SPOTLIGHT ON FREMANTLE
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LOCAL NEWS
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GLOBAL NEWS
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ANNOUNCEMENTS
TO BE IN GAY PARIS BEARDS, BEARDS, BEARDS
A SIGHT TO SEA Sculpture By The Sea will be celebrating its 10th anniversary at Cottesloe Beach from Friday, March 7 to Monday, March 24. The celebration of sun, sand and sculpture will feature 28 WA artists, including Ron Gombec, Jennifer Cochrane and Tony Jones. Alongside the locals, 25 international artists will be showcasing their work. This year’s winner will be the recipient of the $50,000 Roy Hill Sculpture Prize. The event is free and offers tours to the public so head to sculpturebythesea.com for more information.
The biggest thing to happen to beards since winter came to Westeros, The Beards are set to return to Australia as part of the mammoth tour supporting their recently-released magnum opus, The Beard Album. Beginning at the Pier Hotel in Esperance on Wednesday, May 28, The Beards will be playing numerous regional shows before finishing up at the Astor Theatre on Sunday, June 1. Details and ticketing information are available from thebeards.com.au. So start cultivating that face fuzz, because this won’t be your mama’s beard-related rock tour.
Gay Paris is coming to Perth. The Sydney stoner rock quartet is bringing its After Party Tour to Ya-Ya’s this Saturday, March 1. 2013’s The Last Good Party the band are ready to travel West, and claiming to be harder partiers than satan himself, they’re sure to cut a swathe of destruction in their wake. Tickets are currently available through Oztix.com.au and will be available at the door on the night. For more information visit ya-yas.com.au. Gay Paris
The Beards
Red Memory Smile, by Chen Wen Ling - Sculpture by the Sea, Cottesloe
TAKE THAT, ROBBIE
THEATRE PUPPETS
NUMAN IN TOWN Godfather of electronic music and member of Mighty Boosh skits, Gary Numan, will be bringing his genredefining beats to the Astor Theatre on Sunday, May 25. Having influenced the likes of Prince, Trent Reznor and Kanye West, the haggard, raven-haired face that once launched a thousand cars will be playing highlights from his most recent studio album, Splinter, as well as hits from his extensive back catalogue. Tickets are available through metropolistouring.com. Gary Numan
After a 20-year break from live shows, The Meat Puppets are set to embark on an Australian tour. The band - most famous for their seminal influence over Kurt Cobain - are an uncompromising rock act in their own right. Touring in support of last year’s release Rat Farm, they’ll be performing at the Astor Theatre on Monday, June 2. Replacing drummer Derrick Bostrom will be Sandon Sahm, and the line-up will include guitarist, Curt Kirkwood’s son, Elmo Kirkwood. Tickets are available through liveattheastor.com.au.
Young up-and-coming Take That member, Robbie Williams, has had some minor success of his own in recent years and is now set to entertain fans at the Perth Arena on Thursday, September 11, as part of The Swing Tour Live. Tickets are almost certainly guaranteed to sell out straight away, so it’s worth camping out with your mouse for a chance to snap a couple up. Tickets are available through Ticketek. com.au from 10am, Tuesday, March 4. Robbie Williams
The Meat Puppets
REV PARROT! Long assigned to dusty tomes and the realm of legend, the Red Parrot was the place to be in Perth during the mid-to-late ‘80s. Set to show the young whippersnappers how it’s done, last year saw Red Parrot ex-pats get together to celebrate the glory days with the Red Parrot Reunion. With the event selling out in two days, organisers took the hint and have announced this year’s Red Parrot Reunion Revisited at the Astor Theatre on Saturday, June 14, with special DJs and appro-parrot live peformances. Tickets will be available from Show Ticketing from Friday, March 14. Get in quick.
PALMARAMA-ORAMA Sydney quartet The Palms and Newcastle duo The Gooch Palms will be playing Mojos Bar on Thursday, March 6, as part of their Palmarama tour. With the support of local band, Gunns, the night will be a laidback celebration of everything palmy, with a coin toss deciding which palm act will close off the night. Tickets will be available at the door for $10. If you can only go to one Fremantle palm-themed music show this year make it this one - if you want a Perthbased take on the theme, simply head to The Bird on Friday, March 7.
Red Parrott Revival
STREET FASHION Fashion will be hitting the streets as the City of Joondalup hosts Urban Couture at various pop-up locations from Thursday, March 13, through to Sunday, March 30. The event will showcase artists, photographers and illustrators of fashion from across the nation. Last year saw over 50 artists and 30 designers take part in the festival which drew over 30,000 people, and this year is set to be even bigger. If you’d like to know more visit the City of Joondalup website or check out Urban Couture on Facebook or Twitter. Urban Couture
Gooch Palms
LIKE A POLAROID PICTURE Ask not what the Funk Club can do for you; ask what you can do for the Funk Club. As part of this year’s Shake It showcase at Salt On The Beach on Anzac Day, Friday, April 25, the Funk Club is looking for local bands, producers, circus and street performers. Applications have been extended until Monday, March 3, so get in quick if you have an exciting talent that you think the Funk Club can’t do without. Expressions of interest should be sent to Ofa Fotu at fotuofa@gmail.com. More information can be found at funkclub.comn.au.
AN ORIGIN STORY US tech death metal band, Origin will be bringing their cataclysmically abrasive guitar riffs and guttural vocals to the Amplifier Bar on Tuesday, May 6. Supporting their new album, Entity, and with their new vocalist, Jason Keyser, the band are set to prove themselves once more to Perth audiences. Alongside Origin, Melbourne grindcore band, A Million Dead Birds Laughing and Brisbane’s Eternal Rest, are prepping their wagons to take them west. Tickets are available through Ozix.com.au.
THE SPANIARDS ARE COMING
PROPAGANDHI TO PERTH
Spanish surf rockers, Los Coronas are set to bring their biting, flamenco-influenced guitar riffs to the Rosemount Hotel this Saturday, March 1. Alongside the Madrid-based quintet will be local surf guitar superstars, Day Of The Dead and DJ Holly Doll. A dynamic combination of spaghetti western and Spanish rock, the night is set to go off with wild stage performances. Tickets are available through Oztix. com.au for $25. Limited $30 door tickets will also be available but are expected to sell out, so get on the net!
Canadian punk band, Propagandhi, are coming to Australia for the first time since the release of their 2012 album, Failed States. Renowned for their socio-political messages and intelligent, dynamics-shifting tunes, the band will be playing at the Amplifier Bar on Tuesday, June 3. It will be a prime chance for Perth fans to see the band with almost 20 years of political and musical activism under their belt. Tickets are available through Oztix. com.au and go on sale this Friday, February 28.
Holy acronyms, Batman! Straight from the UK, DJ YT will be headlining a reggae extravaganza at the Rosemount Hotel this Friday, February 28. Growing up on a steady diet of 80s DJs and Jamaican artists, DJ YT has come to master the Caribbean sound and call it his own. Alongside the UK’s premier white rasta DJ will be local band, Crucial Rockers, Ghana’s Papa Flava, as well as host of DJs. Tickets will be available for $15 at the venue. Doors open 8pm.
Los Coronas
Propagandhi
DJ YT
BRB, DJ YT
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EDITORIAL - 9213 2888 MANAGING EDITOR Bob Gordon: editor@xpressmag.com.au FEATURES & DANCE MUSIC EDITOR Rachel Davison: featuresed@xpressmag.com.au LOCAL MUSIC & ARTS EDITOR Travis Johnson: localmusicarts@xpressmag.com.au GIG & EVENT GUIDES CO-ORDINATOR guide@xpressmag.com.au COMPETITIONS win@xpressmag.com.au For band gigs and launches - plugyourgig@xpressmag.com.au PHOTOGRAPHY Rachael Barrett, Stefan Caramia, Guang-Hui Chuan, Daniel Craig, Brandon D’Silva, Max Fairclough, Daniel Grant, Sammy Granville, Matt Jelonek, Emma Mackenzie, Callum Ponton, Denis Radacic, Bohdan Warchomij, Michael Wylie CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Leah Blankendaal, Nina Bertok, Lucas Bowers, Aaron Bryans, Joe Cassidy, Hayley Davis, Chris Gibbs, Alfred Gorman, Shaun Cowe, Predrag Delibasich, Jayde Ferguson, George Green, Alex Griffin, James Hanlon, Chris Havercroft, Joshua Hayes, Brendan Holben, Coral Huckstep, Ellie Hutchinson, Rezo Kezerashvili, Tom Kitson, Clayton Lin, Charlie Lewis, Daisy Lythe, Andrew Nelson, David O’Connell, Shane Pinnegar, Nick Sweepah, Jessica Willoughby
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FESTIVAL: FUTURE MUSIC Future Music Festival touches down in Perth this Sunday, March 2 with a solid lineup of big names acts including Deadmau5, Phoenix, Rudimental, Knife Party and Tinie Tempah, to name but a few. Thanks to one of its sponsors, Jack Daniel’s who are launching a new product at the event - 1907 - ‘the lighter, sweeter side of Jack’ we’ve got a double VIP pass to giveaway. Email us quick at: win@xpressmag.com.au. Tinie Tempah. Photo by David Slijper
CLUBBING: PARTIES FOR YOU BY NINA LAS VEGAS Triple j presenter and DJ, Nina Las Vegas has been throwing club shows all around the country featuring herself and a whole bunch of coolsy dance acts. The party comes to Perth this Friday, February 28 at Capitol (it’s moved from Metropolis Fremantle) and on the WA billing is Motez, L D R U and Sable, whose EP is officially out today. The night kicks off at 9pm and tickets are on sale from Oztix, but if you’re damn TOUR: GOLD PANDA lucky, email us quick at win@xpressmag.com.au and you could win yourself a double pass. Note: tickets UK electronic artist, Gold Panda is heading to will need to be picked up from our office, during Australia to play at the east coast Golden Plains office hours. Festival and he’s also doing a couple of side shows, including Perth on Sunday, March 9 at The Bakery. Nina Las Vegas Since he became known in 2009, he’s released two critically-lauded albums, 2010’s Lucky Shiner and 2013’s Half Of Where You Live - full of eclectic textures and dance-worthy grooves. To see the man in action live, email: win@xpressmag.com.au.
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Gold Panda. Photo by Gem Harris
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ADMIN / ACCOUNTS - 9213 2888 Lillian Buckley accounts@xpressmag.com.au EDITORIAL DEADLINES General: Friday 5pm, Eye4 Arts: Thursday 10am, WIN: Friday 5pm, Salt Clubs: Monday 5pm , Local Scene: Monday Noon, Gig Guide: Monday 5pm ADVERTISING DEADLINES 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 55/102 Railway Street, 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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Liam Neeson and Julianne Moore both star in the suspense thriller, Non-Stop, which opens in cinemas tomorrow (Thursday, February 27). It’s about US Air Marshal Bill Marks, who learns he has only hours to find a killer aboard a transatlantic flight. What follows is a cat and mouse game played at 40,000 feet, with the lives of 200 passengers in the balance. To win a double in-season pass, email: win@xpressmag.com.au.
The Rocket Room is back in action this Friday, February 28 and they’re throwing a bon voyage party for local bands The Chevelles and The Volcanics. Both bands are off touring together in Spain and The Chevelles are also dropping by SXSW in Austin, Texas. There’ll also be sets from Custom Royal and The Killer Hipsters to send the bands off in rock’n’roll style. In the coming month at the Rocket Room keep a look out for shows from Psychonaut, Scalphunter, Ragdoll and Tusk. To win a double pass on Friday, plus a $40 bar card, email: win@xpressmag.com.au.
Non-Stop
The Chevelles
FILM: NON-STOP
TOUR: JOSH PYKE After a sold out national tour earlier this year and the release of a new album, The Beginning And The End of Everything, Josh Pyke will perform some intimate solo shows at the Quarry Amphitheatre, City Beach as part of the Live At The Quarry series. Take a picnic and BYO and get yourself tickets to his shows on Wednesday, March 12 and Thursday, March 13, which are on sale via Ticketmaster. We’ve got a double pass to giveaway for the second show on the Thursday, so to be in the running to win, email: win@xpressmag.com.au.
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FILM: ROOFTOP MOVIES If you haven’t ventured to Rooftop Movies yet you’ve got until Saturday, April 12 to check out whole bunch of films and special screenings and events. Melbourne-based Kinotopia will present two events next month where they’ll mix some silent films with contemporary soundtracks including Charlie Chaplin’s The Kid set to a soundtrack by Sigur Ros on Friday, March 7. For the full program and tickets head to: rooftopmovies.com.au and to win yourself a double pass for the rest of the season (excluding special events), email: win@xpressmag.com.au. Photo by Jarrad Seng
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NEWS - INTERVIEWS - REVIEWS - CONTENTS
Pond. Pic: Ali Judd
POND/AAA AARDVARK GETDOWN SERVICES/ FELICITY GROOM/THE SILENTS Chevron Festival Gardens Saturday, February 22, 2014
The Perth International Arts Festival has been building up a good head of steam for some two weeks now and with the Chevron Festival Gardens being the obvious place to be seen on a Saturday night, it was the turn of the local music industry to take centre stage and show off just what there is to offer. Who better a choice to showcase the local talent than the record label, Spinning Top Music, who have signed artists that include the internationally renowned Tame Impala? Returning from hiatus, The Silents began the night with set of deep retro-introspective rock that had the sound system oozing raspy bass mixed up with high pitched overdriven guitar that flooded the warm summer’s night air. Their sophisticated edginess had an abundance of echo and reverberated tones and had the early arrivals enticed throughout their short set. Promoting an upcoming second album Hungry Sky, Felicity Groom took to the stage along with her capable band and proceeded to entertain the at times over chatty audience with her sensual vocal tones and slow swelling electric keyboard sounds. Groom is all about giving an emotive performance and with the new material taking prominence, there were plenty of beautifully crafted songs that had a hint of Americana blues amongst dark undertones. Towards the end of their set, the sound waves were full of slow filtered synth pads over echoic tremolo guitar, blending with the enchanting vocals and building harmonies sung by guitarist, Andrew Ryan, the set ended to appreciative cheers for what was a very slick routine. In the lead up to the showcase there was
plenty of speculation surrounding the line of the mystery band AAA Aardvark Getdown Services. This one night only band comprised of Tame Impala’s singer Kevin Parker on drums, The Growl’s Cam Avery on bass, The Chemist’s frontman Ben Witt working the guitar and Cam Parkin on synths. Parker and Avery have previously strung together side projects to air the funkier side of their musical tastes and this show was no different. In what appeared like a chilled-out jam session for the four acclaimed musicians, they ganged together an offbeat and mostly instrumental set of grooving tunes that had the festival garden moving along to the beat. Parker played his electronic kit with acoustic kick and snare drums ripping up the backing groove while triggering samples on the fly, while the flanging ‘70s synth riffs coming from Parkin and thumping of Avery’s bass gave this improvised poppy sound more of a feeling that a solid structure. Possibly never to be recorded or even seen live again, these danceable tunes had everyone up and funking out. By now the venue was full to the brim with what seemed to be familiar faces from many of Perth’s past and present music scene aficionados, and everyone seemed ready to enjoy another band, who have recently seen ever more international acclamation. Psychedelic rockers Pond were from the onset here to play their very best and give something back to the local fans, friends and family who have all given unrelenting support over many years. Singer, Nick Allbrook, took centre stage and performed in his slightly wayward fashion songs mostly from their last two releases Hobo Rocket and Beard, Wives, Denim. There was a poppy aspect along with a sleazy hard bluesy rock vibe that oozed out ‘60s overdriven grit from the onstage Fender stacks. Allbrook engaged on several occasions to warmly thank everyone for coming out and for all the acts preceding, and you could feel the genuine love coming from the stage. The band continued on a tough charge of rocking tunes, at times sounding typically psychedelic, but there was a feast of freshness about their sounds that differentiates them from the now common place genre. Epic bass continued late into the set, synthesised spaced out riffs with shrilling LFO filter resonance effects swamped the air. While all along crisp guitars cut through the galactic tones. The band built up the last track into a huge crescendo of building layers meshing harmonically rich overtones that had the amps working out hard and feeding back a sonic onslaught from what seemed to be tormented instrumentalist. Each member of the band was transfixed on their element of the wall of noise… while the audience had no choice other than to take it all in. The lights erupted and the band walked off leaving behind the audible monster they had just created, burping, biting sounds rolling and slowly fading away into the night air, what a show!
BAND OF FREQUENCIES Frequent Flyers Band Of Frequencies return to WA this week for a fortnight’s worth of shows. BOB GORDON chats with vocalist/guitarist, Shannon Carroll. X-Press last spoke to Band Of Frequencies a whole 12 months ago. Looking back, how would you characterise 2013? It’s been huge. My wife and I had our first baby girl so fatherhood has been the main focus. I was also asked to join Bernard Fanning’s band and so was our drummer, Mark Henman, so we dove head first into rehearsals and then toured like kings around the country in five-star hotels. I bought some cool new toys as well so new sounds to play with. We then had to postpone Band of Freq’s last WA tour due to clashes with A Day On The Green dates but we were included on that bill for a few shows including Perth so that was a blast. It’s been a cracking year all around really. No complaints. What’s the experience been like for you playing to more general audiences? It’s been great to see the world from a new stage, playing different tunes to different faces. It just reiterated to me how much music means to people. I loved watching people singing every word of BF’s tracks and realising how much songs become part of people’s lives.
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News Win Flesh Music Mastodon, Kerser Jimmy Eat World, Sebadoh Baroness Neko Case New Noise Eye4 Cover: Bianco Wolf Creek 2 Violette, In A World Fringe World Awards Arts Listings Salt Cover: Sub Focus News, Producer’s Cut, Salt Nights Out Slow Magic, Dannic Future Music Festival playing times Club Manual Rewind: Sets on the Beach What’s On Scene Papa Vs Pretty, Voyager, Okkervil River The Chevelles Local Scene Tour Tour Trails Down Gig Guide Volume
FRONT COVER: Heavy-hitters, Mastodon, return to Perth as part of Soundwave on Monday, March 3 at Arena Joondalup. Pic: Cindy Frey. SALT COVER: Sub Focus plays Future Music
Festival this Sunday, March 2 at Arena Joondalup.
You’re playing the Nannup Festival again. Sounds like a good match... We love Nannup! We had a great time last year and we have been looking forward to playing there again ever since. We’re also looking forward to hanging out there with our Queensland brothers, Bobby Alu and crew! What can WA audiences expect this trip? We have some new elements in the mix so there will be a few experiments as well as the good old Freq’s staples that we love. We all evolve together so we thrive on the WA scene because you love music more than anywhere in Australia.
You’re heading into a new album. What are the plans for it and what direction will it take? We have a whole bunch of fresh ideas that are taking shape and it will be great as it all comes together. No one really knows what direction it will take by completion, but at this stage I am buzzing on the newbies.
Band Of Frequencies play this Wednesday, February 26, at Ellington Jazz Club; Thursday, February 27, at the Indi Bar; Friday, February 28, at Mojo’s; Saturday-Sunday, March 1-2, at the Nannup Music Festival; Friday, March 7, at Settlers Tavern, Margaret River; Saturday, March, at the Prince of Wales in Bunbury and Sunday, March 9, at Clancy’s Fish Pub, Dunsborough.
