 "Maybe the People Should Stop Whining About the Times or Why Bo Derek Isn’t the Only 10"
By DOUG SHEPPARD
With downloading supplanting all things tangible, the funeral march has begun. Blogs and columns are a-ringin’ with laments about how CDs sucked anyway (ridiculous on many levels, but I don’t have the time or space right now), how music’s headed for the toilet, how technology is gonna turn us all into pre-programmed conformists that make the futuristic civilization in A Wrinkle In Time look individualistic, blah blah blah. Wow, after 10 years of post-grunge doldrums and bashing alternative rock, formulaic punk, hip-hop, nu-metal and other tuneless drivel considered “hip” -- I now find myself an optimist.
2006 was one of the best years for new music in a long time and, as I learned upon further investigation, 2005 was no slouch, either; I just caught up a little late on bands like Debris Inc., the Muggs, the Spongetones (their latest anyway), and Easy Action. What’s more, I saw so many great gigs this year that I couldn’t even fit them all into a Top 10 if I tried. Cactus, Blue Cheer, Radio Birdman, the Avengers, the Romantics, the Shadows of Knight, Vanilla Fudge, the Yardbirds, the Choir, the Alarm Clocks (what year is this again?) -- and that’s just the old (but still vital) folks. Newer bands like the Briefs (punk rock lives!), Easy Action, Unorthodox, Hovel, King Valley, and the Atomic Bitchwax were right up there, too. Heck, even the Bullet Boys -- the friggin’ Bullet Boys of hair metal infamy! -- put on a great show in 2006 (check this site’s live review section for a write-up).
When an ’80s glam metal act reinvents itself as the second coming of Montrose, something’s gotta be in the air. Even though the reemergence of a Nirvana to clean out the charts and reinvigorate the majors seems unlikely, the good news is that bands are writing songs again. Not to toot my own horn, but back in ’98, I predicted the garage rock revival that led to the White Stripes, Hives, Jet, the Donnas and others seeing chart action. So I’m gonna go out on a limb and predict that we’re gonna see something else major happening soon. What? Who knows? But I’m confident that this phony indie rock shit is on the way out.
So here’s to a great 2007. Any year that starts with Art Modell being rejected by the Pro Football Hall of Fame (it’s a Cleveland thing, you wouldn’t understand) and the Baltimore Ravens losing in the playoffs (see previous parenthetical) has to be good. And here are 10 reasons I liked new music in 2006:
1. AGE OF WINTERS - The Sword (Kemado)
The Sword (not the Canadian ’80s metal band) isn’t really original, more like a cross between Sleep, the general Sabbathisms of stoner rock, and a little Celtic Frost thrown in. But these cats can rock -- and have chops to boot! They almost make it look too easy, and at first I wondered if they were just another above average stoner band, but repeated listening revealed that they were indeed a great band. Many was the time before two seasons worth of adult kickball games when I needed to get pumped up and the churning brutality riff of “Iron Swan” gave me just the lift I needed. A great car record, incidentally -- especially to fend off all the idiots playing their rap shit thudding loud.
2. ZENO BEACH - Radio Birdman (Yep Roc)
You know these guys, right? Not much to add to all the stuff that’s already been written about them, other than that it was cool to interview Rob Younger (results soon to be published in Ugly Things), that the gig was tremendous, and that the new album is great. Neither a carbon copy of their old classics nor a reversal, Zeno Beach is a new chapter that sees Radio Birdman refining and updating their sound into something that’s just as strong and innovative as their late ’70s works.
3. BOXRIFF - The Atomic Bitchwax (Meteor City)
One of the most kinetic live bands on the scene right now. Going mainly to see their opener Unorthodox (apparently now working on their first album in 12 years) at the DC’s Velvet Lounge on December 14, this New Jersey power trio completely blew me away. With the chops of jazzmen, they take stoner metal to new heights, with each member pushing the band at various points in the show. And it’s by no means self-indulgent soloing; it’s intelligently crafted riff rock where the virtuosity is part of the sound and the songs, almost all of which are excellent. Those elements manifest on this studio/live album -- and if the audio doesn’t convince, the bonus DVD -- in spite of sound issues -- will. Turning Deep Purple’s bluesy “Maybe I’m a Leo” into a grooving Sabbathy downer riff is an idea so simple that only these guys could have thought of it.
4. THE TIME HAS COME - The Alarm Clocks (Norton)
When I found once-elusive Alarm Clocks drummer Bill Earle Schwark 10 years ago, the word “reunion” never even entered into the conversation during the resulting interview (mostly about his post-Clocks career with Damnation of Adam Blessing), the first historical recounting he’d ever done. And when I told him what the Alarm Clocks’ lone 1966 single was selling for (four figures even then), he nearly dropped the phone. Yet there were the original Clocks -- Schwark, Mike Pierce on bass/vocals, Bruce Boehm on guitar, and new addition Tom Fallon on guitar -- on the stage of Cleveland’s Beachland Ballroom for two sold out shows in early March. OK, so the people were mostly there to see local legends the Choir, but it was the Clocks’ killer set that drew the most enthusiastic response. (The Choir’s rather strange decision to scrap most of their originals for a set’s worth of oldies radio ’60s covers handed both nights to the Clocks, but that’s another story.)
Six months later, the album appears -- and it’s neither the boring rehash nor the weak attempt to be current that mars so many reunions. Produced by modern garage luminary Freddy Fortune in his tiki-adorned Detroit studio of distinction, Sound Camera, it’s merely rock ’n’ roll -- and almost all new originals to boot. A band that didn’t break out of bowling alleys or proms back in the day now has an album out and is playing garage festivals. Talk about another sign that things are right in the music world.
5. CACTUS V - Cactus (Escapi)
Until I saw Cactus at BB King’s in New York City in early June, I thought no reunion would come close to the Alarm Clocks. From the moment a black-clad Jim McCarty took the spotlight and drew the feedback squalls of the “Long Tall Sally” intro out of his black Gibson Les Paul, these guys epitomized the brutality and rhythmic drive that comprises all good heavy metal and hard rock. Quite simply, even 30 years after they tore up the landscape with Vanilla Fudge, Cactus, and Beck Bogert & Appice, there is no better rock rhythm section than Carmine Appice and Tim Bogert. And new singer Jimmy Kunes is a more than worthy replacement for the late Rusty Day. A gig at Jaxx in Virginia in October was every bit as good and, even better, they were now selling a pro-shot DVD (now available through the band’s website) of the New York show.
The new album isn’t as intense as the live show, but it’s still very good -- particularly some new originals like “Cactus Music” and “Muscle and Soul.” No longer the crazed sex-and-drugs nutters they were in the early ’70s, the reformed Cactus are just guys who know how to lay down a (bastardized) blues groove. Kudos to Randy Pratt (who also plays harmonica in the band) for putting this together.
6. KISS OF DEATH - Motorhead (Sanctuary)
So you thought 2004’s critically-acclaimed Inferno, which ended a drought of a dozen years’ worth of uneven Motorhead albums, was a one-shot deal? So you thought Lemmy and company couldn’t cough up another like it? Well, neither did I -- and we’re both wrong, because Kiss of Death is almost as good, to the point where differences are almost negligible. Musically, it’s closer to rock ’n’ roll than the extreme metal tendencies of Inferno, but still worth owning. Same things Lemmy’s always been singing about -- anti-religion, sex, political symbolism -- but like an old blues man, he does what he does well.
...and at this point, I’m going to finish the list with the 2005 albums I discovered a year late. Albums from 2005 on a 2006 list? To paraphrase Clint Eastwood: “It’s my list, Clyde.” As Mills Lane said in Celebrity Deathmatch: “I’ll allow it”...
7. STEAL YER HEART - The Briefs (BYO)
And the signs keep coming: It’s heartening to know that these Buzzcocks-throwback Northwesterners have a significant following and earn a decent living on the road. And for good reason: While too many other modern punks are hung up on punk-as-religion and meaningless fashion, the Briefs write catchy, punchy, witty songs that sound even better live. In person, every member is moving maniacally about the stage and leading the band at some point -- including even a drummer who’s pumping like a madman. If they come to your town, do not miss them.
8. FRIENDS OF ROCK & ROLL - Easy Action (Reptilian)
To borrow a line from Lillian Roxon, no one could accuse these Detroiters of quietly releasing the best album out of rock ’n’ roll’s most happening city in 2005. Live, as I discovered when they opened for Radio Birdman in September, they’re as loud as 20 avalanches with a rock slide thrown in -- pounding and grunting through their guttural punk-cum-metal brand of Motor City rock and featuring ex-Negative Approach front man John Brannon. “Worse for You” has one of the coolest guitar sounds (courtesy of axe man Harold Richardson) you’ll ever hear, and cuts like “I’m Waiting” and “Dead of Night” channel the spirit of the MC5 without sounding copycat (and believe me, there are too many of those in Detroit now). In short, a band that deserves more recognition.
9. THE MUGGS - The Muggs (Times Beach)
MySpace has afforded me the opportunity to reconnect with friends and meet interesting new people ... and it’s also exposed me to more bad bands than I ever thought possible. Not a week goes by that another awful indie rock, death metal, reggae, or cliché punk band doesn’t send me a friend request. So imagine my surprise in August when I received a friend request from these Detroiters. Not stoner, not metal, just bluesy riff rock with very impressive instrumental prowess. Whether cranking out the riffs on tunes like “Need Ya Baby” and “Hard Love” or doing a blues shuffle like “White Boy Blues,” the Muggs are always grooving.
10. NUMBER 9 - The Spongetones (Loaded Goat)
Throughout their 25 years of existence, this band seems to have flown under every radar -- including the alternative rock press -- except for power pop enthusiasts. Too bad, because the Spongetones churn out some of the best Beatles-inspired pop around -- and for my money, they’re way better songwriters than REM or the dB’s (two bands I never got). “Anyway Town” and “Bring It All Over Me” are the kind of great pop one would expect from these North Carolinians, and “Homonym Girl” may be one of the best Raspberries songs not by the Raspberries.
Honorable Mention: ROCKFORD - Cheap Trick (Big 3)
We’ve been hearing “Cheap Trick is back” with every record since 1994’s Woke Up With a Monster -- except they never were, but now they are. The songwriting and the hooks are back, making this easily their best since Heaven Tonight (sorry, I never liked Dream Police much). Far from great, but certainly admirable.
