For more than 40 years, Ed Kuepper has been creating music. Over that time, he's claimed a place as one of the most progressive and critically acclaimed singer-songwriters and guitar players to emerge from Australia.
Ed has been (mostly) in the shadows of the mainstream and has always forged his own path.
No-one sounds like Ed Kuepper.
I was about 12 when “I’m Stranded” blared from my television set. With a mouthfull of Milo and with my school bag thrown on the sofa, I raced over and turned the volume up of the old National 18-inch colour “telly”. I was blown away by the sound and the image. It was the afternoon show ABC ‘s Flashez that I recall and an interview followed with people who seemed like street urchins. It was explosive. These blokes – The Saints - were the real deal.
- Details
- By Edwin Garland
- Hits: 11446
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.
- Details
- By Edwin Garland
- Hits: 7476
These bloody phone interviews. If you’ve never done one, this is how it goes:
First, you notice unfamiliar terms in the email from the publicist like AEDT and CST that refer to time zones. And that excremental daylight saving kicked in two days ago. Cue frantic fiddling on the computer to make sure you’ve got the right time.
You’ve been given a choice of times - if you’re lucky. Bit awkward if you get stuck with a time when you’re at work and you have to excuse yourself to go to the bog and do an interview. Trust me, you get looks.
“Who were you cackling away to in the toilet, Robert? New … chum?”
Cue: furious blushing.
This interview was with James Williamson, the guitarist for Iggy and The Stooges, who has a new solo album, "Re-Licked" in the racks. And I got lucky on another front this time, and the nearly-threenager grandchild didn’t arrive until after I’d finished, so assorted boing noises, yowls and her squeaky voice didn’t float up into the recording.
With most "phoners"you do have a strict 20 minutes to adhere to, a weird time (in this case it’s from 8.55am to 9.15 am). But you do worry that it’s 4.30 am where the interviewee is, and he’ll be off his head on Tequila and mushies. As rock stars do.
Just 20 minutes to gain rapport and probe the poor bugger’s most intimate self? Poor bugger? He’s on the receiving end of a long line of assorted gits like me for several hours.
One minute before the appointed time, you dial a local number - with the area code prefix. A recorded message asks you to select your language. I am always very tempted to fuck with this but have so far refrained. One day I’ll select Croat or Bulgarian or Tig or something.
- Details
- By Robert Brokenmouth
- Hits: 8278
John Felice is one of rock’n’roll’s unsung heroes. A founding member of the Modern Lovers at the age of 15, he quit the band before the sessions that resulted in their classic album, and was subsequently written out of the history of one of the most influential bands of the ‘70s.
The band he left to form, the Kids, made some local waves but ultimately went nowhere, pretty much coming to an end when he went off to New York to audition for the Heartbreakers - a job he turned down.
Back in Boston, he formed the Real Kids, and finally wrote his own chapter in rock’n’roll history with an album for Marty Thau’s Red Star label that goes down as one of the greatest ever – a perfect blend of Eddie Cochran, the early Stones and the Velvet Underground, with killer tunes, energy and feel, and some of the most honest and affecting lyrics ever put to music.
- Details
- By David Laing
- Hits: 16501
The recent passing of legendary American guitarist Dick Wagner is as good an excuse as any to look back on his long and incredible career. Philadelphia-based record label head, manager, writer and all-round music maven Geoff Ginsberg conducted a landmark I-94 Bar interview with Dick in 1999. It's reprised below. - The Barman
- Details
- By Geoff Ginberg
- Hits: 13127
Loose Pills (fron left) Stu Wilson, Matt Galvin, Ryan Ellsmore and Bill Gibson
Remember when ‘super groups’ played ‘pop music’ that rocked? Yes, both terms have been bludgeoned into redundancy but Sydney’s Loose Pills are doing their level best to re-introduce some relevance.
The membership should be enough to make you prick up your ears - New Christs, The Eastern Dark, Lemonheads, Orange Humble Band, The Scruffs (the Aussie edition), Pyramidiacs and too many more to mention dot the collective history. The debut album, “Rx”, seals the deal with a dose of raucous guitars, powerful dynamics and pop smarts.
We spoke to singer-guitarist Ryan Ellsmore to get the lowdown and what makes a great Heavy Pop record.
- Details
- By The Barman
- Hits: 8557
One of the lesser-known musical pleasures in Australian over the last decade has been the quirky garage sound of the Hekawis, a fuzz-and-organ-driven combo prominent on the Brisbane and Melbourne underground music scenes. Churning out release after release, partly via the then prolific Courdroy label (who happened to own the country's sole vinyl pressing machine for a period in the '90s), the Hekawis pushed all the usual '50s and '60s buttons but came up with a sound unlike any other of their ilk.