MAN OVERBOARD
For those who like a laugh, RAW Comedy, Australia’s premier comedy competition is gearing up for its finals. The final heat will be hosted by Mike G this Thursday, February 27, with semi finals running for the first three Thursdays of March at The Comedy Lounge as part of the Charles Hotel for $18 entry. The State Final will be held at His Majesty’s Theatre on Saturday, March 29. So make sure you head down to laugh with (or at) WA’s bright up-and-coming comics. Head to rawcomedy.com.au for full details.
LIKE IT RAW
MICHAEL CAVES
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Any other plans for 2014? We are showing some advance screenings of a new doco we are a part of called the Transparentsea Voyage in March. Made by Justin Krumb (Minds In The Water) it is a documentary focussing on ocean conservation and our journey down the Californian coast in 2011 with a group of professional athletes, artists, musicians and environmental activists. All going to plan we will tour the film nationally later in the year.
Good news for rock fans. Sarah McLeod and Jeff Martin have added three WA dates to their Man The Lifeboats tour before Martin heads back to Canada to finish the up-and-coming album from The Tea Party. The pair, currently working on an album together, will be playing at the Fly By Night on Thursday, May 13; the Dunsborough Tavern on Friday, May 14, and The Prince Charles Hotel, Bunbury on Saturday, May 15. Tickets are available through the flybynight.org, Oztix.com.au and Heatseeker.com.au.
Mike G hosts the final heat of Raw Comedy this Thursday at the Charles Hotel Comedy Lounge
Sarah McLeod and Jeff Martin
DO YOURSELF A FLAVA
SAXON INVASION MAKE MINE AN ORTINI New York (Mt Lawley) apparently comes to California (Fremantle) this Sunday, March 2, at the rooftop of the Old Myer Building from 3-10pm. It’s a cool customer lineup featuring Adem K, Bill Barby, Chris Cobilis, Dave Wallace, Josh Fontaine, Rob Schifelli & Marty Allcock, Tracey Read and special guest DJ Ortini Smurts. Entry is $10 and remember kids, Monday is a holiday. Josh Fontaine, Old Myer Building Rooftop this Sunday Pic: David Craddock
Sydney-based band, Nick Saxon & The Elusive Few are returning to Perth in support of their newest album, Broken On Her Ocean. The multi-disciplinary musician, film producer and television presenter, Nick Saxon is the face of National Geographic’s World Traveller and a formidable songwriter in his own right. The album is said to be a nautical adventure of monsters, lovers, pirates and tragedy. The band will be kicking off at Mojos Bar on Wednesday, March 12, and the Indi Bar on Thursday, March 13, followed by a number of regional shows. Tickets available at the door. Nick Saxon
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Yeah boy! This Saturday, March 1, at Metropolis Fremantle is your chance catch Flavor Flav and DJ Lord from Public Enemy. Following the sold-out Perth International Arts Festival appearance, the dynamic duo will be hitting the decks at Metro Freo for an exclusive DJ set. Door sales from $15, available at 9pm. Flavor Flav and DJ Lord
GOSSLING’S JOY Triple J Hottest 100 winner, Vance Joy will be bringing along Melbourne songstress, Gossling, to perform with him at The Bakery on Thursday, May 8. Fresh from the vinyl release of her single Harvest Of Gold from her debut album of the same name, as well as stint at The Falls and Southbound festivals, the much-acclaimed singer is set to charm her way into the hearts of fans once more. Tickets are available from nowbaking.com.au. 11
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MASTODON You Better, You Bet Heavy-hitters, Mastodon, return to Perth as part of Soundwave on Monday, March 3, at Arena Joondalup. AUGUSTUS WELBY reports. Controversies aside, year-in, year-out, the Soundwave festival boasts a formidable line-up of performers from the punk, metal and heavy rock ranks. In fact, the festival could aptly be described as a showcase of the broad stylistic terrain encompassed by these genre tags. Atlanta four-piece, Mastodon, are one of the 21st century’s most influential alt-metal bands and ahead of returning to Perth for this year’s Soundwave, guitarist Bill Kelliher notes the considerable strength of their guitar-slinging peers. “I think it definitely lights a fire under your ass, listening to the new Kvelertak record, the Gojira record, Baroness record – all these bands are putting out amazing records,” Kelliher says. “I think all of us in this kind of genre that are friends push each other, subconsciously. When we go to see a band and they put on an awesome show I’m like, ‘God damn, we’ve got to be that good, we’ve got to practise like crazy’.” In addition to being motivated by the work of their comrades, Mastodon’s music shows traces of the Melvins’ sludgy riffing and the weighty grooves of Pantera. The melding of these various influences has definitely proved successful for Kelliher and his bandmates: guitarist Brent Hinds, bassist, Troy Sanders and drummer, Brann Dailor. In 2011 Mastodon released their fifth LP, The Hunter, which punched into the Billboard top 10 and firmly stated them as a startling force in modern rock music. “When you’re in any career,” Kelliher says, “you want to eventually get a raise or move to the next level. As a human being, whether you work at Hungry Jack’s or you work at Mastodon Incorporated you want to get a raise. We want to put out better records and get more successful with every record.” Mastodon’s career has definitely been a gradual climb into popular regard. The pervasive success of The Hunter handed them a largely unrelenting two-year touring program, which included presiding over many festival main stages and selling out large arenas. Despite this heavy workload, the band actually managed to recently complete a new LP. “We’ve basically been writing and nibbling stuff here at the studio since late last year,” Kelliher reveals. “We had a producer named Nick Raskulinecz (Foo Fighters, Alice In Chains, Rush) come down from Nashville, Tennessee and he listened in and came into the rooms with us and directed us, then we went up to Nashville and recorded them all. Right before Christmas we started, we took a break for Christmas then we went back up there. I would imagine we probably spent about two months recording it.” After a mammoth couple of years touring in support of The Hunter, Mastodon could be forgiven for sitting back and contentedly basking in their widespread esteem. However, a band that writes technically-oriented, progressive-yet-immediate metal with lyrics based upon the literary work of Herman Melville and Stephen Hawking’s theories is hardly attracted to the idea of quiet time. “Strike the iron while it’s hot,” advises Kelliher. “Try to put out all your best ideas and best foot forward and as an artist write the best music and
PIC: CINDY FREY
keep the band alive and well and in the spotlight.” Musicians often discuss how difficult it is to ignite the creative spirit in the midst of a haphazard touring campaign. Given that Mastodon’s itinerary has been more congested than ever for the past few years it’s a wonder that they were able to prepare a new batch of songs. It is, however, important to remember that performers do only spend a couple of hours onstage each day. “I try to spend a lot of my time on the road writing. Even if the songs aren’t going to be on the record, it eats up a lot of time and that’s what you have on the road – time to yourself just sitting around doing nothing. So I’ve spent the better half of the past yearand-a-half putting songs together as much as I could and concentrating really hard on trying to write some good stuff for the new record.” Mastodon’s early records featured Brent Hinds as the band’s primary songwriter, but his dominance has lessened on the last couple of records. All band members are now active creative contributors but Kelliher explains it’s not often that they collaborate directly. “I write riffs and songs and Brent does the same thing. It’s only occasionally that we’ll come together and write something together. A lot of times I’ll write something and he’ll come in and he’ll want to add a part or change something that I wrote or vice versa.” In addition to getting a lavish seal of approval from their core fanbase, The Hunter’s bold imprint launched Mastodon onto mainstream television shows The Late Show With David Letterman and Later… With Jools Holland, earned them a Grammy nomination and was named album of the year by magazines such as Kerang! and Metal Hammer. Following up on this level of unprecedented commercial approval would surely be a rather intimidating prospect.
“Of course you want to put out a better record,” admits Kelliher, “but it’s not something that we think about and say, ‘We’ve got to put out a better record this year guys!’ We just try our best to write the best possible stuff that we can. “We don’t ever talk about, ‘Hey, I want my record to sound like this’ or, ‘We’ve got to do a better record than that’,” he adds. “We just write a bunch of songs and riffs and say, ‘Hey, how do you like this song?’ or ‘Do you like this riff?’, ‘Let’s work on this.’ We’re very laid back, we don’t have any expectations or any allegiance to any kind of sound. We just fucking get in there and play what we think sounds good and we hope that other people like it too and we can continue to be a band and put out records and tour.” The band members might be relatively nonchalant when it comes to mapping out their albums, but it’s quite obvious that they’re hungry to make a substantial impact with everything they release. The Hunter was produced by Dr Dre cohort, Mike Elizondo, and his slick touch excellently complemented the material’s thrusting accessibility. Enlisting Nick Raskulinecz for the new record indicates the band feel comfortable giving their songs an amplified sheen. “I think that every step that we take in any direction, whether it’s writing or tours we accept or other bands that we hang out with or tour with or producers that we choose, I think it’s always getting better,” Kelliher says. “All that stuff is on the up and up. We’re in a good position, we can afford to get a good producer; we can afford a nice tour bus. All those things come with hard work and putting out great records and that’s just what we try to continually do.” Before people start getting too excited about Mastodon performing a set of new-album-
KERSER Eye To Eye Kerser’s S.C.O.T. tour stops in at Metro City this Saturday, March 1, with special guests DJ Dazastah, Bitter Belief, Complete and Omac. AUGUSTUS WELBY reports. Australian rapper Kerser is a very creatively restless man. The Sydneysider has dropped three full-length releases in the last three years, starting with 2011’s The Nebulizer. Right now he’s gearing up for the official launch tour in support of his latest LP, S.C.O.T, which was released in October. The record is Kerser’s most developed effort thus far, but its 15 songs by no means drained his creative well. “I’m sitting on about 10 or 11 songs now that I have written that I don’t know what I’m going to do with,” he says. One option would be to use these freshly spawned songs to compile yet another album. However, it might be a bit hasty for Kerser, who likes to craft his records in one linear working period. “When I work on songs for the album I like to know they’re for the album,” he explains. “Me and Nebs, the producer, we sit down before every album and work out the path we want to take, what style of beats and if we want to mix it up here and there.” Kerser has been working alongside budding producer and friend Nebs since he started making records. The title of Kerser’s debut LP is an obvious nod to the producer, who’s been central to Kerser’s creative process. “We always see eye to eye, which is good,” says Kerser. “Nebs is definitely a massive part of the music. I have to give him big props and shout12
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“Of course you want to put out a better record, but it’s not something that we think about and say, ‘We’ve got to put out a better record this year guys!’ We just try our best to write the best possible stuff that we can.” previews at the upcoming Australian shows, Kelliher relates his thoughts about the demystifying repercussions of performing songs live before they’ve been released. “Honestly, I like to make the audience wait until they’ve heard the whole record and got to sink into the new songs before we just start blasting it live. A lot of people like to capture it on their cellphones and spread it all over the internet on YouTube and people are like, ‘Oh that sounds like shit – what the fuck is that?’ It ruins the surprise of the record.” However, with the record in the can, the wait for new Mastodon material can’t extend too much longer. In the meantime, Kelliher explains how he plans to amuse himself during their impending visit. “The Dillinger Escape Plan’s going to be there,” he enthuses. ”I’m excited to hang out with those dudes. We played with them over in Australia a couple of years ago. “I like to stay backstage and watch the other bands and go hang out with friends and have some food and drinks and catch up,” he revels, “tell some stories and go to the beach on days off.” outs on that because he puts a lot of work into it as well. Without him I don’t think I’d be able to get as much music out, no way.” As with Kerser’s earlier efforts, S.C.O.T has again been well received by the Australian public. The album’s first week sales managed to surpass the success of his previous two records, landing at number five in the ARIA charts and soaring all the way to the top of the ARIA Urban category. The MC’s continued success is particularly notable considering his music isn’t included on any major radio station playlists. It is peculiar that a young Australian artist with such a strong following continues to be ignored by radio programmers, but he doesn’t seem too bothered. “I think social media has taken that over these days. When I release tracks onto YouTube they get the same amount of hype as if they were on the radio anyway. It’s kind of making the radio almost irrelevant, really.” The fact Kerser’s audience is broadening even though he hasn’t been sanctioned by the gods of radio suggests his music has a personal effect on listeners. A Campbelltown native, Kerser’s lyrical interpretation of life in the hard-edged western city has always ensured him a strong hometown following. However, his growing chart success proves his following isn’t merely local. “I get fans from all different walks of life. I’ve had fans that are into the usual Aussie hip hop that say, ‘It’s a good refreshing sound, you’re doing something different’, and people that aren’t usually into hip hop seem to like our stuff. “When I first heard Aussie hip hop I was listening to the rappers and they were talking about BBQs and politics and things I didn’t really look too much into or could relate to,” he adds. “The style of music we’re doing and the subject matters I’m talking about, I think a lot of people hear it and think, ‘Yeah, I can relate to that’ and they haven’t heard an Aussie rap about that type of stuff’.”
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JIMMY EAT WORLD | PIC: TONY WOOLLISCROFT
JIMMY EAT WORLD Damage Control Jimmy Eat World line up at Soundwave on Monday, March 3, at Arena Joondalup. JOSHUA KLOKE reports. With the 2013 release of Damage, Arizona-based four-piece Jimmy Eat World found reason to celebrate: their eighth full-length, one that found favour with both fans and the press, was co-produced by the band themselves (with Alain Johannes) and it was their first on the RCA label. It was also the band’s seventh album in a row to feature the same four members. Former bass player, Mitch Porter, left in 1995, and since then the lineup has remained unchanged. It’s a rarity in the realm of punk rock bands, and guitarist, Tom Linton, has a theory on why the current lineup has been able to stay united. “We were all friends before the band started and I think that’s a big part of it,” says the 42-year-old Linton from his home in Chandler, Arizona. “Jim (Adkins, vocals) and Rick (Burch, bass) have known each other since pre-school and I’ve known Rick since we were 12. We started playing music in high school when we were kids. We all get along and that makes it fun.” That Jimmy Eat World are able to maintain a level of fun in their job is evident on Damage. The album is a no-nonsense collection of the classic riff-driven poppunk with which Jimmy Eat World firmly established themselves on their 1999 release, Clarity. Yet peel away the layers of the new record and a haunting lyrical presence is revealed. Damage has been described by lead singer Adkins as an album that examines ‘adversity and emotional injury’. Writing records with a specific theme in place has become part of Jimmy Eat World’s collective drive, spearheaded by Adkins’ desire to continue experimenting. “It’s a way for him to just step out of the box and try something different to help with the writing process,” explains Linton, adding that the “last couple records” have also featured a consistent theme throughout. With the change in label, Jimmy Eat World also chose to change up their standard recording procedures. The band’s success throughout the past two decades has afforded them the ability to record mostly in their own studio and rehearsal space, Unit 2 in Tempe, Arizona. But realising how easy it can be to fall into habit, Linton and the band took to Los Angeles to record Damage. The result sounds fresh and energised. I put it to Linton that this change, including the fact that Jimmy Eat World funded the recording
process themselves while searching for a new label, led to the palpable energy of Damage. “Back in the day, when we first started playing, that kind of artistic freedom was very important to us,” Linton says. “But we ended up having to put pressure on ourselves because the last few records were recorded in our own space, so it’s gotten very easy for us to get lazy. So if something wasn’t going right, it was very easy for us to say, ‘Oh, forget it, we’ll just come back and work on it tomorrow’. “But for this record we said, ‘Let’s go somewhere we really like, Los Angeles, and let’s work with someone we really like’. We got hotel rooms and just recorded in Johannes’ house. It gave us a timetable because we had to be in and out at a certain time. It was nice to do that and made us very efficient, I think.” Though Linton seems continually thankful that the foursome has remained intact for so long, the momentum of the band seems to be such that moving forward is much more important than celebrating the past. He admits they’re approaching the 10-year anniversary of their 2004 release Futures and they’re “going to do something special for that,” but that’s as far as they’ll go in terms of re-hashing history. As for a greatest hits collection to look back on their 20-year existence? Don’t bet on it. “You know, we’ve never talked about that. For now, we’re just going to keep working on new stuff. But we haven’t talked about doing a ‘greatest hits’ record. I don’t know if we’ll ever do one.” Jimmy Eat World’s fans might not even be so receptive to the idea, either. Linton details how some of them make great efforts to travel to many of their shows and have a habit of calling out for some of the lesser-known material. Having developed such a loyal fan base, Linton says he and the band are always conscious of how approachable they are. It’s a refreshing sentiment, and there’s no trace of it sounding forced. In fact, in his laidback manner of speaking, Linton describes the interactions as just part of the job. “We wouldn’t be where we are without the fans, so we try to talk to them, we’re always available in the club or by the bus after the show and we’re easy enough to get a hold of. We definitely listen to what our fans want and make changes if the fans want to hear something specific.” After two decades, Jimmy Eat World seem to have it all figured out. Routinely throughout our conversation, Linton comes back to the idea that serves as their anchor: friendship first. “Young bands sometimes don’t understand that that is the most important thing you can do – play with people you can get along with.”
SEBADOH
SEBADOH Best Defence Pioneers of the lo-fi movement, Sebadoh, have returned over the past few years to continue to bridge the gap between punk rock and folk music. Having reconvened to play some live shows that celebrated their Bakesale album, the trio have released their first album in 14 years, Defend Yourself. They hit the Rosemount Hotel on Tuesday, March 25. CHRIS HAVERCROFT reports. As a member of Dinosaur Jr and the driving force behind Sebadoh, Sentridoh, Folk Implosion and also having a swag of solo records, Lou Barlow is often hit with the tag of being a prolific songwriter. Barlow doesn’t necessarily see this as being the case, and spending 14 years between Sebadoh records may have given the prolific label a bit of a dent. “People have always called me prolific and I have never agreed,” offers Barlow in matter-of-fact fashion. “In general, it is strange because no matter how little I release, people tell me that I release too much. To me it just seems that they are sending me a message that maybe I shouldn’t make songs at all. “My solo records are very well spaced apart and people still think, ‘its too much’. I think people like young artists to be prolific, but once you get to a certain age people want you to stop already. They tend to think what are you trying to prove.” Barlow’s relationship to the band that brought him to the attention of the punk world and his at times turbulent history with Dinosaur Jr frontman, J Mascis, have been well publicised. With Dinosaur Jr having new lease of life that has been a particularly fertile period, is it a case of history
BARONESS Show Up, Throw Down Against all odds Baroness play Soundwave at Arena Joondalup on Monday , March 3. SHANE PINNEGAR checks in with singer/ guitarist, John Baizley.
