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Welcome to another edition of Wide Open Road. It is summer over here in London which means, well it means the exact same weather that you are getting back home, and perhaps worse! So as the clouds close in, the drizzle beds down for the night and the finger waves over the boiler, music be the way to keep warm on these cold summer nights (look at me, full whinging pom mode activated)

Shake some action – The Hitmen
A stand alone – Screaming Tribesmen
Take me (Back to the country) – Klondike
Chris Masuak and Los Eternos – Lost Weekend

Speak of things to whinge about…the Radio Birdman reunion controversy continues to rage with the omission of Chris Masuak from the line-up and the continued non-discussion of it by the remaining members. For me it is a sad bookmark to the great Radio Birdman story, with those first reunion gigs with all the players still ringing in my eyes. So, the first set comes from the aforementioned Masuak. We start with the Hitmen from the “it is what it is’ reissue from 2007 and their version of the Flamin’ Groovies track ‘Shake Some Action’. Next we have the Masuak produced (and soon to be joined) Screaming Tribesmen and their 1984 single on Citadel (with additional box and keys by Masuak). Next up we have a Klondike EP from 1987 Chris Boy King and the Kamloops Swing (Kamloops is where Masuak was born in Canada, hence the nickname Klondike). And finally we have a track from 2013 and a limited 7” single with Spanish band Los Eternos.


Sweet Jesus Blue Eyes – Chad’s Tree
Dive for your memory (live) – Blackeyed Susans
Black Eyed Susan – The Triffids
In the Pines – Blackeyed Susans

Rob Snarski time. Releasing his new solo album ‘Wounded Bird’ this year, Mr. Snarksi has had a many and varied career. So we start with Chad’s Tree, the band he formed with his brother Mark. This was the lead track on their 1986 self-titled EP released on the Hot label. And features Amanda Brown of the Go-Betweens on signature violin. We move to a track by the Blackeyed Susand, a supergroup featuring members of the Triffids and Dirty Three. This track comes from the Go-Betweens tribute album of 1995 called ‘Right Here’ (which we have featured on the show before). next up the track from where the aforementioned BES got their name, the might Black Eyed Susan by the Triffids off their final LP ‘The Black Swan’ from 1989 and finally a very rare track from the debut BES compilation released on
Waterfront and their version of the classic Triffids song ‘In the Pines’. Snarksi, out!


Working for the Man – Mental as Anything
Another man’s sitting in my kitchen – Mental as Anything
Mr Natural – Mental as Anything

Tenuous maybe, but here are three tracks by Sydney’s Mental as Anything. Forged from a gig held on the top of a pool table whilst they were students at East Sydney Tech (where I spent three years teaching), the Mentals were a consistent singles band. These three tracks are simply linked by the masculine subject. Working for the man was a Roy Orbison song released on Regular in 1983 and reached 20 on the Australian chart. The second track is off the Get Wet LP from 1979 and finally Mr Natural was a hit single for the band in 1995 from their Liar, Liar Pants on Fire LP.


Can’t find things – Fast Cars
Something (should be done) – The Skolars
Sex Cat Killer – Box of Fish

Right, Method Records. What a label! Putting out around 20 singles and a few LPs, this label which started in the early 80s was experimental, avant garde and cutting edge, and thereby sold almost nought, but what a fucking legacy? We start with Fast Cars. This EP was produced by Martin Plaza from Mental as Anything. Link! From 1981 and with a stunning vocal from Dianah Levy this is a great example of the Method aesthetic. Up next, Sydney’s The Skolars (who released singles also on the Waterfront label). This track features a great sax solo from Fiona Macgregor and was released in 1983. Finally, Box of Fish. This b-side to the the Erosion single was released in 1983. Brilliant.
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Daddy Long Legs – Tumbleweed
(Less than I) spend Proton Energy Pills
Stoned – Tumbleweed

Finally, we pay tribute to another fallen solider in Jay Curley from Proton Energy Pills/Tumbleweed, who died suddenly in August 2014. Let’s start with the lumbering stoner grunge of Daddy Long Legs by Tumbleweed. This spleen shattering track came out right in the heart of the grunge and was so perfectly placed. I saw the ‘weed play this track headlining the old Phoenician club in Sydney. They had people hanging off the balconies in such dangerous ways. It was awesome. Next up the debut single of the Tumbleweed predecessor The Proton Energy Pill. This track was produced by J Mascis of Dinosaur Jr fame…grunge lineage indeed. Finally we a brilliant track that was originally released on the Waterfront label as a 7”. Stoned is a great example of what made the ‘weed great. Vale.


Thats it for another month. Enjoy the show, spread the word, keep the faith and let Masuak back into Birdman. Yeah hup!