Episode 172 – Birthdays Are Overrated… Take Me To Florida!

OK, it’s my birthday so I decided to celebrate with a new episode of the Long Gone Loser Rock Show. Tons of great tunes to listen to and a bunch of odd rants but you get the idea. Just follow this link to access awesomeness or right click and save as on this link to grab an mp3 to put on your iPods and MP3 players. Yep, awesome.

Enjoy tunes by:

Towers Of London
The Barracudas
Dwarves
And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead
The American Scene
The Cult
Silver Sun
The Devil Dogs
The Sugar Stems
Boris The Sprinkler
The Hard-Ons
Contrapunctus
Red Aunts
The Get-Up Kids

Episode 166 – This Podcast Comes In A Double Gatefold Cover

Once again the Long Gone Loser podcast delivers you the best and coolest tunes around. Peta joins us once again for her first show for 2012 and what a show it is. There’s talk of Kickstarter campaigns, vinyl, the Poison City Weekender, record shopping in the USA, the benefits for Blackie, plus so much more. This show is a long one but it’s worth it. To get started, you know the drill by now, click here and the show will play. If you want to download it to your iPods, right click and save as on this link and away you go.

Enjoy tunes by:

The Gaslight Anthem
Caustic Soda
This Time Next Year
KIX
Smashed Gladys
The Dollyrots
Memorial
Bane
RUSH
State Lines
Restorations
The Boys
Thrust
Menic
Die Zorros
The Hard-Ons

CADDY – “Electric Hero” (Diner Junkie Records)

I have said it before and I will say it again, Scandinavian musicians have this incredible knack for writing pop melodies better than most others. I mean, for example: Millencolin, I’m From Barcelona, The Yum Yums, hell, even fucking Abba were riddled with melodies guarenteed to stick in your mind for days on end, if not weeks… months… years! Caddy’s melodies are no different. From the get-go, “Electric Hero” is an infectious hook-laden punk rock album of early Hard-Ons inspired tunes. Fronted by the extremely talented Tomas Dahl (ex-Wonderfools, Turbonegro, The Yum Yums, The Vikings, etc.), this album is 14 tracks of quality catchyness and it’s quite possible that Tomas played every instrument on this album himself. He’s a talented cookie and it wouldn’t be far from the truth. 

The opening track, Hanging On To Nothing is as perfect as songwriting can get. A power pop anthem that was so addictive, I needed some kind of methadone to bring me back to earth as this song wouldn’t leave me the fuck alone. it just played over and over again in my head. Even when I was trying to think of something else, I still found myself singing it. And it doesn’t end there. This album continues with songs filled with happy sounds and good rockin’ guitar work. Turn Up The Radio should be ON the radio. Waste of Space reminded me of Turbonegro. It’s all good. Even when the album gets as radio friendly as it can get such as in songs like Dumb Angel and Calling California, it is still acceptable and welcomed with open arms. All of it, it’s really fuckin’ good!

I know fuck all about this band besides this album but I sure hope there is more to come because this album is full of positive vibes and good times. There needs to be more music like this in the world today. Not everything has to be about hating your parents and burning down churches.  

www.myspace.com/caddymusic
www.dinerjunkie.com

EPISODE 126 – Get Down And Get With It

Hot damn! The first show of 2011 and it’s packed to the brim with great music for your ears. This week’s topics include touring, rockin’, the Christmas and New Years break, a bunch of random chit chat about all things random, and theres heaps of great tunes packed within. I am pretty happy with the vast array of bands played on this show, including a whopping 6 bands with THE in their band name. Yep, it’s all here on the Long Gone Loser Rock Show. Get into it by clicking this link or if you want to download an mp3 of the show, right click and save as on this link.

Enjoy tunes by:
The Hard-Ons
Genocide Superstars
Paul Collins Beat
The Numbers
The Wolfmen
The Black Belles
The Intercontinental Playboys
Hoot McKloot
Sebadoh
The Shieldsss
NOFX
Bloodloss

Episode 109 – Does This Podcast Come In Size Aquaman?

