Album reviews

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After The Flood - Ed Kuepper and Jim White (Remote Control)

“We took what Jim and I had been doing live and brought it into the studio. It was important that we capture the immediacy of what we had been doing and everything was not laboured. Everything was laid down.”

Ed Kuepper spells it all out in his media release announcing this album. Anyone who has witnessed the powerful, atmospheric and unforgettable performances of Ed Kuepper and Jim White live will testify that they’re something not to be missed.

Details: By Ed Garland; 06 August 2025; Hits: 6288

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6.2k views

The Sugar Beats – The Sugar Beats (Vinil Records)

It was a Saturday afternoon earlier this year when I stumbled on a Sugar Beats set. I was filming a documentary at MoshPit Bar in Sydney. There were whispers on the grapevine that the band was awesome. So, we raced down with a cameraman and a buddy in tow, in the hope that the band would deliver.

The word on the street was correct. Live, The Sugar Beats were overwhelmingly tight, blistering, gutsy and hooky, a three-piece playing high-powered punk rock.

Details: By Edwin Garland; 28 July 2025; Hits: 6939

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6.9k views

Shadow Work 38 – Kevin K and The Bowery Kats (Vicious Kitten)

Simple songs rendered with heart: Lower East Side punk rock survivor Kevin K has adhered to that formula over four decades and “Shadow Work 38” doesn’t make any case for change.

If you’re not familiar with Kevin K, “Shadow Work 38” is a good place to start. Despite his longevity, he’s still a well-kept secret. The man’s understated YouTube bio sums him up:

Opened for Johnny Thunders , Dead Boys , Ramones . I have seen it all. Was part of the CBGB club from 1980- 2000. I have 30 CDs available and a book, ‘The Successful Loser’.

Details: By The Barman; 13 July 2025; Hits: 5749

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5.7k views

Mr Sunshine – The Autumn Hearts (self released)

It’s brash, bracing psychedelic pop from a Newcastle band that deserves to be known outside their hometown.

You won’t find a big digital footprint when you go looking for their backstory, but don’t let that stop you. The Autumn Hearts formed in 2016 and are seasoned players with songwriters Ed Peters (bass, guitar, vocals) and Dave Robson (guitar, vocals) at their core.

Members were in a Newcastle band The Longknives who were active in the 1980s, and The Autumn Hearts have a solitary eponymous 2018 EP in their back catalogue.

Details: By The Barman; 05 July 2025; Hits: 4868

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4.8k views

Lonesome Sundown – The Breadmakers (Soundflat)

“Lonesome Sundown” is the ninth album for Australian rhythm ‘n’ blues ravers The Breadmakers and if you’re reading this outside Melbourne, Japan or Europe, you’ve probably never heard of them.

The Breadmakers have their origins in Victorian bands like Shutdown66, Cracked Jaffers and The Puritans and if there was a trademark available on the word “retro” they’d have dibs on it. They’ve been cranking up their valve amps to celebrate the roots of R ‘n’ B since 1989.

It’s not as if they haven’t done their share of touring, visiting Europe and Japan and well as most Australian capitals, but in these times of bands finding it hard to make ends meet when they go on the road, they’re stop at home types these days. “Lonesome Sundown” is on German label Soundflat so the international profile is there for those in the know. But these guys should be household names.

Details: By The Barman; 21 June 2025; Hits: 5153

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5.1k views

Roads, Stars – Asteroid B612 (Golden Robot)

The appearance of a new Asteroid B-612 studio album a full two-and-a-half decades after they were a going concern is a risky move, by any measure.

They didn’t tour much outside of the Sydney-Melbourne axis (except when they went to the USA) but if you saw Asteroid B612 live they left a lasting impression. Once they found their sound and came to grips with the studio, their records did, too. Over the years, Asteroids established a loyal fanbase, mainly in Europe.

The good news is that “Roads, Stars” works as a rock and roll record. It’s a fitting epitaph to the memory of late bass player Scott Nash.

Details: By The Barman; 19 June 2025; Hits: 6915

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6.9k views

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Mick Medew & Ursula 4 single launch

The Living Eye

Right eye

Ian Krahe Tribute
Fuck The Neighbours
+ Slack Punks
+ Spitting Chips
+ Hounddog Harry
+ Descent Into Chaos
+ Eric’s Adult Bookshop
Sydney Crowbar, Leichhardt
- Nov 2 (3pm)
Tickets

The On and Ons
New Album Preview Show
+ Velvet Parade
+ Jupiter 5
Marrickville Bowlo, NSW
- Nov 8
Tickets

The Cha Cha Chas
Back in Oz Australian Tour
NOV
4 - Social Club, Balnarring, VIC
(3:30pm - 2 Sets)
9 - Desert Highways Reservoir VIC
(2pm - All ages)
15 – The Gem
+ The Breadmakers
w/ The Fadeaways (JP) +) DJ King O.P.P + Mystery band
16 - TBA, VIC
22 - The Drunken Poet, VIC
(9pm - 2 Sets)

The Johnnys
+ The Mick Medew & Ursula 4
+ Scrambler
Mos's Desert Clubhouse, Burleigh Heads
- Nov 28
Tickets

