Malagrotta

Composed from notes made on a mobile phone while in the grip of a species of long Covid and a brutal high European Summer, Malagrotta is the new album from songwriter Glenn Richards and band Augie March.

The songs of Malagrotta ~ a nickname given to Rome’s great burning rubbish dump, loosely translating as ‘bad cave’ ~ chart this infernal tour, walking in the sandals of long dead kings, mad alcoholic refugees, successful anarchist bankers, failed revolutionary jesters, chastened muses, hybridised mythic wild men, seasonally sad office-bound river dwellers, and pagan priests of alternate antiquities, among many other characters.

It is another work of strange imagination and unique perspective on the human condition from the much admired Australian band that sails on whatever the weather, or the budget.

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Malagrotta is available to order on Compact Disc, Vinyl LP and via Bandcamp (with bonus track 'Mules').

In addition to regular black vinyl, we are offering a limited edition run of 150 recycled red vinyl.

The process used in its manufacture ~ recycling coloured vinyl used recently at the vinyl pressing plant ~ means this shade of red is a one off. 

This appealed to us as it echoes the process of producing an album: using whatever is on hand to compose a phrase, build a sound, tap out a rhythm or record a part. And why not offer an album named after a giant overflowing rubbish tip in Rome pressed onto vinyl offcuts saved from landfill heh?

Released October 4, 2024.

Tracklisting:
1. O Desejado
2. German Beer
3. Hill of Muses
4. Malagrotta
5. A Walk Along the Tiber
6. Horn of Plenty
7. Irrational Anthem
8. All Along the Isar
9. Napoleon is Colour Blind
10. Every Song a Miracle
11. This
12. This Ought to Do It
+ Mules (Bandcamp exclusive track)

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Below is a sample of three tracks from Malagrotta.

All tracks can be played via our YouTube channel.

Lyrics can be viewed here.

Glenn Richards “Deep Demonstrations” Volumes 1 and 2

Sadly, owing to other commitments, we’ve had to delay the release of the new Augie album for a fair spell. Something to look forward to then. Rather than leave you hanging I thought I’d go through my archives and scoop up a cornucopia of ancient rarities, stuff not even the band has heard a fraction of, the stuff they try to exploit after you’re dead, but why wait? That’s not an invitation to kill me but to drink from my horn of oddities - 2 volumes of fully fleshed tunes, 4 track fumbling, shabby chic torch numbers and Hi concept Fi. Film songs, folk songs, post rawk songs, songs where I’m female, songs where I’m Welsh, and of course a song where I’m a vampire. Most of all it’s real and the curtain is at the very least lifted at the corner if not fully drawn away. Available d’load only on Bandcamp, $15 a Volume, near 60 songs for the price of two glasses of wine, or pay what you feel. Support your independent songwriters now or very soon it’s all going to sound like Jack Antonoff’s high school diary. “DEEP DEMONSTRATIONS” by GAR. Listen to excerpts for all tracks here.

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Announcing a giant trove of ancient and unreleased material from the songwriter and convener of seminal band Augie March, The Dark Satanic Mills Bros, producer, film composer, mixer, arranger, studio operator and Tasmanian, Glenn Richards.

"DEEP DEMONSTRATIONS" Volumes 1 & 2

Volume 1 “Orphans of Commerce”

For some reason or other there’s always far too much time between Augie March releases and naturally many songs I write end up forgotten or wasted later on as virtual b-sides and obscure ‘bonus trax’ for streamers and the like, but that’s no real knock on their soulful goodness or curiosity value. The deleterious effects of time, the inevitable dwindling enthusiasm, that’s what does for these poor orphans who grow too old to be attractive to prospective Album Parents.

The following are mostly deep demos, they’re what the AM band tend to get when I want a track to sound or structure a very specific way. Quality of audio and, well, quality, varies, but there are some gems and even the fake stones can be nice in a certain light.

Volume 2 “TV, Film & Other Spec Rejects”

About 85% of commissions I‘ve received over the stretch have been for projects that never get up. As if the songwriter/composer life weren’t fraught enough, you’re usually doing stuff on spec, with no advances and no guarantees of any income at all. This volume, with the rare exception, is made up of deep demonstrations that generally worked well and might have gone on to big boy clothes, were it not for the dissolution of entire productions they were attached to.

Also here are songs written and recorded for charities, other artists, concept albums, and some just plain old ‘rejects’. There are also some alt versions of old songs you’ll probably know recorded for opaque purposes, which are included in both volumes.