I just got done seeing my favourite Australian band of all time, The Hard-Ons. The band played the East Brunswick Hotel in Melbourne to a half full capacity with support bands Fangs Of A TV Evangelist & Useless Children. I arrived late and missed Fangs… but walked in just as Useless Children had kicked off. I saw these cats play at the 25th Anniversary Hard-Ons show and they have improved greatly. Not that they were bad to begin with, they’re brutal! Crazy thrash punk noise with an ass kickin’ female drummer / vocalist. They have an album out now titled “Sky Is Falling” on vinyl with a 3-D cover (comes complete with glasses) which is well worth picking up. 

The Hard-Ons came on stage at 11pm and tore through an hour long set playing a few old and a bunch of new classics from their latest opus, “Alfalfa Males Once Summer Is Done Conform Or Die”; make sure you grab a copy cos it’s a good mix of both pop and metal and done with sheer perfection to boot. The set included old time classics like “Don’t Wanna See You Cry”, “Where Did She Come From?” and even a really old gem in “Think About You Everyday” - I never thought I’d ever hear that one live (click the link to watch Carbie’s video). I’m still longing for the day Keish re-joins the band for a full Aussie tour where they play both Dickcheese and Love Is A Battlefield in their entirety. That would be one of the greatest gigs in Australian rock history and I could die a very happy man.

For more photos from The Hard-Ons show at the East Brunswick, click here.

So I came home and recorded the latest podcast. I kick off the show with a brand spankin’ new single by The DT’s, play a Hard-Ons classic reworked by the UK skate punks, The Stupids. I talk of missing out on seeing bands playing in the next room to you while at Popkomm festival. Most importantly, I call on the help of my listeners in the search for the history of a Turbonegro track. I play 2 versions of the same song and hope that one of you out there know the song’s origin. Besides playing pretty much the best music around today, I also spin new tracks by Brisbane rockers The F1-Elevens and Canadian metal band, Shadowblade. Hot off the press, my friends. Listen to it yourself by just following this link.

Enjoy tunes by:
The DT’s
The Stupids
Tokyo Dragons
Honky
The Flaming Sideburns
The Zeros
Turbonegro
Vultees
Fugazi
The F1-Elevens
Shadowblade

I couldn’t find any link for Vultees so you’ll just have to trust me on this one or crate dig through the second hand stores in Australia looking for that little gem.

Episode 103 – Keep Talking My Eyes Aren’t Completely Glazed Over

This week kicks off with a brand new tune by Australia’s own punk rock legends, The Hard-Ons. They released a new album last month titled “Alfalfa Males Once Summer Is Done Conform Or Die” and it’s a winner. Listen in and see why. Also we play a new tune by Perth’s The Devil Rides Out as well as taking a trip down memory lane with a bunch of old records. It’s a good time filled with great music and inane ramblings about anything and everything. Don’t you think it’s time you kicked back with a loser and tuned in? You can listen away to the new episode by simply clicking here.

Enjoy tunes by:
The Hard-Ons
The Devil Rides Out
Hookers
Descendents
Hoodoo Gurus
The Dogs D’Amour
Swervedriver
Wonderfools
Crush Inc.

It’s 4:49am and I am too tired to check for spelling mistakes and grammatical errors. Goodnight.

THE DEVIL RIDES OUT – “The Heart & The Crown” (Impedance Records)

About 10 years ago, Perth was one of those jokes the rest of the country laughed along with. They were so far away from everything and bands touring Australia always left them out. Then something happened. Adelaide became the new Perth. How did this happen? Now touring bands are skipping Adelaide and going straight to Perth. What the? Was there a population explosion over there in the Western part of this beautiful country? Who the fuck knows, but what I do know is that I’ve been there and here’s what I think: Perth has shitloads of hot women. Yeah, that’s it. Why wouldn’t a band want to tour there? I have been there and it definitely gets a thumbs up between the skimpys and the rest of the female population that house themselves in this faraway land. Now the joke is on Adelaide. For years Adelaide punters would laugh at how Perth always missed out on shows. I know this as fact cos admittedly, I was one of them.

