Every year The Barman makes the call-out for the Top Ten. Every year I can’t reduce mine to only ten.  Near impossible. I have cheated and there way too many highlights. For me personally, it was good to step out and do an acoustic gig for the opening might of Bryan Cooke’s musical photography exhibition in Sydney.  I used to play these shows at The Excelsior, Hopetoun and Manly Fishos and aim to do more this year.

Live Gigs

1. Grace Cummings in several places
It has  been a long time I have seen one artist or band four times in a year. I was envious of other people as Grace’s local performances, up until recently, have very rare. In fact, it’s been almost 18 months between Sydney shows. Notably, one was a warm-up prior to a gruelling American and European tour that included a live performance on the Steven Colbert late show.  

Four months later came an actual album launch for “Romana” at Sydney’s Metro Social in August. Then I won a lottery for a spot at the Phoenix Theatre, and finally caught a packed Crowbar show in early December.

_{Photo by Jo Forster. Check out her work on Facebook or Insta.}

RAY AHN’S TOP 10 for 2024

1: “Action Man”: Unreleased new Moffs number recorded by Tom, David and Andrew during Covid. Private listening, thank you Smiley. The Byrnes brothers – still best best rhythm masters!

2: Radio Birdman July 2025, 3 shows in Sydney. I was emotionally overcome

3: The Damned April 2025 Enmore. I was emotionally overcome

4: Oår live at Medley Musikhuset, Malmö October 8th – killer Swedish art-punk

5: Call It A Wasteland live at Club Rote Sonne München October 10th – killer German art-punk.

6: The Dark Clouds live at Marrickville Bowling Club Friday December 13th

7: No Future and Zerodent at Amplifier Bar, Perth, Thursday November 7th

8: Los Chicos live at Red Hill Hotel, Chewton, Sunday November 3rd

9: Glycereens and Boondall Boys, Black Bear Lodge, Brisbane, May 11th

10: Liquid Face and Square Tugs Live at Mo’s Desert Club house, Gold Coast, May 10th

_{Renan Goksin photo}

1. Private Function, Los Chichos, Human Toys, JJ McCann Transmission- St Kilda Bowls Club
A real mixed bag of lollies this gig was, style wise. Two internationals plus two local legends, all with their unique style of stage show on the one line up, was a pleasure to have been part of it.

2 . Pat Todd and the Rankoutsiders, Simon Juliff Band, Wrong Turn- St Kilda Bowls Club
One of the true rock 'n 'roll warriors from the US put on an fantastic mix of garage, country and blues at the club, along with the powerpop of stylings of SJB and three-chord rock heroes Wrong Turn.

3.  A Swayze and the Ghosts- The Old Bar.
After my dear friend Terry bought me the group’s first LP I knew I had to see ‘em live. I finally did, five years later. But the wait was worth it, and the hype delivered. The Ghosts sound like Alan Vega fronting a disco group, with 70s punk thrown in. A must-see act.

CHRIS KLONDIKE MASUAK
TOP SEVERAL FOR 2024

Ahh, the Festive Season!

Serious decisions have to be made … buzzkill the Glad Tidings or be of Relentless Good Cheer.

Once again, I opt for the latter, so chuck “It’s Christmas Time Again” on the player and sit back for my yearly screed.

Private Function
Best Oz Punk band by far out of the current crop.

Old Chisel
Only way you get out is by dying, live show still strong.

1. The Saints Live at Pig City
This is one hell of an album .I am a big Chris Bailey fan and I am pleased to be able to report that The Screaming Tribesmen played with Chris Bailey's Saints (not the original ones) many times back in the day. I feel he is very underrated as a singer although he is well celebrated as a front man/entertainer.  You just can't keep a good melody down and Chris Bailey can sing a melody that's for sure. I really miss him. 

2. Revelation EP by Los Revelators
This is a terrific recording featuring my long term partner in crime Chris Klondike Masuak. Some great guitar playing here and I love the keyboards too.

2024 TOP TEN-ish

GIG OF THE YEAR- Just one? No.

VICTORIA + DAVE MCCORMACK AND THE POLAROIDS at the Golden Barley, Sydney.
I’d never heard nor seen either band before and both were rather excellent.

POP CRIMES: JP SHILO, HARRY HOWARD, KIM SALMON, HUGO RACE, LYDIA LUNCH, TEX PERKINS, MICK HARVEY  AND MANY MORE- Factory Theatre, Sydney
Those songs, played by these artists.

_{Murray Bennett photo.}

Made it through an intense year of behind-the-scenes, hatchet job betrayal, on constant alert with old stuff anxiety kicking in and an ADHD burn-out that sent me to a dark and desperate place. 

But despite all the amputations, my life was saved by Rock ‘n’ Roll….

1. The Cruel Sea
Made a new album with The Cruel Sea. Recorded in three days in a tin shed during a brutal Melbourne heatwave. A bunch of songs we barely knew and nearly all first takes with minimal overdubs and quick mixes. Relied on our old wits and it sounds pretty damn good! 

