Stories To Tell – The Hangmen (Acetate Records)
There’s a timeless quality about the music of The Hangmen that can’t be touched by many. Swagger meets roots rock on a seedy Los Angeles backstreet, they’re now up to Album Number Seven with no signs of the fire diminishing.
Formed in 1984 around singer-guitarist Bryan Small, signed by major labels (twice), they’re (yet another) American band chewed up and spat out by an industry that panders to the lowest common denominator. Always has, always will. Drugs got in the way, too. Raise a glass to little labels like L.A. imprint Acetate for giving them a home.
- Details
- By The Barman
- Hits: 1655
Valley Songs – Little Girls (Playback Records)
If only all retrospective collections were half as fun - and done as well - as this look back on 1980s Los Angeles surfer girl power-poppers, Little Girls. There are 26 bouncy rave-ups on this CD, it’s accompanied by a booklet full of photos and liner notes, and it took an Australian label to put it out.
Little Girls were diminutive sisters Caron and Michele Maso, two Coloradoans transplanted to L.A. who turned heads as a duo at a 1980 party by singing alternative lyrics to “Anarchy in the UK”. Now, who hasn’t wanted to do that?
Things got serious after they met guitarist Kip Brown, freshly late of local punks SHOCK, while hanging out at The Troubadour club. A full band ensued.
- Details
- By The Barman
- Hits: 2951
Indie Sounds From The Cenny Coast - Various Artists (Vinil Records)
A lot of people try before they buy physical CDs or vinyl, whether it be via streaming or the ubiquitous Bandcamp website.
Fair enough, too; If the various post offices around the globe are going to ream you and make you take out a second mortgage just to have something shipped across international borders in a padded envelope, you wanna be sure it’s music that’s worth playing more than once.
Unless you’re one of those vinyl-fixated numb-nuts that buys every coloured variant of the latest release and photographs the sealed copies on a custom-built shelving unit for other fools to admire on Insta, you probably care more about the music than the medium.
Just remember, they’re records not vinyls, and that we’re here to help.
- Details
- By The Barman
- Hits: 1627
Cousin Betty – Cousin Betty (Vi-Nil Records)
You know you’re in for a different trip when the title of the opening track is: “If This Makes You Off Your Family, Please Contact Us For The Royalties”.
Cousin Betty are non-conformists in an age of conformity. Their music is a mix of hard-psych, high-energy Desert Sessions rock, industrial-tinged metal and lyrical blizzards. Sounds messy in print but somehow it works.
The band is the brainchild of guitarist Damien Stofka (ex-Molten Universe) and vocalist-keyboardist Matt Downey (ex-Death Mattell). Originally a studio project, overseas airplay led to the assembly of a full-blown line-up. Members are scattered around Greater Sydney and its environs. Drummer Andi Dyson (Nitrocris), bassist Tara Doyle (Spurs For Jesus) and guitarist Astrid Carr (Madam Fatale, Quiet Carriage) completed the ranks and this is the debut long-player.
- Details
- By The Barman
- Hits: 1870
Revelation – Los Revelators (Los Revelators)
Kamloops? Sounds like what a car mechanic has for breakfast, right?
Nope. It is, in fact, a place. In Canadaaaa!
Placenamesa? Australia has a few beauties: Grong Grong, Iron Knob, Woy Woy, Sydney.
But, I mean, Canada, right? They really know how to give a town a name, don't they?
- Details
- By Robert Brokenmouth
- Hits: 3922
Monks in Sexyland – The Owen Guns (Booker/Bastard Records)
Is it an EP, a mini-album or a long player from a bunch of minimalists? “Monks in Sexyland” clocks in at just eight songs over 13 minutes but who cares what tag you give it. It’s a burst of good old school punk rock Fun with a capital ‘F’.
If you’re wondering about the title, speculate no more. The I-94 Bar does the hard re3search so you don’t have to. An Australian monk by the name of Venerable Chhet went to court two years ago in a bid to stop A Current Affair airing a TV story about the alleged use of a church credit card at a chain of sex stores.
- Details
- By The Barman
- Hits: 2334
Resurrected – SSD (self released)
Based out of Hervey Bay in Queensland, SSD played every bar they could fine in the 1980s. They toured constantly, playing a mix of covers and some originals until way too much alcohol - and life - got in the way. So they decided to call time on the band…but not their friendship.
