With a new album ‘Still Here’ out February 15, the mighty Beasts (without the Bourbon), are back in a big way, with an album that is on par with the band’s rich musical legacy, and a tour of Australia late this month and into March. Few bands have the rock ‘n’ roll legitimacy to match The Beasts, and with a reshaped line-up and new album – The rejuvenated Beasts are back to remind all and sundry that the baddest of ‘em all are indeed – back.
With the sad passing last year of band stalwarts Spencer Jones and Brian Hooper, one may of thought that after 30 years, the Beasts Of Bourbon were done. As is well known, after an emotional show for Brian Hooper in April, 2018, Tex Perkins hit upon the idea of getting all of the band’s members, past and present into a recording studio to see what would happen. Sadly, Brian passed away a week after that final show, and thankfully, Spencer put down one last song before he too, sadly, passed away in August last year. So without Spencer and Brian, it could never be the Beasts of Bourbon – yet as The Beasts, with founding members Boris Sujdovic and Kim Salmon back on board, the band, which also includes Charlie Owen, Tony Pola and Tex – recorded an album of new Beasts material.
Songs weren’t so much learned as ideas thrown together and recorded the moment they began to coalesce. Songs include Brian Hooper’s ‘What The Hell Was I Thinking’, James Baker’s ‘Drunk On A Train’, Boris’ ‘Don’t Pull Me Over’, Kim’s ‘Pearls Before Swine’, Tex’s ‘On My Back’ and ‘Just Let Go’ and Spencer’s final tune, ‘At The Hospital’. There are also Beast-like covers of Zappa’s ‘The Torture Never Stops’ and Warren Zevon’s ‘My Shit’s Fucked Up’, add to that some untitled jams that became the hilarious ‘Your Honour’ and you have 11 tracks of rock n roll righteousness that few others come close to.
THE BEASTS NEW ALBUM ‘STILL HERE’ OUT 15TH FEBRUARY 2019 on (Bang! Records / Rocket)
ON TOUR:
Thursday 21st February 2019 – Theatre Royal, Castlemaine – Tickets
Friday 22nd February 2019 – Prince Bandroom, St Kilda – Tickets
with guests Dallas Crane
Saturday 23rd February 2019 – Croxton Bandroom, Northcote – Tickets
with guests Dallas Crane
NEW SHOW ANNOUNCED
Thursday 28th February 2019 – Tanks Arts Centre, Cairns – Tickets
Friday 1st March 2019 – The Northern, Byron Bay – Tickets
with guests The Johnnys
Saturday 2nd March 2019 – The Triffid, Brisbane – Tickets
with guests The Johnnys
Thursday 7th March 2019 – A.N.U. Canberra – Tickets
with guests The Johnnys
Friday 8th March 2019 – Metro Theatre, Sydney – Tickets
with guests The Johnnys
Saturday 9th March 2019 – Cambridge Hotel, Newcastle – Tickets
with guests The Johnnys
Thursday 14th March 2019 – Rock Rover, Fremantle – Tickets
with guests The Painkillers
Friday 15th March 2019 – Rosemount Hotel, Perth – Tickets
with guests The Painkillers
Saturday 16th March 2019 – Rosemount Hotel, Perth – Tickets
with guests The Painkillers
Sunday 17th March 2019 – The Gov, Adelaide – Tickets
with guests The Johnnys