2. Robyn Hitchcock
Spent time with my dear friend Robyn Hitchcock as we both navigated dark waters, then played a wonderful show at The Great Club in Sydney with Sam and Davey and Kate that steered us straight, and we stayed up grooving on my back deck until the birds and the garbage trucks joined us. 

 Some of the best material to come out of Ernie O’s Urban Fringe Compound over 2024, in no particular order (as these are my friends and clients, it doesn’t pay to play favourites):

Mick Medew and Ursula – In The Zone CD (I-94 Bar Records)
Mick and Ursula’s material has certainly “matured” with this release, with Ursula taking over vocal and co-writing duties on some of the more post punk styled songs ("Punk Grandma", "Invisible Woman"), while Mick’s melodic songwriting style shines on tracks like "In The Zone" and "Surfing On The Waves". This album is getting some great reviews online and from Australian independent radio stations. Available from Bandcamp. Get it!

John Kennedy and the New Originals – Live at the Marrickville Bowl (I-94 Bar Records)
John put together a stellar outfit with Pete Timmerman, Phil Hall, Murray Cook and Matt Galvin, and Richard Ball captured it live to 1’s and 0’s before Phil mixed it to sound like we’re actually in the room with the band. A totally live recording with no overdubs and only some pauses removed to keep it flowing, John has curated some of the best songs from his extensive stable, and a couple of old chestnuts (including Eastern Dark’s "Julie Is A Junkie" and "Hand of Law" by Radio Birdman). Stellar! Get it here.

Favourite Live Gigs in Sydney

DRIVE-BY TRUCKERS (Metro Theatre):
It was a long time between drinks but
they finally made it back to our shores and gave the crowd an Alabama
ass-whuppin'for the ages! With 14 studio albums up their sleeves it's
impossible to hear all of your favourite tunes,but it was a wonderful
evening of top-shelf Southern Rock whichever way you slice it.



CHEAP TRICK/THE ANGELS (Enmore Theatre): 

A crackin' night of pop-infused rock'n'roll from the get-go. I loved The Angels back in high school but lost interest by the late 80s, so it was a pleasant surprise to hear a
solid set of classics by a rejuvenated lineup now boasting 4 x Brewsters
in the ranks! They'll never have a frontman as great as Doc Neeson, but
they're still a fun night out. Cheap Trick were in top form delivering
hit after hit - if you don't enjoy these blokes you may be in need for a
check-up from the neck up!



Top Ten for 2024 in order of event

The Breeders at Enmore Theatre
Starting off with "Saints", ending with "Divine Hammer" and everything you’d want to hear in between.

Grazza-Fest at The Great Club
We lost a beautiful man last year so we all got together to celebrate Graham Bowditch the best way we know how. With the music he loved. Held on the weekend of his annual BBQs, the bands were: The Strike-Outs, Hellebores, The Glycereens, Rocks, The Pink Fits, The Hard-Ons, and they all provided a great night of entertainment.

Recording with The Jane Does at Rancom St Studios
The studio is owned by Garth Porter from Sherbet and we had the opportunity to record a song ("Around the Bend)" there for an upcoming pop culture doco by Larry McGrath called "Yesterday’s Highway". We had Tim Carr as producer and he worked his magic with us.

Human League at Enmore Theatre
Managed to score a last-minute ticket to this one thanks to my bandmate Matt. Performing the classic "Dare" album in full plus a selection of their other songs. Given that it’s mostly done on synths they were able to replicate their sound perfectly.  

“I FEEL YOUNG, I HAVE FUN, I'M NOT DONE!"

1. This year I've been back writing songs. To have Mick Medew as a collaborator is fantastic. Hope you've enjoyed them on our second album, “In The Zone”.

2. I've seen some amazing gigs this year. Here’s the highlights. Human League!!Halfway's 20th anniversary of “Any Old Love”. (I was asked up on stage to play harmonica on one song, but I danced instead). Dave Graney and Clare Moore and Adele Pickvance at The Bearded Lady.  Glycereens at our single launch. Radio Birdman, Sabrina Lawrie, Salt & Steel and Sarah Stockholm at Stranded, Loves a Blur as part of the Going Nowhere Fast exhibition and book launch. The Worm Turns at PFR Lounge (plus I got to meet Ildi Babu). The Melancholics single launch. The Saints ‘73-‘78 at The Princess Theatre. The Donnybrooks at Lismore.

3. The 23rd March is a special day for Mick Medew and me, because that's when we saw Stuart McLaughlin drumming in Sarah Stockholm's band. We both looked at each other and said. “I like his style; he could suit us”. I approached Sarah and she said, “Go for it! He’s got his own studio too!” Turns out said studio is five minutes from us. Stuart was keen. We asked Mick's former bass player, Lois Andrews to join, and she said Yes too!! The Mick Medew and Ursula 4 was born and April 1 was our first rehearsal. We’ve since played four gigs and we are looking forward to next year's shows in Newcastle, Sydney, Ipswich and good old Brisbane.

4. On the 24th of January we got a new fridge! The door actually closes and seals the cold air in!! How about that??!!!!