- Details
- By Robert Brokenmouth
- Hits: 305
For many I-94 Barflies, Swervedriver , soon to hit Austraia for a seventh tour, are still a relatively new band. And the 1990s were not that long ago.
As you may know, Swervedriver is led by driving force, Adam Franklin (guitar and vocals); the band came to prominence from about 1990, after several previous bands had folded (including the very Stooges-heavy Shake Appeal). Swervedriver immediately got people's attention with a series of EPs featuring loud, feedback-y guitars courtesy Franklin and Jimmy Hartridge.
This approach to rock'n'roll usually creates what I think of as “chronic wet pants syndrome” with the movers and shakers in the record companies. In my limited experience, audiences, accustomed to lame, unadventurous slop, usually respond to feedback-soaked bands with hearty roars, too much alcohol and a blissful sense of being the top of their head being removed. In one previous interview, Franklin has described his glee at the sight of punters being "peeled off the back wall" in response to their live shows.
- Details
- By Robert Brokenmouth
- Hits: 1183
SharkArm. Rachel Cullen photo
Sydney skuzz rockeers t SharkArm have been gigging for years with an album and two singles to their credit. The big news for locals is that they're bringing Queenslanders Gravel Samwidge, and Sotu Australians Molly Fet Circuit for gigs at MoshPit (August 15 from 2.30pm) and The Link and Pin in Woy Woy (August16.)
SharkArm haven’t fronted the Bar for an interview so this seemed like a good reason for Robert Brokenmouth (who plays in Molly Fet Circuit) to ask a bunch of questions. SharkArm are Damian Iowa (drums), Nathan Iowa (guitar and vocals) and Josh Shipton (bass.)
- Details
- By Robert Brokenmouth
- Hits: 1238
The MacGuffins. Alison Breen photo.
Lachlan Colquhoun is a writer, editor, publisher, bass player and anarchistic ne'er-do-well. Adelaide expat cum Sydney-ite, currently with Sydney outfits The Flippin' Kick Outs and The MacGuffins.
You might not have heard of Lachlan Colquhoun. On the other hand, if you're an old fart sitting at home with the bowl of corn chips barely balanced on your belly while you suck a stubby through a straw, you might remember him from tumultuous, inebriated nights in the 1980s and ‘90s when Sydney was crowded with bands, possibility and sub-tropical steam, even more crowded with thirsty punters.
If you know the music world, essentially everyone in this country is a minor player. Why? Because it's Australia, and while we may think we're something special, overseas, no other bastard does. So, like Iva Davies or Daniel Johns or even that bloke from Men at Work, while between jobs which pay a fuck of a lot better than being a musician.
- Details
- By Robert Brokenmouth
- Hits: 875
Samwidge is served: Declan Bradbury Mark Spinks and Alex "Sleepy" Morrison. Photo by Calan Stanley
Rejoice, Sydneyites, because Gravel Samwidge are extracting themselves from their Brisbane base and heading down your way for some sonic shenanigans.
For those unfamiliar with Gravel Samwidge, here's the basics: They are Declan Bradbury on bass, James Cassidy on guitar, Alex “Sleepy” Morrison on drums; and band leader Mark Spinks on guitar and vocals.
But before any more, a little heresy. When I was a young lad I absolutely loved The Scientists (first and second versions). It's forgotten now, but the second mark were often scorned and verbally abused outright. They simply didn't fit: noisy, fuzzy, feedback-y. And, especially, all that horrible long hair which, for rock 'n' rollers, had gone the way of the dodo during the late 1970s.
- Details
- By Matt Ryan
- Hits: 568
Huxton Creepers back in the day. Artist supplied.
Legendary Melbourne band Huxton Creepers are back in the swing of things. No longer just the odd show here and there, the Creepers are playing more regularly, including an Australian East Coast tour, and are issuing their first new music in 36 years and a vinyl re-issue of their “12 Days to Paris” album.
Bass player Matthew Eddy spoke to the I-94 Bar on the eve of their album’s 40th anniversary shows.
- Details
- By JD Misfortune
- Hits: 845
Italian-born and Californian-based Alon Delon is an American guitarist, singer and songwriter who played guitar in Donita Sparks and the Stellar Moments, Sparks’ post-L7 project, and appears on the 2008 album “Transmiticate”.
He later formed the Los Angeles dark-rock band Shiteland Ponies with bassist Dat Ngo, combing shoegaze and dark pop with glam and heavier rock influences.
Delon played in the Hollywood hard-rock band Shire. A notable piece of his history is that a young Izzy Stradlin briefly played bass in Shire alongside him. Henow plays in Hector Penalosa Gang.
Whether or not I get to rock with this brother, I think he is an amazingly bad ass underground rock ‘n’ roll motherfucker, whose work is pretty much impeccable…my kinda songs, my kinda bands, my kinda style.
Don’t believe me? Here’s what some other people say about him:
"I love the Shiteland Ponies, and think Mr. Delon is a marvellous human. I'm very proud to call him my friend. I always enjoy watching their live shows, and look forward to their next record..." -John Easdale, Dramarama.
- Details
- By Robert Brokenmouth
- Hits: 1063
There are a number of “memorabilia” books out there, but none, I repeat, none, are as intimate and lovely as "Glitter & Glue. Young, Loud and Ephemeral: Curating the Teenage Rampage" and no others cover the pivotal, crucial period 1972-79 so well. And there's only 450 of these, so get yer skates on.
The author is Dave Twist. More on him soon. The publisher is Easy Action, also a record company, and you should have many of their releases. Their blurb is a great strarting point:
"While chronicling his own fan-rampage – from the freak rock glamour of the early '70s through to punk…Glitter & Glue's collection also represents the journey that pretty much everyone involved in the early UK punk scene will have travelled, at least part of the way. (It’s) the first book to cover this extended time-frame with the full range of ephemera available – with some dedication – to the provincial teenage fan."
