Top Tens for 2024: Ursula Collie Medew of Mick Medew and Ursula
- Details
- By Ursula Collie MedewC
- Hits: 349
“I FEEL YOUNG, I HAVE FUN, I'M NOT DONE!"
1. This year I've been back writing songs. To have Mick Medew as a collaborator is fantastic. Hope you've enjoyed them on our second album, “In The Zone”.
2. I've seen some amazing gigs this year. Here’s the highlights. Human League!!Halfway's 20th anniversary of “Any Old Love”. (I was asked up on stage to play harmonica on one song, but I danced instead). Dave Graney and Clare Moore and Adele Pickvance at The Bearded Lady. Glycereens at our single launch. Radio Birdman, Sabrina Lawrie, Salt & Steel and Sarah Stockholm at Stranded, Loves a Blur as part of the Going Nowhere Fast exhibition and book launch. The Worm Turns at PFR Lounge (plus I got to meet Ildi Babu). The Melancholics single launch. The Saints ‘73-‘78 at The Princess Theatre. The Donnybrooks at Lismore.
3. The 23rd March is a special day for Mick Medew and me, because that's when we saw Stuart McLaughlin drumming in Sarah Stockholm's band. We both looked at each other and said. “I like his style; he could suit us”. I approached Sarah and she said, “Go for it! He’s got his own studio too!” Turns out said studio is five minutes from us. Stuart was keen. We asked Mick's former bass player, Lois Andrews to join, and she said Yes too!! The Mick Medew and Ursula 4 was born and April 1 was our first rehearsal. We’ve since played four gigs and we are looking forward to next year's shows in Newcastle, Sydney, Ipswich and good old Brisbane.
4. On the 24th of January we got a new fridge! The door actually closes and seals the cold air in!! How about that??!!!!
Top Tens for 2024: Mark Fraser of Vi-Nil Records, Redback Rock zine and Coastal Screenprinting
- Details
- By Mark Fraser
- Hits: 405
Ten musical things I dug in 2024.
- The Hard-Ons got to celebrate 40 years of ravaging the stage. Still as high-energy and still as true-to-form, brutally honest as ever. And a brand new doco to boot. Go see it. It’s great. Oh, and next year marks 40 years since the release of their debut EP, “Surfin’ On My Face” (ED: On Mark’s label Vi-Nil Records). Just sayin’!
- Middle Kids released an album that was completely hitsville from go to woah. Their previous releases all had a couple of great standout tracks, but “Faith Crisis Part 1” is their ultimate opus. Infectious indie pop that sits on the edge of mainstream and subsequently shits all over half of the commercial shit that has been released this year.
- Elestial are a band that hails from Newcastle in Australia, and their nicely structured dream-pop is a beautiful shot of razored honey. I was lucky enough to have them do a chunk of the INDIE SOUNDS launch tour throughout July, and they nailed every show. A nicer bunch you couldn’t meet.
- Chamberlane are an indie pop punk band out of the Sunshine Coast. They jumped onto a last minute slot on the INDIE SOUNDS tour to help us out, and despite being hungover to the max from a festival the day before, they kicked the shit out of it. They’ve just finished a bit of an east coast tour and I was lucky to have them on board as part of the recent Vi-Nil Records showcase at The Recky Pacific Palms. Fun at a furious rate!
Top Tens for 2024: Col Gray of Vicious Kitten Records
- Details
- By Col Gray
- Hits: 667
The Golden Rat with Joe Rizzo – “Can Any Of You Muthas Dance?”
This live recording from July 2024 went straight to digital and we're thankful someone had the nouse to preserve it. The Golden Rat headlined a tribute show in Tokyo to honour the late Walter Lure (Heartbreakers/Waldos), who passed away in 2020. Joining The Golden Rat (Hiroshi The Golden Arm and Mr Ratboy) for this special evening was drummer Joe Rizzo - who'd done time with Walter for years (and was also a member of The Waldos, Pillbox and D Generation). Killer set of Heartbreakers/Thunders tunes done right!
Marc Valentine – "Basement Sparks" CD
My brother and I saw Marc Valentine in ‘93 in London when he was fronting power-pop outfit the Last Great Dreamers. He released a killer album a couple of years back that included Wreckless Eric and Matt Dangerfield from The Boys, but this new album, “Basement Sparks” goes one better. Great songwriter who understands the pop/hook combo very well.
Superchunk say you'd be Foolish to miss this tour
- Details
- By The Barman
- Hits: 391
It’s been 30 years since North Carolina indie-rockers Superchunk released their classic fourth album, "Foolish", and they're bringing it and the rest of their bulging back catalogue Down Under.
Produced by Brian Paulson (Slint, Beck, Wilco, Dinosaur Jr) and mixed by the legendary Steve Albini, it was just one of the band’s many releases that resonated with musicians, critics and music lovers alike, and became one of Merge Records’ biggest releases.