Top 10 Reissues from 2006
1. BALL POWER - Coloured Balls (Aztec)
2. THE ULTIMATE TURN ON - The Music Machine (Ace/Big Beat)
3. ALL THE YOUNG DUDES - Mott the Hoople (Columbia/Legacy)
4. SONGS - Jackie DeShannon (RPM)
5. ORGASMATRON (Expanded Edition) - Motorhead (Sanctuary)
6. REG KING - Reg King (Circle)
7. ROCKIN’ BONES: 1950S PUNK & ROCKABILLY - Various Artists (Rhino)
8. THE COMPLETE MOTOWN SINGLES VOL. 5: 1965 - Various Artists (Motown/Hip-O Select)
9. SINCE THERE WERE CIRCLES - Bob Lind (RPM)
10. GOOD GOD! A GOSPEL FUNK HYMNAL - Various Artists (Numero)
PENNY IKINGER
Guitar stylist and Career and Bang! Records recording artist
 Ian Rilen & The Love Addicts - Tote Hotel, Melbourne (Bang! Records showcase) Ian and the mighty Love Addicts put in some incredible gigs towards the end and this one totally swept me away. Rock'n'roll in full throttle. Other worldly. Unbeatable. R.I.P. dear boy...
Bang! Records - label from the Basque Country (Spain) with an eclectic and focussed sound doing wonders for Australian rock music on foreign shores. No duds here. Bang! do it with style, finesse, class and oh such taste...not to mention the VINYL!!!.
French musicians Vinz Guilluy on bass (Holy Curse) and Dimi Dero on drums (Dimi Dero Inc) took the bull by the horns to back me & my guitar on my tour of France & Spain etc Oct 2006. Calling ourselves Penny Ikinger Inc. these Parisian players packed a potent, passionate, pulsating punch. Who said the French can't rock? The multi talented Dimi (& Vinz) tour Australia in March 2007 as Dimi Dero Inc. - this time Dimi will be donning a guitar and singing his own tunes. Catch 'em if you can! Oh yeah, Penny Ikinger Inc. will also be regrouping for a few gigs in Sydney mid March...
2006 - A year of re-discovery...speaking of Spain (and rhythm sections) there I was propped up against a bar post gig at Rock Palace Madrid when suddenly Deniz Tek's album "Outside" (1994) came blasting over the speakers...WOW!!!...what an amazing piece of aural pleasure ...stupidly I asked for the copy of the CD cover to enquire who that formidable rhythm section was (I recognised that other guy)...I should have known better...
Jen Cloher and the Endless Sea - "Dead Wood Falls" - debut album from this gifted Melbourne based singer/songwriter. I know it's folk music and it got nominated for an ARIA but all is forgiven. Haunting, languid and fragile... There's also some stellar guitar, dobro and lap steel from Charlie Owen showcasing yet again his amazing ability to make songs and music "work".
Kim Salmon - Man of the Year 2006. Some new stuff from Kim & Ron Peno's acoustic duo The Darling Downs... some heavy guitar riffs and sonic onslaughts from instrumental rock extravanganza SALMON...some forays into the old with reformations from the Scientists and The Surrealists and overseas tours....Does this man ever sleep?
Thomas Wydler (& co) - Gig at The Spanish Club, Melbourne.Totally cool, retro, into the future, never heard before instrumental explosions.
Radio Birdman - Zeno Beach. Propelling forward into the new dimensions armed with that unmistakable trademark sound.
Louis Tillett- Idgaff Bar, Melbourne - finally Louis plays in my home town but it was a gig I missed. I was so upset I cried...
Radio Birdman - live at El Sol in Madrid, Spain. Had to catch a plane & a bus but I actually made it to this one...
PATRICK EMERY
Melbourne correspondent
1. Eddy Current Suppression Ring. To see them live is to understand why rock’n’roll is as healthy as ever it was; to hear their album is almost as good. Best Album of 2006, Best Live Gig of 2006, Best Group of 2006.
2. The Stooges at the Big Day Out. ‘Nuff said.
3. Psychedelia – is it the new black, or a secular religion to placate us as we’re bombarded with rapid change, specious public language and irreversible environmental degredation? Sand Pebbles, Black Cab, Lovetones, Dolly Rocker Movement, Astral Kaleidescope. It’s all good.
4. The Soundtrack of Our Lives. Rarely does a band make such a deep impact on an audience. The recorded stuff is superb, but it’s pissweak compared to the live experience.
5. Deerhoof at the Northcote Social Club, February 2006. We went with marginal expectations (the recorded material is excellent, but how would it stand up live?) and walked away feeling like we’d been swamped with art punk of the highest quality. One of the best gigs of the year.
6. You Am I at the East Brunswick Club, May 2006. I’d started to doubt You Am I’s ongoing substance, but this gig (the band’s ‘secret’ warm-up gig) was superb, a return to Tim’s fire and brimstone days of the early 1990s.
7. Finally seeing the Bellrays live, albeit only in a supporting role. It whet our appetite like an entree at Hell’s Kitchen. Fanfuckintastic.
8. Anton Ruddick and Ashley Naylor doing “Maggotbrain” at the Salmon Upstream Festival, April 2006. Twelve minutes of acid drenched, brain squeezing psychotic brilliance.
9. Toshi Maeda’s dedication to the rock’n’roll cause. Refer to Bruce Milne’s comments, and double them.
10. Taking long service leave, getting evicted from our house and buying a house and a sizeable share in a bank, all in the space of a few months. It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, but we got through it, eventually, with the help of rock’n’roll.
 TJ HONEYSUCKLE
Melbourne correspondent for the I-94 bar
Last Tram Home blogger
In no real order- maybe vaguely chronological- a few things that made an impression on me this year:
1- Getting kidnapped from the Niagara exhibition opening night at Outre Gallery, by Niagara & Colonel Galaxy. Two of the most charming and witty people you could ever hope to meet- Tracey and I spent an excellent hour or so drinking and chatting with them in the deserted beer garden of the Town Hall Hotel.
2- Having my nose broken by an old friend in a stupid fight. I fixed it myself, at the bar of the Greyhound Hotel, with a handful of ice cubes in a napkin. Looked straight enough at the time.
3- The second Tiger By The Tail LP. If it lacked the same impact as the first, that’s only because I had a better idea of what to expect. I’m looking forward to more from them in 2007.
4- Brewing- among other things, I brewed three batches of all-grain beer this year. From mash to mouth in a month. All tasted pretty damn fine to me, too. Then Little Creatures Brewery released their Bright Ale, which kind of removed the need to make it myself.
5- Pet frogs- if you want a really Zen pet, get a tree frog. They just sit there and look at you in a very calming way. Don’t get a yabbie, it will end in tears.
6- I can’t believe I only saw the Drones once in a whole year. ShXXXt.
7- Radio Birdman- both “Zeno Beach” and the live shows. Standing inside the crush barriers at their final Melbourne show for the last few songs gave me as intense a barrage of music as I’ve ever seen and felt in my life. And of course them Bellrays, too. What did Lisa Kekula whisper in my ear that night? I’ll never tell…
8- The net- all that myspace, podcast, message board and blogging stuff. I found old friends- hi, Hank! Hi Lindsay!- made new ones- hi, Grrtch!- heard some great new music, and tried to spread the word. Hope you found it entertaining.
9- Ian Rilen. Enough said.
10- Now I’m not really a list guy, so I’m gonna cheat by sticking a load of things in one item. I didn’t like the way the epicentre of live music in Melbourne got dragged even further north of the city this year. I did like the way so many people got it together and released their own CDs. Looking forward to – new Beasts of Bourbon & Penny Ikinger CDs, the Lethal Weapons reissue, more Killer Birds, more RRR, more Kim Volkman, less broken noses… Salut!
SUE RYNSKI
Photographer
DISCS:
Sonic’s Rendezvous Band Box Set
Pere Ubu – Why I Hate Women
Radio Birdman – Zeno Beach
Messer Chups – a band my goddaughter turned me on to. I like everything I’ve heard by them so far.
Ronnie Spector – The Last of the Rock Stars
Sonic Youth – Rather Ripped
New York Dolls – One Day It Will Please Us To Remember Even This
Special mention: Sandi Thom – I Wish I Was A Punk Rocker (With Flowers In My Hair). She wasn’t around during the two eras she sings about and mixes together, but she gets it.
Positive energy in our messed-up world:
peacejam.org
Ten years of bringing youth and Nobel Peace laureates together for peace.
musicisrevolution.org
Michael Davis’ foundation to support music education for kids in US public schools.
J Gerard’s Peace Gallery: art, fashion and jewelry
The Cadillac-peace-&-love sign (designed by legendary Detroit rocker Sirius Trixon of the Motor City Bad Boys) says it all: Peace, Love & Rock and Roll!
pattismith.net
Check out her regular postings in souvenance and coffeebreak.
LIVE:
The Holy Curse
They talk in French but they rock in English – my favorite French – no, make that my favorite local rock band.
Radio Birdman at La Maroquinerie, Paris
At the beginning of “Zeno Beach” I thought what I heard was Deniz singing, but looked up to discover that beautiful sound was coming from his guitar – one he bought from Fred Smith in the 1970s after the MC5 broke up.
54 Nude Honeys at La Maroquinerie, Paris. Naked energy.
The Movements at the Gloria garage rock Festival, La Fleche d’or, Paris
Pere Ubu at Le Nouveau Casino, Paris
The concert that almost didn’t happen due to rude behavior by the support band. But Pere Ubu played anyway, and with a vengeance which David used to hammer the support act: “If that’s the best you can do, might as well not try to play rock and roll” and more, and more. At the end of the night they almost got into a fistfight, to David’s glee “Just like the old days!” Punishment f**k, anyone?
The Lords of Altamont – Three tours of Europe in 2006, more than 200 shows. Consistently exciting onstage.
All Tomorrow’s Parties’ Nightmare Before Christmas festival, in Minehead, England
DKT/MC5 at The Underworld, London and the closing set at Nightmare Before Christmas
The current lineup including Lisa Kekaula and Mark Arm on vocals, Adam Pearson on guitar, together with Davis, Kramer and Thompson is magic. Can’t wait to hear the new stuff they’re writing.