Of note are the number of times I’ve been required to write from a female perspective, or have chosen to despite being a man. When you’re shooting for a Hollywood noir musical you dig deep psychic trenches, and brazenly ignore prevailing mores. I also try my hand, or rather tongue, at some accents. Nobody asked for this but I gave it anyway because of DEEP DEMONSTRATIONS.

In conclusion, and as those guys leaning against cars in Byron Bay who you don’t want to spend any further time with say, “It’s all good…”. Producers looking for their next off kilter soundtrack or ‘random’ song for their organic TikTok starlet, call me. Please.

PS

Massively enjoy your bonus film clip, cut together generously, and with I can only think deliberately wrong lyrics, by the genius Cairnes Bros who made clips for us back in the day and have gone on to make several excellent films which I’ve had the honour of providing much music for. In this case they were wise not to include my 80’s metal cum psychedelic take on the cheesy James Bond 007 style theme song for their film “Scare Campaign”, but being pigs of rock at heart they could not leave it another languishing orphan. As I write this they are in LA, deservedly enjoying a cinematic release of their latest “Late Night with the Devil”. GO SEE IT.

ALL SONGS WRITTEN, PLAYED AND RECORDED BY GAR 

With following exceptions:

“Walgreens Blues” - Slide guitar by Dan Luscombe

“16 Silent Mouths” - Chorus Vocal by Jess Cornelius

“One Crowded Hour (Kermit’s Banjax Version)” - Piano and Organ by Scott Targett

“The Sweet Primeroses” - Trad

“The Streets of Forbes” - Trad

GAR

Hobart, April 24

A tweak by the creek after a long hard week, and a lark before dark down by Luna Park

Greetings. We’ve been at work on an ambitious new record and are well pleased with what’s emerged. Mid year a couple of members are heading overseas but we’re happy to announce that we can squeeze a couple of Victorian dates in before they depart. We're honoured to have been asked to play what may be one of the very last Archies Creek Hotel shows, at least in its current form, on April 5th before a special matinee show at the grand ole Espy in St. Kilda, Saturday the 6th of April. 

A tweak by the creek after a long hard week, and a lark before dark down by Luna Park, what else are you gonna do? And it's all made only fifty times better and hotter by the company of Marty Frawley who will be supporting with a couple of young up and comers by the name of Dan Kelly and Dan Luscombe. Phew. Come and say goodbye so you can say hello again when we’re reunited and ready to spring the new thing.

Guest Of Honour

A member of the Augie March Hall Of Fame needs our help.

Shaun Guest lived with Adam and myself in a shop on Johnston St in Collingwood from 1995 until 1998. 

He, like Glenn, Dono and myself, had moved from Shepparton as soon as high school was done, looking to further his education and experience in The Big Smoke.

He was there when Augie March began, witnessing us rehearsing in that shop front over many months, attending our first gig at The Arthouse in March 1996 and many more since.

Shaun was already a talented and passionate photographer, and we asked him to take our first press shots. 

Amazingly, he agreed and did so until 2000.

Shaun has the innate ability to capture nature in a powerful and evocative way, particularly the Australian landscape.

When we were looking for a cover image for the first E.P, Thanks For The Memes, we glimpsed a striking photo in his collection and sought permission to use it. 

Amazingly, He agreed.

Words and Music by Glenn, Ed, Adam and Dave, Image by Shaun.

Forever connected.

Shaun was there when we needed him and now it’s our turn to do the same.

- Dave 

Brunswick Ballroom 2nd Birthday Show

Party time. The Brunswick Ballroom is throwing a big 2nd birthday bash, and Augie March are delighted to join in the festivities.

Augie are playing their first show for 2023 at the Ballroom, a venue which has quickly become one of Melbourne's favourites. Loud and electric, quiet and acoustic, mega-hits and hidden gems. Melburnians, I hope you can make it along on Saturday 25th February.

- The Good Gardener

On The Quiet

Augie March are On The Quiet again.

Fresh from their concert series featuring a stunning rendition of the classic debut album Sunset Studies, the band are heading for the mountains and the beach, with two intimate regional Victoria shows.

Stripped back, reimagined, Augie March will pick the eyes out of their peerless 7-album catalogue, hits and obscurities abounding. Since 2008, Augie's On The Quiet shows have always delivered a unique boutique experience, no two performances are the same - they couldn't even if they tried!

