Prepare for turbulence: East Coast Low's "Badlanding" is on the way

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By The Barman

The Barman

13 July 2025

Hits: 830

“Badlanding”, the Rob Younger-produced album for seriously powerful Newcastle band East Coast Low, is poised to touch down on August 4.

It’s the third long-player for the band and was recorded with the assistance of a rolled gold brass section, comprising Rudi Thomson on sax (Xray Spex, The Members, Lords of the New Church, The Jam), Rob Parkes (Mucho Sonar) on trombone and Peter Kelly (New Christs, Vanilla Chainsaws) on trumpet.

The 10-track LP was recorded at Rock the Nation Studios in Newcastle by guitarist Geoff Mullard and mastered by Rick O'Neill at Turtlerock Mastering. It will be available on vinyl, as a download or via streaming services.

Launch shows are listed below. Pre-orders are open here.

East Coast Low
Badlanding Launches
AUG
17 – Royal Oak, Tighes Hill, NSW
23 – In-store @ Hiss and Crackle, Wallsend, NSW
(2pm, free)
23 - Link & Pin, Woy Woy, NSW
+ The Strike-Outs + The Dark Clouds
24 – MoshPit, St Peters, NSW
+ The Dark Clouds + The Strike-Outs

• rob younger
• crankinhaus records
• east coast low
• badlanding

Van Ruin is taking "Trauma Magnet" to France

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By The Barman

The Barman

13 July 2025

Hits: 1154

_{Van Ruin: Andy Newman, Big Al Creed, Stui Wilson and Phil Van Rooyen.}

Van Ruin -  the high-energy Sydney outfit whose pedigree includes past and current membership of the New Christs, Lime Spiders, The Visitors, East Coast Low, Panadolls, Aberration, Chickenstones, Chris Masual’s Dog Soldier and Deniz Tek Group - are embarking on a French tour in September.

What’s more, it will be on the back of a debut full-length album, “Trauma Magnet”, on Aussie label Crankinhaus Records.

• new christs
• lime spiders
• chris masuak's dog solider
• van ruin

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John Cale remains very much in the present

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By Bob Short

Bob Short

13 July 2025

Hits: 1062

John Cale
City Recital Hall, Sydney
Thursday 10 July 2025

John Cale is 83 with a career as wide as it is long. Obscure nooks and crannies abound. You don't know what you're likely to get when you put your money down. If you have favourite songs, they're not guaranteed. Look, if "Waiting for my Man" ain't in the set, it will probably be the encore but that's the exception that proves the rule.

However, in a world of product, such uncertain content is rare and welcomed. Advertising for the show has certainly pointed to a career spanning retrospective performance and it kind of delivers but mostly doesn't. Cale's priority  here is to promote his latest album, "Poptical Illusion". Given his age, it might very well be his last. (Though evidence suggests he's determined to keep busy.)

• sydney
• velvet underground
• john cale
• nico
• poptical illusions
• city recital hall

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Punk survivor Kevin K keeps working in the shadows

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By The Barman

The Barman

13 July 2025

Hits: 1072

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’.

• new york punk
• vicious kitten
• shadow work 38
• the bowery kats

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Race and Russo announce "100 Years" Australian dates

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By The Barman

The Barman

05 July 2025

Hits: 978

Hugo Race, founding member of Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds and The Wreckery, is bringing his recent European touring partner Michelangelo Russo home to Australia for select Victorian, New South Wales and Canberra dates.

The duo have a spectacular European run under their belts and will be supporting their well-received album, “100 Years” out now on Gusstaff/MGM.

Blending experimental blues, ambient soundscapes, and electronica, “100 Years” is  a bold, immersive record born from a two-day live session at Soundpark Studios in Melbourne. Layered with echoing guitars, smoky vocals, and primal percussion, it’s been hailed as “a hauntingly raw and transcendent listen”.

Race is known for his signature haunting vocals and evocative guitar work, while Russo, a solo artist who was also a member of  Race's The True Spirit, adds hypnotic layers of electric harp and psychedelic textures.

Their live performances are highly improvisational, emotionally resonant and each show is reputed to be a one-of-a-kind sonic experience that redefines the boundaries of blues. The shows are presented by Luna Live with tickets here.

Hugo Race and Michaelangelo Russo
100 Years Tour
JUL
31  – Camelot Lounge, Sydney
AUG
1  – Smith’s Alternative, Canberra
2 – Qirkz in the Hunter, Abermain, NSW
3 – Franks Wild Years, Thirroul, NSW
8 – Tanswell’s, Beechworth, VIC
23 – Brunswick Ballroom, Melbourne
SEP
12 – Odessa, Creswick, VIC
Tickets

• hugo race
• michaelangelo russo
• australian tour
• 100 years

Good day, (Mr) Sunshine

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By The Barman

The Barman

03 July 2025

Hits: 1097

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.

• powerpop
• newcastle
• mr sunshine
• the autumn hearts

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Let's Get Funky, shall we? The Beasts celebrate "Black Milk"

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By The Barman

The Barman

03 July 2025

Hits: 2030

You can't keep them down: The Beasts are back for one special show in September, celebrating the memory of departed members and the 35th anniversary of celebrated Beasts of Bourbon album "Black Milk". 

It's a one-off show at The Forum in Melbourne on Friday, September 12, with support from Cash Savage, The Johnnys and Ezra Lee, and tickets are on sale here at 0900 tomorrow.

The $64,000 quesiton has been answered. The drum stool that belonged to the recently departed James Baker will be inherited by Evan "Rock" Richards, stage roaide and an adept player in his own right whoi shadowed The Late Great Man on recent tours. 

• the johnnys
• the beasts
• ezra lee
• black milk
• cash savage
• the forum

This Woy Woy line-up is Outtaspace

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By The Barman

The Barman

02 July 2025

Hits: 1287

Prepare for a massive weekend in Woy Woy, the former New South Wales hometown of Spike Millgan.

Much-loved venue The Link and Pin Cafe and its in-house record label Outtspace, are hosting "The Outtspace Weekender" from September 5-7. And it's free to catch Warts, Antibodies, Cannanes, Wraylettes, The Sugar Beats, The Strike Outs, The Siiver Dragons, The Dunhill Blues, The Cannanes, Leftards, Love Me, The FNCs, Punktiious and Chris Walsh & The Gibberish Collective.

There will be more names to come but that's already a formidable slab of Sydney, Wollongong, Melbourne, Central Coast and Far Northern NSW garage rock, surf and punk talent. Keep an eye on the label website or Link and Pin's Facebook. 

• link and pin
• woy woy
• outtaspace records

This should shake your winter blues

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By The Barman

The Barman

29 June 2025

Hits: 554

• chris masuak
• australian tour 2025