France has an indie rock scene!
Honest!
Does that add up to ten?
ANDREW MOLLOY
I-94 Bar reviewer from British Columbia
Vocalist-guitarist for Budokan
(pictured with his band's youngest fan Asti)
Top Ten for 2006 (in no particular order)
Well, I obviously wasn't exactly "digging the new breed" this year but it was
nice to see/hear returns by several of my favourite old-timers and a couple of
great songwriters (Westerberg and Scott Miller of the Loud Family) turned out
some of their best work in recent years:
New York Dolls-One Day It Will Please Us To Remember Even This
Way better than anyone would have expected.All "comeback" albums
should be this good.
Radio Birdman-Zeno Beach
Ditto, basically, except perhaps this wasn't as big a surprise.
Silver Sun-Dad's Weird Dream
Criminally underrated power pop from the UK ( though they rock plenty
hard, too ).This is their second album in just over a year and the quality
control remains high. Big in Japan.
Cheap Trick-Rockford
Another fine return to form. You want hooks ? This is an embarrassment
of riches.
Paul Westerberg-Open Season Soundtrack
Who'd have thought ? Former Replacements genius( yeah, I said genius)
pens a number of classics for an animated kids' film. 'Meet Me in the Meadow'
should be a huge hit but won't be of course.
Loud Family and Anton Barbeau-What If It Works ?
Frontman Scott Miller's always been one of my fave songwriters since
his Game Theory days back in the 80's. Ultra-catchy and literate without being
pretentious.
Sonic's Rendezvous Band-Sonic's Rendezvous Band Box Set
Yeah, it's an archival release but had to be mentioned here. Imagine
how good an actual studio album would have been...this is obviously as close as
we'll get and that's pretty darn good.
BellRays- Have a Little Faith
An already great band hitting their peak ? This'll be hard for them to
top.
Ronnie Spector-Last of the Rock Stars
Another fine return from a revered veteran.
Buzzcocks-Live at Sugar, Victoria B.C. July 1st
Six new songs in a row to open the set and then hit after hit after hit. Inspirational.
 THE BARMAN
"I'm gonna forget something here"
ALBUMS
1. Zeno Beach - Radio Birdman (Crying Sun)
2. Sonics Rendezvous Band - Sonic's Rendezvous Band (Easy Action) - box set
3. Up From the Ashes - The Cinders (ELP)
4. Radio Action - Mach Pelican (Shock)
5. The Family From Cuba - Ian Rilen & The Love Addicts (unreleased)
6. Ball Power - The Coloured Balls (Aztec Music) - re-issue
7. Drunk on a Train - The Painkillers (Crying Strumpet)
8. Tales From the Australian Underground Vol 2 - Various Artists (Feelpresents)
8. Bored!/Take It Out On You - Bored! (re-issue on Afterburn Records)
9. Grains of Sand - The Movements
9. Holy Curse/Johnny Casino's Easy Action split EP
10. Soliloquoy - Louis Tillett (Origin)
10. Bitter...Swill - The Dead Set (TDS/Reverberation)
10. Obsescration - Lobby Loyde (Aztec)
10. Present From The Past - The Soundtrack Of Our Lives (Reverberation)
10. Hotbox - Destroy All Monsters/Dark Carnival (box set)
10. Last of the Rock Stars - Ronnie Spector (Laughing Outlaw)
LIVE
1. The Stooges, Big Day Out, Sydney
2. The Bellrays, Annandale Hotel, Sydney
3. The Soundtrack Of Our Lives + New Christs + Johnn Casino & The Secrets + The Dolly Rocker Movement - Annandale Hotel, Sydney, December
4. Radio Birdman - Caringbah Bizzos, Sydney
5. New Christs + Passengers, Annandale Hotel, Sydney
6. Ian Rilen & The Love Addicts, Sandringham Hotel, Newtown, Sydney
7. Penny Ikinger (+ Louis Tillett + Deniz Tek), Excelsior Hotel, Sydney
8. Louis Tillett - party in my lounge room, August
9. Tiger By The Tail + Hitz + The Kelpies, The Empire Hotel, Annandale, Sydney
10. Johnny Casino & The Secrets @ quite a few shows
 SIMON LI
Veteran I-94 Bar writer
The Stooges @ Big Day Out, Sydney/ Live at Lokerse Festival DVD
Without Iggy, The Asheton Bros and Mike Watt - alongside The Beasts of
Bourbon, The Greenhornes and Airbourne (has any other band ever been more
ACDC than ACDC like Airbourne seem to be?) - this year's Sydney Big Day Out
might as well have been forgotten.The "Live at Lokerse Festival" DVD saw the band in incredible form.
The Bellrays @ Annandale Hotel, Sydney
Soul meets some devastating high energy punk/hard rock in one of the most
unforgetable gigs for some years from any US band to visit Australia.
The New Christs and The Passengers @ Annandale Hotel, Sydney
Who would have thought such a double bill take the stage in '06, a gig
clearly to be treasured?
Radio Birdman @ The Metro Theatre, Sydney / Zeno Beach CDLP / programming ABC Television's "Rage"
The Sydney launch of their massive new CDLP, proved there's plenty of life
in these old(er) dogs, then on TV Rob Younger and Deniz Tek took us through their fave videos, plenty of which would have surprised many.
The Naked Eye - Done and Dusted CDLP
Melbourne underground rock veterans prove they still offer more than the
average rock trio.
Hytest - The little band that could CDEP
One of (if not) the best unsigned bands in the "Premier" state of New South
Wales.
Neil Young - Living with War CDLP
"Let's impreach the president for lying..." is there a better lyric written
about the disgrace that is George W. Bush?
Gram Parsons - Fallen Angel DVD
For loyal Gram fans, this documentary is truly essential viewing.
Hank Williams III - Straight to Hell CDLP
Arguably the best country CDLP this year, if not the first decade of the new
millenium.
3RRR FM's "On the Blower" program Fridays 9am-12pm
Left leaning talk-back / chat hosted by ex-Brisvegan/2JJ dj/Hell to Pay/F..k
F..ks drummer Tony Biggs that sticks it to the likes of right wing
Orstralian conservative talk back jocks/bores such as Melbourne's Neil
Mitchell (3AW) and Sydneysiders Alan Jones (2GB) and John Laws (2UE).
Honourarble mentions:
The Soundtrack of Our Lives @ Annandale Hotel, Sydney; Blast Off 2! @ Empire
of Annandale Hotel, Sydney; Sydney; King Felix self titled CDLP; The
Swedish Magazines "Eat More Baby" CDLP; Sarah Lee Guthrie and Johnny Irion @
The Basement, Sydney; Neko Case @ 9.30 Club Washington D.C., as heard via
www.npr.org; My Morning Jacket @ 9.30 Club, Washington D.C., as heard via
www.npr.org
RIP
Link Wray, Peter Wells and Ian Rilen
Ben Sisto photo
MARK SISTO
Vindicator Smooth vocalist
"Those who expect to be ignorant and free expect what never was and never
will be." - Thomas Jefferson
Hi folks out there in I-94 land,
My top ten? having pondered it I realize my top ten couldn't be entertianment related. I have no top ten musical anything this year, nor film. However I do have a top ten, web sites. Something is really wrong out there , so try this sampling on if you have time... or we could just party and bullshit and party and bullshit and party.....
Here is a good film about 9/11 - or the lies the public ahve been told:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6708190071483512003
More interesting 9/11 insights:
http://www.whatreallyhappened.com/fiveisraelis.html
Means/Motive/Opportunity???
http://www.infowars.net/articles/december2006/071206Haas.htm
Follow the money, folks:
http://www.freedomtofascism.com/
Did they do it before?
http://www.ussliberty.org/
And again:
http://www.apfn.org/THEWINDS/1997/10/okbomb.html
http://www.prisonplanet.com/archives/hunter_s_thompson/index.html
If they can't cover the truth, mix it with nonsense about lizards:
http://www.davidicke.com/content/category/6/25/39/
One more to finish:
www.savethemales.ca
Oh never mind, lets talk about Iggy.
Anything inteligent to say about it all? Write at my Blog.
 ROBERT LASTDRAGER
I-94 Knife in a Toaster columnist
Rock and roll drummer
10. Killing my TV and scoring an early 70’s Grundig all-in-one stereo pleasure centre for the price of a slab of beer. My vinyl collection breathes fire once more!!!
|9. New York Dolls- One Day It Will Please Us To Remember Even This.
8. Mofos- Six Pack Performance.
7. The Painkillers – Drunk on a Train.
6. Wild Billy Childish and the Buff Medways- Steady The Buffs.
5. Freebooting Profiteers- Industrial Slit.
4.Autoramas- RRRRRRRock.
3. Hi Risers- The Fine Art Of Making Mistakes.
2. Knut Hamsun’s Hunger and J.T. McCrae’s Katzenjammer for reminding me just how hard it was to find a fucking room in Sydney during the mid eighties
1. World Cup Germany 2006.
 MICKSTER BATY
Off the Hip Records (label and record store), drummer (Lords of Gravity, the Crusaders, the Stoneage Hearts) and father of two (Jack Link and Art Wylde)
Musical top ten - 2006
1/ the bellrays live corner hotel
2/ trainwreck riders "lonely road revival" album
3/ the flakes "back to school" album
4/ the cyril lords "motherland" album
5/ the pink fits "dishwasher blues" song
6/ the someloves "don't talk about us" comp
7/ keene brothers "blues and boogie shoes" album
8/ knights of fuzz dvd
9/ stereotypes "try me" song
10/ happy hate me nots "the good that's been done" comp
 STEVEN "DANNO" LORKIN
Occasional I-94 Bar contributor, understudy 2SER announcer and washed-up musician (pictured above left with the drummer from Ted Mulry Gang, Herman Kovac).
We lost two of the greats this year: Peter Wells and Ian Rilen.
The music world will be a lesser place for it. Salute!
2006 honours list
(Not in order)
1. Stooges at Big Day Out. I hope the other 50.000 people who were there learned something from their show (probably not).
2. Buzzcocks + Thought Criminals at The Metro. A night of classic hits and memories
3. Sherbet at South Sydney Juniors Leagues Club. Pure 70s pop for then people.
4. David Tench Tonight – Channel 10. The population of Australian and The Barman agree on one thing: That this show is crap. I LOVE IT!
