X-Press Magazine

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X-Press – First on the street, Wednesdays

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X-Press – First on the street, Wednesdays

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X-Press – First on the street, Wednesdays

GET YOUR ROCKS OFF

Primal Scream

UK psychedelia legends Primal Scream are getting primed to descend on our shores this year armed with old tracks, fan favourites and songs from their upcoming album. After the success of 2011’s tour of the group’s legendary ‘90s Screamadelica album, we can assure you that the Scream, despite heading into their fourth decade of rockin’, are still at the top of their game.

The group experienced a lineup change this year when long-time bassist Mani left to re-form The Stone Roses, replacing him with revered My Bloody Valentine bassist, Debbie Googe. But never fear, they are still prepared to bring you all the passion, energy and electro-rock goodness that they are renowned for. You can get you rocks off to Primal Scream at the Astor Theatre on Tuesday, December 11, with tickets through showticketing.com.au.

Chris Bailey, The Saints

A HEAVENLY RIDE

Stephen Merchant

Having spent the last year and a half playing truant - as the rhythm section in a French band – iconic rockers The Saints are set to dust off their halos, with brand new album King Of The Sun due for release on Monday, September 24. Fans of the legendary outfit will be able to hear the new tunes live and in the flesh when the band touch down at the Fly

By Night on Friday, November 30, for a longawaited live show. Tickets go on sale from 9am on Friday, September 7, through Ticketmaster or flybynight.org.

OUT OF THE OFFICE

Stepping out of the shadow of Ricky Gervais, British comedian Stephen Merchant is bringing his firstever stand-up tour to Australia. The Emmy, BAFTA and Golden Globe award-winning co-creator of smash hit television series The Office and Extras will perform his Stephen Merchant Live: Hello Ladies show at the Astor Theatre on Wednesday, December 5, and Thursday, December 6. Tickets go on sale this Thursday, August 30, via livenation.com.au.

BRUTE FORCE

Psycroptic, here this weekend

DEATH TO WA

Tasmanian death metal supremos, Psycroptic, a r e b a c k o n t h e d i r t r o a d, t o u r i n g i n support of their current album, The Inherited Repression. They let the hard times roll in WA this week on Friday August 31, at Amplifier; Saturday, September 1, at Elliot St Bar, Bunbury and Sunday, September 2, at the Newport Hotel.

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Reactions/ Comp

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Flesh

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Music: Sugar Army

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Music: Delta Spirit/ Mystery Jets

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Music: Illy/ The Smith Street Band

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Music: The Rubens/ Howard Jones

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Music: The Gaslight Anthem

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New Noise

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Eye4 Cover: The Bank Holidays

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Fashionista, photography by Toni Wilkinson

SNAPS IN THE CITY

Prominent local photographers Toni Wilkinson (formerly of X-Press Magazine) and Juha Tolonen have been commissioned to complete the second City of Perth Photographic Commissions.

Capturing the essence of our city at a moment in time, their images hint at the unique elements and subcultures of Perth while identifying people and places as part of a broader global picture.

Wilkinson’s series Floreat 2012 and Tolonen’s series The Middle Kingdom will be exhibited at the Council House Foyer (on 27 St George’s Terrace) from Monday, September 17, ‘til Friday, November 30. Entry is free, and the exhibition is open weekdays from 8.30am ‘til 5pm.

Pyschonaut

Even those who aren’t overly familiar with the substrains of the metal genre are sure to be impressed by ferocious displays of playing technique on display from local metal and punk heavyweights Pyschonaut, Mhorgl, Memoria, Goat, Thaddaeus, Helta Skelta, Warthreat, The Shakeys, Negative Reinforcement and Creature who are set to take over the Rosemount Hotel on Friday, September 21, for the RTR FM presented Something Brutal. DJs HEXX, Deryk Thomas, Sandy, Renfield and Scott Williams will be supplying the sound worship between the short, fast, loud sets. Tickets are $10 for RTR subscribers ($15 for non-subscribers) and available now from rtrfm.com.au.

Eye4 News/ Movies: Moonrise Kingdom/ Israeli Film Festival

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Eye4 Movies: Love/ Music: This Is Nowhere

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Eye4 Arts Listings

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Eye4 Art Stories

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Eye4 Lifestyle

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Salt Cover: Urthboy

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Salt: Cover Story/ Fred Everything/ News/

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Salt: Flume/ John Course/ Club Scene

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Salt: Club Manual/ Scenery/ Testpad

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Scene: Live

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Scene: Pub Scene/ Pub Blurbs

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Scene: Local

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Tour Trails

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Gig Guide

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Volume

Zomboy

Cover: Sugar Army release their sophomore record Summertime Heavy through Permanent Records/ Shock Records next Friday, September 7 Salt Cover: Urthboy plays The Rosemount next Saturday, September 8, at part of his Naïve Bravado Tour www.xpressmag.com.au

The Hoff

HOFFICIALLY AWESOME

That’s right, folks, the rumours are true. The man with the tan, the legendary Hoff, wants you to jump in his car. Or at least jump in your own car and head to his show, because he’s heading down under to woo you all with his musical prowess. 60 year-old David Hasselhoff has remained in the public eye for almost four decades; you may know him from such places as your television – saving babes in Baywatch and fighting bad guys in Knight Rider – musicals such as Chicago and The Producers, or possibly from HoffSpace – his own social networking site, which we’re sure you’re all a part of.

So put on your Hoff shirts and spend An Evening With The Hoff at Capitol on Sunday, February 17 – tickets through Oztix now. We really hope he brings his swimsuit.

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with Melissa Erpen... Send your name, address and daytime phone number to win@xpressmag.com.au with the name of the competition in the subject line or enter online at www.xpressmag.com.au. Snail mail entries can be sent to Locked Bag 31, West Perth 6872. Entries close 4pm Monday.

By entering you agree to X-Press Magazine’s Terms & Conditions which can be found online. All competition entries will automatically enable you to become an X-Press subscriber! No details will be given to a third party.

Print and Digital Editions Publisher/Manager Joe Cipriani Editorial

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Managing Editor Bob Gordon: editor@xpressmag.com.au Arts & Fashion Editor Emma Bergmeier: artsfashion@xpressmag.com.au Dance Music & Features Editor Annabel Maclean: danceeditor@xpressmag.com.au Staff Writer Jennifer Peterson-Ward: localmusic@xpressmag.com.au Gig & Event Guides Co-ordinator Melissa Erpen - guide@xpressmag.com.au Entertainment Services Co-ordinator / Competitions Melissa Erpen - win@xpressmag.com.au Photography Callum Ponton, Stefan Caramia, Daniel Grant, Sammy Granville, Matt Jelonek, Denis Radacic Contributing Writers Henry Andersen, Ashleigh Whyte, Nina Bertok, Shaun Cowe, Derek Cromb, Chris Gibbs, Alfred Gorman, George Green, Alex Griffin, Chris Havercroft, Joshua Hayes, Brendan Holben, Coral Huckstep, Travis Johnson, Rezo Kezerashvili,Tara Lloyd, Adam Morris, Andrew Nelson, Chloe Papas, Daniel Parkinson, Tom Varian, Ben Watson, Jessica Willoughby For band gigs and launches - plugyourgig@xpressmag.com.au

Advertising

TOTAL RECALL

A factory worker, Douglas Quaid begins to suspect that he is a spy after visiting Recall - a company that provides its clients with implanted fake memories of a life they would like to have led - goes wrong and he finds himself on the run. Starring Colin Farrell, Bokeem Woodbine and Bryan Cranston, this blockbuster will have you on the edge of your seat. Enter now to win an in season double pass.

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Sales and Marketing Manager Sue Blackwell - advertising@xpressmag.com.au Online Marketing Sue Blackwell - advertising@xpressmag.com.au Music Services / Musical Equipment / Bands / Record Labels Des Richardson - musicservices@xpressmag.com.au Entertainment Venues / Live and Dance Music Promoters Luke Andrioff - entertainment@xpressmag.com.au Agency / Movies / Education / Sponsorship Sue Blackwell - advertising@xpressmag.com.au Arts / Fashion / Lifestyle Alia Bannani - eye4@xpressmag.com.au Classifieds Linage Melissa Erpen - classifieds@xpressmag.com.au

Production

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Production Co-ordinator Ruth Tyndall

Total Recall

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Art Director Dwight O’Neil

Hit & Run

HIT & RUN

Written, produced and directed by comic talent Dax Shepard (NBC’s Parenthood), Hit & Run is the story of Charlie Bronson, a former getaway driver who busts out of the Witness Protection program to drive his girlfriend to Los Angeles so she can land her dream job. Their road trip grows awkwardly complicated when they are chased by the feds, and increasingly dangerous, when Charlie’s former gang of criminals enter the fray.

Want to win a double pass? Get in now as we have 10 up for grabs.

art@xpressmag.com.au Brooke Gerrick, Andy Quilty, Anthony Jackson Rural Press Printing Mandurah

Administration

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Distribution Distribution

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CAB AUDITED CIRCULATION: 38,000 OCTOBER 2011 – MARCH 2012

Deadlines EDITORIAL General: Friday 5pm,, Eye4 Arts: Thursday 10am, Comp’ Thing: Monday Noon,, Salt Clubs: Monday 5pm , Local Scene: Monday Noon,, Gig Guide: Monday 5pm ADVERTISING Cancellations: Monday 5pm, Ads to be set: Monday Noon Supplied Bookings / Copy: Tuesday 12 Noon, Classifieds: Monday 4pm Published by: Columbia Press Pty.Ltd. A.C.N. 066 570 803 Registered by Australia Post. Publication No PP600110.00006 Suite 73/102 Railway Parade, City West Business Centre, West Perth, WA 6005 Locked Bag 31, West Perth, WA 6872 Phone: (08) 9213 2888 Fax: (08) 9213 2882 Website: http://www.xpressmag.com.au

WARRANTY AND INDEMNITY

Advertisers and/or their agents by lodging an advertisment shall indemnify the publisher, and its agents, against all liability claims or proceedings whatsoever arising from the publication. Advertisers and/or their representatives indemnify the publisher in relation to defamation, slander, breach of copyright, infringement of trademarks of name of publication titles, unfair competition or trade practices, royalties or violation of rights or privacy and warrant that the material complies with revelant laws and regulations and that its publication will not give rise to any rights against or liabilities in the publisher, its servants or agents. Any material supplied to X-Press is at the contributor’s risk.

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MONSIEUR LAZHAR

At a Montréal public grade school, an Algerian immigrant is hired to replace a popular teacher who committed suicide in her classroom. While helping his students deal with their grief, his own recent loss is revealed. We have five double passes to see this film up for the taking so enter now to be in the running!

101 ULTIMATE BEER SONGS

Design + Production Printing

CHECK OUT WWW.XPRESSMAG.COM.AU AND SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER ONLINE FOR LOADS MORE EXCLUSIVE COMPS!

MEET MARKET SPRING FLING

Are you single and ready to mingle? If so, The Meet Market’s Spring Fling is the perfect event for you.

Taking place at The Byrneleigh Hotel, Nedlands on Saturday September 1, the night will launch Perth’s newest and most sophisticated singles party and is guaranteed to be a great night out. Tickets are $50 from themeetmarket.com.au and this includes entry, large assortment of canapés, substantial allocation of beer, wine and champagne, entertainment and a Meet Market goodie bag! We have two double passes up for grabs so enter now for your chance to win tickets and the possibility of meeting the partner of your dreams!

UNCOVERED VOL. 4

Ministry of Sound present the latest edition in their iconic Uncovered compilation series, Uncovered vol. 4. Forty musical moments in an aural recreation of groove and melody, Uncovered vol. 4 is a lesson in escapism - a truly unique collection of cool covers, stripped-back ballads and electronic compositions spread across two discs. Carole King, Daft Punk, The XX, Drake and Rihanna, Depeche Mode, Donna Summer amongst many others to be recreated on this irresistibly intelligent masterwork spanning soul, rock, funk, electronica and all genres in between.

We have five CDs to giveaway so get in now for your chance to win.

Nelson Twins Play Wild West Comedy Fest

WILD WEST COMEDY FESTIVAL

Wild West Comedy Festival will be showcasing a wide range of comedic talent from August 22 to September 2 throughout venues in Northbridge.

We have double passes to Belowsky’s ‘Stay Greasy’ on Wednesday, August 29 at Rosey O’Grady’s, Nelson Twins on Saturday, September 1, at The Empyrean Theatre and The Secret Diary of a Drag Queen with Panache at Rosey O’Grady’s on Saturday, September 1. Enter now for your chance to win tickets and a night of belly laughs!

MULTIVERSE

A journey through lush electronic grooves, sunny progressive vibes and classy peak-time anthems, Jaytech’s second album Multiverse is the sound of an artist broadening his scope and moving on to the main stage. We have five copies of this highly anticipated album to giveaway so get in now for your chance to win.

101 of the best beer songs on five CDs is now available at all leading music stores for less than a slab! Featuring Jimmy Barnes, ZZ Top, Alice Cooper, Faith No More, Pat Benatar, Blondie, Billy Idol and many more, this compilation is definitely a party starter! Get your entries in now as we have five copies of 101 Ultimate Beer Songs up for grabs.

Reggae Rising ft Gramps Morgan

REGGAE RISING

Get your entries in now for your chance to win a double pass to Reggae Rising at The Bakery on Sunday, September 2! The night will feature Gramps Morgan, Jahmoko, General Justice, The Empressions, Super Bros and many more acts throwing down solid grooves all night long. This is an event not to be missed so get in now to avoid disappointment.

What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas…

Unless you’re Prince Harry! We asked our FB friends what they thought about the latest royal scandal.

Justine Party on.... but shut the blinds, will ya? We don’t need to see you in the raw. You know the cameras are just WAITING for a slip-up like this!

Chris I think everyone should get over it, he’s a normal 20 something lad. Living the life on his break from risking his life for his country, enough said.

Paul Could not give a fuck what that little ginger twat is up to.

Hel Who cares? It doesn’t impact us and there are way more important news articles.

Richo Does anyone remember that time there was war in the Middle East?

Brooke He should get his delicious rang rig out more often.

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X-Press – First on the street, Wednesdays

KING OF THE CAMPUS

Hopeless

The WA Semi Finals of this year’s National Campus Band Competition are approaching quickly, with heats set to go down on Sunday, September 2, Monday, September 3, and Tuesday, September 4, at Ya Ya’s. Seventeen bands from Curtin, UWA, ECU and Murdoch will be battling it out for a place in the finals which will run on Friday, September 14, at the Rosemount Hotel.

HOLDING OUT HOPE

Alestorm

YOU’RE ON CANDID CAMERA

Having plundered the world mercilessly on the back of their Back Through Time album, Alestorm are sailing their way through the seas of time, to their favourite place on the planet with one last mission in mind – the filming of their very first live DVD! Director Tommy Jones (who has previously worked with the likes of Lamb Of God, Soilwork and Kataklysm) will be filming the entire Australian/NZ tour to catch all the craziness, all the debauchery, all the tomfoolery and all the heroic drinking shenanigans. Every single Australian metal fan is invited to be part of this world exclusive, so grab your mates and haul yourselves down to Amplifier on Thursday, January 22, 2013.

Tickets go on sale from Tuesday, September 4, from Moshtix and 78 Records.

Melbourne dudes Hopeless are gearing up to bring their heavy brand of hardcore to Perth in September, and will be playing both an over-18’s and an all-ages show. After touring throughout Australia and Europe last year, Hopeless kept a pretty low public profile throughout the beginning of this year, particularly after vocalist Brett Sutton parted ways with the group in May. However, don’t give up hope, because the five-piece are back with vocalist Mark Bawden of Break Even fame, who will be putting a fresh spin on both the writing process and their live performances.

Check out Hopeless at Amplifier on Friday, September 21, and HQ Leederville on Sunday, September 23. Supports are still to be announced.

The ReChords

RUMBLE IN THE CITY

Blue King Brown

RIPE FOR THE PICKING

Set to take place outdoors in the beautiful surrounds of the Fremantle Arts Centre, All Fruits Ripe is Perth’s newest reggae jam set to take place on Saturday, October 27. Featuring the talents of Jamaican ensemble The Original Wailers – whose mission it is to keep the memory and spirit of Bob Marley himself alive – as well as rising New Zealand stars Tomorrow People and much-loved roots outfit Blue King Brown, the ingredients are here for what will be a special spring evening filled with great music, good times and a vibe to match. This is one evening of positive vibrations that can’t be missed! Pre-sale tickets are $64 +BF through Oztix.

Those crazy gals from HMS PopUp Productions, who brought you the spectacular, sell-out Summer Swing Smackdown in early 2012 and the critically acclaimed sell-out A Saucy Little Secret just a few short weeks ago are bringing Perth a full-day, full-on festival in the Perth State Theatre Underground on Saturday, September 29.

Fourteen bands (seven home grown - The Continentals, The Waltones, The Crawdads and Johnny Law And The Pistol Packin’ Daddies, The Crawdads, Mama Red’s Malt Licker Minstrels, Bang Bang Betty & the H-Bombs and The Vibrolators with Peta Lee – and seven interlopers from the east – including The Sin & Tonics, The ReChords, Hank’s Jalopy Demons, Scotty Baker, Kieron McDonald, Lady Voodoo And The Rituals and The Pat Capocci Combo) will play off against each other, song for song, across two stages, alternating tunes in a fast paced underground rumble.

The Rumble In The Underground festival will also feature a wealth of home grown talent – local fashion, art and accessories stalls, a DIY fashion show, a rockabilly photography competition, retro bike show, burlesque and rockabilly dancers and much, much more. Early bird tickets are on sale now for $99 (until the end of August) or $120 thereafter from BOCS.

A MATTER OF BUSK

Bow Wow

BOW WOW IN THE HOUSE

Bow Wow is coming to town. Known for his big hit Bow Wow (That’s My Name) and dropping serious rhymes back in the early noughties, Bob Wow dropped the ‘Lil from his name and went on to star in a bunch of movies and make guest appearances on TV shows Ugly Betty, Smallville and Entourage amongst others. Now signed to Ca$h Money Records, he’ll be bringing his fresh beats from his seventh studio record, Underrated.

Bow Wow plays Capitol on Wednesday, September 12. Tickets are on sale now from Oztix. Get on it, yippee yay!

JUMP ON THE WAGON

Pull up your socks and put your punk gear on, ‘cause Lagwagon are bringing the party to a pub near you. After over two decades of on-again off-again, the punk-rock veterans are like those friends you just can’t get rid of at the dinner party – drinking all the beer and trashing your living room. Embrace the hangover and get on the wagon, because the Californian dudes are set to bring you tunes from the past and present, showing off their crazy-huge back catalogue.

Coming along for the ride are much loved rockers The Smith Street Band. It’ll all be going down in Bunbury on Wednesday, December 5, at the Prince of Wales, and in Perth on Thursday, December 6, at The Rosemount. Tickets available through Heatseeker and Oztix. www.xpressmag.com.au

If you’re a busker and you want to showcase your talents, Coventry Square have engaged RTR FM to run a series of performance audition heats during September, followed by a final performance at which the top performing busker will win a three month paid contract with the Morley venue. The first of four weekly heats is on Saturday, September 1, from 10am at Coventry Square’s central piazza area with professional audio and staging provided. The competition is open to individual singers and musicians of any age. Budding buskers can register through RTR FM by emailing comp@rtrfm.com.au or phoning (08) 9260 9200 during business hours.

Lucas Jones (photo by Dan Grant)

THE FINAL COUNTDOWN

Prita Grealy

PASSPORT TO PERTH

After supporting the likes of Simply Red and Marcia Hines and touring Germany, Denmark, Holland and the UK for the last six months, unique chanteuse Prita Grealy is heading back home with her much anticipated Postcards From Europe tour. Grealy brings her soulful live show to WA for six massive shows – at the Mundaring Hotel on Friday, August 31; Clancy’s Fish Pub in Fremantle (with beguiling singer/songwriter Jade Diary) on Saturday, September 1; Swings & Roundabouts Winery in Yallingup on Sunday, September 2; the Divers’ Tavern in Broome on Sunday, September 9; the Ellington Jazz Club on Thursday, September 13; and the Indi Bar (with local roots aficionado Toby) on Saturday, September 15.

After 79 entries and three exceptional heats that showcased 15 talented local acts, five finalists have progressed through to the AmpFest final showcase, which will take place on Friday, September 7, at The Regal Theatre. 19-year-old singer/songwriter Lucas Jones will face-off with dynamic indie-rock two-piece Dead Owls, quirky folk/pop ensemble Bears And Dolls and wildcard entries From The Dunes and New Animals for more than $15,000 worth of prizes.

The evening will feature a headline performance from pop/jazz/hip-hop collective Brow Horn Orchestra. Entry is free for music lovers of all ages, with proceedings set to kick off from 6pm.

FINALLY FREE

Due to Visa delays, cult rock icon Barry Adamson’s 2012 I Will Set You Free Australian tour was postponed earlier in the year, however a new date has been announced for Sunday, September 9, at the Fly By Night Club. Pre-sale tickets are $43.50 +BF and available now from flybynight.org or by calling (08) 9430 5976.

CALLING ALL ARTISANS

Following the great success of the specialised craftsman displays at last year’s Perth Heritage Days, in 2012 the Cultural Centre will become home to the Artisan’s Alley on Saturday, November 17, and Sunday, November 18. Heritage Perth is extending an invitation to all tradesmen with specialised skills who may be interested to host a working display across the two day event. If you’re a wood turner, a joiner, any relevant artisan or craftsperson keen to demonstrate your skills there is no cost to participate, other than the your own materials and time. For more info hit up heritageperth.com.

BLUES BROTHERS

Newcastle five-piece Benjalu are bringing their bluesy vibes west in December on their mammoth 36 date tour. After dominating the folk festival scene and scoring a bunch of massive support slots (Ash Grunwald, Kate Miller-Heidke) over the past few years, Benjalu have become well known for their compelling live shows and infectious on-stage energy. With three EPs under their belts already, the group are releasing their fourth, Way To The Coast, just before they head out on tour in September.

Benjalu will be hitting our side of the country at the end of the year, starting off at the Indi Bar on Thursday, December 6, heading to Clancy’s in Freo on Friday, December 7, The Bird on Saturday, December 8 and finishing up at Clancy’s in Dunsborough on Sunday, December 9.

Karma County

KARMIC INTERVENTION

After missing out for eight years, Perth will finally be getting a visit from Aussie legends Karma County for a one-off, one night only tour – because, well, why not? Formed in 1995, the trio have been in the scene a long time; whether it be on the forefront releasing records and touring, or hanging in the background to pursue other endeavours, you can count on Karma County to have something in the works. This year it’s a two date coast to coast tour, one in Sydney and one in Perth at Clancy’s Pub in Fremantle. The trio will be bringing along keys player Stu Hunter for what is sure to be a great show at Clancy’s on Thursday, November 1.

ARCADE FIRES

To say that Sydney quintet Deep Sea Arcade have had a great year would be an understatement.

With monumental international success from new record Outlands, a sold-out national tour, and plans to head over to the UK and Europe, it’s been a damn good ride. But, the boys seem to show no signs of slowing down, and will be heading back to Perth in November for their Granite City tour before holing up in the recording studio to smash out some more tracks for our eager ears.

The band will be bringing along fellow Sydney rockers The Preatures for the ride, who are sure to bring something a little different with their ‘60s-inspired bluesy rock. The tour will head to Perth for one night only, so don’t miss out on seeing Deep Sea Arcade – get down to The Rosemount on Friday, November 23. Tickets available now through Moshtix.

POP PRINCESSES UNITE

Melbourne singer/songwriter Kate Alexa will be joining pop icon Martika on her Australian tour dates throughout September and October, which includes a WA show on Thursday, October 4, at Metropolis Fremantle. Tickets are available from Moshtix, Oztix or by calling 1300 438 849.

Refused

STILL FUCKING ALIVE

It’s taken nearly 20 years, but Swedish hardcore punks Refused are finally touring Australia this November. The band famously broke up in 1998 and had denied rumours of their reformation up until last year. Frontman, Dennis Lyxzen, has previously toured Australia with a number of different bands including AC3, The International Noise Conspiracy and The Bloody Beetroots, but this will be the first time Aussie audiences will be treated to material from Refused’s legendary catalogue. Get ready to mosh like you’ve never moshed before when the iconic outfit hit Metro Freo on Friday, November 9.

