The Downtown 3 are (from left) Carrie Phillis, Craig Jackson, Scott Nash and Johnny Casino. Emmy Etie photo.
During some lean times for rock and roll in Sydney, two staples of the live scene have been Johnny Casino & The Secrets and the Booby Traps. Casino (aka John Spittles) is a guitar toting veteran of hard-hitters Asteroid B612 and a variety of bands also much of his own making, The Secrets being the most durable (and essentially a two city collective with bases in Sydney and Melbourne) playing rootsy but righteous rock. The Booby Traps were a wonderful collision of fuzzy garage pop and girl group pizzaz, fronted by fetching songstress Carrie Phillis.
- Details
- By The Barman
- Hits: 8190
In a wired world of passing trends, the Buzzcocks remain a comforting constant. One of the best of the first wave of UK punk, the original band plied their singularly melodic, buzzsaw trade from 1976 to 1981, disappeared and resurfaced in re-tooled form eight years later. They’ve been going strong since then, with two early line-up members intact.
- Details
- By Patrick Emery
- Hits: 6525
Thirty-one years after they last graced a stage in Spain, US powerpop supremos the Flamin Groovies are out on the road again. Mid-period vocalist-guitarist Chris Wilson is back in the fold, teaming with originals Cyril Jordan (guitar-vocals) and George Alexander (bass.) One of the catalysts behind the regrouping is the Dig It Up! travelling festival in Australia, curated by fans and friends the Hoodoo Gurus.
- Details
- By Patrick Emery
- Hits: 10981
It’s hard to exaggerate the impact Blue Oyster Cult band has had on what used to be Australian underground music - at least at the guitar-orientated, rockist end of its spectrum. Mysterious, energetic and hard-edged but, unmistakenly melodic, they were the ultimate cult band in the mid-1970s.
- Details
- By Patrick Emery
- Hits: 7814
Among the bands leading the great garage rock charge backwards in the 1980s, perhaps The Chesterfield Kings stood tallest.
- Details
- By Dave Laing
- Hits: 7087
The smiling face of hardcore: MDC with Dave Dictor in yellow
Do I like hardcore? Er, not usually, no. Or punk? Well, no, not really. Very little of it grabs my attention or interest. I am particularly suspect of any band which declares themselves to be 'punk'; usually such outfits may be filed under 'rebel lite', possibly in an Elmer Fudd voice.
- Details
- By Robert Brokenmouth
- Hits: 10075
Pig City author ANDREW STAFFORD speaks to former Screaming Tribesman and I-94 Bar Records signing MICK MEDEW about all the old, all the new, and "All Your Love". Cartoon by Rick Chesshire.
The big three are money, drugs and women – the three things that invariably fuck male bands up. For the Screaming Tribesmen, it was women, or a woman, though the whole thing was probably the bass player’s fault, really. It’s the best story of its type I’ve ever heard.
- Details
- By Andrew Stafford
- Hits: 6573
Page 18 of 18
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The Living Eye
I-94 Bar Records and Promotions presents
The Grooveyard
+ Il Bruto
Smiths Alternative, Canberra
Tickets
- 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
Tickets
+ The Dark Clouds
+ Jupiter 5
Marrickville Bowling Club
- Feb 15
Tickets
Bahne Super-Flex
+ DISGRACELand
+ Ellie Vandelle
Brass Monkey, Cronulla, NSW
- Feb 15
Tickets
Broham
"Buckle Rash" CD Launch
Golden Barley, Enmore, NSW
(8-11pm, 3 sets, free)
The D4
Australiasian Tour
FEB
NZ
7 - Totara Street Mount Maunganui
8 - JOE'S FARM, Whangamata
AUS
13 - The Brightside Brisbane
14 - Mary's Underground, Sydney
15 - The Tote, Collingwood Vic
NZ
21 - Meow, Wellington
22 - Rosemary’s, Taupō
28 - The Kaipara Tavern, Helensville
MAR
1 - Harbour View Hotel Raglan
Raglan
14 - Spark Arena, Auckland
15 - Loons, Christchurch
The Osees
Australian Tour
FEB
+ Straight Arrows
3 – Princess Theatre, Brisbane
Tickets
+ Straight Arrows
5 - Miami Marketta
Tickets
+ Prix D’Amour + The Ghoulies
8 – Freo Social, Fremantle, WA
Tickets
9 – Lion Arts Factory, Adelaide, SA
Tickets
+ The Blinds
10 – Croxton Hotel, Melbourne
SOLD OUT
+ Modal Melodies
11 - Croxton Hotel, Melbourne
Tickets
+ RMFC
15 – The Metro Threatre, Sydney
Tickets
Tickets via metrotheatre.com.au
I-94 Bar Records and Promotions presents
Dr Psychedelic Poodle (JPN)
+ Jupiter 5
+ Cheetah Beat
MoshPit, St Peters (NSW)
- Feb 22
(2pm)
Tickets
Bahne Super-Flex
+ 1978
Botany View Hotel
- Feb 22
Tickets
The Beasts
Corner Hotel, VIC
- Feb 21
Tickets
Manning Bar, NSW
- Feb 22
Tickets
SoundPressing presents
Songs and Stories of Charlie Owen
Tasmanian Tour
FEB
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
- March 9
(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
21 - La La La's, Wollongong - Tix
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
(w/ Turd!)
6 - Buffalo Club, Fremantle, WA
(5.30pm doors)
Tickets
The 5.6.7.8s
Australian Tour
MAR
20 – Sydney Crowbar
+ Psychotic Turnbuckles + Cheetah Beat
Tickets
21 – Powerhouse, Brisbane
Tickets
22 – High Country Hop Festival,
Beechworth, VIC
Tickets
23 – After Bar, Hobart
Tickets
25 – The Tote, Melbourne
SOLD OUT
26 – The Last Chance, Melbourne
Tickets
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
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
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