The Passing Parade - Jack Howard (Jack Howard) and False Idols - Hugo Race and the True Spirit (Glitterhouse)

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By Robert Brokenmouth

Robert Brokenmouth

20 February 2016

Hits: 4875

Seems that the long EP is the way to go. A CD single was always a bit naff, a CD EP was okay but seemed a little wasteful in terms of time; a full CD these days is the equivalent of a double vinyl LP back in the mists of time.

Speaking of going back, a decent 7” was a work of art, whether it be by the Clash or the Psycho Surgeons, the Cramps or The News (I’ll never forget the first and only time I’ve held a single-sided single in my hands - utterdelight and incomprehension all at once). An EP was harder to achieve but was still a work of art.

• hugo race
• jack howard

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Get Cooped up with a bunch of underground rock stars

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By The Barman

The Barman

20 February 2016

Hits: 5601

_{Emmy Etie photo.}

It will be an all-supergroup affair when the eminently well-credentialed Joeys Coop (pictured) launch their debut album in Sydney on April 8 with help from an all-star supporting cast.

The On and Ons (featuring ex-Hoodoo Gurus, Screaming Tribesmen, Kings of the Sun and Stems members) and Cub Calloway and The Revolutionaries (featuring ex-New Christs, Saints and Died Pretty members) will join them at The Factory Floor in Marrickville.

“Service Station Flowers” is the forthcoming album on CD on the Citadel label.

Joeys Coop was formed by Mark Roxburgh (ex-Decline of the Reptiles) who co-wrote the album with bandmate and Died Pretty guitarist Brett Myers. It will be the first record with Myers credits in almost 10 years and the band includes past and present members of The Barbarellas, The Visitors, Deniz Tek Group and Loose Pills. You can score tickets here. 

• died pretty
• joeys coop
• brett myers
• mark roxburgh
• decline of the reptiles

Diamond In The Forehead - Garry Gray and The Sixth Circle (Off The Hip)

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By Edwin Garland & The Barman

Edwin Garland & The Barman

19 February 2016

Hits: 9799

Now I have to be upfront here. During the early '80s I was a huge Sacred Cowboys fan. I only saw them twice in Sydney but felt they were The Real Deal: a band in this territory of cool, alternative cowboy/Delta punk be that was coming from USA via people like The Gun Club and Wall of Voodoo, yet with a savage savage edge that was a nod to the "Blood River" period Scientists.

“Nothing Grows in Texas” simply was one best Australian singles of the '80s. Of courses Molly Meldrum slagged them off on TV on "Countdown". So we all knew they had so much going for them. At the centre was Garry Gray and his sneering vocals, somewhere between Alex Chilton and Jonathan Richman with a belly-full of hard, home brewed liquor.

• melbourne
• spencer
• sacred cowboys
• garry gray
• sixth circle

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Reel to Real – Love (High Moon)

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By The Barman

The Barman

19 February 2016

Hits: 4669

Let’s make the assumption that many people reading this will never have heard anything from Californian band Love’s substantial back catalogue and they’ll barely know the band’s singer and only constant member, the late Arthur Lee.

There might be a vague recollection of “My Little Red Book” (a Burt Bacharach-Hal David cover, for gawdsake) or the New Christs’ flint-hard version of “She Comes In Colours” (on the “Pedestal” EP). But that's it. 

• love
• arthur lee
• california

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On the road with the Godoys and Dr Tek

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By The Barman

The Barman

17 February 2016

Hits: 7524

Four years ago, identical twins Art and Steve Godoy - ex-professional skateboarders, inventors, tattoo artists, patent holders, unicyclists and musicians - toured Europe as the rhythm section for Deniz Tek and The Golden Breed. Here's part one of a video diary of their time on the road. 

Art and Steve Godoy in: 'Deniz Tek and The Golden Breed USA/European tour through OUR eyes' from Godoy Twins on Vimeo.

• deniz
• steve
• tour
• godoy
• art

Strange bedfellows and guilty pleasures

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By The Barman

The Barman

17 February 2016

Hits: 5009

It’s not every day you see bands from Australian underground rock’s halcyon days (that’d be the ‘80s) rubbing shoulders with mainstream chart-toppers but that’s what’s looming.

“The Golden Days Of Aussie Pub Rock” is the first volume of a series through major label Festival/Warner that boasts four (count ‘em) CDs of Down Under backyard barbecue listening fodder.

Cool lesser lights like Sydney’s suburban pop-rockers The Lonely Hearts (“The Spell”), the unstoppable X (“Dream Baby”), The Numbers (“The Modern Song”), The Hitmen (“I Don’t Mind”), Huxton Creepers (“I Will Persuade You”) and the Screaming Tribesmen (“A Date With a Vampyre”) sit alongside heavyweights like Jimmy Barnes, Mental As Anything, The Angels, Cold Chisel and (gulp) Boom Crash Opera.

But wait, there's more. Boys Next Door, Sunnyboys, The Elks, The Boys and XL Capris fly the flag for independent bands. Stevie Wright, Finch, Billy Thorpe and the Aztecs and Angy Anderson (no, not “Suddenly”, thank fuck) represent the old guard. 

The 91-song package includes comprehensive liner notes, with a track-by-track commentary and essay by key ‘70s Australian RAM magazine founding editor Anthony O’Grady. It’s out on April 1.

• oz rock
• pub rock
• glory days of aussie pub rock

Hit pick: "Sally Lou" by Archie and The Bunkers

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By The Barman

The Barman

16 February 2016

Hits: 4415

Here’s the new video from Archie and The Bunkers, the "teen sensations" from Cleveland, Ohio, whose debut album is out now on Dirty Water Records. Read our review here and follow the link at the bottom to buy it. 

• dirty water records
• archie and the bunkers
• sally lou

Los Chicos is Spanish for Fun

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By The Barman

The Barman

16 February 2016

Hits: 4865

Spain's premier garage party band Los Chicos is heading back to Australia for their fourth tour.

Dates are mostly in Victoria with the boutique Boogie festival the centrepiece but Sydney punters are lucky to have scored a show at Marrickville Bowling Club where they'll be supported by a specially-reformed 300 StClaire. 

If you haven't experienced the frenetic mobile party that is Los Chicos then you need to get your sorry arse to a show.

Think of them as something like The Fleshtones on sangria.

Los Chicos Australian Tour
MARCH
Friday 18 - Marrickville Bowls Club, NSW
Saturday 19 - The Tote, Collingwood, vic
Sunday 20 - MEMO. St. Kilda, VIC
Wednesday 23 - Sooki Lounge, Belgrave, VIC
Thursday 24 - Baha, Rye, VIC
Good Friday 25 - Eastern Hotel, Ballarat, VIC
Saturday 26 - Boogie! Festival, VIC
Sunday 27 - HOLA!, Barwon Club, Geelong, VIC

• live
• tour
• australian
• los chicos

Into The Maelstrom: Radio Birdman short-film makes Tropfest debut

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By The Barman

The Barman

15 February 2016

Hits: 4150

This short film made the finals of Tropfest and was screened under the stars in Sydney last night. Hopefully, the soundtrack rocked some hipsters out of their stupor and made a few old music industry people squirm. Tropfest is the world's largest festival of short films and "Into The Maelstrom"  was produced by John Meredith. 

A full-length documentary by another film-maker is in the works. Stay tuned for more details. 

• radio birdman
• into the maelstrom
• john meredith
• tropfest