IMC Presents ...
RATCAT 'This Nightmare'
+ Special Guests RICHIE WEED (from Tumbleweed with full band)
Crowbar Sydney (Leichhardt, NSW)
Saturday, 3 August 2024 7:30 pm
RATCAT
Celebrating 'This Nightmare'
1989 - 2024
1989 - the year of 'Batman', 'Dead Poets Society' & 'Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure', Nirvana's 'Bleach' and the
debut album 'This Nightmare' by then indie pop punk favourites, RATCAT. Influenced by pop art and splatter comic culture, then art
student Simon Day along with uni student mates, drummer Andrew Polin and bassist John McAteer had been performing
irregularly across (then) many pub, club & university stages including the odd (& often unruly) however memorable harbour cruise events.
At the time, having already released a mini album and a handful of singles, Ratcat had amassed a large & dedicated following comprising
a unified punk, goth, indie & at times, skinhead and mod tribes prevalent at the time. Scoring the #10 position in RAM magazine's 'Best New Group'
national readers poll in 1988 included #1 indie chart positions via JUKE magazine - alongside of similar within local indie charts from a then thriving
national street press - a young Ratcat were then motivated to head in to the studio to record their self financed debut album 'This Nightmare' at a total budget of $1800.00
and released via the legendary independent, Waterfront Records. Produced by the band together with engineer, John Hresc & featuring additional guest
vocals by close friend, Robyn St. Clare of The Hummingirds, the album was completed with cover design and art by lead member, Simon Day
(reflecting his love of underground comic culture). Inspired by love, death, humour and discordant melody, the album was released in July 1989
immediately scoring rotation courtesy of lead track 'Go Go' via every major public broadcaster at the time , and as luck would have it, unintentionally timed just prior to
Triple J's national launch (October 1989) - Triple J & it's respective DJ's at the time having been a huge supporter of the album. Needless to
say, 'This Nightmare' topped indie album charts nationwide becoming a readers poll winner for favourite album releases of 1989.
Thereafter, with a video release for the track 'The Killing Joke' (directed by then & future collaborator Lee Rogers) what would follow included sold out
local and interstate headline shows including touring with long time musical influences & icons, The Cramps, The Ramones, Buzzcocks, Public Image Ltd & more.
Although a heady & unforgettable chapter & period significant to the story of their future success, fast forward to 2024 and RATCAT 'rewind' the clock to
celebrate the release anniversary of 'This Nightmare' returning as close as possible to where they first launched the album - as well as replicating the
era in true pub rock style with a one off strictly limited capacity show happening Saturday August 3rd at The Crowbar, Sydney and with
very special guest & old pal, Tumbleweed's RICHIE WEED and his band who, btw, have just released an excellent new album 'Strays'
Tickets on sale Thursday June 20th at 12.00midday from Oztix
Celebrating 'This Nightmare'
1989 - 2024
1989 - the year of 'Batman', 'Dead Poets Society' & 'Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure', Nirvana's 'Bleach' and the
debut album 'This Nightmare' by then indie pop punk favourites, RATCAT. Influenced by pop art and splatter comic culture, then art
student Simon Day along with uni student mates, drummer Andrew Polin and bassist John McAteer had been performing
irregularly across (then) many pub, club & university stages including the odd (& often unruly) however memorable harbour cruise events.
At the time, having already released a mini album and a handful of singles, Ratcat had amassed a large & dedicated following comprising
a unified punk, goth, indie & at times, skinhead and mod tribes prevalent at the time. Scoring the #10 position in RAM magazine's 'Best New Group'
national readers poll in 1988 included #1 indie chart positions via JUKE magazine - alongside of similar within local indie charts from a then thriving
national street press - a young Ratcat were then motivated to head in to the studio to record their self financed debut album 'This Nightmare' at a total budget of $1800.00
and released via the legendary independent, Waterfront Records. Produced by the band together with engineer, John Hresc & featuring additional guest
vocals by close friend, Robyn St. Clare of The Hummingirds, the album was completed with cover design and art by lead member, Simon Day
(reflecting his love of underground comic culture). Inspired by love, death, humour and discordant melody, the album was released in July 1989
immediately scoring rotation courtesy of lead track 'Go Go' via every major public broadcaster at the time , and as luck would have it, unintentionally timed just prior to
Triple J's national launch (October 1989) - Triple J & it's respective DJ's at the time having been a huge supporter of the album. Needless to
say, 'This Nightmare' topped indie album charts nationwide becoming a readers poll winner for favourite album releases of 1989.
Thereafter, with a video release for the track 'The Killing Joke' (directed by then & future collaborator Lee Rogers) what would follow included sold out
local and interstate headline shows including touring with long time musical influences & icons, The Cramps, The Ramones, Buzzcocks, Public Image Ltd & more.
Although a heady & unforgettable chapter & period significant to the story of their future success, fast forward to 2024 and RATCAT 'rewind' the clock to
celebrate the release anniversary of 'This Nightmare' returning as close as possible to where they first launched the album - as well as replicating the
era in true pub rock style with a one off strictly limited capacity show happening Saturday August 3rd at The Crowbar, Sydney and with
very special guest & old pal, Tumbleweed's RICHIE WEED and his band who, btw, have just released an excellent new album 'Strays'
Tickets on sale Thursday June 20th at 12.00midday from Oztix