DAY OF THE MEERKAT SINGLE LAUNCH TONIGHT AT THE SANDO

Three of Sydney’s finest on Friday night. Roll out! Roll out! 8:00pm Main Room $10
“Day of the Meerkat have built their reputation on spleen-fracturing live shows, their musical ore heated in the furnace and beaten in the smithy of the Sydney warehouse scene.” 
Music Feeds

The Meerkat’s new single ‘Tokyo Black Wolf’ lampoons the absurdity of it all and is now available as a free download at 

http://dayofthemeerkat.bandcamp.com/

Surprise Wasp – Sydney’s finest purveyors of authentic punk’n’roll step back into the limelight, adjust their exquisite hair and kick your goddamn arse once again. With new sounds and a new album in the works, the four-piece have expanded their winning formula, infusing compulsory foot-tapping elements of blues, garage and surf-rock into a hearty rock’n’roll feast.
http://www.facebook.com/surprisewasp

Black Island – Featuring current and former members of Echoes, The Pints, Lander Configurations and Gargamel’s Cat, Black Island will destroy your hearing and shit on your doorstep.
http://blackisland.bandcamp.com/

JUST A SMALL WORD OF THANKS…

To Everyone Who has Supported the Sando,

If you’ve ever attended a gig at the Sando, played there or even just spent some time shooting the shit and having a drink or two, we’d like to thank you so much for your support and the energy you provided us with to keep the old place running. It’s been a labour of love and a truly extraordinary ride. Sadly, we are no longer working at the pub but we have not given up the fight and we will continue to try and find some solution, some way to keep the Sando running as a live music venue for as long as we can. For now, that’s where all our energy is being channelled. 

The shows will still go on for the immediate future (we’ll still keep you posted on what’s happening) and if there’s any chance of saving the Sando, we need to ask you not to give up on the place but to head on down to the peeling pink building at 387 King Street, Newtown as often as you can. The more people that walk through the door, the more chance we can preserve the Sando legacy. It may not be us running the show but at least there’ll be a show. As some old bastard once said, “it ain’t over over ’til the fat lady sings” so come see a band now and make sure the fat lady never gets her chance!

Tony and Kim Townsend

 

 

 

 

 

Business As Usual at the Sando!

Well it’s business as usual at the Sando this weekend. Despite the suits roaming the old boards, you can’t stop the music! Gigs are going ahead as usual so for more info check out the gig guide.

Thanks so much to everyone for your kindness and support! 

Sando In Receivership

Hi to all our loyal supporters and supporters of live music in Sydney. It’s a sad day today with the appointment of receivers to the Sando. It will still be business as usual for the moment and the bands will still be playing so come on down and check us out. We’d love to see you. We want to thank every one of the people who have passed through our doors over the time we’ve had the pub. It has been our intention all along to inject a bit of the 80’s music ethos of the Sando back into the Newtown area and we hope we’ve gone a little way towards doing that and also towards giving a home to so many incredibly talented musicians from both Australia and overseas. We’ll continue to keep you posted over the coming weeks to let you know how things are going and will keep our fingers crossed that a happy solution for everyone will present itself.

Guitar Wolf (Japan)

Saturday 10th December

Formed in Nagasaki, Japan in 1987 Guitar Wolf are known for their piercing vocal line and extremely loud brand of noise influenced punk. They coined the phrase “Jet Rock ‘n’ Roll” to describe their musical style and live performance, which has been compared to an energetic combination of the Ramones style punk, Rockabily and Garage Rock. They have released nine studio albums internationally, and have featured in 2 B-Grade Japanese Horror/Sci-Fi flicks- Wild Zero and Sore Losers.

The live experience of Guitar Wolf is certainly something that should not be missed- by anyone! Their frenetic live shows are known to rely on elaborate stage productions, including lighted banners, hilariously oversized speakers and microphones that spew fire. With little to no time in-between songs, the band has (on many occasions) played completely non-stop throughout their entire set. And in December this year they will bring all of this energy and thrash to Australia. Playing a full national tour (entitled the spacebattleshiplove tour), and their Sydney stop off will be, right here, at the Sando!

So grab your tickets (available from moshtix) and come and see what real punk rock should be!