Tickets are on sale now through Oztix.

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Oh well, the proof is in the pudding.

It exists!

SUGAR ARMY’S PAT MCLAUGHLIN The Boys Of Summer

There’s 10 songs on Summertime Heavy, how many did you go in with?

We went in with 12 and recorded them all, but with the other two, we thought it was a bit long.

So they were the two that weren’t gonna make it. We generally do that; we might try it differently next time.

I know that some bands write heaps of songs, but we spend so much time on each one, we just keep going until that one’s right. Or if it’s gonna go, it’ll go early.

Is part of the knack knowing when it’s done?

Speaking to a lot of musicians it seems like a talent in itself to leave well enough alone or to know when a song or indeed an album has already become what it can be...

That’s a really hard thing, ‘cause sometimes it can come at the 11th hour. Like the first track on that (Future Spark) which is one of the ones I enjoy more, there was something not quite right about it, and it actually took a complete change in the way we were doing it. We tried every which way to do it, there was something we really liked about it but we couldn’t work out why it wasn’t kicking us in the face yet. It was just like a timing thing with the groove, we altered the groove and there it was. But we were at that point, where we thought we were just gonna have to can it.

It was a random, ‘let’s just try something. Okay, what’s that you’re doing there?’.

This may sound a bit airy fairy, but do you ever find that the song talks back to you?

Yeah, I think this one was saying, ‘you didn’t give me that much bloody time!’ because we ended up spending more time on that one than most of them. But the reason you stick to it is that you believe something’s there. It’s not over ‘til it’s over, I reckon.

From the last album, No Need For Lovers was probably the most played song we had and that one had been on the chopping block.

Sugar Army (l-r) Jamie Sher, Pat McLaughlin, Todd Honey

Perth’s own Sugar Army release their second album, Summertime Heavy, on September 7, through Permanent Records/Shock.

It’s not easy being ‘the band most likely to’.

The great expectations of many can be a flattering thing, but it doesn’t mean that the road to glory is paved with gold, let alone breadcrumbs.

When Sugar Army came off the road after doing the hard yards for their debut album, The Parallels Amongst Ourselves, it appeared that they might’ve had the keys to the kingdom, what with the quality of tour supports and the quantity of airplay they had gained.

But singer, Patrick McLaughlin, drummer Jamie Sher and guitarist, Todd Honey, were in for shock when longtime bassist Ian Berney announced he was leaving the band to permanently join Birds Of Tokyo.

They wished him well, but a new dynamic had been created and it was one they had to settle into and become comfortable with.

It delayed the creative process for a time, but the trio emerged with, yes, a ‘difficult second album’ but one they are clearly proud of. Summertime Heavy represents a band entering a unique second phase of its existence, but firing on new cylinders, among them recently recruited touring members Benjamin Pooley (keyboards) and Chris Simmons (bass).

Sugar Army will launch Summertime Heavy at one of their favourite Perth haunts in early October (stay tuned for that announcement). In the meantime Pat McLaughlin sat for a chat over a beer at The Bird.

By BOB GORDON Your second album has come at a significantly different point in the band’s history than the first.

You’re not merely following up what you did, but doing it as a different entity. What was your mindset going into the album, given that essentially, you had different shoes on?

Completely. The thing is that after we did the first record it was the first time things started to slow down for us. Everything built up in a snowball effect to the first album, from the EP to the touring, there was a lot happening and the album came out and more happened. Then we were kind of scratching our heads at the end going, ‘what do we do now?’

So, naturally, you just go somewhere different and you rebel against that. It was always going to be different, we just started plugging away at something new, but after Ian left it kind of changed again completely, because obviously his bass and what he brought to the band was a big part of it. It was a case of ‘how do we go from here?’.

It came down to the three of us kind of working together a bit more. The first record was very much four egos just bashing out trying to be heard over each other. It was quite tense, to be honest. It was like, ‘I’ve seen what you’ve done. Look what I can do’.

Whereas with this record we definitely wanted to say, ‘well we’re going to leave space for you to do what you need to do, then I’ll have my turn’ kind of thing. We were just trying to open it up a bit, we felt the first album - although we were happy with it - we just looked at it and thought it was cluttered in parts. We really wanted to open it up and let each part speak for itself and develop one idea as opposed to mashing heaps of ideas together, which is how we worked in the past. It was a case of, ‘let’s see how far we can develop this one core thing’.

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it wasn’t going to be what we wanted and we wouldn’t be happy.

I see what you mean, the momentum did die right down, it’s like ‘alright how we gonna ramp this back Did you mainly re-evaluate or abandon songs? up again?’. But it’s just the way it is. Writing an album’s We abandoned quite a few. Although we did like a complete process, you’ve got to honour that, I keep four, but only three made the record - Future Spark, think. You’ve got to work through one stage to get to Hooks For Hands and Brazen Young. Ian was involved the next and you can’t shortcut any of them. in those but after he left we were kind of finding something new, just in the way we were rehearsing and Joel Quartermain from Eskimo Joe once told me that writing. So we thought it wouldn’t be true to kind of creating a new album in the recording studio is by push on with those songs when we’d kind of stumbled far his favourite part of the whole caper. He’s fine onto something else with the three of us. The dynamic with touring, but recording is the absolute highlight shifted dramatically, just in the way we communicated aspect for him. Do you fall either way? with each other. It changed quite a lot.

No, they’re completely different. Live is probably more fun in a literal sense; you do all the work before so when you actually get up and play - barring “I guess the best bit out of the the first couple of times when you’re still feeling it out - once you’re comfortable it’s just about enjoying it. writing part and I think it’s the Especially when the band’s really tight, you don’t really have to think; everyone gets up and does their thing. It’s thing that makes most people a different kind of thing.

But I think the real challenge is in the do it, is that at any point you writing. It’s a different kind of enjoyment. It’s hard and sometimes you’re scratching your head wondering how can create something new. you’re gonna solve something or where the next part’s A completely fresh thing. No gonna come from, but when you do get it, I think it’s more satisfying than anything else. You know that if you matter what you’ve done in the keep pushing it, you’re gonna get the result. You’ve just got to stick to it. And therein lies the challenge. past, the idea that tomorrow I guess the best bit out of the writing part and I think it’s the thing that makes most people do it, you can write a brand new song, is that at any point you can create something new. A completely fresh thing. No matter what you’ve done in completely different, that’s what the past, the idea that tomorrow you can write a brand new song, completely different, that’s what excites you. excites you. Having the idea Having the idea and realising the actuality of that takes a shitload of work and it’s hard, but you can do it. That’s and realising the actuality of that what I think keeps you ticking.

So when Ian left you were already well on the road with material for the second album?

Yeah, we had heaps.

takes a shitload of work and it’s hard, but you can do it. That’s what I think keeps you ticking.”

Were you winded when he left?

At first it was strange. It was a pretty out of the blue thing, we never saw it coming and at first were taken quite aback by it. But once we got back in the room and just started working again, the great thing was that it reinvigorated things because it was different.

When you’re so used to working a certain way, you take someone out of that and it’s like a whole new thing. So that in itself is exciting.

It was like, ‘well this is new, what have we got here?’ And it meant that Jamie would delve into bass parts and even guitar parts, whereas before I think we were a lot more, ‘this is what I do’. After that we felt we had a lot of work to do to get the record back to being ready, so everyone was chipping in different parts. If they had a melody idea they could hum it and I would take it down and develop it, which was great. So, with the change... you lose something and then you gain something.

When you decided to re-sprout were you concerned about momentum? You generally need a release in order to tour, but on the other hand you can’t just rush something out so that you can tour...

It’s weird. We weren’t worried about it before Ian left, we felt we were on track. But definitely after he left we pushed the album back and took more time with the writing and it got to a point where we just had to get it the way we wanted it, to rush it would have meant

On the flipside, what if the song comes to you easy, or too easily? Do you mistrust it?

Well that’s the big problem with Jamie (laughs), because he gets quite bored. He generally comes up with his best ideas first. Then when we have to go through the process of finding the rest of it he starts thinking, ‘I’ll see what else I can do’ and we’re like, ‘that first thing you did was just awesome’. It’ll often be the simplest but it’s the one that he felt really good about. Then he starts putting more things in, thinking ‘I can develop this’ but one you start doing that it loses what was charming about it in the first place. We generally find that the initial idea comes quickly, but the development of the song takes a bit of time. It’s never about one person dictating the song, it’s about us as a group finding something we’re all happy with. It takes a while to get to that point.

Was there a song on Summertime Heavy that was the absolute wanker?

Yeah, the single, Hooks For Hands, was a total wanker. It took ages. That one and Future Spark, they took a lot of work. Chord changes, bloody structure changes, choruses thrown out. Those two were full on.

How are the new chaps going? I guess they hear what’s there but rely on you to impart a certain knowledge about the songs?

It’s starting to pick up now. When they first joined I think it was a case of them thinking, ‘what the hell are you guys on about?’ The three of us kind of have a language between each other, we’re pretty straight up and we know where each other is coming from. Those two, I think, were quite freaked out at first because we’re quite full on, but that’s just how we’re used to talking.

And we’d hammer them at first, especially Chris, the bassist, we’d be like, ‘you’re playing your notes fine, but can you make it a little more jagged or try it this way?’.

They’re learning them a lot quicker in the past few weeks because they get where we’re coming from and Do you ever think about what a song might be it’s really starting to show. We’re feeling like a proper like when you eventually perform it, or are you too band, we have been for a while but the shows we’ve inside the bubble of working out the mystery of done recently have felt as normal as it ever did before.

It certainly doesn’t feel foreign. it?

Those two have really added a lot to the We don’t write consciously with that in mind or say, ‘we can’t use that because we can’t do it band. The good thing for Todd is that Pooley plays guitar live’, we never think that way. You think it more when in some of the songs. Todd always writes three or four something’s good, if there’s a really good groove different parts and picks the main one he likes, so he’s happening you think, ‘this is gonna be awesome’ because getting Pooley to play some of the counter lines. I think it just feels good. But we never think in terms of, ‘oh don’t he’s quite excited about that. They sing too, which is use that weird mellotron part because we can’t do it live’. helpful. Always helpful, more singers.

We’ll just figure it out later. If it’s going to make a certain Speaking of which, as a singer, having released a part better, just roll with it.

It ends up changing live anyway, which is the debut album then gigged more than you ever had funny thing. When we sit down and rehearse the songs before, with all the exercise and abuse that goes and especially with the two new guys now because with that, what was it like approaching the second it’s separate, we start jamming it then those two start album? Did you feel consciously different?

I felt more confident in the studio, definitely. adding bits and pieces to it and it takes on a new thing In terms of my singing ability, being in that environment anyway. and just listening to myself. It’s a bit full on when you first start.

I have a copy of your album here...

On the live front, where you lose your voice (Laughs) I actually haven’t seen it yet... when quite a bit, I went through a lot of phases trying to did it arrive? figure out why it was and tried everything. Now I’ve just figured out that you can’t worry. Worrying is the worst Yesterday, here have a look...

We did this quite a while ago, I haven’t seen it thing for it.

So, if anything, I’m just a bit more comfortable in ages. We signed off on this and there’s been 50 million bloody other things since then. It’s been incredible. This with what I can do. I don’t freak out, even if my voice (sleeve) shoot was nuts, it took us 14 hours to do this. It feels a bit shit and I’m a bit worried it’s going to die. It usually doesn’t because I just start ofF quite slow and was insane. Awesome. build it up and then I’m fine.

I can’t believe I got this before you...

Someone’s getting an angry email about this! Well, you’re the voice...

And now I understand it. Well I have some (Laughs) To be honest, I’ve been looking at that for so bloody long there’s nothing surprising for me. insight, at least (laughs).

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DELTA SPIRIT In Good Spirits

Shedding their folk-filled past in favour of throwing rock shapes, San Diego noisemakers Delta Spirit have made an about-turn with their recently released self-titled LP. Due to touch down in WA next year as part of the 2013 Big Day Out tour, bassist Jon Jameson speaks to AARON CORLETT about his band’s evolving sound.

Delta Spirit

Wil McLaren. Although bassist Jon Jameson says that, initially, his band found it difficult to find a comfortable dynamic, it also opened up many sonic possibilities they hadn’t previously even considered.

“There’s a new perspective on music that you are learning because the rest of us spent the last four or five years with each other, learning that,” he says. “It’s exciting though; there was kind of the feeling of starting a new band, that’s what kind of lead to it being a self-titled album.”

Critics once dubbed Delta Spirit’s sound as The next chapter of the making of the “rootsy log-cabin music” but as bassist Jon album started as the band jammed in a practice Jameson attests, they’ve traded their Americana space owned by their friends from Californian indie influence for a higher energy, effects-filled rock rock outfit, Cold War Kids. “We just jammed there for sound on their new LP. like hours, five days a week, kind of treated it like a Along with the change in musical direction, job, it was, like, three months until we were finally came the addition of new member in guitarist happy with what we had,” Jameson says.

The band then pulled up stumps and relocated to New York where they enlisted the help of producer Chris Coady, who has previously worked his magic on records by Yeah Yeah Yeahs, TV On The Radio and Beach House. “We are from Southern California and we always played in these guitar-based rock bands, he’s from Baltimore and he always messed around with synthesisers and crazy punk,” Jameson says.

“We had definitely different perspectives but I think it worked in a really cool way where we were able to compliment each other.”

Having received a rapturous reception from local audiences when they appeared at the One Movement Festival back in 2010, Jameson says his band are looking forward to returning as part of the 2013 Big Day Out national tour.

“There’s nothing like it, where bands are like travelling together and flying on the same flights, staying at the same hotel, it’s going to be a new experience for even us, too. It’s a cool thing you guys have over there, it’s unique, there’s nothing like it in the States,” he says. “We really make a big point of making sure every show we play is with our whole heart, as much as we possibly can. It’s hard to do that day-in-day-out but we feel like our songs come to life live more than on our record.”

In the meantime, the band is taking a quick break after recently performing at epic threeday Chicago musical festival Lollapalooza before embarking on an American tour during November.“We are bringing out Jeff The Brotherhood who are actually playing the Big Day Out as well,” Jameson concludes.

“It will be fun, we can get an early on relationship with those guys and then hang out in Australia afterward.”

Mystery Jets

MYSTERY JETS

American Express Like many before them, British indie rockers Mystery Jets travelled to the land of Stars and Stripes in an attempt to record an intelligent and mature-sounding fourth album. Ahead of their show at Capitol on Thursday, September 20, JENNIFER PETERSON-WARD chats to guitarist William Rees about his band’s geographical and musical upheaval.

Mystery Jets have come a long way since Making Dens, their whimsical 2005 debut that charmed fans and critics alike. If originating from Eel Pie Island wasn’t enough, their exuberant melodies, off-kilter lyrics and the fact that their line-up included the then 55-year-old father of the singer had them hailed as a welcome addition to the school of great British eccentrics.

A far-cry from the indie pop formula of their subsequent releases (2008’s Twenty One and 2010’s Serotonin), the group’s recently-released fourth long-player, Radlands, proudly boasts an American flavour and is filled to the brim with sprawling rock tunes straight out of Austin, Texas.

As guitarist William Rees attests, this is “a new beginning” for Mystery Jets.

Always a London-based band, the boys relocated to Texas to write and record their “version of a country album,” which developed into a concept album charting the trials and tribulations of the band’s invented alter-ego, Emerson Lonestar.

“It wasn’t something we expressly thought we’d try to do,” guitarist William Rees explains. “The only thing we knew is that we were keen to write songs which weren’t about relationships, girls and heartbreak. When we were in Austin we got about 20 songs done and then when we came back to the UK we sifted through them and once we saw this narrative thread we were able to use that concept as the direction we needed to finish up the album. I would say it’s a coming-of-age album in the sense that we were very responsible for it. There wasn’t a producer figure at the start to crack the whip so we had to make it happen ourselves.”

Another transformation for the band came in the form of losing original bassist Kai Fish to the call of family life and a blossoming solo career, forcing the band to replace him with Peter Cochrane, whilst also adding Matt Parks on pedal steel.

“A lot of our old songs don’t sit well alongside the new ones live,” Rees explains, “so having the new guys on board has really helped us re-think the way we play live. We got them in for very musical reasons – given we’re touring the ‘Radlands feel’. We’re sounding so different live now.”

While Rees says his band’s new sound has drawn its fair share of criticism, he’s also been overwhelmed at the positive response from fans, particularly to first single, Someone Purer.

“Although the pressure was off to write those big catchy choruses, we still needed a single to get people listening and interested in the new album. The difference this time around is that it’s not just 10 variations on the same theme – we’ve been able to explore, experiment and not be afraid to do a song that’s six minutes long and goes all over the place,” Rees concludes.

“Every good review we read and every nice thing someone says about the album makes us feel we got what we wanted out of Austin.”

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X-Press – First on the street, Wednesdays

Illy

ILLY

Bringing It Back Melbourne MC Illy, aka Al Murray, has been out of the limelight for a few months, but that’s not to say he hasn’t been busy. Releasing his “passion project” Bring It Back on September 21, through Obese Records, Illy plays Frat House Fridays at Metropolis Fremantle this Friday, August 31, and Capitol on Saturday, September 1. ANNABEL MACLEAN gets the lowdown on the forthcoming record.

“Bring It Back was not intended to be an album,” Murray says down the line from Sydney, having just checked out of a hotel. “It started out as making tracks with mates and the quality was there and it was so different and I had half a dozen tracks and I was like ‘this is good enough to be album even though it is quite different’.”

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Produced by Melbourne hip hop producer M-Phazes and Trials of the Funkoars, Bring It Back features collaborations with Pez, Mantra and Reason, amongst others. “It’s awesome because I normally keep a very small circle of people that I work with so this is a real good opportunity to branch out and work with a lot of other people and everyone did bring something different to the table,” he says, speaking of collaborating with fellow hip hop producers and MCs on Bring It Back.

“They all have a different way of going about it and I’ve known almost all these dudes for a long time. Like Pez - me and Pez were doing shows together in 2004 when there was more people on the stage than in the crowd. It was really cool to get him on board and Mantra is the same - we’ve known each other for years and years. So it was a lot of fun, it was a really great experience.

I’ve been taking inspiration from the stuff these dudes have done for years so it wasn’t anything new.”

Murray says Bring It Back “is a lot more rap-based” than his previous material.

“There’s very little singing, all of the singing is done by me and it’s not so prevalent,” he says. “[It’s] the sort of stuff I grew up on.

I’ve been describing it as a passion project.

It’s something that I’ve been wanting to do for years – to get in the studio with a lot of these boys. I’m really excited to see how it is received and we are already working on the follow up to The Chase at the moment.”

T h a t ’s r i g h t , B r i n g I t B a c k i s technically not the follow up to Murray’s 2010 sophomore record The Chase. “We’ve been working on the two [Bring It Back and another LP] concurrently because Bring It Back was not intended to be an album,” he confirms. With a release date hoped for April/ May 2013, Murray says the follow-up to The Chase will see him returning to more of the pop mentality that he is known for. “Some of the tracks that we’ve got down already have singers on them which is something that I love,” he says of the follow-up. “I love writing those sort of songs and I love performing those sort of songs so it probably will have more of that.

“M-Phazes will be doing the majority of production. I’m hoping to get some more stuff with Trials down and then I’ve got a wish list of other dudes that I think will come together pretty well.”

The Smith Street Band

THE SMITH STREET BAND Accidently Wagner Street

Melbourne punk act The Smith Street Band have a new album out called Sunshine & Technology. They play at the Rosemount Hotel this Friday, August 31. BEN WATSON has a yack to drummer Chris Cowburn.

Ah yes, fresh meat. Sometimes you can almost hear the music industry salivating at the prospect of making an arse-load of cash off the groundswell of support for a particular act. These days they don’t even pretend it’s not happening. In the 21st Century, expressions such as ‘buzz band’ are thrown about with zero percent cynicism. It’s weird.

But the difference between the two-apenny flash-in-the-pan bands that usually receive this type of onanism and say, The Smith Street Band, is that the latter seem perfectly capable of continuing on their career regardless.

Indeed, Chris Cowburn talks with all the enthusiasm of a young musician who has the world at his feet – about to tour China and the US once the small matter of their current Australian tour is out of the way – but one never gets the sense that he’s buying into any kind of bullshit.

More or less, The Smith Street Band got to where they are now off their own bat, but when a band’s praises are being sung by everybody from Frank Turner to Purple Sneakers – not to mention the average punk fan on the street – suddenly it’s a lot more profitable for everyone else to jump on board too.

Straight economics.

“We were really stoked that the first one went down as well as it did,” Cowburn says of the band’s breakthrough record, 2011’s No One Gets Lost Anymore.

“We didn’t really expect anything from it. We didn’t expect any more than our 20 friends to hear it, or whatever, and say ‘that’s great,’ and we’d go back to our shitty day jobs and whatever. But we were fortunate

enough that people really dug it, and it got some good reviews, and all that sort of stuff, and people putting it at the top of their end of year lists or whatever, which is cool.”

Indeed, that album went down like a genius, and now – just over 12 months later – the band are in the midst of dropping their follow-up. Cowburn explains that Sunshine & Technology is a more cohesive group effort. The debut, he says, was very much a product of band leader Wil Wagner’s previous efforts as a solo singer-songwriter.

“A lot of those songs on the first album were just kind of originally acoustic songs that kind of got transformed into full band songs, whereas with the new album, I guess he’d written a lot more of the stuff with the full band in mind.”

That said, the band have resisted changing the things that people liked in the first place. Wagner is still to the fore, although Cowburn muses that there were likely challenges in writing songs for a five-piece rather than for a solo acoustic project.

“I don’t think that sort of thing worries Wil too much,” he concludes.“Especially with his really raw, honest, storytelling way of songwriting. He just does what comes natural anyway. I don’t think that would have been too much of an issue. His songwriting is almost like a stream-of-conscious thing; it’s just like words spilling out of him.

“But it definitely helps to have five strong opinions, and five different songwriters putting their spin on it helps creatively, for sure.”

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THE RUBENS Sibling Revelry

With a buzz of excitement surrounding their every musical move,The Rubens might just be the luckiest young indie band playing the circuit at present. JENNIFER PETERSONWARD gets the lowdown on the high-points of a surprisingly short lifespan from keyboardist Elliot Margin, ahead of their shows at Capitol on Friday, October 5, the Prince Of Wales on Saturday, October 6, and the Newport Hotel on Sunday, October 7.

The bonds of brotherhood have proven to be a powerful force in the world of rock‘n’roll music.

Throughout rock history, bands have put family ties to the test. Fame, fortune, egos, and pride have always threatened to pull bands apart, but as The Rubens serve to prove, “brotherly love” really can produce some wonderful tunes.

“I think the reason it works is that it wasn’t a conscious decision,” explains keyboardist Elliot Margin.

“We were never the creepy music family. We never had sing-a-longs and we were never forced to play instruments. We never had the intention to be a ‘family band’, it just happened to work out that way. We all just see it as a novelty.”

Hailing from Menangle in country NSW, The Rubens consists of Elliot and his brothers Sam and Zaac, along with long-time friend Scott Baldwin, and their

band name was even inspired by the youngest Margin sibling.“The story behind our name is that we have this little brother called Jethro who used to play drums with us but when we started the band he didn’t want to be part of it. We had this nickname for him – which was Ruben – so we decided to call ourselves The Rubens as a homage to him,” Elliot explains.

Despite only forming in early 2011, the band’s first two singles have scored them a truck-load of success, including a string of packed out shows, placing in Triple J’s prestigious Hottest 100 countdown (their home-recorded track, Lay It Down, came in at #57) and recently signing with Ivy League Records, who are set to release their self-titled debut LP on Friday, September 14. “Everything’s just started to snowball,” Elliot says. “All of a sudden we’ve got actual fans and people coming to our shows and just more interest

The Rubens generally. It was our goal from the start to record a whole album and skip the EP process. People have said it’s a ballsy thing to do, which is cool.”

Another highlight came in the form of an invite to play this year’s Splendour In The Grass festival.

