Ex-Mentals, current Johnnys backing bushfires benefit in Sydney

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By The Barman

The Barman

23 January 2020

Hits: 3540

“Grass Roots - A Helping Hand for the Fire Crisis” is a fundraiser turning on an eclectic line-up in Sydney on January 31. Marrickville Bowling Club is the venue and the Mogo community, the families of bushfire fighters and the WIRES animal rescue operation will beneficiaries.

Dog Trumpet - featuring Reg Mombassa Peter O’Doherty formerly of Mental as Anything - and The Two Johnnys (Hoody and Slim from The Johnnys) will be on an eight-band line-up. Operation Ibis, The Mezcaltones, Los Monaros, Smitty B Goode, The Fever Pitch and The Escapes will join them.  Doors open at 7pm and be early - playing order will be determined by a draw. 

• marrickville
• grass roots
• bushfires
• fund-raiser

Schizophonics move nights, add killer supports for Sydney show

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By The Barman

The Barman

23 January 2020

Hits: 3272

That Sydney gig by explosive trio The Schizophonics in March has moved to Friday night to accomodate a bigger crowd. I-94 Bar will co-present the Sydney gig at Marrickville Bowling Club on March 12. The Facebook event is here and tickets are here.

Supports in Sydney will be Fangin' Felines and Grinding Eyes.

• sydney
• grinding eyes
• schizophonics
• fangin' felines

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Three new albums and a re-issue walk into a bar...

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By Robert Brokenmouth

Robert Brokenmouth

13 January 2020

Hits: 4791

Mars - The Venus Fly Trap (Glass Modern) 
It’s Not a Competition But I Win! – Lucy  (Lucy)
El Bendito Y El Maldito - Horse Feathers (Polar Bear Records)
Yesterday Repeating - The Smart Folk (Self-Released)

The Venus Fly Trap? Never heard of them.

On investigating a little on the Interwebs, it seems that not only have I heard of them, I’ve probably heard them, but forgotten them.

Well, it was about 30 years ago, back when the UK was still reeling in the bass-centric aftershock of bands like Killing Joke, the Fall and the Gang of Four, but more importantly, the Second Australian Wave (you know, The Birthday Party, the Moodists...).

Let’s not forget the impact of The Scientists either... Certainly the Jesus and Mary Chain were heavily influenced by the BP and Kim Salmon’s mob of hairy ruffians; the JMC emerged, screaming like babies with diaper rash, in 1983. Also, around 1986 Big Black were making an impact on the UK (which would lead to a short-lived “subgenre” the UK inkies dubbed “arsequake”; there was another daftly-termed subgenre as well but you get the idea).

• black bombers
• birmingham
• the smart folk
• yesterday repeating
• the venus fly trap
• lucy band
• El Bendito Y El Maldito
• horse feathers
• It’s Not a Competition But I Win!

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Touring roadshow brings stoner doom to the Lansdowne

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By James Wallach

James Wallach

14 January 2020

Hits: 4673

_{Burden Man make their point.}

• khan
• hobo magic
• menagerie festival
• burden man
• buffalo trio
• dead man currency
• rufflefeather
• hypergiant
• lansdowne hotel

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Get fired up because it would be Evil not to support Dick

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By The Barman

The Barman

10 January 2020

Hits: 3845

Evil Dick Enterprises is the latest incarnation for Evil Dick, formerly of Strutter, the Aampirellas and currently the frontman for one of Australia’s best-loved bands, HITS. While HITS remain a sporadic going concern (you couldn’t kill that band with an axe), Evil Dick Enterprises launched as Richard’s official side project on New Year's Day 2020.

Evil Dick’s “plan” is to make music outside the framework of HITS and the first project is a digital single, half the proceeds of which are being donated to Rural Fire Services in the wake of Australia’s devastating summer bushfires.

“I Hope That No-One Knows” is a haunting, ethereal debut that you can hear and grab with its B side, “Lovecats”, at Evil Dick Industries’ Bandcamp site. Here’s what various people are saying about it:

• Hits
• strutter
• evil dick
• fundraiser
• rural fire service
• aampirellas

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Latest giveaway winners announced

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By The Barman

The Barman

07 January 2020

Hits: 2527

The prizes have been drawn in the Purple Urchin-Black Buzzard giveaway. The winners of a double pack of CDs fron the two bands - courtesy of Spiff Hopkins who leads both Black Buzzards (pictured) and Purple Urchin and has played in Hellmen, the SC5 and The M16s among many others - are:

Jamie Don of Wollstonecraft, NSW
Andy Wallace of Ettalong, NSW
Steve Finch from Lake Cathie NSW
Roy Mutton of Helensburgh, NSW
Graham Stapleton from Mermaid Beach, Queensland

Killer split-single on its way to six winners

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By The Barman

The Barman

01 January 2020

Hits: 3617

The winners of our Fantastic Mess Records/Baby 8/Penny Ikinger single giveaway are:

David Lowrie of Inverclyde in Scotland
John Arvantis of Highbury, South Australia
Georgia Kenndy of Bayswater, Western Australia
Fred Therag of Haan in Germany
Mark Littler of Warriewood in New Soth Wales and;  
Bob Blunt of Erskineville, Nw South Wales.

Congratulations all, keep an eye on your letterboxes.

• penny ikinger
• contest
• baby 8
• fantastic mess records

Finally, a box set worth the bucks

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By Craig Norman

Craig Norman

01 January 2020

Hits: 4352

1979 - Motorhead (BMG)

You all know who Motorhead are. You may dig them, you may not – although I can’t fathom how any true rock fan couldn’t. For mine, there has never been a more authentic, hard-hitting, long-lasting, and utterly committed rock band. Frontman Ian “Lemmy” Kilmister frequently opined that they were simply than the dirtiest rock and roll band on the planet, disagreeing with the oft-applied heavy metal label.

As a teenager in the '80s they were definitely metal to me – they were louder, faster, and grittier than anyone else – but with the benefit of hindsight, I understand why he proclaimed: “We Are Motorhead – And We Play Rock And Roll” at the start of every gig for their last few decades. Having said that, without doubt they inspired generations of metal bands, as well as many in other genres.

• live
• box set
• motorhead
• 1979
• lemmy kilmister
• philthy animal
• bomber
• overkill
• fast eddie clarke
• phil taylor
• hawkwind
• bmg
• bronze records

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Cooking with gas

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By The Barman

The Barman

31 December 2019

Hits: 4606

Well Cooked! - Wild Zeros (Heavy Medication Records)

To say there’s anything new in the rock and roll zoo is simply a crock. Recycling is de rigeur but that doesn't equate to a negative. Dig in the right places and you’ll find stuff to light you up good and proper, even if it's been worked over like a re-birthed Renault. Here’s a case-in-point.

French band Wild Zeros are your basic punk rock trio with a bit of musicality. They proffer a bunch of rough-edged riffs and ragged melodies - in the style of The Devil Dogs and the Streetwalkin' Cheetahs. They don’t do anything especially new, but what they do is good and they make their own mark in their own way.

• garage
• french
• radio birdman
• jerry spider gang
• lo spider
• heavy medication records
• wild zeros
• well cooked!

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