Merry Christmas and goodnight (for a week or two)

Last post until early-January. Have a good break. I know I will.

A conversation with Bob Gruen

New York snapper Bob Gruen's one of rock and roll's premier photographers, as much for being on the spot at the right time as being adept at capturing the essence of his subjects. Some of his most famous subjects have been the New York Dolls, the Ramones, the Pistols, Blondie, The Clash and John Lennon. There's an interview in Crawdaddy online here where he reveals a lot of his best photos were captured spontaneously (as many of the greatest are.) He also sounds like the sort of bloke you'd like to have a beer with.

Yule always be a Stooge

Nyuck nyuck nyuck. Stolen from Brad Fitzpatrick's Facebook.

Simon Chainsaw and the Hippy Killers

Simon Chainsaw (ex-Vanilla Chainsaws) has a new CD out, "Alpha Negra", and slipped a copy under the door of Ramones Manor on Sunday, so i guess that means he's back from Brazil for Xmas. It's a goodie and a review will be at the Bar after the break but here's a film clip from his output with the Hippy Killers to give you a clue.

Medicos advocate neck braces for headbangers

True metalheads are a breed unto themselves so this silly season story on "PM", the flagship current affairs program of Australian national broadcaster, ABC Radio, comes as no surprise. The yarn was sourced from the respected British Medical Journal.

But did you know PM host Mark Colvin (the guy making the closing comment questioning which decade the reporter is living in) and who is pictured at right was once a committed Radio Birdman fan who went on to work on then-Sydney radio station 2JJ in its formative years?

Dog Eared Tales

Something of an institution around Sydney, Bunt are planning a DVD of some sort in 2009. This video for "Dog Eared Tales" from 1996 has surfaced. It's from their first self-titled EP.

Will this Suck or won't this Suck?

Horror comic Fangoria's online arm reports that filming will wrap this week in Toronto on Rob Stefaniuk's vampire horror-comedy "Suck". The production boasts an impressive cast of rockers like Alice Cooper, Iggy Pop, Moby, Henry Rollins, Alex Lifeson, Dimitri Coates and Carol Pope. Even Cooper's daughter, Calico, has jumped on board.

Written and directed by Stefaniuk, "Suck" is about a group of musical wannabees in search of immortality and a record deal. The rock band THE WINNERS have sunk so low, they will do anything to make it big. After a life-changing encounter with a vampire, they rocket to stardom only to discover that fame and fortune are not all they're cracked up to be.

"I love the mixture of horror and humor,” says Alice Cooper, who stops just short of calling Stefaniuk a genius in this specific area. “And what’s cooler than a vampire?”

I dunno, Alice. Golf?

Lou Reed meets the Sydney press

Lou Reed almost always had it over the journalists in the '70s. These days he tends to be a bit full of himself. This hokey lot didn't stand a chance.

Jonathan Appears

It seems BBC radio's persecuted/outspoken radio personality Jonathan Ross is a Radio Birdman fan. Considering what song to play upon his return from a 12-week suspension for making sexually suggestive remarks, he suggested on microblog network Twitter that the Radios' cover of "You're Gonna Miss Me" might be the go.

Even if he fluffed the song title and looks like he doesn't know it's an Elevators cover, that's still cool. Of the course the snooty Guardian newspaper thinks it should be Blondie but who cares?

Like lakes?

This will be a biggie. Pity it's so far out of town.
Magic Dirt are curating the music and film for this- I don't know what the film festival will be like, but the music looks great. Magic Dirt, Tim Rogers, The Nation Blue, Crystal Thomas & the Flowers of Evil, and more. All for free, too, for them as have a ride there. And back, of course.

A Pink Christmas.

A big line up at the Tote on Friday, when Stained Circles present a Deaf Christmas. Deaf Wish, the Pink Fits, Useless Children and more, with a BBQ thrown in, for only $12.00

I caught Useless Children last week at Roxanne- they are a bit awesome.

The mighty Fits are doing a couple of other shows while they are in town- and on Saturday afternoon, they may well prove to be the loudest thing to hit the Pure Pop backyard yet, before they head around to the Espy later on.

While later on Saturday, the Mistletone folks are hosting a bash at the recently opened Thornbury Theatre, featuring a slew of their finest acts, including this month's deservedly hot item, Beaches as well as favorites like Kes and Ross McLennan.

First 100 payers through the door get a free CD, too. If it's half as good as last year's collection, it will be worth getting there on time.