Thursday 26 May at The Bridge Hotel, Castlemaine

(tickets on sale 10am Tues 5 April)

Friday 27 May at The Sound Doctor, Anglesea

(tickets on sale now)

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Thank you to all who came along to help celebrate 20+ years of Sunset Studies 🌹🌹🌹

And for those in need of some Sunset Studies merch, we have the entire range available in the online shop, until stocks last 🌹🌹🌹

- The Good Gardener

Sydney & Canberra This Week

In 1996 we had a change of government in Australia. Selfishness and greed were promoted, community and equality were shunted. Individualism reigned which was great if you were born with the desirable attributes or into the right circumstances. We made Sunset Studies in 99-00 because it was evident one progressive and generous Australia was fading fast and another very strident and socially regressive one was emerging. The new values were given many, many years to flourish and were lovingly curated into a national ethos by a compliant, bought and paid for media, capitalised ruthlessly on by a taxpayer subsidised private sector, then carefully topped up by uninspired but effective concoctions designed by small, nasty men and women to keep us drunk with fear at happy hour. These values contained in themselves easy bristles to trigger, which was and is their dark, dumb genius. It’s 2022 and the damage is done, the corruption is a festered crater for all to see, but there’s a little bit of hope that the fortune we have here might not be fully squandered yet. As we finally celebrate the 20th anniversary of SS in Canberra, Sydney and Melbourne (it’s a start!) we’d like to share that inkling and emerge just a little from the human behaviour induced plagues and multiple environmental crises, and for a little bit from the shadow of another horrific mass murdering military action in the name of selfishness and greed. See you soon AM community.

- The Good Gardener

Glenn Richards at the Curtin with Dan Luscombe April 8

After two years of having to cancel and postpone we’re making sure we get as many special shows in as we can before the catastrophic solar flare due in May.

There’s more coming for Augie soon but in the meantime a rare showing from the man himself, songwriter, producer, mixer, bathroom renovator, Glenn Richards will be playing it all at the legendary Curtin Hotel on April 8th, joined on stage by his old mate and incomparable instrumentalist Dan Luscombe.

The last show Glenn performed was headlining Hobart and Launceston’s MonaFoma which saw him in stunning form. Please show some support for the artists and this hallowed institution before it closes its doors later in the year.

This will be a beautiful, intimate night that promises to get real.

The Scent of Power

Hi. Hi.

We’ve been supplied with a vid for The Scent of Power by an anonymous VideoPad savant who clearly wasn’t happy with our output to date, and fair enough, there’s been none.

It’s an unusual visual take on a song about one-upmanship in the savage realm of xmas garden parties in Portsea, (plague edition), but copy paste artists will be copy paste artists and we’re just pleased to have some content to burn for five minutes.

Hope you don’t get doxxed and destroyed by the long, diseased arm of the oligarchy, brave preset fx champion.

The Scent of Power, lifted from the album Bloodsport & Porn.

Did you wonder at the smell in the air?

- The Good Gardener

Bloodsport & Porn :: Available to Stream

Hope you’re managing life okay despite the silly rich corrupt people doing their silly rich corrupt things to make it as uncomfortable and dangerous as possible for you.

Bloodsport and Porn aren’t just humanity’s two most noble and favourite pursuits, they are also the words that make up the name of our new album which sinks into the Lethe waters of the great stream today.

If you missed out or weren’t down with the old tech of the initial physical release it is now on you to retrieve our tiny soul and for a brief moment wrest it from all forgetting. Of course we’d prefer you buy the digital album and have it as the intended whole but you can obviously access tracks from the various charitable services and ensure that Harry Styles and Lil Nas can finally build their Diamond Submarine for the End Times, and that Ed Sheeran can get his tattoo flayed off.

It won’t make much of a difference but we do like to push the old ‘body of work’ anachronism because it irritates a guy called Drew.

Listen to The Derangement below:

Thanks to The Guardian who featured Clay within their Best New Music for January.

Glenn Richards weaves the most delicate melodies on which to drop his weighty lyrical concepts: on love, life, loss and all the other big Ls that have concerned poets for millennia. Augie March has never betrayed a sense of their own time, with ornate arrangements, antiquated language and songs that slowly unfurl as if being pedalled out through a dusty pianola roll. The result is a masterful next chapter for one of Australia’s true treasures.

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In other news, the wonderful Sally Seltmann will be joining us in Sydney and Melbourne for our forthcoming Sunset Studies Live dates. The shows will definitely be going ahead because how could you put on a massive tennis tournament in the middle of a super infectious wave but then cancel a couple of little theatre shows after it’s killed a lot of people and spent itself? I mean, how could that ever be fair?

