Subversions – UK Subs (Cleopatra)

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By The Barman

The Barman

29 August 2018

Hits: 4013

Revisionism is a wonderful thing. If you’d suggested listening to an album of cover songs by UK Subs as a useful way to spend some time 30 years ago, I’d have told you to check yourself into a psych ward.

I never “got” the UK Subs, despite their membership of the first wave of English punk…probably because I’d never bothered to try. There was just too much other stuff on the same block. Time marches on and you can't ignore band leader Charlie Harper’s indefatigable nature (he’s 73) or the 26 original studio albums (one for each letter of the alphabet) as testament to their durability.

“Subversion” is good. Better than good. It’s capital ‘F’ for Fun, underlined by great playing and a collective “we don’t give a fuck” attitude. Which should be what punk rock was - and is - all about. Fuck the fashion.

• iggy
• mc5
• cleopatra records
• uk subs
• subversions
• alvin gibbs
• charlie harper
• bob seger

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Bring On The Mesmeric Condition – The Morlocks (Hound Gawd)

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By The Barman

The Barman

29 August 2018

Hits: 4678

When it comes to bands from the ‘80s wave of garage revivalists, The Morlocks don’t get a fair shake, even for cult artists.

Put it down to their splintered history - there have been more line-ups than chords in a prog rock opera - or singer Leighton Koizumi’s disappearing act - years behind bars after a drug deal gone wrong will do that to your profile - but you never hear them mentioned in the same breath as, say, The Fuzztones or Lyres. 

It’s been eight years since the all-covers “The Morlocks Play Chess”, a salute to the artists from the label of the same name, and Kolzumi has left the US West Coast to domicile himself in Germany.

For “Bring On The Mesmeric Condition” he assembled a “new” crew of mostly old fuzz fiends: Rob Louwers on drums ( Fuzztones, Q-65, Link Wray) Oliver Pilsner on bass (Fuzztones, Cheeks, Montesas, Magnificent Brotherhood) and guitarists Bernadette (Sonny Vincent, Humpers) and Marcello Salis (Kolzumi’s ex-Gravedigger V bandmate) make for some line-up. 

• hound dawg records
• garage punk
• the morlocks
• Leighton Koizumi
• Bring On The Mesmeric Condition

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Penny Ikinger album Australian launch dates set

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By The Barman

The Barman

29 August 2018

Hits: 5769

Penny Ikinger’s third solo album, “Tokyo”, is on the way in Australia with launch shows in Melbourne and Sydney.

“Tokyo” is an international collaboration with guitarist Deniz Tek from Radio Birdman and musicians from the Japanese psychedelic rock underground.

“Tokyo” was released on Kerosene Records in Japan when Penny Ikinger performed in the Japanese capital with local band The Silver Bells last month. The Silver Bells will also back her at the Australian Tokyo album launch at Melbourne Museum’s Nocturnal on Friday, September 7.

The Japanese version includes a bonus track - a cover of “Boys in Town” by Divinyls. “Tokyo” will also be released by Melbourne label Off The Hip Records worldwide in August. Pre-orders (A$20 within Australia or A$25 overseas, postage included) can be made by Paypal at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Penny Ikinger “Tokyo”  album launch dates
Friday 7 September - Nocturnal at Melbourne Museum with The Silver Bells, Taipan Tiger Girls, The Pink Tiles & Adalita (DJ set)
Friday 22 September - The Union Hotel, Newtown, solo with The Maladies
Sunday, 23 September – The Golden Barley Hotel, Enmore (solo)

• penny ikinger
• deniz tek
• tokyo
• the silver bells
• kerosene records

Don't let The Animals of 2018 be understood

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By Robert Brokenmouth

Robert Brokenmouth

28 August 2018

Hits: 8370

_{The Animals in 1964 with John Steel behind the kit.}

By now you will have heard that The Animals are returning to Australia in October-November.

Now, this isn't the version of The Animals which features Eric Burdon; Burdon also uses the name, which is handy because, like many a frontman who wants a solo career, Burdon's solo career didn't quite end up the way he'd hoped, so he can use The Animals name to get a bit more attention.

But really ... the way things have turned out, when you see The Animals name, most of us aren't thinking of Eric's LPs, however they're badged. 

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Resident Reptile – Pink Fairies (Cleopatra)

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By The Barman

The Barman

28 August 2018

Hits: 4988

We often give you the back story of the music reviewed here. Context is important for discerning consumers and we dig it up so that you don’t have to. It saves you buying the same record by a band that’s been repackaged by a nefarious label, for one. 

Recounting and understanding the long and confusing history of the Pink Fairies, however, would require Mensa membership - and the odds are that neither of us carries that card.