Christmas sloth.

Oops. Sorry about that. I seem to be coming up a bit short lately.
I blame two things- a lack of inspiration (combined with general tiredness) and the upcoming Christmas hoo-hah. That shit leaves me cold, I'm afraid.
No, this isn't some anti-Christian or anti-commercialism rant. I'm just over it. And, you know, I can be pretty lazy at times. About many things.



With this in mind, can I ask that anyone who wants to get me a present this year, sponsor a sloth instead. Details are in that link.

"Winterland" - Died Pretty

Died Pretty played Sydney and Melbourne last week. There should be a live review of their Homebake gig up at the I-94 Bar by the time you read this. Here's "Winterland". Turn it up.

"No Fun" - The Stooges

Too much Stooges is never enough and this is a nice montage to go with the tune, no?

"Search & Destroy" - The Dictators

Recent Spain tourists and this is a reminder of their greatness. You never know your luck and they might just turn up on your doorstep.

Clever ways of referring to doing it in rock and roll

The Beatles, Led Zep, Carly Simon and Meatloaf all banged on about nailing someone. This is news? This presentation of the fact is clever. Many thanks to stashdauber for this.

Dr Tek in Sugar Hill supergroup

Sugar Hill Studios is an historic place in Houston, Texas, where you can apparently feel the presence of people who've worked there. Like Roky, the Stones, Roy Head and Janis Joplin. Ex-Radio Birdman soundie Andy "Mort" Bradley runs the show and recorded Hitmen DTK (circa "Moronic Inferno") and Deniz Tek there.

Dr Tek was back there this week to mix a live Birdman album from their final US tour (are you taking note!) and also to work with a combo of past clients to lay down "San Francisco Girls", a song recorded by Texan psych band Fever Tree in 1968 for a forthcoming tribute to the studio. Here's some footage for The SugarHill Gang.



Players included Deniz's ex-US Navy mate (and DTG 1992 Australian tour bassist) Dust Petersen and Fever Tree member Rob Landis.

So is it finally coming out?

The MC5 movie "A True Testimonial". The Metro Times seems to think so but there's been so much misinformation (most likely from the same person who seems to be tipping off the Times) that's it hard to know who to believe.

High praise for Darling Downs

That they didn’t, in fact, rise from the dusty roads of America’s heartland or the slippery banks of the Appalachian Mountains could come as a surprise for some upon first hearing their music. But, it soon becomes inconsequential where the duo hails from; no need to put a regional tag on the soulful sincerity found in such a plain and true collection of songs.

That's Crawdaddy online talking about The Darling Downs, the backwoods music duo of Ron Peno (Died Pretty) and Kim Salmon (Scientists, Surrealists, Beasts of Bourbon.) Read more here.

Brain death.

There, that's more like it.
Things are hotting up in advance of that festival thing, and that Christmas thing.  I haven't seen Baby Brain yet, but I've heard some good things about them, I like the name, and I like this poster:
And they are playing with some other fine folks. What else are you going to do on a Thursday night- go and see some living legends play at a favorite old local venue?  Well, this week you can indeed do just that- Died Pretty are playing at the Prince of Wales. Hmm, I wonder if they still look like this?

While on Friday, the Death To Music boys are tackling 1977- one of my favorite years:

The Adverts, Kraftwerk, The Heartbreakers, Ian Dury, Wire, Dennis Wilson, Brian Eno, The Cars, Radio Birdman, Elvis Costello, Roky Erickson & The Aliens, The Saints, The Damned, ELO, The Jam, Television, Bowie, X-Ray Spex, The Stranglers, Cheap Trick, Talking Heads, Ramones, Split Enz, Ultravox, Iggy, The Clash, Suicide and The Modern Lovers amongst others

It's at the filthy Roxanne, it starts early, and it's free. Bail on that dull office party, bucko, and come on down.

Chinese Democracy and the Art of The Hype

Almost elusive as the thing that its title refers to, "Chinese Democracy" arrived in record shops recently and the buying public went mild. I don't have any time for whatever Axl Rose pretends is Guns & Roses, past or present, but this piece in Crwadaddy online is a ripper.

I won't be buying it so if I hear any tracks it'll be by accident, but I'm betting it's not a patch the CD of the same name that beat it to the racks by Kitty and the Kowalskis.

