Issue #16 (June 1993)

Living still at the base of the mountains meant less and less trips into town. The only weekly given was that I was booking bands at Max's Petersham which meant the odd trip in to sort out schedules and lineups. Most of the time was spent on the phone (it seems nothing has changed) trying to construct bills and get bands who wanted to play there. Booking a venue is a thankless task (nothing has changed) and because the publican couldn't afford to guarantee bands, it became increasingly difficult to fill a room which could handle 250-300 people.

We had the odd good night though mostly on the back of promoters we knew (friends) who brought in bands like Tumbleweed, The Cruel Sea, Crow, and even Pavement (USA). My old mate Steve Pav was bringing out American bands and called me one Tuesday afternoon to say that Pavement had a show at the Tivoli which was called off. That weekend in July proved to be one of those gifted memories in life - the Pismo Bar rocking at the front with young kids Magic Dirt, whilst Pavement and Crow filled the back room - three nights, three hugs crowds and three unforgettable shows.

This issue 16 featured interviews with Medicine Show, Lunarcide and Massappeal.

Medicine Show

It was apt that these guys featured in one of our issues. Dave and I go back as far as No Mans Land who used to play a lot around Surry Hills in the mid to late 80s. I got in touch with Dave again in the early 90s and for a while there Dave was assisting with putting on bills at Max's Petersham. Dave's new band 'Medicine Show' were a different beast to No Mans Land and played essentially hard rock.

Aside from the interview in this issue, I can't find much on either band. There might be more on Dave as he did relocate to the Northern NSW and now fronts a great band called Slug

Lunarcide

Formerly Orsen, this four to five piece charmed many in their short-lived  time together. Some of their best shows were either at the Sandringham (Newtown) or Max's (Petersham). They were alive, electric and like Crow before them, they soared and took you places. There has been talks ever since they broke up that there'd be re-releases of their mere material - we can only hope. Andy Marks, aside from taking on academia, plays in Manners Park as well as rejoining Crow on drums. Not too sure where Tim Lynch is. I do know that Matt Skelton plays in bands in Katoomba, whilst Pete Goth, Paul Brown and Hamish Bond have both relocated. Unfortunately a few years back Noel Death passed away.

https://www.facebook.com/lunarcide/

https://soundcloud.com/user-98753685/lunarcide-spots

Massappeal

This band formed back around 1983-84 w/members from the suburbs of Fairfield as well as Sydney's northern beaches. There first record 'Nobody Likes A Thinker' sold many a copy and generated a lot of interest for the band both locally, nationally and internationally. A fine t-shirt as well https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LzXX0o2h_PU https://brutalism.com/review/massappeal-nobody-likes-a-thinker/

Later on the bands sound changed a bit (in a good way)  with different personnel - 'Mechanic' is one of my favourite local releases ever. For all the updated news go here