“It was an amazing experience. None of us had even ever been before so it was pretty outrageous. We were all really excited but also nervous – we were playing at 1.20pm on Sunday and we were worried that no one would come – so that was looming over our shoulders on the other days, but we were blown away when we turned up to a full tent.”

Despite having full backstage access, Margin admits he was too shy to approach some of his musical heroes playing the festival. “I’m not really very good at going up and saying ‘hi’. I wasn’t going to go up to Kele [Bloc Party] or Jack White and introduce myself. I was just secretly star struck.”

Howard Jones

HOWARD JONES Human Dream

‘80s synthpop superstar Howard Jones plays the Astor Theatre on Wednesday, September 5. TRAVIS JOHNSON chats to the keyboard wizard about his life and legacy.

Even if you don’t know his name, odds are good that you know his music; songs such as What is Love?, Things Can Only Get Better and New Song are ubiquitous these days.

Although his career has spanned 30 years, Howard Jones had the most success with his first two albums, 1984’s Human’s Lib and 1985’s Dream Into Action, so it makes both commercial and artistic sense that they would be showcased on his new tour, to the exclusion of all other work. When Jones hits the stage at the Astor next week, he’ll be playing both albums, back to back, in their entirety.

“The primary reason for doing it was that it was top of the wish list for the fans,” Jones explains. “They said to me that they really wanted me to do this. I don’t think they expected me to do both albums in the same show, but I thought that the two albums would go together really well. The set lasts two-and-a-half hours all together - there’s no time to play any other material. It’s absolutely focused on these two.”

Th i s to u r a l s o re p re s e n te d a n opportunity for Jones to ensure that the albums were played the way they were meant to be played, thanks to a happy bit of serendipity.

“It coincided with me being able to license back my first five albums from Warner Brothers,” he tells us. “That meant we could get hold of the multi-tracks and actually figure out exactly what was played - what the keyboard sounds were, what the drum sounds were. I wanted to recreate the albums really meticulously and not do an approximate version, but a really accurate version of them.”

Jones is a seasoned producer and engineer, but he admits that he found the project both challenging and rewarding, with the process of recreating his seminal electronica on modern equipment occasionally a daunting one.

“Some of the sounds from the albums were quite hard to recreate with modern synthesisers,” he says. “So what we did was we sampled a few notes from the original and then spread that across the keyboard. So there’s a few instances of that, but mainly it’s lots of donkey work - finding the sounds and replicating them on modern gear. Very time consuming, but really good fun, and it really worked - it does really sound like it was meant to.”

And though he resisted the temptation to completely rework some of his material, he admits that he’s not ruling out the possibility further down the track.

“It was tempting,” he reflects. “But I thought that you’ve got to have a philosophy about this. Either you do it like it is or you call it something else, like Human’s Lib Revisited or something. It was, in a way, more challenging to recreate it exactly. But now we’ve got all the source material, and all the work’s done, in the future we can revisit the tracks and bring them up to date, or change them, or enhance them. So that could be something for the future.”

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THE GASLIGHT ANTHEM

In Their Write Minds The Gaslight Anthem are one of punk rock’s heavy hitters with their past few albums impressing everyone from Bruce Springsteen to Nick Hornby. CHRIS HAVERCROFT spoke to guitarist Alex Rosamilia about the universally loved band and their shiny new album Handwritten.

last year saw him team up with Fallon to make an album under The Horrible Crowes moniker.

He was a natural choice when the band were looking for someone to fill out the sound.

“Me and Brian had been talking about having three guitars for a long while as we thought the band needed to sound a bit thicker and we didn’t want to add a keyboard player.

Brian worked with Ian and said he is awesome – and his is – so that just made things easier.

“When it came time to write the record he wrote little parts and added them in, so it was pretty seamless actually. We had known him for four years at that point.” “ H av i n g b e co m e a b a n d t h a t s e l l a bucket load of albums it was time for The Gaslight Anthem to make the shift from indie darlings to major league players if they were to reach a greater audience. With Side One Dummy having taken the band further than they had ever imagined, the next step in the chain was for the band to sign to Mercury Records for the making of Handwritten.

“It’s not as scary as I thought that it would be,” comments a relieved Rosamilia on the shift to a major label. “They have been really cool at letting us do what we want. They just really love music. I don’t think that they are going to try and change us much. To be able to spread the word further out we needed to be on a major label. Our previous label, Side One Dummy had done all that they could and we needed to take a step up to be able to reach more people.”

The Gaslight Anthem

After making and touring the ludicrously successful American Slang album, The Gaslight Anthem’s frontman and principle songwriter Brian Fallon said that he would need to take some time to reunite his love for guitar music. Those demons must be well and truly behind the band if the tour de force that is Handwritten is anything to go by.

“I’m excited to be able to play these songs live,” says guitarist Alex Rosamilia of the new record. “Last night was the first time that we had played most of them live. We had been playing a song here and there, but last night we played seven or eight of them and the kids seemed to love them. We made a really conscious effort to remember what we are doing this for and in that aspect Handwritten reminds me of The ‘59 Sound.”

Gaslight Anthem are the quintessential New Jersey band, but for Handwritten they wanted to get away from their comfort zone of New York to focus on making the album. For their last few recordings they stayed in New York and the things would get side tracked as friends and management would drop by and it became too easy just to go out for lunch. This wasn’t an issue in Nashville.

“We didn’t know anyone in Nashville, we would wake up and go to the studio together and work all day and then go back to the house where we were all staying and then talk about what we had done in the studio that day. We were really focused on the record and I think that helped to make Handwritten sound good. We weren’t staying near anywhere so there wasn’t the temptation to go out and explore at night.”

Having worked with British music producer Ted Hutt on the previous two albums, The Gaslight Anthem chose to mix things up by going with a different producer in the form of Brendan O’Brien. When the band were told that O’Brien worked out of Blackbird Studios in Nashville, they felt that things had fallen into place.

“It was like putting yourself in the same shoes as the people who made me want to make records in the first place.”

“Brendan O’Brien produced a lot of the records that got me into playing guitar. So in some facets he has been honing my craft inadvertently for the past 15 years,” Rosamilia says. “To have him coach you through making a record is pretty awesome. It was like putting yourself in the same shoes as the people who made me want to make records in the first place.

He didn’t put himself above anyone else.”

As for the band’s role in the making of the record Rosamilia says it was as simple as they just wrote a bunch of songs and then went into the studio and recorded live. All band members playing the songs at the same time makes sense when you think of what an energetic live band The Gaslight Anthem are, but it is a different approach to the one they used on the previous two albums.

“I personally thought that it worked out really well to be able to play with everybody at the same time,” he says. “It had a different feel to it than just laying the drums down first and then the base down etc. You are playing with people instead of playing alone and along to the record.

It really helped with the energy of the record.”

Having forged a name for themselves as a four-piece group from New Jersey, the outfit has swelled their numbers by adding Ian Perkins as a full time touring musician to help them out on the road. Perkins had been around the band as a guitar technician for some time, and www.xpressmag.com.au

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65DAYSOFSTATIC We Were Exploding Anyway

BLOC PARTY Four Frenchkiss Records

When singer Kele Okereke isn’t disappearing for years at a time to hole up in America and release solo albums, he’s muttering cryptically about the band’s imminent breakup. This must make life pretty stressful for the rest of Bloc Party, and may well explain the sense of nervous tension that runs through their new album.

Four doesn’t sound like it was written and recorded – it sounds like Bloc Party chased it, cornered it and beat it into submission before it could escape. Opening song So He Begins To Lie is rough and raw, with Kele’s voice fighting to get out from behind a ferocious tangle of guitars. 3X3 gallops along at a frantic pace, with Kele howling “No one loves you as much as I do” and later moaning “YES! YES! YES! YES!” – if you were the object of his affection, you might actually be a little concerned.

V.A.L.I.S. and Team A are positively ecstatic compared with what’s come before, the kind of tracks that inspire shoulder-popping dance moves, before We Are Not Good People closes things with a simultaneous inward and outward burst of anger.

Four has a rough and raw quality that’s a lot closer to Bloc Party’s live show than anything the band have yet recorded. It’s doubtful this will really be their last record, but if it is, they’re going out on a pretty powerful note.

Hassle Records

65DaysOfStatic occupy a peculiar status in that they are a pretty big deal for a pretty niche audience. The band’s 2004 debut, The Fall Of Math, is undoubtedly a high watermark of the post-rock genre, its widescreen dynamics and elegant electronics granting them a cult following. We Were Exploding Anyway (the band’s fourth LP), by contrast, seems like a bid for a wider audience and sees 65DOS making themselves simpler, faster and louder.

This isn’t necessarily a criticism mind you.

Older fans will doubtlessly miss some of the subtlety and introversion of the band’s earlier material but it has to be said that 65DOS make macho dance music about as well as anyone. There are torrential drums in the vein of Nine Inch Nails, vertiginous basslines ala The Prodigy and even a frenetic cameo from The Cure’s Robert Smith.

Whereas The Fall Of Math felt like rock music given something of the obtuse textures of IDM, We Were Exploding Anyway sounds like dance music given the snarling attitude of rock. The band’s new album doesn’t feature many of the startling left turns that made 65DOS so well regarded (though the string coda on Come To Me is pretty exquisite) but, as an adrenaline soaked dance album, We Were Exploding Anyway is pretty easy to enjoy.

_HENRY ANDERSEN

_ALASDAIR DUNCAN

TOBY MARTIN Love’s Shadow

SASKWATCH Leave It All Behind

Ivy League

Northside Records

After 10 years, four albums and a chart topping single thanks to the help of The OC, Toby Martin figured he had taken his Redfern outfit Youth Group as far as he could. In the intervening years he has done his fair share of travel and been part of tribute performances for tragically affected acts The Triffids and Glide before delivering his much anticipated solo record Love’s Shadow.

Martin writes about the lost and the lonely without turning them into destitute pity cases. The music is timid and gentle with a lavish sprinkling of strings thrown in for good measure. Martin has long been a friend with Ben Gibbard (which makes sense as they both have a gift for melody) and tunes like The End Of The Affair and You’ll Never Be Mine share the same feel as the more quiet Death Cab For Cutie songs.

It appears you can’t claim to be a serious songwriter unless you have cut your teeth by penning a number about New York City. Martin meets his obligation in this regard with his sparse and heartfelt lament NYC Misses You but his strongest appeal is in his calming voice.

There aren’t tunes on Love’s Shadow that scream out ‘hit single’, but this is not detrimental to the album in the least. Martin has created a slow burn that is at its best when attacked in one piece from start to finish.

Nine-piece (yes, nine) Melbourne group Saskwatch just released their new record Leave It All Behind, a funkalicious soul album that mixes seductive songs with bold, bluesy numbers.

It all begins with The Delinquent, an instrumental track with driving horns and an almost James Bond-esque bass-line. Second track Don’t Wanna Try introduces Nkechi Anele’s astounding vocals, and really sets the tone for the record – sumptuous, emotional ballads of love and life.

That being said, Saskwatch don’t hold back on the funk, and one of the funkiest songs on Leave It All Behind is Kids – an instrumental cover of Robbie Williams’ and Kylie Minogue’s horrendous 2000 single – which is startlingly fun, and oozes with sultry brassy goodness. The record also includes a version of Little Red’s Coca-Cola which could give the original a run for its money – Anele’s vocals really shine on this track, both formidable and soulful.

Second Best is sassy and bluesy, giving the centre stage to keyboardist Olaf Scott, who presents some amazing keys solos reminiscent of artists you’d associate with the New Orleans blues scene.

Following in the footsteps of Australian bands like The Bamboos whilst channeling old-school Motown and blues artists, Saskwatch are best served with a glass of whisky in hand and the ability to sway and groove. Sexy stuff.

_CHRIS HAVERCROFT

_CHLOE PAPAS

KINGSWOOD Change Of Heart

RED INK The Colour Age

Independent

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Independent

Upon immediate listen of Kingswood’s new EP Change Of Heart, it’s obvious that the Melbourne quartet are melancholic for the good ol’ days of classic rock. Channeling bands like Kiss and Queens Of The Stone Age, the group sticks to their genre with pummeling bass lines, urgent solos, and a sublimely talented vocalist.

Each tune on Change Of Heart is catchy in its own right, but not in a weak, repetitive current-indie-rock kind of way – this is music for real rock-lovers, not for those who totes go to all the festivals and wear fur hats for no apparent reason.

Medusa is hands down the standout track, combining every element of the perfect rock-metal song; a penetrating falsetto wail from vocalist Fergus Linacre, grungy riffs colliding with a dirty bass-line, memorable lyrics, and a killer ending. Yeah Go Die personifies bluesy alt-rock, with driving solos and a sleazy breakdown. Sun tones things down a little, lilting and earnest in its delivery. The EP ends with a stripped back version of Yeah Go Die, a record concept that can often flop – but in this case, doesn’t. The acoustic track aids in showcasing the band’s raw talent, taking on a Spanish theme with maracas and Flamencoesque instrumental interludes.

Change Of Heart is unbelievably refreshing, with no false airs or attempts to be anything other than blustering, ballsy rock. This is music to air-guitar to.

Red Ink are a band that will have you floating away on a cloud of ethereal textures.

Throwing away the cathartic passion of their first EP Catching A Killer, The Colour Age transitions the Melbournian band into pop-friendly territory.

Producers Craig Harnath and Jez Giddings have given the EP a warm, happy vibe. John Jakubenko has an airy and sometimes breathy style of singing which is complimented by spacey synthesisers. Despite the airiness, the tracks have dance sensibility which comes primarily from Aaron Sim’s drum work and Brendan Jones’ angular guitar playing.

The band quickly establishes happy textures on the first track, Empty Town. The warm feeling on the album is exemplified by Euphoria, which combines small percussive work, delicate synthesizers and happy lyrics. Similarly, Melancholia provides moments of happiness with its peaceful textures.

Young Lovers In Stockholm is the low-point of the album, the band uses their airy textures without building upon them and combines this with a simple chorus line. Red Ink are at their best when they use spacey textures as the foundations but then create something better.

Luckily, the band redeems itself on the closer, Promise which adds some cool guitar work that runs along the track beautifully. At its best, The Colour Age is dance-filled, indie fun but it suffers, at times, from a lack of variety.

_CHLOE PAPAS

_AARON CORLETT X-Press – First on the street, Wednesdays

THE JAC Faux Pas Egomaniac Music/Independent

There was a time when Joe Algeri was fronting local bands or playing solo shows that would see him a regular fixture on the gig guide. Algeri has long been one of the better proponents of the pop sounds that are synonymous with the Perth sound but years of travel, building a home studio and living on a farm have led to his most impressive outfit to date in The JAC. Playing all of the instruments on Faux Pas, Algeri took his time to challenge not only himself but (hopefully) also his steady worldwide fan base. There are no death metal rumbles or driving dance floor beats, but Algeri has mixed things up in ways that weren’t even hinted at on previous records. Sure there was always the predisposition that he would be the kind of character to drag the sandpit and the fireman’s hats into the studio to not resurface for years, but few thought that it may actually happen.

Algeri maintains his quirky sense of humour even when moving away from his tried and true boy vs girl topic. This time out he ponders getting a jump on technology with the chugging pop meets carnival carousel on Future Computer, wax’s lyrical about town planning with Romano The Dog and becomes throwaway and nonsensical during I’m A Glass Of Orange Juice.

Faux Pas is a most enjoyable from start to finish and without a doubt the best album to ever come out of Byford.

_CHRIS HAVERCROFT

LANEWAY Turn Your Love Up Crawler Records

The devil, the turbine, rain, thunder and the simple life.

They sound like country music clichés, right? Melbourne duo Laneway have managed to incorporate these country music allusions with a healthy amount of folk and indie rock on Turn Your Love Up, the follow-up to 2009’s acclaimed If You Don’t Need It Let It Go. You’d be forgiven for thinking Laneway was a solo act, given that Louise O’Reilly’s hoarse and impassioned vocal prowess dominates the album.

Her bandmate Paul Hannan rarely has a moment to demonstrate his own vocal abilities, although that doesn’t stop him from adding depth to O’Reilly’s lead vocals with sparkling guitar playing which is primarily characterised by small sharp guitar bursts punctuating longer guitar lines. On Bleeding Heart, the guitar work is reminiscent of Johnny Marr’s exertions with The Smiths, while the grunge-inspired guitar playing on The Past Is Furious brings to mind Jamie Hince’s endeavors with The Kills.

Unfortunately, the quality of the tunes on offer here differs from track to track. For example, the banjo-laden ditty Simple Life slips into plain and uninteresting territory; however the similarly countrified Love Is A Devil incorporates much more interesting textures with deft guitar work and changes in speed giving the song a more interesting variety.

All in all, it’s hard not to feel that the band is playing on the safe side on this less vibrant sophomore release.

_AARON CORLETT

ARLISSA VS NAS – Hard To Love Somebody (London Records) At just 19-years-old, Londoner Arlissa had finished high school, and was contemplating her next move.

She’d broken up with her first boyfriend of three years, moved out of the family home, and watched her friends go off to university, whilst she stayed put; intent on making music her life. And then one of her tunes, Hard To Love Somebody, found its way via word-of-mouth from her producer to a publisher, and then finally to the ears of prolific rapper Nas who was such a fan of the tune that he not only asked to record an alternate rap version of it, but flew Arlissa to LA, wishing to do so in-person.

The resulting collaboration is an infectious and emotive mix of Nas’ iconic idiosyncratic delivery with Arlissa’s gorgeous crooning chorus of “Oh it’s hard to love somebody, when all I want is you”. This one’s gonna be massive.

MIKA – Celebrate (Universal) It’s perhaps hard to imagine now, but back in 2007, Mika was one of the biggest pop stars on the planet. His debut album, Life In Cartoon Motion, sold millions of copies worldwide, but by the time the follow-up arrived, it was as if a collective shrug had descended on the record-buying public and 2009’s The Boy Who Knew Too Much passed without fanfare. It’s in this context that Mika will release his third album, The Origin Of Love, which features collaborations with 22-year-old London producer Fryars and Pnau/Empire Of The Sun’s Nick Littlemore. Oh, and a certain Pharrell Williams.

In fact, the four of them combine to create the album’s first proper single, Celebrate, a slinky, Daft Punk-esque ode to getting over yourself and having a bit of a laugh

RAW POWER LIVE: IN THE HANDS OF THE FANS Umbrella Entertainment

In many ways, the career of Iggy Pop is the sort of happy accident that could have only been made possible back in the original, anythinggoes days of rock‘n’roll.

Much of that original sense of danger is still present on Raw Power Live: In The Hands Of The Fans, this amazing document of the Stooges performing their seminal Raw Power album to a stunned crowd at 2010’s All Tomorrow’s Parties festival.

Footage was filmed by six fans in the audience, selected through an online fan contest, who were then invited to interview the band immediately following the performance. Featuring memorable iterations of classic tracks including Raw Power, Search and Destroy, Gimme Danger and I Wanna Be Your Dog, Raw Power Live brings the fans closer to the band and the music closer to you.

THE WANTED The Wanted Geffen Records/Universal

A quick Google search of The Wanted reveals that they are a slightly older, more “serious” version of One Direction. Their self-titled EP features a group cover photo complete with ‘sexy brooding’ expressions – these boys mean business.

A quick listen of the record reveals that The Wanted are more like a sub-par version of Maroon 5 with less complex instrumentals and a desire to be the Backstreet Boys. However, unlike the Backstreet Boys, these lads seem to engage in very few harmonies, and their songs aren’t very memorable.

However, Glad You Came and Chasing the Sun are both palatable, catchy pop songs that will likely do well on radio and on the d-floor. The best part of Satellite is when they sing “Put your hands up to the sky,” which is a stroke of lyrical genius. Heart Vacancy is the only track that is truly painful; it tries to be a ballad but comes across as a whiny diatribe with a subconscious message of ‘I’m singing this to get laid.’

Another notable aspect is the band’s seeming affinity with sky-based things; evidenced by song titles like Chasing the Sun, Satellite, Rocket, Lightning and lyrical themes based around stars. Weird.

Getting down to it, there’s nothing original about this record – though nobody expected there to be. In terms of musical ability, well, they’re a post-‘90s boy band. But hey, it isn’t offensive.

_CHLOE PAPAS www.xpressmag.com.au

DAVID LYNCH & ALAN SPLET Eraserhead Original Soundtrack It’s hard to remember a time when David Lynch wasn’t a master of creepy filmmaking. But there’s a first time for everything, and Lynch’s was Eraserhead, his first feature film that became a cult classic after countless arthouse screenings and midnight movie circuit runs in the ‘70s. The industrial thriller also marked a different kind of outting for Lynch: as musician. Before there was Crazy Clown Time, there was the Eraserhead soundtrack, which Lynch created with the help of legendary sound designer Alan Splet.

More than 35 years later, the cult film soundtrack has been given a lavish vinyl reissue

by Sacred Bones. This limited release includes only 1500 new copies of the “industrial hums, buzzes, screeches and screams” Lynch and Splet made in Lynch’s bathtub, plus other goodies – including a 7-inch single of the movie’s best known tune, the Fats Waller-esque In Heaven, sung by Peter Ivers, as well as the previously unreleased Pete’s Boogie.

The narrative details of Lynch’s shadowy vision aren’t essential to this set, but they do help to put the album into context and certainly add something to Lynch’s “haunting dream of dark and disturbing things”. Brilliantly bizarre. _JENNIFER PETERSON-WARD 23

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www.xpressmag.com.au

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Moonrise Kingdom

Spring Market by Jarrad Seng

SPRING FLING

Dave Callan will host the AGWA Allsorts Comedy Debate

CALLAN ALL COMEDY FANS

Aussie comedians will face off at the Art Gallery next month when the AGWA Allsorts Comedy Debate returns for another year of big laughs. Hosted by Triple J’s Dave Callan, the debates will take place on Friday, September 21, and Friday, September 28; featuring comedians interpreting modernist ideas inspired by the Picasso To Warhol: 14 Modern Masters exhibition. On September 21 Callan will be joined by James De Leo, Andrea Gibbs, Ben Darsow and Xavier Michelides, before Bonnie Davies and other guest comics join him on September 28. Tickets are only $19 plus booking fee, get yours via Ticketek.

ART AWARD

The City of South Perth is on the hunt for creative people of all shapes and sizes to enter their 10th annual Emerging Artist Award. Offering up over $6000 in prizes, the Award is open to artists working in photography, painting, sculpture and 3D installations. It’s free to enter but artists must submit their works by 5pm on Friday, September 28. Find out more at southperth.wa.gov.au.

Flowers are blooming, bees are buzzing and the birds are tweeting, which means spring is in the air!

To celebrate the arrival of warmer weather the folks at the Fly By Night are set to host a Spring Market on Sunday, September 16, serving up retro-tastic wares from a range of local purveyors. Taking over the iconic music venue from 12-5pm, the market will showcase art, craft, vintage, collectables, knick knacks and bric-a-brac. Stage Fight! Open Mic will provide acoustic entertainment during the day (and they’re looking for performers, hit up stagefrightopenmic@gmail.com if you’re keen), and there will be tea and cakes plus something stronger behind the bar for those with a thirst to quench.

Entry is only $3 on the door. The Fly By Night is located at 1 Holdsworth Street in Fremantle.

SWANNING AROUND

One of our state’s most prestigious art competitions, the Black Swan Prize for Portraiture returns in 2012 bigger and better than ever before, complete with a new look, venue and prize. Combining forces with Heritage Perth, this year’s Black Swan Prize for Portraiture offers up over $70,000 in cash prizes, so competition is fierce. The full list of finalists is viewable online (via blackswanprize.com. au), and features the likes of Andy Quilty, Vincent Fantauzzo, Abdul Abdullah, David Spencer and David Bromfield, among others. The exhibition is set open to the public on Friday, September 21, and will be housed for the first time in the newly refurbished Heritage Building at 137 St Georges Terrace. Stay tuned for more info.

MOONRISE KINGDOM Scout’s Honor

Directed By Wes Anderson Starring Jared Gilman, Kara Hayward, Edward Norton, Bruce Willis, Tilda Swinton, Frances McDormand, Bill Murray Holding your viewers at arm’s length is usually a consequence of bad storytelling, not a purposeful design choice. Yet Wes Anderson has made a career crafting films that not only purposefully distance themselves, but also manage to turn that distancing to their advantage.

