Graham Steel (left) tries to convince Graham Hood from The Johnnys that the bar's shut and it's time to go home.
Earlier this year, Newcastle’s mainstream media reported that the closure of The Cambridge Hotel was going to have a huge impact on the Newcastle music scene. But, in fact, the opposite is happening.
Newcastle is going off!
2023 may have been marked by that venue closing but it actually reopened not long after, just up the road next to the King St Hotel, in a similar format of two band rooms. Then the virtually dilapidated “The Oaks” at Tighes Hill was quietly renovated and opened a month or so ago to a swagger of gigs already, and the Hamilton Station Hotel re opened the renovated larger back room mid-year to accommodate larger bands.
Add in a few venues around Maitland, now keen to accommodate live original music, as well as the usual haunts, and the Newcastle music scene is in fact booming.(try booking a gig before April 2024!).
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- By Graham Steel
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CHRIS “KLONDIKE” MASUAK TOP SEVERAL FOR 2023
1. APPARENTLY, THERE ARE TWO SIDES TO EVERY GENOCIDE.
This year has demonstrated beyond any possible doubt that the human race is blithely and psychopathically genocidal.
And if daily reminders of this sad and truly distressing reality aren’t enough, next to nothing has been effectively done to redress the horror because of the not entirely surprising confirmation that a great number of the people you know are …
a. Cruel and nasty.
b. Wilfully ignorant.
c. Racist.
d. Chickenshit.
e. All of the above.
Protest, agitate, donate … do something. Anything.
Let’s at least pretend to be interested in creating a better future.
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- By Chris Klondike Masuak
- Hits: 2174
1. In February, we played a gig at the now closed Platform 5 in Clayfield, Brisbane. This venue was always good to us and we were very sorry to see it go.
2. In March, we used our frequent flyer points to head to Melbourne to launch our 2022 album, “Love Is Calling”. (ED: WHAT NO RECORD COMPANY TAB?)Dave Graney and Clare Moore invited us to open for them at The Night Cat in Fitzroy. What an honour! And what a great turn-out. We then played on the southside at The Lyrebird Lounge with special guest Penny Ikinger. Thanks to Suzi and all our Melbourne (and even Tasmanian) friends and fans who made this trip so special for us. We'll be back!
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- By Mick Medew & Ursula
- Hits: 3096
Righto, Squatter the Cockatiel here with my Top Ten for 2023.
For those of you who don't know how famous I am, I allow Chris Converse and Cathy, both of Punkfest Brisbane and 4ZZZ, to share a house with me so I meet a lot of cool people. I would say cool cats, but I don't get on well with cats.
Five out of five chirps for the following (in no particular order):
Glitoris - Self titled album
The Go Set-- The Warriors Beneath Us album
Blowhard- All the Kings Horses
Vicious Circle – “Split This Open” album
Dad Fight - “Guillotine” single
The Owen Guns - “Monks in Sexyland” mini album
Whoroboros – “Consuming and Being Consumed” EP
Piss Shivers - Self titled album
Painters and Dockers – “Advance Australia Where” single
Square Tugs – “One Minute Love Song” single
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- By Squatter The Cockateil
- Hits: 1891
Melbourne music writer and good friend of the I-94 Bar, Patrick Emery, has passed away suddenly, aged 52.
In a brief statement posted on Facebook earlier tonight, Spooky Records chief Loki Lockwood spoke on behalf of Patrick’s family.
On behalf of Patrick’s loving wife Bettina, and children Babette and Baptiste, I’ve been given the solemn task of sharing the untimely passing of my beautiful friend Patrick. On Christmas Eve at home, Patrick suddenly collapsed and was rushed to the Austin Hospital where he was diagnosed with a stage 4 inoperable brain tumor. He passed peacefully with his beloved family by his side.
Patrick was a passionate and beautiful soul. There will be many from the music community around the world that will be shocked by this news. Patrick wrote for many publications across Australia over the years I knew him: Beat, The Australian, The Age and The I-94 Bar, to name a few. There’s no doubt that anyone with a passing interest in music will have read his music reviews and interviews for thousands of bands.
For those that he wrote about, I know they will be overwhelmingly shocked by the news of his untimely passing. His greatest gift to us all was his belief in his beloved local music scene - always wanting to help elevate some little known artist through his writing because he could.
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- By The Barman
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01 - L7 in Melbourne.
This was a blast. Playing “Bricks Are Heavy” in full ,plus all those other wonderful tracks from the ‘90s. It’s number-one because it’s recent.
02 MONAROS – “Can’t Polish a Turd”.
As good as it gets. What a bloody great record with songs like “Kareen”, “Best Cop In Town” and the awesome “Mum Washed Me Cum Sock”. It’s a no-brainer for the #2 slot.
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- By The Barman
- Hits: 1981
(Vale) Top Ten
10. Star Crazy. Great, rockin’ live band, cool humans and for me without doubt, the award for earworm of the year:."Egging Me On". Check ‘em out.
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- By Deanov The Dark Clouds
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Top Ten for 2023: Matt "Spats" Allison of Spurs for Jesus, The Jane Does and Sydney's Redeye Records
Jo Forster photo
PETER BLACK/ TIM STEWARD @Frank’s Wild Years…two of my local faves doing an intimate double header.
LUCINDA WILLIAMS/ STEVE EARLE @Enmore Theatre…a master class in Americana from two of the best.
THE DELINES @The Great Club…Portland county soul comes to the Sydney Inner West, featuring one of my favourite authors aka Willy Vlautin.
JENNY DON’T & THE SPURS @Enmore Hotel…speaking of Portland, retro rockin, honky tonkin’ good times always guaranteed. Don't miss them when they return!
AMENDS @Mary's Underground...walked into a bar on a quiet Sunday night & these western suburbs kids blew my head off! Kinda like Husker Du meets Drive-By Truckers...the Los Angeles headliners were like lukewarm water in comparison. Bonus points for the singer rockin' a Flying V.
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- By Matt Allison
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2023 Top Ten(ish)
Gigs
The Smart Folk/ The Golden Rail/ The Autumn Hearts, Marrickville Bowling Club, NSW. A bittersweet occasion for me as a member of The Smart Folk but it was a great night thanks to the stellar support of The Golden Rail and The Autumn Hearts.
The Apartments/Halfway - The Great Club, Marrickville, NSW.
Raising Ravens/DOWNGIRL/Gaia Rising: Marrickville Bowling Club, NSW.
The On and Ons/ Penny Ikinger Band: George Lane, St Kilda. Great venue, great bands, great company.
The Silversound - Brunswick Ballroom, VIC: Mind blown, album immediately purchased.
Snarski Circus Lindy Band - The Great Club
Jo Meares’ Silver Bullets - The Gasoline Pony, Marrickville, NSW: Jo brought his Melbourne combo with him and wow, did they deliver.
Dane Blacklock and the Preacher’s Daughter: The Duke Hotel, Enmore, NSW: Satanicabaret!
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- By Keith Claringbold
- Hits: 3151
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