australian tour

The long-awaited “The Church of Simultaneous Existence” album from Ed Kuepper and his Aints! Is almost upon us, with a September 21 release date announced for CD, LP and digital formats. The album will be accompanied by an Australian tour taking in Queensland, NSW, Victoria and WA over October-November, culminating in a show at the Meredith Music Festival on December 7.

This version of the Aints! differs from previous ones in its focus on not only revisiting the material of the original Saints but mining a well of woodshedded songs intended for what would have been that band’s fourth LP.

_{Barney "Boogie" Williams on keys and Danny Hadley on guitar and vocals.}

The Animals and Friends
The Gov, Adelaide
May 28 2024

Expectations are a bugger of a thing.

We don't know we have them until we find ourselves hung-up by our own preconceived ideas.

Take Chain. The blues band. They're gritty, muscular, and utterly themselves. 

Yes, I've been watching a few recent live things on YouTube, prompted by a Melbourne chum who went to see them a week or so ago. He was blown away.

Six years after his last visit to Australia, former Radio Birdman guitarist Chris “Klondike” Masuak is returning with his hand-picked local band, Dog Soldier, for a select run of East Coast shows.

Masuak and Dog Soldier will play a three week tour with shows in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland and the ACT.

Masuak’s musical history reads like a muscle car ride through the mean streets of Australia’s rock and roll underground.

The Canadian-born prodigy achieved notoriety as teenage guitarist for Australia’s legendary Radio Birdman, and then waged a War Against The Jive with the country’s hardest working rock and roll band, The Hitmen.

Next came a stint with the original live version of the New Christs, followed by international prominence with the chart-busting Screaming Tribesmen.

A member of the ARIA Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Masuak has an impressive back catalogue of rock, pop and blues releases under his own name and fronting the Viveiro Wave Riders. He is now based in Galicia in northern Spain.

Dog Soldier comprises bassist Tony Bambach (Aberration, Green Spiders, ex-Lime Spiders) and drummer Stu Wilson (Aberration, Leadfinger, ex-The Rivers, ex-New Christs,ex-Lime Spiders).

Their tour will re-trace Klondike’s storied career, drawing on material from his key bands - with a few surprises thrown in.  

I-94 Bar Records & Promotions presents
Chris Masuak & Dog Soldier 2023 Australian Tour
MAY
19 - House of Music & Booze, St Peters, NSW + Starcrazy + The Dark Clouds + PocketwatchTickets
21 - Link and Pin, Woy Woy + The Silver Dragons (1.30pm)Tickets
26 - Northcote Social Club + River of Snakes + Electric PurrsTickets
27 - Barwon Club Hotel, Geelong + Baby 8 + Sacramento SweatersTickets
28 - Smiths Alternative, Canberra + Il Bruto (7pm)Tickets
JUN
2 -Stag and Hunter, Newcastle + Joeys Coop + East Coast LowTickets
3 - Federal Hotel, Bellingen + Nikki Websters
4 - Vinnies, Gold Coast + The Square Tugs + Mick Medew & UrsulaTickets

The great Alejandro Escovedo (The Nuns, solo) is coming to Australia and New Zealsnd in March and two more Aussie shows have been announced. He’s doing extra gigs at Brisbane’s Junk Bar (early and late shows) and the Camelot Lounge in Sydney. What’s more, he’ll be accompanied on guitar by Tim Rogers of You Am I.

Escovedo's new album "The Crossing" features goes spots by James Williamson (Iggy and the Stooges) and Cheetah Chrome (Dead Boys.) His Australasian tour is stripped-down but the clip below gives you an idea of the power of the man's music. Full dates and ticketing information in the Read More link.

Cheap Trick
+ The Angels
The Palais, St Kilda, VIC
Wednesday, 13 March 2024 

Hello I-94 Barflies! I hope you are all in fine form. Myself, I’m still recovering from seeing the amazing Cheap Trick at The Palais Theatre in St Kilda and they did not disappoint.

Dragging myself out of bed at 430am for a 1000 kilometre public transport round trip is never pleasant and as the years creep by, travelling does get more fiscally challenging. But family and live rock ‘n’ roll is what gets me off the land and out of The Farmhouse. First, let me say this if you’re ever in Melbourne The Pint On The Punt in Richmond is a nice place to start your drinking, get a feed and sleep on a lumpy mattress. It’s also within walking distance of the now boring suburb of St Kilda. 