That's using your melon

An important missive from Prince Melon Records:

The 4th volume in the limited edition Ed Kuepper live series will be available soon. Recorded live to a capacity crowd at the Forum in Melbourne early 2008 on the Don't Look Back 'Honey Steel's Gold ' tour. It features all the hits and some rarely performed tracks such as 'King of vice' Friday's blue cheer/libertines of oxley' and 'summerfield', as well as the non lp encore of 'Electrical storm'

The Don't Look Back shows were one of the biggest highlights of 2008 for mine with the pairing of Ed and Co with Died Pretty fairly inspired. More info on this one at Prince Melon's myspace.

Binocular Soccer

OK, soccer is not rock and roll but blogs can be indulgent. The new Japanese sport of Binolcular Soccer probably won't catch on in a hurry but is worthy of your consideration:

And it does segue into the fact that the I-94 Bar will be presenting a Japan-Europe Tour Diary from Penny Ikinger in the near future.

No pun, no fun.

Hmm, where to start?

On Friday night there is a special night on at the Tote:

A collective of bands are getting together for a series of gigs to raise funds for an operation for local musician Michael ‘Boof’ Hughes from the band Edward. Boof was in a near fatal car accident two years ago at age nineteen, which has left him permanently paralysed from the chest down. To raise money for cutting edge spinal treatment in India, the first in a series of benefit shows will be held at the Tote.

Which will be followed up toot sweet on Saturday when Sixfthick and Digger & the Pussycats do a two-backed beast of a single launch, with support from Little Athletics and Kretch.
Saturday is a bit problematic, actually- as well as the aforementioned, Dolly Rocker Movement are also doing a launch, just up the road at the Birmingham.



But I think overall I want to see the awesome Beaches launching their self-titled debut album over at the NSC:

I've had a copy for a couple of weeks now and have been playing it constantly. It's another excellent Mistletone Records release, a solid if somewhat late entrant for album of the year in my book.

Walter Lure (2)

A review of that Walter Lure live album is posted at the Bar here. Short story: Rough 'n' ready and rocks pretty well and at 10 Euros a copy it's worthy of investment.

Where did CBGB go?

It ended up in a storage shed according to the New York Times.

King of the Gig Pigs

The I-94 Bar is looking for a live reviewer or two but this seems excessive:

After more than 5,000 gigs over 35 years, rock fan Ray Morrissey can claim to be Britain's most prolific concert-goer. On piles of notebook pages in Mr Morrissey's front room, thousands of gigs are listed, one per line, all with a mark out of 10 circled at the end.

Then again, when you look at Ray's website recording all this it's enough to give you a headache.

Before he was an Oil and a Minister he was a farmer

He might be best known as the singer for agit-rock band Midnight Oil but chrome-domed Australian Environment Minister Peter Garrett was frontman for Farm before that. Farm really were the Oils but peddling different tunes.

Farm allegedly stood for Fucking All Right Mate but I might have disagreed with that, if only on the strength of them playing Focus and Jethro Tool songs. Click the pic to enlarge.

How badly will this suck?

I'm a big fan of the Stooges - both the Iggy-led variety and the Three - so why wouldn't the thought of the Farrelly Brothers reviving the latter comedic trio fill me with dread? Who cares about the global financial crisis - this is seriously bad news. Read the guff here.

Fractured retrobilly boogie?

No, I don't know what it means either, but I like the sound of it:


I'm just pissed off I missed it- going on as I write. Next time, fer sure.
Meanwhile, I am morally and contractually obliged to mention that X are playing at the Espy tomorrow night (Friday) with Dollsquad* and the Sons Of Lee Marvin.

But gig of the week would have to be this:

Assassination Collective, Deaf Wish, Paper Planes, and Graveyard Train, presented by the Afterdark crew. It's an album launch and all, but even so, I think it's free. Or at least cheap. Not as cheap as those Ass. Co. boys, though. Watch out for that one in the pith helmet.

*any record label looking for a kick-arse girly garage rock album to unleash on the public, get in touch.

Another Lost Weekend

Some new "old" songs and a new "new" one will be in the set. Click to enlarge and read the details.

Clash live gets the prole thumbs-up

For an apparent Marxist, this guy has a warm view of the Clash's "Live at Shea Stadium" on major label Sony.

