you gonna get it: April 2010

30 April 2010

Ex-Television guitarist Richard Lloyd now manages KISS

Surely it's the only explanation for this?

Adventures of Watt are a Hoot

Ex-Minutemen and now Stooges bassist Mike Watt is one of rock and roll's coolest gentlemen. We've corresponded over the Inetrnerd and met once, amid noisy and hectic circumstances at a makeshift gig in Sydney a few years ago. He was playing bass with a couple of local kids from a punk band called Gallucci in a Mexican restaurant.

The place was packed (it was the eve of the Stooges' Big Day Out show and this was an unannounced gig.) The show - a bunch of Stoioges classics with Steve Mackay adding sax - was done on the fly with little rehearsal, but Gallucci's star bassist Watt was the glue. He worked with his temporary bandmates to hold it together.

Offstage, Watt had no bullshit about him either - despite all he's done. Humility is his middle name. I wish we'd had time for a proper chat. In the end, I was honoured to buy him a couple of beers.

Watt's commitment to his music and the people around him is legendary. So is his blog, Hootpage.

If you're a fan of the Stooges you should hop over to Hootpage to read his tour diary. It's full of Watt's idiosyncratic and colourful personal language and self-deprecating humour. His podcast interview with James Williamson is worth the download, too.

Amdre Williams has a blog...and a cologne

The Black Godfather has entered the Internerd with a blog. He's pushing a new album, a European tour and a line of cologne. That stuff must be the shit; Andre's a killer with the ladies.

Go see the blog here.

29 April 2010

Brothers, Dames.

A couple of specials on this week.

The Puta Madre Brothers are an experience pretty much unlike any other. Three guys, each with a guitar and a kick drum, just like in the picture, they make a strange, loud, howling racket. It's good to see them with an album out:
I'm pretty sure that title translates as "cheese and balls"by the way. Go figure.
Then on Saturday, you can catch what I think is the second outing, maybe the third, for the Dames, over at the Great Britain:

I have no idea what to expect from this, but given the ladies involved- Clare Moore, Kaye-Louise Patterson and Rosie Westbrook- I'd assume it'd be pretty good.

Pissing On The Mainframe Presents #1!

FACEBOOK EVENT

Pissing On The Mainframe Presents #1!

FACEBOOK EVENT

UPDATE NEWS!! + THIS SATURDAY!!!!!!

Hey buds, been super busy with a new job. I actually have to acknowledge that i haven't done shit all on this blog for a while and if you care- i'm sorry! So guilty...

Anyway, i got a bunch of interview ideas and a new mix lined up.

Stay tuned!!

Oh and at the end of today i will have the flyer up for the FIRST...EVER...PISSING ON THE MAINFRAME Presented show, #1!!

I'll spoil it now and let you know who's playing...

RUSSIAN ROULETTES
RICHIE 1250 & THE BRIDES OF CHRIST
CONSTANT MONGREL
ABSOLUTE BOYS

+ ME and SOMEBODY SPECIAL(???) DJ'ing 1-3am!!!

OLD BAR,
Saturday May 15th

-z

-----

SATURDAY!

CAT FOOD PRESS - 289 LYGON ST

PLAYING TIMEZZ-
8.30- 9.00- JESS SHULMAN (OMGZ, SHES SO GOOD! I THINK I LOVE HER)

9.15-9.45- MR DNA (ORGANIC VEGAN SPITS FROM THE GUY WHO BROUGHT YOU CHILI, HIP-HOP AND 4.20)

10.00-10.15- THE GRAND DEBUT OF ROCCO ROSSO, SOON TO BE EVERYONE'S FAVOURITE PARTY KID, PROMISE!!!!

10.30- 11.00- TEHACHAPI (WHAT A GREAT BAND!!! THEY ARE SO GOOOOOOD)

11.15- 11.45- MADONNA (MAD-ON-HER, GET GACKED WITH EVERYONE'S FAVOURITE REGGAE PILL PARTY)

12.00-12.30- WIL WAGNER AND THE SMITH ST BAND (BECAUSE NOTHING IS PERFECT)

PISSING ON THE MAINFRAME DJS FILLING THE GAPS BETWEEN BANDS

IF YOU DON'T KNOW HOW TO GET THERE, IT'S TRAM NUMBER 1 OR 8 DOWN SWANSTON STREET, AWAY FROM THE CITY. GET OFF AT STOP NUMBER 123, OPPOSITE EAST BRUNSWICK CLUB. ADDRESS IS 289 LYGON STREET.