Moonrise Kingdom is – like pretty much all Wes Anderson creations – an emotionally distant film.

Marking Anderson’s return to live action filmmaking following 2009’s animated Fantastic Mr. Fox, the film is set in 1965 and begins by introducing a rogue boy scout, Sam Shakusky (Jared Gilman), concocting a brazen scheme to run away with his 12-year-old pen-pal, Suzy Bishop (Kara Hayward). The pair live on an island off the coast of New England – a small world that is literally defined as being a “one cop car town”. Sam (an orphan) and Suzy (the black sheep of her family) instantly bond over their shared status as oddball outsiders.

When the children go missing, the various adults connected to them – the drillmasterish Scout Master Ward (Edward Norton), dreary-faced cop Captain Sharp (Bruce Willis), an officious woman known only as “Social Services” (Tilda Swinton), and Suzy’s irritable lawyer parents (played to deadpan perfection by Bill Murray and Frances McDormand) – band together to mount a search/rescue/capture party. However, Suzy and Sam aren’t in peril – in fact, having found love and whittle it down to 15 or 16 and sort it out from those.

Whereas the documentaries - Israel has a much better reputation for quality documentaries than feature films. Also, documentaries are so specific in their subject. The committee here in Australia has just watched 50 or 60 documentaries to whittle it down to what’s in the programme - so that’s basically how it worked.”

According to Lawrence, one of the key aims of the festival - and indeed, the entire AICE - is to foster an understanding of Israeli culture and society that goes beyond what the news-watching public is exposed to, showing aspects of the country that go beyond nominal notions of ethnic and religious strife.

Whereas media presentations of Israel tend to focus on negative aspects of the nation and its policies, the AICE Festival offers a number of more intriguing - and more down to earth - angles on Israel. The films on offer encompass a range of genres, from the uplifting documentary Dolphin Boy, to the period drama The Fifth Heaven, to the contemporary relationship melodrama Lipstikka.

“It’s hard,” he admits. “Someone asked me the other day what was unique about Israeli film, and I think they just take a lot of good stories and make very good films. The questions I’ve been asked for nine years is ‘Why do an Israeli film festival?’ and ‘What’s

freedom, they couldn’t be happier. But with a violent storm brewing off-shore, their peaceful idyll is set to come crashing down around them.

Perhaps most similar to Max Fischer, the hero of Anderson’s 1999 breakthrough hit Rushmore, Sam is one of those kids too bright and restless to colour inside the lines (he also, coincidentally, has a penchant for nude watercolours). Always dressed in a coonskin cap, thick-rimmed glasses and often seen smoking a corncob pipe, he speaks with an unnerving maturity and is barely able to conceal his feelings of superiority for the adults around him. Likewise, the appealingly unknowable Suzy is reminiscent of Margot Tenenbaum, the estranged daughter character from Anderson’s 2001 film The Royal Tenenbaums. Both cool and old before her time, Suzy is a devotee of imaginative literature, green eyeliner and Françoise Hardy.

As with his previous films, Anderson treats eccentricity with compassionate respect. Written with regular collaborator Roman Coppola, the corners of the story are filled with intricate touches, like the details of Suzy and Sam’s initial meeting at a lavish Sunday school production of Benjamin Britten’s Noye’s Fludde. Yet while Moonrise Kingdom is structured like a romantic comedy, there are undertones of darker themes (in particular, Anderson makes touching use of Bill Murray’s doleful idiosyncrasies as a husband watching his wife slip away).

In this way, Anderson’s distance makes the film easier for the audience to relate to its protagonists in a way that more emotive filmmaking might not be able to.

An observation on what happens when the world of children and adults collide, Moonrise Kingdom is another quirky, hard-to-put-your-finger-on Wes Anderson delight. _JENNIFER PETERSON-WARD so great about Israeli films?’. Most people’s perception of Israel is military - it’s about conflict and Palestinians and Jews and Arabs - all that conflict. The idea behind the whole film festival was to say that Israel is much more than this. Some of its best kept secrets are Israeli culture, and so the whole concept is to screen films to show what Israel is all about; what concerns an Israeli, what an Israeli’s everyday life is like. I think that’s the essence of Israeli film - it’s taking diverse personal stories and putting them on the screen.

“Many of those stories are of relevance to a global audience. They’ve moved away from is telling stories about the military and conflict. First and foremost, Israeli films are made for an Israeli audience, and do they want to go to the cinema to see the conflict? They can turn on the TV and see it. They don’t particularly want to go and see it at the cinema It’s an element of escape - narratives that have appeal beyond what they can see on the television. That’s why Israeli film is not necessarily exploring the wider issues and the wider politics of what’s going on in the Middle East. It’s too close - sometimes distance is required in order to be perceived properly.” _TRAVIS JOHNSON

Dolphin Boy screens as part of the AICE Israeli Film Festival

THE 9TH AICE ISRAELI FILM FESTIVAL Milk And Honey

Bringing a wide variety of Israeli cinema to Australian screens, the Israeli Film Festival takes place at Cinema Paradiso from Tuesday, September 4, until Wednesday, September 12.

Tickets are available from the box office, by phoning (08) 9227 1771 or at lunapalace.com.au Keith Lawrence has been deeply involved in the AICE Israeli Film Festival since its inception, and is heartened to see it move beyond its initial limited scope to become an event that is accessible to as broad an audience as possible.

“First and foremost,” the co-programmer explains. “This year is the ninth edition of the festival.

Up until now it’s only taken place in Melbourne and Sydney, but now that we have Palace Cinemas producing the festival it is truly national, in that it’s being taken to Perth and Adelaide.”

Lawrence has long been an admirer and student of Israeli culture and history, a passion which he discovered when working for the British 26

government in Israel. “I lived in Israel for six years as the British Cultural Attaché,” he tells us. “I was the founding producer of the festival. I was the executive director of the AICE - the Australia-Israel Cultural Exchange. I came over here when I was invited to set up AICE, and one of the first projects we did was to set up an Israeli film festival here, and an Australian film festival over in Israel. So that’s how I became involved. I left AICE three years ago, but I continue to be involved in some way or another.”

To be honest, Israel is not particularly well known for its film industry, but that is something that Lawrence wants to change, taking the time to select the very best the small but vibrant Israeli film sector has to offer and showcasing it to the Australian viewing public. It can be painstaking process.

“There is an artistic director of the festival,” Lawrence says. “Katriel Schory, the head of the Israel Film Fund, but he’s also aware that Australia has different tastes, opinions and perspectives. He’s always been keen to have local involvement in the selection process, so there’s a committee here that liaise with Katriel about the selection, particularly about the documentaries. At the end of the day, Israel produces something like 15 to 20 feature films a year; if you take out some that aren’t so good, the features are, not completely, but sort of self-selecting - you can

The Fifth Heaven X-Press – First on the street, Wednesdays

The Bank Holidays

Love

LOVE

Satellite Of...

Directed by William Eubank Starring Gunner Wright, Bradley Horne, Corey Richardson, Nancy Stelle Seasoned director of photography William Eubank makes his feature directing debut with this microbudget science fiction film. Love began life as a series of interlinked video clips for the alt-rock supergroup Angels & Airwaves before both Eubank and his producer, Blink 182 frontman Tom DeLonge, realised they had something more substantial on their hands, and decided to see where the production process took them. A couple of years later, they had the result: a contemplative, visually impressive sci-fi parable on the nature of identity and empathy.

In the near future, astronaut Captain Lee Miller (Gunner Wright) is on a routine maintenance mission to the International Space Station when communications with Earth break down. Faced with years of isolation, Miller keeps his head straight by imagining the stories behind the photographs and other detritus left behind by the station’s previous occupants. One of the items on board is the 1864 journal of another captain, Confederate soldier Lee Briggs (Bradley Horne), that details his mission at the behest of his commanding officer (Corey Richardson) to recover a mysterious - and possibly alien - object during the American Civil War. It gradually becomes apparent that Briggs’ story is very relevant to Miller’s own predicament.

It’s a remarkably confident and assured film, and the strong visual style and impressive special effects are even more astounding when you realise that the budget was only around half a million dollars. Although there are a few outdoors sequences - the scenes set in the Civil War, to be exact - for the most part, the film is confined to the interior of the space station, and Wright is the only actor on camera. Eubank makes use of striking compositional choices to ensure that the film is never visually boring, making good use of his limited options. Both visually and thematically, Love harkens back to a number of significant science fiction landmarks, with 2001: A Space Odyssey, Solaris, Silent Running, and Moon being its most obvious progenitors.

Yet, for all its genre pedigree and inventiveness, the film falls short of greatness.

Pacing problems abound - its origin as a series of separate vignettes is quite apparent - and the third act descends into largely impenetrable symbolism.

That’s not inherently a bad thing, but one gets the sense that Eubank is mimicking the form of metaphysical sci-fi rather than the function, and the film’s climactic light and sounds show is just that - a hollow exercise in spectacle, rather than a thematically unified conclusion.

Still, it gets an A for effort. Perhaps if Love had begun life as a script rather than being shaped through its largely improvisational production, it would have been a more satisfying narrative. As it stands, it’s still an impressive calling card, and it’ll be interesting to see what Eubank gets up to next. _TRAVIS JOHNSON

THE BANK HOLIDAYS Pleasant Valley Sunday

One of the many desirable treats at the forthcoming This Is Nowhere event at the Somerville Auditorium on Sunday, October 14, is the reappearance of beloved Perth indie pop outfit, The Bank Holidays.

It’s been over two years since their last show and life has grown. Bekk Reczek and James Crombie have had two children and are often seen wheeling prams in the West Leederville area. Drummer Stu Leach moved to Melbourne. Singer/guitarist, Nat Carson, spent 12 months in Toronto before also moving to Melbourne and has since married. It was going to take a tasty invite to get this mob all in the same place.

“It was a pretty exciting offer,” says Nat Carson. “Obviously playing at Somerville Auditorium is exciting and it’s usually coupled with playing In The Pines, it’s just a magic spot and it’s great to have the opportunity to play there. As far as the festival goes, it’s got a bit of everything on and we’re really happy to be part of it.”

Somerville Auditorium is an appropriate place for the Bank Holidays to gather, having performed there several times for RTR FM’s In The Pines. Each time they appeared, they’d gone up a notch in profile.

From 2003-2010 the members of The Bank Holidays poured their lives into the band, with two EP and two album releases plus numerous tours. Then other life aspects beckoned.

“That’s pretty much the case,” Carson considers. “Obviously there’s a lot of things you put on hold and really can’t do if you’re in a band and dedicating your time and your resources to being involved with that. I think it had gotten to that point,

perhaps, where life just took over. It does take a lot of energy being in a band, and that’s not even with writing songs and rehearsing, it’s the situation of having to organise shows and all the logistics that go along with it.

“That side of things I don’t really miss, but I still love writing and I’ve missed playing live, or certain aspects of it. You don’t want to overromanticise too much. Carrying a Fender Twin [amp] through a dark alley at some ungodly hour of the morning when you get a bit older that tends to get slightly less thrilling (laughs).

Carson and Leach have already had partial rehearsals in Melbourne, but look forward to the full band getting together in a couple weeks.

“I think with the full band it’ll mostly fall into place. There’ll be refining to do and few moments where you have to work out what’s going on. Actually, I had to look up the tracklisting of one of our albums on Wikipedia (laughs). I was like, ‘what’s the third song on that album?’ and you know me, I’m a classic nerd, that was a terrible moment for me, to go, ‘I’m gonna have to look this up’.

Well, it belongs to the world now. “Yeah... I think that’s just a nice way of putting it (laughs).”

While the Bank Holidays will reunite for This Is Nowhere, Carson can’t realistically say what the future for the band will be, or if there is one.

“To be honest, I’m not really sure. I think that James and Bekk are amazing songwriters and I do hope that we get to do something again together in the future, but it’s hard to say at the moment.

Obviously the geography and the family situation is a difficult thing to get past. At the moment we’re just playing it by ear and just seeing how we go. I’m really just looking forward to playing on the day itself and seeing people. It promises to be quite excellent.” _BOB GORDON

WES ANDERSON The Moonrise King

Although his trademark detailed mis-en-scene and quirky characterisations are on full display in his latest film, Moonrise Kingdom, it still represents a few departures from the norm for director Wes Anderson.

For one thing, it’s the first time his central characters have been kids.

“Initially I was drawn to the idea of telling a story from the point of view of children,” the idiosyncratic filmmaker explains. “Specifically 12 year olds, and trying to recreate the feeling of what it’s like to fall in love when you’re that age - fifth grade or sixth grade. I like working with kids because they’re usually so enthusiastic. They enjoy pretending. I haven’t really worked with an actor who has the Daniel Day Lewis or Sean Penn sort of approach, where they really stay in character all the time. Children do that, or some of them do; they really like to live in the world of their characters and make believe. That’s not only fun, if you’re the one in charge of constructing the world - it makes them very authentic.”

For another, it’s the first of his films to be set in a specific timeframe. Whereas works such as The Royal Tenenbaums and The Life Aquatic are set in a kind of nebulous cinematic anywhen, Moonrise Kingdom takes place, very specifically, in the summer of 1965, on an island off the coast of New England.

“There’s an island that I have visited a number of times in the last 15 years or so,” Anderson tells us. “And it’s a place where you can only get there by boat. There are no cars on the island, and there’s only one farm and a few houses. It’s a special kind of New England sort of atmosphere, and it’s really like stepping into the past when you go to this place.

That was part of what I wanted to get into the world of the story, too. I think I wanted to feel like Norman Rockwell’s kind of America, and that seemed like the right place for it - a slightly more innocent America.”

Anderson’s usual stock company of actors is also largely absent from Moonrise Kingdom. Although regular muse Bill Murray has a significant supporting role, and Rushmore star Jason Schwartzman has a brief but funny cameo, the rest of the cast is composed largely of Anderson first-timers, including Bruce Willis, Edward Norton, Harvey Keitel, Tilda Swinton, and Frances McDormand.

“Edward was someone I’d wanted to work with for a number of years,” Anderson says. “And the same with Frances McDormand. Tilda Swinton I’d had a little communication with. I love working with friends, but it’s also exciting to be able to expand the group and have new voices in my movies. I guess I www.xpressmag.com.au

Wes Anderson on set of Moonrise Kingdom just enjoy the combination. I tried not to think about who ought to play the parts. I tried to delay that process as much as I could, because I found you could focus a little more on the characters if you don’t think of people. But after a certain point you can’t help it, because you have to make this movie, and one of the key things is who is going to be in it, but I try to delay it.” _TRAVIS JOHNSON 27

THEATRE/DANCE VISUAL ARTS The Irregular Correct: New Art From Glasgow: Fremantle Arts Centre, Fremantle Presenting a selection of what’s happening right now in contemporary Glaswegian art, The Irregular Correct: New Art From Glasgow features work by 10 significant artists working across painting, sculpture, installation, live performance video and more. From a gritty port town, Glasgow has evolved into an internationally renowned artistic hotspot and a major influence on British and European art.

Dipping into the richness of European art history and with a connection to popular culture and Glasgow’s incredible musical scene (think Belle & Sebastian, Mogwai and Franz Ferdinand), the work in this exhibition resonates with varied and layered content. Runs ’til Sep 16.

World Music: Fremantle Arts Centre, Fremantle Emerging Perth-based artist Andrew Varano presents his first solo exhibition World Music at Fremantle Arts Centre. Featuring kinetic sound sculptures, video installations and Zen fountain prototypes he questions our seemingly inherent desire to set up relationships and narratives between things. Varano uses the ‘memory palace’, a technique to organise memories, to draw on disparate ideas from amateur beekeeping, conspiracy theory, global cultural production and the characters of Moby Dick, trying to reconcile the relationships between tenuous ideas. Runs ’til Sep 16.

Everything So Far: Buratti Fine Art, North Fremantle We Will Burn by Hurben David Spencer, one of Western Australia’s most promising young artists, is getting ready to present Pearth: Little Creatures Brewery, Fremantle his eighth solo show, entitled Everything So Far Hurben presents Pearth, a collection of paintings reflective of the quick shifting culture of our city. Using a at Buratti Fine Art. David’s dramatic art features range of strong symbolic local icons, Hurben creates a dystopian landscape that challenges Perth’s attitude recurring symbols and patterns in bright colours. to its past, present and future, questioning our collective motivations. Well known within the West Australian He is often inspired by streetscapes, the modern arts community, Hurben is one of the three founders of the infamous ololo collective whose credits include industrial world, what he sees around him and orchestrating the legendary Condor Car Park project and ReFace 2009 - both of which were highly influential in sometimes even what he picks up on his walks. contributing to Perth’s evolving attitude toward street art. Exhibition runs Aug 30-Sep 26.

This exhibition captures the essence of the journey David says he has been on since he started painting.

Here & Now: Lawrence Wilson Gallery, Nedlands Picasso To Warhol: 14 Modern Masters: Art Exhibition runs from Aug 24-Sep 18.

Here & Now is the Lawrence Wilson Gallery’s inaugural Gallery Of WA, Northbridge annual exhibition of early-career, contemporary Picasso to Warhol: 14 Modern Masters is the exciting Tricking The Depths: Bivouac, Northbridge Tricking The Depths is the latest solo exhibition Western Australian artists. It surveys the activities of launch exhibition of the Australian exclusive by emerging artist Martin E Wills. A mash-up of artist run initiatives and places craft-based practices partnership between AGWA and MoMA. Featuring science-fiction inspired landscapes and street- and DIY endeavors within the scope of the gallery, over 120 works by 14 of modern art’s most iconic art characters, Tricking The Depths explodes as a presenting an experimental and interconnected artists including Matisse, Picasso, Pollock and colourful vista full of unpeeling meat-men with system of art making unique to this time and place. Warhol, this exhibition presents a world-class bouffant hair, all dodging sinister holes in the ocean Features work by Tom Freeman, Ben Kovacsy, Clare introduction to the figures who redefined the very Peake and Jacob Ogden Smith. Runs ’til Oct 6. idea of art. Runs ’til Dec 3. floor. Runs ’til Oct 1.

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Home: Blue Room Theatre, Northbridge How do we find refuge when home is lost?

Three young people come together to face an unexpected event and all its repercussions.

Working from Maurice Maeterlinck’s oneact play of the same name, The Broken Image Ensemble has devised a new work of exquisite beauty and hope. Season runs Aug 28-Sep 15.

Bookings via blueroom.org.au.

On The Misconception Of Oedipus: Studio Underground, State Theatre Centre, Northbridge We know how the Oedipus story ends - he murders his father and unwittingly marries his mother. But where did this shattering tragedy begin? Devised by Zoë Atkinson, Tom Wright and WA’s own award-winning and nationally acclaimed theatre director Matthew Lutton, On The Misconception Of Oedipus turns its eye to Jocasta and Laius, the parents who birthed a child that would bring about their downfall, and in so doing brought into the world more than a man — they created a myth. Season runs Sep 5-15. Bookings via BOCS. Boy Girl Wall: Mandurah Performing Arts Centre, Mandurah The Mandurah Performing Arts Centre presents the metropolitan premiere of Boy Girl Wall, the heartwarming production by award winning contemporary theatre makers The Escapists.

This hilarious smash-hit has had critics and audiences alike raving since it first hit the stage in 2009. Boy Girl Wall is the story of Thom and Alethea, two neighbours in an apartment block, trying desperately to keep their lives from falling apart. But the wall that stands between them has decided they belong together. Season runs Sep 7-8. Bookings via manpac.com.au.

The Polite Gentleman: Blue Room Theatre, Northbridge This exciting new work written and performed

by Mark Storen, directed by Adam Mitchell, and featuring blues-infused sound design by Andrew Weir, The Polite Gentleman is a story of a man at the crossroads. Mouse wakes up with an address tattooed across his chest. He wants more and has prayed to a god he no longer believes in. His request gets diverted, enter The Polite Gentleman. The devil comes in many different disguises; in this case he is a chicken. He offers Mouse what he wants but at what cost? Season runs Sep 4-22. Bookings via blueroom.org.au.

X-Press – First on the street, Wednesdays

www.xpressmag.com.au

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beginnings of a TV career and a growing standup profile to match. But he’s only got this far after fighting a few battles.

“I’ve had a lot of jobs; most of them bad,” he begins. “I’ve been a snowmaker, security guard, university lecturer, builder, I’ve done all the hospitality jobs, been a chef, worked at a bar, I’ve been a rubbish man, worked in TV production, I’ve Sydney comedian Luke Heggie brings his been a deckhand on a boat – so many different debut standup show Master Of None to Rosie jobs...” he begins. “The worst job I ever had? Working O’Gradys from Thursday, August 30, ‘til Saturday, in fast food – hands down. Just that mixture of little September 1, as part of this year’s Wild West men managers, grief flying around the air and the Comedy Festival. Tickets are available from poor pay.”

He didn’t last very long at any of these wildwestcomedy.com.au. jobs and – as the title of his new comedy show, Master Of None, suggests – was not very good at any At least on the surface, Luke Heggie seems to of them. But that is not to say they were a waste of be doing okay. He’s a good-looking lad with the time. Because each change of job brought about a new working environment and a rich new source of material for his clever and entertaining show.

“Basically it’s a show about having heaps of jobs and lacking ambition and direction,” Heggie explains.

The strength of satire is its ability to identify and mock stupidity - and this is Heggie’s exquisite craft. While Heggie is a relative newcomer on the Australian comedy scene, having only performed standup for little over two years, his bone dry observations on society’s shortcomings are deliciously accurate, with keen intelligence underlining his wit.

“It’s dry observation, although I’m trying to move away from the deadpan thing,” Heggie says of his unique comedy style. “I’m still not this smiley comedian guy or anything like that though. My style is a mix of a few [different comedians] – a little of Steven Wright and a little of Carl Barron.”

Heggie’s ingenious one-liners – delivered with minimal fuss and frills – have already garnered him considerable critical and commercial success, including winning the 2010 National RAW Comedy Competition and being invited to appear on Ben Elton’s short lived television series Planet Earth. “I was in the finale. The show literally got axed an hour after I appeared on air,” Heggie laughs.

While Heggie says this early recognition placed considerable pressure on him while trying to produce his debut standup show, sold-out seasons of Master Of None in both Sydney and Melbourne have given him the confidence needed to pursue a long-term career as a comedian. “I’m not one to persevere with something if it’s not going well, so I knew I had to make a good impression with my debut show,” he concludes. “It’s going to sound cheesy, but being a comedian is the best job I’ve had so far.”

Luke Heggie _JENNIFER PETERSON WARD

LUKE HEGGIE

Getting The Job Done

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THE NELSON TWINS Double Lucky

T h e N e l s o n Tw i n s w i l l p e r f o r m a t t h e Empyrean Theatre on Saturday, September 1, at 8.20pm. Bookings can be made via wildwestcomedy.com.au.

Bearing striking resemblance to both Jesus and a pair of surly garden gnomes, The Nelson Twins will have Perth seeing double when they hit town for the Wild West Comedy Festival next week. Hailing from Walbundrie in country New South Wales, a town they refer to as “a mix between Hell and Mars,” Chris and Justin Nelson have experienced the good, the bad and the ugly during their six year comedy career.

“There isn’t enough time to list the low points of our comedy career! Doing a gig when there was no one in the crowd is a memorable low,” Chris recalls when probed about the Nelson Twins’ hits and misses.

Justin is quick to point out though that there have been plenty of good times too, with the twins being invited to perform on Australia’s Got Talent, The Footy Show and NBC’s Last Night Standing, in addition to plenty of live tours.

“There have been some great high points as well,” Justin clarifies. “Going to the Edinburgh International Comedy Festival in 2010 was awesome.”

The bearded boys are getting ready to make the journey west to P-town, bringing with them their new show, The Nelson Twins & Friend.

“Expect our show to be a bit cheeky, we love to push the boundaries when we’re doing live comedy,” Justin reveals.

“We asked Janelle Koenig to do the show with us,” says Chris of the mysterious ‘friend’ referenced in their show title. “She is a former Melbourne based comic who now lives in Perth. We were very excited when we found out Janelle was available.”

“God that girl is funny,” Justin adds.

As their upcoming show will demonstrate, it seems there are plenty of positives to being a twin, particularly a bearded, Jesus-look-alike twin.

