Earlier this week I was contacted by Ronny Van Dyk who told me he and his wife, Jen Lysle-van Dyke, had earlier this year started up a diy label called Wreckless Enterprise. Based in Wollongong, Australia, it's aim was to "shine a spotlight on all the unknown but fucking amazing punk bands that exist in every nook and cranny of most towns." As I've been saying for a while now, Australia is churning out so much great punk music at the moment that straight away I asked Ronny if he'd select a Top 10 of some of his favourite new bands and being a cool and enthusiastic guy he readily agreed so that's what you're getting today.
First though, if you're interested in discovering killer Aussie bands that you might otherwise overlook, here's the Wreckless Enterprise Facebook page : https://www.facebook.com/wrecklessenterprise/
Already the label has released an excellent compilation titled Short Fuse Volume 1. 12 short punk bangers that fit nicely onto a red vinyl 7" and are also available digitally. https://wrecklessenterprise.bandcamp.com/releases
I'll play a couple of tracks on the Just Some Punk Songs show later today (8pm gmt) https://www.facebook.com/events/2388444994747771/
Short Fuse Volume 2 is coming soon and will feature another selection of exciting unknowns.
And now to Ronny's Top 10....
1. The Vee Bees - Park Bog
from the lp Yeah Nah, Yeah Nah
https://theveebees.bandcamp.com/album/yeah-nah-yeah-nah These guys fit perfectly into the resurgence of Aussie ‘Bogan punk’ with accents broader than the Sahara and humour to match. Singing about all the important things like Public Loos and Drive-through bottle shops, the VeeBees are a big and fun live draw.
2. Legal Aliens - It’s A Trap
from the ep Welcome To The Business State
https://legalalienssydney.bandcamp.com/album/welcome-to-the-business-state-e-p High energy, young and angry, full of attitude, these guys are the real deal. Pint sized front woman is a dynamo, right up in your face and she does not back down. Wild, chaotic and exciting shows.
3. The Owen Guns- Cheetoh Hitler
New to the scene, political, antagonistic and offensive to anyone with even the slightest right wing sympathies. An aural assault with a clever sharp tongued frontman, often humourous.
4. Shrimpwitch - Leerers
from the lp Give Me The Itch
https://shrimpwitch.bandcamp.com/album/gave-me-the-itch
Darlings of the Melbourne femme-punk scene, this two piece sound like the Cramps, the White Stripes and Nina Hagen got together for a threesome. Unique vocals and lyrics really set these guys apart from the pack.
5. RMFC (Rock Music Fan Club) - The Clue
from the ep Hive vol 2
https://rockmusicfanclub.bandcamp.com/album/hive-vol-2
This trio, led by a teenage drummer/vocalist, are a big part of a new tidal wave of very young punk-influenced bands doing the circuit at the moment. This wave have their own thing going on but are very much informed by previous waves of punk, garage and grunge. Great live act!
6. Loose - Crackin Up
from the S/T ep
Another new band on the scene, informed as much by Detroit-style punk which has always been a massive deal in Australia, as the glam and hard rock of the early 70s. Wonderful raw guitar sound on this one, and classic grizzled and weary vocal styling.
7. The Not Nots - Default
https://thenotnots.bandcamp.com/
Probably one of the more unusual bands on the circuit, this ‘art punk’ band from Newcastle have made their mark with quirky off-timings and often dischordant guitar parts, combined with good strong harmonies and very tight playing. Hard to categorise, but somewhere between Talking Heads, Hüsker Du and perhaps the Pixies.
Probably one of the more unusual bands on the circuit, this ‘art punk’ band from Newcastle have made their mark with quirky off-timings and often dischordant guitar parts, combined with good strong harmonies and very tight playing. Hard to categorise, but somewhere between Talking Heads, Hüsker Du and perhaps the Pixies.
8. Froth Dogs - Meat Pie
from the lp She’ll Be Right
What can we say, the absolute embodiment of the Bogan punk resurgence rears it’s head again with this young trio, who almost exclusively sing about food. Larrikins on stage and off, there is no line between the performance and real life for these blokes, this is not an act, this is the real deal. Unpretentious, funny, you’d have to be dead not to enjoy these guys on some level. A band to watch.
9. Das Asps - Christmas Dissmissmas
Really hard to find any info on this band, but happily stumbled across them on Facebook. Some say they’re from Dresden but I’m 99 percent certain they would have to be Australian given the accent. Manic, fast paced old school punk stylings, a bit of Cramps in there. Crazy track.
10. The Leftards - Fuck Religion
Only 18 months on the scene, political as hell, with a couple of eps under their belts, these guys have made a big impact on the east coast with a stage show quite unlike any other. Imagine an escaped psyche patient having a meth rage tantrum with a basket full of toys and instruments, a chaotic and delightfully shambolic spectacle.
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