POWDER MONKEYS REFORM TO HONOUR TIM
The Powder Monkeys are a legendary Australian band. Their take-no-prisoners adrenalin fuelled stage delivery is still engraved on the minds of many who saw them live.The band may never have been paid their dues but they certainly won the respect of the music community including heroes Lobby Loyde (the Coloured Balls) and Pete Wells (Rose Tattoo) who they often backed live. The Powder Monkeys toured overseas with the Hellacopters and producer Rick Rubin almost signed them to his label American Recordings in the late 1990s. While the Powder Monkeys were renowned for their intense live shows, they managed to capture their essence in great four-minute songs on their albums 'Smashed on a Knee', 'Time Wounds All Heels', 'Blood Sweat and Beers' and 'Lost City Blues'. The few covers which they played packed a punch too, including Sam & Dave's 1968 soul classic 'I Thank You' and Chain's 'Black and Blue' for the Dirty Deeds soundtrack and their last ever recording 'Black Tea' for The Dogs (Detroit group) tribute CD which appeared on a posthumous Powder Monkeys compilation 'Outta Control Rock n Roll' on the Dropkick label in 2005. The band ended tragically in mid 2003 when Tim Hemensley died, aged 31.
Singer and bass player, Tim Hemensley was a little man with a big heart who lived for rock'n'roll. He played in his first band at age 10 and at 11 interviewed Jello Biafra for his fanzine. He spent his teenage years in the band GOD, along with his pals Joel Silbersher, Matty Whittle and Sean Greenway. He was a member of Bored! for a short time before forming the Powder Monkeys in 1992 with John Nolan.
Since Tim Hemensley passed away on July 21st, 2003 his parents and friends have gathered at the Tote each anniversary to share a quiet drink for Tim. The music lives on, the Powder Monkeys songs are regularly blaring out of the Tote juke box. This year marks ten years and it is going to get even louder.
The Tote will host a huge day of live rock and roll over two stages with many bands Tim was friends with and loved including Hoss, Seminal Rats, Bored!, Power Line Sneakers (making their debut featuring John Nolan, Sly Splatterhead and Katie Dixon), The Casanovas, The Spazzys, The Onyas, Hits (Brisbane), Digger & the Pussycats, Speed Demons, Wrong Turn, Fortress of Narzod, Leadfinger (Sydney) and The Undecided.
There are also a couple of younger bands the Powder Monkeys inspired but Tim never had the opportunity to see, but those close to him agree he would approve. The Swedish Magazines started a Powder Monkeys cover band, and singer Jack Davies of the Bitter Sweet Kicks awarded the Tim Hemensley medal for being the most rock on ground at last year's Community Cup footy match.
At the end of the night surviving members of the Powder Monkeys, guitarist John Nolan and drummer Timmy Jack Ray will share the stage with guest singers and musicians to perform a set of Powder Monkeys songs. Lined up so far is Joel Silbersher, Matty Whittle, Adalita, Dave Hogan, Roman Tucker, Sly Splatterhead, Spencer P Jones, Dick (Hits) and more to be announced.
The Powder Monkeys' debut album from 1993, 'Smashed On A Knee' (originally released on the Dog Meat label), will be reissued in July by Freeform Patterns through Fuse Music. Newly remastered by Mikey Young, giving it the punch it always needed, featuring three bonus tracks and a 16-page booklet with previously unpublished photos and liner notes by Deniz Tek, Joel Silbersher, Mike Mariconda, David Laing and Dave Lang. A vinyl edition will follow later in the year along with the reissuing of their second album 'Time Wounds All Heels'.
The annual Hemensley Cup footy match will kick off the day's celebrations at Victoria Park in Abbotsford from 11am with two short matches including a ladies' game. Tim Hemensley hated AFL but enjoyed the Community Cup.