When the great table turning happened and Adelaide became the new Perth, I packed up and headed to Melbourne. I was tired of missing out on seeing bands I liked. I was bored with the lack of things Adelaide had to offer. And trust me, between Ashlee Adams, a giant rocking horse, a whispering wall and Balfours custard tarts, it doesn’t really offer that much. Perth, on the other hand, has a Bon Scott statue and a Bon Scott memorial (OK, they’re both in Fremantle which isn’t exactly Perth but play along with me here), they have an awesome beach life, tons of gorgeous girls (including my friend, and one time LGL editor, Josie), the Explosive Pro Wrestling federation, and a band called The Devil Rides Out. If you’ve been collecting your LGL’s, you would remember me reviewing their triple EP set in previous issues. For those not hip, let’s recap:

THE DEVIL RIDES OUT – “Volume I” (Self-Released)
The first in a 3 part series, Perth stoner rockers The Devil Rides Out, play that kind of rock made for long road trips between cities. You know the stuff; cock struttin’ high flyin’ and gear changin’ with lotsa riffs and endless nights of the MansRuin catalogue at full volume. Mix up some Honky, Alabama Thunderpussy, Trailer Hitch, Fuckemos, The Distant Crypts, etc. and you get the idea. “Volume I” dishes up 6 tracks detailing long nights of lovin’ and truck-stops with the last track, “This Is Your Life”, being the winner for me in this set. Sounding Southern but coming from Western (Australia that is), I’d be highly disappointed if none of these guys drive a truck.

THE DEVIL RIDES OUT – “Volume II” (Self-Released)
A huge step forward in sound and song structures, “Volume II” unleashes another 6 tracks in the series by these ballsy blues rock n rollers from the city of skimpys. Kickin’ things into gear with “Rock n Roll Mayhem” and keepin’ the steam roller movin’ for another 5 tracks of life on the road, livin’ large and eatin’ grease. You dig? I honestly felt the song “The Demon” was gonna rip into “Evie” at one stage. So good! I love this truck drivin’ Mans Ruin-esque stoner rock jive. Kozik would love these cats. File next to Kyuss, Rollerball, and Alabama Thunderpussy. Good shit! Even if the opening riff to “Tonight I Might” does sound extremely similar to The Datsun’s “Sittin’ Pretty”… but that doesn’t matter cos it’s all rock ‘n’ roll. Oh, and huge props to the dude whose doing the art and layout for these guys, cos these CDs look fuckin’ wild! Can’t wait to crank “Volume III”.

THE DEVIL RIDES OUT – “Volume III” (Self-Released)
I have to admit, I was eagerly awaiting the final installment of the DRO trilogy. First listens spark a new beginning for these Perth sludge rockers. Kicking off with a track that sounds like a harder edged QOTSA, the inadequately titled “Slow Gun” shows no signs of slowness as it pounds through with double kick drums and lotsa riffage. Riffs are good. Really. They are. Don’t believe me? Pfft, you’re dumb. It’s not just a typical stoner rock band and I am sure that it is all too easy to throw them into the pile with all the others but I dunno, there’s something else here that is just straight up rock and a little 70’s influenced, especially in the song “Meet Joe Blues”. Cruisin’ music for muscle car owners and beach heads. I find a striking resemblance to Alabama Thunderpussy and ex-Kyuss frontman’s Unida, but still, it’s just hard rockin’ music for people whose business is rockin’ and worshipping Ronnie Van Zant. Again, the cover art is spectacular and if you own all 3, you can put ‘em along in a line and see the long leggy babe that adorns their covers. Nice! Lookin’ forward to a full length.