“Fuck the Strokes, fuck the Hives and fuck every other slicked out over-hyped rock band on the planet. If you want real rock n roll, the kind that makes you wanna run around like a maniac bringing glorious chaos to everything in sight hopped up on booze and dangerous amounts of adrenaline, then Guitar Wolf is your band… clearly on this planet to destroy everything that is un-cool and boring about music these days.
Stronger than ever, loud as fuck, Guitar Wolf just wanna rock”.  – Punk News.org

”The lead singer crawled off the stage after his set, puked for a couple minutes, and then came back for an encore.” The Dallas Observer

When: 10th December

Where: Main Stage, The Sando 387 King St, Newtown

Doors @ 8pm, Tickets $29 + BF

 

This Weekend @ The Sando

UPSTAIRS:
Nat Col & The Kings (EP Launch) with Carrie Phillis & The Downtown Three + Bitter Sweet Kicks

After wrapping up their first national tour and spending many sleepless nights in the studio, the long wait is over, as Nat Col & the Kings prepare to hit the road again on their second national tour, unleashing their 2nd EP, ‘Simple Things’ on the world. Nat Col & the Kings is the combination of guitarist Nathan Cavaleri, who has toured with BB King and jammed with everyone from Michael Jackson to Diesel, and former Screaming Jets Drummer Col Hatchman. With two individually amazing artists, from very different musical backgrounds, it is clear that together as Nat Col & the Kings, Nathan & Col are making their own rules as they continue to grow their own style and sound that has some solid influences from their own musical backgrounds and their guests on stage.

This show is definitely not one to be missed, and with two great supports- Carrie Phillis & The Downtown Three and Bittersweet Kicks– you’d better get there early to soak up the entire atmosphere!

Tickets are available from zombiedogentertainment.com.au/events and at the door. Cost is $15 and doors will open @ 8pm.

saturday 20th august:

DOWNSTAIRS (**FREE**):

Tice & Evans

Saturday night will kick off (like it always does) at about 4pm when TICE & EVANS start your night off right with their own unique mixture of rock and blues. Its FREE downstairs, so pop on in for a beer or three and see what it takes to keep a 5 year long residency at the Sando. Also dont forget to check out Mark Evans’ new book Dirty Deeds, which has just been released nationally.

UPSTAIRS:
Crossing Red Lines with Sativa Sun + Rufflefeather

Described as an Aussie Arctic Monkeys, but with their own unique sound, south coast indie group Crossing Red Lines have developed quite a name for themselves, in quite a short time.
Melbourne based musical producer / visual artist Robbie Rowlands, AND DJ Tom from Sydney’s Eastside Radio have both independently likened CRL to the early Clash, and the boys themselves realise the importanance of keeping their sound simple. They have a unique sound ranging from funk, to indie rock & early punk, with a dash of reggae and hip hop thrown in for good measure.

CRL’s fusion experiment and spirited attitude makes them a band that has certainly arrived and should have far-reaching influences on the music scene, especially with their debut release Young and Free available from this month. The lads have played in a spate of gigs at Sydney music venues including the Raval, the Lewisham, the Roxbury, the Beach Hotel Bondi, the Charing Cross, the Annandale and this Saturday, we welcome them back to the Sando with supports Sativa Sun & Ruffle Feather.

Doors open at 8pm and entry is just $10!

sunday 21st august:

DOWNSTAIRS (**FREE**)

Dom Turner’s Supro

Dom Turner and Supro are a mixture of three-parts blues, two parts surf-rock, a heavy spoonful of dub laced with a splash of Tabasco spiced New Orleans funk, all blended with a helping of Tex-Mex jalapenos, salt, reverb and voices from the dead and traditionally served with your choice of ice cold beer. In other words- they’re the perfect way to end your week!

The band combines old and new, living and dead to create a sound that is a mix of blues, surf and dub. ‘Dom Turner and Supro’ have rocked audiences at numerous festivals including East Coast Blues Festival, the Australian Blues Festival and the Wangaratta Festival of Jazz and this Sunday, they’re doing it here at the Sando & ITS FREE from 4pm.