BARONESS | PIC: DOUG SEYMOUR 14
Many thought it was over for Baroness on the rainy August day in 2012 when their tour bus slid nine metres from a viaduct near Bath, England. Singer/guitarist, John Baizley, suffered a broken arm and leg in the accident, which also gave both drummer Allen Blickle and bassist Matt Maggioni fractured vertebrae. The two quit the band as a result, but Baizley says he and guitarist Pete Adams never considered giving it away. “I didn’t, and I know Pete didn’t,” he explains. “The guys who did, they ultimately left. We were terrified for a moment that we would have too, but as soon as there was a snowball’s chance in hell that we could put ourselves back together and get back on the road, that’s what we focussed on, and that’s what we fought very hard for. “This is truly a labour of love for us. If it wasn’t, then of course we would have closed up shop and figured out something to do. But the truth of it is, we love touring, we love playing music, and we’re willing to sacrifice ourselves to it. “Who knew a year ago that we’d have another opportunity, or that we’d be capable of it? It’s been quite a trip this last year.” WWW. XP RE SS MAG.COM. AU
repeating itself with Barlow escaping from the restrains of Dinosaur Jr by a reinvigorated Sebadoh? “I don’t know if it was like a reaction to Dinosaur,” he says. “It wasn’t that simple. It was certainly something that I wanted to do. Playing in Dinosaur Jr as a bass player with a very charismatic guitar player who writes all the songs, I don’t think that it is unusual for a musician to also want to be other things. Even now having Sebadoh and Dinosaur Jr, they really are good counterpoints for each other. All these years later it is even more rewarding. Each band has a different relationship to its audience, and one band’s audience is considerably larger than the others, and that is interesting too.” Defend Yourself is a fairly confrontation title for any album, but Barlow feels that the name almost chose itself. When the trio convened to work on the record, Jason Loewenstein (bass) had written a song called Defend Yourself, and Barlow himself had wanted to call one of his songs by the same name. Listening to all the songs at that point, it became obvious to the band that there was a theme going on there. “I like the words when they are put together as there are certainly a lot of signs of struggle on the songs on the record to be perfectly honest. There is struggling for peace of mind in relationships and struggling for equality and so I think the title just came bursting through and it was obvious what it was going to be called. It is a pretty aggressive title, but hey!” Defend Yourself is a record that Barlow says he had to make. It came around the time that the marriage to his long-term partner dissolved, leaving Barlow to reassess his hand and negotiate how to raise his young family from under a different roof. It is this subject matter that forms much of the flavour of Barlow’s contributions to Sebadoh’s eighth album. “In some ways, for me to finish the record I needed to be honest in my personal life to be honest in my songs. That was an interesting revelation that I had when writing this record. A lot of things were pointing in the direction of change in my life and those things manifest themselves in my songs. I don’t write with a lot of poetry, it is just cold hard facts of my situations that I write about. In some ways it is almost like this change needed to be enacted in my life for the songs to finish themselves.” Baizley stresses how much family and his art and music helped him through the process. “It was absolutely quintessential to my recovery,” he explains. “If I didn’t have my family around, if we didn’t have a good, strong, network of friends in addition to that, and furthermore, if I didn’t have music to look forward to and to help me, I think I’d be in a vastly different position today than I am.” Baizley’s intricate artwork is in high demand for album covers and posters by the likes of Metallica, Kverletak, Flight Of The Conchords and many more. He says there was no lack of creativity once he was able again. “The moment I got back from being stuck in England for almost two months,” he explains, “I just started making artwork again. As soon as my thumb was capable of making music, I started to make little demos and recordings. “Those things were driven by a lot of the pain that I was in at the time, primarily. I’m just looking for an escape from that, but I always work. That’s what I love to do. “We had the rug pulled out from underneath us very abruptly, and rather than dwelling on the dark side of that, it has to be almost like a consciously made decision to use that as a lesson to urge me forward, and to keep me on point, and focused and motivated to do what I’m capable of doing while I’m capable of doing it. “While I’ve still got the heart to do it, I’m going to give it my all.” Baizley says Baroness have a simple plan for their Soundwave slot. “We’re just going to show up and throw down,” he laughs. “That’s what we do. We’re not bringing a huge production, we’re just bringing what we’ve been doing for the past year to Australia. We’ll probably just scale it down to the all killer, no filler sort of thing. I’m excited!” John Baizley will be signing and selling limited edition prints at Outre Gallery on Sunday, March 2. Go to Outregallery.com for details.
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NEW NOISE
For more album reviews head to xpressmag.com.au
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OUT OF 5
OUT OF 5
BLINDSPOT
SUN KIL MOON Benji Spunk
Drink And Laugh MGM
With Red House Painters, Mark Kozelek fronted one of the most revered guitar bands of their time. Since then he has put out records of AC/DC and Modest Mouse covers, appeared in films and is now cementing the reputation of Sun Kil Moon who have snuck up on all by having released six albums. Kozelek has always put a fair portion of his personal experiences into his songs, but Benji may be the most exposed he has ever been. During the course of the album we find that his second cousin and his uncle both died in separate aerosol can explosions. Kozelek’s drawl is so laconic that it sounds like he is gargling antidepressants to work up the energy to utter a single phrase. This is even more evident on Benji which has a strong focus on mortality and people’s untimely passing. The smell of death isn’t confined to Kozelek’s family as he reflects on serial killers in Richard Ramirez Died Today Of Natural Causes. With the increasing years, Kozelek is less self-conscious to reveal more about the love for his family, and even recounts some of his fumbling early sexual experiences on Dogs. Kozelek is a ridiculously gifted guitarist, but on Benji the tunes are more direct with strong melodies and his impeccable nasal tones driving the strong tunes in place of any memorable riffs. Death rarely sounded so delightful.
There’s only one way to sum up Blindspot’s debut LP, and that’s 31 minutes of reckless, flamboyant, ‘90s punk... and it’s awesome. The four-piece from Perth have combined youthful bravado and musical brilliance to compose one hell of a ride, ranging from the trumpet-filled, Hawaiian vibe of Ska Wars to the in-your-face, fastpaced Drinking. The band’s themes are boundless; whether they’re ripping into metal bands in Breakdown In E, encouraging fans to like their Facebook page in Facebook Song or charming listeners in Drink And Laugh; the LP will leave you with numerous one-liners and a ton of laughs. Stand-out moments include the groovy bass in Big Fish Little Fish Cardboard Box, loosing your ‘virgin’ ears in My Mate Nick and trying your hardest to take the boys seriously in Something Serious. The last decade has seen the genre of punk expand into an endless range of sounds leaving behind the aura and energy of classic ‘90s punk. So all one can say is thank you Blindspot. Drink And Laugh is exactly the boisterous and rambunctious sound punk needed again. AARON BRYANS
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CHRIS HAVERCROFT
OUT OF 5
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OUT OF 5
MONKS OF MELLONWAH Turn The People MGM
ELLIOTT WHEELER The Long Time Independent The plangent notes plucked from an acoustic guitar in opening track The Whistler, introduces the Sydneybased composer, Elliott Wheeler’s new album, The Long Time as a collection of coolly ethereal and sensuous songs. Tracks such as Crystal Love exemplify Wheeler’s masterful ability to blend rich synth tones with operatic, yet unobtrusive string harmonies, while more radio-friendly numbers, such as Tend To Me (featuring songstress, Caitlin Park), maintain a digestible simplicity that accentuates through contrast some of the more complex arrangements in the album. Of course, it’s not perfect. Some of the synth choices stumble awkwardly over the ambience and leave the listener puzzled, and Wheeler seems hesitant to let the songs hit natural crescendos that would make them pop. However, the album is an ever-changing, thoroughly engaging experience that disregards the easy choices and delves into the deeper fabric of composition.
Turn The People, the debut by Sydney-siders Monks of Mellonwah, bursts from the gates with Tear Your Hate Apart a glitchy, grumpy dance earworm that you’ll be humming along with by the second chorus. It’s the best track and also the least obviously in another band’s debt. This is not a coincidence. I n t h e p ro m o t i o n a l m ate r i a l t h at accompanies the release, MOM cites influences as diverse as Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Led Zeppelin, Muse and Incubus. They’re all there - an Anthony Kiedis vocal tic on Vanity, the classically influenced guitar histrionics of Downfall, the Kashmir punch of the strings on Sailing Stones and Escaping Alcatraz - but completely separate and pat; nothing is meaningfully integrated, leaving each of these loving nods feeling clumsily stapled on. The record is redolent of radio friendly rock from the turn of the century. Hyper slick, largely mid-tempo, and with is a permanent frosting of angst covering lead singer Vikram Kaushik’s every utterance. This, plus the oversized shadow of their influences, leaves Turn The People feeling like the impeccably recorded demo by a very good high school band. CHARLIE LEWIS
3.5
SHAUN COWE
OUT OF 5
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OUT OF 5
SKY FERREIRA Nighttime, My Time Capitol Records
The struggled breath of a dying man and some Bruce Willis banter sampled from Lucky Number Slevin sets the tone for Silver Lizard’s Beneath The Scaly Exterior, an album slowly choking on its own blood. To their credit, the Bunbury boys have balls. The album embodies the spittle-soaked angst and aggression of punk at its finest. Conviction and energy practically radiate through the speakers, especially in tracks like Something So Same and Parasite To Host. Crucified contains some interesting rhythmic ideas and engaging, chunky guitar riffs, and the band’s decision to include acoustic track Four Gaps is an interesting, if somewhat inexplicable decision. However, most songs on the album are repetitive and indistinguishable from each other, often failing to develop properly, making them feel longer than they actually are. Overall, the album gives the distinct impression of someone trying to perform open heart surgery with a machete; bloody, violent and often failing to hit the spot.
It’s been a long journey for Sky Ferreira. Picked up at the age of 15 in hopes of being the next Britney Spears, Ferreira released two EPs, was featured in Calvin Klein’s CK ONE advertising campaign and even appeared in an Adidas commercial alongside Big Sean and Snoop Dogg. However, over the last few years, Ferreira has taken a darker turn, adding grunge elements to her sound, engaging in disputes with her record label and even posing half-naked for her debut LP’s cover art. The end result, however, is a hit. Nighttime, My Time explores deeper themes, flows perfectly, and has an atmospheric grip. The lyrics may be repetitive, cliché and sound like they were taken straight out of an anxious and neglected teenage girl’s diary; but they’re catchy and engaging. The LP starts weak with the Lady Gaga-like Boys and the forgettable Ain’t Your Right; however once the booming synth kicks in for 24 Hours, you’ll easily loose yourself in nostalgia as Madonna-like sounds flood the speakers. Sky Ferreira may not be the mainstreampop artist she was once chosen to be, but she’s still an incredible addition to the pop genre and has taken a turn for the better as she fights for her musical creativity.
SHAUN COWE
AARON BRYANS
SILVER LIZARD Beneath The Scaly Exterior Beer Fridge Records
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NEKO CASE Musical Comedy Neko Case kicks off her Australian tour this Thursday, February 27, at the Fly By Night. DAVID JAMES YOUNG reports. For some, Neko Case is a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma. On one hand, she presents listeners with harrowing, brazen folk rock that stirs the emotive spectrum into a whirlwind. At the same time, however, you can catch her goofing off on Twitter or as a part of comedy podcasts like Nerdist or Comedy Bang Bang. How important is it to balance the seriously strange and the strangely serious? More than you’d think – at least according to the lady herself. “Earlier in my career, I was kind of worried that people were going to think that I was so dark,” Case says. “I guess the outlet of making music that’s often so dark makes it easier for me to balance that out the rest of the time – ’cause, y’know, I’m actually pretty silly most of the time. Most of the funniest people I have ever known don’t even let that side of them show in public.” She goes on to point to the aforementioned podcast interviews as some of the most enjoyable ones that she has ever done. “I’m going to sound like a total dick,” she prefaces. “But talking about yourself can really suck. It’s just kind of awkward. I mean, I don’t hate it – it’s part of my job, and that’s fine. But it’s when the conversation swerves to something that a) you’re interested in; and b) isn’t about you; it can become the most fun thing ever. You more or less get to say whatever you want. The thing about musicians and comedians is that we’re both very independent. We travel the same. We tour the same. The crossover is really nice. I dunno… most comedians want to be musicians, most musicians want to be comedians. We’re all very in love with each other.”
“I think of a lot of melodies while I’m driving. I just sing it into my recorder. A lot of songs started that way. It comes when I’m doing the dishes or whatever, too. Sometimes I’ll just be fucking around on the guitar or something. There’s no one way for me when I’m writing songs.” Lately, Case has been doing a lot of talking about herself in relation to her sixth solo album. The Worse Things Get, The Harder I Fight, The Harder I Fight, The More I Love You may be a mouthful, but its contents are easily digestible – her defiant, implicit lyricism and its lush surrounds make for what is potentially her finest album to date. It’s worth noting that many of these songs did not begin their lives with Neko behind a guitar or behind a piano – rather, they found her behind a steering wheel. “I think of a lot of melodies while I’m driving,” she says. “I just sing it into my recorder. A lot of songs started that way. It comes when I’m doing the dishes or whatever, too. Sometimes I’ll just be fucking around on the guitar or something. There’s no one way for me when I’m writing songs.” One of the tracks that springs to mind instantly is Nearly Midnight, Honolulu, the album’s centrepiece and a thoroughly devastating song involving a mother verbally abusing her child at an airport bus stop. It revolves almost entirely around Case’s vocal delivery, and it makes for a bittersweet, heart-wrenching listen. “It’s a verbatim conversation that I witnessed,” she says. “I’m the narrator in the story, and I am the witness in the story. I still think about it – I think about that kid all the time. I wrote the song in the car, and I sang it into the recorder. The melody came to me very quickly. I tried putting music to it, but I eventually came to realise that the version with just the voice was the most honest version I could put out there.” Case will return to Australia in February for the first time in just over four years to perform at WOMADelaide and a series of headlining shows. Before getting back on the road, however, Neko has business to attend to. She confirms that The New Pornographers are working on their first batch of new material since 2010’s Together. “We’ve been recording on and off for the past few months,” she says. “I’ll be going back again soon. I love playing with those guys.” Asking Case whether she looks forward to her Australian return is probably one of the more obvious questions one could possibly raise. “Are you kidding me?” she responds, half-joking and halfincredulous. “I always save Australia for the last part of major tours. It feels like the dessert after dinner. It is the absolute best place to tour. I’ve got nothing to hide in saying that.” Case’s Sydney stop next week will see her performing at the Concert Hall in the Opera House. Although it’s a prestigious honour for any act to be able to perform on such a grand, iconic stage, Case displays a degree of reticence when it comes to that particular date on the tour. “I’m trying not to think about the Opera House show,” she confesses. “As a person who’s not from Australia, the Opera House is the first thing that you see in your mind when you think of Australia. It’s so very intimidating, but I’m very excited about it. I’m going to try my very best not to pee my pants onstage. Maybe someone else has done it before me, but I really don’t want to be the first!” WWW. XP RE SS MAG.COM. AU
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NoFit State Circus’s Bianco runs as part of the Perth International Arts Festival at Ozone Reserve until Saturday, March 1. Go to perthfestival.com.au for tickets and session times. What do you do when you’ve pushed the envelope about as far as it will stretch in terms of what human performers can do in the circus ring? Start changing up what you can do with the audience itself, apparently. At least, that’s what NoFit State Circus has done with their latest show, Bianco. While performers swing, contort and rappel their way around an everchanging scaffolding stage, the audience is corralled and moved around, under and within the performance space, their perspective on the show constantly changed and challenged. “It’s a fresh look at circus,” Creative director Tom Rack explains. “A kind of very different way to present the work, but that’s great - that’s what we do. People really seem to enjoy it. By moving around, you’re engaging in a very different way.” This interactive performance style has taken almost three decades to perfect, as NoFit State worked to carve out their own unique niche within the increasingly popular world of contemporary circus “The company’s been going for, oh, 28 years now and we started from quite humble beginnings as a group of street performers. It was pretty much the same time as Circus Oz and Cirque Du Soleil started - we all started around the same time and all went off in different directions. The style of work developed as a collaboration between us and the artistic director of this project, who we’ve worked with on a number of shows over the years.” Rack tells us that the chief aim was always to try and forge a stronger connection between the troupe and the crowd than would perhaps normally exist during a performance. “For us, it’s a way of trying to engage with the audience differently, to try and have a different relationship with the audience. Circus doesn’t normally touch people emotionally and I think our work does do that - it draws them in and they fall in love with the world. For the two hours they’re with us they do run away with the circus. They leave the tent with a sparkle in their eye or sometimes a tear in their eye, having been genuinely moved by a piece of circus - and that’s not something that generally happens.” Judging from the way that Perth audiences have reacted to the shows so far, though, it’s something that NoFit State can make happen every night. “I think the younger members of the audience get off on the excitement and the danger and the thrills and the spills and the energy of the circus,” Rack says. “And the more sophisticated people can perhaps look for the literary references and perhaps try and weave together the covert narrative. It’s not a narrative piece overall, but there are many interwoven narratives and many images that say something. It’s one of those artforms that transcends all age groups and demographics - it can say many things on many levels.” TRAVIS JOHNSON
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DO THE DIASPORA
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Diaspora II is a concert series celebrating the life, passion and sense of adventure of those Mediterranean peoples who left their homelands in search of a better life. Featuring Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, French and Greek songs arranged for traditional and classical instruments. There will be two shows at The Hale School’s John Inverarity Drama And Music Centre, on Friday, February 28, and Saturday, March 1. Go to ticketebo.com.au for info and booking.
RAW COMEDY COMES TO A HEAD The WA Final Heat of the Raw Comedy National Open Mic Comedy Competition is happening this Thursday, February 27, at The Charles Hotel’s Comedy Lounge. Almost 20 ambitious young comics will do their damnedest to make you laugh and move on to the State Final at His Majesty’s Theatre on Saturday, plus MC Mike G and featured comic Nick Sun will be on hand to keep the laughs coming. Doors open at 7.30pm, and entry is $18 on the door. Go to comedyfestival.com.au for more info.
THE WIND RISES
Nick Sun
PETER COWAN COMPETITION ICE CREAM UNDER THE STARS Joining the already pretty crowded slate of outdoor Final Fantasy CALL FOR ENTRIES The 2014 Peter Cowan 600 Word Short Story Competition is now open for submissions. Aspiring entrants have until Friday, April 11, to get their literary efforts in to the Peter Cowan Writers Centre. Head to pcwc.org.au for full details.
DECADE OF DIFFERENCE Maylands Art Galley Studio 281 is celebrating 10 years of artistic excellence. Currently on display is a solo exhibition by renowned artist Terry Cousins, One For The Road. Running until Saturday, March 22, Cousins’ work records outback life through paintings and sculptural work. Go to studio281.com.au for more information.
CRUELTY FREE FESTIVAL The 2014 Cruelty Free Festival takes place this Saturday, March 1, at Fremantle’s Princess May Park from 10am - 4pm. Dedicated to espousing crueltyfree living, sustainability and social justice, the festival will boast stalls, plenty of healthy vegan food options, family-friendly activities, entertainment and more. Go to crueltyfreefestivalwa.org.au for more.
movie palaces in Perth is the new Ben & Jerry’s Openair Cinemas. Already a success in other cinemas, Ben & Jerry’s will be showcasing a wide range of cult classics and modern favourites on their 2K digital projection system. Plus, every Sunday sees the Sundae Session, where the screening will be complemented by live music. Of course, there’ll be a full range of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream on hand, too. It all kicks off on Sunday, March 16, with a live show by Van She and a screening of American Hustle. Shoot over to openaircinemas.com.au for info and tickets. American Hustle
REV REVELATIONS Revelation Perth International Film Festival enjoyed having Australian acting icon Steve Bisley as their patron last year, they’ve decided to make him a permanent addition. Bisley is now the public face of the festival, and will be returning to Perth when Rev kicks into gear for the 17th time form July 3 -13. For more information on all that Rev encompasses this year, go to revelationfilmfest.org.