Fast-forward to 2023: SSD’s former members all found themselves living in good old Melbourne town - so why not record those originals that were written so long ago? Thank fuck they did because this six pack of tunes is a blast from start to finish.
- Details
- By Ron Brown
- Hits: 2465
Sons Of The City Ditch – Pat Todd and The Rankoutsiders (Dog Meat)
Pat Todd and The Rankoutsiders albums are like hernia operations: You don’t know you need one until somebody tells you, and then you can’t do without it. “Sons Of The City Ditch” is the outfit’s seventh long player and is no less desirable than the six that came before it.
You can jump anywhere into the Rankoutsiders discography and you’ll come up smelling like roses, but if you’re popping your cherry you might as well do it with this one. It’s on resurgent Australian label, Dog Meat,who purveyed some prime rock and roll beef back in the ‘80s and ‘90s, and it’s going to be considerably easier to find than the rest of the back catalogue.
Bonus points: Pat is about to embark on an extensive Australian solo tour so you can ask him to sign a copy.
- Details
- By The Barman
- Hits: 3098
Twistin’ With Lord Rochester – Lord Rochester (Off The Hip)
Don’t let the fact that it’s a compilation put you off. This disc is a charmer with its simplicity and evocation of the ghosts of Bo Diddley, Chuck Berry and Lonnie Mack.
Lord Rochester is a trio from Scotland and plays it straight without the slightest hint of irony. Their music is post-skiffle, traditional rock and roll rendered in its purest form. No tricks and just a dash of reverb.
They lay claim to being “Scotland’s best sounding (and best looking) rock and roll show” and certainly have cornered a certain part of the market for their sartorial elegance, with matching tartan suits and cocktail wear.
- Details
- By The Barman
- Hits: 1705
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The Living Eye
Penny Ikinger and the Not
France and Spain Tour
OCT
17- Funhouse, Madrid
w/ Jibaros (ESP)
18 - La Casa De Sabica, Pamplona
19 - VIII. ZZ Rock Jaialdia, Zumarraga
26 - Skate Parc Le Moulin du Rousseau,
Périgueux, FR
(solo)
w/ Kosmik Twaregs (ESP)
Tickets
The Mick Medew & Ursula 4
“Punk Grandma” Launch
+ The Glycereens
+ Gen Jones
PFR Lounge, Brisbane
- Oct 19
Tickets
Starcrazy
(album launch)
+ Pocketwatch
+ Sereia
Darlin’ Nikki’s,
St Peters, NSW
- Oct 19
Tickets
Kim Salmon’s Smoked Samon
How Did They Ever Manage Tour
OCT
13 - Wheatsheaf, Adelaide - Tix
19 - Bearded Lady, Brisbane - Tix
24 - Tanswells, Beechworth - Tix
25 - Smiths, Canberra - Tix
26 - Django @ Camelot, Sydney - Tix
27 - Frank's Wild Years, Thirroul - Tix
NOV
1 - Hybrid Wave House, Fremantle
("In conversation with Kim Salmon" appearance) - Tix
2 - Lyrics, Perth - Tix
3 - Fremantle Arts Centre, Fremantle (Free Entry)
9 - Merri Creek Tavern, Melbourne - Tix
Hard-Ons' 40th Anniversary
Australian Tour Oct - Nov 2024
OCT
18 - Soapbox, Brisbane, QLD
24 - Sussex Inlet Tavern, Sussex Inlet, NSW
25 - La La La’s, Wollongong, NSW
26 - Paddo RSL, Sydney. NSW
27 - Hamilton Station Hotel, Newcastle, NSW
31 - Altar, Hobart, TAS
NOV
1 - - The Tote, Melbourne, VIC
2 - Singing Bird Studios, Frankston, VIC
3 - Red Hill Hotel, Castlemaine, VIC
