With Toyozo of The Fadeaways and a copy of Rob's memoir.
Top 10 Gigs for 2024 in No Particular Order
Calexico @ the Melbourne Recital Centre
Not that Americana is my favourite type of music, but ever since hearing “Ring of Fire” by Johnny Cash, I’ve been a sucker for Mariachi horns. Not that that is all Calexico do but it’s what pulled me into their orbit at first through the album “Feast Of Wire”. Which they played this night. And it was sublime. And sometimes you don’t want it loud! Especially with a lot of bands testing out my hearing lately. Oh and they covered “Alone Again Or” by Love. Sublime.
Jenny Jenny @The UFO Club in Tokyo. Japan
The Fiction played our second tour of Japan this year and one of the absolute highlights of these tours are the bands who support us. And we loved Jenny Jenny. 4 girls in matching outfits like cosmic airline hostesses playing garage rock. What is not to love? And the fact Suzu from the High Marts was DJing in between was even sweeter because if anything we should get Jenny Jenny and the Highmarts down to Australia. In fact bring all the Japanese garage bands down for a tour.
Yard Act @ Lisboa Au Vivo. Portugal
Second night in Portugal after a very long trip and my wife Liz and I are quite dazed and jet lagged .But if you’re in Portugal you have to go and see a band and the only band that were playing while we there were Yard Act. Well we went for Fixer Upper but in the end they didn’t play it but it was such a great show it didn’t matter. It reminded me of Happy Mondays. Just one excellent groove.
The Damned @ Northcote Theatre
Okay so when I walked into the Northcote theatre The Hard-Ons were playing and though I was looking forward to seeing them the sheer volume pressed me back outside and over the road to my parked car to scramble around for some earplugs. Still too loud. Which could be said of any act I’ve seen at this venue which I’m guessing was made for something a bit quieter. The Damned (which was supposed to be the original lineup but Brian James stayed back in the UK to watch TV so Captain Sensible told us) were great and I liked it so much I realised I had to track a few of their later albums down (later being early eighties!)
The Fadeaways @ The Tote. Collingwood
Toyozo was one of the first band people I met when I went to Japan in 2018. He had just come from band rehearsal to Poor Cow (Power Pop central) and he was introduced to me as a big Little Murders fan. We caught up again at the Halloween ball where I signed his copy of "STOP "and then I saw The Fadeaways play and was knocked out by the sheer energy and entertainment value of the band. We played with them a number of times in Tokyo so it was really exciting to catch the Fadeaways at the Tote. And as usual they were on fire. A rocking ball of energy.
Belle and Sebastian & Badly Drawn Boy @ The Palais, St. Kilda
I’ve seen Belle and Sebastian many times over the years and they always turn in a superlative performance. And this was one of their better ones. But even more exciting was seeing a short set by Badly Drawn Boy. I was a big fan in the ‘90s and didn’t expect to ever see him in Melbourne but here he was. Great tunes with a bang on sense of humour. Now we need a proper solo tour.
Peter Hook @ The Forum, Melbourne
He played tracks from “Substance” with the New Order and the Joy Division versions. And every song was a killer. I wasn’t prepared to enjoy this gig as much as I did but it held my attention from start to finish. Every song was great. The audience was on his side. And the whole room lifted during “Love will Tear Us Apart”. The band gets better every time to come to Australia. Brilliant.
Shonen Knife & Rocket Science @ The Corner Hotel. Richmond
Both these bands were great but with Rocket Science I was watching them with my son Remi at our first over 18’s gig. We were drinking pints and he turned to me and said who is this band? They’re great! Yes they are! Shonen Knife were brilliant. I don’t have many of their records so I went and bought their new album at the Merch desk which is a kind of sign how impressed I was. (I also bought a Rocket Science poster).
2 + 2+ 2+Kahokiss I@ Pop! Pizza, Kyoto
I wouldn’t buy their record but this two-piece band who supported The Fiction in Kyoto was really out there and we all stood near the front of the stage pretty much gob smacked by the drumming of Kahokiss, which I think was her name. You couldn’t take your eyes of her as they whipped up an electrical storm before our very eyes. Culminating in the guitarist smashing two guitars together and almost wiping out our guitarist. When I got back to Tokyo people were very impressed that Kahokiss had played with us.
Lord Rochester & The Breadmakers @ The Town Hall Hotel, North Melbourne
I’ve played the “Townie” a couple of times but I hadn’t seen it so packed before. Great little venue with an amazing rock and roll decor that I feel I must get back to in the near future to have a quiet beer and check out the artefacts on the wall more closely.
But this was my last gig for the year and The Breadmakers were on fine form. People were standing on chairs and tables because with no stage that was the only way you could see the band. Lord Rochester are from Scotland and they kept up the R & B groove. Great atmosphere and great finish to the year.
My Top 10 Albums
Soul Of - The Courettes
They actually released two albums this year, this being their latest. While the first one was a kind of “Pin Ups” type affair—covers of great songs. It rocked, but this was the one. The Courettes albums get better every time. Love this band.
Weird Scenes from the Hangout (Psychedelic and Freakbeat Dancefloor Anthems 1967-1982) – Various Artists
I do like a good comp, and the label Two Piers from the UK has put out some brilliant ones: Freakbeat with a touch of garage and “Foggy Notion” by The Velvet Underground. I was spinning discs at a party the other night, and when I wanted to join in the dancing, I just chucked this on the turntable.
Angel Face - Angel Face
Toyozo from The Fadeaways is in a number of bands and they all make great records. From the drummers count of "1-2-3-4 "we’re off on a garage rock with a touch of glam punk party record.
Come to My World (A Brief History of Indie Pop 1985-2023) - Various Artists
This is another comp from Two Piers. This one features indie bands from the ‘80s until now, all using the C86 aesthetic. The title pretty much sums it up, I guess. Lots of guitars. Lots of restraint. Tunes galore.
Where’s My Utopia - Yard Act
They are really something live as I have already mentioned and their records are top stuff too. Lyric-wise and music-wise. A bunch of very cool tracks. A great album to actually listen to.
Viva Hinds - The Hinds
I’m a big fan of the Hinds from their early garage rock until now when it's down to two players and a bit more sophisticated sound. Beck features on what should have been the hit single, “Boom Boom Back”. And Brian Chatten from Fontaines DC is on there too. This leads me to…
Romance - Fontaines DC
Sometimes I’m not sure why I like them but I keep coming back for more. Fontaines DC is a band that gets under your skin. If you allow it. And every album is a grower. This is my favourite. At the moment.
Easy as Pie - Surfrajettes
An all-girl group from Canada playing surf rock instrumentals including a couple of out-there covers. “Spice Up Your life” indeed. What’s not to like?
A Dream is All We Know - Lemon Twigs
A great power pop record with its feet planted firmly in California. You can hear the sunshine bouncing off the guitar strings. All those seventies pop artists from Raspberries to Dwight Twilley are in there.
The Mod Top 40. Compiled by Eddie Piller – Various Artists
Back in 1979 as a Mod, I was searching for the best tracks to play at our get-togethers. In an English Music Magazine, an original Mod, Randy Cozens, posted a list of the Top 100 Mod songs. I managed to track down a lot but not all. Now they have released a CD box set of all 100. Being still in a vinyl phase I got myself the Top 40 as a double album. Dancefloor heaven.
