The I-94 Bar - Real Rock Action from Sydney, Australia, via The Bowery and The Motor City

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Echoes of past thoughtcrimes but ViviKit is here and now

Details: By The Barman; 16 December 2021; Hits: 3493

Bugmantis – ViviKit (self released)

Back in the dim, dark past of Sydney’s nascent underground music scene, a band called the Thought Criminals stood out like the proverbial dog’s. They were so unlike all the other spotty kids on the inner-city block.

Nineteen-seventy-seven (the time of their birth) was the Year of Radio Birdman. The Thoughties, with their jagged rhythms, blaring keyboards, political lyrics and highly-strung vocals, sounded nothing like them. They were post-punk before punk had ended.

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3.4k views

When pop's obvious allure shines through

Details: By The Barman; 15 December 2021; Hits: 4171

glenn bowlo ^{Glenn Morris of the The On and Ons.}

The On and Ons
+ The Amazing Woolloomooloosers
Marrickville Bowling Club
Sunday, 12 December 2021
Photos: Shona Ross

Sometimes things are just obvious. Like using the term “pop music”.

It’s an archaic phrase and more than a little quaint, with its origins way back in the mists of time. Probably severely devalued, too, due to its prolific over-use in modern times.

According to the The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, it originated in Britain in the mid-1950s as a description for rock and roll and the new music styles that it influenced.

Last Sunday afternoon-evening at Marrickville Bowling Club in Sydney’s inner-western blues delta was an occasion for pop music fans. And whether it was a breaking of the lockdown drought or an appreciation that this was an album launch, they turned out in their droves.

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Vale ex-Powder Monkey John Nolan

Details: By The Barman; 13 December 2021; Hits: 6111

john and powder monkeys _{John Nolan (left) with Tim Hemensley and Timmy-Jack Ray in the Powder Monkeys.}

John Nolan, the former Powder Monkeys and Bored! guitarist and more recently member of Powerline Sneakers, has died. It is understood a family member found him earlier today in his Melbourne home.

The lanky, long-haired and wickedly talented Nolan was an elder statesman of the Melbourne underground scene. He initially rose to prominence in Geelong band Beyond the Magnolia Curtain in the mid-1980s. and went on to the twin-guitar line-up of Bored!

In 1991, Nolan and Bored! bassist Tim Hemensley (ex-GOD) left Bored! to set up the Powder Monkeys, who became one of Australia’s most fearsome - and infamous - outfits.

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We're living on dog food

Details: By The Barman; 12 December 2021; Hits: 4488

Feed The Dog – Bored! (Fantastic Mess Records)

The original album came out in 1991 and showed off a new, lean and still mean version of Bored!. “Feed The Dog” was an instant classic. Thirty years later, its guitarist, vocalist and driving force Dave Thomas is no longer with us, but be thankful that this fearsome, re-mastered version is.

If you were immersed in the Australian underground scene in 1991, you’ll know that the international name on everybody’s lips back then was Nirvana. Their debut album “Bleach” was making its mark and the over-ground success of “Nevermind” was just over the horizon. Bored! also could have gone on to huge things.

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Collection captures Rifles firing on all cylinders

Details: By The Barman; 11 December 2021; Hits: 4163

Chasing Chocomel – The Celibate Rifles (self released)

Don’t let the fact that these are cassette dubs of live-to-air radio recordings deter you. A bit of compression never hurt anyone. This posthumous 22-track collection from Europe and Australia is prime-time Celibate Rifles from the “Roman Beach Party”/“Blind Ear”/”Heaven on a Stick” period, and it burns like a kerosene spill on a barbie.

As a fan of the Rifles from the get-go, I thought it was “Roman Beach Party” that showed they’d really come to grips with the studio. Foot-to-the-floor Rifles got the crowds shaking live, but sometimes the wry observations were buried under all that Sturm und Drang. You had to listen hard to appreciate what they were saying on the early records too. From here on in, you could hear Damo’s words - loud and clear.

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4.1k views

This could be dangerous if the beer is cold

Details: By The Barman; 10 December 2021; Hits: 2939

Australia's summer is cranking up and so is live music. Thirsty cowpunks The Johnnys are celebrating their relese from COVID lockdown by playing their first Sydney show in more than two years. They'll be at Mary's Underground (formerly The Basement) at Circular Quay on Saturday, January 8 with raunch machine White Knuckle Fever and country rockers Broham (fronted by Simon Chainsaw.) Tickets are here.

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2.9k views

The Johnnys aiming to put the sin back into St Kilda

Details: By The Barman; 07 December 2021; Hits: 2745

Portable party The Johnnys are responding to the calls from Melbourne to return and play their first show in that fair town in almost three years. January 22 will find them at St Kilda Sports Club with their unique cowpunk sounds poised to get the local populace drinking and dancing. They'll be supported by locals Burn in Hell and The Lewvis Presley Experience and tickete arehere here.

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2.7k views

New Johnny Casino single a taste of the album to come

Details: By The Barman; 07 December 2021; Hits: 3109

"Another Girl" is the latest Johnny Casino track, and has been released digitally today via Golden Robot Records. It is the first single from his February 2022 release "5x7 the Days of Wine and Cola". The Spain-based expatriate former member of Asteroid B612, The Egos, Easy Action and his own Johnny Casino and The Secrets wrote "Another Girl" as a moody acoustic piece -until it found its way into the recording studio on the Costa Blanca in Spain. Here, a fire had been lit underneath it, a couple of bottles of wine poured all over it and an inspired electric guitar burned into it by Johnny and his band. Stay tuned for news about the album.

