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the straight path

  • on top straight arrowsThey’re not its most prolific band but they’re one of Sydney’s best. The Straight Arrows seem like kids but have been around for nearly a decade and this is only their third long player. It’s doubtful they care about keeping score and neither should you.

    What you need to know is that “On Top” is uncomplicated, nicely raw and melodic. Two guitars, bass and drums and well-crafted, economical songs. Tight but loose. Cleaner-sounding on this record than before but still rough enough around the edges. 

    Owen Penglis writes good songs, alright. Cock an ear to the grinding yet light fuzzfest of “The One” or the buzzsaw burst of album opener “Nothing To Me”. They’re instantly catchy - like early Ratcat to cite a band that was around before these guys were born. Penglis and Al Grigg weave curtains of fuzz with their guitars and the energy level never sags. 

  • kn40 front smCanadian-expat Aussie Chris “Klondike” Masuak’s the kind of guy who likes to put pictures of his guitars (Strat! Robin! Perspex Dan Armstrong! Firebird!) on his records (like his pal Deniz Tek did on his back-from-the-Navy career restarter “Take It to the Vertical:). One gets the sense that Klondike’s the kind of cat who just purely loves to play, and is as much of a fan as a muso.

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The Living Eye


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I-94 Bar Records and Promotions presents
The Psyhcotic Turnbuckles Xmas Cage Match
Psychotic Turnbuckles
_ Bahne Super-Flex
+ The Chainsaw 4
Marricville Bowlo, NSW
- Dec 21
Ticets

Lord Rochester (UK)
DEC
19 – The Gem Bar
w/  The Breadmakers
21 – The Town Hall Hotel, Melb, VIC
31 - Lyric’s Bar, Perth

John Kennedy & The New Originals
Live at the Marrickville Bowl Tour
DEC
21 – Golden Barley, Enmore, NSW (solo)
23 – Velvet Fog in-store, Katoomba, NSW (solo)
27 – George Lane, St Kilda, VIC (solo)
+ Nick Batterham
Tickets
28 – The Old Bar, Fitzroy, VIC (solo)
JAN
11 – Cave In, Woolloongabba, QLD
(with Murray Cook)
Tickets
17 – Smiths Alternative, Canberra, ACT
Ticket
18 – Marrickville Bowlo, NSW
Tickets
25 - Side B Vinyl Bar, Blackheath, NSW 

I-94 Bar Records and Promotions presents
"The Post New Years Eve Apocalypse"
Jupiter 5
+ The Jane Does
+ The Sugar Beats
The Men From U.N.C.L.E.
Marrickville Bowlo, BSW
- Jan 4
Tickets

Chimers Australian Tour
JAN
31 -  La La La’s, Wollongong
+ special guests

“Hotter Than Donut Grease Tour”
Grand Pricks
+ Dave Favours & The Roadside Ashes
+ The Tall Stories
JAN
21 - Tamworth Hotel, Tamworth

The Stranglers
50 Years In Black  
2025 Australasian Tour
MAR
13 - Powerstation, Auckland. NZ
15 - Meow Nui, Wellington, NZ
16 - Christchurch Town Hall, Christchurch, NZ 
19 - Enmore Theatre, Sydney
20 - The Tivoli, Brisbane
22- Forum, Melbourne
23 - The Gov, Adelaide
25 - Astor Theatre, Perth
Tickets

I-94 Bar Records and Promotions presents
Grooveyard
+ Il Bruto
Smiths Alternative, Canberra
Ticets
- Feb 7
+ The On and Ons
+ Van Ruin
(city debut)
- Feb 8
Tickets 

I-94 Bar Records and Promotions presents
The Mick Medew & Ursula 4
"In The Zone"
NSW Album Launches
+ East Coast Low
+ Jupiter 5
Stag & Hunter, Mayfield
- Feb 14
+ The Dark Clouds
+ Jupiter 5
Marricville Bowling Club
- Feb 15

 

 

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