Sex'n'Drugs'n'Property Developers'n'Real Estate Agents

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By Robert Brokenmouth

Robert Brokenmouth

28 November 2024

Hits: 673

The column's title is not a phrase that scans too easily, I admit. However, it seems obvious from where I sit that 'rock'n'roll' has well and truly been eclipsed by a similarly oikish pack of breadheads. 

Certainly, the famous phrase that Ian Dury popularised has resonated down the years. However, back when Dury wrote the song, “sex'n'drugs'n'rock'n'roll” was once a way of life for millions, whether they be journos, execs, stars, musicians, musos, and grubby proles.

What's different today? Market forces, basically. In 1977, one person could still buy a house, car and put a kid through school on one wage. Today that's a laughable concept. People have less spare time and cash, for one thing; and when they do have the cash, they have other life-distractions.

• urban renewal
• jethro heller

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Sydney's Crankees nail it on debut LP

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By The Barman

The Barman

30 November 2024

Hits: 612

Settle Down – Crankees (Evil Tone)

The album does not fuck around so the review shall not: Sydney’s Crankees encapsulate kicking against suburban ennui like Eddy Current Supression Ring did 20 years ago, but won’t attract the same adoration because they don’t come from Melbourne.

Where ECSR complained about boredom and negative ATM balances with what, at times, seemed like resigned ambivalence, Crankees sound, well, cranky. It’s punk rock that never tries too hard. The other truth is that “Settle Down” deserves to be heard further afield.

• mikey young
• evil tone records
• crankees
• settle down
• rodney todd
• jimmy leek
• lex hall
• luke buckler
• massappeal
• downtime

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Vale Gary Rasmussen of Sonic's Rendezvous Band

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By The Barman

The Barman

29 November 2024

Hits: 2436

 _{Gary Rasmussen (left) with other members of Sonic's Rendezvous Band, Scott Morgan, Fred Smith and Scott Asheton. Joann Uhelszki photo.} 

Sonic’s Rendezvous Band bassist Gary Rasmussen has passed away after a short illness. He was aged 72.

A resident of Howell in Michigan, Rasmussen played bass with some of the region’s most influential bands in the late 1960s and ‘70s. He was a member of Scots Pirates, The Rendezvous Band, The Scott Morgan Group, The Up and more recently, Broken Arrow Blues Band. He also appeared on Patti Smith’s “Dream of Life” album.

After suffering a sore throat and back pain on Tuesday, Gary was admitted to hospital. He was transferred to University of Michigan Hospital where he was put into an induced coma after doctors diagnosed meningitis. He passed on Friday, surrounded by family and friends including longtime partner Marla Swartz.   

• sonics rendezvous band
• fred smith
• john sinclair
• gary rasmussen
• scott asheton
• scott morgan
• vale
• the up
• broken arrow blues band
• pattis smith

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Top Tens for 2024: Bob Short of The Light Brigade and Sydney's original punk band Filth

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By Bob Short

Bob Short

28 November 2024

Hits: 511

Bob Short's incredibly accurate Top Ten predictions for 2025 (and beyond).

1. When Trump reduces military aid to the Ukraine, Putin will essentially be gifted the disputed Eastern territories. The three wise monkeys of Russia, North Korea and the USA will have a delightful tea party whilst watching the executions of their political enemies. Lewis Carroll will arise from the grave, vindicated by the realisation his major works were true and accurate.

2. Trump will deport so many agricultural workers that American supermarket shelves will empty and the United States economy will slump. No-one will be able to afford the tariffs on overseas food. The poor will look suspiciously towards their pets.

3. Across the pond, as the economy, good manners, social services and the art of staying calm collapse, the UK will quietly sink into the Atlantic and no-one will notice. It may have happened already. (Has anyone looked?). If anyone does notice, a variety of suckholes and knuckle draggers (particularly those who resemble potatoes) will petition to make Gina Reinhardt Queen of Australia. She will unilaterally declare it so and poison all the drinking holes.

• top ten
• bob short
• Donald Trump
• elton john
• 2024
• elon musk

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The D4 are back for NZ and Oz shows

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By The Barman

The Barman

28 November 2024

Hits: 548

High-energy Kiwis The D4 are reforming for a string of dates in their home country in 2025 as well as three shows across the ditch in Australia.

Promising all the hits for their two albums “6Twenty” and “Out Of My Head” as well as a slew of unreleased material, The D4 play Brisbane (February 13), Sydney (February 15) and Melbourne (February 16) with Tape/Off, Hard-Ons and Mach Pelican respectively. 

Australian and NZ tickets are here.

• tour
• australian
• the d4
• new zealand

Top Tens for 2024: Scott Morgan of Sonics Rendezvous Band, The Rationals, Hydromatics and many more

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By Scott Morgan

Scott Morgan

24 November 2024

Hits: 842

 Here's a Top Nine of righteous soul, blues, funk and jazz classics from Scott Morgan (The Rationals, Sonic's Rendezvous Band, The Hydromatics, The Solution, Scott Morgan Band and many more) preceded with one of his own.  

• sonics rendezvous band
• top ten
• scott morgan
• 2024
• the rationals
• charles wright
• nina simone
• funkadelic
• marvelettes
• louis armstrong
• billie holiday

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Sing For The Crime: The Saints '73-'78 play Sydney

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By The Barman

The Barman

23 November 2024

Hits: 1859

The Saints ’73-‘78
Kim Salmon and The Surrealists
Enmore Theatre, Sydney
Friday 22 November, 2024

Words: THE BARMAN
Photos: MURRAY BENNETT

Polarising was the Word of the Night. You could have argued that there was no way Mark Arm would successfully replace the late Chris Bailey in a reconstituted version of the Saints and if you did, you probably didn’t go to the show anyway.

It’s a truth that Arm’s yowl is as far removed from the patented snarl of Bailey as Brisbane is from Seattle. If you didn’t take Arm at his word that he wasn’t trying to fill the original singer’s shoes, you were never going to dig this show. He clearly isn’t Bailey and didn’t try to be.

• ed kuepper
• kim salmon
• surrealists
• mark arm
• the saints
• enmore theatre
• aints
• ivor hay
• the saints '73-'78

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The Beasts are back - with new recordings -  to say goodbye

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By The Barman

The Barman

22 November 2024

Hits: 1861

_{Martin Philby photo.}

The band that we thought couldn’t be killed, The Beasts – aka surviving members of the Beasts of Bourbon – are releasing a new studio album and it will be the last chapter.

“Ultimo” was recorded over two days at Melbourne’s Union Studios, during a break from the nationally sold-out Alive Tour earlier this year, and it will be released on December 13 via Slick Productions through MGM.

An 11-track live recording, it includes a collection of Beasts’ classics and fan favourites, none of which appeared on the limited edition “be suburban” EP that was sold on tour.

• album
• the beasts
• ultimo

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Nashville Pussy and Supersuckers on hit and run double-bill

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By The Barman

The Barman

18 November 2024

Hits: 864

_{Nashville Pussy.}

Trucker cap rock fans watch out:  It’s a larger-then-life double bill that the promoter promises will “tear Australia a new one” in a florid media release - and who are we to argue? The Supersuckers and Nashville Pussy are due in these parts in January.  And of course they had to call the tour "Superpussy".  

Nashville Pussy headlines Sydney (Manning Bar on January 23) and Adelaide (The Gov on January 26 ) with Supersuckers doing the honours in Melbourne (The Croxton on January 24) and Brisbane (The Zoo on January 25). Tickets go on sale on Wednesday here.

• supersuckers
• nashville pussy
• australian tour

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