The Soft ‘n’ Sexy Sound Tour
Dave Graney and the Coral Snakes
NOV
2 - Mo's Desert Clubhouse, Gold Coast QLD
Tickets
7 - Byron Bay Theatre NSW
Tickets
8 - Bellingen Memorial Hall NSW
Tickets
13 - King Street Bandroom, Newcastle
Tickets
14 - Avoca Beach Theatre NSW
Tickets
15 - The Lounge, Chatswood NSW
Ticket s
16 - Dangar Island Bowlo NSW (matinee)
Tickets
21 - The Gov, Adelaide SA
Tickets
28 - Royal Oak, Launceston TAS
Tickets
29 - The Pier, Ulverstone TAS
Tickets
30 - Longley International Hotel, Longley TAS
Tickets

“4ZZZ Joint Effort 50”
Dave Warner’s From The Suburbs
+ X + The Survivors + XERO
+ The Black Assassins
+ Pineapples From The Dawn of Time
Hamilton Hotel, QLD
- Nov 8

Asteroid B612
Australian Tour
NOV
6 – La La La´s, Wollongong NSW
7 – Marrickville Bowling Club, NSW
8 – Avalon Beach RSL Club, NSW
14 - The John Curtin Hotel, Carlton VI

The Saints ’73-’78
North America and Europe
NOV
5 - Los Angeles, CA - Teragram Ballroom
7 - San Francisco, CA - Great American Music Hall
8 - Portland, OR - Revolution Hall
9 - Seattle, WA - Neptune Theatre
11 - Chicago, IL – Metro
13 - Toronto, ON - The Phoenix Concert Theatre
14 - Brooklyn, NY - Music Hall of Williamsburg
15 - Philadelphia, PA - Union Transfer
16 - Washington, DC - Union Stage
21 - Bristol - Trinity Community Arts
22 - Leeds - Project House
23 - Glasgow - The Garage
24 - Manchester – Academy
26 - London - Electric Ballroom
28 - Stockholm - Debaser
29 - Malmo - Plan B
30 - Berlin - Astra
Tickets

Punkest, Lockdown, Renegade Playground & 4ZZZ present
GIG CITY
Custard + The Johnnys
+ Gazoonga Attack
+ Monster Zoku Onsomb! + Dad Fight
+ Mark N [Bloody Fist Rec.] + The Disables
+ Combat Wombat + Paul Abad + Fat
+ Viper Snatch + Mitch Please + Gurridyula
+ Coral Outcrops Half Star Band + The Distained
+ The Stress of Leisure + Kunt
+ Red Devotchkin + Evil Dick Industries
+ Strange Stains
The Brightside, Brisbane
- Nov 29 from 3pm
Tickets

I-94 Bar presents
"Psychotic Turnbuckles
Festive Spectacular"
Psychotic Turnbuckles
+ The Dark Clouds
+ The Sugar Beats
Marrickville Bowlo. NSW
- Dec 13
Tickets

Cosmic Psychos
"I Really Like Beer Tour"
NOV
7 — Singing Bird, Frankston, VIC
8 — Theatre Royal, Castlemaine, VIC
9 — Corner Hotel, Melbourne, VIC
12 — UC Hub, Canberra, ACT
13 — Uni Bar, Wollongong, NSW
14 — Crowbar, Sydney, NSW
15 — King Street Bandroom, Newcastle, NSW
19 — Racehorse Hotel, Ipswich, QLD
20 — Vinnies Dive Bar, Gold Coast, QLD
21 — Solbar, Maroochydore, QLD
22 — Crowbar, Brisbane, QLD
23 — Bangalow Bowlo, Bangalow, NSW
26 — The River, Margaret River, WA
27 — Rosemount Hotel, Perth, WA28 — Indian Ocean Hotel, Scarborough, WA
29 — Queenscliff Music Festival, Queenscliff, VIC
JAN
1 — Edge Hill Tavern, Cairns, QLD
2 — Dalrymple Hotel, Townsville, QLD
3 — Magnums, Airlie Beach, QLD
4 — Metropolitan Hotel, Mackay, QLD
7 — Harvey Road Tavern, Gladstone, QLD
8 — Grand Hotel, Childers, QLD
9 — MO’s Desert Clubhouse, Gold Coast, QLD
10 — Seaview Tavern, Woolgoolga, NSW
11 — Bellingen Brewery, Bellingen, NSW
14 — Moonshiners Honky Tonk Bar, Tamworth, NSW
15 — Finnian's Tavern, Port Macquarie, NSW
16 — Avalon RSL, Avalon, NSW
17 — The Marlin, Ulladulla, NSW
18 — Beer Deluxe, Albury NSW
22 — Tanswells Hotel, Beechworth, VIC
23 — Sooki Lounge, Belgrave, VIC
24 — Westonport Hotel, San Remo, VIC
25 — Social Club, Balnarring, VIC
26 — Volta, Ballarat, VIC
29 — Whalers Hotel, Warrnambool, VIC
30 — Torquay Hotel, Torquay, VIC
31 — Riverview Hotel, Tarwin Lower, VIC
FEB
12 — Royal Oak, Launceston, TAS
13 — Forth Pub, Devonport, TAS
14 — Altar, Hobart, TAS