Mick Medew scores top Queensland honour

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By The Barman

The Barman

31 March 2015

Hits: 9018

Ex-Screaming Tribesmen Mick Medew has been awarded the Grant McLennan Lifetime Achievement Award by Queensland's peak music organisation, QMusic. 

Mick received his honour at last night's Queensland Music Awards in Brisbane.

Previous recipients include the late GoBetweens member Grant McLennan, indigenous artist Kev Carmody, producer Mike Chapman, the Bee Gees, Railway Gin vocalist Carol Lloyd and Ed Kuepper of the Saints and solo fame.

• Medew
• Tribesmen
• rumours
• mesmerisers
• Mick
• screaming
• QMUsic
• grant
• mclennan
• gobetweens

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What Happens Next - Gang of Four (Metropolis/ Membran)

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By Robert Brokenmouth

Robert Brokenmouth

29 March 2015

Hits: 5976

You may have heard of Gang of Four, maybe even, if you’re very lucky, have seen them.

In 1979, the Gang of Four’s first 7”s had a huge impact on me, particularly their first, "Love Like Anthrax", using feedback as an integral part of the song, drowning us as we heard Jon King’s vocals speaking simply - a little like The Velvet Underground’s "The Gift", but so different that the comparison didn’t occur to me until years later.

Their first LP, "Entertainment!", bristling with slappin bass lines, brittle, spiky guitar runs had me dancing like a demon, and …

• andy
• post-punk
• gang of four
• what happens next
• gill

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"Kick Out The Jams" by the MC5

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By The Barman

The Barman

27 March 2015

Hits: 6846

• mc5
• kick out the jams

Radio Birdman announces intimate Sydney shows

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By The Barman

The Barman

24 March 2015

Hits: 6205

Radio Birdman will warm up for its European tour with two intimate Sydney shows at the Factory Floor in Marrickville on June 5 and 6. 

In a Facebook post the band says: "With no other Australian appearances scheduled for 2015 these shows will provide a unique opportunity to catch the band in a small room - hot, loud and sweaty. This 'up close and intimate' experience, echoing the band's early days at the Oxford Funhouse, will not be repeated any time soon!"\

Support on both nights will be local rockers Black Heart Breakers and tickets are on sale here. European tour dates are in our Living Eye section.

• radio
• live
• sydney

Twin Horses - Lydia Lunch and Cypress Grove/ Spiritual Front (Rustblade)

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By Robert Brokenmouth

Robert Brokenmouth

23 March 2015

Hits: 6649

This is a kind of split album thing; one side Lydia works with Cypress, and the second is Spiritual Front’s.

What Cypress Grove is doing with Lydia Lunch is what I think of as “real”, modern blues. I mean, there’s progressive and “progressive”, you know? I mean, you’ll doubtless be annoyed with me when I say I recall Robert Cray’s first LP, and thinking it was very well done, but horrible.

Maybe it’s just me but I dislike cleverness without substance, and Cray just struck me as lopsided. Oh, sure, I suppose I’m doing him a disservice, for I’ve never listened to a Cray track since (to my knowledge), but can you say you’ve never treated a notable performer any differently..? Take Van Morrison.

Please, I mean take the bugger out behind the bike sheds and blow his head off.

• cypress
• grove
• lydia
• lunch
• twin horses
• spiritual front

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To Die With Pleasure b/w Waterloo Sunset - Bob Short (Full On Noise Records)

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By The Barman and Robert Brokenmouth

The Barman and Robert Brokenmouth

21 March 2015

Hits: 6486

Along with half of once-underground Sydney, I know Bob Short. Unlike the rest of Sydney, it seems, I’ve only seen the scrote play once and, because he was rather brilliant, he rates a decent listen and a proper review of his first 7”.

This isn’t an essential purchase, not in this world of freebie downloads and rubbish music. Surely?

Well, actually I rather love this little record, and it looks super in my collection. And, as I understand from Bob’s accompanying pitiful blurb that there’s an LP in the works, all this is as far as I am concerned, most certainly essential. Why?

So settle back on Granfer’s knee and I’ll tell ye a story young feller …

• kinks
• bob short
• to die with pleasure
• waterloo sunset
• dead rabids
• full on noise

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Unplugged Rifles will amp it up

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By The Barman

The Barman

17 March 2015

Hits: 5896

Reach for your ear plugs: Iconic Aussie firebrands the Celibate Rifles have extended their acoustic Brisbane performance by adding two extra amplified dates in Queensland.

Originally announced to be playing a one-off acoustic show at The Bunker in O’Malley’s Irish Pub in the CBD on 23 April, the band will play The Underdog Pub Co on 24 April and The Coolangatta Hotel on 25 April.

• brisbane
• live
• celibate
• rifles
• underdog

Bye Bye, Johnny

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By The Barman

The Barman

17 March 2015

Hits: 6124

Adiso Amigo: Johnny Casino is moving with his wife to Spain and there are just three chances for Australian fans to say goodbye.

The longtime solo artist and former guitarist for Asteroid B612 is playing send-off shows with his interchangeable band, The Secrets, in Sydney and Melbourne.

April 8 finds him at Newtown Social Club with The Secrets (Mark Horne and Ben Fox) and sharing a stage with touring Spanish party band Los Chicos. 

On April 12 he’ll be in solo mode from 5-7pm followed by a Secrets bracket (Michael Evand and James Saunders) at The Labour In Vain in Melbourne. 

Johnny’s final stand is Sunday, May 10 and a solo show at The Midnight Special in Enmore, Newtown from 6pm.

• live
• johnny casino
• farewell

Play mystLY For Me – Dave Graney and The mystLY (self released)

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By The Barman

The Barman

17 March 2015

Hits: 6201

Don’t call it cabaret. Dave Graney makes reference to the tag on one of these tracks, pointing that he and his band, the mystLY, would be on a higher pay-scale, and no doubt playing in a different class of gin joints, if that’s what they were.

In longevity terms, Graney is an “elder statesman” of the Australian music scene. He was a punk. He existed as expatriate dirt amid critical acclaim in London. He came home, entered the major label lifestyle for a time, became our King of Pop and decided that he could get along just fine on his own terms, playing music that didn’t fit radio programing templates.

• dave graney
• clare moore
• mystly
• moodists
• play mystly for me

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