See you in Autumn.

- The Good Gardener

Bloodsport & Porn

From 1-5 Jan 2020 we did some basic tracks at a studio in Melbourne. It all got shelved soon after for obvious reasons. Mid this year I turned it into an album of sorts in my downtime. Most of it had been pretty much in the ground as far as I was concerned but it occurred to me that in order to kill off these past couple of zombie years you fight pale fire with pale fire, like for like, so it was all eventually quite fit for re-animation. I hope you get some good out of it and have a sweet time over the holidays. Take care from all of us at AM, xG

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Album number seven - Bloodsport & Porn.

Preview "Clay” here.

Limited edition LP and CD, plus digital, available exclusively via the Augie March shop.

Streaming services to follow in mid-January.

Compliments of the season to you.

- The Good Gardener

Sunset Studies Live 2022

Everybody’s got a story for the last two years, they are mostly boring. Our boring band one began on the 1st of January 2020 when we entered a Preston studio for a few days of tracking for something or other that might still end up being something or other. We were already pretty advanced in our planning for the 20th anniversary of our naive and, as people seem to like saying of their most trivial designs these days, ‘iconic’ debut SUNSET STUDIES. Nothing trivial about that very long player though, an important record for us and for a decent number of people around the globe, and we were determined to give it a classy birthday. Then the meteor hit the nuclear reactor, they changed the BBQ Shapes formula again, and everything fell to pieces.

Two years on the idea persists, and we’re pleased to announce, free from all the nasty paperwork that would go into insurance planning or any of that ‘normal’ industry stuff, some dates for some possibly, let’s say probably, occurring SUNSET STUDIES LIVE shows. Unlike most BIG AUSTRALIAN ANNOUNCEMENTS we’re going to follow through with action if we can. Here they are:

Hope to see you in Autumn.

- The Good Gardener

Sunset Studies Live 2021 Merch

Due to the recent show cancellations, the Augie online shop is now full to the brim with our Sunset Studies Live 2021 merch.

Dave has kindly modelled a couple of items:

Hopefully we’ll be able to reschedule these shows soon, and make our way to other parts of the country. In the meantime, we encourage you to grab an item or two from the shop.

- The Good Gardener

Sunset Studies Live 2021 :: Two Weeks To Go

It's just two weeks until we'll be on stage at Melbourne Recital Centre winding our way through the inaugural Sunset Studies Live 2021 performance.

More tickets have been released for both the Wednesday 26 and Thursday 27 May performances at the MRC along with the Canberra Theatre Centre show on Friday May 28.

Here's a picture of us having a band meeting over dinner in the kitchen of iconic Melbourne cafe Pellegrini's Espresso Bar back in 1999 (vale Sisto).

The Sunset Studies Live 2021 merchandise has been finalised and is looking superb. See you in a couple of weeks.

- The Good Gardener

FIBATTY! LP now available to pre-order

The excellent folks at Heart of the Rat Records have seen fit to release my recent solo album on vinyl, which I’m pretty chuffed about. Mastered by the always spot on Joe Carra at Crystal, the tunes shine on the black stuff. Check it and all the other great releases at HOTR.

The FIBATTY! LP stock is expected to arrive in late-July.

xg

PS. With venues given the ok to go full capacity, we’ve opened up a good number of new tix for the Melbourne Recital Centre Sunset Studies gigs, get in quick.

Sunset Studies Live 2021 :: Canberra Show

“When will Augie ever get their act together and come to Canberra with their Sunset Studies Anniversary show?”

Well Mr Speaker, we very much reject the premise of that question but let us say, Mr Speaker, that we are very comfortable, Mr Speaker, that the question in question has been, Mr Speaker, comfortably answered previously and that while the promised date of the performance, Mr Speaker, may have shifted somewhat, in no way have the people been misled and indeed we are uh, thank you Mr Speaker, quite confident of delivering the full dose of ‘that thing to cure what ails ya’ to the righteous people of Canberra on the 28th day of the month of May, and let it be made clear Mr Speaker, we are not that variety of miscreant who would always over promise and then chronically under deliver, Mr Speaker, we will give a good showing and the ordinary Australians of the great Capital of this great land will get full value for their hard earned. Thank you Mr Speaker.

The two Melbourne Recital Centre shows in late May are selling well. Final tickets:

- The Good Gardener

Sunset Studies Live 2021

“Our favourite sons, our polished metal guns, plagues, mermaids, setting suns...”

