The Passengers album re-emerges in full bloom limited edition

An unmissable re-issue of Sydney ‘80s band The Passengers’ 2008 reformation album, “In The Garden Of Good And Evil”, has been released with a special bonus. The original mostly acoustic album has been “re-imagined” by co-founder Jeff Sullivan who has added electric guitar and drums and comes in a double CD package.

It’s limited to a run of 200 copies and if you're in Australia you can buy a copy here. STOP PRESS: Pre-orders open on May 29.

The Passengers were Angie Pepper (vocals), Jim Dickson (bass), Steve Harris (keyboards), Jeff Sullivan (guitar) and Gerry Jones (drums). They existed from 1978-80 and were the first band to have a single issued on the legendary Phantom label, the brilliant "Face With No Name". 

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Buffalo Revisited to unveil new line-up

The new line-up of Buffalo Revisited, the Sydney band celebrating the music of Australia's first stoner rock outfit Buffalo, plays its first show at The Bridge Hotel in Rozelle, NSW, on June 3, promoted by The I-94 Bar. The band's last outing was a year ago. 

Singer Dave Tice gives us the lowdown in this promo clip. Tickets are available here.

• buffalo
• dave tice
• buffalo revisited

Are you ready for a Descent Into The Maelstrom? Radio Birdman film becomes reality next month

It's finally happening. Sydney filmaker Jonathan J Sequeira's long-awaited feature film on Radio Birdman is being released theatrically in Australia in June.

"Descent Intro The Maelstrom" will play across silver screens before being  available on DVD. 

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• movie
• radio birdman
• descent into the mae;strom
• documentary

No nostalgia, just blues and Animal magic

_{Animals co-founder John Steel.    Mandy Tzaras photo}

Remember the screaming '60s? If not, you’ve seen the footage, in particular of the Beatles in "A Hard Days’ Night", of hordes of howling fans hurtling after their fantastic idols … when the object of pursuit becomes less than human, almost a fetishistic object.

Those days are gone, thank god. The other influential band which everyone remembers is the Rolling Stones, long regarded as the great survivors of the Sixties. Until their last LP of blues covers, their LPs were not selling well. One of the reasons I think their last LP sold so well is, I think, the intimacy implicit in the release. That, and the knowledge that the Stones are rediscovering their roots again.

Truth to tell, if you pull the original versions of the songs the Stones covered … you’d probably enjoy the originals just as much, if not better.

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• the animals
• john steel
• eric burdon
• micky gallagher
• danny hadley

Time and Time Again - Johnny Casino (Folc Records)

Recorded in fits and spurts across four years and multiple countries, “Time and Time Again” had a drawn-out, trans-national gestation and birth. That’s fitting because it’s an album with a spirit that doesn’t need a visa to work in any place that’s receptive to spirited, heartfelt rock and roll.

It’s been said before but bears repetition: Johnny Casino’s been a moderately well-kept secret in his birth country of Australia since he struck out under his own name in the ‘90s. With Easy Action and then The Secrets - the former a US-spawned crew, the latter a rotating cast of members in various Aussie state capital cities - he’s built a formidable body of work without bothering mainstream taste arbiters. 

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• johnny casino
• hit the ground running
• time and time again
• folc records
• la vila nova

Cold Irons Bound - Cold Irons Bound (self released) & The Edge of Winter - Eden (Seraph)

You need to know that I don’t know Melbourne band Cold Irons Bound from a bag of chops, while I do know Sean Bowley, the man behind Eden (a situation which I dread, because what if my mate produces some awful muck? How the fuck do you tell them?). 

And the thing is, while I always give a band an even chance regardless of whether I do or don’t know the personnel involved, there’s always a risk that some irritable individual will go, "Hey… favouritism!"

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• cold irons bound
• sean bowley
• eden
• melborne
• the edge of winter

Rush b/w Raw Ramp (Easy Action)

Birmingham’s Black Bombers follow their rough ’n’ tumble, rambunctious eponymous debut album and "Crazy" 45 with a Record Store Day single and it’s a totally righteous effort. 

A slinky bass-line and sultry vocal (that’s Rachel Mayfield in the duet, ex-delicious monster) give “Rush” a downright sexy feel.“You take my mind over the top/You make my senses stand up,” intones guitarist Alan Byron before the song’s consumed by a monstrous guitar break and a wave of horns. Sonically speaking, it’s simply spectacular.

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• easy-action
• record store day
• black bombers
• birmingham
• rush b/w raw ramp

Monsters b/w Before You Go - DM3 (Spider Music)

It’s been a long time between drinks but the DM3 cocktail remains as sweet as ever, without losing any of its bite. This limited edition, double A-sided 45 shows off the Fremantle trio’s trademark tight harmonies and guitar-fuelled melodies, just right.

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• dm3
• stems
• powerpop
• dom mariani
• before you go

URRAH!! – Rattens Kater (Conquest of Noise)

In Kärrgruvan, Sweden, where Rattens Krater apparently come from, they call it “terrorpop”. You might coin a different name. Go ahead, knock yourself out…

Stylistically speaking, “Urrah!” is a game of Musical Twister: One limb is anchored on the hard rock colour, another is on electronic-punk. A third is planted on grunge-pop and the other is flailing about, threatening to land somewhere else, depending on what you’re second-guessing them to be doing.

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• conquest of noise
• Rattens Kater
• urrah
• swedish