Walter Lure's new live album

Ex-Heartbreaker Walter Lure toured Europe in 2007 and Italian label Nicotine Records is doing something about it. Here's the tracklisting for the live album:

  1 One Track Mind
   2 Sorry
   3 Never Get Away
   4 Cry Baby
   5 Get Off The Phone
   6 Busted
   7 Let Go
   8 London Boys
   9 Take a Chance
 10 I Wanna Be Loved
 11 Born To Lose
 12 Chinese Rocks
 13 Too Much Junkie Business
 14 Do You Love Me?

Eyewitness accounts (thanks Greg Bowen in France) say the shows were great. Buy it here.

Rock your vote

The Age newspaper's annual EG Awards poll is up and running. It's a closed-ended poll i.e. you only get to vote for one from a list in each catergory.

Elitist hipster scum that I am, I couldn't vote for much as very little of what's in these mainstream voting things reflects what's played around the I-94 Bar.

You might be in that boat too. If so, you can at least vote for the Best Australian Album Of All Time catergory. At the time of voting, "Radios Apepar" was only running at three percent. That's a bit sad - but you know what to do.

Conclusive evidence of Punk's death (if any were needed)

The Bratz™ are hitting the home of punk with the most devastatin’ street styles ever, and they are ready to rock! Available in four collectible styles (Cloe™, Yasmin™, Jade™, Meygan™), these girls are showing everybody how to be Pretty ‘N’ Punk™!

RocknRolla

You might remember an earlier post reporting that Radio Birdman's "Do The Pop!" had been included in this Guy Ritchie gangster movie. Yes it has - but it's barely audible.

The Scientists' "We Had Love" fared a little better, apparently. I haven't actually seen the film - I'm a 'wait for it on DVD' kinda guy these days.

And more.

Yes, there's always more. More more more. Yes please.
On Friday, a big bill at Ding Dong:


The Surrealists haven't played for...oooh, quite a while. This show will also be the last for Witch Hats for a bit, as they will need to find a new drummer immediately afterwards, and mix their just-recorded second album. Pistons Misfire are a new outfit featuring Sam Agostino, from Kamikaze Trio/Digger & the Pussycats.
Or:

A Stax tribute night, for no particular reason I can see. Too many people playing to list- just read the poster, sucker. I like Yah Yah's- the stage is low, the bar is cheap and the bouncers are friendly.
Then on Saturday, after that Oogas gig mentioned previously, there are a couple of choices, like some more filthy garage rock from the Gruntled:

Seems like ages since I was at idGAFF. Note support from Selfish Gene- get there early, if only to see them all squash into the playing area.
While over in Richmond, a revamped Wrong Turn are playing:

I don't know why that came out so small. It's not my fault.

R.I.P. Mitch Mitchell

Gone to join Jimi at age 61. This is him solo'ing in 1969:

The Bar's 2008 Top Tens start rolling in

It's a new look Top Ten this year as we've moved it over to Wordpress to allow interactive comments. Ken Shimamoto (aka Stashdauber) is the first cab off the rank and you can read his entry here - and of course do better yourself if you're not hep to his jive.

Enough said

There are a few things coming up, but I only have time for a quick and dirty post tonight.
The Ooga Boogas are launching their LP "Romance & Adventure" at Mario's Pizza, in Johnson St. Fitzroy, on Saturday. The record is awesome, this show promises to be special. And packed.

The last few copies of the album will be on sale, too. See you there.

Not Another Friggin' List

Ten Best Punk Rock Singers of All Time? Lookee here. The guy from Jawbreaker is one of them? What about Andrew WK while you're at it? Pussies.

Album of the Year? I think so, folks...

It's Johnny Casino & The Secrets Week at the I-94 Bar. There's the Review of the new album ("I Am Who I Am, Not Who You Want Me To Be"), the "Drunk & Disorderly" Podcast, now the Interview and the album and accompanying EP are both on sale in The Shop. And the Sydney launch is this Saturday at The Empire at Annandale (which I'd attend except it's The Barmaid's birthday and she has other plans.).

Musical election fun

This US election parody is too good not to watch.

R.I.P. Nathaniel Meyer

Further to the October 30 post about the lack of coverage of garage soul great Nathaniel Meyer's stroke and planned benefit show, news in from Norton Records that the man passed away in Detroit on November 1. Funeral is Tuesday.

"Agile, Mobile & Hostile" in Sydney

Not sure if I'll make it but it looks like the bomb:

Australian premiere of the festival favourite + a live Q&A with Andre himself from Chicago!

