the d4

Here’s my top 10 live shows from 2025, in chronological order: 

1.  The Schizophonics: La La La’s, Wollongong & Factory Theatre, Marrickville – January  
I was fortunate enough to catch The Schizophonics twice in January. A cracking rock band fronted by an over medicated hyperactive octopus, Pat Beers. They had the entire audience smiling their whole set both nights. Most excellent! 

2.  The D4: Mary’s Underground, Sydney – February 
I’ve dug the The D4 since their first album, 20 odd years ago, so there was no way I was missing their first Sydney show in yonks. Gotta admit to being a bit nervous though, would thThis Woy Woy line-up is Outtaspaceey still have it? Would they be a good as I remember?? Yeah they fuckin were!! Ripping set! Killer Rock n roll with all the hits! Dion thrashed his geetar at the end ensuring no encore, perfect! 

3. Sun Ra Archestra: Factory Theatre, Marrickville – March 
Sun Ra’s free jazz is soothing for me, so this show was a must. A 20-odd ensemble of musicians playing spaced out free jazz in psychedelic outfits - memorising! The 70-year-old band leader doing backflips at the end was the icing on top. 

If you hear a noisier, more brutal yet musical album this year, call your lawyer and sue Mitsubishi for opening a car plant in your backyard. 

Dion Lunadon used to be Dion Palmer, bassist for New Zealand-via-The-Lower-East-Side rockers The D4 back in the 1990s. He’s been living in New York City for the last 10 years, playing bass for abrasive noise merchants, A Place To Bury Strangers (APTBS). This eponymous LP is his first solo venture. 

There are elements of Kraut rock, hard rock, noise rock, psychedelic rock and almost everything that can be appended to rock on this record. It’s full of ideas to the point of near overload. Apparently written as a cathartic release after rigorous touring with APTBS, it reeks of grime, sweat , post-road angst and not a little desperation.

Kiwi powerhouses The D4 have announced locasl supports for the hit-and-run Australian leg of their reunion tour and with one member living ont he other side of the globe, it might be your last chance to catch them on this side of The Ditch.

There are just three dates in Australia with most of their shows not unexpectedly in their home country.

In Brisbane they'll be joined by Tape/Off and Gentle Ben and His Shimmering Hands (The Brightside, February 13). Mary's Underground is the Sydney venue with Hard-Ons and Finnocuns opening preceedings on February 14. For the February 15 gig at Melbourne's esteemed The Tote, Mach Pelican, Raging Hormones and The Stripp fill out the undercard.

High-energy Kiwis The D4are reforming for a string of dates in their home country in 2025 as well as three shows across the ditch in Australia.

Promising all the hits for their two albums “6Twenty” and “Out Of My Head” as well as a slew of unreleased material, The D4 play Brisbane (February 13), Sydney (February 15) and Melbourne (February 16) with Tape/Off, Hard-Ons and Mach Pelican respectively. 

Australian and NZ tickets are here.

Is it really a surprise in 2015 to hear rocking garage soul that has its origins in the UK played better than almost anyone else around by a band that comes from Auckland in New Zealand? Meet Thee Rum Coves.

These guys (and girl) should be the toast of the summer festival circuit in Europe. They deserve to fill the vacuum left by the demise of The Jim Jones Revue. Thee Rum Coves have everything going for them for a shot at success in Europe…except geography. Not that this should matter.