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The Hard-Ons at the Link and Pin Cafe, Woy Woy, Dec 10 2021. Pic by Mark Fraser.

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BLACKIE, RAY and MURRAY
from the
HARD-ONS
relive their memorable shows

Review by Dave Bruce

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Photo – Michelle Young Lantern Studio

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With the Hard-Ons’ ‘I’m Sorry Sir, That Riff’s Been Taken’ tour finally underway, we thought we’d ask Blackie, Ray and Murray  to tell us a bit about their most memorable shows over the years. Most memorable Hard-Ons shows that is, although Blackie slipped in one from his and Ray’s other band Nunchukka Superfly.

The new album and the tour are of course the band’s first to feature new singer Tim Rogers.

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The Hard-Ons’ new album I’m Sorry Sir, That Riff’s Been Taken
is out now via Cheersquad Records & Tapes. (Distributed by Magnetic South)

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Ray’s Choices –

2001 COTTBUS GERMANY, 2001

This band the Hard-Ons has been to hell and back, I am not kidding you. We played the least welcoming gig ever there. If you are not white, you haven’t lived until you’ve played a gig in Cottbus eleven years after the collapse of the Berlin wall, straight after a soccer match, in front of a bunch of Skin heads.

2011 ANNANDALE HOTEL, SYDNEY, 2011

In December 2011, we closed the year off with one of our most brutal sets, at the fabled Annandale hotel. I completely lost myself and became at one with the music, with my band. I came out of this trance momentarily when my eye chanced upon Jack Black, the Hollywood actor from “The School of rock” next to me on the side of the stage, half grimacing, half smiling, thrashing an air guitar. After the show, he shook my hand. He was covered from head to toe in sweat.

FRANKIE’S PIZZA, SYDNEY, 2022

February 16. Part two of our two-part unannounced warm-up shows for our inaugural live forays with new singer Tim Rogers was held at Frankie’s Pizza, a doomed venue ear-marked to make way for a tram stop that will be used for trams that travel at speeds lesser than regular pedestrian pace. Everything came together than night and we felt unstoppable.

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Blackie’s Choices –

Hellfest, 2018 

There’s a young dude just to the right of me pressed up against the stage barrier with his mum. It’s a sea of people but we connect. He’s smiling his head off at me.  I let go of the guitar and it starts feeding back and I point to him and scream – his eyes almost jump out his head and he gives me two devil horns and both him and mum jump and scream with me!

NUNCHUKKA, 200?

Last gig (for a decade) with Joel. In a venue near Thirroul that’s about to be knocked down to make apartments. Every song goes for twice as long as it should. Every song I’m having a “moment” close to tears. Fuck all people but every person there felt like a battery. Crazy good!

Frankies, 2022 

Second gig with Tim. This feels incredible. We play many songs we haven’t played for years, from the last 5 albums. Even the one song I think “hmmm should we?” feels electric. 

Man oh man .. We’ve been doing this for almost 40 years and it keeps getting better and better. So good I almost feel guilty …

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Murray’s Choices –

EARTHDOM, TOKYO, 2014

30th Anniversary tour. Tiny venue we have played every Japanese tour. It was the last show of the tour and we were in really top form. We did 3 or 4 encores and I even stage dived at one point. 

THE LANSDOWNE (RESIDENCY), 2015

We played every Saturday night in January 2015, and there were 5 of them! Fun shows with a diverse mix of support bands. My kick drum kept sliding forward one of those nights. I got through the whole set but the last song was 4 minutes of straight double kick and my pedals came off after 30 seconds. I lost it and obliterated my drumkit and walked off stage. Luckily no permanent damage to anyone or my drums!

ELTHAM HOTEL – LAST WEEKEND!

Most recent gig we played!! Makes it easier to remember I guess. 15 minutes out of Lismore and only 3 weeks after the devastating flood. Heaps of people there had just had their lives turned upside down and after weeks of cleaning up they were ready to party! Good times 

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THE HARD-ONS
I’m Sorry Sir, That Riff’s Been Taken
Australian Tour 2022

MARCH

Thu 17 – Southport, Vinnie’s Dive – with guests BLUSHH – tickets here  
Fri 18 – Brisbane, The Zoo “Punkfest” – with guests FAT and BURNT TRASH – tickets here 
Sat 19 – Eltham, Eltham Hotel – with guests MASOCHIST – tickets SOLD OUT
Thu 31 – Canberra, The Basement – with guests GLITORIS and CHARLOTTE & THE HARLOTS – tickets here

APRIL

Sat 2 – Adelaide, Enigma Bar – with guests CULL – tickets here
Thu 7 – Geelong, Barwon Club – with guests DEAD and EYEROLL – tickets here
Fri 8 – St Kilda, Gershwin Room @ The Espy – with very special guests THE MEANIES and RIVER OF SNAKES – tickets here
Sat 9 – Melbourne, Corner Hotel – with special guests C.O.F.F.I.N and CHEEKY GEEZERS –  tickets here

JUNE

Wed June 1 – Wollongong, La La La’s – tickets here
Thu June 2 – Sydney, Factory Theatre (for Great Southern Nights) (with guests Flowers For Jayne) – tickets here
Fri June 3 – Newcastle, Cambridge Hotel – tickets here
Sat June 4 – Avalon, Avalon RSL (with guests Raising Ravens) – tickets here

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AMNPLIFY – DB