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=118848051465738

UPDATE NEWS!! + THIS SATURDAY!!!!!!

28 April 2010

Last Tram Home presents...#4

I think this is pretty self-explanatory, isn't it?

May 8th, the Old Bar. See you there.
As the Hicks would say, "This is gonna be gooooood."

Big thanks to Jez for his very autumn-ish piece of work this time round, too.

24 April 2010

Late Arvo Sons tonight at The GB

22 April 2010

JJJ- an apology (kinda).

Like no doubt many of you, I've often been less than complimentary about our national "youth broadcaster", JJJ. I rarely if ever listen to it, and indeed have been known to suggest (on more than one occasion) that it would be a far better enterprise if it was being run by that young, gothy-looking girl who works behind the counter at JB HiFi in Chadstone.
But- but- allow me to go on record as saying that presenter Dom Alessio is clearly someone who knows what the fuck he is on about.

It was a St Valentine's Day Massare

st valentines masssacre
Originally uploaded by Yorrick (bonehead)

Here's a great set of pix from the recent Hitmen tour with Niagara from Richard Higgins, a photographer from Wollongong.

This shot is of Klondike and onetime Hitmen bandmate Brad Shepherd (he's the one with hair) who now goes around with the Hoodoo Gurus, and it's them rocking out on "TV Eye" behind Niagara on the last gig of the run at the Gaelic Club in Sydney.

Click on the caption link to see more.

Longerer weekend.

How long since these guys played in Melbourne?

They will play an in-store at Missing Link on Friday at 5pm; a solo show as A Cloakroom Assembly (Scattered Order) and Shane Fahey (Makers of the Dead Travel Fast) at Loophole Community Centre in Thornbury on Saturday, supported by Charles Ives singers, Matthew Brown and Breathing Shrine; and finally at The Toff in Town on Sunday with Free Choice Duo and Paeces.
Yes. Scattered Order for free, at Missing Link, on Friday. Sticking with the oldies theme:

I have seen the Little Murders three times this year, I think, and they have never sounded so good. If you want real power-pop/mod/new wave stuff, they are still the real deal.
Then on Sunday, you can enjoy this, at the Old Bar, safe in the knowledge that Monday is a public holiday:

They Say It's His Birthday

His Igness turns 63 today. Who woulda thought that possible? At a guess, he's having a day off with a glass of fine wine as the Stooges don't play again until Spain on the 30th.

Ooga Boogas and Jensen Tjhung @ Hell Gallery

20 April 2010

Not technically "records".

It was Record Store Day again on the Saturday just past. There appears to be some sort of shenanigans/argument going on around this, which I neither understand nor care about. What was important was that I managed to hit two participating stores in the space of a few hours.
At Polyester in Brunswick St. I bought a copy of "Prayers On Fire", from Julia Zemiro, of all people. That's three I have now- red vinyl, black vinyl and CD.

Listening to it later I was struck by how well it has aged. It is monstrously good- clever, heartfelt and immensely changeable from track to track.
Then, in the afternoon, I ducked into Greville Records over in Prahran to see Warwick and Steve, and grabbed this absolute pearl:

Details and samples can be found right here. I've had volume two- sadly, there are only two volumes- of this for a while now, it's good to finally make it a pair.
So, two CDs, for a grand total of $35, requiring a cross-town trip (which I woulda been making anyway) a bit of conversation and a few beers. A good day's work all round, even better that it was all done by 5.00pm.

19 April 2010

Rowland S Howard trailer and The Golden Age Of Bloodshed

RSH Trailer from Ghost Pictures Pty Ltd on Vimeo.

Rowland S. Howard - 'Golden Age Of Bloodshed' from Ghost Pictures Pty Ltd on Vimeo.

This footage is from Rowland's last show at the Prince Of Wales on October 29th, 2009. It was the launch of his last album "Pop Crimes". I was smart enough to get a ticket for this and Rowland and band were flawless despite his ill health. This was filmed with 5 camera's around the venue so i'm hoping it will make for a live dvd in the near future. On the few times i saw Rowland he would always make me laugh with his incredibly dry sense of humour. I wish i'd had the chance to see more of him.

Tribute article on Mess + Noise collected by Trevor Block

Rowland S Howard trailer and The Golden Age Of Bloodshed

RSH Trailer from Ghost Pictures Pty Ltd on Vimeo.

15 April 2010

(think of a title later)

I'm still in a bit of a distracted state for some reason. But allow me to surface long enough to draw some fine events to your attention.