5. The Chasers War on Everything. No holds barred Oz comedy. Out now on DVD.
6. Dollsquad ; Rock N’ Doll Sound of.. .Great 60s fuelled / Buzzcocks ish pop garage punk.
7. Buffalo –Dead Forever –CD REISSUE. .See my review
8. Buffalo- Mothers Choice CD REISSUE. See my review
9. Radio Birdman Zeno Beach CD/VINYL. Every time I play this it gets better - an all-round work of greatness
10 .Coloured Balls Ball Power CD reissue. The birth of The Oz Rawk Sound (Hey - somebody's got to take the blame!)
CLARE MOORE
Swingingest drummer around, the ex-Moodist is a recording artist in her oiwn right and is and currently sharing co-billing with Dave Graney on releases from Reverberation Records.
Radio Birdman at Rubys in Belgrave: I can't decide if it was even better than the shows at the Marryatville Hotel in Adelaide 1977/1978 (and yes I'm in the video).
Dan Kelly and the Alpha Males at the Corner: A right rollicking show and a fantastic album.
The Drones
Cam Butler (with orchestra and Silveray)
Francoiz Breurt at the Corner
Ruth Rodgers Wright at Dizzys
The Fauves at the Troubador Brisbane
Robyn Hitchcock at the Speigeltent
Thomas Wylder "Soul Sheriff" (I was however onstage for this one)
My Space ,for giving us access to wagonloads of new music and musicians and the opportunity to check out what it is that older musicinas are getting up to now.
Clare reaches for the ale that refreshes while Dave sings.
DAVE GRANEY
"He abounds in sublime thought and love of humour, in dignified feeling
and malignant passion, in elegant wit and obsolete conceit. He
alternately presents us with the gaiety of the ballroom and the gloom of the scaffold, leading us among the airy pleasantries of fashionable
assemblage and suddenly conducting us to haunts of depraved and
disgusting sensuality….he turns decorum into jest, and bids defiance to
the established decencies of life."
The Daytime Frequency-cd and live
Mathew Sigley was in the Earthmen many years ago and plays live with the Lovetones ( who were once parts of Drop City). He toured Europe with the latter outfit with the Brian Jonestown Massacre this year and generally never lets his feet touch the ground much. He found time to release this gem of an album. Brilliant songs. He played a live gig with a piano player, longtime drummer Derek Yuen and himself on guitars and anotehr keyboard. It sounded great.
Dan Sultan-cd and live
Dan's album is called Homemade cookies. He is a young singer who has the poise of Charlie Rich or Elvis. He has a songwriting /arranger/guitar player/musical drirector in Scott Wilson (also in the Roys) and they have worked up some classic material.
Brendan Gallagher-cd and live
This is classy. The kind of class that is rarely attempted. Very adult and very clean and unashamedly AOR. I saw him do a spectacularly accomplished one man show. He had me worried when he stacked up a few pedals and an iPod but he knows how to get the machines working for him. He also knows so many sweet licks.
Kim Salmon (SALMON/DarlingDowns/Surrealists)
We’ve had the pleasure to work with Kim in SALMON. Always a great experience when we play. We recorded the Darling Downs at our studio. It was great to see how he can concentrate totally on whatever he is doing. I also saw him do a gig with the Surrealists. He played all that music as it should be as well. A masterclass in Salmon guitar and lyrical fire. It all sounds so fresh.
The Wagons – live
These boys still have it. Five great characters. Great songs. Just waiting to bust out of Melbourne.
Deadwood and the Wire-dvd
Hollywood films, seeking the attention of braindead mallrats and their equally zombified parents, are generaly overcooked and over hyped shit. HBO is where it as all happening. If you like the Sopranos, try these two. Deadwood is a total universe. (We play a game, wondering who of the people we know could survive in that world). The Wire is an exploding universe. So many characters, and the story growing from the Baltimore housing projects and the crack dealers to the ports and the unions and Russian prostitute trafficking. Totally addictive, had to watch 3 episodes at a time but wanted it to never run out. (when Deadwood ended!)
Radio Birdman..live at Rubys in outer Melbourne.
Well its just around the corner so it was great for me. About 45km from the city. the room was packed. All my friends would tell me about their shows in Adelaide back in 77. I was stuck 300km away in a timber factory job that I couldn't leave. I'd only seen the Other Side in '79 and the Hitmen and then the first reunion in '96 at the Big Day Out. This gig was great. People dancing and their amazing aura and the tension that comes with the band. Rob was full of charisma in the way he didn't talk into the mic between songs but talked to people directly, off mic. Deniz rushing to say things into the mic after another pregnant pause, trying to cut through the tension.(I thought the tension was a good thing. Perhaps I mean anticipation and excitement. It was also good to see a performer, Rob, being aware of the importance of distance and pitch.) . The guitars were very loud and the security was stupid and the audience danced. Rob's voice was great, strong and punchy. Rock voices are produced by singers having to cut through the sound in rooms like this. It was before Zeno Beach came out and it was great to hear the new songs pulled out at a show . A bunch of new tunes all in a block. They were strong enough to keep the show happening and I loved seeing them do it and the crowd was up for it.
Robyn Hitchcock-live
I loved his last cd, "Spooked". This new one was released in Australia and he accompanied it with a tour. He had Scott McGaughrey and Bill Reiflin and Peter Buck from REM as his backing band, the Venus 3. The music was bass, drums, Robin on telecaster and Peter Biuck on 12 string electric. Robyns songs cut straight to the heart of whatever he’s worrying at. Like Hank Williams or Jonathan Richman. The American musicians just played it so perfectly. The great song inspired by seeing the film about Arthur Killer Kane. And then they launched into "eight miles high" and "the bells of Rhymney".
Sand Pebbles-cd and live
The Sand Pebbles continued to release another totally realized and highly polished studio recording, "atlantis regrets nothing". Again recorded at their keyboard player Murray Ono’s studio, it was a real progression. Some light vocal songs amid the familiar raga rock workouts. Use of horns and a real 80s flavour in "altered images" which achieved some synthesis of the Floyd and the Flowers. Murray left town to explore his family roots in Norway and Europe. The Sand Pebbles recruited a young guitar player from the SunBlindness called Tor and just kept on without missing a beat. . They also did their best to play live shows which were marked by the appearance of unexpected musical guests and general mercurial wildness. I mean, sometimes they ruined themselves by adding some superfluous stuff and other times it was just them and it was great. It's a part of being a band to be always in transition and they like that the most I think.
Danny Rumour…live in Melbourne
A real surprise to see danny pop up in Melbourne. I saw them play several times. Mostly instrumental and very hip. He played that wgite jazzmaster . Funny trebly, hollow and round sound. (The strings and neck of those guitars feel so odd ) . He has the sound of a guy who has spent his life immersed in the sounds of Lee Perry and classic ska. He is a real band leader with a totally unique vision. The band was helped by havinga very engaging bass player who stoof in the centre and danced , while smiling and winking at the audience in a totally winning and engaging style. Its great to see music played with people dancing. A real joyous , celebratory night out.
 ROYA BUTLER - I-94 Bar US punk columnist
10. The undying hope that the myspace gets shut down
9. Fushia, Black, White, & Gold
8. Morrissey, 'you have killed me' --"Ringleaders of the Tormentors"
7. Converge, 'heartache' --"No Hereos"
6. US Bombs, title track --"We are the Problem"
5. Orange, 'forgive and forget' --"Welcome to the World of Orange"
4. Muse, 'starlight' --"black holes and revelations"
3. Sick of it All, 'take the night off' --"Death to Tyrants"
2. Goldfrapp, 'number one' --"Supernature"
1. Regulations, 'police siren' ---"Regulations"
 DAVE KETTLEY
New Christs and The Dead Set guitarist
1. Getting back from The New Christs Eurotour in time for the birth of my
second son Hamish. It was always going to be close but I just scraped in within a week!! (included in this is playing guitar in The New Christs lineup with those lads, those songs, just really cool).
2. Finally getting The Dead Set's album out after a string of setbacks....
Too many to list.
3. Zeno Beach. No need for explanations here. It's Radio Birdman.
4. Supporting Radio Birdman.
5. Scoring perfect waves one rainy July afternoon for my first surf in
months. Yeah... I'm a proud wax head!!! Shark Fucker whatever you want to
call me!!
6. Mick Harvey's set at Primavera sound festival in Barcelona. Just fucking
beautiful!!!
7. The Bellrays at The Metro... Yes, Yes Mr Barman. I know I missed them at
the Annandale! Still... What an experience.
8. The FOOD in Spain.
9. Buying some new guitars and amps.
10. Seeing a naked pic of Ashley Thomson on the i94bar. I've seen the mpeg
version where he gets rogered by Ron 'The Hedgehog' Jeremy. I think I need
counselling for even saying that...
11. Getting in for free to see the Stooges at the Sydney BDO. I didn't have
a ticket, sat at the gate for about 2 hrs when a big islander security guard
comes up to me and says "Hey Bro... are you waitin for someone?" I say...
"Nah mate... Just hangin out y'know... incase.." and he goes and open's the
gate for me and say's "enjoy Bro". Really fuckin sweet. This could be
exchanged with any other entry here but I had to make it go to 11.....
ASHLEY
THOMSON
Owner of jesus666.com graphic design and mastering, member of Drug Squad 66 and countless
other bands.
1. Hanging around this web forum : Interesting mix of burnouts, milf mom's, smart ass jokers, fags, computer geeks and me. I do 3 internet radio shows outa there every week now, Wednessday night is my Aussie cult underground bands show - tune in sucker.
2. Seeing the fucking Stooges: Lo and behold, it was so great, I
loved every microsecond of it, and I felt like crying when they
finished, unreal...
3. Seeing HITS a couple of times: My favorite 2 people in brisbane in the one band, good value. Rich from the aaampirellas/strutter and Tammy from gazoonga attack, big sound, lotta downstroke guitar, lotta drugs, lotta good time, loved 'em.
4. Tiger by the Tail: Dave Thomas and the boys are really pushing
something good here, the gig I saw rose and fell like mountains, the heavy parts crushed me and the artisticky parts very interesting, really cool
5. Weeds: Man, my fav TV show this year hands down, bring on the milf weed !!
6. Buying music: I really purchased a LOT of music this year from
iTunes and eMusic, all i need now is an iPod for Xmas !!