“Swapping girlfriends is one of the best things,” Justin says with a wry smile.

Chris isn’t so convinced… “What do you mean, we’ve never done that!”

Most twins stop dressing the same as soon as their mothers lose control of their sartorial habits, but the Nelson boys are happy to wear the exactly same get up when taking to the stage.

“I guess we dress the same because we have to,” muses Justin. “If we weren’t doing stand up I would be wearing a dress just to be different.”

Beards have a pretty bad rep these days but the Nelson Twins think it’s time for Australia to embrace their inner outlaw.

“People forget how popular facial hair used to be. Ned Kelly, Jesus… our Grandma,” ponders Chris (who likely won’t be receiving a birthday card from Nana Nelson this year).

If you love beards, twin jokes, matching tracksuits and men who look like garden gnomes, there’s no going past The Nelson Twins & Friend. _EMMA BERGMEIER

The Nelson Twins

X-Press – First on the street, Wednesdays

One Fell Swoop

PERTH FASHION FESTIVAL

It’s The Final Countdown WA’s most style savvy individuals will come into their own this September when Perth Fashion Festival returns for another celebration of fabulous frocks, awe inspiring accessories, daring designers and jaw-droppingly beautiful models. Kicking off on Wednesday, September 19, with what promises to be a spectacular show care of One Fell Swoop, the 2012 edition of Perth Fashion Festival will feature work by hundreds of designers, including our state’s finest emerging and established talent.

The winners of the Most Innovative Designer of the Year accolade at the 2011 WA Fashion Awards, One Fell Swoop promise to set the scene for a week of sartorial delights with their stunning, transseasonal garments perfectly executed with draping, tailoring and layering. Fans of Daniel Romanin and Nikolina Ergic’s forward thinking label can purchase tickets for their show at Perth Town Hall on Wednesday, September 19, from perthfashionfestival.com.au.

The fun continues on Thursday, September 20, with a presentation by Morrison, Perth’s fastest growing fashion label that has taken the world by storm. The brainchild of Richard Poulson, Kylie Radford and their beloved Kelpie cross who is the namesake of the label, Morrison returns to PFF’s runway after a three year absence for a highly anticipated show at Fashion Paramount at 6.30pm.

A little later on that evening Fashion Paramount will play host to Designer Capsule #1, a group showcase presenting collections by four of Perth’s most talked about up-and-coming designers, including Daniella Caputi, Zsadar, Lisa Marjanovich and The Butcher & The Crow. The Designer Capsule shows always sell out, so if you want to witness this creative group’s minimalist silhouettes and delicate fabrication you’ll need to hop to it.

The evening after Designer Capsule #1, Fashion Paramount will be transformed into a shrine for the worship of WA fashion when the WA Designer Collections take centre stage on Friday, September 21.

Kicking off at 6.30pm, the event will pay tribute to early career designers such as Alushia Sanchia, Ange Lang, Anna Excell, Betty Tran, Catini Designs, Little Gracie, Martini + Coz, Monster Alphabets, Neleh & Heath, On a Whim, Peppermint Milk, Tindale and Wild Horses.

After a quick post-WA Designer Collections champagne it’s back to Fashion Paramount for Designer Capsule #2, which will bring together Kim Barton, Steph Audino and Garth Cook, for a 9pm showcase. Expect draping and pastel perfection from Steph Audino, structure and precise tailoring from Garth Cook and gorgeous summer-ready dresses from Kim Barton.

Onto the weekend and Saturday, September 22, has plenty up its sleeve, including the Designer Capsule #3 (featuring Empire Rose, Breathless and Nikki Loueza), before east-coasters Limedrop, Shona Joy, House of Wilde and Kuwaii step into the spotlight for The National Showcase.

Come Sunday, September 23, and the attention will shift to Student Runway, one of PFF’s most popular events. Highlighting the next generation of design talent, Student Runway will include bold and daring designs that aren’t commercially bound, topped off with debut collections from last year’s Student Runway winners Samuel Donaldson, Jessica Hogg and Nicole Marrington. Like the Designer Capsule shows, Student Runway is a sell-out each and every year, so don’t delay, get your tickets pronto to avoid disappointment.

Flannel If tropical prints, glamorous gowns and elegant separates get your heart racing you won’t want to miss out on Ae’lkemi’s stand alone show at Fashion Paramount at 9pm on Sunday, September 23. Designer Alvin Fernandez promises to wow spectators with his sleek, sexy and sophisticated garments fresh from showing at Milan Fashion Week.

The perfect end to a wonderful week, An Evening With Flannel will close Perth Fashion Festival on Monday, September 24, with a showcase that

“abandons the traditional runway and evokes feelings of a bygone era”, with styling courtesy of Vogue Australia’s own Meg Gray.

In addition to all of these events there’s also plenty of free shows, exhibitions and other activities taking place during the week long Perth Fashion Festival; get the full rundown of what’s on and when at perthfashionfestival.com.au or stay tuned to X-Press in the coming weeks. _EMMA BERGMEIER

Morrison www.xpressmag.com.au

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X-Press – First on the street, Wednesdays

B E A T S ,

B A S S

&

B U Z Z I N G

Sydney hip hop producer and MC Tim Levinson, aka Urthboy, is about to unleash his highly anticipated fourth record Smokey’s Haunt accompanied by his Naïve Bravado Tour which hits The Rosemount next Saturday, September 8. ANNABEL MACLEAN talks to the cofounder of Elefant Traks about the record and working with longtime producer buddies Count Bounce and Hermitude.

Tim Levinson has just returned from the Tiwi Islands off the coast of Darwin where he, as a member of Sydney hip hop outfit The Herd, recently performed. But, it wasn’t the group’s usual type of gig; supporting The Herd were The Whitney Houston Tribute Drag Show. “It was pretty great,” Levinson says down the line from Sydney, sneaking out of the office. “It’s kind of a classic drag show which I don’t really catch that often but you have really extravagant and extroverted performers miming to songs; in this case

E L E C T R O N I C A

Whitney Houston and it was a mixture of both hilarious and totally bizarre.”

Aside from that gig and a couple of shows booked for the end of the year, The Herd are, according to Levinson, “a little bit in hiatus”. But, Levinson’s been busy as always, label managing Elefant Traks and working on his much anticipated fourth record Smokey’s Haunt which is due for release in October. Although Count Bounce and Hermitude have been exclusive producers on all of Levinson’s previous material, Smokey’s Haunt is the first time in which they’ve worked together exclusively and co-produced the record. “Previously they had written the music separately so Hermitude would write a beat or Elgusto [Angus Stuart, Hermitude] would write a beat and then Count Bounce would do his thing and then every now and again, they would come together and we would mix the record but this time we didn’t do anything other than when we were all together in the same room,” he says.

“It was a real different flip and it just meant that every beat was a combination of Luke Dubs, Elgusto and Count Bounce working together and it was unreal. It was just phenomenal watching them work together. It was probably one of the most exhilarating studio experiences I think I’ve ever had.”

CONTINUED ON PAGE 30

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MADLIB TIMES AHEAD

Egon

DUB POLICE DUBSTEP Urthboy Levinson says creatively, he’s happy with the decisions which were made with regards to Smokey’s Haunt as opposed to his last record Spitshine. “We came out of Spitshine feeling a little unsatisfied about what we’d done,” he says. “There were some aspects which we were really proud of and others – sometimes you make decisions and you take risks and you do them for the right reasons and they never totally sit comfortably with you but at the same time, I’m more fearful of following the status quo when it comes to how we write our music and putting out a record that sounds like all the other hip hop artists in Australia. I’m much more fearful of following that path than I am of taking risks and potentially regretting them. So some of the creative decisions that we took for Spitshine, I don’t know if I would do them exactly the same again.”

Having approached Smokey’s Haunt with this “fearless” attitude, Levinson says it he’s pleased with the record. “There’s not even one split second where our comfort in the song has meant that we’ve compromised that fearlessness,” he says. “The fearlessness doesn’t mean that we’re making Squarepusher beats with avantgarde vocals and songwriting on top, it’s fearlessness in the sense that the songwriting we want to do is exactly like the bull’s eye of what we want to set out to achieve with our music. It’s not like ‘we would like to do this but the radio won’t play that’ or ‘in order to make our record, let’s just water down what we want to do’ – not for a second had we done that.”

Levinson says taking all the time they needed with Smokey’s Haunt was also a positive part of the process. “We didn’t rush anything and, because we were working together, we had no choice,” he says.

“Hermitude is busy, Count Bounce is really busy. It meant

that there was quite a bit of time to marinate between sessions and so we were really able to allow certain songs breathing space… we just allowed ourselves that time to be able to really care for the record a whole lot more and put a lot more time into making sure that we were really comfortable about everything on it.”

Single Naïve Bravado featuring singersongwriter Daniel Merriweather (“he’s one of a kind”), has already been getting a lot of airplay but Levinson says the song “isn’t an accurate picture of the record”.

“There a kind of polish to his vocal that I don’t think anything else on the record sits quite alongside it,” he says. Aside from the Merriweather collaboration, Levinson says two MCs from the Elefant Traks stable feature of the record, one of them being Solo and the other yet to be revealed.

Aside from getting the record out, Levinson is excited to be hitting the road for the Naïve Bravado tour alongside longtime friends and collaborators Elgusto and Jane Tyrrell.“I like to think of our show as a meeting place,” he says.“[It’s] more about everybody there on the night having that shared sort of family or community… rather than us just ‘we’re going to play you the shit and we’re going to do this and we’re going to have a couple of dance moves’. Without a doubt we are going to have some dance moves.”

» » » » »

URTHBOY NAÏVE BRAVADO TOUR SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 8 @ THE ROSEMOUNT SMOKEY’S HAUNT [ELEFANT TRAKS] OUT FRIDAY, OCTOBER 12

FRED EVERYTHING

If you’re a JJJ listener, you will have without doubt heard Feel The Love, British outfit Rudimental’s smash hit which hit #1 on the UK single and dance charts. The track has already hit #1 on the iTunes singles and dance charts and peaked at #3 on the ARIA singles and national airplay charts. Now, the lads who bring soul to electronic music are coming down under for their first Australian exclusive DJ set. The lads play Ambar on Thursday, October 11 with DYP, Micah and Ekko & Sidetrack on support duties. Tickets are $35 plus booking fee and go on sale tomorrow, Thursday, August 30, from Moshtix.

Madlib

SLIP ON YOUR SNEAKERS

Bootleg are switching boots and throwing a Sneaker Party. To kick off the night, Sydney party starter Spenda C will be coming over to party, mixing up styles from trap, to Moombah and electro. His latest tracks are getting heavy rotation from Diplo on his Radio 1 show right now so prepare yourselves. It’s all happening on Friday, September 21, at Ambar. Fresh Bootleg members 4BY4 will be on support duties alongside Genga, Riot Class and The Bootleg Brothers (Philly Blunt & Ben Mac). Tickets are $15 on the door and there will be prizes for the best and/or craziest sneakers. All you need to do is snap your sneakers using the camera on the Ambar App. Sweet as.

J Rocc

DELIVERING EPIC GOODS UK producer Zomboy, aka Josh Mellody, released his debut EP Game Time on Never Say Die Records last year and since then, his dubstep sound has been melting minds around the world. ANNABEL MACLEAN chats with the young gun about his new EP The Dead Symphonic, orchestral music and fan tattoos.

French-Canadian DJ, producer and label boss Frédéric Blais, aka Fred Everything, is up at 6am Sydney time to smash out some interviews ahead of his Australian club tour.

RK chats to the maestro about music, life and puppies ahead of his gig here this weekend.

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FEEL THE LOVE

ZOMBOY

LAZY DAYS

“I can’t sleep anymore,” Blais begins, exhaustion evident in his voice. “It’s 6am here in Sydney. I went out last night with the owner of Goldfish, the club I’m playing at tonight.”

While he may be feeling a little under the weather, the affable Lazy Days Recordings boss doesn’t admit it. Rather, he gets straight into the swing of things, explaining how fired up he is to be back in Australia and reconnecting with his fans down under. “It feels great to be back in Australia,” he reveals, not without a hint of excitement in his voice.

Born in Quebec, Canada but having lived in San Francisco for the last five years, Blais is still partial to his heritage and wears it with pride – almost like a badge of honour. “I do still go back to Canada a lot and I carry that [heritage] with me everywhere I go,” he says.

And, his heritage and background comes through in his original productions and remix work. Having earned somewhat of a legendary reputation, Blais has forged relationships with some of the biggest labels on earth - Turbo and Grand Royal - to name but a few. “From early on in my career, remixing has always been an important part of what I do,” he says. “I’ve concentrated on originals on a number of different labels as well, including Lazy Days.”

I n d e e d, B l a i s ’ i m p r i n t L a z y D a y s Recordings is going well. “ We are releasing steadily,” he says of the label. “At the moment, we are working on Kruse & Nuernberg’s first artist album that is coming out in October. We keep a family attitude around who we work with, based around who we’ve worked with in the past and who we like. We like to invest in the people close

That’s right, that’s what UK DJ and producer Emalkay will be bringing for his forthcoming tour down under when he plays Shape on Saturday, October 13. Having risen to stardom on the UK label Dub Police, Emalkay is a massive dude in the UK’s bass music scene and he’ll be dropping some bass bombs when he returns to our shores. Stay tuned for ticketing deets.

The one and only Madlib is returning down under. Known for his hip hop productions for and as part of Madvillain, Lootpack, Jaylib, Mos Def, Ghostface Killah, Talib Kweli and more, Madlib is bringing his Madlib Medicine Show to town. You can expect the show to take in all of the above influences including jazz fondlings and Latin beats.

Performing alongside him will be long time friends J Rocc and Egon. J Rocc has been around the world representing the infamous Beat Junkies and is all about the funky, dancefloor beats and Egon runs the label Now-Again. Need we say more. The show goes down on Saturday, October 27, at The Bakery. Tickets are on sale tomorrow, Thursday, August 30, from nowbaking.com.au. Get in quick, this will sell out.

Fred Everything to us. It’s also a place for me to release some of my own music and collaborations as well.”

Aside from the record label and travelling on tour, Blais has been smashing out studio sessions. “I have an EP coming out on Drumpoet Community soon,” he says. “I also did two EPs with my friend Alvaro as Frederico Y Alvaro. One is coming out on Loudeast [Records] and the other one on Room With A View. I also have a new collaboration with Atjazz that should come out end of the year or early next year.

“My girlfriend and I also adopted a husky last January and she’s been taking a lot of our free time - our life is now based around dog parks! We do try to get to the movies and keep up with independent and foreign films as much as possible - and keep up with new restaurants and food trends in San Francisco.”

So with all that said and done, Blais is heading back to our shores for his second ever visit to Perth. “I was there once before, about five years ago,” he admits. “This will be my first time at Geisha though so I’m looking forward to it and I’ve heard great things. I will be doing a four-hour set and I’ll probably get a couple of CDJs and a mixer, nothing fancy!”

» FRED EVERYTHING » SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 1 @ GEISHA

Before Game Time, Josh Mellody was producing and mixing bands. Now, in just over a year, his Zomboy moniker has taken off, and Beatport amongst other online music communities are just some of the mediums which have propelled the young UK producer into the spotlight.“It was crazy, I hadn’t even DJ’d before and all of a sudden I had to go and play in front of hundreds, sometimes thousands, of people, so I had to pick it up really quickly,” Mellody says of his life post the release of Game Time. “Then came the tour of Australia and that was really fun, and my first taste of being a full time working DJ.” Now, having worked on his follow-up EP to Game Time entitled The Dead Symphonic EP, Mellody has just begun his first huge headline tour in the States to celebrate its release. “I am really excited about it!,” he says. “I have played in America before - played Electric Daisy Carnival and Starscape in Baltimore back in June and those were amazing, the crowd was full of energy and made it really fun to play there, so I’m hopeful that the tour gigs will be just as good - touring my own headline gigs will be different too so that’s a different aspect to look forward to.”

S o n i c a l l y, M e l l o d y s ay s t h e m a i n difference between Game Time and The Dead Symphonic EP is the fact that he’s now had a year’s worth of DJing experience and been able to listen to music on club systems since Game Time was released. “I didn’t change my setup for The Dead Symphonic EP but sound wise I used a lot of tempo and also introduced a more dancefloor electro sound with one of the tracks Vancouver Beatdown,” he says. “I was able to draw influences from heroes of mine like Daft Punk, plus draw influence from the whole French sound that I really like which made working on that track really fun!”

The Dead Symphonic EP is also a lot more

Zomboy instrumental than Mellody’s previous work, with Hoedown bringing orchestral elements into the mix.“I really enjoy composing with orchestral instruments,” Mellody admits. “Writing music in this way means when I’m putting together ideas for a track I think more about the music which once I have added my production techniques I have more complete sound. I bought this incredible synth/sampler that shall remain a Zomboy secret; it’s amazing for doing orchestral pieces on and that’s why you hear so much of that in the new EP.” Aside from this new EP, Mellody has a track with British female rapper Lady Chann coming out on a compilation EP on Never Say Die Records which includes tracks from 501, Mobscene and Habstrakt.

“I’m not sure what Never Say Die have planned for me but I’m sure it involves lots of big remixes, lots of big shows and more musical output,” he says.“I’m written over 30 new ideas on the road and I don’t want to have my fans wait another year for some new stuff.

We are also discussing a live Zomboy show for 2013 that I am really excited about so watch this space.”

No doubt fans are already pumped; after all, some of them already have Zomboy tattoos. “I’ve had three people send me photos so far, two people had one on their leg and someone else had one on their arm… when I first started I definitely didn’t expect fans to be tattooing my logo on themselves!”

» ZOMBOY » THE DEAD SYMPHONIC EP [NEVER SAY DIE RECORDS] » OUT MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 3 X-Press – First on the street, Wednesdays

FLUME FIRING UP Fresh-faced Sydney producer Flume, aka Harley Streten, signed to Future Classic last year and released his debut EP Sleepless which he’s now re-releasing on vinyl with some remixes. Aside from that, there’s a debut record to be released later this year, a slot on the national Triple J House Party Tour and a set at Parklife for the young gun. ANNABEL MACLEAN gets the lowdown.

Harley Streten is back at home in Sydney when this interview takes place. It’s a rarity for the young producer who has been on the road for the last three months. “Pretty much every weekend I’m away and that’s been the case for the last three months or so,” he says. “Actually, last weekend was the first Friday and Saturday I’ve had in Sydney for three months so that was really cool.”

Streten released his debut EP Sleepless last year on Sydney indie-dance label Future Classic without any expectations.“It’s been a real slow burner [Sleepless] like it was never a big hit, it’s never been put on the A rotation on Triple J or anything,” he says. “It’s been constantly being played for the past six months on all of the radio stations and people are still discovering it so I think it has really worked in my favour that way - it didn’t just go ‘bang’ and then disappear. It’s constantly been there and people are still discovering it so it’s worked out really well and like ever since I signed with Future Classic it’s been a gradual increase of everything.

Things have started to happen.”

Indeed, things did start to happen. Streten won the Triple J Unearthed slot at Field Day earlier this year, is currently in the midst of the Triple J House Party Tour alongside Nina Las Vegas, Beni, Deacon Rose and more which hits Perth next weekend, and is playing Parklife 2012. On top of this, his forthcoming debut record is due out later this year.“I’m really excited, I know everyone says ‘I’m really excited for the record to come out’ but I am actually really excited for it to come out,” he says.

“As you can imagine it’s been a year of work or more and it’s my first ever album as well. Plus there’s so much hype about that little EP I released

MONKEYING AROUND The Brass Monkey Thursday, August 23, 2012

Emma, Kim, Lucinda

The Brass Monkey celebrated its 23rd birthday last Thursday night. Yes, 23 years, you read right. Friends and staff of the venue were at the upstairs balcony bar celebrating the good times The Brass Monkey has offered over the years. Happy birthday to The Brass Monkey and here’s to another 23 years!

Flume ages ago. I’ve never released anything like a full body of work like this.”

Streten has collaborated with a bunch of artists on the record, including Melbourne bearded beat-maker Chet Faker. “There’s quite a bit of new sounds coming,” he says of the record. “I’m trying to keep it really diverse - a lot of the stuff I’ve been doing, some of it is more like disco or house orientated or some of it beatsy and really weird. I’ve got a huge range of stuff, even one of the tracks is dubstep… then other ones are completely super chill like Sleepless style.”

Aside from the debut record, Streten says he’s pumped about his live show which he’ll be bringing to Parklife. “It’s constantly changing and I’m adding new things,” he says of the live show. “Recently I did this mash up with a Gravel Pit remix… it’s just weird stuff like that. And then hopefully we’re working on getting a really cool live show set up but then again, it’s all happening so fast we’re just trying to keep up with it.”

Streten says he’s got a hectic New Year’s period lined up but he’s not sure if he can announce any of the gigs happening around that time yet.

“We’re going to America real soon,” he says before adding, “I think we are going to go for CMJ but next year we are definitely doing Europe and probably the US too.” Perhaps South By Southwest too? “Yeah definitely, that’s the plan.”

» » » » »

FLUME TRIPLE J HOUSE PARTY TOUR SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 8 @ CAPITOL PARKLIFE MONDAY, OCTOBER 1 @ WELLINGTON SQUARE

Photos by Matt Jelonek

Jojo, Tommy

Danny, Fleur

Dani, Bic

Kelsey, Michaela

Marie, Carol, Mitch, Diego

Nicci, Andrew

Victor, Lisa, Amy

JOHN COURSE VICIOUS BEATS

Melbourne based DJ John Course is coming back to town and this time, it’s to celebrate the release of Onelove’s Mobile Disco 2012 compilation which Course mixed alongside Chris Lake and Acid Jacks. AARON CORLETT gets the lowdown from the man himself.

After 10 years, John Course has finally reunited with the Onelove HQ after he produced their very first compilation CD. Course says it was nice to return to Onelove HQ after so many years. “I got to put on some things that were a little more underground records as well as some big ones,” he says of the Mobile Disco compilation.

A three disco compilation featuring cutting edge club and crossover radio weapons from the likes of Axwell, Kaskade, Skrillex, Timomatic, Fedde Le Grand, Tommy Trash and more, Course was able to mix tracks of his choice, well, roughly 75 per cent were of his choice. “There were a few records that weren’t even on my radar because they were new tracks coming through to the OneLove label and the guys at OneLove will send it down to me, I’ll listen to them and say ‘hey, that’s rocking, I’ll love to put that on’,” he says of how tracks were picked for the compilation.

Course has also had a big year travelling overseas including playing at the Paradise Club in Mykonos and travelling to Las Vegas’ famous Electric Daisy Carnival. He says the schedule in Vegas was flat out. “The mayhem of it all becomes all consuming, you end up literally clubbing 20 hours a day for four days, sleeping about four and then on the flight home you can get some sleep because you don’t get much while you are there,” he says.

And, it ain’t stopping yet with the Mobile Disco tour just around the corner and then Course is off to La La Land in Byron Bay for another big show.

“I always love going to La La, I know a few of the owners and Byron is always a great place to visit,” Course says.

But, it isn’t just the gigs which are keeping Course busy, he’s also got his imprint Vicious Recordings which is going from strength to strength. Angger Dimas, who’s signed to Vicious, recently played Tomorrowland in Belgium as well as Electric Daisy Carnival. “He’s got a track with Steve www.xpressmag.com.au

John Course Aoki and Iggy Azalea called Beat Down which is getting played in the UK on Radio One and starting to really happen over there, there’s a great video to that as well,” he says. “He’s also got a track with Laidback Luke on Luke’s label [Mishmash Records] called Night Like This and he’s got an album coming out with us [and] remixes coming so he’s definitely one that is well and truly on the front foot.”

On the label front, Course has been hosting a free monthly podcast called The Vicious Sound System over the last few months, just a little idea he had to showcase tunes from the imprint.

“We’ve had a great response and it’s just going to continue to grow and that technology that is out there, you’ve got to embrace it,” he says, excitedly.

Course is also back in the studio working with Mr Timothy and Bobby Vena “Most of my time is spent touring, DJing and running the label Vicious so between all of that I don’t get enough time to get in the studio but when I do I try and see what comes and take it from there,” he says.