This event (including the footy match) is proudly part of the Leaps and Bounds festival, which celebrates the music scene within the City of Yarra. Supercharged bands such as the Powder Monkeys who regularly played the Great Britain Hotel, the Tote and across the river in the Prince of Wales Piano Bar fortify Melbourne as the live music capital of Australia.
I THANK YOU: The Powder Monkeys / Tim Hemensley 10th Anniversary Gig:
Sunday 21st July 2013
The Tote, 71 Johnston St, Collingwood.
Doors 2pm, 2 stages, free BBQThe Powder Monkeys set with guests
Hoss
Seminal Rats
Bored!
The Casanovas
The Spazzys
The Onyas
Hits
Power Line Sneakers
Digger & the Pussycats
Bittersweet Kicks
Swedish Magazines
Speed Demons
Wrong Turn
Fortress of Narzod
Leadfinger
The Undecided by Default
plus more to be announcedPlease note: This is not the playing order, times will be revealed closer to the day.
Ready to mount their assault against the humdrum, Gay Paris announce the release of their incendiary forthcoming album, THE LAST GOOD PARTY, on April 19, produced and recorded in Australia with acclaimed Californian producer, Sam Pura. As if this weren't enough of an advent, stand to attention as the magnificent purveyors of revelry and thrills bestow their daring feats of musical prowess upon the people during national tour throughout April, May and June. The deliverance now continues over ADDITIONAL DATES within the city walls of Newcastle, Bendigo, Wollongong, Canberra and Port Macquarie.
After the release of their first official single The Demarcation of Joseph Hollybone and national tour with sold out shows in late 2012, Gay Paris have returned for the good of the people, to light the way to a departure from the ordinary. They have heard your clamouring, and are poised to quench your thirst with reckless abandon. They have practiced corruption – they have mastered it. They have crafted an ark of filth, seduction and raunch to show you the way. Now, their one request is that that you join them in support their righteous crusade – in delivering the promise of THE LAST GOOD PARTY. You asked for salvation, and you shall receive.
Spurred on by apocalyptic new album THE LAST GOOD PARTY, the merry-makers hit the open roads of Australia on a 35 date national tour, commencing April 18. Here's a sample of their sound - "Ash Wednesday Boudoir Party":
Thursday April 18 - Bull N Bush, Baulkham Hills
Friday April 19 - Yours & Owls, Wollongong
Saturday April 20 - The Phoenix, Canberra
Wednesday April 24 - The Cambridge, Newcastle
Thursday April 25 - Port Macquarie Hotel, Port Maquarie
Friday April 26 - The Joynt, Brisbane
Saturday May 4 - Cherry Bar, Melbourne
Sunday May 5 - Cherry Rock, Melbourne
Friday May 10 - Royal Oak Hotel, Launceston
Saturday May 11 - Brisbane Hotel, Hobart
Friday May 17 - The Enigma, Adelaide
Saturday May 18 - Jetty Bar, Glenelg
Wednesday May 22 – Cambridge Hotel, Newcastle
Thursday May 23 - Moonshine Bar, Manly
Friday May 24 - Fitzroy Hotel, Windsor
Saturday May 25 - Railway Express Club, Darwin
Thursday May 30, Musicman Megastore, Bendigo
Friday May 31 - The Loft, Warnambool
Saturday June 1 - Rock and Load Festival, St Kilda
Friday June 7 - The Annandale, Sydney
Saturday June 8 - North St Bar and Café, Batemans Bay
Sunday June 9 – Dicey Riley's Hotel, Wollongong
Thursday 13 June – The Phoenix, Canberra
Friday June 14 – Studio 6, Sutherland
Saturday June 15 - Baroque Bar, Carrington Hotel, Katoomba
Thursday June 20 – Port Macquarie Hotel, Port Macquarie
Friday June 21 - The Northern, Byron Bay
Thursday June 27 - Mojos, Fremantle
Friday June 28 - Yah Yah's, Perth
Saturday June 29 - Prince of Wales, Bunbury
Friday July 5 – The Lass O'Gowrie Hotel, Newcastle