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Directed by Hayao Miyazaki Starring Hideaki Anno, Miori Takimoto, Hidetoshi Nishijima, Masahiko Nishimura We’re not too used to seeing artists actually retire. Most celebrities, once they get a taste of the spotlight, seem to want to stay in it for as long as possible, so it was a little strange when acclaimed - no, make that beloved - Japanese animation auteur Hayao Miyazaki announced his intention to hang up his pens and brushes after one final feature film, The Wind Rises. The film traces the life of the airplaneobsessed Jiro Horikoshi (Hideaki Anno). Though his eyesight is too poor for him to be a pilot, Jiro becomes a gifted plane designer, inspired in part by dreams about the famed Italian aeronautical designer, Giovanni Caproni. Pursuing his career, he comes to work for Mitsubishi under the cantankerous but goodhearted Kurokawa (Masahiko Nishimura), where his innovative designs are used to make fighters and bombers. He also finds romance with the beautiful but sickly Naoko (Miori Takimoto). However, his life is beset not only by personal tragedy, but by the moral implications of designing weapons for the increasingly militant Japanese
government in the lead up to World War 2. It is, of course, a beautiful film. Miyazaki’s painterly style is perfectly married to a close attention to technical detail here, with both period landscapes and renderings of real world and fantastical aircraft portrayed to gorgeous, jaw-dropping effect. On a purely visual level, the film is a perfect tribute to Miyazaki’s faultless artistic eye, as well as a timely reminder that traditional animation techniques are still capable of taking the breath away. In terms of narrative, this is both more sombre than many of Miyazaki’s prior works and more meandering. A loose biopic - the real Horikoshi, as depicted in the film, did help build the famed Zero fighter - it is, by necessity, a largely picaresque tale and Miyazaki is content to take his time with the story, letting events pass at a gentle pace. While this elegiac tone does rob the story of much in the way of tension - even a sequence where government agents are hunting Horikoshi never feels like much of a threat - it does reinforce the film’s function as a final meditation on Miyazaki’s art and career. As much a thesis on art and obsession as it is a biography. Horikoshi’s obsession with aircraft mirrors Miyazaki’s drive to pursue his own chosen profession, but it’s left as an exercise to the viewer to ponder whether the costs that Horikoshi must pay are reflected in the filmmakers own life. Beautiful, warm, touching and at times heartbreaking, The Wind Rises is a fitting final entry in the career of one the great cinematic artists of our time. Don’t miss it. TRAVIS JOHNSON
FRINGE WORLD AWARDS 2014 The Budgie Smuggler Sunday, February 23, 2014 After weeks of fun and excitement it was finally time to bid Fringe World farewell for another year and to acknowledge some of the outstanding acts who graced us with their talents. Among other richly deserving recipients, JumpClimb and Tomas Ford took home the Lotterywest Independent Venue Award for Midlandia and Noodle Palace, while Paperland scored the City Of Perth Dance Award and Sam Perry won the RTRFM 92.1 Music Award.
WOLF CREEK 2 Australian Psycho Directed by Greg McLean Starring John Jarratt, Ryan Corr, Shannon Ashlyn, Phillipe Klaus It’s taken almost a decade since his first appearance, but we’re now seeing a concerted effort from cowriter/director to elevate outback serial killer Mick Taylor (John Jarratt) from chilling once-off menace to genuine, Freddy/Jason-level horror icon. 2014 sees not only the release of Wolf Creek 2, but also a couple of prequel novels that flesh out the backstory of the affably evil ocker assassin. Judging by the former, though, there may not be too much more to tell. Wolf Creek 2 is essentially Wolf Creek Again. Once more a trio of hapless backpackers are menaced by Taylor and once again constitutions are tested by an impressive amount of bodily mutilation and torture. This time around, the victims du jour are a pair of German backpackers (Shannon Ashlyn and Phillipe Klaus) and a remarkably unlucky English tourist (Ryan Corr) who becomes the object of a gruelling cat and mouse game with Taylor that takes up most of the film’s running time. Anyone who saw the first film has a fair idea of the tenor of the terror here, so claims of shock 20
and outrage at the violence and sadism on display are misguided; simply put, you know what you’re in for from the get-go. Indeed, the key problem with Wolf Creek 2 is that it’s all a bit too familiar. This time around Taylor is a lot more garrulous, with Jarratt really playing up the character’s ockerism, and McLean clearly has a bigger budget to play with, but the film’s overall shape and intent are identical to the first outing. We don’t get any real insight into Taylor’s background and motives and, a few more corpses littering the desert aside, nothing has changed between the end of Creek 1 and the end of Creek 2. Still, McLean is an assured director who both knows how to build tension and isn’t too proud to go for an effective jump scare now and again. He also knows and acknowledges his genre history; there’s a narrative bait and switch that’s straight out of Hitchcock, plus an extended sequence where Taylor pursues his victim in a truck that can’t help but bring Spielberg’s Duel to mind. That sequence is also the best example of the film’s jet-black streak of gallows humour, as Jarratt’s iconic killer ploughs his truck through a large group of another iconic Australian animal, the kangaroo. It’s McLean’s glee at subverting Australian archetypes that really saves both this film and its predecessor – after all, what is Mick Taylor but a human-hunting Crocodile Dundee? However, if we’re going to get more of this character, any further instalments need to do more than just tread water. While enjoyable enough on its own base and brutal terms, Wolf Creek 2 feels like a placeholder. Wolf Creek 3, if it ever comes into existence, needs to give us something new. TRAVIS JOHNSON
Alicia And Emily
Photos by Bohdan Warchomij
Anne and Perrie Kate, Matt and Katrina
Laura, Mary, Violette, Clare and Julia WWW. XP RE SS MAG.COM. AU
Carly and Amy
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VIOLETTE The Prison Of Her Skin Directed by Martin Provost Starring Emmanuel Devos, Sandrine Kiberlain Violette follows the life of French author Violette Leduc (Emmanuel Devos) from her marriage during World War 2 to Maurice Sachs to her rise as an author. It pays particular attention to her association with a number of writers that revitalised the arts in post-war France, especially Simone de Beauvoir who, despite unrequited love for Leduc, manages to form a professional and personal relationship with her. We are also given a personal insight into the author and her complicated relationship with her family, lovers of both sexes and, due to various mental health issues, the complicated relationship she has with herself. Emmanuel Devos is a remarkable physical presence in this. From the opening sequence her Violette stomps into shot, displaying a perfect combination of confidence and vulnerability. What she lacks in grace and charm, she batters through with an earnest passion. Despite her far too evident flaws, she possesses a talent that refuses to be ignored. By contrast, Sandrine Kiberlain’s Simone might embody grace and style, but it is a controlled and deliberate performance. Her posture is rigidly correct, her actions meticulous. Upon these two performances hang the majority of the movie with their relationship really forming the core of events. Violette’s passion for Simone is displayed as a strong motivator for her
early work and, although never consummated, sets the foundation of relationship that firstly becomes mentorship and later friendship. Simone also acts as an inspiration for Violette to continue writing, both demonstrating what can be achieved and also providing financial and emotional support when her work is not picked up by the public. Martin Provost brings us a strong biopic about this influential French author, managing to convey both the sensuality of Leduc’s writing and the doubts that plague her character. His portrayal of post-war France is well handled, managing to convey the period through the production details without it appearing staged. Unfortunately this is not a restraint which is applied to all the visual styling, and the film often slips towards melodrama. Such visual flourishes such as the Ophelia-like staging of Maurice Sachs’ body, or the dreamlike vision of Violette’s elderly mother in a wedding dress battering her pregnant belly, seem overblown and heavy handed in this piece. Violette is on much stronger ground when it is concentrating on the performances of its two primary actors, or allowing the author’s words to speak for themselves. Violette offers an insight into two groundbreaking and influential authors of the 20th century. Its fascinating subject matter, beautiful cinematography and excellent acting from both Devos and Kiberlain make for interesting viewing despite its flaws. DAVID O’CONNELL
Violette screens as part of the Lotterywest Festival Films season at Somerville from March 3 - 9. For more details, head to perthfestival.com.au.
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IN A WORLD Clear As A Bell Directed by Lake Bell Starring Lake Bell, Fred Melamed, Michaela Watkin Set in the world of the professional voiceover artist, In A World gives us an insight into a career few of us have thought about, but a life that seems remarkably familiar in terms of its neurosis and fumblings. Vocal coach and aspiring voiceover announcer Carol (Lake Bell) is not quite on the life path she wants. Barely making ends meet professionally, she is now sleeping on her sister’s couch because her dad (Fred Melamed) is living with a woman who is a year younger than her. As family issues build to a head an amazing professional opportunity opens up with a chance to provide the voice over for an epic film trailer resurrecting the iconic industry phrase “In a world...” Lake Bell ambitiously writes, stars in, and directs here. For her first time in the director’s chair in charge of a full length feature it is a big ask and the strain tells. In A World appears a little rough around the edges, with some scenes going nowhere, plot lines petering out, and a number of unnecessary characters. Yet for all this it is an incredibly likeable film. The roughness it demonstrates translates into a raw energy, giving it life and vibrancy. It appears messy and disorganised because it is in part a reflection of the life of the characters. The majority of them, regardless of age, wealth, or status, are
blundering around with little clue as to what they actually want and less of a clue as to how to obtain it. Carol is the prime example for this, living life on a succession of couches and stumbling into both romance and a career, but it equally applies to her father’s and sister’s story arcs. In A World also manages a fine balancing act in regards to its subject mater, in being both reverential to the industry while brutally skewering pop culture. From Eva Longoria’s wonderfully selfdeprecating cameo to the reverence the overblown sci-fi/fantasy pastiche of The Amazon Games (parodying elements of Twilight, Hunger Games, Game Of Thrones etc...) is held in, In A World is both mercilessly accurate in its parody and brutally funny. The script may be cluttered with a variety of characters and plot lines, but it keeps the dialogue coming at a rapid fire pace and produces numerous laughs. With an impressive comedic cast, including Nick Offerman and Demetri Martin, as well as some notable cameos from the likes of Geena Davis and Cameron Diaz, In A World provides entertaining fare with a brisk pace and witty script. For Bell it seems the perfect vehicle to showcase her talents. Sure, the screen gains yet another quirky romantic heroine who seems unsure of herself, but she is likeable, genuine and intelligent. By no means a perfect piece, but remarkably enjoyable overall. DAVID O’CONNELL
In A World screens as part of the Lotterywest Festival Films season at Joondalup Pines from March 4 - 9. For more details, head to perthfestival.com.au. WWW. XP RE SS MAG.COM. AU
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The Refusal Of Time: PICA This video and sculpture installation by William Kentridge sits at the crossroads of industrialisation and colonialism, combining theatre, drawing, music, film, dance and animation. Presented by PICA, Perth International Arts Festival and the Art Gallery Of Western Australia, it’s on display until April 27. Go to perthfestival.com.au for details. Cabinets Of Curiosities: Pe r t h C e n t re fo r Photography Connie Petrillo’s latest exhibition of autobiographical work casts a withering look at the exploitation of children by mass media and asks hard questions about they ways in which childhood is represented in our culture. It runs until March 16. Go to pcp.org.au for further information. Ukiyo-E - Japanese Prints Of The Floating World: Lawrence Wilson Art Gallery An exhibition of Japanese woodblock prints from the collection of Ronald and Catherine Berndt. It runs until June 28. Head over to lwgallery.uwa. edu.au for details.
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VISUAL ARTS 2013 Bankwest Art Prize: Bankwest Place The exhibition of all the finalist pieces for this prestigious annual award, including works by Rachel Coad, Penny Bovell, Susanna Castleden, Thea Constantino, Penny Coss, Jo Darbyshire and more, runs until March 3. Go to bankwest.com.au for more. A Private View - Modern Masters From The Kerry Stokes Collection: The Art Galley Of Western Australia 26 paintings drawn from one of the most significant private art collections in Australia, representing the major art movements of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It runs until March 3. Go to artgallery. wa.gov.au for further information. Bali - Return Economy: Fremantle Arts Centre A diverse exhibition focusing on Australia’s relationship with Indonesia as well as showcasing pieces from some of the most extensive collections of Balinese art in Western Australia. It runs until March 27. Go to fac.org.au for details.
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Year 12 Perspectives: The Art Gallery Of Western Australia This annual exhibition of the best work that our graduating Year 12 arts students have to offer runs from February 26 - May 5. Go to artgallery. wa.gov.au for further information. Drawing Matters: Spectrum Project Space A collection of unique drawing works from artists Nola Farman, Marie Haass and Angela Stewart. It runs from February 28 - March 21. Go to ecu.edu. au for more details.
THEATRE/DANCE/ PERFORMANCE Dinner With Friends: The Old Mill Theatre Written by Donald Margulies, this arch relationship drama won the Pulitzer Prize For Drama in 2000. This production, directed by Noel O’Neill, runs from February 26 - March 1. Go to oldmilltheatre. com.au for session times and tickets. The Rocky Horror Show: Crown Theatre It’s Time Warp time again when this 40th anniversary production of Richard O’Brien’s essential cult show rolls into town. Featuring Craig McLachlan as the irrepressible Dr Frank N. Furter, this is one of the must-see shows of the year! It runs until March 9. Go to crownperth. com.au for details.
Paco Pena
Subscription To Love: Hackett Hall This Perth production charts the complicated relationships of a group of close friends. Set in the modern day but written in iambic pentameter, this tragi-comedy runs from March 13 - 15. For tickets and session times, go to playlovers.org.au. A Streetcar Named Desire: State Theatre Centre Sigrid Thornton stars as Blanche DuBois in Black Swan State Theatre Company’s production of Tennessee William’s classic tale of delusion and desire. From March 15 - April 6. Head to bsstc.com.au for session times and tickets.
FESTIVALS Perth International Arts Festival Perth’s biggest celebration of art, film, music, theatre, dance and culture runs until March 1. Head to 2014. perthfestival.com.au for the full program. Avon Valley Vintage Festival Over the Labor Day weekend, the Northam Recreation Centre will host a wide variety of stalls, exhibitions and activities, including antiques and collectibles, with contributors including the Avon Valley Vintage Vehicle Association, the Army Museum Of WA, the Vintage Cycle Club Of WA and more. It runs from March 1 - 2. go to avoneventsandmarketing.com for more.
Green Porno: Perth Concert Hall Isabella Rossellini presents her new, wonderfully weird, one-woman stage show for one night only on Wednesday, March 19. Screen icon Rossellini takes us on a strange journey through the mating habits of a variety of terrestrial and aquatic animals, which should prove interesting. For info and tickets, head to ticketek.com.au.
Alliance Francaise French Film Festival 2014 So Frenchy, so chic! The greatest Gallic film festival is just over the horizon, once again bringing Perth cineastes the finest of filmic treats. It runs at Cinema Paradiso from March 18 - April 6. Go to affrenchfilmfestival.org for details.
Paco Peña Dance Company: Perth Concert Hall Flamencura, the latest production from flamenco legend Paco Peña, will be performed for one night only on Wednesday, April 2. For info and tickets, go to ticketek.com.au.
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It’s often necessary for dance music festivals to specify on their lineups which acts will be performing live as opposed to DJing. Fans of UK electronic producer Sub Focus aka Nick Douwma will be pleased to observe the ‘live’ tag next to his name on the Future Music Festival poster. AUGUSTUS WELBY chats to the main man in his London studio ahead of his appearance this Sunday, March 2 at Arena Joondalup. “The show’s me playing all of my own songs on a fully electronic setup. I guess the best way to describe it would be live remixing,” he explains. “I’m taking elements of my tracks and doing different things with them on the sly.” Last year’s Torus LP features collaborations with a number of guest vocalists, including Bloc Party’s Kele Okereke on the chart hit Turn It Around. Douwma won’t be joined on tour by the record’s vocal contributors but he says the Sub Focus live show provides plenty to stimulate. “I wanted to come up with a show that allows me to perform and change as much of the music as possible in a live setting. I use motion sensors, which are a bit like Theremins - they allow me to move my hands around. We’ve also made the lighting in the show audio reactive so... during the show the lights are actually responding to stuff I’m doing, whether it be playing the keyboard or hitting the drum pad or using these motion sensors.” Kele’s not the only impressive vocalist appearing on the album, with other guests including rising pop lass Foxes and lesser-known English performers MNEK and Jayelldee. Collaborating with vocalists on almost every song greatly distinguishes Torus from Sub Focus’ self-titled debut. Douwma explains his newfound relish for working with other musicians. “I didn’t really want to do an album with tons of features on it, but I much prefer songwriting with other people so that’s how it ended up… The last album was basically just me in my bedroom writing tracks completely in isolation. There’s a lot more collaboration in general, which is quite refreshing for me”. The internet makes it easy for artists to work together without being in the same room, but Douwma opted to personally seek out the acts who feature on the album, engaging in an interactive exchange of ideas. Virtual technology still played a part in the process, however, Douwma elaborates on how he worked with Kele. “Kele is someone who I’d wanted to work with for ages; I’m a big fan of Bloc Party and I love his voice on electronic stuff. He was living in New York at the time so we were sending files to and from each other, then we got together when he moved back to London about six months ago to finish the track.” Joining forces with artists from a variety of genres has evidently broadened Sub Focus’ stylistic reach beyond drum’n’bass. Douwma says he previously regarded composition as an introspective activity, but he’s come to embrace the unique results offered by creative conference. “I think an album gains a lot of richness from having multiple different players and people on it. I was quite interested about the whole process behind the Daft Punk album recently. They were pretty much playing the role of the old-fashioned producer, getting the best players together in a room and recording the results. I definitely enjoyed the process of getting lots of people to contribute in small ways.”
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Electroclash duo, Chicks On Speed, aka Melissa Logan and Alex Murray-Leslie, work between the worlds of music, arts and fashion and will be taking over Fremantle Arts Centre in April with an interactive exhibition called Scream, featuring a giant sculptural structure where they project a “visually chaotic collage”. They’ll also be launching their new album, Utopia, with drummer Erica Lewis in tow. The exhibition runs from Saturday, April 5 to Sunday, May 25 with the album launch on April 5. Get your tickets to the launch from Oztix and for more info head to: fac.org.au.
The Monarchy are throwing a d e b a u c h e ro u s party, High Waste, featuring the UK’s Jonny Woo - high priestess of London’s avant-drag set; Germany’s Boris of the legendary club Berghain; Lyall Hakaraia, the brains, beard and heels behind London’s iconic underground queer club Vogue Fabrics; and last but not least, The Duchess Of Pork, the mastermind behind regular parties in London’s East End. It’s all happening on Friday, March 7 at The Bakery. Get your tickets via nowbaking.com.au.
