John Felice is one of rock’n’roll’s unsung heroes. A founding member of the Modern Lovers at the age of 15, he quit the band before the sessions that resulted in their classic album, and was subsequently written out of the history of one of the most influential bands of the ‘70s.
The band he left to form, the Kids, made some local waves but ultimately went nowhere, pretty much coming to an end when he went off to New York to audition for the Heartbreakers - a job he turned down.
Back in Boston, he formed the Real Kids, and finally wrote his own chapter in rock’n’roll history with an album for Marty Thau’s Red Star label that goes down as one of the greatest ever – a perfect blend of Eddie Cochran, the early Stones and the Velvet Underground, with killer tunes, energy and feel, and some of the most honest and affecting lyrics ever put to music.
- Details
- By David Laing
- Hits: 16393
The recent passing of legendary American guitarist Dick Wagner is as good an excuse as any to look back on his long and incredible career. Philadelphia-based record label head, manager, writer and all-round music maven Geoff Ginsberg conducted a landmark I-94 Bar interview with Dick in 1999. It's reprised below. - The Barman
- Details
- By Geoff Ginberg
- Hits: 13039
Loose Pills (fron left) Stu Wilson, Matt Galvin, Ryan Ellsmore and Bill Gibson
Remember when ‘super groups’ played ‘pop music’ that rocked? Yes, both terms have been bludgeoned into redundancy but Sydney’s Loose Pills are doing their level best to re-introduce some relevance.
The membership should be enough to make you prick up your ears - New Christs, The Eastern Dark, Lemonheads, Orange Humble Band, The Scruffs (the Aussie edition), Pyramidiacs and too many more to mention dot the collective history. The debut album, “Rx”, seals the deal with a dose of raucous guitars, powerful dynamics and pop smarts.
We spoke to singer-guitarist Ryan Ellsmore to get the lowdown and what makes a great Heavy Pop record.
- Details
- By The Barman
- Hits: 8458
One of the lesser-known musical pleasures in Australian over the last decade has been the quirky garage sound of the Hekawis, a fuzz-and-organ-driven combo prominent on the Brisbane and Melbourne underground music scenes. Churning out release after release, partly via the then prolific Courdroy label (who happened to own the country's sole vinyl pressing machine for a period in the '90s), the Hekawis pushed all the usual '50s and '60s buttons but came up with a sound unlike any other of their ilk.
- Details
- By The Barman
- Hits: 7717
Rick Chesshire cartoon
January 27, 2008 - If the impending (2008) return to live performance by premier Detroit art-punk chanteuse Niagara isn't enough to get you excited, you're browsing the wrong website or you're a cadaver.
- Details
- By The Barman
- Hits: 11725
If there's one recent (i.e. it came out in late 2009 and is still being spun) Australian album that merits robbing a bank, mugging your neighbour or running down to Cash Converters and pawning your partner so you can purchase a copy, it's "Living With You Is Killing Me" by Brisbane band HITS.
- Details
- By The Barman
- Hits: 8326
The Golden Age of Iggy and The Stooges continues unabated. With the band on indefinite hiatus, “Raw Power” era guitarist James Williamson is shining new light on a batch of mostly unreleased or never-properly-recorded gems from the band’s back-pages.
- Details
- By The Barman
- Hits: 13624
Proto-punk legends The Dictators have a Best Of compilation "Faster...Louder: The Dictators Best 1975-2001" out on Australian label Raven. Compiler Ian McFarlane spoke to Andy Shernoff, bass-player/keyboardist for The Dictators, in January 2014. Here's the full interview.
- Details
- By Ian McFarlane
- Hits: 11454
First, these 20-minute interviews seem to
be the bane of journos everywhere. It seems the time-limit prevents the journos getting chummy with the artist. No wonder Prince doesn't give interviews anymore, who'd want a bunch of music journos crawling at ya, total strangers wanting to be your pal. Twenty minutes is fine. The artist is there to promote the album, use the journo as a conduit.
- Details
- By Robert Brokenmouth
- Hits: 9766
More Articles …
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I-94 Bar Records and Promotions presents
The Psyhcotic Turnbuckles Xmas Cage Match
Psychotic Turnbuckles
_ Bahne Super-Flex
+ The Chainsaw 4
Marricville Bowlo, NSW
- Dec 21
Ticets
Lord Rochester (UK)
DEC
19 – The Gem Bar
w/ The Breadmakers
21 – The Town Hall Hotel, Melb, VIC
31 - Lyric’s Bar, Perth
John Kennedy & The New Originals
Live at the Marrickville Bowl Tour
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21 – Golden Barley, Enmore, NSW (solo)
23 – Velvet Fog in-store, Katoomba, NSW (solo)
27 – George Lane, St Kilda, VIC (solo)
+ Nick Batterham
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28 – The Old Bar, Fitzroy, VIC (solo)
JAN
11 – Cave In, Woolloongabba, QLD
(with Murray Cook)
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17 – Smiths Alternative, Canberra, ACT
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18 – Marrickville Bowlo, NSW
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25 - Side B Vinyl Bar, Blackheath, NSW
I-94 Bar Records and Promotions presents
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Jupiter 5
+ The Jane Does
+ The Sugar Beats
The Men From U.N.C.L.E.
Marrickville Bowlo, BSW
- Jan 4
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Chimers Australian Tour
JAN
31 - La La La’s, Wollongong
+ special guests
“Hotter Than Donut Grease Tour”
Grand Pricks
+ Dave Favours & The Roadside Ashes
+ The Tall Stories
JAN
21 - Tamworth Hotel, Tamworth
The Stranglers
50 Years In Black
2025 Australasian Tour
MAR
13 - Powerstation, Auckland. NZ
15 - Meow Nui, Wellington, NZ
16 - Christchurch Town Hall, Christchurch, NZ
19 - Enmore Theatre, Sydney
20 - The Tivoli, Brisbane
22- Forum, Melbourne
23 - The Gov, Adelaide
25 - Astor Theatre, Perth
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Smiths Alternative, Canberra
Ticets
- Feb 7
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- Feb 8
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I-94 Bar Records and Promotions presents
The Mick Medew & Ursula 4
"In The Zone"
NSW Album Launches
+ East Coast Low
+ Jupiter 5
Stag & Hunter, Mayfield
- Feb 14
+ The Dark Clouds
+ Jupiter 5
Marricville Bowling Club
- Feb 15
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13 December 2024
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12 December 2024
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Vegans, and the sensitive, need not apply
02 December 2024
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Dogged Cheetahs get off the leash with one savage EP
01 December 2024
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Sydney's Crankees nail it on debut LP
30 November 2024