BLACK MARKET CLASH + ATOMIC: THE SONGS OF BLONDIE

Location: Sooki Lounge, 1648 Burwood Hwy, Belgrave, VIC.

Atomic: The Songs Of Blondie – 4:30pm – 5:45pm
Black Market Clash – 6:15pm – 7:45pm

BLACK MARKET CLASH + ATOMIC: THE SONGS OF BLONDIE

Two bands. One night. A shared lineup diving deep into the music that shaped punk new wave and everything that came after.

Atomic opens the night with a set drawn from Blondie’s remarkably varied catalogue, tracing their path from New York’s underground to international stages. With a balance of urgency and finesse, the performance moves from early stripped-back tracks through to their more polished and exploratory work.

Led by Anthea Palmer, the band features Stu Thomas (Dave Graney & The MistLY, Kim Salmon & The Surrealists), Mike Dupp (The Methinks, The Futurists), Victor Stranges (The Methinks, The Futurists), and Garry Allen (Crossbones Boogie, Kahuna Daddies) – musicians who approach the material with attention to tone and feel rather than imitation.

Black Market Clash follows with a set that reflects the range and ambition of The Clash’s output – from direct punk statements from the band’s 1977 debut album, ’The Clash’ and ‘Give ‘Em Enough Rope’ (1978) to more expansive, genre-shifting compositions on ‘London Calling’ (1979), ‘Sandinista!’ (1980) and ‘Combat Rock’ (1982).

Victor Stranges and Garry Allen take on the roles of Strummer and Jones with measured interplay, while Stu Thomas provides a grounded and expressive low end, stepping forward for a vocal lead on ‘The Guns of Brixton’. Mike Dupp brings depth with organ and keys, and Gian Cannizzaro (Chloe Booth) draws on Topper Headon’s musicality with thoughtful precision behind the kit.

This is not a greatest hits revue, but a respectful homage to two bands whose music continues to resonate – played by musicians who grew up with it and now carry it forward with intent.