7. Birdman and the Hard Ons at Yallah: I saw this gig with the Barman down south from sydney, so cool, best hard on's show i've seen, guys are so heavy now, i love it, so fucking sonic, great guys, i hope they are still playing in another 20 years time. and the B men, cranked it up, played HEAPS of new stuff, love Rusty's drumming although I think the poor cunt was dying of the plauge, great fucking gig, and i got a Radio Birdman beanie. LOL.
8. Jamming with my kid and his mates: My 15-year-old kid has me drumming in 3 bands now with his mates, mostly aged 15 to 20, unreal to see into their world, sharp minds, witty little cunts they are, really loving it. I am so Stone Age compared to them, but they accept me how i am !!
9. Best Oz cd I heard this year: It's from a band from brisbane called - ShrewmS...Rose Tattoo, Motorhead, heavy rock n roll, mean, twisted, thirsty mother fuckin' music, this is the drummer from HITS doing his own thing and it rocks like fucking godzilla on ice.
10. Not being dead: I think i'm supposed to kick the bucket soon, my heart's fuckstick, half the time i'm asleep, but year to year i'm hanging in so i have nearly got through another year, looking forward to summer and girls wearing less clothes and the beach. Hey, wish you all the luck in the world.
|
 NED ALPHABET
Songwriter/
Guitarist/
Vocalist for Sydney band King Felix
The following list is a mix of 2006 stuff, and stuff I happened to buy
during, but not actually released in 2006. It's rated in no particular
order...they're all number 1!!
1. LOBBY LOYDE & SUDDEN ELECTRIC - Live With Dubs (Aztec expanded reissue)
2. THE PURPLE HEARTS - Benzedrine Beat
3. NEIL YOUNG - Living With War
4. NEIL YOUNG & CRAZY HORSE - Live At The Fillmore 1970 (Neil Young Archives Vol 2)
5. RADIO BIRDMAN - Zeno Beach
6. NEW YORK DOLLS - One Of These Days It Will Please Us To Remember Even This
7. TOWNES VAN ZANDT - Texas Troubadour 4CD Box Set (Simply one of the best songwriters ever. The man never wrote or recorded a mediocre song,
something which not even Dylan can lay claim to.)
8. THE BELLRAYS - Have A Little Faith
9. THE LITTLE WILLIES - The Little Willies
10. ELEKTRICNI ORGAZAM (aka ELECTRIC ORGASM) - Private Bootleg CD
Compilation (Seminal Yugoslav punk band, featuring highlights from a two
decade plus recording career starting in 1979. Everything from 70s
brit-punk and T Rex style glam rock, 80s art-punk, 60s garage rock &
psychedelia with heavy doses of power-pop. Do a google on "yugarage"...very
cool Balkan rock website.)
TOP 5 MOVIES/DVDs
1. A SCANNER DARKLY
2. SUBURBAN MAYHEM
3. THE AGREEMENT (short film dir. Russell Edwards)
4. HANK WILLIAMS: HONKY TONK BLUES (DVD/Documentary)
5. THE SYD BARRET STORY (DVD/Documentary)
RIP Ian Rilen/Syd Barret
 CLARK PAULL
Lifelong resident of Detroit, notorious shut-in, '70s snob, and a guy who feels living like he’s in the witness protection program in the wilds of northern Michigan would suit his lifestyle needs. Living in the past, hold all calls…
I’ve already gone on for far too long about several items that certainly deserve inclusion on this list, like the latest from the Paybacks, Cinders, Cheap Trick, and Sonic’s Rendezvous Band, so here’s some other things that have caught my eyes and ears in ’06:
New York Dolls redux
Despite The Barman’s best efforts to rain on my parade by crassly characterizing “Someday It Will Please Us To Remember Even This” as the best David Johansen solo album ever, I remain resolute in my singular quest of just about everything I can get my hands on stamped with the Dolls brand, such as Castle’s bootleg box set and double-disc of early studio demos, making up for over 30 years lost time and teetering dangerously close to debtor’s prison in the process.
“Down By The Jetty” (Collector’s Edition) – Dr. Feelgood
Unfairly pigeonholed into a pub rock corner, Dr. Feelgood didn’t give a toss that punk was just around the corner when they recorded their debut album – in mono – back in 1974, simply getting on with their own deranged brand of dynamite R&B. Unfurled here in all of its glory, with attendant B-sides and live tracks as well as a second disc of the album in stereo (!), this is all the evidence you’ll need that Wilko Johnson, not Albert Collins, is the master of the Telecaster.
“Sinner” – Joan Jett
Call me a sucker for a girl with an electric guitar – or just plain “sucker” – but Joan Jett, the original kitten with a whip, remains a guilty pleasure. “Sinner” is her first album of all-new material in over a decade, although many of the songs here appeared on the Japanese-only “Naked” in 2004. Unapologetically loud and crunchy, the originals this time around (most notably “Riddles,” “Tube Talkin’,” and “Turn It Around”) pack as much wallop as the nod-and-a-wink covers (The Sweet’s “A.C.D.C.” and The Replacements’ “Androgynous”).
Finally tracking down Nash The Slash’s “Children of the Night” on CD
I'm still not sure I've completely come to grips with seeing Canada’s Nash The Slash back in the early 80’s in an eerily-lit, nearly-deserted Clutch Cargo’s, but it didn’t stop me from wearing out this album on vinyl. Nash, the nightmarish offspring of a tragic one-night stand between The Invisible Man and Keith Emerson, manipulates, tortures, and caresses a staggering array of keyboards, synthesizers, violins, and drum machines and performs swaddled head to toe in surgical bandages, double-tasking like a one-man Suicide. His cover of Jan and Dean’s “Dead Man's Curve" absolutely KILLS.
Status Quo reissues
Except for Bo Diddley, no one’s gotten more mileage out of recycling riffs than Status Quo but let’s face it, the band's catalog was in a sorry state until Mercury’s re-issues - complete with B-sides, live tracks, and demos - helped open their archives. Like Slade, Oasis, and The Jam, these guys could never get arrested in the U.S., but I say they’re more deserving of the accolades for heads-down, knees-up blues-based boogie usually thrown Foghat’s way.
American Heartbreak
Been meaning to check these guys out forever and was pleased to discover their eponymous third album, on the great Liquor and Poker imprint, offers up the finest 50 minutes of hard-edged, punked-up Cheap Trick, T. Rex, Kiss, and AC/DC pop tunes you could ever steal.
“Kolchak: The Night Stalker” box set (DVD)
Darren McGavin’s role as eccentric, down-on-his-luck reporter Carl Kolchak was first introduced on a 1972 ABC-TV “Movie of the Week” about a death-sucking vampire which scared one of my friends so badly she didn’t come out of the house for three days, not even to go to school. Although the series it spawned, presented here in total, may not reach the same sheer level of underwear-browning perfection, there’s plenty to recommend. McGavin, and Simon Oakland as his stroking-out editor Tony Vincenzo, are both terrific and the storylines so innovative and well written they inspired the infinitely more successful “The X-Files.”
“You Live A Lie, You’re Gonna Die” – Cinecyde
Par for the course, I caught up with this compilation of what just may be Detroit’s longest running punk band – if you discount The Stooges and what’s left of the MC5, that is – eleven years after it was released by Italy’s Hate Records. Good thing too, because my copies of their terrific early singles and EP’s, in particular “Positive Action” and “Black Vinyl Threat,” have seen better days.
Cinecyde were awfully cranky for four suburban kids, local radio a thorny flashpoint, Clay Albertson’s bass doing the brontosaurus and Gary Reichel supplying the heebie-jeebie chorus, perhaps the earliest local proponents of punk’s DIY aesthetic with the formation of Tremor Records way back in 1977. The series of “Tremor Reviews” they staged in the early 80’s were some of the best gigs featuring local bands I’ve ever seen and the compilations released on the label (“Detroit Defaces The Eighties,” “Mandatory Music,” “When Monkeys Were Gods,” “End Of The World A-Go-Go,” and “Folk Songs From The Twilight Zone”) are positively screaming out for digital upgrade.
“Kissology 1974-1977”
Well, it was a good run, but my 10-year-old vow never to put another dime in Gene Simmons’ pocket has crumbled in alarming and abrupt fashion with this golden age treasure trove, packed like a blivit with TV appearances, four complete concerts, and promos from four guys who point blank rode the coat-tails of Alice Cooper and the New York Dolls to knighthood among the unwashed masses here in Detroit and then the rest of the planet.
There’s not much here which won’t be intimately familiar to those who spent hours in wood-paneled mid-western basements back in the mid-70’s – rolling kit, long-neck Stroh’s, and dog-eared copies of “Circus” magazine close at hand - ticking away the hours and suffering through what seemed like an eternity of commercials and performances by Neil Sedaka, Leon Redbone, and Harry Chapin for a quick gander at the spectacle, but it’s nice to have it all in one tidy package.
“Jobjumper” – The Whiskey Rebel (a.k.a. Phil Irwin)
The needs of Rancid Vat's Whiskey Rebel, known to family and friends as Phil Irwin, are simple and noble; a roomful of records, quality time with his wife and son, the occasional opportunity to plug in and make an unholy racket with his bandmates, a clean, quiet, comfortable place to evacuate his bowel, and a job he can bust his ass at for at least eight hours a day, with minimal grief from co-workers and management, and then leave behind for the sanctity of an icy 12-pack of brew.
But Irwin's work ethic, as he unflinchingly divulges in "Jobjumper," the funniest and most brutally honest account of sucking the corporate teat since Ben Hamper's archetypal "Rivethead," is decidedly old school and as he so woefully admits, completely out of touch with what passes for workplace commitment. It's loaded with alcohol and narcotic-blurred insight and stories he'll undoubtedly share with his grandchildren about the rogue's gallery of practical jokers, social outcasts, insect eaters, and party animals he shared employment with dating back to his childhood.
Ultimately, though, Irwin threw up his hands and drew a line in the sand, leaving the nation's workforce to those with little or no imagination, preferring to concentrate on his music and internet commerce. Godspeed, Phil.