Indeed. In the last several months while you’ve been impatiently waiting for us to finally put on this blasted spectacular, these conveniently rhyming prophecies have again justified their point zero three cents a play. Our feted sons of privilege just can’t keep their little guns holstered, the women of our absurd island colony may as well be screaming underwater, and while grandma and grandpa can’t get a jab or two to fix the loogie our recovery’s a gas, solar panels are a tax, and coal is an own goal with a side of corporate welfare for giggles. Apologies from us for the Giggus Interruptus but what a show they’ve put on in our stead! I want a refund.

Our first born turned 21 in the meantime and got black out drunk on its own, last memory was of googling itself and falling out of the charts all over again. But have some sympathy, for lockdown is hard on everybody and especially the young, good looking, and talented, and don’t they let you know it! While other acts are adopting influencer tactics to win hearts and minds, however, we remain stubbornly of the under the influencer type. So be it. Sweet mercy then, the circus is spiralling back into town, no more deep faking it, destination the Melbourne Recital Centre for two nights, May 26 & 27. Never done before to our knowledge, Sunset Studies complete, brought to you by your faithful, hard slogging, soothsaying servants, Augie March. Early subscribers get a free sample of NutriLube Eye and Other Youngener.

Released in October 2000, Sunset Studies was the first long player from Augie March. After two EPs and several years intensive gigging around Australia, the band had built a burgeoning audience primed for a debut album that would earn respect as one of the most expansive, ambitious and literate Australian musical releases.

The album went gold, it remains a favourite of an unusually diverse population across the planet, and is regularly named as enormously influential. Songs such as Asleep In Perfection, There Is No Such Place, The Hole In Your Roof and Here Comes The Night have all become cult anthems. Sunset Studies was launched at a legendary show at Melbourne's Athenaeum Theatre. Since that time Augie March has released five more acclaimed albums (with more to come!) and garnered a reputation as one of Australia's most unique and engaging live acts.

Augie March is dusting off this classic album and performing it live in full for the very first time at Melbourne Recital Centre on Wednesday 26 May and Thursday 27 May 2021.

Pre-sale tickets available via the button. The promo code is: SUNSET

At this stage, there are no plans for Sunset Studies Live 2021 to tour outside of Melbourne.

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And finally, fresh off the Augie March acetate production bench comes the emerald green instalment of Sunset Studies coloured vinyl series. This limited edition pressing is in stock and available to order.

- The Good Gardener

Sunset Studies Emerald Green Coloured Vinyl

Last year we released a limited pressing of our debut album on beautiful rose coloured vinyl. The final few copies recently found homes.

2021 marks the 21st anniversary of the release of Sunset Studies. To commemorate the occasion, we have pressed up a limited quantity of the album in a new colour - translucent emerald green - packaged in a gatefold sleeve. It's available to pre-order now.

This new edition of Sunset Studies is due to be released on March 26, 2021.

News on Sunset Studies Live 2021 shows coming soon.

- The Good Gardener

The Forum Melbourne, March 13, 2021

Enjoyed getting down to the filthy dna of some of my tunes at recent Monafoma shows. And enjoyed being yelled at by strangers knowing I had a good chance of a solid crew member getting between us. You don’t have that in day to day life. I’m playing with my excellent friend, pure artist, Jae Laffer, at The Forum on March 13. I’ll be going over everything I’ve done and reminding myself and yourselves of what it’s really about. It’s weird now, come and figure some things out with me. G.R.

On The Quiet: Live :: Now on Streaming Services

From today, On The Quiet: Live is available via streaming services and digital outlets.

And on that note...

Augie March presents On The Quiet: Live (Deluxe: Songs and Stories).

This digital-only release contains the whole box and dice - the complete 15 song set plus all the nonsense in between.

Discussions about the chosen setlist, merchandise stuff-ups, the range of Adam’s voice, why a $5 note appears by the front of the stage in the middle of 'The Third Drink', and occasional polite interruptions from the audience prompting Glenn with forgotten lyrics.

The best Augie March shows are equal parts serious and absurd, respect and irreverence.

You’ll find generous helpings of all four of these magical gig ingredients in this set. Come for the tunes, stay for the sparkling repartee.

Have a listen via Spotify or your preferred streaming service.

And of course, On The Quiet: Live is available on CD, digital and 2LP via our shop.

The double LP is currently being manufactured and will ship from April.

On another note...we are down to the last 10 copies of Sunset Studies rose coloured 2LP. If you're still contemplating, this could be your last chance.

- The Good Gardener