Hard-Ons are celebrating 40 years of punk rocking in public with tours of both Australia and Europe, and the release of new music - and the release of that stalled full-length feature film, The Most Australian Band Ever”.
The single "Buzz Buzz Buzz"is out today on Cheersquad Records & Tapes and is the first taste of the current Hard-Ons line-up's yet-to-be announced third album. It's a Tim Rogers/Peter Black co-write and a promise of great things to come.
“The Most Australian Band Ever” is directed by Jonathan J. Sequeira for production companies Living Eyes and Play Vintage. Sequeira made the acclaimed 2017 Radio Birdman documentary, ”Descent Into The Maelstrom”.
The film will premiere on October 16 at SXSW in Sydney with a screening and Q&A at the Dendy Newtown. Here's a taste:
Perfectly timed with the band’s anniversary, “The Most Australian Band Ever” offers insight into the band's long existence, with plenty of live footage and interviews and guest appearances from Dave Faulkner (The Victims, Hoodoo Gurus), Ross Knight (Cosmic Psychos), Jerry A (Poison Idea), Steven Hanford aka Thee Slayer Hippy (Poison Idea) and Rob Younger (Radio Birdman).
The film has a particular focus on the Hard-Ons' early days, the obstacles - some self-inflicted - which they've had to overcome, and the legacy they've built.
The Hard-Ons' 40th Anniversary Australian Tour Oct - Nov 2024
OCT
18 - Soapbox, Brisbane
24 - Sussex Inlet Tavern, Sussex Inlet
25 - La La La’s, Wollongong
26 - Paddo RSL, Sydney
27 - Hamilton Station Hotel, Newcastle
31 - Altar, Hobart
NOV
1 - The Tote, Melbourne
2 - Singing Bird Studios, Frankston
3 - Red Hill Hotel, Castlemaine
4 - Barwon Club, Geelong
7 - Amplifier, Perth
8 - Indian Ocean Hotel, Scarborough
9 - Froth & Fury, Adelaide
Tickets
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Australian music industry charity, Support Act, has launched an appeal on behalf of iconic Perth-based punk/garage-rock figure and drummer James Baker, founding member of legendary outfits The Victims, The Scientists, The Hoodoo Gurus, The Beasts of Bourbon and The Dubrovniks.
James was diagnosed with terminal liver cancer nine years ago and now requires constant care, which means his partner Cathy has to give up full-time work to support him. James and Cathy have been working with a specialist medical team to keep James around for as long as possible. A target of $50,000 has been set to assist with medical and household expenses associated with James' palliative care.
You can donate here.
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It will be 40 years to the day since their debut on Australian shores at the Vulcan Hotel in inner-city Ultimo, the now defunct pub in which they crash-landed after being exiled from Southern California's Piso Beach Wrestling Federation for bad behaviour. They'll play a room that's a stone's throw from their spiritual home, The Pismo Bar, in the nearby Petersham Inn.
There's somnething of an after party the following day at MoshPit in St Peters where The Fadeaways play the final Australian show of their short two-state tour, supported by Jupiter 5 and one-man band Dirtbag. Tickets for that one will be on sale on the door from 2pm.
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Latter Day Saints: Chris Bailey (right) with drummer Peter Wilkinson and bassist Caspar Wijnberg, in Amsterdam in 2006. Elisabet Corlin photo.
Here's some more news on long-rumoured posthumous recordings from late Saints singer Chris Bailey.
In an Instagram post today, Church Street Studios engineer Sean Carey flagged that the recent digital single, “Break Away”, comes from a forthcoming album, “Long March Through the Jazz Age", It is the first release of new material since Bailey's passing in 2022.
Recorded by Sean Carey in Church Street Studios, Sydney, Bailey is on vocals, guitar and bass and is aided by long term drummer, Pete Wilkinson and guest Davey Lane (You Am I) on guitar.
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Guitarist extraordinaire Charlie Owen (Beasts of Bourbon, New Christs, Tex Don & Charlie, Paul Kelly, Working Class Ringos) is taking his “Searching For Charlie Owen” stories and song show on the road again in Australia in August and September, following last year’s run of sold-out gigs.
Presented by Soundpressing Records, I-94 Bar & Rhythms, the tour takes in Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria.