Biggest Disappointments
No new albums from The Cramps, The Kinks, Freddy Lynxx, The Nomads, The Wildhearts, or The Stooges. And then there’s this lot:
“Better Late Than Never” – Eddie & The Hot Rods
“Really Really Happy” – The Muffs
“A Bigger Bang” – Rolling Stones
“Hello Young Lovers” – Sparks
“Endless Wire” – The Who (not entirely unexpected in this case)
RICHARD SHARMAN
Photographer
Blackshadow Photography
As the year draws to a close The Barman has asked for my top ten for 2006 – it’s taken me a bit of time to distil things down to ten as it has been a massive year for me on a musical, professional and personal note.
2006 saw me take the steps to turn a long time passion of mine, music photography into something that may one day provide me with a living. It’s been a bumpy yet hugely rewarding ride so far and I’d like to thank many of the bar staff and patrons for their encouragement and support this year.
2006 also saw me hit 40 which I celebrated at The Excelsior in Surry Hills with entertainment provided by SixFtHick, Spencer P Jones and more – what a sensational night and thanks to the bands, those who attended and the Excelsior staff for making my birthday so memorable.
The other big thing that happened to me this year was making the move from Sydney to Victoria and now spending a lot of time in Melbourne. I’m loving rediscovering Melbourne, its vibrant music community, the down to earth attitude, rekindling old friendships and making some fantastic new friends.
Finally, I would like to pay tribute to Ian Rilen who sadly passed away in November – Ian was to me the embodiment of rock and roll, no one has provided me with more musical pleasure than Ian, I’m going to miss you but thanks so much for the wonderful memories, music and performances.
Enough prattling from me it’s starting to sound like an acceptance speech at some awards ceremony.
My Top Ten
- Ian Rilen and The Love Addicts @Torquay FC – the best gig of the year for mine – it saw the band and the audience reach a state of rapture, unfortunately it was Ian’s last ever live performance
- The Meredith Music Festival (especially The Soundtrack Of Our Lives) – not even the 40 degree heat, the dust and the smoke from bushfires could dampen the friendly enthusiasm of this festival and the great lineup of bands. The best festival I have ever attended and I recommend it to all bar patrons – get your arses there!
- The Bellrays @ HiFi Bar – another mind blowing show. Make sure you catch them when they return to Australian shores in March 2007.
- The Stooges @ Sydney Big Day Out – what can I say – it was THE FUCKING STOOGES!
- The Rolling Stones @ Telstra Stadium, Sydney - showed they can still rock after 40+ years in the business
- Spencer P Jones – Immolation And Ameliorations 1995-2005 – one of the finest collections of songs released this year by one of the most talented musicians around.
- The Cosmic Psychos – Off Ya Cruet - a fantastic return to form by the masters of “Yob Rock”. Vale to Robbie “Rocket” Watts who’s tragic death has left the band with an uncertain future.
- SixFtHick – Cane Trash/Train Crash – finally one of the best live bands in Australia manage to translate their live brilliance to an album.
- The spirit of community among the Melbourne music scene and the way they band together to support their own in times of need.
- Piss take of the year has to go to Bonnie Tyler when she performed “Total Eclipse of the Heart” at the Age EG 21st Birthday celebrations – side splittingly funny.
There were many more moments I could easily have fitted into this list – next year I may have to submit a top 20 or 50! Best wishes to all – have a very Merry Christmas and a safe and prosperous 2007.
 ERIC HOLY CURSE
Singer for French band The Holy Curse
1/ Zeno Beach, the album - Zeno Beach, the Paris show Sep 27th - Zeno Beach the show we supported Paris, Sep 26th.
New , original, brillant : Radio Birdman, who could ask for more ?
2/ Sonic's Rendezvous Band box set
Six CDs that got me crying for not being there at the right time
3/ Vinz playing bass with Penny Ikinger on her european tour
This guy is a wizard, and she's the beauty from Oz
4/ The Holy Curse / Johhny Casino 7" on Turborock for standing 2nd to Radio Birdman 7" on the i94 review
5/ Reading Le Marquis de Cisteau's emails about life and death
6/ Finally having a chance to see Ashley nude, without Fezza
7/ Supporting the New Christs and finally hearing a live version of Spit it out
8/ Interviewing Deniz Tek with champagne and "petits fours"
9/ The opening of Lollipop Record Store, THE record store in France (Marseille)
10/ Grit, Noise and Revolution by David Carson (Michigan rock history)
 EARL O'NEILL
I-94 "What The Fuck?" columnist
Earl's round-up is here.
 JOHNNY CASINO
Guitarist - Johnny Casino & The Secrets, Johnny Casino's Easy Action, The Egos, Asteroid B612
Right here goes , might change next week...
1 . The Bellrays at the Annandale Hotel. Maximiun Rock'n'Soul and really fuckin' good !!
2. All the shinning stars that are helping me make the Secrets record - on big fat 2" 16 track at Tardis Recording Studio with Mike Burnham.
3. Buying records and having a beer with my friend Frank Cotterell at Mojo Records in Sydney.
4. Being lucky enough to have great people to play with all over this great country; thanks in Perth to Ken 'the killer' Watt , Wild Warren Hall and Blazin Brad Miller; thanks in Melbourne to Sir Michael John Evans , James 'Fatty' Saunders and the Colonel Cris Wilson; and a thanks in Sydney to Ben 'Barney' Fox , Mark 'Shreik' Horne and Mick 'Barefoot' Poole.
5. Radio Birdman at the Manly Fishermans Club . I ain't a tragic like others around these parts but that night they were great - easily the best i've seen them play.
6. The Soundtrack Of Our Lives - two wonderful shows at the Tote Hotel and the Annandale Hotel.
7. Movies: Little Miss Sunshine and The Departed. The grandad in Little Miss Sunshine had me pisssin' my pants in the cinema - he died too early - and Jack Nicholson in the Departed was huge .He seemed possessed.
8. Music i've been listening to may not have been made this year but it's what's been giving me the horn. The Reigning Sound , Dr John , Bob Dylan , The Pink Fits , The Surpremes , The Band, Van Morrison, The Real Kids , The Volcanics , Elivs Costello, Allen Tousaint , My Morning Jacket and seachin' out real dirty old funk and soul .
9. Mickster and Chris from Off The Hip Records . They got their hearts in the right place. May the next year (and many more to come) be a success.
10. Being able to punt on nags in China at 2 in the morning on a Wednesday night. It's a sickness, I know.
 DAVID "DAVE" LAING
Dog Meat Records, Savage Beat Records, Shock Records' roots music 'dude'. He's 'a little bit country, a little bit rock'n'roll'... NOT the Lexicon Devil blog guy but the original and the best.
(Pictured, right, hamming it up with with GOD's Sean Greenway, R.I.P.)
Note: I tend not to discover my favorite NEW music until at least a year after it's released, so this is mostly reissue stuff. 'New' bands I dig the most today - Reigning Sound and the Paybacks.
2006 Top 10 in no particular order
1. Roky Erickson & the Explosives live at SXSW.
A full and rockin' hour-long set from MY HERO. Probably only 50% of his former capacity, but fuck it, it was ROKY, and Cam King on lead was wicked too. If you've heard the 'Casting The Runes' live album it was pretty close to that. 'Two Headed Dog', 'Bloody Hammer', all that stuff. I never thought I would've seen it. God bless the music biz for letting me go to Sxsw to see this (and the Cheater Slicks, and Zolar X, and The Tearjerkers, and the Plimsouls - who only played 5 songs alas - and the Dolls, Scott Morgan's Powertrane, Paybacks in 2005)
2. "All Kindsa Girls: The Real Kids" - directed by Cheryl Eagan Donovan Was fortunate to see a screener of this documentary, which is doing the round of music friendly film festival in the States and Europe. A couple of minor inaccuracies and ommissions aside, this works better than I could've hoped; it tells with feeling the everyman story of a truly local band who had half a shot at making it and blew it, and shows the lives of a bunch of guys for whom playing rock'n'roll is a lifelong calling, not a passing phase. The beautifully shot and recorded rehersal footage from '76 is something I NEVER thought I'd see - I thought I'd died and gone to rock'n'roll heaven. RIP Alpo.
3. Sonic's Rendezvous Band box (Easy Action) & Flamin' Groovies 'At Full Speed' 2CD set (Sire) Two old faves revisited. The SRB thing is almost too much of a good thing. I'll still be absorbing this way into the new year. Nice to know where Birdman picked up Bo Diddley's 'Let The Kids Dance' too. The Groovies thing brings together ALL of their 70's Sire stuff, and I know it's insane but I'd take this over the Beatles, Byrds or Stones 60s output any day. Cyril Jordan is God. Make sure you get the UK 2cd set and not the US triple, which actually has less material.
4. Dead Moon 'Echoes of the Past' 2CD (SubPop) The greatest band of the early 90's (alongside the Powder Monkeys and the Cheater Slicks) finally get their due. What's overlooked too often in discussing these guys is what a GREAT songwriter Fred Cole is - people will be rediscovering and performing his songs for generations to come. I can't believe this band hasn't been picked up by a wider audience (or championed by the White Stripes for that matter - Jack White is following a similar musical path, albeit some 20 years after fred set off): Fred is not only a genius but a living, breathing and still rocking relic of the 'Nuggets' generation and 60's LA scene - an acquaintance of everyone there, from Sky Saxon to Arthur Lee to Neil Young - and his story deserves a book, a movie (oops - the DM doco is just out on DVD - a must see), the lot. Touring down under again in Feb.
5. Reigning Sound In Memphis 7" (Norton) Covers of two Memphis tunes, taken from the Live At Goner LP (which is also great, but came out late '05). Sam The Sham's 'Black Sheep' is a brilliantly incisive and moving song that has more to say than the entire new Dylan album (and I dig Dylan) - Greg Cartright is a genius for finding it and his performance of it kills me.
6. Solomon Burke 'Nashville' CD (Shout! Factory) Beautiful album which re-explores the country music roots of classic 60's Southern Soul, a style over which Solomon has long reigned. Great choice of songs, great guest spots from the likes of Gillian Welch and Emmylou Harris and a great stripped back production from Buddy Miller, who I reckon would enjoy talking music with The Reigning Sound's Greg Cartwright.
