We are catatonic with excitement at being able to bring you an exclusive look at the new video from Kim Salmon’s new project Smoked Salmon for their first single ‘How Did They Ever Manage’. Kim Salmon of course needs no introduction, but, as is always the way, I will anyway: leader of the legendary swamp pioneers The Scientists (who reformed last year for a series of gigs) and The Beasts of Bourbon, he has been at the very beating heart of indie music in Australia and leading the world with the paisley-tinged grunge that emanated from Western Australia in the eighties: a true pioneer and often labelled as the ‘Godfather of Grunge’.
I last saw Salmon earlier this year supporting Kid Congo and the Pink Monkey Birds where I reported that he gave a mesmerising performance aided by loopers, his sartorial splendour and enigmatic presence
Accompanied by an international cast in Smoked Salmon (first formed and named in honour of charity work Salmon did during the devastating Australian bushfires in 2020), Salmon’s ‘How Did They Ever Manage’ is an incredibly satisfying wry and visceral slice of grunge pop that slices and dices the febrile air with its glam stomp and sardonic pop delivery. It’s excoriating and vital, slightly chaotic with a buzzsaw spine and a pulse.
The new video, produced by Benny J Ward, is threaded with the same sense of irreverent humour with its cartoonish colouring and Salmon, resplendent in a lab coat is backed by a bunch of talented Salmons, disguised and revealed from the Melbourne chapter. Salmon postures and preens and lectures with his typical enigmatic presence and wild demeanour. Harking back to the name one of Salmon’s previous outfits – the video is slightly surreal and deliciously absurd. It’s a bag full of fun as Salmon poses an important question about the dealing vicissitudes of life:
‘How Did They Ever Manager’ is out now through the inimitable Cheersquad Records & Tapes and available to stream and download here and through the link below:
Smoked Salmon will be serving up an album of work in the near future and have a national Australian tour planned for October – details and tickets below.
Fri Oct 11 – George Lane, St Kilda – Tix
Sun Oct 13 – Wheatsheaf, Adelaide – Tix
Sat Oct 19 – Bearded Lady, Brisbane – Tix
Thu Oct 24 – Tanswells, Beechworth – Tix
Fri Oct 25 – Smiths, Canberra – Tix
Sat Oct 26 – Django @ Camelot, Sydney – Tix
Sun Oct 27 – Frank’s Wild Years, Thirroul – Tix
Fri Nov 1 – Hybrid Wave House, Fremantle (“In conversation with Kim Salmon” appearance) – Tix
Sat Nov 2 – Lyrics, Perth – Tix
Sun Nov 3 – Fremantle Arts Centre, Fremantle (Free Entry)
Sat Nov 9 – Merri Creek Tavern, Melbourne – Tix