8:30pm
Mon 10 Nov, 2008
Greater Union Bondi
Price: $15 / $12 conc.
Rating: MA 15+

"Andre Williams makes Little Richard sound like Pat Boone." Lux Interior, The Cramps

Andre Williams has written and recorded a number of landmark hit songs and has worked with legends of the industry: Berry Gordy, Ike Turner and Stevie Wonder to name just a few. Andre has also struggled throughout his life with addiction, poverty, homelessness and the legal system.

Andre says, 'I'm going to show you the right way, because I've gone so many wrong ways.' With this statement the man known as "Mr. Rhythm" and "The Black Godfather" takes us along a fascinating, funny and distressing journey. Andre doesn't always go "'the right way' and this leads to tenuous relationships with friends, family and business partners, time in jail, eviction from his "old folks home" and subsequent struggle to pay for his room at the 'Hotel 6' where he lives between tours.

From March of 2006 until July of 2007, directors Tricia Todd and Eric Matthies followed the charismatic underground recording artist Andre Williams through his day-to-day existence. For Andre, this could mean rehearsing for a show in Chicago, recording with Jon Spencer in Michigan, performing for enthusiastic fans in Croatia, doing a radio interview in Serbia or marching in a Mardi Gras parade in New Orleans.

Throughout his 72 years, Andre has never stopped driving his creative visions forward, regardless of cost or consequence. The consequences turn out to be severe as Andre's addictive history catches up with him. Ultimately doing the right thing could be the choice between life and death for a musician who is perpetually on the cusp of newfound success.

Agile, Mobile, Hostile is a feature length documentary as told by Andre Williams with input from Jon Spencer, John Sinclair, Don Waller, Johnnie Bassett, Margaret Doll Rod and others.

Popcorn Taxi is proud to present the very first screening in Australia of "Agile Mobile Hostile" followed by a live Q&A with the man himself, Andre Williams, live down-the-line from Chicago hosted by The Naked City's, Jay Katz.

Believe us - this year with Andre will definitely leave you feeling Agile, Mobile and Hostile!

Buy tickets here and watch the promo trailer:

Vale Sonic Smith

Fred "Sonic" Smith died 14 years ago yesterday (my time) or today (US time.) Thanks "bamesjaker" for the heads-up. Wayne Kramer remembers meeting Sonic and the formation of the MC5 in this clip from "A True Testimonial":

Have you heard?

Turn up your speakers and click here.

Dead, warring Ramones should be no election surprise

Hot off the Reuters wires:

Punk rock innovators the Ramones made a joyful racket, but offstage they were rarely in tune.

Band members were known to feud about everything, from their song list to politics. Guitarist Johnny Ramone was a conservative, while singer Joey Ramone was a liberal.

Johnny and Joey are both dead now, but their feud lives on in the presidential race.

You see, Johnny’s widow Linda, using the Ramone moniker, has been campaigning for Republican John McCain, and Joey’s estate is none too happy about that.

“I just want it to be clear that Linda Cummings does not represent the political views of the Ramones,” said Mickey Leigh, the president of Ramones Productions who is also Joey’s brother.

“As for Joey Ramone, the only Ramones song he would sing at a Republican event would be ‘Glad to See You Go,’” Leigh said in a press release.

It’s not the first time Linda has created dischord among the Ramones. She dated Joey but eventually married Johnny, causing the two band members not speak to each other for years, even as they continued to tour and make records.

King Khan & BBQ

This review of a show by The King Khan and BBQ Show last weekend makes me wish I was there. Here's some YouTubeage of their song "Waddlin' Around" to tide us all over:

"I Wanna Hold Your Hand" - The Standells (via The Munsters)

Just to mark the fact that all 16 espisodes of The Munsters have just been released on DVD in the States, here are The Standells in their one and only appearance on the show.

Death of the Cassette Tape

Remember when you had to put the best of your treasured vinyl collection onto cassette just so you could play it in the car? When retail outlets actually sold albums in cassette format to suit people who travelled or moved house a lot and wanted to keep their music collection to a manageable size? When bootleggers recorded to boomboxes and DAT was something that went with DIS?

There's a scuplture at the International Surgical Museum that illustrates the Death of the Cassette Tape. See it here.

Revolution? What Revolution?

The Rock and Roll Hall of Lame is opening a Manhattan "Annex" to stage exhibitions. First cab off the rank is something called "Revolution Rock" featuring The Clash. Sponsors include Bloomingdales and BestBuy. Rock commodified? Naaaah...

