launch

One of the Greater Sydney region’s most rocking bands (OK, Wollongong actually), The Dark Clouds, are determined to give the vinyl edition of their wickedly great album “My Way Or The Highway” the welcome it deserves.

The CD’s been out for a while (you can find multiple reviews from us here) but it always sounds better on vinyl, doesn’t it? 

TheDeanov and Terry agree and that’s why they’re hosting a free gig at The Crowbar in Leichhardt in Sydney’s inner-west on Saturday April 24, with their Evil Tone Records labelmates The Strike Outs in tow.

It’s an early show in the front bar, kicking off at 6pm, so you can kick on and party to your liver's delight into the night afterwards.

_{Angelo, Jay and The Celebrity Roadie front up for Jupiter 5.}

Jupiter 5
+ 50LgE
The MoshPit, Erskineville
Saturday, May 1, 2021

The Moshpit is such a great venue. Located down the Sydney Park end of Newtown, this is the sort of establishment you would walk past during the day and not even be aware that it existed.

It is, virtually, a corridor with some lounges inside the entrance, a bar, some tables and chairs then the stage. Fantastic intimate vibe with a lot of band memorabilia lining the walls, craft beers on tap and friendly staff and clientele. The Moshpit is currently celebrating three years of operation with many great bands playing - so now you have an extra excuse to visit this iconic venue and check it out.

Their single “Punk Grandma” is number-three on the 4ZZZ playlists in Brisbane and attracting airplay all round the country. The album it comes from, “In The Zone”, is out next week. So I-94 Bar Recordsartists Mick Medew and Ursula are officially launching the album in their home town in style.

The “Meduo” will play It’s Still A Secret in South Brisbane with The Mick Medew and Ursula 4on Saturday, November 16 with Lovejoy Surf.The gig is at the grandparents friendly hour of 2pm and tickets are here.

“In The Zone” hits retail and digital channels on November 1 but you can procure a pre-sale CD copy here.

The Mick Medew and Ursula 4 plays a New South Wales show at Northern Rivers Hotel, Lismore, on Sunday, December 8 from 2pm. (Sheesh, what is it about these early starts?) Details in the Facebook event here.  Stay tuned for news about Newcastle and Sydney launches early in 2025.

A few weeks ago at the Factory Floor in Sydney, I caught The Nice Folk supporting Harry Howard and The NDE and The Holy Soul. 

The Nice Folk (for me) were a cross beyween early Captain Beefheart Magic Band and Pere Ubu. I wrote that they could "pull out a slow, sleazy blues song and switch to early Beasts of Bourbon-like sloppy and swampy excursions". What really struck me that night, however, was that they captured a spirit of an Australian music scene from a long time ago.

In the ’80s, pre-Nirvana, pre-Ratcat. pre-corporate festivals - and the boozed up smashed bogans with Southern Cross tatts thinking they are cool one day of the year going to the Big Day Out - there were bands like The Nice Folk. These bands knew they were never going to capture a place in the commercial charts. They were truly underground.

This let to music that was free from attempting to be accessible. It was about the band and music first and not getting them “Suck-cess”. Bands like the Laughing Clowns, Lubricated Goat, Box The Jesuit and the early Wet Taxis. Which is why I really liked The Nice Folk. They had a similar attitude and devotion to their music.

Melbourne's internationally acclaimed power poppers Lava Fangs have finally announced a launch for their new album, "Sub Auroram", which was recorded with Paul Maybury of Rocket Science and The Pink Tiles.

The launch at Mama Chen's in Footscray, Melboutne, at 2:30PM on Saturday November 2  will be a rare live outing for the band, and follows their rapturously received set last month at the Gem in Collingwood as guests of power pop all-star combo Benny J & the Psych Ward. That band features Benny J Ward (Rinehearts), Davey Lane (You Am I/Pictures/Todd Rundgren), Link Meanie (Meanies) and Matt Cotter (Even) so they keep good company.

Sydney veterans Sonic Garage will unveil their second album, “Dark Country”, at an early Friday night show at The Old Manly Boatshed on 6 October. 

Supports are hard rock supergroup Bahne Super Flex, featuring ex-members of the Trilobites, Celibate Rifles and Mushroom Planet, and new comers Capital Romantics.  

Sydney band, The Hadron Colliders, will launch their debut EP, “Measuring the Space between Us All” at the iconic Petersham Bowling Club in their home city on Sunday, February 22 from 5pm with an all-ages gig.

Containing members from ‘80s and ‘90s bands The Last Metro and The Catherine Wheel, The Hadron Colliders have built up a reputation for their dynamic live performances which has been further enhanced by the release of their debut EP.

The EP, recorded at Damien Gerard Studios with Russell Pilling (The Church, The Vines, Died Pretty) has been described as “...soulful, gentle indie pop... fragile, constructed melodies and (a) sort of melancholy sweetness”.  Our own Robert Brokenmouth said "Measuring the Space Between Us All" was “...sexy... a crushing, lovely boat trip down a brooding romance-laden river”.

Joining the band will be Canberra’s Positive Feedback Loop and Nature Strip Duo (a stripped down version of the inimitable The Nature Strip). Entry is $10 tickets at the door), with kids free.