Tonight @ The Sando

thursday 1^st september:

 

DOWNSTAIRS (**FREE**):

Johnathan Devoy Solo

Originally hailing from the South Coast of NSW, Johnathan Devoy has been playing around the country for 15 years. Fronting bands such as Jerk, Ink, The Vandolls and most recently Melody Black, has developed not only a strong performance, but an eclectic collection of material to draw upon. Continuing to rock out his Thursday Night Residency (Currently at gig #99) you can expect a mix of Stand Up Comedy, Binge Drinking & Acoustic Rock featuring special guests Zotty Cillia on Drums,  and songstress Cecil Hotbake belting out a few tunes as well. The tunes will kick off at about 8:30pm, and its completely free!

And if you like what you see- check him out at his 100^th gig on Thursday 8^th September (next week).

UPSTAIRS:

Jessamine (CD Launch) with Smitty & B. Goode, Raprager + Boxing with Ghosts

Come on upstairs tonight to check out ex- Nitocris & The Fyreflies lead guitarist Jessamine Finlayson’s new project Jessamine. The Sydney based four piece will be launching their brand new self titled album, recorded at SpaceJunk studios with the help of Church Drummer/Engineer/Producer Tim Powles. The CD will be available to purchase on the night, and with great supporting acts Smitty & B. Goode, Raprager and Boxing with Ghosts, it’s sure to be a great night with plenty of great music and energy to go round!

Entry is only $12 and doors open at 8pm.

Bridge & Tunnel (USA) Australian Tour…

BRIDGE & TUNNEL
SEPTEMBER 11th @ THE SANDO

In Australia to headline Poison City’s ‘WEEKENDER FEST’ (MELB), New York’s Bridge & Tunnel have also announced additional dates in Brisbane, Sydney, Adelaide and Perth,  stopping by The Sando on Sunday 11th September.  Currently one of No Idea Record’s most promising bands, Bridge & Tunnel play a brilliant melding of DC post-hardcore (think Rites Of Spring/ Fugazi), intricate melodies, intelligent lyrics and a fierce D.I.Y spirit. Having just finished up recording their second full-length album with well renowned producer J.Robbins (Against Me!, Small Brown Bike, Jawbreaker), they will begin launching the new record in Australia, before returning to the US to perform at the massive FEST 10 festival in Gainesville, FL. 

Most of us fell in love with punk rock for the same reasons; being young and angry at the world. Eventually the angst of youth mellows over the years and the energetic love affair turns into a mid-twenties slag based on repetition and convenience. That which once set up apart form the rest of society becomes a glossed-over facet of our personalities and we forget the reasons behind our actions.

It can take a massive shift in one’s life to break free from the monotonous repetition of of work, drink, sleep, repeat but the key to undoing our apathy can often lie in the simplicity of song, and while Bridge and Tunnel’s music strays far from the four-chord rock we call home, the underlying themes tackled in their songs cut straight to the heart. Blatant lyricism covers many of the fucked-up situations that go unnoticed in the maelstrom of grown-up reality. Issues such as urban gentrification, drug abuse, political apathy, and the struggles of the working class are all tackled with a mix of youthful honesty and outright rage. Their impressive mastery of their instruments cannot go unmentioned, as they carefully craft intricate, overlapping melodies that provide a striking balance with the feverish fury of their unified voices.

Thankfully, the hopeful messages that underlie even the most cynical of their songs provide inspiration to keep plugging away at our own endeavors, no matter how trivial.

BRIDGE & TUNNEL ‘Rebuilding Year’ LP/ CD is out September 20th via No Idea/ Poison City Distribution.

 

BRIDGE & TUNNEL

with Paper Arms + Between the Devil & the Deep + Homeward Bound

Sunday September 11th

Doors @ 7:00pm

Entry $15

 

 

Drum Media 30/08/11 (Jessamine Article)

THE EPONYMOUS DEBUT ALBUM FROM
JESSAMINE HAS BEEN THREE YEARS
IN THE MAKING, BUT AS THE BAND’S
NAMESAKE AND FOUNDER JESSAMINE
FINLAYSON TELLS MICHAEL SMITH,
SHE’S LEARNT A LOT ALONG THE WAY.

