Sydney’s Northern Beaches and used the pseudonym The Panadolls.

    Deriving their name from a prescription painkiller, The Panadolls were troublemakers in a crowded Sydney scene that had not yet been battered into submission by poker machines, over-regulated venues and changing tastes.  They ran with like-minded peers ,the Celibate Rifles, Hellmen, Powder Monkeys, Asteroid B612 and Brother Brick, and pushed a brand of Detroit-tinged high-energy rock that was equal parts Dolls blues squawl and a Stooges-like attack, all channeled through an Oz Rock filter.

    Any band with the guitar attack of Big Al Creed (ex-Dr Fruitworld, later to join the New Christs) and bassist-cum-frontman Ken Archbold (ex-Hellmen) had a distinct advantage. The Panadolls did not sit long in any genre and burned brightly for only five years. Their sole album, “From The Glitter To The Gutter”, and “From The Valley Of The Panadolls” EP went out of print soon after.

    And now they’re back. Sorta. Latter-day drummer Ashley Thomson (ex-Kelpies, Roll Cage) has issued both digitally here, supplemented by an outtakes/rarities release called “Dirty Hits”. The Panadolls also reformed for two “don’t blink or you’ll miss them” shows in July, both outside hometown Sydney.

    It all sounded like an excuse to corner Kenny Archbold and pose some hard questions. The Barman did the honours.

    1. ash2021Shooting up vaccine while saying, “’scuse me while I kiss the sky
    1. Wavves– “Hideaway” album. I play it every day for months. Loved ‘em since “King of The Beach”.
    1. Private Function - Best rock/punk band in Australia and also the funniest. Their live shows are action from start to finish.
    1. Ceremony– There has been an astonishing progression over the last 10 years. Think Husker Dü/Replacements, but they have gotten to this neon, cool place at the moment. Their old shows on YouTube are killer.
    1. A kid I made, Spike Vincent, made this beautiful song called “Time Machine”, it’s in skateboarding movies etc. I love it.
    1. Watching this year’s Stonestour on YouTube and the Beatles doco (I love both of ‘em.)
    1. Started a new label called Rolled in Glitter Records: “You can’t shine a turd but you can roll it in glitter” . I will be raiding my vaults. Vanity label extreme.
    1. How my close friends were supportive during virus crazy time.
    1. Shane McGowan doco “Fairy Tale in New York”. It gives me rising sad tears every time.
    1. Also fuck all you, you rusted on Radio Birdman heads!!!

  • ashley thomson 2024

    Private Function
    Best Oz Punk band by far out of the current crop.

    Old Chisel
    Only way you get out is by dying, live show still strong.

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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:Tickets
9 - Smith’s Alternative, Canberra, ACT
+ ZZG
Tickets
10 - Shotkickers, Thornbury, VIC
+ Grindhouse
+ The Girlies
Tickets https://tickets.oztix.com.au/
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

Joeys Coop
SEP
13 - Marrickville Bowlo, NSW
+ Swaggerland
18 - Tap Room, Castlemaine, VIC
19 - Painted Lady, Ballarat, VIC
+ Cold Irons Bound + Neutron Flow
20 - Union Hotel, Brunswick, VIC
NOV 
28 - Blah Bar, Lismore, NSW
29 - Junk Bar, Brisbane, QLD (arvo)

Swervedriver Australian Tour
SEPT
14 -  Melbourne, Northcote Social Club
with Fancy Weapon
15 - Adelaide, Lion Arts Factory
with Chimers
Tickets

New Christs
19 - Heritage Hotel, Bulli, NSW
NOV
21 - The Brightside, Brisbane, QLD
+ Suicide Country Hour
+  Mick Medew & The Ursula 4

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

Mudhney
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
2026
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
2027
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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