An alternative to Guitar Hero

Accordion Hero. A polka fan's dream.

40 years ago today

The MC5 recorded "Kick Out the Jams".

Johnny Casino & The Secrets podcasted

That's a new podcast on the interface at right and it's featuring Johnny talking about his new album and spinning a few fave tunes. It's streamable or you can download it/subsribe to it here. Did I mention that almost certainly The Best Album I've Heard All Year?

Nate suffers stroke

There's been surprising little news about the fact that soul-pioneer-turned-garage-meister Nathaniel Mayer has suffered a series of strokes and finds himself confined to a nursing home.

Meyer had a series of comebacks in the last decade, culminating in a stunning album on Total Energy/Alive, "Why Don't You Give It To Me?" Mayer is backed by a contemporary cast of underground folks - Matthew Smith of Outrageous Cherry, Dan Auerbach of the Black Keys and Dave Shettler of SSM/The Sights - and it's a classic, a ball of skeletal feedback, raspy vocals and dark creepiness.

The I-94 Bar review is here and you can download an MP3 here. Considering Mayer had his first hit in 1962 ("Village of Love") we should be thankful that he could have been bothered recording, let along delivering something as great as this album.

There'll be a benefit show in November.

Received in the e-mail

It's from Detroit's First Lady of Punk, Niagara, and her beau, Colonel Galaxy.

Christies auction house goes punk

Purveyors of fine art go down-market and flog off punk memorabilia? Anything to turn a buck, the Christies spokesman seems to be saying here. I doubt, however, that even Yoko would fork out $200,000 for the late John Lennon's, er, organ.

Leaving Percy at home

The stories about Led Zeppelin touring without Robert Plant have received prime exposure today.

This suggests endless possibilities:

- Maybe the MC3 have a spare lead vocalist who's surplus to requirements (Evan, are you there?)
- They could call it Aluminium Zeppelin
- This will be a double-headed tour with The Doors of the 21st Century
- Maybe the new singer will be unearthed via a really lame reality TV show

The bottom line is that the new group might actually be listenable. Call me a heretic but I find Plant's preening prescence and overblown hysterics about as appealing as sipping a chai latte with Jimmy Barnes.

Stooges treasure ahead?

Rumours abound of a soundboard quality "Funhouse"-era Stooges show in someone's pipeline for commercial release. Could this snippet on UK label Easy Action's website be related? It's not soemthing we've chased down but either way it's good news:

The Stooges have now finished stooging around the world so we at easy action HQ await news from the band regarding possible work on newly acquired stooges tapes...mindblowing stuff i assure you !! Also Sir Pop 's second box set will be with us at the end of October we think you're gonna like it !...alot!

"Where the Faces Shine" Vol 2

Not all Iggy is good Iggy. The guy's solo career is littered with ill-considered chapters. But when the Pop fails, at least he's interesting, and the latest installment in UK label Easy Action's archival series "Where The Faces Shine" looks to contain more ups than downs.

We're looking at six CDs, a DVD and (if you get in quick) another live CD drawn from a gig on the 1988 Australian tour. The first two CDs are from the "Zombie Birdhouse" period. Not Ig's greatest album, granted, but the shows had an air of desperation about them which is often a plus.

Next up, there's a disc of demo's and other odds and sods (the "Repo Man" song among them) from the Steve Jones collaborations. Some of these demo's have been out there for a while but it's another collection that completists will love.

A 1986 "Blah Blah Blah" tour show spans two discs. Here's where Iggy picked himself up off the floor. The live material I've heard from the time has a lot more fire in the belly than the clean, Bowie-fied album.

The final CD is the Whisky-a-Go-Go "Instinct" tour warm-up/showcase. If it's in decent sound quality, it's going to be well worth hearing. This show was documeted in bass player Alvin's Gibbs' excellent tour diary book, "Neighborhood Threat".

The DVD is culled from TV appearances of the same vintage. My memory of the tour is of a professional but sometimes compelling band. The bonus Adelaide CD is said to be aurally rough and ready but also worth hearing.

I haven't laid ears on the full box set yet but a review will appear at the I-94 Bar.
Orders are being taken here where you can also view the full track lists.

Having fun with Fugazi

On a speaking tour that consists of extended Q & A sessions, Fugazi mainman Ian Mackaye is still has to deal with the straight edge question after all these years. The LA Times has more here. Still, I wouldn't turn up with a six-pack.