» JOHN COURSE » ONELOVE MOBILE DISCO TOUR » FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 7 @ VILLA 35

FLAWLESS

CAPITOL

The Queens – Wriggle on YaYa’s – DJ Paul Burgess

Tiger Lils – Paul Malone/ Adam Kelly Velvet Lounge – Descent Woodvale Tavern – DJ Melvin

THURSDAY 30/08

Illy

WEDNESDAY 29/08 Blvd Tavern – Dub Step Captain Stirling – Fiveo Clancy’s (Applecross) – Upbeat – DJ Andy Connections – DJs Joby /JJ /Rueben Eurobar – Wild Wednesdays - DJ iPod/ Ben Pettit Flying Scotsman – UniQue DJs/ DJ Bones/ DJ Moflow Flying Scotsman (Defectors) – Beaufort Bop ft DJ Anton Maz Gold Bar–DJ Adroc Hipe Club – DJ Roger Smart Leederville Hotel – We Love Wednesdays ft DJ Slick Metro Freo - Rapture Mustang – DJ Giles Newport – Newport Wednesdays Sovereign Arms – Lokie Shaw The Deen - DJ Zelimer/ DJ Viper/ DJ Benny/ T– Zone 1

Clancy’s (Canning Bridge) - DJ Wrighteous Claremont Hotel- DJ Fiveo/ Jimmy Thorne Club Marakesh – DJ Simon Cottesloe Hotel – DJ Shots/ DJ Andy M Empire Bar – Halo/ DJ Bojan/ DJ Ben Sebastian Flying Scotsman – Cowboys & Indie Kids DJs Leopold Hotel – DJ Riki/ Roger Smart Library - Dorcia Llama Bar – DJ Maxwell/ EMAS/ Lukas Wimler Mint Nightclub – DJ Simon Barwood Mt Henry Tavern - DJ Matty J Mullaloo Beach Hotel - DJ John Paul/ DJ Slick Mustang – DJ James Newport – Bass Culture Paramount – DJ Johnny Boi/ DJ Jordan Players Bar – MASH South St – DJ Castasia/ Dpad Swinging Pig – DJ Simon The Avenue – DJ Freedz/ Fiveo The Carine Tavern – Punchy & Juicy/ Little Nicky The Causeway – Jaymie Franchina The Craftsman – Roger Smart The Deen – DJ Flex/ DJ Nano/ DJ Surge/ DJ Don Migi The East End Bar - The Prestige ft Az-T The Queens – Kapitol The Whale & Ale – Josh Tilley The Whistling Kite - DJ Gareth

Killafoe

36

FRIDAY 31/08 Ambar – Parklife Road Trip ft Sun City DJs/ Audageous/ Zeke & Kit Pop/ Dr Space/ Gran Calavera/ Killafoe Amplifier – DJ Jamie Mac Bar 459 - DJ Smurf Boheme Bar - DJ Majiika Boulevard Tavern – DJ Andyy Broken Hill Hotel – DJ Nick Alexander Brooklands Tavern - DJ Misschief Mel Capitol – Retro Mash Capitol (Upstairs) – I Love ‘90s Carine Tavern – Greg Packer/ MC Assassin Clancy’s (Canning Bridge) - DJ Boogie Claremont Hotel – DJ Pasha/ Dale Ingvarson Club Bayview – Amnesia ft Fendi/ Axon/ Fellis Como Hotel – DJ Gazz Eastern Hotel – DJ Munch Empire Bar – Lockie Shaw Eve Nightclub – Mind Electric Flawless – DJ Ryan Flying Scotsman – DJs Jo19/ Rok Riley/ Armee Flying Scotsman (Defectors) - Back To Mono DJs Geisha – Next Hype ft All State/ EveryTeen/ Graduate/ Mike Midnight/ Mental Groove Ginger Nightclub – Rondevoo Fridayz Gosnells Club – DJ Now Hipe Club - DJ E-Funk Honey Lounge – DJ Curlee/ Drew Green

FRAT HOUSE FRIDAYS

Lakers Tavern – Fresh Fridays - DJ Dooey Left Bank – DJ Frankie Button Library – DJ Sneaky Little Creatures Loft – Marine Beats Llama Bar – DJ Reuben/ DJ Morris Merriwa Tavern – DJ Real McCoy Metro City (Solace Bar) – DJ Slick Metro Freo – Frat House Fridays ft Illy/ Death Disco DJs Mint Nightclub – Club Retro ft Chris McPhee Mullaloo Beach Hotel - DJ John Paul Mustang – Swing DJ/ DJ James MacArthur Paddy Hannans – Crazy Craig Paramount - DJ Johnny Boi/ DJ Jordan Players Bar – Sugar Queens Tav – DJ Rueben Rocket Room – DJ Franky J Sail & Anchor - Balcony Beatz/ DJ J-MAC Shape – Liquid Stranger Sovereign Arms – Dylan Hammond The Avenue – JMC The Carine – Mind Electric/ Little Nicky/ Az-T The Causeway – Jus Haus?

The East End Bar – Az-T The Generous Squire - DJ Anaru The Queens – DJ Rueben The Saint - DJ Jordan The Shed – DJ Glenn 20 The Whale & Ale – Josh Tilley Tiger Lils – Paul Malone/ Adam Kelly The Vic - DJ Giles The Wembley Hotel – Abstar Windsor – DJ Riki and Ray Victoria Park Hotel – DJ Giles Villa – Woodstock ft Carl Fox/ Indian Summers DJs and more Ya-Ya’s – Hero DJs ft Pup

Pup

SATURDAY 01/09 Ambar – Japan 4 ft Blend/ Dead Easy/ Philly Blunt/ Marty McFly/ Oli Amplifier – Pure Pop ft Eddie Electric Basement On Broadway – DJ Ricky Boheme Bar – Carte Blanche DJs Broken Hill Tavern – DJ Roger Smart/ Matt Richards/ Ben Dallin Capitol (Upstairs) – Cream Of The ‘80s ft DJ Ryan Clancy’s (Canning Bridge) - DJ Dood Claremont Hotel – Fiveo/ J.V.R Club Bay View – Fiveo Empire Bar – DJ James Ess Eurobar – Roger Smart/ DJ Raci Eve Nightclub – DJ Crazy Craig/ DJ Slick Flying Scotsman - Under The Influence DJs Flying Scotsman (Defectors) - Fore DJs Geisha – Fred Everything High Road Hotel – DJ Simon High Wycombe – DJ Matt Hipe Club – DJ E-Funk Honey Lounge – DJ Saxon/ Sardi Library – MKT ft DJ Riki/ DJ Vicktor and more Little Creatures Loft – Marine Beats Liquid Nightclub - DJ Klar55/ DJ Stevie M Llama Bar – DJ Reuben/ DJ Melvin Malt Super Club – Fiveo Matches Bar - PJstokes and Valerio Metro City (R&B Lounge) - DJ Slick/ DJ Ruthless/DJ Soso/DJ Brett Costello Metro Freo – DTuck/ Ben Carter/ DJ Wazz Mint Nightclub – Pop Life ft DJ Aaron/ AJ Mullaloo Beach Hotel – DJ Danny Mustang – Rockabilly DJ/ DJ James MacArthur Niche – Frankie Button/ Cee/ Jonny Zimber Norma Jeans – DJ Darren Oxford Hotel – DJ Sequeria Paramount- DJ Cornflake / DJ Jordan/ DJ Johnny Boi Players Bar – Snow Party 2 ft Angry Buda/ G-Wizard/ Tilo/ Partz/ Kevvy T Queens Tav - Gareth Richardson Rocket Room – Delicious (Ladies Only) ft DJ Franky J Shape - Big Ape ft Boy Cloud South St Ale House – DJ Jay Sovereign Arms – Rockwell The Avenue – Dale Ingvarson The Brighton (Upstairs) – Micah/ Kill Dyl/ eSQue The Boheme – DJ Sneakee The Causeway – Rhys Johnson The Clink –Az-T The Cornerstone – Dylan Hammond

METRO FREO

The Craftsman – Tammy Stevens The Deen - DJ Birdie/ DJ JJ/ DJ Tony Allen The East End Bar - Fiveo The Generous Squire – On Tap The Saint – DJ Anaru The Shed –DJ Tony Dee The Wembley – Lokie Shaw The Whistling Kite - DJ Craig The Vic – DJ Kristian Tiger Lils – DJ Bojan/ DJ Ben Sebastian Victoria Park Hotel – DJ Melvin Windsor – DJ Ray Woodvale Tavern – DJ Real McCoy Ya-Ya’s – Hero DJs ft Pup

SUNDAY 02/09 Captain Stirling – DJ Jay Claremont Hotel – DJ Double Dee Clink – DJ Tony Allen Empire Bar – CB3/ DJ Riki/ DJ Vicktor Euro Bar – DJ Flex Eve Nightclub – DJ LStreet/ DJ Don Migi Flying Scotsman – Nathan J/ Nizbet/ Pasha/ Chris Flying Scotsman (Defectors) – Eclectic Picnic Mint - Chris McPhee Mustang – DJ Rockin Rhys Paramount – Glo/ DJ Slick/ DJ Benny C/ DJ Matty S Players Bar – Electro House Battle Rocket Room – Coyote Ugly Sovereign Arms – Josh Tilley The Avenue – Az-T The Causeway – Lukas Wimmler The Cott – Cott Sessions The Kiosk – DJ Cinder The Saint - DJ Anaru The Shed – DJ Tony Dee

MONDAY 03/09 Bar Orient - DJ White Label Broken Hill Tavern - DJ Mario Tavelli The Deen – Plastic Max/ The Token Gesture The Paddo – DJ John Paul The Shed – DJ Andyy

TUESDAY 04/09 Bar Orient - DJ Lyndon Eastern Hotel – Jon Edwards High Road Hotel – DJ Matty J High Wycombe – DJ Ricky Hipe Club – DJ Roger Smart Players Bar (Norma Jeans Bar) – Stevie M Victoria Park Hotel – DJ Melvin

X-Press – First on the street, Wednesdays

ROCKET ROOM

DELICIOUS

THE LIBRARY

METRO CITY

IN THE THIS WEEK:

The Twins Friday, September 7 @ Eve Nightclub

Parklife Road Trip ft Sun City DJs/ Audageous/ Zeke & Kit Pop/ Dr Space/ Gran Calavera/ Killafoe Friday, August 31 @ Ambar

Urthboy Saturday, September 8 @ The Rosemount Hotel

Liquid Stranger Friday, August 31 @ Shape Next Hype ft All State/ EveryTeen/ Graduate/ Mike Midnight/ Mental Groove Friday, August 31 @ Geisha Woodstock ft Carl Fox/ Indian Summer DJs and more Friday, August 31 @ Villa Frat House Fridays ft Illy Friday, August 31 @ Metro Freo Fred Everything Saturday, September 1 @ Geisha Illy Saturday, September 1 @ Capitol Big Ape ft Boy Cloud Saturday, September1 @ Shape

COMING UP Launch ft Complete/ Omac Thursday, September 6 @ Rocket Room District ft Q-Bik/ Philly Blunt/ Marko Paulo/ JS/ Tonic/ Ol Wright Friday, September 7 @ Ambar Onelove Mobile Disco ft John Course/ Acid Jacks Friday, September 7 @ Villa

Steffi Saturday, September 8 @ The Honey Lounge Triple J House Party Tour ft Nina Las Vegas/ Flume/ Beni/ What So Not/ Deacon Rose Saturday, September 8 @ Capitol Innerspace ft Unknown Treasures DJ Sunday, September 9 @ Geisha Drumsound & Bassline Smith/ Hamilton/ Optiv & BTK Saturday, September 8 @ Villa Bow Wow Wednesday, September 12 @ Capitol Roger Shah Friday, September 14 @ Shape Nom De Strip Friday, September 14 @ Ambar Fritz Kalkbrenner Saturday, September 15 @ Geisha Krayzie Bone/ Wish Bone (Bone Thugs N Harmony) Saturday, September 15 @ Metro City Grant Smillie/ Lady Lauryn Saturday, September 15 @ Eve Nightclub ShockOne Chaos Theory Tour ft ShockOne/ Phetsta/ Dvise and more Saturday, September 15 @ Villa

The Circus Showcase ft Doctor P/ Cookie Monsta/ Funtcase/ Slum Dogz Wednesday, September 19 @ Villa Bootleg: Sneaker Party ft Spenda C Friday, September 21 @ Ambar Japan 4 ft Blaze Tripp Saturday, September 22 @ Ambar Friction/ MC Linguistics Saturday, September 22 @ Villa Octave One Saturday, September 22 @ The Bakery High Wolf Thursday, September 27 @ PICA Bar DAS EFX/ Black Sheep Thursday, September 27 @ The Civic Hotel Far East Movement Friday, September 28 @ Eve Nightclub Break-A-Holics Anonymous: Vinyl Night ft Marty McFly v Tone/ BAA (Micah/ Ben Mac/ Fdel)/ Wish v Oli/ Nyquist Freqs Friday, September 28 @ Villa Challenger Ready ft Benny P v Micah/ Bezwun v Dead Easy/ Marko Paulo/ Philly Blunt v DNGRFLD/MR eD v Bob Noceros Saturday, September 29 @ Ambar Ferry Corsten/ Shogun Sunday, September 30 @ Villa

Parklife ft Chairlift/ Modestep/ The Presets/ Nero (live)/ Passion Pit/ Plan B/ Justice (DJ set)/ Robyn/ Benga (live)/ Rusko/ Wiley/ Labrinth/ DJ Fresh (live)/ Flume/ Alison Wonderland/ Lee Foss/ Jack Beats (live) and more Monday, October 1 @ Wellington Square Seth Sentry Saturday, October 6 @ The Rosemount Hotel Paul Oakenfold Saturday, October 6 @ Villa Seth Sentry Sunday, October 7 @ The Norfolk Hotel Rudimental Thursday, October 11 @ Ambar Emalkay Saturday, October 13 @ Shape This Is Nowhere ft Jimmy Edgar/ Ikonika/ Slugabed/ Salva/ D’eon/ James Ireland/ Move Crew/ Rok Riley/ Travis Doom/ Jo Lettenmaier Sunday, October 14 @ Dolphin Theatre & Lawrence Jackson Court, UWA Jay Sean Thursday, October 25 @ Eve Nightclub Madlib Medicine Show ft Madlib/ J Rocc/ Egon Saturday, October 27 @ The Bakery Stereosonic ft Tiësto/ Avicii/ Calvin Harris/ Example/ Carl Cox/ Major Lazer/ Laidback Luke/ Martin Solveig/ Dash Berlin/ Markus Schulz/ Diplo/ Sander van Doorn/ Infected Mushroom/ Chuckie/ Flux Pavilion/ Mr Oizo/ Porter Robinson/ Loco Dice/ Bassnectar/ JFK MSTRKRFT/ Excision/ Adam Beyer/ Aly & Fila/ Caspa/ Datsik/ Joris Voorn/ Bingo Players/ Tommy Trash/ Simon Patterson/ Gesaffelstein/ Ørjan Nilsen/ Dillon Francis/ Foreign Beggars/ Zedd/ Brodinski/ Krewella/ Nina Kraviz/ Van She/ Alvin Risk/ Destructo/ MaRLo/ Treasure Fingers/ Bart B More and more Sunday, November 25 @ Claremont Showground (TBC) Sets On The Beach ft lineup TBC Sunday, December 2 @ Scarborough Beach Amphitheatre

JJ DOOM

NINA LAS VEGAS

Key To The Kuffs is the debut collaborative album from JJ Doom. It’s a collection of abstract; rough rhymes of DOOM (formally known as MF Doom) and hip hop production of American alternative hip hop artist JJ (Jneiro Jarel).

DOOM is known as one of the pioneers of underground US rap. He’s held many monikers over the years (MF Doom, Dr Doom and more) and has still maintained his mysterious reputation.

He’s collaborated with Danger Mouse, Madlib, Ghostface, Gorillaz, Thom Yorke and more and so, it’s with this in mind that expectations for Key To The Kuffs are high.

Recorded in South London, Key To The Kuffs is an album brimming with UK-inspired rhymes and references with a tinge of Cockney slang and even snippets from the British doco series My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding.

Gorillaz ’ Damon Albarn makes an appearance on the unpredictable Bite The Thong, Outkast associate Khujo Goodie brings solid rhymes to the shimmering, eclectic Still Kaps and Portishead’s Beth Gibbons adds her soulful and eerie vocals to GMO. Synthy, solid hip hop number Rhyming Slang is where it’s at but there’s a lot of fluff on this bad boy. Worth checking out if you’re a DOOM fan, otherwise, give it a miss.

After hosting House Party on Triple J for as long as Triple J’s been cool, Nina Las Vegas has released a two disc compilation filled with new music, indie hits and some classic songs. Fans of the House Party host and DJ’s work will be most pleased with the album rolling along at a brisk pace despite lasting nearly three hours.

The bright, colourful artwork reflects the album perfectly - the tracks just shoot out fun vibes.

The hopefulness of Parachute Youth’s Can’t Get Better Than This is a blissful way to begin proceedings. The first disc has a good collection of dance hits and indie classics with the likes of Nero, Afrojack and Steve Aoki all getting a good run. The 2 Bears and Knife Party offer moments of eclectic and obscure beats.

The second disc begins with some strong Aussie hip hop tracks. Tracks by the Hilltop Hoods, Urthboy and 360 are all dropped and Sydney young gun Flume’s remix of Hermitude’s track HyperParadise is the big highlight of this disc. M.I.A and Missy Elliot add some mad rhymes and girl power to the mix too.

LCD Soundsystem’s classic hit Daft Punk Is Playing At My House is the perfect way to finish off the compilation. This is a compilation that is fit for any road trip, late night study session or of course, a house party.

KEY TO THE KUFFS INERTIA/ LEX RECORDS

» ANNABEL MACLEAN 2/5

TRIPLE J HOUSE PARTY COMPILATION UNIVERSAL

» AARON CORLETT 4/5

Sets On The Beach ft lineup TBC Sunday, January 13 @ Scarborough Beach Amphitheatre

Sun City DJs

PARKLIFE ROAD TRIP FRIDAY, AUGUST 31 @ AMBAR

www.xpressmag.com.au

Big Day Out ft The Bloody Beetroots/ Crystal Castles/ Kaskade/ Pretty Lights/ Nicky Romero/ Morgan Page/ Sampology and more Monday, January 28 @ Claremont Showground Sets On The Beach ft lineup TBC Sunday, March 17 @ Scarborough Beach Amphitheatre

THIS WEEK

LUMI

TASTE OF LIFE

Ajax’s label Sweat It Out are loving Lumi, Lebanese electro-poppers who have just released their catchy indie, electro-pop bopper Taste Of Life. It’s edgy and has remixes

by Ajax and Yolanda Be Cool. Worth checking out.

37

Split Seconds (Photo: Dan Grant) Alpine

SPLIT SECONDS

Still Water Giants / Rainy Day Women / Warning Birds Amplifier Friday, August 24, 2012 It’s always exciting when four local acts sell out a venue and then manage to put on a top shelf show from start to finish. As was the case last Friday night, which an example of the strength of Perth’s established acts and the rising stars of the indie scene.

While usually a four-piece, Warning Birds were sporting an extra member wielding a violin and keyboard to supplement their warm, folk-tinged sound. This addition built on their already lush sound and without sounding cheesy, or like something from the recent folk-pop explosion. Their sound has some Eskimo Joe qualities while staying unique and is built around the powerful vocals of Sam Carmody and his harmonies with Carmen Pepper. In what became a bit of a theme for the night they pulled out a cover of Tears For Fears’ Head Over Heels to excellent effect. With music straight from the heart and soulful melodies to boot Warning Birds quite nearly stole the show from the outset.

Without changing tack too much four-piece Rainy Day Women brought their brand of indie-pop to the fore and had the now swelling Amplifier Bar crowd dancing away. The set was a fairly no-nonsense affair filled with punchy, summery indie rock songs sometimes ending a little abruptly. Continuing with the night’s cover theme the lads pulled out Stand By Me before rolling into a high tempo finish.

By now the crowd was starting to near capacity and everyone seemed terribly excited to see

Still Water Giants, whose national profile has been rapidly rising. While the acts so far had been in roughly the same vein, the Still Water Giants lads ratcheted up the intensity. The four-piece’s high energy surf-pop rock took hold as the crowd clapped along under their own steam while guitarist Tom Godden thrashed away on stage. Give Into Me had an inherently dance floor pleasing vibe to really get things moving and new song Fly Under The Radar was a winner too. A major highlight was their cover of Daft Punk’s One More Time absolutely bringing the house down with extra drums and some damn fancy guitar work.

Split Seconds took the stage to a now packed house and singer Sean Pollard was quick to thank everyone for coming along to the launch of their You’ll Turn Into Me LP launch. Security Light and Maiden Name started the set with the charm and gusto that has made them darlings of the local scene. Pollard had the presence and tone to weave emotionally charged and classically Australian stories, which is one of their biggest strengths. They could easily switch between the simple yet gripping Your Mother Was An Astronaut while able to crank out a foot-stomper like Top Floor. The set was punctuated with ethereal melodies and big finishes establishing their place as a top live band. Although they left the big single All You Gotta Do to the end, their set was engaging from start to finish and says much for their talent and where they could go in the future. _BRENDAN HOLBEN

ALPINE

By the time Alpine took to the stage the excitement in the room was immense. Onstage, they have a starkly defined visual aesthetic, with dual front-women Phoebe Baker and Lou James donning glitter and pulling choreographed dance Georgi Kay moves while the rest of the band play conscientiously behind them. There were flashes of New Wave band The Bakery The Thomson Twins in the way that Baker and James Saturday, August 25, 2012 moved about the stage, but it was all managed with For whatever reason, Alpine seem to elicit some odd a detached humour that made it pretty enjoyable.

Aurally too, the band is incredibly analogies in their reviews. The Wire Magazine recently compared the Melbourne sextet to IKEA furniture tight. Several of Alpine’s members have classical (it was meant as a compliment). The Guardian let backgrounds and there is a studied accuracy to us know that the band make music “as fresh and the way they play. The instrumental playing is minty as Swiss mountain air.” I’m not sure exactly reserved but assured and the vocal harmonies are how ‘minty’ the air in Switzerland is (it might be, I’ve impressively accurate, the two vocal lines swerving never been) but before they were Alpine they called and dovetailing about one another without ever themselves Swiss, a name they had to change last losing pitch or tone. It wasn’t until just before the set’s year to avoid confusion with fellow Australian band end, during the (deservedly) hyped single Hands and The Swiss. Which leads me to my own analogy; Alpine the volatile encore of Icypoles that the band finally let slide their polished sheen and really let loose in are a Swiss watch.

The overall impression left by the band’s performance whipping the crowd into an ecstatic debut LP, A Is For Alpine is one of precision. There frenzy. Because sounding like a Swiss watch is nice are the clear, metric clicks and ticks of the drums, and all, but for a crowd that excited, going out on a the sheer angles of the guitar and synth lines, the bang was the only way to go. way the fast, metallic rhythms meet slow moving _HENRY ANDERSEN harmonies like cogs within cogs. On top of that there’s the sophistication and elegance of the album’s construction – each moment diligently engineered to line up perfectly with every other. It’s an excellent album, but one that sounds very much like a band in a studio, and so I was interested to see how Alpine’s precision engineered pop would translate to a live setting.

The night’s support came from local Triple J favourite Georgi Kay whose tiny guitar and big voice managed to completely fill the fairly-packedout Bakery. There is a strangely defiant tone to Kay’s singing which lends a nice drama to her songs, but I’d love to see her vary up the pacing or instrumentation over the course of the set. The choice to cover Greens Keeper’s It Puts The Lotion On Its Skin was a good one, allowing Kay to broaden her music’s emotional Georgi Kay (Photos: Emma Mackenzie) palette with hints of sinister aggression.

Jill Birt (Photo: Dan Grant)

JILL BIRT

Richard Lane / Davey Lane The Fly Trap Friday, August 24, 2012 There was real feel of camaraderie wafting around the intimate climes of The Fly Trap - the Fly By Night Club’s fanciable smaller sibling room - last Friday evening.

Camaraderie and friendship, both new and old. Jill Birt’s debut album launch for her Render & Prosper LP saw friends and fans of The Triffids and old musical colleagues alike gather in support and celebration.