7. Radio Birdman/BellRays - Two great albums, one great tour. 'Zeno Beach' (Crying Sun) took me a few listens but I grew to love it. Great thick guitar tones and some ripping tunes like 'Connected' and 'We've Come So Far'. Love the BellRays 'Have a Little Faith' (Cheap Lullaby') in all its guises, but especially the hooky '60s-style soul of 'Third Time's The Charm'. BellRays had the edge on their joint tour, but Birdman's show at the Prince earlier in the year was as good as anything gets.
8. The Paybacks 'Love, Not Reason' CD (Savage Jams) Wendy Case sings with a voice that's equal parts Dusty Springfield and Angry Anderson and writes GREAT songs, full of heart and courage and thrilling melody. With Wendy on guitar also, the band comes on like a combination of first album Real Kids, 'Blood Brothers'' Dictators and Alberts-era AC/DC. How could I not love these guys?
9. Pete Molinari 'Walking Off The Map' CD (Damaged Goods) The clueless UK pop press have this young Brit pegged as a new Dylan - well he did spend some time in Greenwich Village - but I'm thinking Expresso Bongo with quality, and hearing a late '50s Soho coffee bar folk/rock'n'roll/pop-hybrid with a heartthrob voice and great songs. Has Billy Childish discovered the new Tommy Steele?
10. more...
A)Jerry Lee Lewis 'Last Man Standing' CD - He sings and plays like it he's still in his twenties, and doesn't let ANY of his super-duper guest stars get anywhere near him.
B) Classic Ruins 'Lassie Eats Chicken' CD - A fave '80s Boston lp finally on cd - 'Geraldine I Need Money More Than I Need You' is all-time great.
C) The Raconteurs - 'Steady, As She Goes' 7" - Raw garage power pop brilliance and hook of the year.
D) Sarah Lee Guthrie & Johnny Irion live - Their album was one of my '05 faves - their shows here in March were fab. Not quite the new Gram & Emmylou, but getting there.
E) The Hitmen - stuff - Working on a series of reissues and knocking myself dead sorting through live and demo stuff has me convinced these guys are the unsung heroes of high energy Australian rock'n'roll. That they're the missing link between Birdman and the Gurus/Tribesmen etc is a given - the amount of great music they made will surprise everyone. Stay tuned.
F) The Stooges - Yes it was great BUT - maybe because it was at the Big Day Out, maybe because I can't help but think of Iggy as just a really great Iggy-impersonator these days - it didn't move me like I hoped it would. I actually think it's because every single thing about those those first two albums is so completely of a particular mind set and emotional/chemical state that trying to recreate them is somewhat futile. I actually enjoyed the Mc5 thing a couple of years ago more - a bunch of old warhorses giving it their best but in no way pretending it was 1969 again. Maybe if Iggy was in the same condition physically as Ron Asheton it would have felt a bit more real?
G) Teengenerate's post-Xmas tour of the Tote - gonna be great!
TIM PITTMAN
Feelpresents promoter/record label honcho
Eddy Current Suppression Ring. I’ve been waiting a long time for a band like this to come along. So glad they could finally make it. Their blend of garage-rock and edgy post-punk is infectious - as evidenced by all those that become instant converts. They're on a winner here. We all are.
The BellRays – live @ the Annandale Hotel, Sydney. Hands down the best show of the year. Raw rock ‘n’ soul indeed!
Radio Birdman – Zeno Beach. After some initial trepidation this became my most played album of the year.
The Damned – Strawberries. My most played older album of the year. If you like Zeno Beach, The Soundtrack Of Our Lives and English psychedelia then check it out.
Punk Rock by John Robb (a book). A great first-hand, first person account from some of the stars as well as some of the lesser knowns. Detailed background and great insights. Highly recommended.
Chronicles Vol 1 by Bob Dylan. I’m not that big a fan of his music but his literary skills are fantastic. Can’t wait for Vol. 2
Jack Nicholson in The Departed. Like Dylan, Nicholson is a master of his art and completely took over the screen whenever he appeared. Great stuff.
Barcelona – the City. Hadn’t been there since a day off on a Hard-Ons tour back in 1991. Spent a whole week there this time and didn’t see a show or buy any music but had a great time. Must have been the girlfriend, over the company of three unkempt (then) youths.
Being told the whole story of how Steve Diggle and Peter Shelley of the Buzzcocks met at that infamous Sex Pistols Lesser Free Trade Hall show in Manchester in 1976, totally unsolicited and by a very drunk and animated Steve Diggle. Priceless.
The Stooges – live at the Big Day Out. I was lucky enough to see them four times – and from very close range. Each time was great but Melbourne peaked just that little bit more. Truly awesome.
JOSS HUTTON
(Sonic Reducer Tag Team / The Stripchords, Bath, Engerland)
Joss and Nadia spy a Primal Scream fan trying to break in and nick some proper rock'n'roll records. Photo by Bohdan Cap
Top Ten for 2006, in no particular order:
1) Reigning Sound - Live At Goner Records LP (Goner) - Until the album Greg Cartwright's written and recorded backing-up Shangri Las legend Mary Weiss hits the racks in the '07, this ragged but righteous trawl thru his back catalogue (plus a scorching version of Carl Perkins' Tennessee) keeps the flame of heart-wrenching rock'n'roll alive'n'kicking.
2) Jack O & The Tennessee Tearjerkers - The Flip Side Kid LP (SFRTI) - The other part of the Memphis r'n'r equation dishes-up a heady brew of deranged country, blues and street-unlegal raunch, all of which sounds like it was recorded with a boom mike tied to a broom handle, from the other side of a turnpike (that's a compliment, dammit!). "John Holmes Blues" will scare you shitless, and the Joe Meek-style organ trills on "Til The Money Runs Out" will tickle yer socks right off the radiator.
3 & 4) You Am I - Convicts (EMI) / Live in Dublin - What can I say? The boy Rogers comes back fightin', with his self-deprecating wit even more armour-plated ("I'm A Mess"), and Rusty, Davey'n'the Kent on top flight form... Outta all the gigs I've seen 'em do, the four horsemen of the optics' kickass set in Dublin earlier this year was the finest - punting out them jams in front of an ex-pat crowd who only wanted to hear 'the hits', they got the wagons in a circle, and blasted thru a set of old'n'new nuggets like their lives depended on it. All that plus a cover of "My Little Red Book" (thanks for the dedication).
5) James Hunter - People Gonna Talk (Rounder) - Like Sam Cooke's brother, or Clyde McPhatter's smoother cousin, backed by the Atlantic Records house band circa '56, with the drummer from the Skatalites. Seriously, seriously wailing, well overdue new set from the guitarist, vocalist and songwriter formerly known as Howlin' Wilf, produced by Liam 'Flange' Watson at his Toe Rag empire. If you only buy one more record this year, make yourself happy, you great nerk, and get this.
6) Sonics Rendezvous Band - SRB boxset (Easy Action) - Former SRB associates throwing their toys outta their prams aside, is this not the most jaw-slackening release of 2006? Whether it's onstage meltdown versions of already-grokked SRB faves, unearthed basement tapes, or (finally) the studio version(s) of "Electrophonic Tonic", this delivers in spades. SRB not only make all heavy metal redundant, but also suggest an entire late-70s-onwards future for rock'n'roll which is still ongoing in the hands, hearts and minds of folks like us schmucks. How about them apples?
7) The Soundtrack Of Our Lives - "What are you doing here?" isn't a question you normally ask a bearded Scandinavian in a monk's robe while trying to find the cloakroom at a wedding reception. "What are YOU doing here?" isn't usually a question you'd here from same and his bandmates, after locating said cloakroom, either. Andy & Lisa Perry's wedding reception was a wingding and a half, as TSOOL were providing the live kicks via two sets, one of their own stuff ("Here's some of our favourite covers") and another of covers ("Now here's some of our own material"), including "Search & Destroy", "Ace Of Spades", "Bodies" ("She was a girl from Birmingham" sounds GREAT with a Scandi accent!), and finishing with a version of "Living After Midnight" (with the groom on vocals). A very, very great night all round.
8) The Stripchords - Nearing 40, I didn't, for one minute, think I'd be playing in a 'tits'n'twang' combo, accompanied by vintage 8mm stripping movies, plus my lovely wife (and our drummer's gurl) go-go dancing with hula-hoops! Composing gnarly instros such as "Hi Ho Hawaii", and kicking out such covers as the Linkmeister's "Hidden Charms" is a fiiiiine way to enter middle age. Check out www.myspace.com/thestripchords for pics, vids, and tunes. Hopefully, you'll laff half as much as we do. And we laff A LOT.
9) The Monks @ The Dirty Water Club - I shook the hand that strums the devil's banjo! Dave Day was, understandably, all smiles following The Monks' rapturously-received UK live debut, staged by the infatigable PJ Crittenden, as part of London rock'n'roll bastion The Dirty Water Club's tenth anniversary celebrations. From the moment our black-clad heroes hit the stage, and into "Black Monk Time", the place went apeshit. "Oh How To Do Now" made the room tip-up, too...
10) Radio Birdman @ The Dirty Water Club - Cementing DWC head honcho PJ's place in the pantheon of r'n'r impressarios who give a damn (see also; the Barman, Lindsay "Next Big Thing" Hutton, Eric "Goner Records" Friedl, Billy'n'Miriam at Norton, the late Greg Shaw... add name here) was his staging of Mr Younger and co.'s return to Londinium, replete with the atomic-powered rhythm section of Dickson and Hopkinson. I didn't know it was physically possible for humans to play "New Race" that fast, and neither did the rest of the crowd, who were left gobsmacked by a masterful, lengthy set. I shall say no more.
 BRUCE MILNE
Aus music elder statesman
Ex-Au Go Go Records, now head of In-Fidelity
(no order and it doesn't include any In-Fidelity releases)
1. myspace
Seriously! I was so cynical about the whole thing but it has exposed me to
so many great r'n'r groups in places I wouldn't have known about (Brazil!
Korea!) and hooked me up to loads of cool podcasts (garagepunk!).
2. Guitar Wolf live @ Tote Nov 4th
It was too hot when they played NYE. This was much more enjoyable. Plus
the supports were the Cants, Specimens and Bakelite Age. Toshi should be
knighted for his services to music.
3. Reigning Sound
They didn't release any albums in 2006, nor play here, but they're the best
band in the world right now so I had to put them on the list
4. The Soundtrack Of Our Lives live in Australia
Let's pretend I wrote this after they toured Australia and therefore I can
put their gigs down.