Recession down to Acca Dacca

Blame the global financial crisis on AC/DC. Not that it means Angus isn't laughing all the way to the bank, it's just that stashing the dosh under the matress might be a safer bet.

Deluxe Pretty

One of the most eagerly-anticipated re-issues for this year has to be Died Pretty's staggering full-length debut "Free Dirt".

Aztec Music is planning to give it the luxury make-over with a pile of demo's, live-to-air tracks and both sides of the "Stoneage Cindarella" single making up a double-disc package. It's much the same way that Citadel treated the "Doughboy Hollow" re-birthing (a copy of which you'd be mad not to procure here.)

Roughly coinciding with the re-issue, there will be two gigs by Died Pretty - the already sold-out Homebake festival in Sydney on December 6 and the E.G. Awards at the Prince of Wales in St Kilda on December 4.

Full info on the Aztec re-issue here.

Wide Open Road

Australian radio network Triple Jay is running a series that attempts to define the character of Australian music.

"Wide Open Road" hould be a blast judging by the look of the heavy-duty Shockwave website they've put up, from where you can download interview snippets and presumably full episodes.

Let's hope it steers away from the "let's re-write history and push certain commercial interests" that some TV-to-DVD efforts have followed in recent times.

KOTJ gig spawns CD

That Detroit area concert celebrating the 40th anniversary of the recording of "Kick Out The Jams" is becoming a bigger deal, with a double CD of MC5 material by new bands. Read more here.

Great Ways To Party (part one)

Why not make your next soiree a Titanic Party? Book this baby and see the crappy animation here.

Tay Zonday: When "stain" rhymes with "pain"

A work colleague heard this as a backing track for the weather report on Australia's national yewf radio station Triple Jay. Ignoramuses that some of us are Down Under, we find that he's had multiple-million views on YouTube (and probably makes a zillion bucks from the annoying cross-promotion ads on the clip.)

He also writes nonsensical lyrics like this:

Chocolate stain
Dealing drugs across the states
Chocolate stain
And you wonder why the police dont hesitate

Chocolate stain
Everything handed right to you
Chocolate stain
College and money until our nation gets a clue

Chocolate stain
Do us all a favor and act like a human being
Chocolate stain
Or you belong with all the other apes in a tree

Bob Dylan he ain't.

The Damned tour US with new album

Surely punk rock's most enduring survivors (putting aside the Buzzcocks), The Damned are hitting the road on a US tour in support of their first album in seven years. Dave Vanian and Captain Sensible are the originals this time. More here.

Fan letter from Johnny Rotten, 40 years on

There's a fascinating insight into John Lydon's post-Pistols state of mind that's been posted by fan Martin Smyth at the unofficial Pistols site. Honest and optimistic, you can read it in situ here.

DIY publishing's biggest problem

If you're starting a zine (and who isn't?) here's a great guide to naming it.

Hitmen pare back tour

News from the Hitmen camp:

For immediate release

ILLNESS PARES BACK HITMEN TOUR

Venue closures in Canberra and Brisbane and singer Johnny Kannis' ongoing heart condition have resulted in some dates being cut from the Hitmen's "Monkey's Gone Wild" Tour. Refunds will be available from point-of-sale.

The Hitmen will still do two Sydney gigs with Devilrock Four and The Southern Preachers at Mona Vale Hotel on November 21 and Caringbah Bizzos on November 22.

They’ll also play one Gold Coast show at The Coolangatta Hotel on November 28 with
Mick Medew & The Rumours and Suzy Loves Dick, before their lead singer undergoes more tests and some enforced rest.

Be assured that plans are afoot to tackle Melbourne and add some other places as soon as Zeus receives the all-clear.

Details on a live album with Detroit punk rock diva Niagara soon...and she will be back in Australia to tour in tandem with the Hitmen in early '09.

I-94 Bar goes M.I.A.

OK, I screwed up a change of hosting and the thing went down for a day. Mea culpa. Reminds me of this.

Hank pulls his punch (slightly)

I try to keep politics out of my rock and roll wherever possible, but Henry Rollins sort of transcends being called a music-maker these days. His thoughts on John McCain might surprise:

“He’s a very likeable guy, he’s very affable and has a sense of humour. You see why people like him. I like him, I just don’t want him to be President.”

Rollins was never going to endorse John McCain but did you think he he might have gone in harder? More here.

When the joke's on you

Nothing to do with rock and roll but funny if you're not the guy reading the news.