4 - Barwon Club, Geelong, VIC
7 - Amplifier, Perth, WA
8 - Indian Ocean Hotel, Scarborough, WA
9 - Froth & Fury, Adelaide, SA
Tickets
Los Chicos
Australian Tour 2024
OCT
31 - Old Bar, Fitzroy, VIC
w/ Mesa Cosa + The Breadmakers - tix
NOV
1 -The Tote. Collingwood, VIC
w/ The Hard-Ons * - tix
2 - Volta, Ballarat, VIC
w/ The Meanies * - tix
3 - Red Hill Hotel, Chewton, VIC (arvo)
w/ Hard-Ons - tix
3 - St.Kilda Bowls Club, VIC (evening)
w/ Private Function*
4 - Evelyn Hotel, Fitzroy, VIC
w/ Mach Pelican * - tix
8 - Marrickville Bowlo
w/ New Christs + Crankees * - tix
9 - River Rocks, Barwon Club,
Geelong - tix
10 - River Rocks Rehab, Barwon Club,
Geelong - tix
* plus Human Toys (FR)
Buzzocks Australian Tour
OCT
25 - Brisbane - The Triffid
26 - Adelaide - The Gov
27 - Fremantle - Metropolis
31 - Newcastle - King St Bandroom
NOV
1 - Sydney - Metro Theatre
2 - Melb - Northcote Theatre
3 - Lorne - Lorne Theatre
4 – Castlemaine - Theatre Royal
Tix
Chimers Australian Tour
OCT
3 - Oxford Art Factory, Sydney
w/ Party Dozen
NOV
8 - Old Bar, Melbourne
w/ Bench Press + No Hoper
9 - River Rocks Festival, Barwon Club,
Geelong
10 - Poison City Records
in-store (afternoon)
20 - Freo Social, Fremantle
w/ The Saints ’73-’78
21 - Old Habits, Perth
w/ Spacerhead + Lounge Tourist
+ Ten Cent Tiger
23 - Princess Theatre, Brisbane
w/ The Saints ’73-’78
SOLD OUT
24 - Sonic Sherpa in-store (afternoon)
w/ Kellie Lloyd (solo)
24 - Princess Theatre, Brisbane
w/ The Saints ’73-’78
SOLD OUT
25 - Princess Theatre, Brisbane
w/ The Saints ’73-’78
29 - Anita’s Theatre, Thirroul
w/ The Saints ’73-’78
DEC
7 - Trocadero Room, Sydney
w/ Antenna + Cammy Cautious & the Wrestlers
+ The Sevilles
15 - The Tote, Melbourne
JAN
31 - La La La’s, Wollongong
+ special guests
“Hotter Than Donut Grease Tour”
Grand Pricks
+ Dave Favours & The Roadside Ashes
+ The Tall Stories
NOV
1 - Link & Piin, Woy Woy
2 - Stag & Hunter, Newcastle
3 - The Junkyard, Maitland
9 - Golden Barley, Enmore
29 - Orana Hotel, Blacksmiths
JAN
21 - Tamworth Hotel, Tamworth
Pat Todd & The Rankoutsiders
Victorian Tour
NOV
6 – PBS live to air
7 – Trash Cult, Bendigo, VIC
8 – The Tote, Collingwood, VIC
9 – River Rocks, Barwon Club, Geelong
10 – St Kilda Bowls Club, St Kilda, VIC
11 – Last Chance Bar, Melbourne, VIC
The Saints ‘73-‘78
NOV
13 - Adelaide Hindley St. Music Hall
+ Double Agents
15 - Castlemaine Theatre Royal (SOLD OUT)
+ Parsnip
16 - Melbourne Northcote Theatre (SOLD OUT)
+ The Double Agents
17 - Melbourne Northcote Theatre
+ Alien Nosejob
20 - Fremantle Freo Social
+ Chimers
22 - Sydney, Enmore Theatre
+ Kim Salmon & The Surrealists
23 - Brisbane, Princess Theatre (SOLD OUT)
+ Chimers
24 - Brisbane, Princess Theatre *new show*
+ Chimers
Tickets
“Pig Out On Punk #2”
I Hate People
+ The Owen Guns
+ Nunchukka Superfly
+ Flowers For Jayne
+ The Dark Clouds
+ The Pingers
Marrickville Bowlo, NSW
- Dec 14
The Stranglers
50 Years In Black
2025 Australasian Tour
MAR
NZ
13 - Powerstation, Auckland
15 - Meow Nui, Wellington
16 - Christchurch Town Hall, Christchurch
AUS
19 - Enmore Theatre, Sydney
20 - The Tivoli, Brisbane
22- Forum, Melbourne
23 - The Gov, Adelaide
25 - Astor Theatre, Perth
Tickets
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