This weekend sees the start of the latest run of gigs by Sydney’s legendary Sunnyboys! (Full dates and details below)
Since first reforming for the Hoodoo Gurus ‘Dig It Up’ festival in 2012, the Sunnyboys have done a short run pretty much each year. This year they’ll playing their classic 1981 debut album from start to finish, amongst other things. Of course that record was reissued by Festival Records as an expanded 2CD set back in 2014, complete with 8 B-sides and a never before heard 17-song pre-album demo session, all in killer remastered sound. You can check it all out here on Spotify, or of course it’s still available to purchase. Even if you still go your old vinyl copy, you need it.
To really set the scene, they’ve picked some very special supports bands for this run. Sydney gets a real treat on Saturday night - first on are the Shy Imposters, who were a short-lived Sydney band circa 78-79. Fronted by the enigmatic Penny Ward – Sydney’s answer to Patti Smith at the time maybe – the band actually featured future Sunnyboys Peter Oxley and Richard Burgman, and future Lipstick Killers and Screaming Tribesmen drummer Michael Charles. The band released one brilliant single on the legendary Phantom label, and to coincide with their first show in nearly 40 years, they’ve just released the two single tracks, together with a bunch of unreleased material (all of it strong) on CD via Citadel Records. Check out the single "At the Barrier" here:
Following the Shy Imposters on stage will be Flaming Hands. Another female-fronted outfit with Phantom Records affiliations (Phantom was also the Sunnyboys first label) who have also reformed just for the occasion, the Flaming Hands formed out of Radio Birdman’s entourage (and guitarist/songwriter Jeff Sullivan had previously been in ANOTHER fem-fronted Phantom band, the Passengers) and started off as a tough soul-infused outfit. Singer Julie Mostyn was a strong presence, and as the band developed a more modern sound and became more popular, they earned the patronage of INXS. Their great single "The Edge" is set to appear on The Glory Days of Aussie Pub Rock Vol.2 (and yes, that also features the Sunnyboys!), out February 24.
Whilst Sydney gets two bands reforming just for the occasion, Melbourne gets a rare appearance from one of the most legendary Australian bands of the late ‘70s/early ‘80s era, the wonderful X. Sadly singer Steve Lucas is the only surviving member from the band’s early days in Sydney, but he always puts on a great show, and X have a wealth of great material, including the classic "Degenerate Boy".
Brisbane gets lucky too, with the great former Saint Ed Kuepper, and Sydney ‘80s fave’s the Celibate Rifles.
If you love classic Aussie alternative music from the 80s, these shows are not to be missed. Full details follow.
Friday 3 February 2017 - GOLD COAST @ NIGHTQUARTER
w/ special guests: The Celibate Rifles + Ed Kuepper (with Mark Dawson)
Tickets from Nightquarter.com.au or Oztix.com.au
Saturday 4 February 2017 - SYDNEY @ ENMORE THEATRE
w/ special guests Flaming Hands & Shy Impostors.
Tickets from enmoretheatre.com
Friday 10 February 2017 - MELBOURNE @ THE CROXTON
w/ special guests: X
Tickets from thecroxton.com.au
