Spanish label revives Birdman tribute

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By The Barman

The Barman

20 June 2014

Hits: 5870

Fifteen years ago, US-based rabid rock and roll fans in Washington DC launched a mission to issue a tribute album to the songs of Radio Birdman played by what were then contemporary bands.

Reaction to the "Flattery" tribute was so positive that Jake Starr and Dave Champion were forced to package it as three standalone CDs through their Fandango Records and Nomad Records imprints.

Now well into the 40th anniversary year of Radio Birdman's first gig, Spanish label Ghost Highway has picked up the idea and will re-issue the cream as "(The Best Of) Flattery", a vinyl double LP, funded through crowd-sourced finance. The LPs will be accompanied by a 7" single.

• radio
• bellrays

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Preview: I Got A Right single by James Williamson and Lisa Kekaula

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By The Barman

The Barman

19 June 2014

Hits: 6718

• stooges
• bellrays
• james williamson
• lisa
• kekaula

New Christs with The Overtones and 69BC in Sydney

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By The Barman

The Barman

18 June 2014

Hits: 7438

This Saturday night show in an old and recently re-opened Sydney venue was the last stop before Europe for the New Christs who were due to fly out two days later. It’s an odd atmosphere.

Tonight’s the first opportunity for friends and acquaintances of the late Christian Houllemare, longtime bass-player with the band, to gather and share their sorrow.

It’s less than a week since his passing and the mood is understandably muted.

• live
• new christs
• overtones
• 69BC

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Give It Time - The Revellions (Dirty Water Records)

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By The Barman

The Barman

17 June 2014

Hits: 5917

Here’s an album that starts relatively sedately, grows a brass section and descends into off-kilter garage rock hell. If that sounds like a dissing, think again.

The Revellions are from Dublin in Ireland and have made a nine-song album of two distinct halves. The first recalls, at times, Boston institution The Lyres with its strong reliance on surging organ and wailing vocals, while the second goes to that noisy and mind-altered place where the Black Lips and The Oh-Sees reside. Soulful versus Trippy. Both bases covered. 

• garage
• dirty water records
• revellions
• give it time
• dublin

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Don’t Kill Rock ’n’ Roll - Simon Chainsaw (Kicking Records/Some Product/I Hate People)

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By The Barman

The Barman

16 June 2014

Hits: 8058

He writes songs in his sleep and records them before breakfast so assembling an album while on a two-year hiatus, back in his birthplace Australia, is no big deal for Simon Chainsaw, the Brazil-based power-punk road warrior. “Don’t Kill Rock ’n’ Roll” finds him in familiar surroundings, matching pop melodies with razor riffs in much the same way his Vanilla Chainsaws did 20-plus years ago.

• kicking
• simon
• chainsaw
• don't kill rock 'n' roll
• vanilla
• chainsaws
• drew

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Playing With Fire - The Prehistorics (Kill City)

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By The Barman

The Barman

14 June 2014

Hits: 6212

The Prehistorics are from Sydney, Australia - a much different one to the musical ghost-town of today. They’re firmly ensconced in the Sydney of 1985 when there was a band in a pub on every second street corner, blasting out high-energy rock and roll. This is their third album and it’s on a French label.

• prehistorics
• kill city
• playing with fire

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Magical Dirt - Radio Moscow (Alive Natural Sound)

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By The Barman

The Barman

14 June 2014

Hits: 7497

Radio Moscow’s “thing” is pretty easy to get your head around: Meandering but economical psychedelic guitar jams wrapped around bluesy vocals. Loud and comparatively clean with a dash of funk in the bottom end.

• radio
• alive
• alive naturalsound
• magical dirt
• moscow
• parker
• griggs

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Secret Fields, Spring Reverb, Personality Disorder Temperance League - Neptune Syline (Neptune Skyline Records)

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By Robert Brokenmouth

Robert Brokenmouth

13 June 2014

Hits: 7897

"I hallucinate music. I believe a lot of people do. And it's not always pleasant. I was struck by lightning when I was 15. True story. To this day I play in electrical storms. I figure I'm safe now." - Mike Pitts

These LPs form a trilogy by Portland, Oregon, musician Mike Pitts and his band, Neptune Skyline. Any and each are excellent. You'll recognise much within these songs, but you'll never be able to pin the origin down.

• secret fields
• mike pitts
• Personality Disorder Temperance League
• neptune

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Masters Apprentices singer Jim Keays passes

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By The Barman

The Barman

13 June 2014

Hits: 7133

One of Australia's all-time great rock vocalists, Jim Keays of the Masters Apprentices, has passed away today at the age of 67.

The 1998 ARIA Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee had been battling myeloma for some time and had been on life support since Monday.

The Masters Apprentices formed in Adelaide in 1967, rose to national promise and disbanded in 1972 after unsuccessfully trying to crack the UK market. Their songs "Turn Up Your Radio", "Because I Love You" and the snarling "Undecided"" (a garage rock classic) are embedded in the history of Australian music.

• jim keays
• masters
• apprentices

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