One of Those Fine Days - Guy Littell (AR Recordings)

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By The Barman

The Barman

09 January 2018

Hits: 4080

When you take your surname from a character in a James Ellroy book, you nail your colours to the mast as a fan of most things American. Naples-born Guy Littell might be as Italian as pizza with a cappuccino on the side, but his music is drenched in Americana.

Littell’s biography mentions his links to Steve Wynn (of The Dream Syndicate and a long solo career) on whose next album Guy guests, and the impact of hearing Neil Young and Mark Lanergan. “One of Those Fine Days” shows those influences writ large - plus a deep dish serving of Matthew Sweet. 

Littell might not have the pipes of Sweet - who does? - but he and his band tackle these 10 self-penned songs with a similar measured, rock-pop aplomb.

• italian
• steve wynn
• the dream syndicate
• guy littell
• one of those fine days
• AR Recordings

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Straightjacket Fits mainman set for Australian shows

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By The Barman

The Barman

08 January 2018

Hits: 4888

Shayne Carter first emerged on the New Zealand rock scene in the ’80s with his high school punk band Bored Games and their “Who Colonel Mustard “ EP, which was one of the first releases on Flying Nun Records.

Part of the original “Dunedin Sound" scene, Carter went on to become a major player in the Flying Nun independent rock story as the singer-songwriter and guitarist in outfits such as Straitjacket Fits, Doublehappys and Dimmer. 

Carter is Melbourne-bound for three shows in February - hist first since 2016 when he and his band played a searing three-night residency at the Yarra.

Regarded as one of New Zealand’s greatest alternative rock figures, Carter has carved out a distinctive and innovative body of work that places him in the top pantheon of that country’s best songwriters.

His band Straitjacket Fits - a group that became well known to Australian audiences in the ‘90s - produced a blend of rock dissonance and melody that became hugely influential; predating both the shoe gazer movement and the angular rock of bands like Radiohead and others of a similar ilk that followed in Straitjacket Fits' wake. 

• melbourne
• live
• new zealand
• flying nun
• straightjacket fits

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They're coming to Strangle us with classics

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By The Barman

The Barman

06 January 2018

Hits: 4822

One of the UK's most important musical exports, The Stranglers, have announced their return to Australia and New Zealand in 2018 with their biggest tour in 30 years, "The Classic Collection".

Taking 20 of their most popular tracks from their revered album classics, chart successes and fan favourites from across their 40-year history, The Stranglers will prove their longevity and impact with a set made of of tracks including "Golden Brown", "Always the Sun", "Peaches", "Strange Little Girl", "5 Minutes", "No More Heroes" and many more.

• punk
• tour
• australian
• new zealand
• 2018
• the stranglers

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Head Undone: 1982-1988 -Buick KBT (Buttercup Records)

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By Steven Danno

Steven Danno

06 January 2018

Hits: 4797

You have to admire record labels like Buttercup who dig up decades-old sounds from Australia’s music underground, chuck a new coat of paint on those mouldy old tapes and offer them up for a cash consideration to nerdy record collectors who crave those obscure Australian sounds.

A cynical person would file this Melbourne combo under “'80s Smack Rock”…and of course I’m a cynical bastard. But, hey, being inspired by The Birthday Party or the Bad Seeds isn’t a bad thing. Those groups wrote their own rule books and went where no bands has been before them and if you’re going to be inspired by somebody it may as well be by the greats.

I’m sure Buick KBT shared cups of tea with The Wreckery, The Moodists and The Sacred Cowboys.  They certainly shared stages with Venom P.Stinger, Go-Betweens, X , The Laughing Clowns and Dead Kennedys.

• st kilda
• buttercup records
• the wreckery
• the birthday party
• buick kbt
• venom p stinger

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I-94 Bar merch now available

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By The Barman

The Barman

06 January 2018

Hits: 3810

Following requests, we've re-launched a range of quality I-94 Bar merchandise at very affordable prices.

T-shirts, coffee mugs, scarves, leggings and household wares are now available - with no margin applied for a limited time, to make everything as cheap as possible. 

If you want to be the first Barfly on your block to be sporting apparel that spells Real Rock Action, let your mouse do the walking and go here.

• i-94 bar
• buy
• merchandise

Drunk and Disorderly: Episode 35

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By The Barman

The Barman

06 January 2018

Hits: 5929

Look out honey, we're using technology: Episode 35 of "Drunk and Disorderly" is live. Play it through your browser, through the Mixclud app, share it, whatever. Spread the Rock Action!

• the-end
• the stems
• mick medew
• the hip priests
• powerlineakers,
• the seeds
• drunk and disorderly

Suzie Stapleton flies home for solo dates

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By The Barman

The Barman

04 January 2018

Hits: 4511

Australian alternative artist Suzie Stapleton is heading back home in 2018 for a long overdue homecoming tour.

This is Stapleton’s first time back to Oz since relocating to London in 2015 and she'll perform solo shows in hometown Melbourne and Sydney in March with more to be announced.

Over the past three years Suzie has been captivating audiences with her electric live performances, midnight vocal, and guitar-driven noir soundscapes whilst touring the UK and Europe with artists such as Mark Lanegan, Mick Harvey, and Jim Jones & The Righteous Mind.

In 2017 she appeared as guest vocalist on Lydia Lunch & Cypress Grove’s unlikely album “Under The Covers” - a continuation of Stapleton’s collaborations with Cypress Grove on "The Jeffrey Lee Pierce Sessions Project", featuring Iggy Pop, Nick Cave and Debbie Harry.

• live
• australia
• suzie
• suzie stapleton

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The Scientists announce European dates

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By The Barman

The Barman

04 January 2018

Hits: 5419

The Scientists have announced an extensive European tour in May-June, covering seven countries and featuring the band's classic 1986 line-up of Kim Salmon, Tony Thewlis, Boris Sudjovic and Leanne Cowie.  

The run follows an Australian tour of mostly sold-out shows.  

MAY
UNITED KINGDOM
31 - London @ The Borderline
JUNE
01 - Glasgow @ Nice & Sleazy
2 - Newcastle @ The Cluny 
3 - Brighton @ The Albert
FR
6 - Rennes @ Mondo Bizarro
7- Paris @ Petit Bain
8 - Périgueux @ Le Sans Réserve 
GERMANY
13 - Freiburg @ Café Atlantik 
14 - Berlin @ The Roadrunner’s Paradise Club 
DENMARK
15 - Copenhagen @ Loppen
NORWAY 
16 - Oslo @ Krøsset
ITALY
29 - Salsomaggiore Terme @ Festival BEAT #26

• scientists
• tour
• european
• 2018

Why? - Ich Ben Ein Esel (Pitshark/Swashbuckling Hobo)

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By The Barman

The Barman

03 January 2018

Hits: 4723

Nearly six years after it came out on vinyl, French label Pitshark has re-issued this unpolished gem from deepest, darkest Brisbane on CD in a fold-out seven-inch single pack.

Back then we opined that "Why?" was "equal parts wrecking ball guitar, sledgehammer bass and drums and can't-give-a-fuck punk slop" and there's no reason to resile from that.

We also said that "Ich Bin Ein Esel ("I Am An Ass") will sit you on your arse quicker than a six-pack of Coopers Pale Ale drunk through a straw on a stinking hot day", so if the rest of this lazy review reads like you've heard it all before, then you have...

• brisbane
• pitshark
• dangermen
• mad macka
• onyas
• swashbuckling hobo
• dr rock
• ich bin ein esel
• boondall boys

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