Chicks On Speed
Jonny Woo
MEDIA-ART-POP-MUSIC From left to right - DJs Food, Cheeba and Moneyshot. Photo by Jakub Dammer
DJ FOOD, DJ CHEEBA, DJ MONEYSHOT ... A Three Way Mix Chevron Festival Gardens Tuesday, February 18, 2014 This incredibly ambitious project from three of the UK finest decknicians saw DJ Food, DJ Moneyshot, DJ Cheeba recreate live the Beastie Boys seminal ’89 sophomore album, Paul’s Boutique. The trio tackling the arduous task of sourcing all the original vinyl records sampled on the landmark album that featured elements of over 150 classic songs. The project took years to complete and was inspired by Moneyshot’s previous similar recreation of the Beastie Boys’ 1992 album, Check Your Head. The trio didn’t waste any time making an impact, greeting the crowd and launching straight into it. Dicing and slicing sounds, they put on an absolute master class of turntable trickery, whilst still rocking the dancefloor with a wicked selection of stomping soulful sounds and funky beats. Throughout the night they swapped between stations all playing their own role. Food held it all together looking like a mad professor as he provided the base rhythms. The tall frame of Cheeba in the middle was hunched over the decks, the acrobatic beat juggler cut and faded effortlessly while the always entertaining, red-bearded scratch master, Moneyshot, tore up the decks. As the graphics displayed behind them read at one point - it’s been 25 years of Ninja Tune’s Solid Steel mix series. Such a pioneering solid label, it’s great to see the UK crew still supporting and pushing original musical concepts.
It seemed there were many fans in attendance with a lot of them singing along to every line when a sample of a Beastie Boys classic cut or a juvenile b-boy lyric faded into the dynamic mix. Sections of classic tracks like Shake Your Rump, Johnny Ryall, Hey Ladies, What Comes Around and the epic album closer B-Boy Bouillabaisse were deconstructed, cut up and reassembled to make and entirely new mix. It was an adventure through some classic records and amazing to hear all the diverse influences used in the making of the album, from the Eagles to Kool And The Gang, Pink Floyd to James Brown. The three amigos were having a ball behind the turntables, taking turns trading scratches with effortless ease. Leaving the stage to raucous applause they were soon back to declare, ‘We can do one more, but it’ll really be 10 more, you know how we do it!’ and with that preceded to drop a huge mashup of some of the other Beastie Boys classics including an epic remix of Sabotage complete with samples of the original video clip. Then the screen behind them went dark momentarily, before flashing up a big picture of the gruff voiced heart of the Beasties, MCA aka Adam Yauch, who sadly passed away so young a few years ago. The crowd hollered respect as one of MCA’s classic verses rang out over the beat. Truly an amazing and entertaining night, it was one to remember for the hip hop heads; a celebration of the Beastie Boys’ brilliance as well as an awesome display of talent by some musicians who have truly mastered their instruments. ALFRED GORMAN
TWERK-FEST Inhibit are bringing some of the biggest players in the trap and Moombahton movement for a huge night of big bass, 808 drums and paaarty! From the USA there’s ETC!ETC! and Jackal, plus Sydney’s Spenda C and local lad Killafoe. You can also catch sets from Casuel, Genga and Benny P and MC Stylee. The booty shaking takes place on Saturday, March 22 at Villa. Get your tickets via Moshtix. ETC!ETC!
Catlips. Photo by Darcy Rahn
SLOW MAGIC
PRODUCER’S CUT
Make Believe Slow Magic, as his cryptic bio states, is our ‘unknown imaginary friend’. A successful but mysterious chill-wave producer (he’s remixed Gold Panda, Giraffage and XXYYXX) presented as a luminous mask - the hybrid of a fox, cat and dog. NAOMI FAYE gets the low down ahead of his appearance tonight - Wednesday, February 26 at Akuna Club, Llama Bar. Acclaim Magazine describes his sound as ‘the aural equivalent of an Instagram filter’ and he’s been as secretive about his current location as he has about his identity, so I was surprised when he was candid enough to say he was calling from LA, finishing off the follow up to his successful 2012 release Δ and working on a brand new remix for Flight Facilities. Slow Magic is not the first artist to have a secret identity, but whether we admit it or not, anonymity does hold a fair level of intrigue. In this man’s case though, it isn’t a vain attempt to appear enigmatic, the electronic producer believing that secrecy brings the focus back to his music, connecting people to his sound. “Even though it’s somewhat impersonal, I think it adds a personal ownership to the project that people can relate to,” says Slow Magic’s creator, feeling that his hidden identity has been a positive experience. “The first time I played… I was talking to some random people and asking how my own set went. They told me without knowing it was me, and I realised I could get really sincere answers. It’s kind of scary, but it’s nice.” Like the ambiguous mask the artist dons when he performs, Slow Magic likes his listeners to define him, not the other around. What he will say though, is that his upcoming release is a “progression, not a departure” from his last, and that his music encapsulates a sense of summery nostalgia, the first record Δ being a summer’s day, and his new record being released later this year, a summer’s night. Adding to Slow Magic’s overall allure is the project’s visual centricity, his videos are captivating and he takes the aesthetic side of his concept seriously - “I think that the visual aspect of music is 24
KID TSUNAMI What kind of music do you make? Straight hip hop music. Tell us about your record, The Chase. It’s a boom bap style production album, featuring 20 of the best MCs in the world such as KRS One, Kool G Rap, Masta Ace, Sean Price, Bahamadia, Pharoahe Monch and Kool Keith. Heavily influenced by the genres of jazz, soul and funk, it’s a very traditional sounding hip hop album... Tools of your trade? Live, I am a DJ that spins funk, soul, jazz and hip hop. Using two turntables and a mixer, and recently moving onto Serato. In the studio I use an Akai MPC2000XL, two Technics 1200 turntables, a Vestax 05 mixer and crates of predominantly ‘70s vinyl. I use Pro Tools and a Digi 001 to mix down.
to think of ideas and record melodies by humming them into the voice recorder on my phone if I’m away from the studio... Producers you’re digging right now? Confidence on Ill Adrenaline Records, Kyo Itachi, Lewis Parker, Drumz and Llingo from KicDrum Products, Klaus Layer, Marco Polo, Damu The Fudgemunk and Oath One from Perth - amazing! There are so many producers keeping the true hip hop sound alive right now, you just have to look for it. Most life-changing musical experience? Listening to Back To The Grill from MC Serch when I was in high school. That joint was my first introduction to a type of hip hop I could really associate with... The driving bassline, bounce and boom bap drums coupled with amazing lyricism just opened my head right up to what hip hop could and should be. What are you obsessed with? I don’t really obsess over too much, as it can be a little poisonous for you, but I am driven to succeed. I like to set goals and achieve them... I love to have dreams and make them reality. I love quantum physics and the power and abilities we, as humans have, to affect our universe in a positive manner.
When are you at your most creative? As soon as I wake up or late at night is when I really get to work on the MPC and get in the zone. I use the daytime
Kid Tsunami launches The Chase on Sunday, March 2 at the Rosemount Hotel from 3pm. Free entry. The record is distributed online through The Orchard and in record shops through Obese. 12” vinyl is available at Safari’s Record Shack, Northbridge.
SALT NIGHTS OUT
Vibe? Celebrating and showcasing the eclectic electronic music of Perth.
Photo by Luca Venter
almost as important as the music itself.” He’s created an admirable paradox. Despite building a buffer between his real self and the public, his performances have one goal in mind - breaking down the barrier between artist and audience. At every performance, the producer finds a way to overcome the barriers of security and stage limitations and joins the crowd, often letting the audience play the drum pads along with him. “I think overall it’s important to have the mentality that the people on stage and the people not on stage are all in it together, there’s no separation and sometimes it’s just there (the barrier) and… it can be broken down.” We’ll soon be able join Slow Magic in smashing drums over his glittery glo-fi and the only reaction he wants from his Australian audience is surprise. “I hope that it’s something they don’t expect…That’s really all I can ask I guess, that people will have a good time; there’s not much more.”
UNDERGROUND BEATS RTRFM’s daily week day Full Frequency program is throwing Go Bang! at Flyrite on Friday, March 21. The night will be full of underground dance floor beats, bass and electronics with Full Frequency regulars Ben M and Rok Riley, some experimental hip hop beats from Melbourne-based Wooshie, plus Catlips, Atripat, Henry Maxwell and the 420 Crew. Get your tickets from rtrfm.com.au and gold subscribers get to go for free.
What can we expect to hear? Skewed and mutated takes on juke, trap, industrial, techno, drone, hip hop, synth pop, bass music and more. Next lineup? Ylem, Henry Kissinger, Tanaya Harper, D-Jeong, Sacred Flower Union, Sibalance, Ourobonic Plague and Basic Mind. Cool stuff? Ourobonic Plague is also launching his new EP 33 Degrees on the night.
Ylem
ALTERED FAUNA 00001 Answered by Ourobonic Plague
You should attend if... You want to explore the outer realms of electronic music. It’s a little bit chaotic but we always have a lot of fun - come see for yourself.
When and where? This Friday, February 28 and the last Friday of every month, 9pm till whenever at the Velvet Lounge (Flying Scotsman), Mt Lawley.
Altered Fauna 00001 is on this Friday, February 28 and the last Friday of every month at the Velvet Lounge. Free entry.
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DANNIC Something In The Breda Dannic aka Daan Romers, the Dutch DJ and producing maestro from Breda in the Netherlands (hometown of Tiesto and Funkerman among others) won attention early on with his cheeky edits and remixes. RK finds out about what it means to be Dutch ahead of Dannic’s appearance at Future Music Festival this Sunday, March 2 at Arena Joondalup and Good Life (under 18) on Monday, March 3 at Claremont Showgrounds. Dannic’s bootlegs of Axwell Vs Julie McKnight How Soon Is Glory and Tim Mason & Laidback Luke Vs. Adele The Moment Is Rolling In God’s Air, made people take notice. “I started in music about 10 years ago as a DJ in my hometown of Breda,” Romers begins. “The bar I worked at played all genres from the ‘70s and ‘80s; I did weddings and things. Things really started when I moved into house music. Around that time, there was a new club opening in the city and DJs were playing what I called ‘real music!’ I was asked to play there and started doing edits and tracks, producing music, that sort of thing.” Musically, his prodigious output has earned him the respect of fans and compatriots alike, but even by his own admission, he still has a way to go. “I am focusing on tracks and while I want to do one eventually, I’m definitely not thinking about an album right now... I’ve been working pretty extensively in the studio and am finishing a few demos with artists I met recently at ADE (Amsterdam Dance Event).” To that end, look out for a collaboration with Merc as well as something on Nicky Romero’s imprint. “I met these guys at ADE as well and we ended up really hitting it off; a lot of us came up with some cool ideas and some good remixes and productions will come of it. There are a few others I’m working on as well and we’re just looking around for some good vocalists.” Bursting onto the scene barely 10 years ago, it feels as if he’s been a stalwart for a lot longer. His driving style - progressive and funky, is partly explained by his take on the Dutch sound popularised by local hometown heroes Tiesto and Hardwell.
“About 10 years ago there was a really popular techno movement in Amsterdam, the bigger clubs were evolving and a lot of smaller clubs came about. As a result of that, a lot of other genres grew and gained popularity,” he explains. Proudly, he also accepts that a lot of quality artists and production is coming from the Netherlands. “It should be exciting, because it is a great time for music right now. I have a different sound to say DJ Chuckie or Hardwell or Afrojack. We are all Dutch but defining us together is difficult - I think it’s more about being an individual.” The Dutchman is celebrating his forthcoming gig to Australia and the associated party that will go with it. “It is my first time down there,” he chimes. No less, it will be a good opportunity for him to get away from the cold of the northern winter. “The gigs will be great. I have a few edits I’m working on and things like that. I’m looking forward to it.”
FUTURE MUSIC FESTIVAL Play Time In what’s become Perth’s biggest one-day music event, Future Music Festival rolls into Arena Joondalup this Sunday, March 2 with seven stages full of live acts, big name DJs and local artists - all aimed to get your party on. While 2 Chainz will no longer be making it, due to visa issues, there’s still a ton of acts to check out, and if you haven’t got your tickets yet, head to page eight and you might just get lucky and win yourself a double VIP pass.
Phoenix
FUTURE MUSIC STAGE 08.45 Deadmau5 07.15 Hardwell 06.15 Eric Prydz 05.15 Macklemore & Ryan Lewis 04.00 Kaskade 03.00 Dada Life 02.00 R3hab 01.00 Martin Garrix 12.00 Timmy Trumpet SAFARI 09.00 Phoenix 07.30 Cut Copy 06.00 Rudimental 04.30 Tinie Tempah 03.15 Naughty Boy 02.15 Carnage 01.15 Will Sparks 12.00 Uberjakd KNIFE PARTY’S HAUNTED HOUSE 09.00 Chase & Status 07.30 Knife Party 06.30 Porter Robinson 05.30 Sub Focus Live 04.15 Baauer 03.15 Netsky Live 02.15 Adventure Club 01.30 I See Monstas 12.45 Walden 12.00 Casuel
FUTURE SOUND SYSTEM 09.00 Paul Van Dyk 08.00 Markus Schulz 07.00 Atb 06.00 Chuckie 05.00 Arty 04.00 Dannic 03.00 Deniz Koyu 02.00 Bassjackers 01.00 Dyro 12.00 Helena COCOON 08.00 Sven Vath 06.30 Luciano 05.00 Dubfire 03.30 Maya Jane Coles 02.30 Guy Gerber Live 01.45 Flex Vs. Richard Lee 01.00 El Dario Vs James A 12.00 Aarin F THE LIKES OF YOU 08.45 Gesaffelstein Live 07.00 Paul Kalkbrenner 06.00 Brodinski 05.00 Kaytranada 03.30 Gorgon City 02.30 Allstate Vs. Manimal 01.30 Milanov Vs. Cambourghini 12.00 Craig Hollywood Vs. Bastian’s Happy Flight DJ’s FOAMARAMA 09.00 Death Disco DJs 08.15 Peter Payne 07.30 Gracie 06.45 Black and Blunt 06.00 Axen 05.15 Lukas Wimmler 04.30 Melotyx and Boston Switch 03.45 Jackness 03.00 Chiari 02.15 Gran Calavera 01.30 Nik Nak 12.45 Future of Future DJ Comp Winner 12.00 Shann
Hardwell
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B E AT S
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NEWS
THURS 27/02 THE CAUSEWAY Xport Thursdays THE CLAREMONT Mad Hatter’s Tea Party CLUB RED SEA Thursday Night Revolution CONNECTIONS Bingay THE CRAFTSMAN FiveO THE DEEN Chase The Sun MALT BAR The Collective EVE NIGHTCLUB Retro Thursdays ft. EVE DJ Team GOLD BAR OG Thursdays LEISURE INN DJ Peta MUSTANG BAR The Caballeros ft. The Shakey’s, Legs Electric
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REVIEWS
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EVENTS
THE SHED
ROSEMOUNT YT ft. Papa Flava, Crucial Rockers, Rasta Fyah, & more THE SAINT Britty SHAPE BAR D-JAHSTA ft. Killafoe, JD4D SOVEREIGN ARMS Az-T THE WHALE & ALE Josh Warrr YAYA’S ACE Fridays
Art Vs Science - Sat, Apr 5 @ Amplifier Bar
FRI 28/02 AMBAR Break-A-Holics Anonymous ft. Tone & Oli, Dead Easy & Roxright, Micah, Philly Blunt THE AVIARY Troy Division Andrei Maz THE BAYSWATER Mario Zuli THE BEAT (DOWNSTAIRS) PLAY THE BEAT (UPSTAIRS) BLKOUT THE BRASS MONKEY James Ess & Vicktor THE BRIGHTON DJ Peta CAPITOL Nina Las Vegas CAPITOL (UPSTAIRS) I Love 80’s & 90’s THE CARINE Jimmy Beats
INTERVIEWS
METROPOLIS FREMANTLE
AMPLIFIER
WED 26/02 AMPLIFIER Academy BRASS MONKEY Jordan Scott CAPITOL (UPSTAIRS) Harlem Wednesdays CLUB RED SEA Cheek GOLD BAR Famous THE GOOD SHEPHERD Thinkfar GROOVE BAR (CROWN) 5 Shots LLAMA BAR Akuna Club METRO FREO Next Gen MOJOS BAR Fremantle Blues & Roots Club MUSTANG BAR Kickstart NEWPORT HOTEL Newport Wednesdays SOVEREIGN ARMS Jordan Scott THE VILLAGE BAR Village People Wednesdays
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THE CAUSEWAY Bath Salts THE COMO Funky Bottoms THE CRAFTSMAN Dazman DAILY PLANET Sundowner Sessions THE DEEN Student Night EVE NIGHTCLUB Recharge Fridays FLAWLESS Monarch Fridays FLYRITE DeadWeight! Dance Club GINGER NIGHTCLUB Mondo Dance Party GEISHA BAR Open House GOLD BAR Vanity THE GOOD SHEPHERD Slowed & Screwed
Oliver Tank - Fri, Feb 28 @ The Bakery
GROOVE BAR (CROWN) Tod Johnston & Peace Love DJ Crazy Craig THE HIGHWAY HOTEL Crackers LAKERS TAVERN Grizzly LEISURE INN Mel Burns LIBRARY Dorcia MALT Nu Disco Hip Hop METRO FREO Frat House Friday’s Say Cheese! MY PLACE Karaoke NEWPORT HOTEL Leah Mencel PARAMOUNT Friday Nights PARKER Blowout THE QUEENS Jon Ee & Reuben
SAT 01/03 AMBAR Japan 4 ft. Parakord, Marko Paulo AMPLIFIER Major Leagues THE AVIARY Zel NDORSE AVENUE Lokie Shaw THE BALMORAL Back To The 80’s BAR ORIENT Saturday Night Fever BEAT NIGHTCLUB (UPSTAIRS) CANVAS BEAT NIGHTCLUB (DOWNSTAIRS) $5 Party THE BIRD The Love Junkies Mudlark BRASS MONKEY DJ Peta & Jordan Scott THE BRIGHTON Miss Chief C5 METRO FREO I Love 80s & 90s ft. Darren Tucker & Dr Wazz CAPITOL Death Disco CAPITOL (UPSTAIRS) Cream of the 80s ft. DJ Roger Smart THE CAUSEWAY House Party THE COMO Jay Lee Lloyd THE CORNERSTONE Sonny
Kutmah Motez - Fri, Feb 28 @ Capitol
DEFECTORS BAR Future Wives Club EAST END BAR Home FLAWLESS LQ Saturdays FLYRITE Father GOLD BAR Pure Gold THE GOOD SHEPHERD Chocolate Jesus LOST SOCIETY Chalk METRO FREO Metropolis Saturday’s ft. Mr T, Dr Wazz, Ben C, DJ Shane NEWPORT HOTEL Gravity DJ Tahli Jade DJ Tom Drummond PARKER Parker Saturdays PARAMOUNT Saturday Nights ft. Felix THE QUEENS Ben Mac & Emmanuel Filia THE SAINT Crackers
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SOVEREIGN ARMS River Milnes VILLA Brazil Carnival ft. Sambalicious THE WEMBLEY HOTEL Az-T THE WHALE & ALE Julio Gorcia YAYA’S Gay Paris – The After Party Tour Arcadia SUN 02/03 AIR Geek Boy, Nerd Girl AMPLIFIER Terror THE AVIARY Rooftop Sessions Zel NDORSE THE BRASS MONKEY Jordan Scott THE BRIGHTON Squinty METRO FREO What’s a Genre THE ROSEMOUNT (BEER GARDEN) Get Down ft. Kid Tsunami THE SAINT Jon Ee & Az-T
Public Enemy FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28 @ CHEVRON FESTIVAL GARDENS
THE COURT Splash! Sunday Session Foam Party PLAYERS BAR Tropical Party THE QUEENS Fiveo & Sam Spencer VILLA Rewind Reunion MON 03/03 THE DEEN Manic Mondays THE ROSEMOUNT HOTEL Bex & Turin’s Wide Open Mic YAYA’S Big Tommo’s Open Mic TUES 04/03 THE BIRD The Bird’s Open Mic Night MUSTANG BAR Danza Loca Salsa Night
D-Jahsta - Fri, Feb 28 @ Shape. Photo by Marios Marmaras
Deadline Monday 5pm. The Club Manual is a service to advertisers listing all DJs & Dance Music. All inclusions are at the discretion of X-Press. Email guide@xpressmag.com.au
ROCKET ROOM
CAPITOL
ELIZABETH ROSE, SAFIA, FISHING 11 Amplifier 12 Mojos
THIS WEEK SLOW MAGIC 26 Akuna Club @ Llama Bar
MAY KANYE WEST 2 Perth Arena
ROBERT GLASPER EXPERIMENT ft. Roy Ayers 27 Chevron Festival Gardens
BLISS N ESO, HORRORSHOW, SETH SENTRY 2 Signal Park, Busselton 3 Wellington Square
PUBLIC ENEMY 28 Chevron Festival Gardens OLIVER TANK 28 The Bakery
Ta-Ku - Fri, March 7 @ Fremantle Arts Centre
DAMIANO VON ERCKERT 28 Hellenic Club
& Ryan Lewis, Hardwell & more 3 Claremont Showgrounds
NINA LAS VEGAS, MOTEZ & more 28 Capitol D-JAHSTA 28 Shape
HANDPICKED ft. Ta-Ku, Ryan Hemsworth, Flying Lotus 7 Fremantle Arts Centre
DAMIANO VON ERCKERT 28 Hellenic Club
YOLANDA BE COOL 7 The Newport
MARCH KERSER w/ DJ Dazastah, Bitter Belief, Complete & Omac 1 Metro City FUTURE MUSIC FESTIVAL ft. Deadmau5, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Phoenix, Hardwell & more 2 Arena Joondalup
PARKER
GET WEIRD ft Roland Tings, Tornado Wallace 7 Ambar DERRICK CARTER 7 Geisha HIGH WASTE ft. Jonny Woo, Boris, Lyall Hakaraia, The Duchess Of Pork 7 The Bakery
KIM ANN FOXMAN 2 Connections
BEDROOM TO BIGROOM DJ COMP ft. Cassian 7 Capitol
GOOD LIFE ft. Deadmau5, Macklemore
THE UPBEATS & STATE OF MIND 8 Villa
TIJUANA CARTEL 8 Rosemount GOLD PANDA 9 The Bakery JURASSIC 5: REUNION TOUR 14 Metro City
THUNDAMENTALS 8 Flyrite
ETC!ETC!, JACKAL & SPENDA C 22 Villa BATHS 23 The Bakery CHRIS LORENZO 28 Ambar
PHARRELL WILLIAMS 14 Challenge Stadium
MINISTRY OF SOUND CLUBBERS GUIDE TO 2014 ft. Ember & Joel Fletcher 29 Villa
FORCE MAJEURE ft Nick Thayer 14 Ambar
APRIL VENGEANCE 4 Ambar
BLACK SUN EMPIRE, SHAPESHIFTER, DILLINJA & more 21 Metro City
A$AP FERG 5 The Bakery
MOVE D 14 Geisha
BASSLINE & MORRI$ 21 The Bakery ILLY 21 Capitol
DUB FX & OPIUO 5 Villa ART VS SCIENCE 5 Amplifier Bar CHICKS ON SPEED 5 Fremantle Arts Centre
RTRFM’S GO BANG! NEKO PLANET 21 Flyrite 9 The Bakery
THE PRESETS, WORDLIFE, DJ BENI 8 Capitol
The Aston Shuffle. Photo by Michael Caves
HOLY FUCK 8 The Rosemount 9 The Odd Fellow
SETS ON THE BEACH #14 Farewell Summer
DISCLOSURE 9 Metro City
Scarborough Beach Amphitheatre Sunday, February 23, 2014
GROOVIN THE MOO ft. Disclosure, Dizzee Rascal, Holy Fuck, Illy & more 10 Hay Park, Bunbury
Rounding out another successful series of summer parties on the sand, the final Sets On The Beach took over the Scarborough Beach Amphitheatre last Sunday for the ’13-’14 season. The lineup, as per most Sets lineups, had a fairly even mix of the lesser-knowns combined with the more mainstream acts. First up were Melbourne duo on the comeup, Client Liaison, rolling up in fairly extreme ‘80s-esque glamour clothing/hair, the visual element perfectly slotted in with their Chromeo-like electro-pop sounds. While they veer dangerously close to novelty act, the earnestness in their music and delivery can’t be ignored. Hed Kandi resident and Sets regular Glen Horsborough then took control of the decks for a more commercial-leaning spin, which encouraged the ever-expanding crowd out of the shadows and onto the warm sand, before Adelaide disco-bros The Swiss took to the stage in their live iteration with latest single Elouisa going down a treat. By the time Goldroom took to the stage the amphitheatre’s sandy bowl was almost completely full, with many a punter going full steam ahead into some sandy shuffling. The Los Angeles producer didn’t disappoint. While you could sense most of the crowd was waiting to hear his huge single Embrace (and they promptly went off when it was played) there was plenty of groove to enjoy.