Let’s skirt around the history and cut to the chase: There are two versions of the Pinks; one based in the UK comprising Russell Hunter, Duncan Sanderson, Andy Colquhoun, Jaki Windmill and (until last year) George Butler (R.I.P.), and an American version led by the original band’s Canadian co-founder, vocalist-guitarist Paul Rudolph.

“Resident Reptile” is the album from Rudolph’s version (2017’s excellent “Naked Radio” by the other line-up came out on UK label Gonzo) and he’s joined by former Hawkwind bassist Alan Davey and original Motörhead drummer Lucas Fox. The trio recorded in Texas for L.A. label Cleopatra. 

• cleopatra records
• pink fairies
• russell hunter
• larry wallis
• paul rudolph
• resident reptile

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First benefit show announced for Leadfinger leader

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By The Barman

The Barman

26 August 2018

Hits: 4564

The first benefit show for Leadfinger leader Stewart Cunningham has been announced and it boasts a star-studded line-up. 

Hoss is headlining the September 14 show at The Tote Hotel in Melbourne. They'll be joined by supergroup The Draught Dodgers, Swedish Magazines, Powerline Sneakers, Wrong Turn, Matty Whittle (ex-GOD) and the Melwayholics, James McCann and Adalita. 

Tickets are available hereand there's a GoFundMe page running for people unable to make it to the show. Organiser James McCann says there will be a stack of prize packs of music and merchandise being raffled on the night. 

Cunningham, whose past bands include Asteroid B612, Brother Brick, Proton Energy Pills and Yes-Men, is fighting lung cancer. 

A Sydney benefit is in the pipeline. 

• leadfinger
• asteroid b612
• the tote
• stewart cunningham
• james mccann
• see ya tonight

The richest of musical lives that enriched ours

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By Patrick Emery

Patrick Emery

24 August 2018

Hits: 12617

SPENCER P. JONES
1956-2018

In "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance", Robert Pirsig interrogates the very nature of quality through the lens of motor mechanics. Care and Quality are internal and external aspects of the same thing. A person who sees Quality and feels it as he works is a person who cares. A person who cares about what he sees and does is a person who’s bound to have some characteristic of quality.

Spencer Jones knew a thing or two about quality - especially musical quality. Born in 1956, the Year of Elvis, Spencer wanted to be a working musician as long as he could remember. Spencer’s family moved from the regional town of Te Awamutu to Auckland in 1965, the same year the British invasion swept through New Zealand, with tours by The Rolling Stones and, infamously, The Pretty Things.

Spencer’s grandfather was a gifted musician; his mother, too, was born with a natural ear. Recognising Spencer’s musical abilities, Spencer’s elder brother Ashley recommended his parents buy Spencer a guitar.

Carbie Warbie photo

• beasts of bourbon
• jeffrey lee pierce
• paul kelly
• spencer p jones
• the johnnys
• kid congo powers
• gun club
• patrick emery
• obituary
• cuban heels

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Vale Spencer P, Jones, Australian music legend

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By The Barman

The Barman

21 August 2018

Hits: 18714

Australian musical legend Spencer P Jones has passed away in Melbourne following a long fight against cancer.

The news broke tonight with outpourinfs of grief breaking out all over social media. Spencer is survived by his wife, Angie. 

A member of Beasts of Bourbon, The Johnnys, Paul Kelly and The Coloured Girls, Hell To Pay, Chris Bailey and The General Dog, Maurice Frawley and The Working Class Ringos, and Sacred Cowboys and a solo artist with 10 albums to his own name. Spencer was one of the Australian underground music scenes's leading lights.

Born in Te Awamutu, New Zealand, in 1956, Spencer moved to Melbourne in the mid-'70s and played with Cuban Heels among others before a shift to Sydney where he joined cow punks The Johnnys.

Carbie Warbie Photo

• beasts of bourbon
• spencer p jones
• the johnnys
• vale

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James McCann and his New Vindictives hit the City of Churches

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By The Barman

The Barman

21 August 2018

Hits: 2514

The enterprising James McCann and his recently re-configured New Vindictives venture out from Melbourne for the bright lights of Adelaide this weekend to play with local band Iron Triangle.

The bill - including Psycho Derek and The Reissues - will grace the Crown and Anchor Hotel on Friday night from 8pm.

Because we like modern art, here's the poster by the bass player from Iron Triangles' six-year-old son.

Says James: "It's good to be heading back to the home of Bad Boy Bubby, Grong Grong and Stu Spasm. Things will get weird in a good way."

Iron Triangle are said to be like a "musical car crash between Don Walker and Grong Grong". That should be fun.

This will be a special show for the New Vindictives who will be playing a trio with new bass player Sam Fiddian (Mick Dailey and the Corporate Raiders, Cold Irons Bound.)