 _{Ash Naylor, Dave Shaw. Dom Mariani and Julian Matthews are The Stems in 2024. Craig MacLean photo @shot.by.mac.}

It’s called anticipation. You’re in a band. You’ve re-convened after a very long lay-off. The line-up’s now well-rehearsed, fed and watered, and it’s the lull before the storm that will be the first day of your 40th anniveresary tour. 

Rock and roll is more waiting than playing. Dom Mariani knows it well. He’s on the line from a hotel in Melbourne where The Stems are poised to undertake their first Australian tour this week in five years (thanks COVID) before taking off on a sweep through Spain and Italy.

Oh no. There’s a brief coughing fit. It's from Dom’s end. 

“You all right?”

They call themselves “Australia’s foremost proponents of Post Adult Complaint Rock” and they’re touring their new album with an extensive run of national dates.

Sydney’s Front End Loader have been a constant on the Australian music scene since 1991 and “Neutral Evil” is their seventh album. It’s described by by the band as “terrible music by terrible people about terrible things” and if it’s half as entertaining as the blurb promoting their tour, it’ll be a winner:

_{That's Gentle Ben on stage at Binic last month or The Bubble Boy from Seinfeld. You be the judge. Photo by @dujouraulendemain}

It’s a line in the media release that we just have to use: “Like the one-night stand you hoped to never see again, Gentle Ben & His Shimmering Hands are back to ruin your life, break your heart and make your loins quiver”.

The Brisbane “haute couture swamp rockers” (their words again, not ours)  left France a few days ago in a smouldering, postcoital ruin, after smashing out 13 shows over 15 days, playing at a former tobacco factory under a big-top, in a 14th century pub, and in front of 10,000 fanatical French fans at Binic.

Gentle Ben turn their sights to the East Coast of Australia this month to unleash their new album, “Brut” on French label Beast Records.It's available in Australia through Spooky Records and it's procurable here.

The irresistible kinetic energy of Jett Rock and Roll exponents Guitar Wolf is heading to Australia and New Zealand in April and May.  It will be the first visit by the Tokyo band since 2017. 

Guitar Wolf has released 13 studio albums plus a live album, numerous singles, and a retrospective compilation, "Golden Black".

Band members have also been featured in two B-grade science fiction horror films: "Wild Zero" and "Sore Losers".

Scorching guitar, piercing vocals and a relentless stage act have endeared  Guitar Wolf to audiences around the world.  

Frontman Seiji puts it this way:

Musical anniversaries are coming at us coming quicker than a Dee Dee Ramone "1-2-3-4" count-in, but there’s a special place in Australian rock and roll sensibilities for the 40^th birthday of the seminal Hoodoo Gurus album “Stoneage Romeos”.

The band has already unveiled vinyl and CD re-issues of the their debut LP and there’s a run of Australian dates in November and December this year on which the Gurus will reprise the long-player from go to whoa.

Originally released in March 1984, “Stoneage Romeos” featured the hits “Leilani”, “Tojo”, “My Girl” and “I Want You Back”. It reached #29 on the Australian Album Chart and went on to win Best Debut Album at the 1984 Countdown Awards. “Stoneage Romeos” has consistently appeared in the Top 10 on almost every Top 50 and Top 100 Australian album lists.

Explosive Japanese band King Brothers are returning to Australian shores for the first time since 2016 this month. A mix of blues and outta control ‘90s garage, King Brothers are an example of a band that take two genres with deep roots and manage to make a sound that sounds original. 

With a reputation for loose and rowdy shows, this run of gigs by the band from Nishinomiya City are a must see.

Lead singer and guitarist Keizo spoke to Matt Ryan via email.

Genre-hopping Spanish pub-rock/garage-punk/country/gospel/soul luminaries Los Chicos have released the new single "For A While" ahead of a looming album and seventh Australian tour.

“Never Too Much” will be the band’s eight long-player and was produced the great Mike Mariconda, guitarist of the Raunch Hands and producer of classic albums by the Cosmic Psychos, Powder Monkeys and New Bomb Turks. The album comes out on Cheersquad Records & Tapes on November 1.

Los Chicos, who have previously played Boogie and River Rocks festivals and toured twice with Radio Birdman, will be returning to River Rocks in Geelong and playing tour dates with Hard-Ons, Private Function, The Meanies, Mach Pelicanand the New Christs in November.  Tour dates in The Living Eye gig guide at right. Pre-order the LP here.