VANCE JOY & GOSSLING 8 The Bakery
ELLIE GOULDING 28 Challenge Stadium RÜFÜS 30 Players Bar 31 Fremantle Arts Centre JUNE THE PRESETS (with the Australian Chamber Orchestra) 4 Concert Hall
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For those chasing a slightly more intimate vibe, Tiny Club saw Bromance Records’ own Louisahhh & Maelstrom take over for a solid two-and-a-half hours of dark, grinding electro and techno, and the mini rave was jam-packed from start to finish of their set. Following them local lad Manimal continued to bang it out, and Aslan closed down the miniscule party with his ever on-point selection of hip hop and R&B jams. Back out in the amphitheatre forest poprockers Jinja Safari kept the vibes up with a typically engaging, and super fun, set - the full band a nice midway point based mostly around producers and DJs. Following them Mighty Mouse went down a more party route, sliding in some Chemical Brothers and even David Bowie’s Let’s Dance, until you before you knew it, the sun had set and it was time for The Aston Shuffle to roll out their extensive back catalogue, along with some previews of their upcoming album release. At times the set chugged along a little too slowly, and the ‘live’ tag meaning little more than some noodling over backing tracks and some electronic drumming. Finale Tear It Down did feature a head-to-toe mirror ball lady that lit up the venue’s already impressive LED set-up though, which was rad. To finish, even though this scribe is a massive fan, there were some doubts about how well Motez’s brand of ghetto-house would go down at the usual party-set time slot. Fortunately the Adelaide gun simply took control of some 5,000 punters and never let go. Kicking off with his edit of Sage The Gemini’s Gas Pedal, his own track Ride Roof Back and re-works of Rufus’s Desert Night and Goldroom’s Embrace proved to be big highlights. We should all be thankful that this cracking venue is in such good hands, with smooth operations backed up by a great selection of acts both large and coming up. See you next summer. TROY MUTTON
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YO U R G U I D E TO W H AT ’ S O N T H I S M A R C H
SONGS IN THE KEY OF MOTOWN Billed as ‘The Best Motown Revue In America’ the excellent Songs In The Key Of Motown show is a huge tribute to the Temptations, The Supremes, The Four Tops, The Pointer Sisters, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder and many more. Catch this acclaimed event on Wednesday, March 12, at the Bunbury Regional Entertainment Centre; Thursday, March 13, at the Mandurah Performing Arts Centre and Friday, March 14, at the Astor Theatre. Check venues for ticketing details. Songs In The Key Of Motown
THE ROCKET ROOM WHY NOT WEDNESDAY? Allure Entertainment and The Doll House Gentleman’s Club are pleased to bring you the all new Why Not Wednesday - a chance to spend your Wednesday night than with the girls from Perth’s premier entertainment agency, with drink specials and nonstop podium performances. Why not head to the Doll House this Wednesday night? Check out the comps page for your chance to win a 12 month VIP membership!
Come Original The Rocket Room is bringing back original music every Friday, kicking off with The Chevelles, The Volcanics, Custom Royal and The Killer Hipsters this Friday, February 28. BOB GORDON checks in with The Rocket Room’s Anthony Croce.
Why Not Wednesday, The Doll House Gentleman’s Club
CAUSEWAY AND EFFECT Causeway Comedy continues throughout the month of March at The Causeway Bar, showcasing the best local and national comedians weekly. This year the boys across the bridge have revived Xport Thursdays with live acoustic artists, free pool, free entry, cheap drinks, $4.95 pizzas, free party bus to Clubba at close and an old school hip hop DJ playing ‘til late. The Causeway will also be playing host to Brisbane indie/ electronic artists, Tincture on Saturday, March 15. Tickets are $10 at the door, so get in early!
The original student night returns home to The Shed on Wednesday nights. Free entry from 6pm with student priced drinks and live bands and DJs all night. Visit them online at the-shed.com.au to find out all about this iconic Perth venue.
Tincture, headed to The Causeway
The Shed
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SHED’S UP
Let’s discuss the elephant in the Rocket Room - the venue pulled the pin on live original music late last year but now it’s back. What happened between then and now? Great question, the honest reason? It came down to the cost of the night, not many patrons will care that it costs anywhere from $4,000 to $7,000 to open the doors. We, simply, after two years of running at a loss could not afford to lose any more money so we shut it down and put on ‘that night’ that should never be spoken about again to save some of the money required to revamp and come back in a big way. With the time off we developed a new night with Monster Management with some failsafe ways for bands to promote their night and make it bigger and better than ever. Some additions while we were shut is the new Tannoy HD Audio sound system installed from ProAv Integration making Rocket Room the only club in WA with high definition sound, this is all suspended from the ceiling so there is no vibration with the bonus of clearing the stage to make it bigger. We can record bands live and have installed two huge 6 x 4 meter projected screens for video clip launches.
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There is much more we have done including updating the decor but you will have to see it yourself. How will the approach change from the Rocket Room’s previous endeavours in 2007-13? Unknown to most people, the Rocket Room was purchased two years ago by Hayley Stewart and Ryan Burnell, with new leadership, management including myself and with the help of Monster Management and Anarchy Entertainment we believe that our fresh, modern approach to an old room is going to prove to be a success. Our team is made up of musicians, DJs and promoters. We have played shows, put on hundreds of shows, toured and know what it takes to make a night work. We are passionate about Fridays at the Rocket Room and more importantly about live music. The Chevelles and The Volcanics head up Friday before they head overseas. A pretty good gig to kick off the new era, isn’t it? We can’t wait for this Friday. We have some old school rockers and some new rockers, a show that will be a great start to this year. You will notice we haven’t made a huge deal about the opening night or pushed down everyone’s throats with a ‘Relaunch Party’, we are simply just having an opening night. We didn’t try to push for a January opening as we wanted it to be just right and waiting for the right bands was the key’ something I think we have got thanks to Monster Management. What are you other plans for the room? We have been planning some huge events for the Rocket Room and you will be the first to know but for now we are simply going to do our best to put on some kick arse shows. Thanks for your support in helping us and as we say, ‘Live music isn’t dead it just need soldiers, so get off your asses and come see a gig!’ The Volcanics, pre-Europe show at the Rocket Room this Friday
A preview of everything happening in the Perth scene this March! advertise: advertising@xpressmag.com.au
SPOTLIGHT ON FREMANTLE
TURF’S UP
EASTENDERS The East End Bar have recently launched a new Saturday night in the upstairs bar called Redo (Ctrl+Y). Expect the best party jams from the ‘80s, ‘90s and noughties in the lavish surrounds of Level 1. East End Bar is the party place to be every Saturday night in Fremantle, 11pm ‘til Late. Head to theeastendbar.com.au to get your name on the guest list.
ANCHOR’S A WAY... The Sail & Anchor has invited some its friends over for the month of March with guest beers Karl Strauss, Colonial, Cheeky Monkey, Bootleg Brewery and Last Drop brewery, just to name a few. They also have a daily food specials and acoustic duo, Better Days, to serenade you every Saturday night. Get to it!
Surf ‘n’ Turf is a mini-festival of music and surf culture for the benefit of SurfAid, supported by Surfing WA. It’s all happening on Saturday, March 8, at the North Fremantle Bowling Club, from 3pm–midnight. It’s a great line-up with The Floors, Jill Birt & Alsy MacDonald (ex-Triffids) & Friends, Morgan Bain, Timothy Nelson & The Infidels, The Morning Night, Jeff Harald Jazz Combo, The Fremantle Ukulele Collective, Sub Marine, Ebony & Claudia and Penny Lane’s Rock School. There’s also a SurfMart vintage surfboard exhibition, a spot to buy and sell second-hand boards and wetsuits, plus a shaping exhibition, plenty of food, cheap drinks, auctions, mega-raffle, surfboard ride, free bowling and a free supervised bouncy castle. Full details at alljnd.com. The Morning Night, Surf ‘n’ Turf
Sail & Anchor
East End Bar
CRUELTY FREE!
Mojo’s Monthly Markets will run the first Sunday of every month from 11am-4pm commencing this Sunday, March 2. It costs you nothing to come down and have a look, but they can’t promise you won’t spend with so many amazing things on offer. Check out instrumental stalls, vintage and new instruments, pedals and excellent things, vinyl vendors, vintage clothing, streetwear designer sample sales, clothing and jewelry from original, local designers, as well as original artwork.
Rosie O’Grady’s Fremantle have another action packed month ahead with some of Perth’s best live entertainment. Madam Montage and Felix will be rotating throughout March bringing the party back to Fremantle. Check out Rosie O’Grady’s Facebook page for more details and drink specials!
Animal Rights Advocates invites you to join them and thousands across the community for the fourth annual Cruelty Free Festival this Saturday, March 1, from 10am to 4pm at Princess May Park, Fremantle. There’ll be lots of fun activities for the kids including face painting by Emily Philips, Ghupi the illusionist, juggling by Emma O’Sullivan, hands-on crafts by the Eco Faeries, yoga by Rainbow Pammy, a bouncy castle and much more. Check out cooking demonstrations by Justin Sideris and Banana Rawpublic, local bands and singers such as Matt Cal, James Atles and Minky Gardner & Rosco, plus talks and loads of product and information stalls promoting social justice. For more details, head to crueltyfreefestivalwa.org.au or facebook.com/ crueltyfreefestivalwa.
Mojo’s Monthly Markets
Madam Montage, Rosie O’Grady’s Fremantle
Cruelty Free Festival
IN THE MARKET FOR SOME MOJO? EVERYTHING’S COMING UP ROSIE
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CLINK SWIM This Friday, February 28, The Clink plays host to the Maxim Australian Swimwear Model Of The Year Competition Grand Final. The current national champ, Miss Erin Pash, will be on hand to present the this year’s winner with her crown. The Clink currently have three national champions to date so head down and support these local girls. Free entry before 11pm. The Clink, Maxim Australian Swimwear Model Of The Year Competition Grand Final
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Photo by Rachael Barrett Photo by Rachael Barrett
PAPA VS PRETTY Tired Lion Mojos Bar Sunday, February 23, 2014 The setting at Mojos was warm and intimate for the Perth leg of Papa Vs Pretty’s album launch tour. Their new release, White Deer Park, was the product of some intensive song writing, totalling around 80 tracks, which were painstakingly culled for the final release. The end result, completed with assistance from LA producer Dave Trumfio, was a beautifully polished yet deeply touching LP which the Mojos crowd were treated to in its entirety. Tired Lion were the chosen support act for the night and it was obvious that they’ve been hard at work honing their craft. There is honestly nothing like this band in Perth at the moment and not a single beat was missed. Infallible musicianship was on display despite a last minute replacement drummer, recruited temporarily from 44th Sunset, who appeared to have learnt their entire set to perfection in a single afternoon. Lead singer and rhythm guitarist Sophie Hopes belted out her vocal lines with greater precision than ever before and even her betweentrack banter saw some vague improvement. Sophie’s crystalline voice paired with some gritty vocal
harmonies by bassist Nick Vasey, particularly on their final track, tentatively titled Don’t Think You Like Me, adding a seriously entertaining dynamic which we can hope to see more of in the future. Following a brief interlude, Papa Vs Pretty sauntered up to the plate for a full length performance of their stunning album. Now damn, that’s some delicious song writing. Lead singer Tom Rawle was not only infinitely charming but projected his soaring and glorious voice into the space with confidence and clarity. The pace moved from considerably heavy uprock vibes to smooth and sweet without a moment’s pause. One particular track, My Life Is Yours, was almost tear jerking in its emotional content and the interplay between guitar and piano was masterful. Their music is heartfelt from the start to end and came without a trace of bloated insincerity or ingenuousness. The combination of thoughtful lyrics, evolving instrumentation and varied pace was at times reminiscent of a lush Radiohead release and the house remained packed and responsive throughout the set. Papa Vs Pretty are certainly destined for ever greater success as they clearly are not afraid of breaking away from the pack of overly twee and insubstantial releases that seem to be currently flooding the Australian airwaves. Providing something that your mind and heart can truly connect with is no mean feat, and White Deer Park gives exactly that. Whenever it is that these lads may grace our isolated city again, put the date aside and give yourself over to the experience. JAMES HANLON
OKKERVIL RIVER Louis And The Honkytonk Chevron Festival Gardens Wednesday February 19, 2014
Photo by Toni Wilkinson
The Perth International Arts Festival has got many things right this year including having the support act perform before the headliner, and done away with the notion of the secondary band being the late night entertainment that will keep the punters there (it is the bar in the garden that does that). This night’s opener was local chaps Louis And The Honkytonk who played a set of psych pop that had a touch of Nick Cave thrown in for good measure. Such were the amount of personnel changes that Okkervil River barely resembled the
VOYAGER Morphica/This Other Eden/Caligula’s Horse Amplifier Bar Friday, February 21, 2014 Urgent strings, chugging drums and some serious keyboard wizardry signaled the beginning of Morphica’s set, with the talented foursome playing a selection of covers and originals to a small but enthusiastic crowd. Wowing us with their powerhouse progressive metal, keyboardist Jeremy Poole-Johnson and guitarist Daniel Wiggins stole the show, displaying a kind of musical camaraderie rarely seen. Wiggins especially shone on original tracks LB427 and Universal Mind, with his frantic, masterful shredding leaving several punters’ jaws on the floor. Five-piece This Other Eden brought a hardcore sensibility to the stage, with furious, frenetic drums providing an interesting backdrop to frontman John Kelly’s vocal stylings. From ear-shattering screams to lovely singalongs, he did it all with ease, displaying the impressive control he has over his instrument. In fitting with Kelly’s versatile vocals, their sound encompasses a wide range of genres; post-rock, hardcore, punk and even a pinch of pop make for an unlikely – but invigorating – listening experience. Peddling tracks from new EP Six Senses, high-energy standouts Shake This and Better Already had the crowd singing and shaking along. Brisbane based five-piece Caligula’s Horse instantly demanded attention with their charismatic band that had been on Perth stages many times before. There was, of course, no mistaking tall front man Will Sheff with his ginger beard and thick glasses. The band wasted little time in launching into songs from the latest album The Silver Gymnasium with It Was My Season setting the scene and the pop bliss of On The Balcony sealing the deal. There was no banter coming from the stage for the early part of the evening as one tune swung straight into another with the most notable points being a frenetic take on Black that was so much more muscular than these skinny, pasty white performers promised to deliver. Pink Slips is the stand out from the latest record and served the same purpose this evening. It was given a healthy dose of country twang to add an extra dimension to an already immaculate song, and was delivered in fine style when Sheff realised that pink slips is a term that is used in Australia and not just his hometown of Meriden. When Sheff switched to electric guitar to add a bit more weight, the band only succeeded
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brand of prog rock. Lead singer Jim Grey’s comedic timing and easy banter with the audience belied the band’s penchant for all things eerie and creepy – unsettling soundscapes segued into heavy metal mayhem, characterised by sublime harmonies and Opeth-influenced guitar solos. Flaunting some great pipes of his own, bassist Dave Couper lent a killer falsetto to Vanishing Rights, before a sweaty and shirtless Grey introduced set finisher Fuck This City via a fitting political message: “This last song goes out to all the fucking pollies across the country. We love you, but FUCK THIS CITY!” A song worth its weight in shred, it was the perfect endnote for a set brimming with no-holds-barred attitude. The deafening cheers accompanying Voyager’s arrival made one thing very clear: the local legends had high expectations to fulfill. Frontman Daniel Estrin’s drawn out overture “We…are... Voyager!” was met by hushed suspense, with super catchy opener The Devil In Me finally sating their fans’ desire. Lost, a track punctuated by driving riffs and pounding drums, was followed by an epic cover of Type O Negative’s Iron Dream. While the night’s purpose was to promote new single Breaking Down – the first fruits of their hugely successful Kickstarter venture – the single was somewhat overshadowed by a sexy medley of retro hits, including Kung Fu Fighting, What Is Love, Eye Of The Tiger, Jump and You’re The Voice. Not a body in the room was still, with expectations exceeded and new fans won. The fun was far from over, however; well-loved tracks like Morning Light, Fire Of The Times and Sober were interspersed with heartfelt words of thanks and even the odd Arnie impersonation. ELLIE HUTCHINSON
is sounding more tepid and at times indulgent. Stay Young was played with venom but was more forgettable that anthemic. Luckily this portion of the set was short lived as Real was tight and menacing with an impressive slice of guitar work from the impish Lauren Gurgiolo. There were hand claps and celebrations aplenty as Okkervil River hammed up Life Is Not A Movie Or Maybe and the crowd obliged. Wasting no time before returning for an encore, Sheff strapped on his well-worn acoustic guitar for a snail-paced solo rendition of Stone. When stripped back, he is capable of presenting the captivating and sensing the tone of the moments instructed the band to deviate from the scheduled set list for the dobro lead A Girl In Port. Sheff gesticulated to the crowd at the back to get out of their seats for the final tune and continued to wave his arms and writhe around the stage like a bookish Iggy Pop for the radio friendly Unless It’s Kicks. Okkervil River are a dynamic beast on stage and are in no way your average band. CHRIS HAVERCROFT
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MY PLACE
OCEAN ONE BAR
SWALLOW BAR
Tigertown
MOJOS BAR
Thursday, February 27, Tigertown (NSW) play Mojos Bar. Having visited WA a few times now, Tigertown headline Mojos while they’re over this way to play Nannup. Supports include awesome indie pop band Three Hand One Hoof and British influenced indie rock act, Villain. Tickets are $12 plus booking fee via Oztix and $15 at the door from 8pm. Friday, Band of Frequencies (QLD) hit town. Supports include Dilip ‘N’ the Davs, Jordan McRobbie and Wayfarer. Entry is $15 from 8pm. Saturday, March 1, Flower Drums play a send off show ahead of their USA tour. These smart indie song writers with a tasteful dash of modern chill wave are supported by Felicity Groom, Dianas, Leure and Ylem. Entry is $10 from 8pm.
