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claire birchall

  • penny and gregGreg Sawers & Penny Ikinger - photo by Loene Carmen

    PENNY IKINGER
    Siolo artist and ex-Wet Taxis and Sacred Cowboys member
    Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

    2020 started with a bang! I was treated to an ear-splitting performance from X at their Bushfire Relief Benefit show at The Spotted Mallard. in Brunswick, Melbourne. It was like travelling through a time warp littered with gritty rock n roll riffs and howls. The ones that X do best. They’ve still got it!

    I was taken on another spin by a stellar line up of Guitar Wolf (Japan), 5,6,7,8’s (Japan) and Rocket Science at The Tote and also saw Japanese band The Jetboys at the same venue. Guitar Wolf and The Jetboys, arguably two of the best punk influenced rock bands of this day and age, are brutal. They play loud & fast with utmost conviction. Whatever it was they were singing about I was sure it was sacrilegious. It felt that way and that’s what counts.

    The Schizophonics (USA) also performed in Melbourne (The Tote again!). This relatively youthful three piece exploded all over the stage and reassured that rock 'n' roll is not dead. Not that I ever thought it was, but that’s what ’they” keep telling me…

  • mick solo melbLeader of the Mesmerisers and ex-Screaming Tribesmen and Rumours guitar icon, Mick Medew, is undertaking a short run of solo electric shows in Melbourne in November. Three gigs will be with Penny Ikinger and Claire Birchall is on the bill for the other.

    Mick Medew
    Solo & Electric Melbourne Tour
    NOV
    1 – The Espy, St Kilda w/ Penny Ikinger
    3 – The Welcome Swallow, Brunswick w/ Claire Birchall
    8 – Acland Street Folk Club, St Kilda w/ Penny Ikinger
    10 - The Welcome Swallow, Brunswick w/ Penny Ikinger

  • nothing ever gets lostYou know exactly what he’s gonna say: Sydney reviewer gets pissed off at the excess of musical talent in rival city Melbourne. Gets all angsty and laments The Good Old Days when Sydney more than held a candle to Melbourne. You’re partly right.

    Cutting to the chase…Claire Birchall IS one of those uber talents from “down south” who grew up in the fertile Geelong scene and now lives in Melbourne. She plays everything from beatbox-backed pop to lean and mean rock. Genres are just a vehicle for the songs. “Nothing Ever Gets Lost” is a gnarly, blues-rock album.

    The purple and blue cover art deceptively looks like one of those “Back From The Grave” acid punk compilations. The music, however, is fuzzy and warm and glows from the inside. There’s a great sense of dynamics and Birchall’s voice resonates with character and a world-weary charm. 

  • Ex-Thought Criminals

  • Debut CD launch

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"Fifth From The Sun" CD Launch
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Marrickville Bowling Club
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10th Anniversary Show
Camelot Lounge, Marrickville
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MAY
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Kit Identity 
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+ Rubber Necker 
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Wiz & The Trailler Trash Boys
MoshPit Bar, Enmore, NSW
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(2-5pm)

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Psychotic Turnbuckles 
“40 Years Undefeated”
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The Tote, Melbourne
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JUNE
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21 – Croxton Bandroom, VIC
22 – Croxton Bandroom, VIC
23 – The Gov, Adelaide
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28 – The Triffid, Brisbane
29 – The Triffid, Brisbane
+ HITS
JULY
5 – Manning Bar, Sydney  - SOLD OUT
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+ Hard-Ons

The Fadeaways
Australian Tour
JULY
Thu 11- Bridge Hotel, Castlemaine. VIC
Fri 12 – The Tote, Collingwood, VIC
Sat 13 – The Crowbar, Leichhardt, NSW
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The Stems
40th Anniversary Australian Tour
AUG
24 – Corner Hotel, Melbourne
25 – The Gov, Adelaide
30 – The Zoo, Brisbane
31 – Manning Bar, Sydney
SEP 
5 – Freo Social, Fremantle
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Buzzocks Australian Tour
OCT
25 - Brisbane - The Triffid
26 - Adelaide - The Gov
27 - Fremantle - Metropolis
31 - Newcastle - King St Bandroom
NOV
1 - Sydney - Metro Theatre
2 - Melb - Northcote Theatre
3 - Lorne - Lorne Theatre
4 – Castlemaine - Theatre Royal
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