I have been seeing Intoxica and/or their predecessors for a long, long time, and they never fail to deliver. Them Jacknives are pretty good too. Both of 'em for free over at the Retreat sounds like a fine way to spend an evening.
Or if you prefer something newer and, um, "edgier":

Chrome Dome are releasing an album and a 7', simultaneously, on the same night BUT on two different labels- Lexicon Devil and No Patience respectively. That's on at the Worker's Club in Fitzroy, with supports from Lakes, Free Choice, Repairs and No Zu. Not sure what it's going to cost, but I'm guessing it won't break the bank.
I also plan to brew my first batch of beer in a long time. Which will no doubt add to my distraction in the weeks to come.
And let me just drop this out there in an oh-so-subtle plug.

The Return of Flipside

Remember when paper zines ruled the punk rock world and were the main form of communication between geographically disparate scenes? One of the best was American punk magazine Flipside which has returned from the dead in digital form. Click here for a free copy.

14 April 2010

This Saturday at Fitzroy Bowls Club!

GALEFORCE

Go to this after the Mountain Fold #4 launch at Curtin House

This Saturday at Fitzroy Bowls Club!

GALEFORCE

Go to this after the Mountain Fold #4 launch at Curtin House

13 April 2010

Four Screaming Tribesmen, one stage

Last Friday's Niagara & the Hitmen show at the Step Inn, Brisbane, brought together four ex-Screaming Tribesmen in Mick Medew, Chris Masuak, Murray Shepherd and Tony Robertson. Who knows what will happen from here? The song is "Ice" and Johnny Kannis always wanted to sing it live. Thanks Rossy for the camera work.

Sydney! Kitchen's Floor/Bed Wettin' Bad Boys/Holy Balm - Friday 17th

Take a bunch of coin to this as Nic of R.I.P Society will have copies of Royal Headache, Bed Wettin' Bad Boys, Kitchen's Floor 7"s and you can pester him about the new Dead Farmers LP!

Also, keep in mind that Saturday the 17th is International Independent Record Store Day (Fuck you JB-Hifi), which means you gotta go to Repressed, Egg, Red Eye, Utopia and Beatdisc and buy stuff to keep em going.

Sydney! Kitchen's Floor/Bed Wettin' Bad Boys/Holy Balm - Friday 17th

11 April 2010

Mountain Fold #4

Mountain Fold is the single best music publication coming out at the moment.

Issue #4 features:
- Marco Fusinato
- Alastair Galbraith
- Tim McGee
- Royal Headache
- The Twerps
- Tyvek

The launch will feature:
-The Twerps (Live)
-Mikey Young (E.C.S.R) (DJ)
4PM
Level Six, Curtin House
252 Swanston Street
MELBOURNE

Mountain Fold #4

Mountain Fold is the single best music publication coming out at the moment.

10 April 2010

Record Store Day At MISSING LINK!

The little writing says
PLUS VINYL SALE.
   10% OFF ALL STOCK (EX. TIX)
   GIVEAWAYS AND GENERAL FESTIVITIES!
   STORE OPENS 10AM. BANDS START 12:30PM

If you don't go you're a poser-

Record Store Day At MISSING LINK!

The little writing says
PLUS VINYL SALE.
   10% OFF ALL STOCK (EX. TIX)
   GIVEAWAYS AND GENERAL FESTIVITIES!
   STORE OPENS 10AM. BANDS START 12:30PM

If you don't go you're a poser-

If you live in Sydney- Hard Ons, Nunbait + Chinese Burns Unit. Friday 16th!

Ray Ahn, Johnny Good Times and the Sando.
I WISH i could be at this...
Oh and dudes the new Hard Ons record is coming out in a few weeks.
It's called "Alfalfa Males Once Summer Is Done Conform or Die."
Go to Unbelievably Bad to read a recent interview with Blackie.

If you live in Sydney- Hard Ons, Nunbait + Chinese Burns Unit. Friday 16th!

Digger & The Pussycats/Teen Archer/DJ Pissing On The Mainframe...

So coming up this friday at Old Bar:

Digger & The Pussycats
Assassination Collective
Teen Archer
Buried Horses
+ Me and Jack Petty are play tunes till 3am under the moniker of Dj's Pissing On The Mainframe.
Come down!

Chesshire Cat Design

Digger & The Pussycats/Teen Archer/DJ Pissing On The Mainframe...

Chesshire Cat Design

09 April 2010

Down time.