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His Merry Men
YAYA’S
Thursday, February 27, His Merry Men, Brisbane’s 10-piece funk and soul party band will be paying tribute to one of Michael Jackson’s greatest works, playing the Off The Wall album in its entirety. Joining them for this epic soul revue is Perth’s very own J.B.’s J.B.’s, a tribute to the band that backed the Godfather Of Soul etched with the spirit of old school funk. Make sure to get there early; singer songwriter Jacob Diamond will be warming up the stage! Entry is $10 from 8PM.
THE ROSEMOUNT HOTEL
INDI BAR
Monday, March 3, Bex & Turin’s Wide Open Mic night continues in its second week in the main room. Get in touch with Turin to play Perth’s best live music room via: turin.undergrowth@hotmail.com Add Bex, who is helping compile bookings and to MC the night, with Turin and we have WA’s most formidable talent platform ever! Entry is free and the show starts at 8pm.
Get on down one last time to all of your favourite hits as Gay Paris do their damned best to make sure that nobody is left behind when the party rapture happens this Sunday, March 2. Salvation is at hand. Let’s dance. Riff festival special, featuring Wizard Sleeve and Scalphunter. Doors open at 7pm and entry is $10.
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Wednesday night welcomes the one and only Nick Sheppard back to the Swallow decks an evening of old school funk and jazz, Nick style! Thursday night is Rockabilly night, with the super talented Jay, Jonny and Rusty of Shotdown From Sugartown joining us again, kicking off at 7pm. Saturday night DJ T King is in the Swallow house with his great collection of rare vinyl: old school soul, jazz and funk with a few surprises! Sunday Sessions at Swallow Bar introduces acoustic guitar duo Steel Guts with Alex from local funk band The Crux. Expect a great afternoon of jazz and latin beats. Get your groove on Maylands! Check swallowbar.com.au for details.
THE BEAT NIGHTCLUB This Friday the almighty hometown legends Blkout are headlining and playing their first show back in Perth after their Euro tour with Bane and Power Trip, along with Reactions from Adelaide and Free World from Melbourne on their west coast tour with Idle Eyes, Losing Grip and Apollo Zen. Doors open at 8pm, entry is $10.
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to see it playing in a band. Everybody is extra nice to us when we roll into a new town. And complimentary, top class food and beer is a nice perk thrown in especially across the European countries.
THE CHEVELLES
How’s your new drummer, Ian Tubbs, doing? Ian is a top bloke, solid drummer and a good mate of Duane (Smith, vocals/ guitar) and mine way back from our Freuds days. The Chevelles’ frontline has stayed constant for like, 23 years, but drummers seem to be our nemesis and a revolving drum stool has certainly been ours. That said, we have been through about five drummers over 25 years so that is not too bad, I guess. We’ve been lucky to play with some great skinsmen, especially over the past 20 years.
Westside Sopranos - The Chevelles with Steven Van Zandt. Photo by Tandy Ewing
Soon to head off overseas, The Chevelles and The Volcanics will play the new era Rocket Room’s Opening Night this Friday, February 28, with Custom Royal and The Killer Hipsters. BOB GORDON chats to Jeff Halley. You must have lost count how many times The Chevelles have done Europe/America in the last 20 years. What’s the plans/hopes for this trip? November/December this year marks 25 years of The Chevelles. We started touring Europe – Spain, France, Germany,
Switzerland and more back in 1993 and then along the way numerous tours of Brazil and the US just happened to get offered up and have remained reasonably constant over the distance. The band has been laying low over past year so it’s going to be great to just get out and do what we do best and that is play live. Also, we are doing four shows in Spain and I have not been back there for five years so that will be way cool. What has the overseas element contributed to the band’s existence? As in, would you still be going if you’d remained a ‘Perth band’? No way would The Chevelles still be going if we had not got the opportunity to tour internationally. It is every person’s dream to at some point hit the road and see the world and we have been very fortunate
What’s the plans for 2014 once you’re back from the trip? Wicked Cool Records, our New York-based label, want a new release and are really on our back so recording will be a definite priority. Then we may think about launching a 25th Anniversary World Tour or something like that at some point. We work on ‘Chevelles Time’ so nothing too strenuous, thanks. How was it catching up with ol’ mate, Wicked Cool Records boss Little Steven, aka Miami Steve, before the Bruce Springsteen show? Lil’ Steve is always good fun and a great guy to catch up with. We all caught up backstage before the Saturday night Springsteen concert, had a couple of beers and Steven is always good value and ready to tell on-the-road stories. And these days he has become quite the TV star as well, so no shortage of great material to discuss. Post-show a couple of the boys partied on with some of the Springsteen entourage at Amplifier long into the early hours of Sunday.
GHOSTLY GOINGS ON The Ghost Hotel break their gigging drought by playing their first ever show at Clancy’s Fremantle on Friday, February 28. How the hell they’ve managed to avoid the iconic Freo venue is anyone’s guess, but the time has come to put that right. They’ll be joined by special guests The Whiskey Pocket and will be armed with a few new songs, too. Entry is free, doors open at 9pm. The Ghost Hotel - Photo by Gareth Andersen
YESTERDAY’S HEROES Taking inspiration from the catchy singalong pop-punk styles of the late ‘90s, local four piece Last Week’s Heroes offer their fresh and dynamic take on contemporary indie rock. Catch them on Wednesday, March 5, as they take to the stage at YaYa’s, along with White Avenue, The Midnight Mules and more! Entry is $6 from 7.30pm
ON THE SLY Tuesday, March 4, Get on down to YaYa’s to check out Sly Withers, with support from The Baskervilles, Showering Vixens and Leah Miche And The Regular Hunters. Entry is $5 from 8pm.
SHARK ATTACK AND VINE Punk groovers Them Sharks have put the finishing touches on their debut album, The Beasts Of Bulwer St, and you can get a heavy dose of it at Amplifier Bar this Friday, February 28. It’s a killer lineup of local talent, with Scalphunter, The Bob Gordons, Medicine and Silver Foxes providing support. Entry is $10 from 8pm. Them Sharks - Photo by Rachael Barrett
LOVIN’ THE JUNKIES After burning through their second east coast tour this year, The Love Junkies return home for a show at The Bird. You can catch them this Saturdaywith alongside Mudlark. Doors are from 8pm. The Love Junkies
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THEM SHARKS The Beasts Of Bulwer St Album Launch @ Amplifier RUBY BOOTS Solitude/Lovin’ In The Fall 7” Launch @ Mojos AMY SUGARS So I Won’t Single Launch @ The Elephant And Wheelbarrow LOUIS AND THE HONKYTONK This River Single Launch @ 78 Records MORGAN BAIN In The Middle Single Launch @ The Astor Lounge VALDAWAY Tiny Town EP Launch @ Amplifier THE JAC Love Dumb Single Launch @ The Odd Fellow KING OF THE TRAVELLERS Rambling Jackson Single Launch @ Mojos LIP SERVICE EP Launch @ The Civic THE RUMBLE The Annabelle EP Launch @ Indi Bar RAGDOLL Break You Video Launch @ The Rocket Room WWW. XP RE SS MAG.COM. AU
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TOUR TRAILS
ROBERT GLASPER EXPERIMENT, FEBRUARY 27 THIS WEEK MADELEINE PEYROUX 26 Chevron Festival Gardens TIGERTOWN 27 Mojos Bar ROBERT GLASPER EXPERIMENT 27 Chevron Festival Gardens DOLLY PARTON 27 Perth Arena SIX60 27 Metro City NEKO CASE 27 Fly By Night Club MAJOR LEAGUES 27 Newport Hotel 28 Prince Of Wales, Bunbury 1 Amplifier Bar PUBLIC ENEMY 28 Chevron Festival Gardens NINA LAS VEGAS 28 Capitol BRUNO MARS 28 Perth Arena GAY PARIS 28 Swan Basement 1 YaYa’s 2 Indi Bar MIKHAEL PASKALEV 1 Chevron Festival Gardens LOS CORONAS 1 Rosemount KERSER 1 Metro City FUTURE MUSIC Deadmau5, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Phoenix, Hardwell, Knife Party, Eric Prydz, Rudimental, Tinie Tempah, Chase & Status 2 Arena Joondalup ILL NIÑO & SKINDRED 2 Capitol, Perth LIONEL RICHIE & JOHN FARNHAM 2 Sandalford Winery THE WONDER STUFF 2 Rosemount Hotel TERROR 2 Amplifier Bar SOUNDWAVE Green Day, Alice In Chains, Rob Zombie, Placebo, Biffy Clyro, Panic! At The Disco and more 3 Arena Joondalup GOODLIFE FESTIVAL Deadmau5, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Hardwell, Rudimental, Knife Party, Kaskade, Porter Robinson and more 3 Claremont Showgrounds MARCH THE BENNIES 6 YaYa’s 7 Prince Of Wales, Bunbury DAN SULTAN 6 Artbar STICKY FINGERS 6 Prince Of Wales, Bunbury 7 White Star, Albany 8 Settlers Tavern, Margaret River BRIAN MCKNIGHT 7 Riverside Theatre GURRUMUL 8 Kings Park
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TOURS LIVE
LOS CORONAS, MARCH 1
TIJUANA CARTEL 8 Rosemount Hotel COURTNEY BARNETT 8 Mojos Bar BILLY BRAGG 9 Perth Concert Hall GOLD PANDA 9 The Bakery QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE & NINE INCH NAILS 11 Perth Arena JOSH PYKE 12-13 Quarry Amphitheatre THE ANGELS, DIESEL & MI-SEX 14 Graham Bricknell Music Shell, Bunbury JURASSIC 5 14 Metro City PHARRELL WILLIAMS 14 Challenge Stadium THE WHITLAMS 14-16 Quarry Amphitheatre KASEY CHAMBERS AND BAND 15 Quindanning Inne SARAH MCLEOD & JEFF MARTIN 15 Prince of Wales, Bunbury SONGS IN THE KEY OF MOTOWN 12 Bunbury Regional Entertainment Centre 13 Mandurah Performing Arts Centre 14 Astor Theatre NEIL FINN 16 Perth Concert Hall DAMIAN DEMPSEY 17 Capitol THE ROLLING STONES 19 Perth Arena SUICIDE GIRLS 19 Astor Theatre THE SMITH STREET BAND 19 Prince of Wales, Bunbury CLOUD CONTROL Acoustic Tour 20 The Saint 21 Settlers Tavern, Margaret River 21 Caves House, Yallingyup 22 The OBH, Cottesloe 22 The Northshore, Whitfords 22 The Empire Bar, Riverdale 23 The Brisbane Hotel ABSU & PORTAL 20 Amplifier Bar THE SMITH STREET BAND & THE MENZINGERS 19 Prince Of Wales, Bunbury 20 YMCA HQ 21 Rosemount Hotel CALLING ALL CARS 21 Amplifier Bar 22 Prince Of Wales, Bunbury 23 Indi Bar ILLY 21 Capitol KATE MILLER-HEIDKE 21-23 Quarry Amphitheatre KING GIZZARD & THE LIZARD WIZARD 22 Rosemount Hotel 23 Mojos Bar PROUD MARY 22 Clancy’s Fremantle 29 Quindanning Inne CASPIAN 22 Mojos Bar GANG OF FOUR 23 Capitol ICEHOUSE 23 Hotel Rottnest
THE ACACIA STRAIN 23 YMCA HQ 24 Amplifier Bar SEBADOH 25 Rosemount Hotel DARK TRANQUILLITY & ORPHEUS OMEGA 25 Capitol 30 SECONDS TO MARS 25 Challenge Stadium SEBADOH 25 Rosemount Hotel THE STRAY SISTERS 26 Fly By Night BALL PARK MUSIC 25 Studio 146, Albany 26 Prince of Wales, Bunbury 27 Newport Hotel JOHN BUTLER TRIO 27 Fremantle Arts Centre 28 Belvoir Amphitheatre 29 Old Broadwater Farm, Busselton THE HOLIDAYS 29 Rosemount Hotel BRITISH INDIA 28 Indi Bar 29 Amplifier Bar STUART ORCHARD 29 Rosemount Hotel HUNTER & COLLECTORS 29 (sold-out) & 30 Kings Park & Botanical Garden THE HOLIDAYS 29 Rosemount Hotel 30 Newport Hotel KRIS KRISTOFFERSON 30 Red Hill Auditorium THE STRAY SISTERS 31 Albany Entertainment Centre APRIL PACO PENA 2 Perth Concert Hall MONSTER MAGNET 3 Amplifier Bar ART VS SCIENCE 5 Amplifier Bar CHICKS ON SPEED 5 Fremantle Arts Centre Courtyard HYPERFEST Spit Syndicate, Allday, Cub Sport, Glass Towers, Jackie Onassis, Closure in Moscow, Mathas, In Hearts Wake, Luca Brasi, The Love Junkies, Statues, Timothy Nelson and the Infidels, When Giants Sleep, Emecia, The Decline, FOAM, Scalphunter, Apache, Lionizer and more 6 Midland Oval KYLESA 6 The Bakery SUZANNE VEGA 11 Astor Theatre ELIZABETH ROSE 11 Amplifier Bar 12 Mojos Bar WEST COAST BLUES N ROOTS Matt Corby, Michael Franti, John Mayer, Dave Matthews Band, Doobie Brothers, Boy & Bear 13 Fremantle Park BOZ SCAGGS 14 Crown Theatre 3 INCHES OF BLOOD 16 Amplifier Bar BURIED IN VERONA 16 Villa 17 Prince Of Wales, Bunbury 18 YMCA HQ, Leederville TWELVE FOOT NINJA 19 Rosemount Hotel
BILLY BRAGG, MARCH 9 TOXIC HOLOCAUST & SKELETONWITCH 20 Rosemount Hotel KREATOR & DEATH ANGEL 20 Amplifier Bar THE ACACIA STRAIN 23 YMCA HQ 24 Amplifier Bar SKID ROW & UGLY KID JOE 23 Metropolis Fremantle THE ALMOST 23 Amplifier Bar JEFF BECK 24 Perth Concert Hall ADRIAN EDMONDSON & THE BAD SHEPHERDS 24 The Odd Fellow 26 Rosemount Hotel BALL PARK MUSIC 24 Astor Theatre 25 Studio 146, Albany 26 Prince of Wales, Bunbury 27 Newport Hotel MICHAEL BUBLE 26 & 27 Perth Arena AARON NEVILLE DR JOHN & THE NITETRIPPERS 26 Riverside Theatre HUGH LAURIE & THE COPPER BOTTOM BAND 26 Perth Concert Hall JUSTICE CREW 27 Crown Theatre BOY & BEAR 30 Divers Tavern, Broome
MAY KANYE WEST 2 Perth Arena RUSSIAN CIRCLES 2 Rosemount Hotel BLISS N ESSO 2 Signal Park, Busselton 3 Wellington Square LEE KERNAGHAN 6 Princess Royal Theatre, Albany 9 Crown Theatre ORIGIN 6 Amplifier Bar GIDEON 7 Amplifier Bar 8 YMCA HQ ELLA HOOPER 8 Artbar VANCE JOY & GOSSLING 8 The Bakery THE PRESETS 8 Capitol HOLY FUCK 8 Rosemount Hotel 9 The Odd Fellow DISCLOSURE 9 Metro City THE JEZABELS 9 Astor Theatre THE JUNGLE GIANTS 9 Rosemount Hotel JASON DERULO 10 Perth Arena PAUL WOSEEN 10 YaYa’s 11 Mojos Bar GROOVIN THE MOO Action Bronson, Andy Bull, Architecture In Helsinki, Disclosure, Holy Fuck, The Jezabels, The Jungle Giants, Karnivool, Kingswood, The Kite String Tangle, Loon Lake, The Naked And Famous, Parkway Drive, The Presets, Peking Duk, Robert Delong, Thundamentals, Vance Joy, Violent Soho, Wave Racer, What So Not & more 10 Hay Park, Bunbury
THE NAKED & FAMOUS 11 Astor Theatre ARCTIC MONKEYS 13 Perth Arena JONNY CRAIG 14 Amplifier Bar 15 YMCA HQ PETULA CLARK 17 Perth Concert Hall SEPTICFLESH & FLESHGOD APOCALYPSE 18 Amplifier Bar HITS & PITS 3 Strung Out, Face To Face, Unwritten Law, Implants 18 Capitol & Amplifier Bar THE ENGLISH BEAT 23 Rosemount Hotel 2014 AIRNORTH KIMBERLEY MOON EXPERIENCE Eskimo Joe, The Waifs, John Williamson 24 Jim Hughes Amphitheatre, Kununurra GARY NUMAN 25 Astor Theatre ELLIE GOULDING & BROODS 28 Challenge Stadium LARRY CARLTON 28 Astor Theatre RÜFÜS 30 Players Bar 31 Fremantle Arts Centre WE ARE SCIENTISTS 31 Amplifier Bar
JUNE THE BEARDS 1 Astor Theatre PROPAGANDHI 3 Amplifier Bar YO GABBA GABBA! LIVE! 7 Riverside Theatre LA DISPUTE 7 Rosemount Hotel 8 YMCA HQ JAMES BLUNT 12 Crown Theatre 13 Riverside Theatre BASTILLE 18 Challenge Stadium THE PAPER KITES 19 Artbar 20 Prince of Wales, Bunbury FINNTROLL 22 Amplifier Bar MONDO ROCK 22 Regal Theatre KEITH URBAN 29 Perth Arena
JULY THE CRIMSON PROJEKCT 2 Fly By Night
AUGUST ROY ORBISON & DEL SHANNON TRIBUTE 7 Albany Entertainment Centre 9 Crown Theatre LADY GAGA 20 Perth Arena
SEPTEMBER MARINA PRIOR 5 Albany Entertainment Centre ROBBIE WILLIAMS 11 Perth Arena
TO U R TA L E S
DOWN Sgt Pepper’s Lively Blast Band Down perform at Soundwave at Arena Joondalup this Monday, March 3. SHANE PINNEGAR chats with guitarist, Pepper Keenan, and discovers that the band are just finalising their second in a series of four EPs in place of a fourth album. Pepper Keenan’s laidback Southern drawl down the line from New Orleans masks the flurry of activity around Down. “They just finished mixing the second EP yesterday,” he reveals. “Mastered today. We start rehearsing for the Soundwave tour tomorrow.” It’s all go for the band, fronted by ex-Pantera singer, Phil Anselmo. Keenan explains that the decision to release four EPs in reasonably quick succession was, in part, a reaction to the music industry’s dire straits. “Yeah, a little bit of that,” he agrees. “A little bit of our own selfishness of not wanting to be a slave to the machine and wanting to do it our way and have a little bit more freedom to move laterally and not be so dictated to spending time on an entire record.” Keenan’s unconcerned that the band haven’t been overly prolific, releasing only three albums and one EP in almost 20 years. “You listen to Slayer’s record - their masterpiece - Reign In Blood, it’s 32 minutes long. We started thinking about that shit, and these record labels have got bands beating themselves to a pulp to make a record that’s an hour and 10 minutes long! “I tend to go for quality over quantity. I think everybody in Down would agree with that. It’s not that we’re having trouble writing songs, we’re just so damned fucking busy and then we’re not going to be pushed by a record company to spit something out that’s mediocre.