Richard Lane goes back with these folks, way back to the original heyday of The Triffids, when The Stems were their paisley colleagues. It’s a more avuncular Lane that takes the stage these days, however his hippy hair is countered at all times by soulful rock’n’roll shoesmithery. It was a casual set, characterised by an acoustic stroll through Walking The Dog and a poppier tune about not being much good before 10. Well it was about 9.20 and it sounded 38

pretty good to me.

The unrelated (yet eminently relatable) Davey Lane popped up next. He’s been here a load of times with the great You Am I and his old outfit The Pictures, but it was a real treat to see him perform solo.

From the heartstring-tugging Let It Go, to the heartfelt lament of Transportation Eyes, Lane performs with gusto, conveying an attitude that he is grateful to be there in the first place. He played fine ukulele on Only One Will Do and drew laughs with Nick Lowe’s uproarious Marie Provost. His forthcoming solo album, The Good Born Of Bad Tymes, looms appealingly, as does return visits.

As an occasional vocalist in The Triffids, Jill Birt provided the vulnerable foil to singer David McCombs’ rich, commanding voice. Render & Prosper is her first solo album (and first release since The Triffids’ 1989 LP, The Black Swan) and hearing most of it performed on an evening such as this often felt like an exercise in fragility. At this early stage of supporting the album live it’s possibly a challenge for Birt to hold down a whole show as the focal (and vocal) point but she went at it with aplomb and determination, accompanied by The Morning Night’s Adrian Hoffman, his father Shaun Hoffman (No Flowers No Wedding Dress) on drums and of course husband and fellow Triffid, Alsy MacDonald (guitar and drums).

Render & Prosper is Birt’s album in name, but she tellingly referred to it as “our album,” such is the familial spirit of the whole thing. What was lovely was the feel of warmth for the performers in the room, it spoke of life and experiences shared. As did Birt’s songs, particularly Fete Day, in spite of a momentary power blackout, which saw her return with a renewed vigour once electricity had been restored. Still Life recalled the tender, innocence of Birt’s Triffids’ day vocals, while her playing on what MacDonald referred to as ‘Jill’s prog-rock keyboard set up’ lent moody tones to his rendition of A Satisfied Mind.

While Triffids’ numbers Good Fortune Rose and Tarrilup Bridge were conveyed as sublimely as ever, the newer songs, notably New Territory, seemed to hunger for some bass playing to anchor them a bit, especially given that Martyn P. Casey (who features on the album) was in the room. Even so, the Hoffmans provided astute backing, as the appreciative crowd revelled at the end to 1989’s Goodbye Little Boy. It was another memory shared, another one made.

Memory lane indeed. _ BOB GORDON X-Press – First on the street, Wednesdays

www.xpressmag.com.au

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BY GEORGE, I THINK THEY’VE DONE IT! The George Wednesday, August 22, 2012 The George has had a facelift and we’re pleased to report it’s a good one, not like those facelifts you get in Thailand that make you look like a cat. Located in the heart of the city, The George has just had a makeover, with fresh furnishings including high backed stools, plush dining chairs and a banquet booth in the restaurant. To celebrate the new look there’s also a new menu on offer; head in to The George to check it out for yourself.

Greg, Rebecca & Shannon

Photographs by Daniel Grant

Oliver, Hayden, Daniel & Bobby

Corinne, Bec & Lennie

Lisa, Kyle & Katie

Jennifer & Carolyn

Jodee & Tim

Anna, Bonnie, Amelia & Hayley

METROPOLIS FREO

Illy is playing this Friday, August 31, at Frat House Fridays on the back of his new smash single Heard It All. Support comes from Chasm, who is one of the leading hip-hop producers in Australia. X-Press is giving away three double passes to the Friday show this week at Metropolis Fremantle so simply email win@xpressmag.com.au with “ILLY” in the subject line to be in the running to win.

INDI BAR

The Volcanics have been buried in the studio recording an album of late but they come out of hibernation this Saturday, September 1, to tear the roof off the Indi Bar! Sunday, September 2, sees everyone’s favourite lap slide guitarist Andrew Winton return to the stage for a Sunday session.

ROSEMOUNT HOTEL

Want to win a double pass to catch local electro-rockers The Arsonist launching their new EP this Saturday, September 1? Simply email win@rosemounthotel.com.au with ‘Win’ in the subject line to be in the running!

RAILWAY HOTEL

This Friday, August 31, catch Hello Colour Red, Sickly Sweet, The Fallen Academy and Almost Sunday. Saturday, September 1, things get heavy when Severtone, The Fall of Man, Tusk, Hello Darling and Mirror Mirror hit the stage. Sunday, September 2, catch Orinoco, The Date and Kate Gilbertson.

MOJOS BAR

Ain’t nothing but a hound dog? Score yourself some free tickets to Elvis in my Pelvis! (featuring the talents of James Teague, Seams, Dianas and Jean Marie) by emailing mojos@coolperthnights. com with “Ah HUH” in the subject line.

THE PADDO

Oktoberfest at The Paddo is back again for its fifth year on Saturday, October 20, from noon ‘til 6pm! See The Paddo transform into its very own Weihenstephan German beer hall. DJ Riki, Roger Smart and James Ess will be on stage all day plus there will be our famous strongest guy and girl competition. They will also have a fully authentic German food menu available plus The Paddo’s own sexy beer wenches will be serving you ice cold Weihenstephan half steins all day for only $10. Pre-sale tickets are $20 +BF from paddo.com.au. www.xpressmag.com.au

BEAT NIGHTCLUB

Friday, August 31, catch Puck, Black Birds and Our Man Berlin. Saturday, September 1, head down for your red cup refills, experiencing Statues Live Floor Show featuring punk rock and hardcore sounds.

THE BROKEN HILL HOTEL

Sunday, October 7, from noon ‘til late dress up in your Oktoberfest outfit for a day of fun and games, including competitions, live music, food stalls and much more.

Tickets available now from Moshtix or the venue.

HYDE PARK HOTEL

Mark in your calendars that Victorians Dead City Ruins will be bringing some chunky punk goodness on Saturday, September 8.

YA YA’S

ThisThursday,August 30,Unplugged will see six bands performing awesome acoustic sets. Friday, August 31, will see FG, RAE and The Stoops getting your weekend started in fine fashion.

BYRNELEIGH HOTEL

The Meet Market’s Spring Fling launch party at the Byrneleigh Hotel, Nedlands is this Saturday, September 1. If you find yourself seeing the same faces week in, week out and you’re in the market to find that special someone, then perhaps this could be for you! It’s all about meeting new people in a fun environment minus the dating stigma. A $50 ticket includes drinks, canapes and a Meet Market goody bag. More info and tickets are available at themeetmarket.com.au or through Moshtix.

MATCHES BAR

Matches is a new bar with a relaxed atmosphere, classy interior and pumping music. Whether it’s a chilled weeknight vibe you’re craving or a party atmosphere for the weekend, Matches have you covered. Matches is giving a group of four people their first drink free on arrival for this Friday, August 31. Simply email ‘Matches’ to win@xpressmag.com. au to be in the running.

SWALLOW BAR

Robbie Jalapeno is taking a break from laying guide tracks for his upcoming album Carmina De Nihil with an acoustic set at the Swallow Bar in Maylands this Sunday, September 2, from 3pm.

MUSTANG BAR

Custom Royal take the stage for Original Music Night this Thursday, August 30, with special guests Hyte, The Cabarets and DJ James MacArthur.

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HONEYWHEELER Good Grunge

Local rock outfit Honeywheeler are living, breathing proof that the ‘90s, in some quarters at least, are as strong now as when the angst anthems and grinding guitars of bands like Nirvana and Pearl Jam ruled the airwaves. JENNIFER PETERSONWARD chatted to frontwoman Angel Love ahead of their self-titled EP launch at The Beat Nightclub on Friday, September 7.

“I think, for a time, I believed that you couldn’t be any good if you sounded like someone/something else. I think it’s some stupid elitist rubbish I picked up somewhere, and so I was almost apologetic to have influences showing through in my music. People would say ‘oh, that reminds me of The Pumpkins’ and even though I hadn’t intended it to sound that way, I’d feel bad, like I hadn’t come up with something original enough,” explains Love.“Then I realised how retarded that thinking was, seeing as nothing is ever purely original and everyone is influenced by someone or something, and I actually took pride in my influences.

“I love my decade of choice. It’s the decade I came of age in, spent my teenage moody years in, had my first kiss in, wrote my first song in. It’s not so much that ‘90s music is necessarily better than others, but it holds the strongest memories, emotionally, for me. I don’t deliberately try to recreate it in my songwriting, per se, it has literally influenced me to the point that my music can’t help but sound that way. And I’m done apologising for it, I’ve come to accept it for what it is, and with the band filling out the sound, I’m starting to really like my own songs for the first time.”

While Love and her Honeywheeler cohorts have been championing the decade privately for some time now, they’re set to share their grungy pop/punk tunes with the world in the form of their

Honeywheeler new self-titled EP. “We wanted a fairly cohesive record so that our first offering concisely demonstrated our sound to folks who haven’t heard us before. We actually started out recording an album, and got to nine tracks before we switched to EP form, leaving four tracks behind for various reasons. The result is five succinct tracks encapsulating our energy, passion, and unique sound, and even includes a poignant guest appearance from award-winning Disappointed frontman Michael Strong,” Love says.

Gearing up to launch the new record later this month, Honeywheeler are putting a call out for all fans of ‘90s music to head to their official launch at The Beat Nightclub, which will also feature support sets from indie rockers Mezzanine, post/math rock luminaries Zeks and melodic metal/prog-rock outfit Bend The Sky. “I have nothing but praise for The Beat. It’s such an awesome place, not only for punters, but for musicians and bands especially. Those guys work tirelessly to promote local music, even to the point of spending money to promote bands. They’re not about the bottom line at all. They’re in it to support the local music scene, as fans of it, and that means so much to a band like ours,” Love concludes. “This is definitely the night to come check us out if you’re a fan of ‘90s alternative music.”

THE SURE-FIRE MIDNIGHTS Following the successful launch of their latest album Strike At Midnight a string of big gigs and supports, The Sure-Fire Midnights are getting ready to launch their first film clip for the single Sacred Gun on Friday, August 31, at The Rocket Room.

Tell us a little more about the clip you’ll be launching… The song is Sacred Gun - it’s the opening track from our latest release Strike At Midnight. Aidan Edwards directed the clip, he’s done some great clips for other Perth bands and he had some great ideas about what the clip for Sacred Gun should look like.

What was the experience of shooting the film clip like? It was heaps of fun – so different to playing live in front of an audience, having to forget that cameras are there and still rock out (haha), but was a great experience.

Did you have a very concrete idea of how you wanted the clip to look? Yes definitely. Without giving too much away we wanted to go for a really high contrast Sin City look.

What can people expect from your upcoming launch? We have a fantastic line-up – The Floors, Psychonaut and Axe Girl will be helping us. We will be showing the clip for the first time after we finish our set and then the night will be carried on by Extreme Agression with their Babes Of Metal night, Clair from the band will be one of the guest DJs. It will be an awesome night of rock‘n’roll! Doors open at 8pm, entry is $10. We will be selling CDs and new merch – be there!

LONG LIVE THE KING

Ladies and Gentleman, ardent fans of rock’n’roll, the talented local troubadour that is James Teague is set to present to you this Saturday, September 1: Elvis In My Pelvis! Teague and friends Seams, Dianas and Jean Marie, will be performing their own original numbers along with a couple of classic Elvis numbers. Entry is $5 on the door.

JUST ANOTHER UNKNOWN BAND

Mysterious rock ensemble Orinoco is crashing the Railway Hotel on Sunday, September 2, for their Psycho, Misfits, and Outlaws themed show. Joining the mayhem will be one of Perth’s best kept secrets in The Date and indie roots chantuese Kate Gilbertson, with music kicking off from 3pm.

SMELLS LIKE NEW GRUNGE

Lace up your high tops and pull on that oversized flannel, it’s time to get grungy with Emperors! Having launched their debut album Stay Frosty to rave reviews earlier in the year, the lads and lass are heading out on a massive September tour, kicking off at Amplifier on Saturday, September 1, with Trigger Jackets, The Community Chest and High Horse. Tickets are on sale now through Heatseeker. In other news, Emperors have been announced as the main support for US rockers Everclear on their Australian national tour. On Ya!

HUSH PUPPIES

Thursday, August 30, Runner play an acoustic set as a follow on show from their blissful and mesmerising show which closed last month’s Hush event at Guildford Grammar Chapel.

Those that missed the event will have another chance to catch the beguiling outfit in this unusual and insightful form at the Ellington Jazz Club. Support comes from The Shallows and The Flower Drums. www.xpressmag.com.au

TheSure-Fire Sure-FireMidnights Midnightsin inaction. action The

ODE TO JOY

Four-piece power rock/pop outfit The Joy Evelation is gearing up to release their second record at the Norfolk Basement this Friday, August 31. Having already gained airplay on commercial radio and with plans to jet off to the US in the near future, don’t miss your chance to catch the talented quartet while you still can!

CLASSY DRESSERS

Earlier in the year pop-rock aficionados Tracksuit released a new single in Beat Up Radio and a new addition to their line-up in bassist Travis Leggett. This Thursday, August 30, will see them launch new tune Classy Girl with Axe Girl and Davey Craddock at The Bird.

MASTERS OF DISGUISES

The Arsonist will fill The Rosemount with their upbeat electro-pop gems on the first day of spring when they launch their debut EP Disguises on Saturday, September 1. With support coming from Boys!

Boys! Boys!, Sam Perry, and Sparks Vertigo, this may be the most amazing sugar rush you’re going to have this year!

RA RA RASPUTIN

Get yourself down to Mojos this Thursday, August 30, for one sweet line-up of freaks and ferocity, featuring the musical stylings of Electric Toad, Catlips and Joe Macc who are banding together to help I Of Ra launch their brand new album.

SCIENCE IS GOLDEN

The drop-tune sludgy rock wizards of Ozmonaut head deeper into space this weekend, far from our Perth’s orbit toward planet Bunbury to re-launch their critically acclaimed EP Experiments In Chemistry at The Prince of Wales. Voyaging alongside them will be Serial Killer Smile and Neon Panther for what is sure to be an adventurous musical expedition from which they may never return.

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Bow Wow, September 12, Capitol

Cher Lloyd, November 1, Challenge Stadium

Regina Spektor, December 14, Belvoir Amphitheatre

SHANE NICHOLSON DEFEATER / BLACKLISTED GREENTHIEF 3 Amplifier 27 Rocket Room 5 Albany Entertainment 4 YMCA HQ 28 Prince Of Wales Centre MARTIKA/ KATE ALEXA 29 Newport Hotel 6 Civic Centre Esperance 4 Metropolis Fremantle SUNN O))) / PELICAN 7 Goldfields Arts Centre OH MERCY 28 Capitol 8 Mundaring Weir Hotel 30 Metro City 4 Settlers Tavern ROCK IT (The Black Keys, JENNIFER LOPEZ FEAR FACTORY 5 Norfolk Basement John Butler Trio, Birds Of 6 Perth Arena 20 Capitol ILLY 6 The Bakery Tokyo, The Panics Lanie LAGAWAGON GIAN SLATER 31 Metropolis Fremantle SETH SENTRY Lane, Last Dinosaurs, 21 & 22 The Ellington 6 The Rosemount 1 Capitol 4 Studio 146 Albany Royal Headache, HOPELESS MISSY HIGGINS 5 Prince Of Wales Graveyard Train, Brothers 8 Fremantle Arts Centre 21 Amplifier 6 Rosemount Hotel Grim, The Toot Toot Toots, NICKI MINAJ / TYGA 23 YMCA HQ TIM HART 7 Norfolk Hotel and more) BRITISH INDIA 8 Perth Arena 31 The Ellington KELLY CLARKSON / THE 28 Joondalup Arena 22 Amplifier PRIMAL SCREAM 1 Newport Hotel THURSTON MOORE HANSON / MATT WERTZ FRAY 11 Astor Theatre 30 Rosemount Hotel 22 Metropolis Fremantle 5 Challenge Stadium REGINA SPEKTOR THE SMITH THE RUBENS GYROSCOPE 19 Belvoir Amphitheatre 5 Capitol 22 Rosemount Hotel STREET BAND EVAN DANDO / JULIANA NOVEMBER NEWTON FAULKNER 31 Rosemount Hotel HATFIELD 6 Prince Of Wales 22 Fly By Night HOT CHELLE RAE / CHER 22 The Rosemount 7 Newport Hotel XAVIER RUDD PSYCROPTIC LLOYD 25 Goldfields Arts Centre TZU 31 Amplifier Bar 1 Challenge Stadium 5 Baqr 120 Kalgoorlie JANUARY 2013 KARMA COUNTY 26 Esperance Civic Centre 6 Amplifier 1 Clancy’s Fish Pub 28 Albany Entertainment 7 Prince Of Wales THE ENGLISH SOUTHBOUND (The HYPERFEST (Bluejuice, Fremantle Centre BEAT Flaming Lips, SBTRKT, BILLY BRAGG 29 Fremantle Arts Centre Seth Sentry, Grey 1 Astor Theatre Best Coast, Beach House, 30 Caves House Yallingup Ghost,, and more TBA) 2 Astor Theatre Boy & Bear, Coolio, AT THE GATES 7 Midland Oval SOLA ROSA The Vaccines, Bombay PSYCROPTIC THE AMITY AFFLICTION 3 Capitol 26 Indi Bar Bicycle Club, First Aid Kit, 1 Eliot Street Bar Bunbury 28 Clancy’s Dunsborough / THE GHOST INSIDE / THE LIVING END Hilltop Hoods, Hot Chip, 2 Newport Hotel 1-7 Rosemount Hotel ARCHITECTS 29 Amplifier Maximo Park, Millions, EMMYLOU HARRIS 7 & 8 Metropolis THE EASTERN Totally Enormous Extinct 6 Perth Concert Hall Fremantle 27 Clancy’s PRITA GREALY Dinosaurs, Angus Stone, JOE LONGTHORNE / CANNIBAL CORPSE / HIGH WOLF 1 Clancy’s Fish Pub DISENTOMB / ENTRAILS MELISSA MANCHESTER Ball Park Music, Cosmo 2 Swings & Roundabouts 27 PICA Bar Jarvis, Django Django, 7 Regal Theatre ERADICATED TIM ROGERS Winery Yallingup The Hives, Jinjo Safari, JOSH PYKE 27 Clancy’s Dunsborough 9 Capitol Lisa Mitchell, Matt Corby, 8 Artbar STEEL PANTHER 28 Fly By Night Club GRAMPS CHARLIE MUSSELWHITE Sharon Van Etten, Two 11 Metro City 29 Rosemount Hotel Door Cinema Club ) BAND PAUL CAPSIS JULIA STONE MORGAN 4 & 5 Sir Stewart Bovell 8 Fly By Night 11 Artbar 28 Astor Theatre 2 The Bakery Park Busselton TRIPOD STEPHEN MALKMUS & MUMFORD & SONS / 9 Quarry Amphitheatre 65 DAYS OF STATIC EDWARD SHARPE & THE JICKS SEPTEMBER 5 The Bakery THE MAGNETIC ZEROS / REFUSED 28 Rosemount Hotel 9 Metropolis Fremantle SANDI THOM FAR EAST MOVEMENT WILLY MASON GEORGE MICHAEL PRITA GREALY 12 & 13 Belvoir 10 Fly By Night 28 Eve Nightclub 10 Perth Arena 13 Ellington Jazz Club Amphitheatre AARON GOLDBERG NIGHTWISH PROGFEST (Ne 15 Indi Bar SOUND OF SEASONS 28 & 29 The Ellington 20 Metropolis Fremantle Obliviscaris, and more HOWARD JONES KATIE NOONAN & KARIN 12 Metropolis Fremantle WEEZER TBA) 5 Astor Theatre 13 Amplifier Bar SCHAUPP 23 Perth Arena 10 Civic Hotel JOSE FELICIANO 14 YMCA HQ 28 Winthrop Hall UWA BIG DAY OUT (Red MATCHBOX TWENTY 5 Regal Theatre DAVE WARNER’S FROM 29 Mandurah Performing Hot Chili Peppers, The 11 Perth Arena THE BEACH BOYS THE SUBURBS Arts Centre Killers, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, ELTON JOHN 6 Burswood Dome 13 Charles Hotel SIX60 Vampire Weekend, Band 12 Perth Arena MILLIONS SOUND OF SEASONS 29 Metro City Of Horses, Kaskade, 7 Amplifier 12 Metropolis Fremantle SIGUR ROS RUMBLE IN THE Animal Collective, 13 Belvoir Amphitheatre Against Me!, 360, Foals, DAMIEN LEITH 13 Amplifier UNDERGROUND (The THE BEARDS / THE 8 Astor Theatre 14 YMCA HQ Sin & Tonics, The B.O.B, Sleigh Bells, Jeff SNOWDROPPERS THE MEDICS ReChords, Hank’s Jalopy COUNT BASIE The Brotherhood, Off!, 15 Prince Of Wales 8 Amplifier Demons, Scotty Baker, ORCHESTRA Grinspoon, Jagwar Ma, 16 Settlers Tavern URTHBOY Kieron McDonald, Lady 14 Perth Concert Hall Delta Spirit, Everytime I 17 Rosemount Hotel 8 Rosemount Hotel Voodoo & The Rituals, EVERCLEAR Die, House Vs Hurricane, 18 Indi Bar JOHN 00 FLEMING/ Pat Capocci Combo and 14 Capitol Alabama Shakes, and WASHINGTON JASON CREEK THIS IS NOWHERE more) 16 Quarry Amphitheatre more) 8 Metro City 29 State Theatre Centre (Tortoise, Xiu Xiu, NICKELBACK / JACKSON 28 Claremont ROTTOFEST (Millions, The Underground Grails, Beach Fossils, Showgrounds FIREBIRD Medics and more) The Bank Holidays, SHIHAD 17 Perth Arena 8 & 9 Rottnest Island HTRK, Puro Instinct, 28 Amplifier BOW WOW High Tea, New War and DEEP SEA ARCADE 30 Mojos Bar FEBRUARY 23 The Rosemount 12 Capitol more) WAVE ROCK STEREOSONIC (Tiësto, SUBHUMANS WEEKENDER (Stephen 14 Somerville DAVID HASSLEHOFF Avicii, Calvin Harris, 12 Amplifier Auditorium and Malkmus & The Jicks, Example, Carl Cox, Major 17 Capitol JONAH MATRANGA Tim Rogers, Shihad, and surrounds ED SHEERAN Lazer, and more) 12 Amplifier KARISE EDEN more) 23 Challenge Stadium 25 Claremont 14 C5 Metropolis 16 & 17 St Joseph’s 29 - 30 Wave Rock Showgrounds Fremantle Church Subiaco Caravan Park JOHN WILLIAMSON AMERICA TODD MCKENNEY RUSSIAN CIRCLES / MARCH 30 Quarry Amphitheatre 12 Perth Concert Hall 18 & 19 Astor Theatre EAGLE TWIN PATRICK WOLF CLARE BOWDITCH 30 The Bakery SOUNDWAVE 2013 14 Fly By Night 20 Astor Theatre FEAR FACTORY (Metallica, Linkin Park, DECEMBER KATCHAFIRE PAUL HEATON 30 Capitol Blink-182, The Offspring, 14 Astor Theatre 21 Fly By Night Paramore and more) JUSTINE CLARKE 15 Settlers Tavern SHELLAC 4 Claremont 1 Astor Theatre OCTOBER 16 Prince Of Wales 25 Rosemount Hotel NATURAL NEW ZEALAND Showgrounds EARTH / MARGINS LEB I SOL GLENN SHORROCK/ MUSIC FESTIVAL ( JOE BONAMASSA 15 Rosemount Hotel 26 Chares Hotel 1 Perth Concert Hall INVADERS BASTARDFEST(Astriaal, Shapeshifter, Kora, Ladi6, WENDY MATTHEWS/ DOUG PARKINSON Trinity Roots, David PARKLIFE (The Presets, 15 Charles Hotel Fuck I’m Dead, Nero, Passion Pit, Plan BARRY ADAMSON Desecrator, and more) Dallas, P-Money & More) 14 Quarry Amphitheatre 1 Red Hill Auditorium B, Rusko, Tame Impala, 15 Fly By Night Club 27 Civic Hotel JASON BONHAM’S LED Chiddy Bang, Robyn, and THE LIGHTHOUSE TRIO SIMPLE MINDS / DEVO / SEPTEMBER THE CHURCH / MODELS ZEPPELIN’S EXPERIENCE more) 27 & 28 The Ellington 4 Kings Park & Botanical 1 Wellington Square SMASH MOUTH 15 POSTPONED ONE DIRECTION Garden 27 & 28 Metropolis NEKROMANTIX LOON LAKE 28 & 29 Perth Arena KASEY CHAMBERS/ Fremantle 15 Amplifier 2 Rosemount Hotel

