Emmy Etie photo
The tour is almost over and the verdicts are in following a re-tooling of the line-up with the controversial omission of guitarist Chris Masuak. We present divergent views of the sold-out Australian run of Radio Birdman shows.
Go here to read an appraisal of the Adelaide gig by Robert Brokenmouth and here to read Edwin Garland's read-out on the band's two Melbourne gigs. You can leave comments on both reviews. Photos are by Emmy Etie and Kyleigh Pitcher.
- Details
- By The Barman
- Hits: 12733
The cover - taken by Lydia Lunch - shows the ruins of an ancient desert city. Could be Jericho. Whether Jericho is in the Mid-East or the West of the USA makes little difference. We’re dealing with perennial humanity in a perilous place with a mythological backdrop. But, you know, the Israelis and the Palestinians are still killing each other, and as I say, it’s a big thing on a big, operatic stage with no solution and no apparent beginning, never mind end…
… and there are plenty of abandoned towns in Australia… it doesn’t take much, just a bit of intolerance and a bit of ignorance, and idealism for a hopeless, not very sensible cause…
- Details
- By The Barman
- Hits: 11180
If one of those great, booze-soaked rock and roll weekends like Garage Shock or the Las Vegas Shakedown were still a going concern (correct me if I'm wrong and one of them still is ) the Bloody Hollies would have been one of those bands that came in unheralded, blew everyone away and sold a ton at the merch table. And anyone who picked this album up would have been plenty satisfied 'cos it's 30 minutes of fire-breathin' punk fury.
- Details
- By Andrew Molloy
- Hits: 9909
Keep Moving – Xani (Live At Fight Night Records)
It’s been a month since I saw Xani at The Recital Hall in Sydney, in support of John Cale. Those in attendance that I’ve spoken to were blown away by the lone figure on stage with her Irish jig footwork and extraordinary violin playing.
That night Xani produced a vast array of sounds from that tiny instrument. Of course, in a studio with multi-track recording, an artist doesn’t need the same level of complexity, timing and, in Xani’s case, looping. I suspect the songs in a studio setting came first and looping is a means of reproducing a wild tapestry of sounds when playing live.
- Details
- By Ed Garland
- Hits: 260
Revenge – Plastic Section (Chaputa Records)
If you ask us, “refinement” and “Rock and Roll” make strange bedfellows and Melbourne’s Plastic Section is a case in point. This retro trio is so out of kilter with 99.999 percent of the straight musical world that it hurts. And in a time where music is an ever debased commodity, that is very much a good thing.
Plastic Section take their lead from rockabilly, rough-edged R&B and ‘50s rock and roll. “Revenge” is their album nomenclature, but reverb is their religion and they worship at the altar of Link Wray.
It should be no surprise. The band’s lineage is in outfits like The Exotics, Wrong Turn, The Wraylettes, Wet Ones and Girl Monstar. They probably wouldn’t have existed over the course of a couple of albums and an EP in any Australian city other than Melbourne.
- Details
- By The Barman
- Hits: 867
LightHeavyWeight 3 - Jack Howard (self released)
If you don't know who Jack Howard is, I can only assume you are a newcomer to Australian music, and probably a newcomer to this website. For the benefit of the uninitiated, he played trumpet with Hunters & Collectors, toured the world with Midnight Oil as their multi-instrumentalist and has played with the likes of Rodriguez, The Violent Femmes, The Living End, You Am I, Tex Perkins and Kate Ceberano.
So let's move straight away to the nitty-gritty. It's the music, it's the beat, it's the soul. Those are the only things that matter.
- Details
- By Robert Brokenmouth
- Hits: 1499
The Revenge of Alice Cooper - Alice Cooper (earMUSIC)
Goddamn. It's been over 50 years. I loved the original Alice Cooper Band. That live album they recently did of old songs was fucking cool. Surely this will be great. My anticipation, like pride, comes before a fall.
The Revenge of Alice Cooper? That might be too strongly stated. It's not even really the return of Alice Cooper. Maybe it's the retirement plan of Alice Cooper. Christ. The boys in the original band definitely deserve something. They were royally shafted.
We've had a few of these reunion albums over recent years. The Stooges did "The Weirdness" which was pretty much loathed but I rather liked. "Ready to Die" followed to a better reaction. I loved it but others weren't so keen.
