Summoning rock and roll's spirit

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By JD Stayfree

JD Stayfree

07 August 2022

Hits: 2774

Ghosts of Isolation – Ricky Rat (I-94 Recordings)

First song bangs straight into a Ricky Rat signature, garagey, Romantics or Plimsouls-style powerpop song, with an ‘80s feel. If you are hip to Ricky's discography, this is his thing, exactly.

"We're still shining, we're still shining" he croons. I suspect it was most likely written during the COVID clampdown, to try to rouse his old cohorts outta those dark and depressing pandemic blues. 

"Glow Of Gabriels" reminded me instantly of "Child Of The Moon". Again, this is pretty much, your quintessential Ricky Rat. A Rolling Stones-influenced song with Nicky Hopkins type piano courtesy of Jimmy Bones and a Bobby Keyes style horn solo. They really put some ace production on to this one. Jimmy Bones, the dude who's tickling the ivories does a real good job.

• detroit
• trash brats
• i-94 recordings
• ricky rat
• Ghosts of Isolation

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Flu time trumps showtime but Sunnies will be back

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By The Barman

The Barman

05 August 2022

Hits: 2456

It is with deep regret and many apologies that Sunnyboys announce they are unable to perform this weekend's shows in Byron Bay and Brisbane.This Australian ‘flu season is one of the worst on record and unfortunately it has struck the band, leaving one member bed ridden. However, the boys have been able to reschedule quickly.

The new and remaining dates are:

Sat August 13: Melbourne, Corner Hotel  (limited tickets available) with Underground Lovers & Little Murders
(tickets from July 9 valid for this date)
Fri August 19: Byron Bay, The Northern (limited tickets available) with Mick Medew & The Mesmerisers
(tickets from July 15tand August 5 valid for this date)
Sat August 20: Brisbane, Princess Theatre (limited tickets available) with Mick Medew & The Mesmerisers
(tickets from July 16 and August 14 valid for this date)

• brisbane
• sunnyboys
• byron bay
• postponement

Getting ripped, and not ripped off, in Ocean County

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By The Barman

The Barman

04 August 2022

Hits: 2495

Wasteland Blues – O.C. Rippers (Ruined Records)

Ocean County, New Jersey, is a 40-minute drive from the Ashbury Park foreshore of Bruce Springsteen and a million miles from his $5000 concert tickets. The same goes for the music of O.C. Rippers, whose 16-song “Wasteland Blues” album is a million times more exciting.

It’s the vinyl version of the 2021 debut CD and if you hang around the I-94 Bar you’ll know the modus operandi: Equal parts Dead Boys, Stooges and Candy Snatchers (especially) with songs that mostly last less than two minutes and are spat out at breakneck pace (for the most part) with venom.

• wasteland blues
• o.c. rippers
• ruined records
• bruce springsteen

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There's life in this Nasty last gasp

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By The Barman

The Barman

02 August 2022

Hits: 2552

Waiting For The Last Gasp Of My Generation – Nasty S and The Ghost Chasers (Twenty Something Records)

French journeyman Nasty Samy has been on the European underground touring circuit as long as anyone can remember, playing with the likes of Second Rate, Hawaii Samurai, The Black Zombie Procession, Demon Vendetta, Cab Drivers Stories, Teenage Renegade and a bunch of other bands you’ve possibly never heard of.

He’s a lifer.

He’s also a magazine writer of some repute.

“Waiting For the Last Gasp…” is a cover album, with Nasty S playing most of the stringed instruments on a selection of ‘80s and ‘90s punkish and powerpop songs that he digs, and with a rotating cast of guest vocalists.

• tumbleweed
• hard-ons
• nasty
• simon chainsaw
• joy division
• the gun club
• lemonheads
• dumbell
• nasty samy
• Nasty S and The Ghost Chasers
• twenty something records
• agent orange

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Prospecting yields Gold for Ashley Davies

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By Robert Brokenmouth

Robert Brokenmouth

02 August 2022

Hits: 2576

Gold - Ashley Davies (Strange Loop Recordings)

Before we start ... it's always about the songs. And "Gold" is magnificent. 

But wait, there's more...like the pattern of a walnut...

