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 (Impedance
Records)
Rob
Younger’s post-Birdman rockers keep on keeping on
After the
break-up of seminal Oz punks Radio Birdman in 1978, that band’s singer Rob
Younger went on to front The New Christs on and off for nearly three decades.
With Saints, Lime Spiders, Hitmen, Celibate Rifles and Hoodoo Gurus members
doing their time with the Christs over the years, the band has been like an
unstable, living who-who’s of Australian underground rock. The current line-up
now includes Younger, Birdman/Deniz Tek bassist Jim Dickson, along with
guitarist Dave Kettley, guitarist/keyboardist Brent Williams and drummer Stuart
Wilson. As far as ageing garage rockers go, their new album Gloria (the group’s
first since 2002’s These Rags), is pretty darn cookin’! Try Something and The
Wheel are high octane rockers, Younger’s trademark wail grounded by a solid
rhythm section and the Kettley/Williams twin-guitar attack full of fuzz.
Williams also provides some soulful Hammond organ in the latter song, combined
with group vocal harmonies and melodic guitar fills, ensuring the track’s tunefulness
is highlighted. Williams’ organ adds an almost epic grandeur to The Posse, but
the Ray Davies amp-slashing distortion and punchy drums ensure that the Christs
are not about to be mistaken for U2 any time soon. Gloria is a refreshing
record for a couple of reasons – firstly, it shows that not all ageing punks
have to go all country/blues, and secondly if you didn’t know these were
ageing punks, you’d think this was the work of young, hungry kids in T-shirts
and garage-rock record collections handed down by hip parents.
***1/2
MATT
THROWER
1. Written by Rob Younger, on 01-08-2009 14:02
Dear Matt: A very kind review - thanks - but in fairness to my colleagues - fabulously talented artists (they'll tell you) but terribly, terribly sensitive nonetheless - I'd like to make it clear that Jim and I are far older than the other 3 sods. 'Ageing' punks' nails he and I certainly, but I'm only a year younger than guitarist Dave's dad. Our drummer Stu's younger than Dave by a bit. Brent's age remains indeterminate but we think he's quite young because he frequently says immature things. And, sorry to be so pedantic (you've hooked me now), it's Ray's brother Dave who's infamous for razoring his speakers.
I know what you mean about rockers / punks who 'go all country blues'. Tasty licks and all that shit, god help us. While in the Radio Birdvan (sic) touring the US three years ago I was forced to sit through a DVD one of those execrable Crossroads blues festival things. Fuck me. Then someone put on 'All Dolled Up' and I felt a lot better. All the best Matt.
Rob |
2. Written by Matt, on 03-08-2009 11:45
Cheers Rob, glad you liked the write-up. Have liberally sworn at myself for ballsing up my Kinks facts  |
3. Written by Brent Williams, on 03-08-2009 16:32
Indeed, I will be glad to confirm that we are both fabulously talented, and sensitive artists in The New Christs these days. We have all taken note of the popularity of "emo" culture, I think they call it, and we claim our rightful place as unacknowledged pioneers of the genre. I'm just waiting for "Death Cab For Cutie" to cut me a cheque.
Furthermore, though three of us are indeed comparatively younger than Younger, our ageing processes have accelerated significantly over the last three years of membership to this musical ensemble. For the record, I'm 21, but I feel 40.
As for youthful exuberance (or immaturity as Rob so unkindly puts it), you should see Rob and Jim get together late on Saturday nights to give their '45's a spin, flapping about like teenagers at a pyjama party! Ageing punks indeed. It leaves me shaking my head and tut-tutting every time.
Thanks for the review, Matt. Make sure you say g'day if you're at the Step on the 14th.
Brento
PS: Who is this "Kinks" mob that you two are banging on about? They must have been before my time! |
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