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don bartley

  • hook down easyFor every band that “makes it” there are hundreds, if not thousands, that never get past thefringes of a scene. Sydney’s Hunchbacks were one of the many runners-up in the mid ‘90s. Despite patronage from the likes of Asteroid B612 (whose main man John Spittles produced them), they never cracked the big(ger) leagues. 

    That the hard blues edge of The Hunchbacks is apparent on The Fringe Dwellers’ debut album “Hook Down Easy” should be no surprise: Vocalist Carl Ekman (on bass) and guitarist John South from that band are leading lights. They’re joined by sometime I-94 Bar scribe Simon Li (drums) and Damien Smith (vocals and guitar.)

    The sound of “Hook Down Easy” drips Sydney’s underground music scene circa 1986. It’s in the driving, hard-edged sound and sparring guitars that do it. That’s where the band’s roots are and there’s no escaping them. I’m guessing that won’t be a drawback for many reading this. 

  • taking a rideTaking a Ride - The Chordites (Swashbuckling Hobo)

    This ride’s got a lot of everything. Pop-punk, power pop and grimy garage rock spring from the 10-song vinyl LP like water from a leaky radiator. 

    It’s a self-assured effort from a crew of Brisbane players who - to milk the travelling metaphor - have a bit of mileage on their clocks, doing duty in bands such as the Dolls-meet-the-Groovies Subsonic Barflies,Half a Cow popsters Daisygrinder and '80s punks Death of a Nun.

    That’s a diverse background, so It may have been tempting to make a record with a side of pop and another of the rougher stuff. I have a feeling that such a contrived approach would have been too predictable for The Chordites.

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I-94 Bar Records and Promotions presents
The Psyhcotic Turnbuckles Xmas Cage Match
Psychotic Turnbuckles
_ Bahne Super-Flex
+ The Chainsaw 4
Marricville Bowlo, NSW
- Dec 21
Ticets

Lord Rochester (UK)
DEC
19 – The Gem Bar
w/  The Breadmakers
21 – The Town Hall Hotel, Melb, VIC
31 - Lyric’s Bar, Perth

John Kennedy & The New Originals
Live at the Marrickville Bowl Tour
DEC
21 – Golden Barley, Enmore, NSW (solo)
23 – Velvet Fog in-store, Katoomba, NSW (solo)
27 – George Lane, St Kilda, VIC (solo)
+ Nick Batterham
Tickets
28 – The Old Bar, Fitzroy, VIC (solo)
JAN
11 – Cave In, Woolloongabba, QLD
(with Murray Cook)
Tickets
17 – Smiths Alternative, Canberra, ACT
Ticket
18 – Marrickville Bowlo, NSW
Tickets
25 - Side B Vinyl Bar, Blackheath, NSW 

I-94 Bar Records and Promotions presents
"The Post New Years Eve Apocalypse"
Jupiter 5
+ The Jane Does
+ The Sugar Beats
The Men From U.N.C.L.E.
Marrickville Bowlo, BSW
- Jan 4
Tickets

Chimers Australian Tour
JAN
31 -  La La La’s, Wollongong
+ special guests

“Hotter Than Donut Grease Tour”
Grand Pricks
+ Dave Favours & The Roadside Ashes
+ The Tall Stories
JAN
21 - Tamworth Hotel, Tamworth

The Stranglers
50 Years In Black  
2025 Australasian Tour
MAR
13 - Powerstation, Auckland. NZ
15 - Meow Nui, Wellington, NZ
16 - Christchurch Town Hall, Christchurch, NZ 
19 - Enmore Theatre, Sydney
20 - The Tivoli, Brisbane
22- Forum, Melbourne
23 - The Gov, Adelaide
25 - Astor Theatre, Perth
Tickets

I-94 Bar Records and Promotions presents
Grooveyard
+ Il Bruto
Smiths Alternative, Canberra
Ticets
- Feb 7
+ The On and Ons
+ Van Ruin
(city debut)
- Feb 8
Tickets 

I-94 Bar Records and Promotions presents
The Mick Medew & Ursula 4
"In The Zone"
NSW Album Launches
+ East Coast Low
+ Jupiter 5
Stag & Hunter, Mayfield
- Feb 14
+ The Dark Clouds
+ Jupiter 5
Marricville Bowling Club
- Feb 15

 

 

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