_{Those Meanies boys.}

_{Those Dicklord girls.}

As Covid lockdowns continue to wreak more havoc than Wally Meanie at a wine tasting, The Meanies have to rejig a whole bunch more dates of their “Better Late Than Never Desperate Measures Tour”. which was meant to start last month! The run now kicks off in regional Victoria in a couple of weeks, and then breaks until October, when it picks up in Adelaide,  and continues through November. What hasn't changed is that DickLord is the main support on all shows, bar Geelong.

The Meanies
"Better Late Than Never Desperate Measures Tour"
All shows with Dicklord except *
JULY
16 - Barwon Club, Geelong* + Poppin Mommas + Eyeroll
23 - The Eastern, Ballarat + The Dawdlers 
24 - Railway Hotel Macedon + Persecution Blues 
OCT
16 - Jive, Adelaide + Cull The Band 
22 - The Tote, Melb + Persecution Blues + Cheeky Geezers 
23 - The Tote, Melb + Super American Eagle + Sidesplitter 
NOV
12 - The Zoo, Brisbane
17 - The Basement, Canberra + Charlotte & the Harlots   
18 - Lansdowne, Sydney  + Blitz Babiez - 
19  - Narrabeen RSL + Tshitaki 
20 - Cambridge Hotel, Newcastle + I Hate People  
21 - La La La's, Wollongong + Ape Rib

_{Christopher Ferguson photo}

Hoodoo Gurus are poised to release their long-awaited new studio album, “Chariot of the Gods” on February 11. “Chariot of the Gods” is the band’s first album in more than a decade (the longest interval between Hoodoo Gurus’ albums in their history) and is available to pre-order today here.

“The last twelve months have been frustrating and nerve-racking for everyone but, for the Hoodoo Gurus, this dark cloud has had a silver lining,” says frontman   
Dave Faulkner. “Forced to rely on ourselves instead of the outside world for validation, there has been a creative rebirth within the band that has resulted in a string of singles and a new album.

“Most important of all, the musical bonds between the four of us have never been stronger. When the discussions are all about which songs we're sad about having to leave off the record, that's a damn good sign. I'm tellin' ya, folks, we've got a real spring in our step right now”. 

“Chariot of the Gods” is 14 tracks (17 on the deluxe double-vinyl edition) and the first full-length recording with relative new recruit to the Hoodoo Gurus’ line-up, on drums, Nik Reith. The tracklists for CD/digital and vinyl versions are below.

Fans across the globe can hear “Chariot of the Gods” played in its entirety for the very first time when eMusic Live streams a special event recorded at Damien Gerard Studios on the NSW Central Coast.

Rose Tattoo’s "Never Too Loud", released in 1997 through Repertoire Records in Germany, was a compilation spanning the band's career at the time. Now, 22 years on, the Hard-Ons join Rose Tattoo on their "Still Never Too Loud" tour heading out across Australia in March, April and May.

Thirty-five years since their formation, the Hard-Ons have amassed an unprecedented and never-to-be-paralleled 17 consecutive number-one releases on the Australian alternative charts, making them one of Australia’s most commercially successful independent bands. Their cult following extends into Europe and the UK, and as of 2019, their brand of unapologetic punk rock has never sounded better.

The band are fresh out of the studio having just finished recording their 12th studio album due to be released later this year.

Angry Anderson’s Rose Tattoo recruits, considered some of the best in the business, comprise legendary bass player extraordinaire Mark Evans of AC/DC fame, iconic guitarist Bob Spencer of The Angels & Skyhooks, as well as unbelievably talented maestro of rock mayhem, Dai Pritchard.

Rose Tattoo hit the high seas on the Monsters Of Rock Cruise out of Miami in late February and headed straight into the recording studios in March.

STILL NEVER TOO LOUD
Friday 29th March 2019 - Metro Theatre, Sydney NSW
Saturday 30th March 2019 - Waves, Wollongong NSW 
Friday 5th April 2019 - Shoppingtown Hotel, Doncaster VIC 
Saturday 6th April 2019 - Chelsea Heights Hotel, Chelsea Heights VIC 
Friday 12th April 2019 - The Gov, Adelaide SA 
Saturday 13th April 2019 - Capitol, Perth WA 
Friday 26th April 2019 - The Triffid, Brisbane QLD 
Saturday 27th April 2019 - Coolangatta Hotel, Coolangatta QLD 
Friday 3rd May 2019 - Diggers, Ettalong NSW 
Saturday 4th May 2019 - Cambridge Hotel, Newcastle NSW 
Tickets from rosetattoo.com.au
 

It’s been a long time between shows but Sunnyboys are re-emerging for a three-state Australian winter tour.  

