Organisers have announced the line-up for the seventh annual River Rocks festival in the Victorian city of Geelong (aka Gee-troit) and it's a good 'un.
Heavyweight stoner rockers Tumbleweed (pictured), rock royalty Kim Salmon & The Surrealists and Brisbane's peerless HITS head a gun line-up of 20 bands over over two stages at the Barwon Club on November 15.
Tombstone b/w Revolution – Proton Energy Pills (Outtaspace)
You can’t replicate the past but you sure can borrow from it. Two founding members of ‘80s Wollongong upstarts Proton Energy Pills have teamed with three younger players to lay down some of their old band’s unrecorded songs and the results are satisfying.
As predecessors to Tumbleweedand the vastly underrated Brother Brick, the Protons lit a fuse under their hometown and made righteous noise on the national touring circuit before falling apart. Three decades on, there was never an intention to release these recordings and their progress to completion was stymied by various health issues. After hearing the fruits of their labour however, original members Dave Curley and Stew Cunningham(he of Leadfinger) thought: Why not?
The portents were good. A reformed band, firing live and determined not to be a heritage act. Old burned bridges rebuilt. New songs. Reunited with the producer of their best-sounding work and taking the time to make sure they hit the mark in the studio. And they did. Make no mistake. This is Tumbleweed's best moment since 1995's "Galactanphonic" and it might even eclipse it.
It's such an obvious idea that it's a wonder no-one issued this before. Thumbs up to Aztec for giving Wollongong's finest "the treatment" with a lavish double CD set covering all their early singles and EPs, along with their self-titled debut LP and the "Daddy Long Legs" CD single. It coincides with the band's reformation and return to bursts of gigging so it's all the more timely.
MONSTER THUNDERCLAP’S TOP TEN
1. EAST COAST LOW – “SEAS ON FIRE”
Cause I f&*king like it!
2. LUCIFER STAR MACHINE – “THE DEVILS BREATH”
Cause I F#&king like it!
3. GRINDHOUSE – “SEX PUNK POWER”
Cause it’s SEXY!!
4. SHOWS 2021
Cheers to all the awesome bands we shared a stage with, and a huge shout out to all the venues…. CAUSE I SAID SO!!!
5. LEADFINGER AND SWEDISH MAGAZINES AT MARRICKVILLE BOWLO, NSW
No explanation needed!!
6. TUMBLEWEED 30TH ANNIVERSARY SHOWS AT LA LA LA’S, WOLLONGONG, NSW.
Brilliant!
7. SPIDERS – “SHAKE ELECTRIC”
Cause it’s Killer!
8. MONSTER MAGNET – “A BETTER DYSTOPIA”
Cause it’s a mind-blowing album of covers!
9. MARVEL – “LIZARD LOUNGE”
Cause they do it for me!
10. AUSSIE BANDS
All the great Aussie bands putting out inspirational music (WE SALUTE YOU!) F@$k all the lazy MOFO’s, that say there isn’t any good music anymore.
Monster Thuinderclap plays guitar for Wollongong's The Dark Clouds.
Jye Talbot Area photo
Following the release of their sold out 7" singles boxset and run of five nights of hometown celebrations at La La La's in Wollongong just before Xmas, Tumbleweed steps into the new year with an announcement that was meant to come last year.
Aussie stoner favourites and Wollongong’s proudest exports, Tumbleweed, are off on a national Australian tour in August and September, playing the “Galactaphonic” LP in full for the first time, as well as a slew of favourites.
The band has re-grouped after the untimely death of bassist Jay Curley.
"Galactaphonic" came out in 1995 and critic Ian McFarlane described it as "an epic masterwork, a strident album full of fierce, booming metal-boogie and catchy, hard-edged rock'n'roll". Tour dates:
The Corner Hotel Melbourne
Friday August 21
The Manning Bar Sydney
Friday September 11
Rosemount Hotel Perth
Friday September 18
Fowlers Live Adelaide
Saturday September 19
Waves Towradgi Beach Hotel Wollongong
Saturday September 26
The Australian underground music scene has been rocked by the sudden passing of Tumblweed bass-player Jay Curley. At 8am today, the band made a statement via its Facebook page:
"It is with deep sadness that we inform everyone of a great loss in the Tumbleweed family. Our brother, friend and bass player Jay Curley passed away suddenly in his home yesterday. We are still shocked at the news of his death. We hope that people will remember him for his music, his big heart and his total dedication to rock and roll."
