Melbourne’s Arctic Circles might be a relative blip on the continuum of the Australian underground scene of the 1980s with a recorded legacy totalling just a rash of compilation appearances, a single and an EP, but those who saw them or have their records swear by them. This cracker of a 45 adds another desirable entry to the discography.
Issued to pay tribute to late drummer Anders Nielsen who passed away in August 2014 at age 50, it was recorded live at the band’s first show (by its original line-up, naturally enough) at the legendary Seaview Balltoom in St Kilda in 1984 and bristles with roughshod beat-pop brilliance.
“Why” is a frantic R & B garage stomper with chunky chording and a fluid beat. The flip is the Mop Tops’ “Taxman” given a leather jacket makeover with Alex Plegt’s scarifying guitar breaks a stand-out. Sound quality is top-shelf and Mikey Young did the ace mastering job.
This is in a limited run of 300 (the first 100 on clear vinyl) on a little Aussie label so you’ll need to be quick to grab it. Hint: That thing under the Martini rating would be a link to the label website.
PO Box 334
Oatley NSW
2223 Australia
Get in touch: barman@i94bar.com
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
DEC
21 – Golden Barley, Enmore, NSW (solo)
23 – Velvet Fog in-store, Katoomba, NSW (solo)
27 – George Lane, St Kilda, VIC (solo)
+ Nick Batterham
Tickets
28 – The Old Bar, Fitzroy, VIC (solo)
JAN
11 – Cave In, Woolloongabba, QLD
(with Murray Cook)
Tickets
17 – Smiths Alternative, Canberra, ACT
Ticket
18 – Marrickville Bowlo, NSW
Tickets
25 - Side B Vinyl Bar, Blackheath, NSW
I-94 Bar Records and Promotions presents
"The Post New Years Eve Apocalypse"
Jupiter 5
+ The Jane Does
+ The Sugar Beats
The Men From U.N.C.L.E.
Marrickville Bowlo, BSW
- Jan 4
Tickets
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
Tickets
I-94 Bar Records and Promotions presents
Grooveyard
+ Il Bruto
Smiths Alternative, Canberra
Ticets
- Feb 7
+ The On and Ons
+ Van Ruin
(city debut)
- Feb 8
Tickets
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
