New War Breaks Out

Melbourne band New War marked the release of their 12" 'Ghostwalking' with an impressive show at the Phoenix Public House last night (Sat 24 Sep). Signed to American label Fast Weapons (they were responsible for a Thurston Moore/Talk Normal split 7" earlier this year), New War create an intensely rhythmic sound that mixes the post-punk renderings of Mutiny-period Birthday Party, King Trigger, Plays With Marionettes and pre-Breakfast Club Simple Minds into something profoundly fresh.

Having mutated out of US-based band Shoplifting (which featured Chromatics associate Devin Welch and Gossip's Hannah Blilie), Chris Pugmire and Melissa Stock have brought their music back to Melbourne and joined up with Bird Blobs drummer Steve Masterson and SIR's Jesse Shepherd (also a one-time member of The Ancients with Henry Krips, aka Henry Wagons).

Fast Weapons, the label run by Gossip's Nathan Howdeshell, has issued New War's 12" with remixes by Gossip and HTRK. 'Ghostwalking' is produced by Lindsay Gravina (Ripe, Magic Dirt, Rowland S Howard, HTRK, Cosmic Psychos).

And yeah, that was Beth Ditto bopping by you at the Phoenix...
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