But I have been busy.
I read this

and this

And I watched the movie, too. The book is better than the movie, by the way.
I ate some of this

and this.
I drank a few Bloody Marys in a park on Good Friday, as well.

I was there at Parliament House for this, which was great.

Oh, and I bought (a print of) this

Now, back to business.
This will either be great, or fucking atrocious:

Circle Pit are, after all, a band who choose to participate in internet threads started expressly to give them shit. And for that they deserve some respect. Or interest, maybe, or a kick in the teeth. Who knows?
Anyway. Normal business has resumed. Oh, and Melburnians- or anyone who will be in Melbourne on the night- should pencil the next "Last Tram Home presents..." show on May 8th at the Old Bar into their diaries right now.

08 April 2010

Yah Yah's Record Fair, Redux

Yeah yeah, Yah-Yah's is doing another record fair!!

It was pretty sick last time with Bruce Milne(Au Go Go/The Tote), Dan Stewart(Stained Circles/UV Race/Straight Jacket Nation), Richie 1250(Stone Love on PBS), Mick from Off The Hip....etc

ANYWAY, go to this and get some good bargains... and stick around for Spencer P Jones of the Beasts Of Bourbon!

$2!

Last time i got:
Dead Farmers 7"
Carbonas - Frothing At The Mouth 7"
Lamps/Haunted George - Split 7"

It's BACK! After hundreds of people kicked down the doors of Yah Yah's in February to snap up bargains and rarities, the CRATE DIGGER RECORD FAIR is returning to allow vinyl junkies to get their fix on Sunday 11th April at 2pm. We've got all the same stallholders as last night plus a bunch of newies, with stalls over three rooms (so there's more space and more stalls too). So get down early to get the hot records before anyone else, then stick around for a few drinks and catch Spencer P Jones & The Escape Committee at 6pm as they rock the house and help y'all settle in for the night. Entry is $2 before 5pm and free thereafter. See youse there.

$2 ENTRY, doors 2.00pm
Band starts 6pm / FREE ENTRY

Yah Yah's Record Fair, Redux

$2 ENTRY, doors 2.00pm
Band starts 6pm / FREE ENTRY

07 April 2010

November 22nd, 1963

THat's not today's date. It's a classic song from Destroy All Monsters, covered by New Race and now reprised by the Hitmen, backing DAM/Dark Carnival singer Niagara on an Australian tour. Here they are playing it at East Brunswick Club in Melbourne last Sunday:

If you missed them there's every chance they'll play it again at the Step Inn, Brisbane, on Friday, the Great Northern at Byron Bay on Saturday and the Beer Garden at Surfers Paradise on Sunday. After that, it's The Crest at Sylvania on Friday, April 16 and The Gaelic Club, Sydney, on April 17. After that, Jackie can hold onto JFK's brains. Tour's over.

On the road with Simon Chainsaw

Ex-Vanilla Chainsaws mainman Simon Chainsaw has legged it out of his idyllic adopted home of Brazil to tour through a springtime Europe. Full dates at the I-94 Bar in the Living Eye section but for those not lucky enough to get to the gigs, Simon's uploading a daily videoblog of his adventures.

Part one is below, click through to view the rest of the series at YouTube.

06 April 2010

Niagara & The Hitmen hammer Melbourne

The Barman's Rant blog has been quiet because it's been busy on other fronts. Tim Cashmere's story is curious in its underplaying of the Hitmen mini-set but he nails it in the end. Niagara is unique and the Hitmen are one of Australia's last rock and roll bands. Get yourself to a Queensland or New South Wales show or regret it.

05 April 2010

Circle Pit: The Exhibition

I have never seen this band but i'm really curious about them all of a sudden.

Circle Pit: The Exhibition - Friday April 9th at:

Somewhere Gallery

Level 2, The Royal Arcade

314 Little Collins St
Facebook Event

I don't know what to expect with this show of theirs really but i heard Circle Pit will be playing at some point.

It goes from 6-8pm

Here's some words on it,

"Circle Pit is the creative relationship between Angela Bermuda and Jack Mannix. This relationship takes on many creative forms: music, film, painting, song, conversation - the product of an intense and deep partnership that goes beyond friendship.
Stadium glory, rock and roll personalities, the journey from the gutter to the stars and back again are the main inspirations for the second solo exhibition by Circle Pit in Melbourne.

Fueled by the personal mythology they seek to create, Jack and Angie have collected artifacts, artworks, conversations, memorabilia, mail, records, film and more to construct a kind of universe all their own, and in doing so adding to the ever-changing, ongoing legacy that is Circle Pit."