Ten musical things I dug in 2024.
- The Hard-Ons got to celebrate 40 years of ravaging the stage. Still as high-energy and still as true-to-form, brutally honest as ever. And a brand new doco to boot. Go see it. It’s great. Oh, and next year marks 40 years since the release of their debut EP, “Surfin’ On My Face” (ED: On Mark’s label Vi-Nil Records). Just sayin’!
- Middle Kids released an album that was completely hitsville from go to woah. Their previous releases all had a couple of great standout tracks, but “Faith Crisis Part 1” is their ultimate opus. Infectious indie pop that sits on the edge of mainstream and subsequently shits all over half of the commercial shit that has been released this year.
- Elestial are a band that hails from Newcastle in Australia, and their nicely structured dream-pop is a beautiful shot of razored honey. I was lucky enough to have them do a chunk of the INDIE SOUNDS launch tour throughout July, and they nailed every show. A nicer bunch you couldn’t meet.
- Chamberlane are an indie pop punk band out of the Sunshine Coast. They jumped onto a last minute slot on the INDIE SOUNDS tour to help us out, and despite being hungover to the max from a festival the day before, they kicked the shit out of it. They’ve just finished a bit of an east coast tour and I was lucky to have them on board as part of the recent Vi-Nil Records showcase at The Recky Pacific Palms. Fun at a furious rate!
- Mucho Sonar are a six-piece rock beast riddled with brass and blessed with a freight train delivery. Every show is an epic event. And every show is sheer bliss! They have a new live album out and it gives you some idea of their unique style, but the true beauty is best captured at one of their live shows. Never disappoint!
- Lion Island released their fourth album "FUDGE" and it not only delivered that same, dare I say, intelligent ilk of indie popped-rock, it also took some explorational steps into foreign territory with some trippy electronic dirge and serrated, seductive side tracks. Infectious to the core. If only I could get them to bloody tour.
- TISM returned! A brand new album that captured the TISM of old…and also went out on its own weird ledge. A tour that keeps blowing minds in all venues and a dark cloud of mystery that they continue to maintain (to a degree) to this very day. True kings of everything irreverent, politically incorrect and socially unacceptable. What’s not to love?
- Butterknife are an all-girl Newy band who have managed to blend their blatantly sexy flirtatiousness with perfectly crafted retro-tasting pop songs. They’ve been touring the shit out of it throughout 2024, and have managed to build a captivating live show that is always something special. Big fan!
- PIT are three 16-year-olds who unashamedly maintain the ghost of silverchair. A harder-working bunch of guys you would be hard pressed to find. When I put out feelers for the last INDIE SOUNDS launch tour, they put their hands for up for just about every gig on the tour. And every show was as solid as the last. The most well-mannered band I’ve ever had the pleasure to work with (I hope that doesn’t ruin your street cred boys… haha)…and a debut album on the way!
- The Strike-Outs are twin bros Simon and Adam, and two nicer guys you’d be hard pressed to meet. A two piece that punches with the ferocity of a four piece, they deliver some of the sharpest, succinct, stupendously loud indie punk-etched rock I have ever had the pleasure to behold. Another band that loves to tour and always seems to be on the road. Their debut album is also a killer slab of plastic!
Honourable mentions for being consistently fricken awesome….
The Australian Beefweek Show, Owen Guns, Lemon Joe, MOOT, Drugs In Sport, Howlin’Rats, Crowbar Scars, RUST, The Fauves, Zipper Clone, Ritzy Kids, Little Quirks, Goon Gremlins, I Hate People, Dark Clouds.
