Twin guitar blasts that make perfect sense

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By Robert Brokenbmouth

Robert Brokenbmouth

22 October 2019

Hits: 3976

This is War! Godfathers Live! – The Godfathers (self released)
Vol 4 – The Black Bombers (Easy Action)
The Second Cumming – The Filthy Gypsies (self released)

Twin guitar assault? Tick. The Godfathers have been around, in one form or another, for 35 years or so. There have been many line-up changes - and this one has just been summarily dismissed by the singer, Peter Coyne.

All I'll say is: brilliantly recorded live Godfathers will boot your bonnet. Their later albums are as much a feature as their earlier ones, and boy, do these songs rock and crackle. The band is tight, tight, tight and come at you with pizzazz and panache.

• adelaide
• godfathers
• black bombers
• filthy gypsies
• this is war live

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It's Alive 40th Anniversary Deluxe Edition - The Ramones (Rhino)

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By Robert Brokenmouth

Robert Brokenmouth

21 October 2019

Hits: 3694

It's better than I thought it would be. Sort of.

Once upon a time I lived in a share house with a New Order fan.

Don't you dare pity me.

Anyway, this muffin collected live tapes of New Order. Every time he got one, he'd play it. Loud.

Like I said, don't pity me. I can do that for myself.

• ramones
• dee dee ramone
• it's alive
• 40th anniversary
• deluxe edition
• ed stasium
• joey ramone
• tommy ramone

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The Devil Won't Take Charity - Kim Volkman and the Whiskey Priests (Beast Records)

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By The Barman

The Barman

21 October 2019

Hits: 5191

KIm Volkman and the Whiskey Priests come from Melbourne. No shock there. Most of the best Australian rock and roll does. And this is a record - like most of them - with a beginning and an end. No shit again, Sherlock. The distinction is that the songs at each end book-end and define what's inbetween - and it's pretty fucking great.

The slightly frayed vocal of opening track "I'm Still Standing (Alive and Well)" and its swaggering, Oz Rock chug suits its survivor sentiment to a tee. And the cover of the Jagger/Richards classic "Silver Train" that closes the album is pulled off with consummate, ragged ease.

Stones and Oz Rock. They're children of the blues. Throw in the inevitable Ian Rilen and the Love Addicts comparison (more on that later) and you'll appreciate how "The Devil Won't Take Charity" nails its colours to the masts.

• beast records
• rolling stones
• ian rilen
• kim volkman
• whiskey priests
• the devil won't take charity

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A Big Beat that's worth every cent

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By Robert Brokenmouth

Robert Brokenmouth

21 October 2019

Hits: 17935

Book launch
The Big Beat by Donald Robertson and others
The Howing Owl, Adelaide
Wednesday, October r16 2019

Can't take Her anywhere.

We've just witnessed Donald Robertson, mainspring behind Adelaide's monthly Roadrunner magazine (1978-1983) be inducted into the SA Music Hall of Fame (the 111th member) by John Schumann (of Redgum).

Preceding that was a couple of short speeches (including one from Jim Kerr of Simple Minds), a rather entertaining Q&A chaired by Suzy Ramone (of, among many other things, the Molting Vultures), and prior to that much chinwagging by a bunch of old coots who hadn't seen each other in - literally in some cases - several decades.

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3D Blues - The Meanies b/w Never - You Am I/The Reason Why - Even (Fantastic Mess Records)

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By The Barman

The Barman

19 October 2019

Hits: 11011

Thirty years of The Meanies? Who woulda thunk? The last show of theirs’ I attended probably lasted 30 minutes. While the celebratory tour winds its way around Australia, boutique label Fantastic Mess has dropped this heavyweight Méaniee à Trois on us in a run of 300.

The A side keeps you guessing where it’s going with odd tempo changes. It's a fine slice of freakbeat that works its way into your head and up to a freak-out before skidding to a halt. It’s a long way removed from The Meanies’ early buzzsaw blasts and there are shades of Sun God Replica (Link’s other band) on a sunny day here.

• you am i
• even
• the meanies
• fantastic mess records
• 3d blues

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Free – Iggy Pop (Lorna Vista)

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By The Barman

The Barman

16 October 2019

Hits: 5244

Let’s get the obvious ones out of the way first, shall we?.

Firstly, after what he’s done in the past, Iggy is entitled to play whatever music he wants. Any outstanding debts have been repaid. In full. And with interest. He can be as indulgent as he wants. Except for that cover of “Michelle”. Or “White Christmas”. Oh boy.

Secondly, if his solo career doesn’t stack up against what he did with the Stooges, that’s almost certainly because most other people’s best work doesn’t, either. Being an ex-Stooge can be both a blessing and a curse. 

• iggy pop
• free
• leron thomas
• noveller

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Festival of Sue brings together killer bill in Sydney

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By The Barman

The Barman

15 October 2019

Hits: 5951

• kim salmon
• penny ikinger
• new christs
• front end loader
• terry serio
• x band
• the holy soul
• the mis-made
• festival of sue
• the ono and ons
• bill gibson

Mary Mary b/w Don’t Bring Me Down - Love Minus Zero (Method Records)

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By The Barman

The Barman

13 October 2019

Hits: 6754

Jangling pop on one side and rocking power pop on the other.

Love Minus Zero were a Sydney band from the second half of the 1980s, active on both the Waterfont label and Green Fez, the Citadel spin-off. Their lineage came via mods Division 4, Suicidal Flowers and the (later) Bambalams.

Both cuts are on a forthcoming compilation of their output  - if you were on the ball, you might have caught their recent reformation show - and you’ll need to be quick if you cherish vinyl singles; as this is in a run of just 100.

“Mary Mary” gets positively Beatle-esque in its employment of a trumpet over its Rickenbacker jangle. Just like the label says, it cajoles rather than confronts and has a nice psychedelic edge. “Don’t Bring Me Down” is not the Animals song. A smudge of backward masked guitar announces the song itself, a stellar pop tune led by guitarist Dario Becego's melodic vocal. The guitars rock and Joe Genua’s drumming is right on the money, too. A gem.

     

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• method records and music
• love minus zero
• mary says
• don't bring me down

Any Port in a Storm - Shark Arm (self released)

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By Robert Brokenmouth

Robert Brokenmouth

13 October 2019

Hits: 4700

First heard this outfit on Big Daddy K's Sydney community radio show (2RR, 6pm AEDT Saturday nights). They'd released a single ("Dog's Breakfast" b/w "Stitched", and I was smitten. So I got in touch. Turns out the band have released an LP, but as so many do, it's virtual at present.

You'll excuse me. Many, many bands show their influences. Sometimes these are subtle or complex. When I first listened to "Any Port..." I thought they were familiar with Chris Walsh's bass in The Moodists ... but no, apparently not. They've taken the bits of bands which have most impressed them, and created ... some sort of powerful monster.

Shark Arm are anything but subtle. They've taken aspects of The Birthday Party - but not the bits the Jesus and Mary Chain took - the violence at gigs, the shriek-y feedback, the singer leaning on the the guitarist onstage, and - of course - the big hair. None of that. Instead, we're looking at a two-piece (drums, and guitar/ vox) who use ugly bass loops, sing clearly about ugly truths, and whose guitarist has learned about space as well as position.

• birthday party
• 2rrr-fm
• shark arm
• any port in a storm
• big daddy K

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