Some neutral advice

DO NOT try and shift 20 longnecks of homebrew in a two-wheeled shopping trolley. It will break. And you then will have to carry the fucking thing. Note- not a supermarket trolley, which from experience can handle four slabs easily- one of these contraptions:
Also, DO NOT use the scissors on a Swiss Army knife to cut steel guitar strings. it will work, in that the strings will come off, but it will also ruin your scissors for anything else. Clearly, this is not an issue faced in Switzerland. This is the first thing that has managed to damage my knife, and I am pissed off. The Swiss should stick to what they know- cue picture of new Lindt Petit Desserts Dark Orange:That is all.

Throw up, throw down

There's a few diverse things on this week.
The Old Bar is having a series of benefit gigs this week, to get the place a/soundproofed then b/a new PA. And there are some top bands playing:

The slushie machine will be set to "purple" all weekend. You have been warned.

On Saturday afternoon, Crystal Thomas and the Flowers Of Evil play Pure Pop Records in St. Kilda, at 4.00pm.

And that's free, as usual.

Then on Saturday evening, there is a "yacht rock throwdown" between Karma County and the Lurid Yellow Mist, at the Toff:

Now that's a phrase you don't hear everyday.

Deltra Goodrem = Celine Dion

The often witty and usually biting Jack Marx of the Sydney Daily Telegraph's otherwise puerile online offering tells you why the manufactured Deltra Goodrem could be on your dartboard here.

Let's face it, plastic music does stink. And yes, I know it's Delta Goodrem but ever since Australian TV's turkey-necked Mr Ubiquitous Eddie Maguire fucked up her name at a Logies night, the moniker's been permanently altered around these parts.

A Triple Album Got Murdered; Crawdaddy disagrees

Crawdaddy online has gone all moist over the Clash's "Sandinista". Please don't make me laugh.

This was an overblown and limp piece of excess iand if Somebody should have been Murdered I'd have nominated the putz who hauled in a children's choir to contribute. Major Fail. Two bottles of Rolling Rock outta five.

Flame me in the comments section if you disagree (you especially Bucko.)

The Visitors -"She Used To Know My Name"

Another clip from Carol who was at the Empire gig in August. This is a new tune.

Back to Back Masking

I luvz Satanic messages in popular songs played backwards mainly because of the nut jobs making dire warnings about them, so this site appeals in a practical sense. No more dragging out vinyl (if you own some of these abominations) and fucking up your stylus by manually spinning your Marantz turntable in the opposite direction.

Anyone got a spare air ticket?

Stayin' Alive and Another One Bites The Dust

The Bee Gees and Queen as lifesavers? Strange but apparently true.

The Visitors: Living World, The Empire Hotel, Sydney August 30, 2008

Nice job Carol!

It's Only Rock and Roll - Rob Tyner

Warning: Cheesy and excessive guitar lick content. From Rob's 1990 album "Blood Brothers."

Nothin' Grows In Melbourne

A recent find, the video for the Sacred Cowboys' debut single 'Nothing Grows In Texas', shared courtesy of Mr Garry Gray. I'll let him tell it:

Film clip by Rob Howard featuring: yours truly, Mark Ferrie, Terry Doolan, Johnny Crash and Andrew Picouleau. Thanks to Mark's daughter Ramona (the toddler) ... and the mystery tow truck driver who hauled the cowmobile (Terry's Falcon) ... out of the swamp... the Studebaker Hawk belonged to my brother, David....voila...(not in the clip but on keyboards: Ian Forrest).

Been a long time since I saw this. Filmed over in Mobiltown, which was, as you can see, basically just a railway station in a strange and desolate part of town. Just over the Westgate, by the refineries. There is still nothing much there.

No cow skulls were harmed during the making of this picture

Saturday night, uh-huh uh-huh

Well, a big night at the Forum on Saturday. I couldn't find a poster, but I did find this excellent Forum logo, which made me laugh out loud, for some reason:



Guess you have to know the place, really. Anyway, the mighty Drones are playing, with support from Kim Salmon and the Surrealists and Kes Band. Not sure who is in this line up of the Surrealists, but I'm sure that they will be excellent anyway. This is kinda a launch for the Drones new LP 'Havilah', by the way, and I did find a pic of that:


And do remember that it's a big race day on Saturday, so there will be a fair bit of sluts in frocks action going on:

Try not to get too much puke on your shoes.