- Details
- By The Barman
- Hits: 7807
Rick Chesshire cartoon
January 27, 2008 - If the impending (2008) return to live performance by premier Detroit art-punk chanteuse Niagara isn't enough to get you excited, you're browsing the wrong website or you're a cadaver.
- Details
- By The Barman
- Hits: 11871
If there's one recent (i.e. it came out in late 2009 and is still being spun) Australian album that merits robbing a bank, mugging your neighbour or running down to Cash Converters and pawning your partner so you can purchase a copy, it's "Living With You Is Killing Me" by Brisbane band HITS.
- Details
- By The Barman
- Hits: 8438
More Articles …
- Gimme Some Stooges songs: James Williamson opens up and talks
- Faster and Louder with Andy Shernoff of The Dictators
- Fresh Meat With No Strings Attached: Curt Kirkwood of the Meat Puppets
- Bad Shepherd Ade Edmondson has punk covered
- James Williamson on "Raw Power", 30 years on
- Calling From The Fun House: Stooges guitarist Ron Asheton
Page 16 of 18
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Smiths Alternative, Canberra
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NSW Album Launches
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"Buckle Rash" CD Launch
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The D4
Australiasian Tour
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NZ
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8 - JOE'S FARM, Whangamata
AUS
13 - The Brightside Brisbane
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8 – Freo Social, Fremantle, WA
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10 – Croxton Hotel, Melbourne
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Botany View Hotel
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The Beasts
Corner Hotel, VIC
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Manning Bar, NSW
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SoundPressing presents
Songs and Stories of Charlie Owen
Tasmanian Tour
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27 - Cygnet Bowls & Community Club, Cygnet
28 - The Grand Poobah, Hobart
MAR
2 Mar - Valentino Safe Co, Lilydale
(2pm)
Joeys Coop
+ The Finalists (single launch)
The Union, Newtown
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(5pm, free)
Kim Salmon’s Smoked Salmon
Australian Tour
MAR
7 - Lyric Lane, Perth - Tix
8 - Gerry's Gold Neighbourhood
Laneway Music Festival, Gerry's Lane, Freo (Kim solo)
8 - Mojo's, Fremantle - Tix
9 - The River, Margaret River (Kim solo)
14 - Bridge Hotel, Castlemaine, Vic - Tix
20 - Smiths Alternative, Canberra - Tix
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22 - Petersham Bowling Club, Sydney - Tix
30 - Barwon Club, Geelong - Tix
APR
4 - Bearded Lady, Brisbane - Tix
5 - Vinnie's Dive Bar, Gold Coast - Tix
6 - Bangalow Bowlo, Bangalow, NSW - Tix
11 - The Grace Emily, Adelaide - Tix
12 - Northcote Social Club, Melbourne - Tix
Guitar Wolf
Australian Tour
MAR
21 - The Curtin, Melbourne
(w/ The Prize + The States)
22 - Bambra Music Festival (afternoon)
22 - Jerkiest 10, Barwon Club Hotel, Geelong
23 - Singing Bird Studios, Frankston VIC
(w/ Gnome + more! All Ages show, 4-9pm)
24 - Thornbury Picture House, Melba
(W/ "Wild Zero: screening)
25 - Trash Cult, Bendigo
(w/ Poppin' Mommas)
27 - The Bridge Hotel, Castlemaine, VIC
(w/Leon)
28 - Brisbane Crowbar
(w/ The Onyas + Eyes Ninety)
29 - Factory Floor, Sydney
(w/ Antenna + The Crankees)
APR
3 - Crown and Anchor, Adelaide
4 - Seasonal Brewing, Perth
(w/ Zerodent & The Murderbirds)
5 - Prince of Wales, Bunbury, WA
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6 - Buffalo Club, Fremantle, WA
(5.30pm doors)
Tickets
The 5.6.7.8s
Australian Tour
MAR
20 – Sydney Crowbar
+ Psychotic Turnbuckles + Cheetah Beat
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21 – Powerhouse, Brisbane
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22 – High Country Hop Festival,
Beechworth, VIC
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23 – After Bar, Hobart
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25 – The Tote, Melbourne
SOLD OUT
26 – The Last Chance, Melbourne
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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
The Stems
East Coast Australian Tour 2025
APR
23 - Northcote Social Club
24 - Sydney Crowbar
25 - Gum Ball Festival, Hunter Valley, NSW
26 - Old Museum, Brisbane
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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
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