the patriotic post

the lesser lights of australina music:

Whilst the Easybeats went on to top charts and tour across the world a lesser known band was left behind in their shadows: the Missing Links, whilst their legacy lives on in the name of an independant record store in Melbourne, they were relatively unknown here. Formed in 1964 and managed to score a number 2 single in new zealand before disbanding in 1965 only to reform with different personnel. At one time one of their members gained notoriety for having the longest hair in Sydney. The band split without success for good in 1966, a great reissue 'driving me insane' was released by Half a Cow records in the early 2000's.

The Dom Mariani legacy

Adored in spain and germany but barely recognised in australia, is one of the most gifted songwriters going around. The Stems burst out of Perth in the mid 80's ina wave of winkle pinkles and paisley leading a powerpop revolution and achieved some nationwide recognition with a string of early singles and ep's their high point came with the utterly charming single 'at first sight' which saw tehm perform on hey hey its saturday and also got the song on the young einstein soundtrack. Unfortunately the pressures of fame and major lable presssure for their debut saw the two major songwriters, Dom and Richard fall out and go their separate ways -Dom to go on to form the Someloves and Richard Lane to play with 'The Rosebuds'. Dom also went to form the DM3 a cracking power pop band and had subsequently released a solo album and released an instrumental album as the Majestic Kelp. A Dom Mariani Anthology was released in early 2005 containing Stems, Someloves and his solo work

recommended: the Stems: Make You Mine, Tears Me in Two, She's a monster, Can't Resist, At First Sight, You cant turn the clock back - an 18 track collection 'Mushroom soup' was released by Citidel in 2005
http://www.thestems.com.au/
Someloves: Dont Talk About us/It's my time single, Something or other album - 1989
DM3 - Road to Rome, Garage sale (covers & rarities)

another power pop band that got overlooked: the early hours
again from Perth, had a flicker of interest after getting a song noticed through radio station triple-j's unearthed endeavour, they managed only two albums, their first cheekily named "the early hours greatest hits" and their second - Evolution before dissapearing in the mid 90's. Short punchy songs with the classic themes of girls, n' rock n' more girls, their swansong was a blazing 12 tracks that ticked over in a little under 30 minutes. They were also responsible for my first ever sneaking in to a venue - the hopetoun hotel, not cause i was underage as the traditional way but merely to save the cover charge, me and my then sidekick snuck in some hours early and snuck down to the dungeon bar in the basement sitting it out til the band started so we could then merely reappear amidst the crowd and merge in un-noticed - which seemed all well and good til i had to use the bathroom, the gents alas was upstairs and on the wrong side of the door bitch so i had my female accomplis keep watch as i used the ladies downstairs which was all well and good til i came out from the cubicle to be faced with 4 shocked lass's whose stares and accusing glares i had to endure the rest of the evening - money saved - $6.

Incursion - i think i have a special soft spot for them as they were part of my first ever pub gig (also on the bill - sidewinder [who deserve a mention too, a sadly short lived Sydney via Canberra band who promised much but never really hit any heights, their two albums Atlantis and Tangerine were two of the best Australian releases of the 1990's and were a near constant live presence around town and on the festival circuit - band members have gone on to play for something for kate and form the rather good Zillions] and Powderfinger [back when they were interesting]) but back to the point, Incursion, all sludgey distorted guitars and gravelly but humbly restrained voices. Came from Benalla in country Victoria and released two ep's at last sighting - Afterglow & In the Black Sandshoe - there may have been a third but i have yet to find it.