Written following the break-up of Mac McCaughan (guitar and vocals) and Laura Ballance (bass and vocals) who both remained in the band and co-founded Merge, its powerful and catchy melodies and raw emotion still make "Foolish" stand out as one of the band’s best albums.
The existential return of John Dowler's Vanity Project
- Details
- By The Barman
- Hits: 497
John Dowler's Vanity Project live.
Iconic Sydney label Half A Cow is releasing the new album by equally iconic Melbourne-via-Adelaide power pop exponent John Dowler and his band John Dowler’s Vanity Project. "Existential Friend" is the third long-player by the Melbourne-based vehicle for singer and songwriter, a key figure in Australia’s alternative rock’n’roll scene of the ‘70s and ‘80s.
He and the band will launch Existential Friend at The Catfish in Fitzroy in Melbourne with guests Mark Stinson and the Simon Juliff Band, on Saturday January 25.
John Dowler's Vanity Project is a culmination of Dowler's previous work that touches on the art-pop rock of the first band Spare Change and the pub folk-rock of his ‘80s band The Zimmermen. At its heart, however, is the melodic pop rock of his late ‘70s band-most-likely, Young Modern.
Top Tens for 2024: Marcus Fraser of Sydney band Starcrazy
- Details
- By Marcus Fraser
- Hits: 540
Marcus' Top Ten Albums for 2024 (with Spotify playlist after the fold)
1. Bad Nerves - Still Nervous:
I'm hooked on this album ! Full-throttle garage punk but with an ear for hooks and melodies. They're from Essex and have lately been opening for the likes of The Hives, Royal Blood and The Darkness. Billie Joe Armstrong has labelled them “the best band in England right now." This album is so much fun !
Fav Track: You've Got The Nerve
2. The Lemon Twigs - A Dream Is All We Know:
These guys are absolutely brilliant ! With this album, they've really honed in on the 60's Pop/Baroque sound but also with elements of 70's power-pop. A couple of tracks on this sound like The Raspberries ! Amazing songwriting/performances and they look cool, what's not to like?
Fav Track: How Can I Love Her More?
What Ash Naylor does on his days off
- Details
- By The Barman
- Hits: 816
Is Ash Naylor Australia’s busiest musician? With a solo acoustic song “A Blue Sky” presaging his forthcoming solo acoustic album, the Melbourne guitarist will sandwich his current duties with The Church with solo shows in Sydney and Melbourne and a solo band gig in Adelaide.
"A Blue Sky" is the second preview of Naylor’s next solo album, and follows "Donovan Dreams", an ode to the legendary '60s Scottish psychedelic folkster Donovan (of "Mellow Yellow", "Hurdy Gurdy Man" and "Sunshine Superman" fame).
Vegans, and the sensitive, need not apply
- Details
- By The Barman
- Hits: 449
Prime Cu*ts – Meatbeaters (Heavy Medication)
Over 24 years and five albums Adelaide’s Meatbeaters have never minced words, so seeing how the rest of the world takes to their good, honest low brow Aussie humour on this ball-tearing compilation from Polish label Heavy Medication is going to be a hoot.
Eleven slices of Meatbeaters high-energy over two sides of vinyl and subtlety isn’t anywhere to be seen. That should be no surprise from a band that’s named past long players “Crusty Seamen” or “Carry On Tuggin’”. Yes, it's Yob Rock, but it’s not just about beer (drinkin’) and skittles – there’s also a song (“Spit Roast”) about being pilled-up.
Dogged Cheetahs get off the leash with one savage EP
- Details
- By The Barman
- Hits: 498
Call The Dogs – The Streetwalkin’ Cheetahs (Heavy Medication)
Their youthful days of diving across tables and sliding down the length of venue bars are probably behind them but they still matter: If The Streetwalkin’ Cheetahs have made a bad record, well, you know the email address. The veteran LA outfit gets off the chain again on this four-song 10-incher, their first release since the stellar “One More Drink” album of 2021, and it hits the spot as well as any dive bar cocktail.
These days sax player Geoff Yeaton is firmly integrated into the line-up and adds an extra dimension to the Cheetahs’ trademark high-energy Detroit sound. The title tune is as good an example of that, featuring some stabbing guitarwork from lead vocalist Frank Meyer and Bruce Duff.
- Sex'n'Drugs'n'Property Developers'n'Real Estate Agents
- Sydney's Crankees nail it on debut LP
- Vale Gary Rasmussen of Sonic's Rendezvous Band
- Top Tens for 2024: Bob Short of The Light Brigade and Sydney's original punk band Filth
- The D4 are back for NZ and Oz shows
- Top Tens for 2024: Scott Morgan of Sonics Rendezvous Band, The Rationals, Hydromatics and many more
Page 1 of 280