5. The Drones "Gala Mill"
I didn't release it so I'm allowed to include it. Brilliant.
6. Teengenerate live at the Tote
Still can't believe this is going to happen!
7. Porter Wagoner "Rubber Room" CD
The first ever compilation of all of Porter's completely off-the-wall
did-I-really-hear-that sicko songs.
8. Wooden Shjips 7" and 10"
I love it when a band comes out of nowhere (well, San Francisco) that makes
you go "Whoah!". These guys definitely do that.
9. New York Dolls "All Dolled Up" DVD
Worth the (30 year) wait. I loved the Arthur Kane doco, too.
10. Eddy Current Supression Ring CD
Bet this is on everyone else's list, too!
 FRANK MEYER
(The Streetwalkin' Cheetahs, Sweet Justice)
Top 10 Gigs on 2006 (Los Angeles, CA)
Eddie Van Halen & The Starf*ckers - Private backyard party at Eddie's Hollywood Hills House (Van Halen set!)
New York Dolls - Spaceland, Silver Lake, CA (Rare small club show, incredible.)
Radio Birdman/Bellrays - Wiltern Theater, Los Angeles, CA (Birdman's first US show EVER!)
Bellrays - Safari Sam's, Los Angeles, CA (This band has become a machine. Breathtaking.)
Thor the Rock Warrior - Knitting Factory, Hollywood, CA (Thor's heavy metal warrior routine never gets old.)
Zolar - X - Knitting Factory, Hollywood, CA (They had just retruned from a week of dates to SXSW and were on fire!)
The Germs - Vault 350, Long Beach, CA (The Germs here in 2006? Who woulda thunk it?)
Jetboy - Whiskey Au-Go Go, Hollywood, CA (Terrific reunion set by one of L.A.'s best glam bands.)
Necro/Ill Bill - Henry Fonda Theater, Hollywood, CA (Detah metal hip hop, y'all. It's the new style.)
Mike Relm - Knitting Factory, Hollywood, CA (A DJ who spins video via DVD scratching. Never seen that before...)
J.P. 'THUNDERBOLT" PATTERSON
Long-time drummer for NYC punk legends the Dictators and a founding member of the 'Tator spinoff Manitoba's Wild Kingdom. His solo debut "THUNDERBOSS: Thunderbolt Patterson with Ross The Boss" was released in 2006 on Poptown Records.
I'll try not to make this all about me, but it might be tough; I've had a
busy year-
1) THE DICTATORS CLOSE CBGB: O.K., Patti Smith played the FINAL night
(Sunday), but we headlined Friday and Saturday and killed, if I do say so
myself. Two years on hiatus, two rehearsals. Talks have begun concerning
2007.
2) ESPOSITO MEATS, NYC: Hard to find an authentic old school butcher these
days, but this is the real deal. Third generation in the same location,
which appropriately enough, is Hell's Kitchen. Say hi to Bobby and get
whatever the fireman are ordering.
3) MY WIFE: 17 years and she still keeps me around, which in itself is
remarkable...but my gal's also a talented T.V. producer, great mom and
patient sister-in-law.
4) CASINO ROYALE: Now THAT'S a Bond movie: It most resembles "On Her
Majesty's Secret Service", one of my favorites.
5) LINDSAY LOHAN: My co-star in "Just My Luck" (available now on DVD) is a
smokin' actress, cute as hell, and apparently a bit of a nut job. Love her to
death.
6) HABITAT FOR HUMANITY: Building houses for people who couldn't otherwise
be homeowners...what's not to like ?
7) CARMELO ANTHONY: Brought an NCAA basketball title to my beloved Syracuse Orangeman a few years ago and now leads the National Basketball Association in scoring. Along with D-Wade and LeBron, the N.B.A. is in great hands.
8) JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE: Is it just me,or did Sexy not come back ? Where's the
new Maroon 5 record ?
9) DANICA PATRICK: Female race car drivers are hot. Hot female race car
drivers are twice as hot. Hot female race car drivers who are fast (which
she is) are therefore 3x as hot, or is it 4x ? If she wins a race this year,
she'll own motorsports. Next stop, NASCAR...
10) "THUNDERBOSS:THUNDERBOLT PATTERSON with ROSS THE BOSS":
Me,me,me,me...and Ross and C.J. Sorry, but I always wanted to make my own record, I'm very proud of it, and it's available from poptownrecords.com or CD Baby.
JEFF JAREMA
I-94 Bar and Ugly Things columnist
Jeff's wrap-ups are kinda lengthy so we post them here.
 LOU RISDALE
Gun Australian music publicist, Aztec Music staffer
Top Ten Albums :
The Stabs - Dirt
The Drones - Gala Mill
Ronnie Spector - The Last Of The Rock Stars
Mach Pelican - Radio Action
Coloured Balls - Ball Power reissue
Buffalo - Dead Forever reissue
Black Cab - Jesus East
Witch Hats - Wound of A Little Horse
Factory Girls - Dallas Crane
New York Dolls - One Day It Will Please Us To Remember Even This
Top Ten Gigs :
Stooges @ Big Day Out
Stooges @ Big Day Out
Stooges @ Big Day Out
Stooges @ Big Day Out
Stooges @ Big Day Out
Stooges @ Big Day Out
Bellrays @ Corner Hotel
Stooges @ Big Day Out
Stooges @ Big Day Out
Stooges @ Big Day Out
ROBERTO CALABRO’
Freelance journalist, Aussie-rock lover, I-94 Bar contributor and laughin’ rock’n’roll soldier
Album of the year: RADIO BIRDMAN – Zeno Beach
Best Psychedelic album: BABY WOODROSE – Love Comes Down
Best Maximum Rock’n’Soul album: THE BELLRAYS – Have A Little Faith
Best Garage album: MONDO TOPLESS – Take It Slow
Best collection of rare and unreleased tracks: THE FLAMING SIDEBURNS – Back To The Grave
Best Instrumental album: DOM MARIANI & THE MAJESTIC KELP – Music to Chase Cars By…
Best Noise album: UZEDA – Stella
Best Italian album: CACTUS – Cactus
Best rock’n’roll shows:
RADIO BIRDMAN @ Vidia Club, Cesena (Italy)
THE FLESHTONES @ Circolo degli Artisti, Rome (Italy)
IGGY & THE STOOGES @ Neapolis Festival, Naples (Italy)
THE AVENGERS @ Circolo degli Artisti, Rome (Italy)
THE CYNICS @ Sala Sol, Madrid (Spain)
PAUL COLLINS’ BEAT @ Gruta 77, Madrid (Spain)
VIOLENT FEMMES @ Estragon, Bologna (Italy)
HEAVY TRASH @ Castelbuono – Sicily (Italy)
THE MEOWS @ Jungle, Rome (Italy)
Best reissues:
SONIC’S RENDEZVOUS BAND box-set on Easy Action: The definitive retrospective!!!
PLUG UGLIES “Same title” collection on Laughing Outlaw: What a discovery! What a wonderful band!
INNER CITY SOUND comp: 47 gems of Australian Punk and Post-Punk
THE SOMELOVES – Don’t Talk About Us!!!
DIAFRAMMA – Siberia/Tre Volte Lacrime/Boxe: 80’s Italian post-punk poets at their best!
Best R’n’R book:
DEATH OR GLORY: Italian translation for Pat Gilbert’s definitive story of The Clash “Passion Is A Fashion”..
Best Movie:
NUOVOMONDO: Emanuale Crialese’s story about Italian immigration to the Unites States. Excellent photography and perfect direction!
R.I.P. – Dedicated to the loving memory of:
Syd Barrett, Arthur Lee, Nikki Sudden, Allen “Alpo” Paulino, Sandy West..
Dinner with Tex Perkins
JUAN MARI ITURRATE
Bang! Records co-owner, Aussie music fanatic and notorious 4am mobile phone caller from Spain
TOP TEN SHOWS
1 - BEASTS OF BOURBON + HUGO RACE & TRUE SPIRIT (22 April, Sala Totem, Pamplona. It was my wedding party).
2 - BIG BANG! Showcase (IAN RILEN & LOVE ADDICTS, SPENCER P. JONES & ESCAPE COMITTEE, BRIAN HOOPER BAND, BORED!, PENNY IKINGER & THE EVOLUTION, JAMES
McCANN & THE DIRTY SKIRTS, TIGER BY THE TAIL, BLACK PONY EXPRESS and BAKELITE AGE) 14 & 16 July, Rob Roy Hotel & Tote Hotel, Melbourne. Ian Rilen did one the best concerts i´ve seen in my whole life. R.I.P. Ian...
3 - REDD KROSS Azkena fest, Vitoria.
4 - NEW CHRISTS Helldorado, Vitoria.
5 - NEW YORK DOLLS Azkena Fest, Vitoria.
6 - GALLON DRUNK Kafe Antzokia, Bilbao.
7 - SEÑOR NO Helldorado, Vitoria.
8 - GANG OF FOUR, Azkena Fest, Vitoria.
9 - DRONES, Kafe Antzokia, Bilbao.
10 - DINOSAUR JR, Primavera Sound Fest, Barcelona.
TOP TEN RECORDS
(0 - BEASTS OF BOURBON "Little Animals")
1 - SONIC´S RENDEZVOUS BAND "CD Box set"
2 - IAN RILEN AND THE LOVE ADDICTS "passion boots and bruises" (Euro
release. R.I.P. Ian...)
3 - BORED! "1st EP + Take it out on you + bonus"
4 - RADIO BIRDMAN "Zeno beach"
5 - BRIAN HENRY HOOPER "lemon lime & bitter"
6 - LA BANDA TRAPERA DEL RIO "grabaciones completas"
7 - BLACK PONY EXPRESS "love in a cold place"
8 - TIGER BY THE TAIL "1st album"
9 - P.I.L. "Metal box" (reissue).
10 - DRONES "Gala Mill"
Drinks with Ian Rilen
ROGER GRIERSON - Thought Criminals bassist
THOUGHT CRIMINALS and BUZZCOCKS gig
Eddy Suppression
TV SMITH
Sparks
Arcade Fire
Van Der Graaf Generator
Grant McLennan
Rose Tattoo
Children of Men movie
X MEN movie
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