What Ash Naylor does on his days off

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By The Barman

The Barman

01 December 2024

Hits: 1135

Is Ash Naylor Australia’s busiest musician? With a solo acoustic song “A Blue Sky” presaging his forthcoming solo acoustic album, the Melbourne guitarist will sandwich his current duties with The Church with solo shows in Sydney and Melbourne and a solo band gig in Adelaide.

"A Blue Sky" is the second preview of Naylor’s next solo album, and follows "Donovan Dreams", an ode to the legendary '60s Scottish psychedelic folkster Donovan (of "Mellow Yellow", "Hurdy Gurdy Man" and "Sunshine Superman" fame).

• paul kelly
• the church
• the stems
• ash naylor
• rockwiz
• ashley naylor
• ashley naylor spaceship

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Vegans, and the sensitive, need not apply

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By The Barman

The Barman

01 December 2024

Hits: 731

Prime Cu*ts – Meatbeaters (Heavy Medication)

Over 24 years and five albums Adelaide’s Meatbeaters have never minced words, so seeing how the rest of the world takes to their good, honest low brow Aussie humour on this ball-tearing compilation from Polish label Heavy Medication is going to be a hoot.

Eleven slices of Meatbeaters high-energy over two sides of vinyl and subtlety isn’t anywhere to be seen. That should be no surprise from a band that’s named past long players “Crusty Seamen” or “Carry On Tuggin’”. Yes, it's Yob Rock, but it’s not just about beer (drinkin’) and skittles – there’s also a song (“Spit Roast”) about being pilled-up.

• the meatbeaters
• heavy medication records
• prime cu*ts
• derrick orgodny

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Dogged Cheetahs get off the leash with one savage EP

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By The Barman

The Barman

01 December 2024

Hits: 759

Call The Dogs – The Streetwalkin’ Cheetahs (Heavy Medication)

Their youthful days of diving across tables and sliding down the length of venue bars are probably behind them but they still matter: If The Streetwalkin’ Cheetahs have made a bad record, well, you know the email address. The veteran LA outfit gets off the chain again on this four-song 10-incher, their first release since the stellar “One More Drink” album of 2021, and it hits the spot as well as any dive bar cocktail.

These days sax player Geoff Yeaton is firmly integrated into the line-up and adds an extra dimension to the Cheetahs’ trademark high-energy Detroit sound. The title tune is as good an example of that, featuring some stabbing guitarwork from lead vocalist Frank Meyer and Bruce Duff.  

• los angeles
• frank meyer
• streetwalkin' cheetahs
• heavy medication records
• one more drink
• call the dogs

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Sex'n'Drugs'n'Property Developers'n'Real Estate Agents

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By Robert Brokenmouth

Robert Brokenmouth

28 November 2024

Hits: 693

The column's title is not a phrase that scans too easily, I admit. However, it seems obvious from where I sit that 'rock'n'roll' has well and truly been eclipsed by a similarly oikish pack of breadheads. 

Certainly, the famous phrase that Ian Dury popularised has resonated down the years. However, back when Dury wrote the song, “sex'n'drugs'n'rock'n'roll” was once a way of life for millions, whether they be journos, execs, stars, musicians, musos, and grubby proles.

What's different today? Market forces, basically. In 1977, one person could still buy a house, car and put a kid through school on one wage. Today that's a laughable concept. People have less spare time and cash, for one thing; and when they do have the cash, they have other life-distractions.

• urban renewal
• jethro heller

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Sydney's Crankees nail it on debut LP

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By The Barman

The Barman

30 November 2024

Hits: 657

Settle Down – Crankees (Evil Tone)

The album does not fuck around so the review shall not: Sydney’s Crankees encapsulate kicking against suburban ennui like Eddy Current Supression Ring did 20 years ago, but won’t attract the same adoration because they don’t come from Melbourne.

Where ECSR complained about boredom and negative ATM balances with what, at times, seemed like resigned ambivalence, Crankees sound, well, cranky. It’s punk rock that never tries too hard. The other truth is that “Settle Down” deserves to be heard further afield.

• mikey young
• evil tone records
• crankees
• settle down
• rodney todd
• jimmy leek
• lex hall
• luke buckler
• massappeal
• downtime

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Vale Gary Rasmussen of Sonic's Rendezvous Band

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By The Barman

The Barman

29 November 2024

Hits: 2487

 _{Gary Rasmussen (left) with other members of Sonic's Rendezvous Band, Scott Morgan, Fred Smith and Scott Asheton. Joann Uhelszki photo.} 

Sonic’s Rendezvous Band bassist Gary Rasmussen has passed away after a short illness. He was aged 72.

A resident of Howell in Michigan, Rasmussen played bass with some of the region’s most influential bands in the late 1960s and ‘70s. He was a member of Scots Pirates, The Rendezvous Band, The Scott Morgan Group, The Up and more recently, Broken Arrow Blues Band. He also appeared on Patti Smith’s “Dream of Life” album.

After suffering a sore throat and back pain on Tuesday, Gary was admitted to hospital. He was transferred to University of Michigan Hospital where he was put into an induced coma after doctors diagnosed meningitis. He passed on Friday, surrounded by family and friends including longtime partner Marla Swartz.   

• sonics rendezvous band
• fred smith
• john sinclair
• gary rasmussen
• scott asheton
• scott morgan
• vale
• the up
• broken arrow blues band
• pattis smith

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Top Tens for 2024: Bob Short of The Light Brigade and Sydney's original punk band Filth

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By Bob Short

Bob Short

28 November 2024

Hits: 538

Bob Short's incredibly accurate Top Ten predictions for 2025 (and beyond).

1. When Trump reduces military aid to the Ukraine, Putin will essentially be gifted the disputed Eastern territories. The three wise monkeys of Russia, North Korea and the USA will have a delightful tea party whilst watching the executions of their political enemies. Lewis Carroll will arise from the grave, vindicated by the realisation his major works were true and accurate.

2. Trump will deport so many agricultural workers that American supermarket shelves will empty and the United States economy will slump. No-one will be able to afford the tariffs on overseas food. The poor will look suspiciously towards their pets.

3. Across the pond, as the economy, good manners, social services and the art of staying calm collapse, the UK will quietly sink into the Atlantic and no-one will notice. It may have happened already. (Has anyone looked?). If anyone does notice, a variety of suckholes and knuckle draggers (particularly those who resemble potatoes) will petition to make Gina Reinhardt Queen of Australia. She will unilaterally declare it so and poison all the drinking holes.

• top ten
• bob short
• Donald Trump
• elton john
• 2024
• elon musk

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The D4 are back for NZ and Oz shows

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By The Barman

The Barman

28 November 2024

Hits: 574

High-energy Kiwis The D4 are 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.

• tour
• australian
• the d4
• new zealand

Top Tens for 2024: Scott Morgan of Sonics Rendezvous Band, The Rationals, Hydromatics and many more

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By Scott Morgan

Scott Morgan

24 November 2024

Hits: 869

 Here's a Top Nine of righteous soul, blues, funk and jazz classics from Scott Morgan (The Rationals, Sonic's Rendezvous Band, The Hydromatics, The Solution, Scott Morgan Band and many more) preceded with one of his own.  

• sonics rendezvous band
• top ten
• scott morgan
• 2024
• the rationals
• charles wright
• nina simone
• funkadelic
• marvelettes
• louis armstrong
• billie holiday

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