When they last toured in 2020 Sunnyboys chose the salubrious surrounds of Taronga Zoo, Melbourne’s Forum and the like; this time though, the band will get down and sweaty playing intimate venues more akin to their breakout year of 1981.

Melbourne pop-rockers Even will join the fun in Sydney and Melbourne while former Screaming Tribesman Mick Medew will bring his band The Mesmerisers to Brisbane and Byron Bay. All shows are on-sale tomorrow May 6 at feelpresents.com

Sunnyboys
JULY
1 – Factory Theatre Sydney + Even
9 – The Corner, Melbourne + Even + Little Murders
15 – Great Northern, Byron Bay + Mick Medew & The Mesmerisers|
16 – Princess Theatre, Brisbane, + Mick Medew & The Mesmerisers
Tix here

Five of the eight Radio Birdman”Birdman  5-0” Australian tour dates have sold-out and the remaining three are poised to go the same way.

The run kicks off at The Croxton Bandroom in Melbourne this Friday. That show and Saturday at the same venue are down to their final ticket allocations. 

All three Sydney gigs and two Brisbane dates have had the House Full signs put up and Adelaide on June 23 is showing signs of going the same way. Extra shows are not being added so go here to buy.

It’s 30 years since the “Night of the Wolverine” album and to mark the occasion,  Dave Graney is reforming The Coral Snakes and going on the road to promote a vinyl pressing.           

Originally only available on CD, “Night of the Wolverine” was the breakthrough that took ex-Moodists leader Graney to overground success and his eventual crowning as Australia’s Kling of Pop.  

The 53-minute album will be pressed over four long player discs and isw available via Graney's Bandcamp.

Graney will be joined by original Coral Snakes Clare Moore on drums, Rod Hayward on guitar and Robin Casinader on keys and violin, and his frequent sideman Stu Thomas on bass.

“We will be playing two sets, the first being the 'Night Of The Wolverine' album and the second filled with songs that came before and after that breakthrough (for us) record,” Dave says.

Japan’s The Deadvikings return to claim their stake and expand their domination over Sydney this week with their ultimate heavy protopunk.

Their four-day Japanese invasion - their second in a year - starts at The Old Manly Boatshed on September 27 with locals Tshatki and 4 Barrel Hemi. Entry is free. 

Day 2 (September 28) sees a foray in to new territory via Paddington's Captain Cook Hotel sharing the helm with goth rockers RK Ally, Black Knuckles and Black Heart Breakers. Entry is $10 at th door. 

The third gig is a return to iconic inner west venue The Townie at Newtown on September 29, with Eightball Junkies and BUNT.Free entry.

Day 4 peaks at the empyrean of Sunday venues, Frankie's Pizza, in the CBD on September 30 with Stu G's Cloak & Dagger kicking off followed by cosmic sludge monarchs Lord Dodongo and US trio BOYTOY, making their Aussie debut. No cover charge. 

Japan’s premier exponents of voodoo rock, Baitones, are heading to Australia in October, playing shows in Melbourne, Brisbane and Sydney.

With two decades of rocking in their home country under their belts, Bailtones will be making their first foray overseas.

Likened to the Birthday Party crossed with Gun Club and the Cramps, Baitones recall all of the above but still manage to remain uniquely creepy and glitteringly sexy, as well. 

Ugly Things magazine says:

“If you're into Nuggets, Pebbles, The Sonics, The Cramps’ ‘Gravest Hits’ or ‘60s garage punk in general then you really should pick up this record, a Japanese band that takes this style and make it their own. This music has never sounded that hot before.“ 

Our spy who has caught them in the flesh in Japan adds:

“If Las Vegas was an outfit, these guys would be wearing it. Holographic gold lame, leopard skin, fishnets, abundant bare flesh trimmed with bones and fur adorn Baitones, like some mutant Mae West cannibal from the year 3000.

"Baitones create a fashion all of their own, part burlesque cutie, part jungle beast and part sci fi villain.”

Judge for yourself at these shows:

Bailtones (JPN) Australian Tour
OCT
4 – Old Bar, Fitzroy, VIC
5 – Brightside, Fortitude Valley, QLD
6 – The Duke, Enmore, NSW
7 – Zombie Cannibal Stay Gold, Sydney Road, Melbourne, VIC