- Details
- By Bob Short
- Hits: 1285
After The Flood - Ed Kuepper and Jim White (Remote Control)
“We took what Jim and I had been doing live and brought it into the studio. It was important that we capture the immediacy of what we had been doing and everything was not laboured. Everything was laid down.”
Ed Kuepper spells it all out in his media release announcing this album. Anyone who has witnessed the powerful, atmospheric and unforgettable performances of Ed Kuepper and Jim White live will testify that they’re something not to be missed.
- Details
- By Ed Garland
- Hits: 1952
The Sugar Beats – The Sugar Beats (Vinil Records)
It was a Saturday afternoon earlier this year when I stumbled on a Sugar Beats set. I was filming a documentary at MoshPit Bar in Sydney. There were whispers on the grapevine that the band was awesome. So, we raced down with a cameraman and a buddy in tow, in the hope that the band would deliver.
The word on the street was correct. Live, The Sugar Beats were overwhelmingly tight, blistering, gutsy and hooky, a three-piece playing high-powered punk rock.
- Details
- By Edwin Garland
- Hits: 3108
More Articles …
- Punk survivor Kevin K keeps working in the shadows
- Good day, (Mr) Sunshine
- The sun still shines on The Breadmakers
- "Roads, Stars" makes a fitting addition to the Asteroid-B612 catalogue
- The Owen Guns shoot to thrill with fucking idiots in their sights
- The Dunhill Blues are still shaking things up, two decades down the track
Subcategories
Behind the fridge
Artifacts and reviews from days gone by.
Page 2 of 181
Gig Ads
The Living Eye
New Christs
Europe Tour
AUG
19 - Bologna IT
21 - Shake Club, La Spezia IT
22 - Molotov, Marseille FR
23 - Secret Place, Montpellier FR
24 - Le Moulin du Rousseau, Perigueux FR
28 - Relache, Bordeaux FR
29 - Festivalle Tobalina, Quintana Martin Galinde ES
30 - 16 Toneladas, Valencia ES
31 - Stereo, Alicante ES
SEP
2 - Sala Upload, Barcelona ES
4 - Sala El Sol, Madrid ES
5 - Sala Milwaukee, El Puerto de Santa Maria ES
6 - Hogaza Rock, Alfacar ES
East Coast Low
"Badlanding" Album Launches
AUG
23 – In-store @ Hiss and Crackle, Wallsend, NSW
(2pm, free)
23 - Link & Pin, Woy Woy, NSW
+ The Strike-Outs + The Dark Clouds
24 – MoshPit, St Peters, NSW
+ The Dark Clouds + The Strike-Outs
The Wraylettes
AUG
31 - Last Chance, Melbourne
SEP
5 - Stag & Hunter Hotel, Newcastle, NSW
+ FAHM + Maids of Horror
6 - Outta Space Weekender, Link & Pin, Woy Woy, NSW
7 - Petersham Bowling Club, Sydney (matinee)
Hugo Race and Michaelangelo Russo
100 Years Tour
AUG
23 – Brunswick Ballroom, Melbourne
SEP
12 – Odessa, Creswick, VIC
Tickets
“The 4th Outtaspace Weekender”
Link & Pin, Woy Woy - free
SEP
5 – The Leftards + Punktillious
+ The Silver Dragons
6 – The Warts + Antiobodies +
The Sugar Beats + The Wraylettes
+ The Strike-Outs + The Dunhill Blues
+ The FNCs + TBA
8 – The Cannanes + Love Me
+ Mick Daley
+ Chris Wash & The Gibberish Collective
Van Ruin
French Tour
SEP
5 - La Petite Rade, Le Havre
6 - La Trinquette, Rennes
11 - Le Ravelin, Toulouse
12 – TBC, Perpignan
13 - La Cigale dans la fourmilière, Nègrepelisse
18 - Shapers Club House, Marennes
20 - Irish Pub, Frontignan
26 – L’Armony, Paris
27 - La Griffe, Lille
35th Anniversary of "Black Milk"
The Beasts
+ Cash Savage