There are two forewords; and one quote from each should suffice to get your attention:
"Looking through this book is like stepping into a time machine that speeds one back into a music obsessed teenage boy’s bedroom in the early 1970’s. Not any teenage boy, mind you. Dave Twist’s collection of Third Generation Rock and Roll’memorabilia is second to none."
- Details
- By Mark Roxburgh
- Hits: 367
Album Number Three. Who’da thunk it? OK, Joeys Coop have been chugging along for 14 years and maybe should have a few more under our belt but it’s not like there is massive demand for shows or recorded output from a bunch of 50 - 60-year-olds that aren’t a heritage act but do have a bit of history.
Recorded at the wonderful Golden Retriever Studios (in Sydney's Marrickville) owned by the eccentric, talented and delightful Simon Berckelman. Simon is the brains behind Philadelphia Grand Jury and his dad, Richard, was the drummer in Kiss My Poodles Donkey and he built the studio. There is a lot of great gear there and the big room is the space you can hear around the drums.
Our pre-production on this was typical of how we work. Given funds are always tight, we work as hard as we can in rehearsal to nail arrangements, parts etc. Because of that, and because the boys also practice all their parts at home, we tend to be a one or two take band. I track vocals when we do the bed tracks.
- Details
- By Robert Brokenmouth
- Hits: 913
Kim Salmon. Photo by The Barman.
It's taken a long to get to this, folks, but I love Smoked Salmon's new LP “Totally Sick!!”. So much squeal and skronk, in measured and carefully ladled doses. Utterly captivating. Such a damn groovy LP.
Apart from anything else, the production on these songs is right up there; noisy but clear and with brutally separated layers. It sounds fucking fantastic.
But first, some context.
The other day I noticed that “The Horses” guy, Daryl Brackawacker, is finally calling it quits. No surprises there for many people, I suppose, but I thought he'd died 20 years ago. And Russell Morris, called it quits last year. I thought Kate Ceberano, Angry Anderson, John Farnham and (more rock 'n' rolly) Ratcat had hung up their boots. Oh, god, make it fucking stop before I blurt out even more names of appalling retirees or retirees on their last tours like Ordinary as Anything. TISM. fucking Pseudo Echo.
- Mudhoney's Guy Maddison has a Fancy Weapon and he knows how to use it
- No Wave Queen Lydia's return Down Under won't go down in a blaze of glory
- Now and Zen: Garry Gray and the Sacred Cowboys Manifesto
- Grown Up Right! A Power Pop Interview with Dave "Dog Meat" Laing
- For the love of music: Peter Black's magnificent obsession
- Surrealism, Science and Freudian slippers
Send us stuff to review
PO Box 334
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2223 Australia
Get in touch: barman@i94bar.com
The Living Eye
I-94 Bar presents
Psychotic Turnbuckles
vinyl single launch
+ Spittin' Chips
+ The No Such Things
Marrickville Bowling Club, NSW
- Sept 5
Tickets
Smoked Salmon
Totally Sick!! Tour
AUG
21 - Republic Bar, Hobart, TAS
22 - Royal Oak, Launceston, TAS
28 - Junk Bar, Brisbane, QLD
29 - Blah Bar, Lismore, NSW
30 - Cabarita Beach Club, Cabarita, NSW (free)
SEP
4 - Young St Tavern, Frankston, VIC
Joeys Coop
AUG
22 - Union Hotel, Newtown, NSW
+ The On and Ons
28 - Smiths Alternative, Canberra
+ Sanctimonious Fux
30 - Link & Pin, Woy Woy, NSW
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)
I-94 Bar presents
"Triple Treat"
Jupiter 5
+ Fowl Weather Vein
+ The Men From UNCLE
Moshpit Bar
Sept 11
Tickets
Swervedriver Australian Tour
SEPT
6 - Fremantle, Freo Social, with Lake Mammoth
10- Brisbane, The Triffid, with Chimers
11 - Sydney, Manning Bar, with Chimers and Brown Spirits
12 - Melbourne, Corner Hotel, with Brown Spirits and Chimers
14 - Melbourne, Northcote Social Club, with Fancy Weapon
15 - Adelaide, Lion Arts Factory, with Chimers
Tickets
New Christs
SEP
11 - Last Chance. North Melbourne, VIC
+ Penny Ikinger’s Marbles
12 -Last Chance, North Melbourne, VIC
+ Moler
19 - Heritage Hotel, Bulli, NSW
NOV
21 - The Brightside, Brisbane, QLD
+ Suicide Country Hour
+ The Mick Medew & Ursula 4
Huxton Creepers
12 Days To Paris Tour
AUG
21 - Norton Music Factory,
Caloundra, QLD
+ The Johnnys
22 - Crowbar Brisbane, QLD
+ The Johnnys
+ Mick Medew and Ursula
23 - Wallaby Hotel, Mudgeeraba, QLD
(afternoon show)
+ The Johnnys
The Damned
Final Damnation 50
SEP
8 - AUCKLAND, Powerstation
10 - SYDNEY, The Opera House
11 - BRISBANE, The Tivoli
13 - MELBOURNE, The Forum
Tickets
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
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
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
Fresh Reviews
-
We need to talk about Molly
09 August 2026
-
This Lipstick Killers rock opera is one Strange Flash
26 July 2026
-
Ghosts in the machine
20 July 2026
-
Copulaters will give you a boning
08 July 2026
-
Album Number Three hits the mark for Joeys Coop
04 July 2026