It seems incredible to think that Nitocris broke up
a decade ago, but, apart from a one-off reunion
gig in September 2009, they decided to call it a
day in 2001. Lead guitarist Jessamine Finlayson went
on to form The Fyrefl ies (which also initially featured
Nitocris drummer Andrea Stanway) but, after nearly five years together, that ended and Finlayson strapped on an acoustic guitar and hit the road as a solo singer/ songwriter.
“It was good not to have the pressure of a band for a while,” Finlayson admits. “It was nice to just plug in and play, but it kinda got a bit tedious and a bit lonely after a while, so I got a  band together and they’re all really good friends of mine and it’s really good.”
On the kit is former Fyreflies colleague, drummer Nerida Wu, but the self-titled album that  the band, Jessamine, has just released began long before there was even a band, when  Finlayson took up an offer from engineer/producer Tim Powles, drummer with the church. “I’d met him a few years ago and he’d said he’d be interested in doing something, but then I’d  gone into Fyreflies and when I decided to go solo I just rang him and he said yes,” she  laughs.  “He’s a busy man, so I was lucky to have him for most of the album. Tim played on it too and a friend of his, Andy Sharpe, played bass. I had the songs – some of them were old,  some of them were new – and then we kind of reworked them a lot while we were in the  studio. They sound completely different, which is cool and we had the time to kind of play  with things and go away and come back. It was very different from the usual set-up, bash  out  some songs and leave. I learnt a lot from Tim – he’s very educational.”

In the end though, only eight of the dozen songs on the album were recorded at SpaceJunk.  And that was adding to the three years it took to put the debut album together, even with the luxury of all that extra time Finlayson was able to have in the studio because it was Powles’.

“When I got the band together, we went back into a different studio and just did four songs  live to include on the record. That was just a time thing for Tim – it’s not always easy to get  everybody when you want them. The band that I’ve got now are also starting to  contributewriting as well, so it’s not as much pressure, which is good.” Joining Finlayson and  Wu in Jessamine are guitarist Damien Foxton and bass player Ben Sherwood. They’ve been gigging around since November last year, so it was important to have something that  represented them on the record. As to the songs, there are a few key words that crop up in  quite a few of the songs – lies, enemies, days, weeks and night.
“I know I know I know, I’m actually trying to steer away from that word, lies. I think it’s just  good to rhyme,” Finlayson admits, collapsing into her hearty, guttural rock’n’roll laugh.  “Also I’d had a bit of a tough time for a while there as well and probably poured a lot of it outon the songs, but I know the lies thing comes up quite a lot. We have a bit of a joke about  that so I’m actually trying to stay away from that at the moment [laughs],trying to find a new  moniker.”

(source => Drum Media Sydney, 30/08/11, pg44.)

Feel Presents: On the Street! (16/09/11)

feedtime

Friday 16th September

Forming in Sydney in 1979, feedtime were an independent post punk/rock band, who were more popular in the US, than they ever were in their native Australia. They recorded four albums in the 1980s, with their first release out on Aberrant Records in Australia, and their second, third and fourth albums released internationally by indie label Rough Trade. Shovel, their second album, recieved the greatest critical acclaim of all four albums, and with Butch Vig producing their last album, Suction, you know they were onto a good thing.
Their sound was loud, primative and brutal, with their most distinctive musical element being the thick, roaring electric guitar (played with a slide) that thunders over a heaving rythm section. This loud, yet stripped back and minimalistic approach, led to comparisons with British post punk band Wire, however feedtime’s own sound was more influenced by (and heavily referenced) rural American country/blues sounds. Bruce Griffiths  of Aberrant Records describes them as “possibly the most satisfying [of all the bands  he has worked with over the years]” citing their success with international record labels Rough Trade (U.S.), Vinyl Solution (U.K. & EU) and Megadisc (Holland & the rest of EU) as forming a great part of his satisfaction in working with the band.

feedtime surfaced again in 1994 and 1996, with a different drummer, for a re-union album, and this Sepetember, presented by Feel (in conjunction with The Sydney Fringe Festival) they unite again for a very special show at the Sando.
Supported by Useless Children and 3 Toed Sloth, presale tickets are avaialable via moshtix & oztix.

feedtime

with supports Useless Children  & 3 Toed Sloth

Friday September 16th 2011

Doors @ 8pm