THIS WEEK

RUFUS WAINWRIGHT 19 Riverside Theatre

SLASH FEAT. MYLES WHEATUS KENNEDY & THE 20 Metropolis Fremantle MYSTERY JETS CONSPIRATORS 20 Capitol

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X-Press – First on the street, Wednesdays

www.xpressmag.com.au

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Elk Bell, Wednesday at The Moon

Runner, Thursday at The Ellington

WEDNESDAY 29.08

THURSDAY 30.08

AMPLIFIER The Decline BALMORAL Andrew Winton BAR 120 Felix BRASS MONKEY Sugar Blue Burlesque CLAREMONT HOTEL Open Mic Night ELLINGTON JAZZ CLUB Sarah Ramsey Quintet GREENWOOD Bernardine HALE ROAD TAVERN Fenton Wilde INDI BAR Gus McKay LUCKY SHAG Howie Morgan MOJOS BAR Mitch Becker Trio Justin Walshe Tracey Barnett MUSTANG Blue Gene NEWPORT Newport Wednesdays PADDO Dove Bruno Kizzy PADDY HANNANS 5 Shots ROSEMOUNT Red Sky This Other Eden Foam ROSIE O’GRADY’S (NORTHBRIDGE) David Fyffe THE BROWN FOX Courtney Murphy THE MOON Elk Bell Axe & Ness Nat Ripeppi UNIVERSAL Strutt

BELGIAN BEER CAFÉ Chasing Calee BRASS MONKEY Rhythm Bound Karaoke BRIGHTON Open Mic Night BROOKLANDS TAVERN Celebrations Karaoke COMO HOTEL Courtney Murphy DEVILLES PAD Rock ‘N’ Roll Karaoke DUNSBOROUGH TAVERN Open Mic Night ELLINGTON JAZZ CLUB Runner The Flower Drums The Shallows HIGH WYCOMBE HOTEL Chris Murphy HYDE PARK HOTEL Lixy INDI BAR Bex Open Mic Night LUCKY SHAG James Wilson MARKET CITY TAVERN Brad Wintle Emily Conan Chapman Nick McPherson Nathan & Jebb MERRIWA TAVERN Overload MOJOS BAR I Of Ra Electric Toad Catlips Joe Macc MUSTANG BAR Custom Royal Hyte The Cabarets NEWPORT Bass Invaders OCEAN BEACH HOTEL Open Mic Night

Emperors

EMPERORS

TRIGGER JACKETS THE COMMUNITY CHEST HIGH HORSE

SATURDAY,SEPTEMBER 1

AMPLIFIER

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OXFORD HOTEL Johnny Taylor PADDY HANNANS Dr Bogus ROSEMOUNT The Witches Those Wretched Horses Race To Your Face Powder For Pigeons ROSIE O’GRADY’S (FREMANTLE) Clayton Bolger ROSIE O’GRADY’S (NORTHBRIDGE) Neil Colliss SOVEREIGN ARMS David Fyffe THE BIRD Tracksuit Axe Girl Davey Craddock THE BOAT Jen De Ness THE BROOK Open Mic Night THE GATE One Trick Phonies THE SHED Shillelagh Law UNIVERSAL Off The Record WOODVALE Two Plus One YA YA’S Sickly Sweet Logan Crawford The Beers Rich Widow Calectasia The Crooked Cats

Tracksuit, Thursday at The Bird

DEVILLES PAD The Darling Buds Of May Cottontail Trio DUNSBOROUGH TAVERN Aido Tina EAST 150 Chris Gibbs EASTERN HOTEL Matt Milford EDZ SPORTZ BAR Gotham City ELEPHANT & WHEELBARROW Daren Reid & The Soul City Groove ELLINGTON JAZZ CLUB The Graham Wood Trio Tim Hart Sam Nafie EMPIRE Howie Morgan FUSE BAR Groove Karaoke GLOUCESTER PARK Courtney Murphy GREENWOOD Greg Carter HERDSMAN One Trick Phonies HIGH ROAD HOTEL Clayton Bolger The Damien Cripps Band HIGHWAY HOTEL Northern Muse HYDE PARK HOTEL Nathan Gaunt Scalphunter Wizard Sleeve FRIDAY 31.08 The De Niros 7th AVENUE INDI BAR Midnight Rambler Vdelli AMPLIFIER INDIAN OCEAN Psycroptic BREW BAILEY BAR Ben Merito Mod Squad KALAMUNDA HOTEL BALLYS BAR Andrew Winton Anderson KULCHA BALMORAL Lynda Smyth The Mojos BASSENDEAN HOTEL The Borrowed Few LANGFORD Overload ALEHOUSE BEAT NIGHTCLUB Gaffa Our Man In Berlin MARKET CITY Black Birds TAVERN PUCK Matt Burke BELMONT TAVERN Alicia Risk James Wilson METRO FREO BENTLEY HOTEL Illy Karin Page MOJOS BAR BLACK BETTYS The Seals Everlong Deb “Spoons” Perry BOAB TAVERN Beans Buma’s Boys Of Blue Hornet Rhythm BRASS MONKEY MOON & SIXPENCE George Green BROKEN HILL HOTEL Soul Corporation MUSTANG BAR Nat Ripepi Harry Deluxe BURSWOOD (PRIZE Cheeky Monkeys DRAW STAGE) NEWPORT Decoy Party Rockers CAPTAIN STIRLING NORFOLK Cargo Beat BASEMENT CARLISLE HOTEL The Joy Elevation Reload PADDO CHASE BAR Simon Kelly Chasing Calee PADDY HANNANS COMO HOTEL Gun Shy Romeos Trevor Jalla PARAMOUNT CORNERSTONE Flyte Easy Company PEEL ALEHOUSE CRAFTSMAN B.O.B Blaze

PLAYERS BAR Serial Killer Smile PRINCESS ROAD TAVERN Free Radicals PRINCIPAL Dove RAILWAY HOTEL Hello Colour Red Sickly Sweet The Fallen Academy Almost Sunday ROCKET ROOM The Sure Fire Midnights The Floors Psychonaut Fuzz Hustler ROSE & CROWN Tod Woodward ROSEMOUNT The Smith Street Band Grim Fandango Monuments Chilling Winston ROSIE O’GRADY’S (FREMANTLE) Spyce ROSEY O’GRADY’S (NORTHBRIDGE) Neil Colliss SAIL & ANCHOR Howie Morgan Childs Play SOUTH ST ALE HOUSE Robbie King Karaoke SPRINGS TAVERN Greg Carter Karaoke STEVE’S BAR Take 3 SWAN BASEMENT In Orbit Lillium Stargazer Rotaxus St Jude’s Hostel SWAN LOUNGE Death Elevator One Armed Scissor Hyte Supergames SWINGING PIG Better Days Greg Carter THE BIRD Rhythmatism THE BOAT The Organ Grinders THE GATE Smoking Section THE SAINT Emmanuel THE SHED Kickstart THE VIC Jen De Ness TIGER LILS Paul Malone Adam Kelly Alex Koresis UNIVERSAL Nightmoves VELVET LOUNGE Louis & The Honkeytonk The Old Croak Lucy Peach The Jones Facility VICTORIA PARK HOTEL Ivan Ribic WANNEROO TAVERN Ryan Rafferty

X-Press – First on the street, Wednesdays

Listing deadline is Monday 5pm. GO TO www.xpressmag.com.au /PLUG YOUR GIG and plug away!

The X-Press Guide is a Perth metropolitan service for advertisers listing tours, live, dance and arts events.

All inclusions are at the discretion of X-Press Magazine. The one entry system will update our print edition, website and App

Puck, Friday at Beat Nightclub WOODVALE TAVERN Switch YA YA’S FG Rae The Stoops

SATURDAY 01.09 ADMIRAL B.O.B AMPLIFIER Emperors Trigger Jackets Community Chest High Horse BALLYS BAR Dove BALMORAL The Recliners BAILEY BAR Courtney Murphy & Murphy’s Lore BAR 120 Flyte BELGIAN BEER CAFÉ Mike Nayar BLACK BETTY’S J Babies BURSWOOD (PRIZE DRAW STAGE) Hi NRG CAPITOL Illy CIVIC BACK ROOM Nails Of Imposition Gates Of Perdition Blunt Force Trauma Dawn Of Leviathan CIVIC HOTEL (THE DEN) The Black Jackets Oak Tree Suite SaySky Art Unknown COMO HOTEL Christian Thompson DEVILLES PAD Tabas.Co Les Sataniques ELLINGTON JAZZ CLUB Fiona Lawe Davies 3 Victoria Newton Quintet JL & The Imagin8s EMPIRE James Ess GREENWOOD Baby Piranhas HIGH ROAD HOTEL Dr Bogus HYDE PARK HOTEL Ragdoll Delusions Of Grandeur The Branson Tramps Potent Remedies INDI BAR The Volcanics The Wishes Benny Mayhem KULCHA The Miracle Band LAKERS The Mojos LANGFORD ALEHOUSE Die Hard Karaoke LEOPOLD HOTEL Steve Hepple LOBBY LOUNGE (BURSWOOD) John & Shaun Sandosham

M ON THE POINT Rhythm 22 MOJOS BAR James Teague Seams Dianas Jean Marie MOON & SIXPENCE Grand Theft Audio MUSTANG The Rusty Pinto Combo Milhouse NEWPORT Kizzy Gravity NORFOLK BASEMENT Axe Girl Loose Lips Lucy Peach PADDY HANNANS Decoy PARAMOUNT Felix PLAYERS BAR Snow Party PEEL ALEHOUSE Overload QUARIE BAR Electrophobia RAILWAY HOTEL Mirror Mirror Hello Darling Tusk The Fall Of Man Severtone ROCKET ROOM Kickstart ROSEMOUNT The Arsonist Boys! Boys! Boys!

Sam Perry Sparks Vertigo ROSIE O’GRADY’S (FREMANTLE) Flavor ROSIE O’GRADY’S (NORTHBRIDGE) Blue Gene SAIL & ANCHOR The Kickstarts Adlustre STEVE’S BAR Dave Sofield SWAN LOUNGE The Basement Sea Trio Ned Wishart SWINGING PIG Greg Carter Big Steve Spouse Band THE BOAT 11:11 THE GATE Dirty Scoundrels THE SHED Huge UNIVERSAL Soul Corporation WANNEROO TAVERN Better Days WHALE & ALE Midnight Rambler WOODVALE TAVERN Lush YA YA’S DVS FG Wisdom 2th ASAP Marksman

SUNDAY 02.09 7TH AVENUE Reckless Kelly BALLY’S BAR Greg Carter BALMORAL Chasing Calee

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Friday Friday Travis Caudle The Arsonist, Saturday at Travis Caudle Fly ByNight Night TheFly Rosemount By BAR ORIENT Matt Milford BRIGHTON Mooditj Bros BROKEN HILL HOTEL Chris Murphy CAPTAIN STIRLING Christian Parkinson CARINE Wesley Goodlet Jamboree Scouts CHASE BAR James Wilson CLANCY’S FREMANTLE The Zydecats CLAREMONT HOTEL Sunday Driver COMO HOTEL Ricky Green EAST 150 BAR Jamie Powers ELEPHANT & WHEELBARROW Daren Reid & The Soul City Groove ELLINGTON JAZZ CLUB The Gavin Kerr Quartet FLY TRAP Stage Fright Open Mic EMPIRE CB3 HALE ROAD TAVERN Chris Gibbs INDIAN OCEAN BREW CO Retriofit INDI BAR Andrew Winton KALAMUNDA HOTEL Bernardine LAKERS TAVERN Jamie Powers LANGFORD ALEHOUSE Kirk Soloist LAST DROP Brett Hardwick M ON THE POINT Electrophobia MOJOS BAR (ARVO) Bloke In Coats Cangkang Ferigala MOJOS BAR (EVE) The W*H*O*R*E*S Stereoflower Those Wretched Horses Puck Foam MUSTANG BAR Peter Busher & The Lone Rangers NEWPORT Tim Nelson Psycroptic Malignant Monster Sensory Amusia Nails Of Imposition OCEAN VIEW TAVERN Free Radicals PEEL ALE HOUSE Matt Angel PIG & WHISTLE One Trick Phonies PINK DUCK Kevin Conway PRINCIPAL Dove QUARIE BAR Gotham City QUEENS TAVERN Big Al & The Deacons

The Volcanics, Saturday at Indi Bar

RAILWAY HOTEL Orinoco The Date Kate Gilbertson ROSEY O’GRADY’S (NORTHBRIDGE) Jonathan Dempsey SAIL & ANCHOR Mike Nayar SOUTH ST ALE HOUSE Anthony Nieves SOVEREIGN ARMS Ivan Ribic SPRINGS TAVERN Ryan Dillon STIRLING ARMS Helen Shanahan SWINGING PIG Adam James Simon Kelly THE GATE Better Days THE SAINT Howie Morgan Project THE SHED The Healy’s Blue Hornet UNIVERSAL Retriofit VICTORIA PARK HOTEL Damien Cripps WANNEROO TAVERN Ryan Rafferty WOODVALE TAVERN Good Karma YA YA’S Some Lone Ranger Fuzz Bucket Gloria Ironbox Aurora Subtle & The undertones

MONDAY 03.09 BRASS MONKEY James Wilson ELLINGTON JAZZ CLUB Christ Church Jazz LOBBY LOUNGE (BURSWOOD) Courtney Murphy

MOJOS BAR Wide Open Mic Night MUSTANG BAR Marco & The Alley Cats THE DEEN Plastic Max & The Token Gesture YA YA’S The Black Jackets Bishi Bashi The Take Over Those Wretched Horses Breed From The Dunes

TUESDAY 04.09 ELLINGTON JAZZ CLUB Talya Valenti LOBBY LOUNGE (BURSWOOD) John Sandosham LUCKY SHAG Christian Thompson MERRIWA TAVERN Celebrations Karaoke MOJOS BAR The Black Jackets!

Saysky Bishi Bashi Oak Tree Suite PADDO Simon Kelly PRINCE OF WALES Open Mic Night SETTLERS TAVERN Open Mic Night THE BIRD Fat Shans & Friends THE BROOK Greg Carter Karaoke TWO ROCKS TAVERN Jump For Joy Karaoke YAYA’S The Ship Wrecks Lillium Stargazer The Midnight Mules The Bonekickers

Orinoco

ORINOCO THE DATE KATE GILBERTSON

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 2

RAILWAY HOTEL

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Classifieds and Music Services Hotline: 9213 2888 Display ads: musicservices@xpressmag.com.au Deadline: 4pm Monday Credit cards welcome

MUSOS WANTED BASS PLAYER WANTED Original Alt/heavy rock. Age 18-35. Infl, Tool, SndGdn, FnM, AiC. No costs. Call Chris 0400 782 905 FEMALE VOCALIST WANTED For est. working duo. Good voice & stage presence essential. Ph 0406 382 078.

LEAD GUITARIST WANTED for working cover band. RU enthusiastic and easy going? If this sounds like you call Phil 0418 440 977 or Peter 0414 1611 110 MENU MUSIC/TOTAL HITS CD SAMPLER Interested in hearing YOUR music played in WA cafes and restaurants? Total Hits & Menu Magazine are launching a 2nd compilation CD. The cost to be involved is only $1,000 + GST and you will be featured on a CD that is distributed to cafes and restaurants around WA, profiled in Menu Magazine, featured on www. westcoastcafes.com.au, featured on www. totalhits.com.au and get 50 copies of the compilation CD. Call 9430 6007 or email us at info@eyersrocket.com.au to get involved.

OPEN MIC NIGHT Every Thursday at Moondyne Joes. All welcome. Friendly atmosphere, Call Mark 0409 137 850.

OPEN MIC NIGHT every Thursday night at Indi Bar. Just call Tash on 0458 095 364.

OPEN MIC NIGHT Every Tuesday night at the Craigie Tavern 8-11pm. Call Corey for bookings 0431 448 235 SINGER WANTED For new Perth based stoner Rock/Metal band. Influences BLS, Machine Head, Down. Link www.myspace. com/project61XX19. Ph 0412 417 301.

VOCALIST & BASS PLAYER WANTED For Corporate Cabaret band. Call Focus Promotions Mon-Fri 9272 4144.

VOCALIST REQUIRED Tumultum, original hard rock/metal band require melodic vocalist.

Jesse: 0449992907 VOCALIST WANTED For Alt Rock covers band. Playing AIC, STP, PJ, QOTSA, Sound Garden, Audio Slave & Tea Party. Gigs waiting.

Interested parties please call Jarrod on 0424 448 289 for auditions.

PHOTOGRAPHY P R O J E C T P H OTO G R A P H Y Pr o m o photography, studio, live, location.

Mike Wylie 0417 975 964 w w w. p r o j e c t p h o t o g r a p hy. c o m When its time to ice the cake...

PRODUCTION SERVICES * LIGHTING * AUDIO* STAGING * www. nightstarlightingaudio.com.au www. nightstarlightingaudio.com.au www. instandt.com.au www.instandt.com.au 9381 2363/ 9444 6651 CD & DVD MANUFACTURE Check out our latest CD & DVD specials online at www. procopy.com.au 9375 3902 MATRIX PRODUCTIONS AUSTRALIA Lighting, staging, sound systems, smoke machines, night club FX, intelligent lighting, strobes & mirror balls, crowd barriers, video projectors. 9371 1551 PA HIRE Vox P.A’s and Funktion-One concert systems.Beat any quote.9307 8594/ mob 0404 410 020. perthconcertsound.com.au.

PA HIRE, PRO SYSTEM, FULL FOLD BACK Experienced operator. Optional light show.

Fidelity sound on 0404 331 320.

RECORDING STUDIOS ALAN DAWSON’s WITZEND RECORDING STUDIO Prof quality albums or demos,large live room, experienced engineer, analog to digital transfers, mastering..Alan 0407 989 128 or Jeremy 0430638178 www.witzendstudios.com

ANDY’S STUDIO International multi award winning songwriter / producer. No band required. Broadcast quality. A songwriter’s paradise. Ph 9364 3178 AVALON STUDIOS BIBRA LAKE One of Perths best equipped studio. Record to analog tape or digital, Avalon pre amps, Neumann mics, the latest and best universal audio, plug in’s for digital recordings. All styles of music, $55 per hour call Tony 0411 118304 email - avalonstudios@bigpond. com G O L D D U S TCO N S T R U C T I O N . CO M Production, mixing, recording and composition for your music. Unique award winning skills to take songs from ideas to finished mixes or to fulfill the potential in existing ones. Located in Subiaco. $60 p/h.

Andrew 0408 097 407 ORACLE SOUND RECORDING STUDIO Multitrack Studio In Osbourne Park Specialising In Punk, Metal and Hardcore.

Tracking, Mixing and Song Writing available.

Matt 0420 308 935 or Jay 0410 383 630. www.oraclesound.com.au POONS HEAD MASTERING Analog mastering at its best. Clients include Mink Mussel Creek, Jeff Martin, The Panics, Pond + The Floors. World class facility. World class results. www.poonshead.com 9339 47 91 RECORDING MIXING MASTERING PRODUCING Fremantle location. Call Pete Kitchen Cooked Records. Ph 0407 363 764 / 9336 3764 REVOLVER SOUND STUDIO Ph 9272 7505. www.revolverstudio.com.au SONGWRITERS! - UNLOCK YOUR SONGS’ POTENTIAL +FREE BAND APPRAISALS. UK Producer, 40,000+ hours studio experience. 20 yrs in London with bands and songwriters. Kicking arrangements,

great studio and the ability to really listen will give your material the edge you need.

Call Jerry on 0405 653 338 or visit www. jerichomusic.com.au REHEARSAL STUDIOS AAA VHS REHEARSAL ROOMS Great facilities, great vibe & great price!!! Unit 5 /16 Peel Road, O’Connor. Phone 9418 5815 or 0413 732 885 BIGBEAT SOUND STUDIO Clean rooms, all new PA systems, air-con and good parking . Willetton Ph: 0425 698 117.

PLATINUM SOUND ROOMS Professional rehearsal rooms, airconditioned, quality PAs mob 0418 944 722 TUITION ***GUITAR LESSONS*** The Guitar Specialist. Beg-adv, all styles and levels including bass. Cliff Lynton Guitar Institute.

Mt Lawley 9342 3484 / www.clifflynton. com BASS LESSONS Rock, funk & jazz. Tony Gibbs 9470 6131 DRUM LESSONS All styles, WAAPA prep.

Modern techniques, rudiments, soloing, favourite songs. Beg-Adv. Ph: Pascal 0413 172 817. Available 7 days & all holidays.

GUITAR LESSONS For beginner students.

Learn how to start from the beginning, play your favourite songs, chords, solos and more. 6 years teaching experience. Guitars and Amps available for hire. Lessons in Duncraig, call Luke on 0400021560.

SINGING LESSONS Learn a technique that actually works! The method used by over 120 Grammy award winners. Certified Speech Level singing instructor. Call Simon 0431335495.

INTRODUCTION TO MUSIC DEALS

The third installment of the WAM and APRA|AMCOS 2012 Music Industry Sundowner Series is set to take place on Monday, September 3, at the Rosemount Hotel from 6pm to 7.30pm. Presented by Michael Tucak of Creative|Legal and Jacob Snell of Monster Management, the session will be a legal introduction to music deals with essential practical information covering management deals, publishing deals, recording/licensing deals and more. The session is free for current financial WAM members who pre-register online at wam.asn.au/workshops before midnight Sunday, September 2, and free for APRA members (please contact APRA to register). Tickets are $5 for non-members or non-registered members at the door.

BILLY HYDE, ALLANS MUSIC IN RECEIVERSHIP

Australian Music Group Holdings (AMG), the owner of two of the best known brands in the Australian music industry, Allans and Billy Hyde Music, has been placed into receivership by one of its creditors, putting an uncertain future on 25 of the iconic brand name’s retails stores. The stores will continue to trade while the restructuring of the business continues, but currently won’t honour any gift vouchers, and deposits will not be refunded.

STAGESCAPE M20D

StageScape M20d is the world’s first smart mixing system for live sound. Utilising a groundbreaking touchscreen visual mixing environment, StageScape M20d streamlines the way you mix to keep you in the creative zone while getting your live sound dialed in quickly. Massive DSP power delivers comprehensive, professional audio processing on every channel including multi-band feedback suppression. Pristine audio quality will impact your stage performances, and multi-channel recording allows you to easily capture every rehearsal or show, with or without a computer. The entire system can be controlled remotely from the stage or audience with one or more iPad devices. StageScape M20d is the integrated professional mixing system that delivers great live sound, so you can focus on what’s most important: your performance. Hit up musiclink.com.au for more specs and to find a dealer.

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AiAiAi Capital Headphones

AIAIAI CAPITAL HEADPHONES

Denmark’s AiAiAi has developed a reputation for targeting its headphones at specific listeners.

This time, they are aiming at players who go through replacement headphones like meat through a grinder. The foldable Capital set’s overears’ bolstered fiberglass shell is designed to be rain resistant, not to mention take the casual knocks that might beat up other headphone pairs. Giving listeners every excuse to keep it on their heads, the set has a light, comfortable brace, as well as an in-line mic and remote allowing users to take their iPhone calls through the Capital’s 40mm drivers. Retailing from $149, the pair isn’t the lowest-cost entry into the headphone world, but in terms of sparing listeners from having to dive for cover when the weather turns foul it’s an absolute bargain. For more details and to find your local stockist click on over to aiaiai.com.au.

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