Part spoken word, part songs, "Searching for Charlie Owen" is an engorssing, emotional and illuminating journey through the ace guiatrist's back pages. Full dates and ticket link:
Soundpressing, I-94 Bar & Rhythms present
Searching for Charlie Owen
Australian Tour
AUG
8 – Vinnies Dive, Gold Coast QLD
+ Dana Gehrman Duo
9 - Doo-bop Jazz Bar, Brisbane
+ Dana Gehrman Duo
10- The Citadel, Murwillumbah, NSW
+ Andrew Kidman
11 - Banshees Bar & Art Space, Ipswich, QLD (2pm)
+ Dana Gehrman Duo
16- Django Bar, Marrickville, NSW
+ Cam Butler + Peter Ross & The Sapphire
17 - Smiths Alternative, Canberra, ACT (8pm)
+ Cam Butler
30 - Wesley Anne, Northcote, VIC
+ Martin Frawley
31 - Theatre Royal, Castlemaine, VIC
+ Martin Frawley
SEP
1 - George Lane, St Kilda, VIC (2:30pm)
+ Martin Frawley
Tickets
https://www.charlieowen.au/tour
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Pismo Beach's Kings of the Ring, the Psychotic Turnbuckles, kick off their anniversary "40 Years Undefeated" tour of Australia's East Coast at The Tote Hotel in Melobourne this Saturday. Supports are crazy great Sydney glam rockers Starcrazy and hometown retro champions The Vibratones.
Asked how the Turnbuckles would fare with no competitive matches under their collective belts since last October's triumphant Japan tour, frontman Jesse The Intruder told us: "Champions never fold. We've been training hard in the Pismo Clam Club gym and amping up on Turnbuckle Tonic. We will wipe the floor with those pathetic support bands".
Man of few words and drummer Buddy "Bam Bam" Balam The Brooklyn Bruiser added: "They are bums. So are you. Get out of my way."
Tickets for The Tote, Sydney (July 13) and Brisbane (September 7) shows are here, and are presneted by The I-94 Bar (Melbourne and Sydney) and Punkfest (Brisbane).
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Five of the eight Radio Birdman ”Birdman 5-0” Australian tour dates have sold-out and the remaining three are poised to go the same way.
The run kicks off at The Croxton Bandroom in Melbourne this Friday. That show and Saturday at the same venue are down to their final ticket allocations.
All three Sydney gigs and two Brisbane dates have had the House Full signs put up and Adelaide on June 23 is showing signs of going the same way. Extra shows are not being added so go here to buy.
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Controversy? Hallowed be thy name in show business. The Saints ’73-‘78 tickets are moving faster than Ed Kuepper’s downstroke with shows in Brisbane, Melbourne and Castlemaine selling out and two extra gigs added.
Brisbane sold out in one day which prompted the addition of another show. Melbourne has an extra date and capacity at Castlemaine was increased to meet demand before the House Full sign went up.
Supports have been confirmed and include relative new kids on the block Chimers, Parsnip and Alien Nosejob alongside veterans Kim Salmon & The Surrealists.
Meantime pre-orders for the deluxe 4-LP box set version of (I’m) Stranded (due this November) can be made here.
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The classic early Saints line-up with reformation participants, drummer Ivor Hay and guitarist Ed Kuepper at front, and Chris Bailey at the rear.
The Saints reformation has turned ugly with the Estate of late frontman Chris Bailey going public with a condemnation.
In a tersely-worded media statement released overnight, Chris Bailey’s Family and Estate questioned the decision to reform The Saints with Mark Arm from Mudhoney replacing the late singer who passed away two years ago.
“Neither the late singer’s family, nor the Chris Bailey Estate, were informed or consulted, on this decision,” the statement said. “We are surprised that Mark Arm agreed to do this without consultation.”
The statement said the Estate owns “The Saints” name and its primary objective is “to honour Chris Bailey’s memory and the Saints significant legacy with integrity”.
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More Articles …
- Surprise Saints reformation announced for six-date Australian tour
- New "MC5" album out in October and here's the first taste
- Twin volumes of "Ostralia" plot punk's Aussie pathway
- Stems announce supports, venue change and a new date
- MC5 tribute shapes as a gig for the ages
- Gurus mark debut's 40th with Australian tour
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