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3.1k views

Exalted blues noise rockers feedtime plan two sets in return to live shows

Details: By The Barman; 07 December 2021; Hits: 2870

Hey Sydneysiders! After COVID did its best to sink it, the "extreme dream team" pairing of feedtime and Examplehead at Marrickville Bowling Club, originally scheduled for June, has been re-scheduled to January 22...and both bands are determined to make it a very special night.

Ticket numbers were limited for the show that was originally scheduled in June 2021. A handful, surrendered by fans unable to attend the new date, remain for sale online.

Once they're gone, online sales will cease and admission will be $20 at the door on the night, on a "first come, first served" basis, until venue capacity is reached.

The other important thing you need to know is that feedtime will play two sets - the first from 8.30pm. Examplehead will follow (approximately 9.30pm) and feedtime will close the night.

feedtime is an institution with their unique and extreme version of the blues being renowned around the world. Formed in Sydney in 1979, they manifested in various line-ups and made it to the USA after the SubPop label re-issued their back catalogue in 2008.

Examplehead were an inner-city staple in Sydney and existed from 1985-90. They lay dormant for 30 years before reforming in 2020, minus late Greg Garnder who passed away three years earlier.

Online tickets are here. If they're gone, join the Facebook event or mark the date in your calendar - and turn up promptly at 8pm.

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The Living Eye

Right eye
The Stems
Australian East Coast Tour
*with special guests, Rinehearts
APR
23 – Northcote Social Club, Melbourne, VIC*
24 – Crowbar Sydney, NSW*
25 – Gum Ball Festival, Hunter Valley, NSW
26 – Old Museum, Brisbane, QLD
Tickets

I-94 Bar Records and Promotions presents
The Johnnys
"Live in Lyon" CD launches
MAY
+ Van Ruin
Old Manly Boatshed, NSW
-24
Tickets
+ Van Ruin
+ Dave Favours & The Roadside Ashes
+ Australian Beefweek
(public bar)
Sydney Crowbar, Leichhardt, NSW
- 25 (5pm)
Tickets
+ Murray’s Bay Country Club
+ Traumaboys
St Kilda Bowls Club, VIC
- 30
Tickets
+ Penny Ikinger’s Marbles
+ The Vibrajets
- 31 The Tote, VIC
Tickets

Nursery Crimes
+ The Herbal Lunatics
+ fun again!
+ The Darrans
+ Bugg Music
Marrickville Bowling Club
- Apr 26
Tickets

I-94 Bar Records and Promotions presents
“May Mayhem”
The Jane Does
+ Jupiter 5
+ Moot
+ The Strike-Outs
(playing order TBD on the night)
Marrickville Bowling Club
- May 3
Tickets

Mike Rudd + Tim Gaze
MAY
2 - The Citadel, Murwillumbah, NSW
Tickets
3 - The Junk Bar, Brisbane, QLD
Tickets
4 - Banshees Bar, Ipswich, QLD
Tickets

The Mick Medew & Ursula 4
w/ Painters & Dockers
+ Sunny Coast Rude Boys
The Triffid, Brisbane
- May 24

The Blowers
MAY
AUS
9 - Adelaide - Grace Emily Hotel
w/ HAGO +
Juliette Seizure & The Tremor-Dolls
10 - Adelaide - TBC
w/ Street Legal
+ TGRX
EU
21 - GER – Leipzig, Zwille, Germany
22 - GER – Dortmund, Maschinerie, Germany
23 - BE – Liège, La Zone, Belgium
24 - NL – Den Haag, Sniester Festival, Netherlands
25 - BE – Menen, Boegie Woegie, Belgium
27 - GER – Karlsruhe, Alte Hackerei, Germany
28 - CH – Basel, Quarterdeck, Switzeland
29 - GER – Köln, Bumann & Sohn, Germany
30 - GER – Hamburg, Hafenklang, Germany
31 - GER – Berlin, Loge, Germany
JUN
AUS
20 - Shotkickers, Melb
21 - Trash Cult, Bendigo
09 - Grace Emily, Adelaide
10 - The Cumby, Port Adellaide

The Cruel Sea
"Straight Into The Sun Tour"
MAY
1 - Dunstan Playhouse, Adelaide SA
2 - Athenaeum Theatre, Melbourne VIC
3 - Canberra Theatre, Canberra
16 - Anita’s Theatre, Wollongong NSW
18 - The Tivoli, Fortitude Valley QLD
31 - City Recital Hall, Sydney NSW
JUN
5 - The Regal Theatre, Perth WA
7 - Mandurah Performing Arts Centre, Mandurah WA.
Tickets

Cherie Currie
Australian Tour
with Hot Machine
SEP
5 - Rosemount, Perth
6 - Crown and Anchor, Adelaide
11 - The Corner Hotel, Melbourne
12 – Sydney Crowbar
13 – Brisbane Crowbar
Tickets

Dead Kennedys
Australia and NZ
SEP
16 - Auckland, Powerstation
17 - Wellington, Meow Nui
19 – Melbourne, Northcote Theatre
20 - Brisbane, Tivoli
24 - Perth, Astor Theatre
26 - Adelaide, The Gov
27 - Sydney, Metro Theatre
Tickets