Believe it or not Australia has a pretty damn good amount of garage/ punk/ noise/ whatever bands brewing in garages and small clubs around the country. Yet for reasons unknown they seem to be over looked by our national y00th broadcaster and "the home of Australia's 'best' new music": Triple J radio.
While I could go on an endless rant about how JJJ is an absolute joke these days, I figured I'd take the higher road and provide some insight into some of my favourite Aussie bands around today that seem to be overlooked by Kingsmill and his cronies.
Also, considering these are local bands, and they probably can find ways to have my kneecaps smashed, I'm not going to provide album links, instead I will be using my shiny new built in media player...
UV RACE - Melbourne
Without a doubt making the biggest groundswell both home and abroad are the UV Race. Consisting of members of other Melbourne bands Eddy Current Suppression Ring and Straightjacket Nation, Dick Diver, the UV Race sound like a lost Velvet Underground album clashing with the raw proto-punk of the Stooges.
They have recently released their full length LP entitled "HOMO" both on Aarght! Records here in Australia and on the legendary In The Red Records (The Dirtbombs, Thee Oh Sees, Demon's Claws, Black Lips, any good garage band in the last decade) over in the US. The fact that they are on ITR is both a testament to how respected this band is in the US and how RIDICULOUS it is that nobody knows about them here.
I really can't stress how awesome these guys are, if you like mid 70's proto punk a la Velvet Underground, Stooges, Eddy Current Suppression Ring, The Saints, Electic Eels then go out and buy "HOMO" asap!
note: The song I chose in no way defines their "sounds", these guys are pretty diverse, but for some reason I consistently find myself singing this when I wake up with a hangover...
UV Race - Lego Man.mp3
Royal Headache - Sydney
Royal Headache are four dudes from the 'burbs of Sydney who blast out a furry blend of powerpop-infused garage punk, along the same vein as Nobunny or Ramones but with someone who sounds as though he can actually sing. Basically their songs are catchy as fuck and I'm sure they would absolute kill it live, even if the guitar is too loud, the speakers are blown, and the lead singer is too busy pulling aerial maneuvers off the ceiling, this is punk rock, man, not some fucking Jack Johnson concert.
They are also due to be playing at the amazing Gonerfest! festival hosted by Goner records (jay reatard, oblivions, nobunny, etc) in Memphis Tennessee.
Royal Headache now have a Full Length LP on R.I.P Society Records (another awesome aussie label) which, in my opinion, is amazing. Well worth the purchase.
The following two songs are taken from the previously released Royal Headache 7" EP
Royal Headache - Girls
Royal Headache - Eloise
Circle Pit - Sydney
For some reason, these guys get a lot of hate because they're super hip and look like scandinavian junkies from the 80's. Personally, I haven't seen any pictures/videos that make me hate them, besides, their music is fucking awesome. Seriously, for two weirdo's from the scums of Sydney this shit is amazing. Some of their songs are reminiscent of Sonic Youth and early 90's grunge, other songs are slow moving bummer drone 70's style rock. Either way it's all good, and I dig, even if the guitarist once played with a dead bird hanging from his neck...
Their music can be found on R.I.P Society in Oz and on super sweet labels Siltbreeze and Sacred Bones in the US.
Circle Pit - Wave Machine
Circle Pit - Infinity
Bitch Prefect - Adelaide
These three lads from South Australia make music along the same vein of bands from the early Flying Nun days such as The Clean, The Chills, Tall Dwarves and the whole scene that was around in the 80's. But I'll delve more into that in a later post, right now I'm talking about these guys. From what little I've heard of Bitch Prefect, I've liked. It's more in the style of chilled out pop rock music that goes great with a Sunday afternoon drive. I can't say much more about these guys because I don't know much, and they have only released one EP (which you can listen to entirely here), but I'm eager to hear their LP if/when it comes out. Give them a try.
02 Holiday in America.mp3
01 Marilyn Monroe.mp3
Slug Guts - Brisbane
Slug Guts have been around for a while, at least from my memory, they have become somewhat staples of the Brisbane punk scene. They're obviously influenced by The Birthday Party and Nick Cave in general, as well as the legendary X to name a few. They're music is swampy and dirty, with dark rhythmic baselines, sparse guitar and brooding vocals. As you can tell by their band name, as well as their track names such as Hangin' In The Pisser, these guys sing about the seedier side of life, like a one dollar peep show at 3am in Fortitude Valley; rough but it's real.
They're most recent release Howlin' Gang on local label Bedroom Suck is probably their best work yet. It might not be everyone's cup of muddy tea, but I dig it.
Slug Guts - Howlin'
Slug Guts - Hangin' in the Pisser.mp3
This is only a small portion of the good australian bands floating around today, but it's enough to get you started, I might post up some more further down the track.
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