And a full length is what arrived on my doorstep today. The Devil Rides Out have a full length debut album called “The Heart & The Crown” (Impedance Records). I was pretty wrapped when it arrived so throwing it in the CD player took only a matter of seconds. In fact, I think the only thing that was quicker of recent times was the arrival of the latest Hard-Ons album (but that’s The Hard-Ons so that’s totally understandable being that they are the greatest Australian band of all time… besides AC/DC… but that goes without saying).

The first thing one will notice upon first listen is the heightened sound and production. It’s not as raw as the EP trilogy but what it lacks in rawness it makes up for it with its full-steam ahead rock power, fine tuned fuzztoned riffs and dare I say it, maturity. Kickin’ off with a rumbler titled “Watch It Burn”, which could have been written about that time when some friends of mine set a pizza box on fire and then Travis kicked the flames and some of the burning box flew up and burnt his neck, you are pretty sure what you’re gonna get yourself into here. A heavy rockin’ sludgey fuzz truck drivin’ soundtrack. And whilst this album’s cover art doesn’t parade a Kenworth or a Mack, it did make me wanna put a gun rack in my Hyundai. I think that’d go well with the leopard print seat covers. ANYWAY, the album flows through with power, blues and swagger. “Hard Love” sounds like a lost ZZ Top gem, if ZZ Top had gruffy vocals and a big muff pedal while “Right Hand Man” reminds me of the Desert Sessions Volume 2. This is good. Why? Cos I like that stuff. Simple, really.

I did find the slower numbers on the album a little bit on the dragging side (“Phosphorous” and the title track, for example) but hey, I was listening to the Napalm Death Peel Sessions before I cranked this up so maybe that wasn’t such a good idea. Regardless, to a rivethead stoner, these slower numbers could be exactly what they’re looking for when they spark up their next hit and say “wig out man!” Hey, I know people who do exactly that. True story. I was indeed rockin’ bigtime when “Inheritance” took off with its punchy drums and groovy guitarin’. And groovy guitars is what this album is full of. I really like the groove in the album’s finale, “Lost Town”. The video for this should have hot chicks in denim shorts and halter tops playing pinball and showin’ some darktown struttin’ in Vegas or something. “The Heart & The Crown” is full of groovin’ riffs aplenty which is never a bad thing. There should always be more riffs. And even when you think you have John Zorn’s Naked City beat in the riff department, you could always use more. That’s the rules. Simple as that.

Whilst I don’t think this is the band’s ‘Back in Black’, I do think it’s a solid release and they’re well on their way to getting one down on tape. Truthfully, I would love someone like Dave Wyndorf to come in and produce these guys. Why? Cos Dave’s a genius and I think he could elevate this band to the next level. The level that very few get to cos it’s usually reserved for bands like Motorhead and The Wildhearts. Not that I am any sort of authority on music or anything but I think this band have what it takes to be there, now they just need that little something to put them there and Dave’s that ‘something’. Just sayin’.

The Devil Rides Out are heading out on tour in support of their new album. You can catch them at these dates:

Saturday June 12th – Amplifier Bar, Perth WA
with Brutus, Chainsaw Hookers and Blazin’ Entrails

Friday June 18th – Birmingham Hotel, Fitzroy, Melbourne VIC
with My Left Boot

Saturday June 19th – The Lyre Bird Lounge, Ripponlea, Melbourne VIC
with Bitter Sweet Kicks

Sunday June 20th – The National Hotel, Geelong VIC
with Dread

Wednesday June 23rd – The Harp, Wollongong NSW
with The Watt Riot and Buzzard

Thursday June 24th – The Sando, Newtown, Sydney NSW
with Buzzard, Boxing With Ghosts and The Solid Gold Bastards

Friday June 25th – The Tatts, Lismore NSW
with The Smokestack Orchestra, Stone Mountain and Booze Hag

Saturday June 26th – Club Envy, Maroochydore QLD
with The Smokestack Orchestra, New Jack Rubys and Unofficial

Sunday June 27th – The Troubadour, Brisbane QLD
with The Smokestack Orchestra and New Jack Rubys

The Devil Rides Out on Myspace.
The Devil Rides Out on Facebook.
Impedance Records.