Every now and then something quite special arrives at my Internet cabin in the woods. As you may or may not know, I've edited a couple of Australian Bomber Command books - first-hand accounts by two then-young men who answered the call and flew the missions. 

Those books have brought me into contact with other people, and some of their stories (such as the the wish-he'd-been-a LRP Ranger) ... and they also raised the eyebrows of a chap called Ashley Davies.

• matt walker
• ash davies
• Gold - Ashley Davies
• Strange Loops Recordings
• len davies
• models

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Vi-Nil retrospective casts a different light on Sydney's underground heyday

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By The Barman

The Barman

02 August 2022

Hits: 3826

Indie Sounds From The Harbour City (1983-87) – Various Artists (Vi-Nil Records)

The Vi-Nil label lurched into life in 1983 with The Klerks and spawned more notable offspring such as the Hard-Ons and the Psychotic Turnbuckles before winding down at the end of the decade. This collection marks the label’s re-birth, and features a representative selection of its first era stable.

There are 20 tracks and it’s a diverse output, ranging from power-pop to acid punk and back to new wave and garage rock. Vi-Nil’s release of “Sockman” by the Lipstick Killers was my introduction to the label and to these ears it still epitomises the frenzied attack of the first era line-up.

• hard-ons
• psychotic turnbuckles
• lipstick killers
• conspirators
• labradogs
• the klerks
• the 22s
• stig can't clap

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An offer you can't refuse

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By By J.D. STAYFREE President of the USA! USA! Desert Southwest Godfathers Fan Club

By J.D. STAYFREE President of the USA! USA! Desert Southwest Godfathers Fan Club

02 August 2022

Hits: 2876

Alpha Beta Gamma Delta – The Godfathers (Cargo Records)

Whenever the one and only Peter Coyne switches up the roll call of the long loved Godfathers institution, the fans always fret momentarily and then the front doors get kicked in and here they come again, guns blazing, in full color and better than ever.

I did not know they could possibly be this good and do it again, but here they are still gigantic fucking towering monuments of Real Rock ‘n’ Roll, ya know ever since the Sid Presley days this lot has been as influenced by gorgeous, chiming, classic hit melodies from the golden age of pre-Pepper Beatles, as they have by the snarling rebel roar of the pissed-off Pistols, they still have all that in their sound, and they still write songs that are just unbelievably stick in your skull catchy, hand tailored for rock ‘n’ roll radios, if such a thing exists.

• peter coyne
• the godfathers
• Alpha Beta Gamma Delta
• cargo records

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Sydney mods Division 4 return with "Let Her Go"

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By The Barman

The Barman

29 July 2022

Hits: 2928

It’s 40 years since Sydney mod band Division 4 released their “On The Beat” EP, and to celebrate they have got together to record a new single “Let Her Go”.Division 4 are Kieren Fitzpatrick (ex-Love Minus Zero) on guitar and vocals, Brad Fitzpatrick (ex-Bam Balams, Gigantic and Rob Younger’s ‘60s band Nanker Phelge) on lead guitar, Mark Jago (ex-Stig Can’t Clap) on bass and vocals, and David Rowley (ex-Jump Vision and Watusi Now) on drums who replaces original drummer Joe Genoa. The new single was written by Kieren and Mark. Mark also mixed and produced the song and directed and edited the video.

• mod
• sydney
• division 4
• let her go

Pursuing redemption as a hornet's nest is kicked

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By Bob Short

Bob Short

26 July 2022

Hits: 4007

Faith and Practice in Bedlam
By Chris Masuak
(High Voltage)

The rock and roll biography, usually ghost written within an inch of near life, seldom rises above the squalor of tabloids in terms of literary merit. A chronological narrative structure occasionally framed as a flashback is as good as it gets.

Think of sports biographies with guitars.

Unsurprisingly, reviews of Chris Masuak's new book have been thin on the ground. Firstly, because the book will probably upset his old band mates and their wrath has become legendary.

Secondly, I suspect, because - like its author - this book is quite the odd duck.

When confronted by the unusual, most pundits wait for someone else's opinion before voicing their own. Especially when they don't want to miss out on the chance of potential support slots.

• hitmen
• radio birdman
• screaming tribesmen
• chris masuak
• faith and practice in bedlam

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