Collingwood- having done these Top Tens at the Bar for a few years now, I had to make a best team category, just so I could get my beloved Pies in. Now we won the flag, no need. The Magpies take their rightful spot as the best of the best of 2023.
Test Cricket- great series of cricket from the Aussies in India and England, and a ripper series between England and New Zealand, as well as the Kiwi’s against Pakistan. And while some controversy dominated the headlines (Johnny, what were you smoking?), at least people are talking Test cricket again.
Pat Todd, Mad Macca at the Espy, St Kilda- Having been a Lazy Cowgirls/ Rankoutsiders fan for years, it was incredible to finally see Pat live. Pat for me is one of the all-time greats of American rock. A voice any singer would kill for, and a storyteller up there with the best of them. Just a man and guitar, nothing else needed. Macca played a corker of an opening set. While I’ve seen him live many times over the years with different bands, seeing him stripped back solo was a reminder of how good he is, and like Pat, give him a mic and stage, and the man will entertain you.
Ed Kuepper: National Theatre- Astonishing gig from Edmund and band. A ten minute version of "Electrical Storm" had me wondering for days what I just witnessed.
The Breadmakers: The Gem- had the joy of seeing the Breadies many times this year, including an excellent double bill with Brisbane’s The Far Outs. But a tribute show to Graeme Thomas of Preston Records/Studios was a classy way to praise an important Melbourne figure.
Hoss, Persecution Blues, Dino Bravo:St Kilda Bowls Club- I might look like a twat putting a gig I had a hand putting on in this list, but sod it. One of my all-time personal favourites in Hoss played two killer sets, along with Persecution Blues, who would have fit right in the Melbourne scene of the late '80s/early '90s. Three balls-out rock 'n' roll bands on the one bill in St Kilda, you don’t get that often and was proud to be part of it.
Chris Masuak, River of Snakes, The Fiction: Northcote Social Club- Brilliant setlist choice from Masuak; good collection of his solo work, Birdman, Hitmen, and the Tribesmen. Along with the ever-reliable Fiction and River of Snakes, three wonderful guitar focused bands playing intense rock n roll north of the river.
Cruel Sea: The Palais- Having never seen the Sea before, I was blown away. Nice mix of the greatest hits and instrumentals. Greg once again showed why he’s up there as one of our best frontmen.
Shepparton Airplane-, Affordable Repayments, Persecution Blues: St Kilda Bowls Club- Ok, I put another gig I had a hand in on the list, but this was amazing. And onya Flash for booking 'em.
Hip Priests: Old Bar- Great to finally meet my German correspondent Martin Rabitz at the start of the year. He told me to meet him at the Old Bar on a Saturday, never mentioned his drummer also came along for the trip, and they had a show. I didn’t know he was in a band to begin with. That said, was a classic punk show, angry, little talking in-between, intensity to the max, and all over in 30 minutes. I loved every second of it.
Gig Ads
Only notrthside gig
Arvo show!
Click to buy
The Tote return!
Back at the Bowlo
The Living Eye
The Stems Australian East Coast Tour *with special guests, Rinehearts APR 24 – Crowbar Sydney, NSW* 25 – Gum Ball Festival, Hunter Valley, NSW 26 – Old Museum, Brisbane, QLD 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 The Johnnys "Live in Lyon" CD launches MAY + Van Ruin Old Manly Boatshed, NSW -24 Tickets + Van Ruin + Dave Favours & The Roadside Ashes Sydney Crowbar, Leichhardt, NSW - 25 (5pm) + Australian Beefweek (public bar) 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
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
Missing Link # 5 The Bluebottles + The Wraylettes + Honk + The Missing Link Band Shotkickers, Thornbury, VIC - May 3
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