+ The Johnnys
+ Ezra Lee
The Forum, Melbourne
Tickets
“Ramones Appreciation Night”
The Dark Clouds
+ The Strike Outs
+ Arturos
MoshPit Bar, St Peters, NSW
- Sep 12
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
Soundpressing presents
Datura4
+ The Spivs
Iron & Resin Garage, Currumbin, QLD
- Oct 24
Tickets
The Soft ‘n’ Sexy Sound Tour
Dave Graney and the Coral Snakes
OCT
3 - Factory Theatre, Marrickville, Sydney
Tickets
4 - Waves, Wollongong, NSW
Tickets
5 - The Street Theatre, Canberra
Tickets
10 - The Corner Hoyel, Richmond, Vic
Tickets
11 - Bundy Hall, Bundalaguah VIC
Tickets
24 - Freo Social, Fremantle WA
Tickets
25 - The River Hotel, Margaret River WA
Tickets
31 - Brisbane Crowbar QLD
Tickets
NOV
1 - The Imperial, Eumundi QLD
Tickets
2 - Mo's Desert Clubhouse, Gold Coast QLD
Tickets
7 - Byron Bay Theatre NSW
Tickets
8 - Bellingen Memorial Hall NSW
Tickets
13 - King Street Bandroom, Newcastle
Tickets
14 - Avoca Beach Theatre NSW
Tickets
15 - The Lounge, Chatswood NSW
Tickets
16 - Dangar Island Bowlo NSW (matinee)
Tickets
21 - The Gov, Adelaide SA
Tickets
28 - Royal Oak, Launceston TAS
Tickets
29 - The Pier, Ulverstone TAS
Tickets
30 - Longley International Hotel, Longley TAS
Tickets
4ZZZ presents
“ZED 50”
Ther Saints ’73-‘78
+ Regurgitator
+ Tropical Fuck Storm
+ Full Flower Moon Band
+ Big Noter + Butterfingers
+ Screamfeeder
+ Nice Biscuit + Party Dozen
+ Frangipanis + Dancingwater
+ Platonic Sex + Velociraptor
Roma St Parklands, Brisbane
- Oct 25
“4ZZZ Joint Effort 50”
Dave Warner’s From The Suburbs
+ X
+ The Survivors
+ XERO
+ The Black Assassins
+ Pineapples From The Dawn of Time
Hamilton Hotel, QLD
- Nov 8
Asteroid B612
Australian Tour
NOV
6 – La La La´s, Wollongong NSW
7 – Marrickville Bowling Club, NSW
8 – Avalon Beach RSL Club, NSW
14 - The John Curtin Hotel, Carlton VI
I-94 Bar Records & Promotions presents
Chris Masuak’s Dog Soldier
Australia 2025
NOV
13 - Hamilton Station Hotel, Newcastle, NSW
+ Drugs in Sport + Melvic Centre
14 – Mo’s Desert Clubhouse, Burleigh Heads, QLD
+ Dr Bombay + The Spivs
Tickets
15 – The Cave Inn, Woolloongabba, QLD
+ The Mick Medew & Ursula 4
+ Dr Bombay + The Spivs
Tickets
16 – Banshee’s Bar & Artspace, Ipswich, QLD
+ The Mick Medew & Ursula 4 + The Spivs
Tickets
21 – Link & Pin, Woy Woy, NSW
+ The Dunhill Blues + Chaos Vinyl
Tickets
22 – Waywards, Newtown, NSW
+ Spitting Chips + Jupiter 5
Tickets
23 – Elton Chong, Penrith, NSW
+ The On and Ons + Jupiter 5
Tickets
28 – La Las La’s, Wollongong, NSW
+ The Sugar Beats + Rawrus Tongue
Tickets
30 – Smith’s Alternative, Canberra, ACT
+ Jupiter 5
Tickets
Send us stuff to review
PO Box 334
Oatley NSW
2223 Australia
Get in touch: barman@i94bar.com
Fresh Reviews
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Mind blown by a singular talent
19 August 2025
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Revenge is a dish best served on top of a valve amp
14 August 2025
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Punching above its weight and it's a knock-out
11 August 2025
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Never Mind The Lyrics, Here's the Alice Cooper Band
09 August 2025
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Flood warning: Kuepper and White deliver a masterwork
07 August 2025