“I tend to go for quality over quantity. I think everybody in Down would agree with that. It’s not that we’re having trouble writing songs, we’re just so damned fucking busy and then we’re not going to be pushed by a record company to spit something out that’s mediocre. So we’re gonna turn the tables on them - once that shit is on a CD, it’s there for life. We’ve got to make sure it’s right. I’m not interested in spitting shit out just to be prolific.” “So we’re gonna turn the tables on them once that shit is on a CD, it’s there for life. We’ve got to make sure it’s right. I’m not interested in spitting shit out just to be prolific.” Moving the conversation on to Soundwave, Keenan declares “when you’ve got 45 minutes, you’re going to give them a stunner one after another and just blast them. That’s what we’re doing.” Keenan is also looking forward to a little time off while here on tour. “I like to hit any beach I can find, pretty much, in Australia. Or any type of off-shore fishing to calm down,” he laughs. “Australia’s a wonderful place. I like to tell people Australia is like America without the bullshit!” Keenan’s face will be familiar to Metallica fans, too, having featured in the Some Kind Of Monster documentary auditioning to replace bass guitarist, Jason Newsted. He’s sanguine about missing out on the gig to Robert Trujillo. “It was between me and Trujillo,” he recalls, before joking, “yeah, I was cool with it until I saw the movie and saw Trujillo get a cheque for a million bucks - then I’m like, ‘wait a second now!’ “But hey, everybody’s cool man, it’s a good thing. Everything evolves and happens for a reason. It was an awesome opportunity. I was pretty close in the scheme of things, but in the long scheme of things, I dunno if I would have been Pepper Keenan anymore, I’d have just been the bass player for Metallica.”
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GIG GUIDE
MOURNING LILITH/ROSEMOUNT/ HOTEL THURSDAY 27 WEDNESDAY 26/02
AMPLIFIER BAR Academy Battle Of The Bands Santa Muerte Kites Medicine Dawn Of Leviathan Remember The South Ratking THE BIRD Friendsdays BRASS MONKEY Sugar Blue Burlesque THE CARINE Open Mic Night Chris Gibbs CHEVRON FESTIVAL GARDENS Madeleine Peyroux CLANCYS CANNING Songwriters Night Mike Lane Kate Gilbertson ELLINGTON JAZZ CLUB Band Of Frequencies Night Cap Sessions THE GREENWOOD Bernardine GROOVE BAR (CROWN) 5 Shots INDIAN OCEAN BREW CO. Village Vibes INDI BAR Wanderlust LANEWAY LOUNGE Adam Hall & The Velvet Playboys LOBBY LOUNGE (CROWN) Decoy Duo THE LUCKY SHAG Howie Morgan MUSTANG BAR Kickstart MOJOS BAR Hussy Hicks Eric Erdman THE MOON CAFE Lewis Walshe Bex & Jane Azzopardi NEWPORT HOTEL Joel Fletcher OCEAN ONE BAR Marcio Mendes THE PADDO Dove Andy Newman Tim Montgomery 459 ROSEMOUNT HOTEL Rich King Matthews Blue Lucy Crawjaw Mercia Wise ROSEMOUNT HOTEL At The Space Jam The Right Way Up Trip Hazard & The Rude Boys
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MIDNIGHT BOULEVARD/RAILWAY HOTEL/FRIDAY 28
SETTLERS TAVERN Open Mic Night SWALLOW BAR Nick Sheppard THE SWINGING PIG Open Mic Night Greg Carter UNIVERSAL BAR Retriofit THE VIC Leighton Keepa VILLAGE BAR Village People Open Mic X-WRAY CAFE Elena B Williams Jay Grafton YAYA’S The Bitter Grins Rum Jungle Black Stone From the Sun The Limbs THURSDAY 27/02
BAR ORIENT Open Mic Night THE BIRD Aborted Tortoise Doctopus Thee Gold Blooms Loco Bartez BRASS MONKEY Rhythm Bound Karaoke BRIGHTON Open Mic Night Rob Walker THE BOAT Jen De Ness THE BROOK Open Mic Night Chris Gibbs BROOKLANDS TAVERN Celebrations Karaoke THE CAUSEWAY BAR Xport Thursdays CHEVORN FESTIVAL GARDENS Robert Glasper Experiment ft. Roy Ayers & Lonnie Liston Smith CLANCYS FREMANTLE The Sunshine Brothers THE DEEN Howie Morgan Project DEVILLES PAD Rock’N’Roll Karaoke DUNSBOROUGH TAVERN Open Mic Night Kris Buckle ELLINGTON JAZZ CLUB Lucie Thorne with Hamish Stuart Night Cap Sessions FLY BY NIGHT Neko Case Darren Hanlon
LOCAL GIG
THE GATE Greg Carter GRAND CENTRAL PARK Justin Cortorillo GROOVE BAR (CROWN) Dr Bogus INDI BAR Band of Frequencies Ben Salter LOBBY LOUNGE Jack & Jill LANEWAY LOUNGE Nicola Mann Trio LUCKY SHAG James Wilson METRO CITY Six60 MOJOS BAR Tigertown Three Hands One Hoof Villain MOON CAFE The Weapon Is Sound MUSTANG BAR The Caballeros Legs Electric The Shakeys DJ James MacArthur NEWPORT HOTEL Major Leagues Gunns Hamjam OCEAN ONE BAR Turin’s Open Mic Night PEEL ALE HOUSE Open Mic Danny Bau PERTH ARENA Dolly Parton PRINCE OF WALES Gay Paris 459 ROSEMOUNT HOTEL Foam Rag ‘n’ Bone Health Legend Black Stone from the Sun ROSEMOUNT HOTEL Mourning Lilith Cupid Falls Remember The South Cloak & Dagger Branch Circus SETTLERS Aiden Warro SWALLOW BAR Shotdown From Sugartown SWAN HOTEL (LOUNGE) Parker Avenue Louis Inglis The Devil In Miss Jones Alert The Jeweller UNIVERSAL BAR Off The Record THE VIC Harry Moore X-WRAY CAFE The Jack Doepel Quartet YAYA’S His Merry Men Jacob Diamond FRIDAY 28/02
THE CABALLEROS
THE CABALLEROS LEGS ELECTRIC THE SHAKEYS DJ JAMES MACARTHUR Thursday, February 27 - The Mustang Bar
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THE ALBION Jen de Ness Trio AMPLIFIER BAR Them Sharks Scalphunter The Bob Gordons Medicine Silver Foxes ASTOR THEATRE The Rat Pack From Vegas THE BAKERY Oliver Tank Oscar Key Sung Kucka
FALL ELECTRIC/459 ROSEMOUNT/ FRIDAY 28 BALMORAL Mike Nayar BEAT NIGHTCLUB (DOWNSTAIRS) PLAY BEAT NIGHTCLUB (UPSTAIRS) Blkout Idle Eyes Losing Grip Apollo Zen BELGIAN BEER CAFE Roger Roger BELMONT TAVERN Siren & Assassin BEST DROP TAVERN Tandem THE BIRD UK Bound Clunk Bullok Starkytron SNB BOAB TAVERN Airbag BRASS MONKEY Acoustic Aly THE BRIGHTON Rob Walker THE BROOKLANDS TAVERN Vanerty Brothers THE CARINE Velvet CHASE BAR & BISTRO James Wilson CHEVRON FESTIVAL GARDENS Public Enemy CITRO BAR Dean Anderson CLANCYS CITY BEACH Zarm CLANCYS FREMANTLE The Ghost Hotel The Whiskey Project COMO HOTEL Penny King Trio CRUISING YACHT CLUB Barry Gee DEVILLES PAD Rockin’ A Gogo DUNSBOROUGH TAVERN Cuddles EAST 150 BAR Jarrad Wilson EMPIRE BAR Howie Morgan ELLINGTON JAZZ CLUB Fort Knox Libby Hammer FAIRLANES AMPHITHEATRE Stella Donnelly FLY BY NIGHT The Songs That Made Memphis Sun Rising THE GATE Choppa & The Hitman GOSNELLS HOTEL Chris Gibbs GOSNELLS HOTEL Chris Gibbs Trio MANDURAH GREYHOUNDS Jasmine Atkins GROOVE BAR (CROWN) Tod Johnston & Peace Love DJ Crazy Craig HERDSMAN Acoustic Flavour HOTEL ROTTNEST DJ Eugene HYDE PARK HOTEL (courtyard) Frank G INDI BAR Bobby Alu & Nick Saxon KALAMUNDA HOTEL Cheek2Cheek LANEWAY LOUNGE Hans Fiance Just For The Night
LAST DROP TAVERN Connie Kis Anderson MAHOGANY INN Patty G M ON THE POINT Retriofit MAHOGANY INN Patty G MOJOS BAR Band Of Frequencies Dilip N The Daves Jordan McRobbie The Wayfarer MUSTANG Flat Nash & The Action Men Swing DJ Adam Hall & The Velvet Playboys DJ James MacArthur NEWPORT HOTEL Leah Mencel OCEAN ONE BAR Mad Agents PADDY MAGUIRES Cherry Lips PERTH ARENA Bruno Mars PORT KENNEDY TAVERN Light Street PRINCE OF WALES Major Leagues Gunns THE PRINCIPAL Electrophobia QUARIE BAR & BISTRO One Trick Phonies RAILWAY HOTEL Midnight Boulevard The Monicans Cavalier World-A-Fuzzy ROCKET ROOM Opening Night The Chevelles The Volcanics Custom Royal The Killer Hipsters RIGBY’S BAR & BISTRO Undergrowth Acoustic Open Mic ROLEYSTONE COUNTRY CLUB Stu McKay 459 ROSEMOUNT Ben Salter Medicine Hat Trio Fall Electric Duo ROSEMOUNT HOTEL Crucial Rockers Papa Flava Future Soundz Rasta Fyah Earthlink Sound DJ YT ROSIE O’GRADYS FREMANTLE Madam Montage SAIL AND ANCHOR Howie Morgan Duo SETTLERS Tigertown SOUTH ST ALEHOUSE Robbie King Karaoke SWINGING PIG Greg Carter SWAN HOTEL (BASEMENT) Gay Paris Red Engine Caves Wizard Sleeve SWAN HOTEL (LOUNGE) Counterfeit God Eleven Eleven Still Frame Mind Childlike Empress Grave Forsaken SWINGING PIG Greg Carter UNIVERSAL BAR Nightmoves VERNON ARMS TAVERN Greg Carter
Deadline Monday 5pm. The Gig-Guide is a service to advertisers listing all LIVE MUSIC. All inclusions are at the discretion of X-Press. Email guide@xpressmag.com.au
MEZZANINE/THE CLAREMONT HOTEL/ SATURDAY 1 THE VIC Nathan Gaunt WINTERSUN HOTEL Kane Lemin X-WRAY CAFE The Swintones YAYA’S Aborted Tortoise Dream Rimmy Kitchen People YMCA HQ Cupid Falls Finders Vice Versa Caterlane Fallback Transcendence SATURDAY 01/03
AMPLIFIER BAR Major Leagues Gunns Ham Jam THE BALMORAL Retriofit BAR ORIENT The Reggae Club Black Knight Mumma Trees Sista Che The Empressions BEAT NIGHTCLUB (UPSTAIRS) CANVAS BEAT NIGHTCLUB (DOWNSTAIRS) Five Dollar Party BENTLEY HOTEL In The Groove THE BIRD The Love Junkies Mudlark BOAB TAVERN Siren & Assassin THE BROOK Light Street CHEVRON FESTIVAL GARDENS Mikhael Paskalev CLANCYS CANNING Steve Parkin CLANCYS FREMANTLE Saint Ravine THE CLAREMONT HOTEL ANTICS Mezzanine Lanark Our Man In Berlin Gunfever DJs THE CRAFTSMAN Groove DEVILLES PAD Black Magic Disco DUNSBOROUGH TAVERN John Read EAST 150 BAR Jonny Dempsey ELLINGTON JAZZ CLUB Jamie Oehlers Quartet Saffron Sharp ELMAR’S IN THE VALLEY Chris Gibbs FLY BY NIGHT Disco Freak THE GATE Greg Carter GOSNELLS HOTEL Almost Famous GREENWOOD Cargo Beat GROOVE BAR (CROWN) Decoy HOTEL ROTTNEST Nathan Gaunt Duo INDI BAR Howie Morgan Project INDIAN OCEAN BREWING CO Shawne & Luc LAKERS TAVERN Celebrations Karaoke LANEWAY LOUNGE Dean Anderson Astrid Ripepi Band
MATTYTWALL/SWAN HOTEL/ SUNDAY 2
METRO CITY Kerser M ON THE POINT Rhythm 22 MERRIWA TAVERN Celebrations Karaoke MOJOS BAR Flower Drums Felicity Groom The Dianas Leure Ylem MERRIWA TAVERN Celebrations Karaoke METRO CITY Kerser M ON THE POINT Rhythm 22 MUSTANG Shotdown From Sugartown DJ Holly Doll Milhouse DJ James MacArthur NEWPORT HOTEL Gravity Tahli Jade PARAMOUNT NIGHTCLUB Felix PORT KENNEDY TAVERN Stu McKay OCEAN ONE BAR Desert Bells DJ Martin QUARIE BAR & BISTRO DJ Eugene RAILWAY HOTEL The Wirebyrds Sidewalk Diamonds Renae Elliot Winter’s Calling ROSEMOUNT HOTEL Los Coronas Day Of The Dead DJ Holly Doll ROSIE O’GRADY’S FREMANTLE Flava THE SAINT Mike Nayar SETTLERS TAVERN Grace Barbe THE SHED Huge SOUTH ST ALE HOUSE Robbie King Karaoke SWALLOW BAR DJ T King SWAN HOTEL (LOUNGE) AFRO BEATS DJ MC Sexy Chocolate DJ Tutomath DJ D’Cocnut Funkster SWAN HOTE (BASEMENT) ACERTIJO LATINO Latin Dance Party THE SWINGING PIG Frenzy UNIVERSAL Soul Corporation X-WRAY CAFE DJ Dick Tracy YA-YA’S Gay Paris Leeches! The Caballeros SUNDAY 02/03
399 BAR Undergrowth Acoustic Open Mic AMPLIFIER BAR Terror Letlive Your Demise ARENA JOONDALUP Future Music Festival Deadmau5 Macklemore & Ryan Lewis Phoenix Hardwell Knife Party
Rudimental and more BALMORAL Electrophobia BELMONT TAVERN Acoustic Aly BEAUMARIS SPORTS ASSOC. One Trick Phonies BOAB TAVERN James Wilson THE BRIGHTON Rob Walker + guests BROKEN HILL HOTEL Justin Burford THE BROOK Adam James BROOKLANDS TAVERN Preston King CAPTAIN STIRLING Open Mic Night Josh Terlick CAPITOL Ill Nino Skindred THE CARINE Mike Nayar THE CAUSEWAY Accoustic Sunday CHIPPYS JINDALEE Joe Boshell CIVIC HOTEL Frank G CIVIC HOTEL (backroom) Women Of Rock Tribute CLANCYS CANNING Slat Shaker Sundays DJ Boogie & The Salt Shaker Selectors CLANCYS FREMANTLE The Zydecats CLAREMONT SHOWGROUNDS Good Life Music Festival (under 18) Deadmau5 Macklemore & Ryan Lewis Hardwell Knife Party Eric Prydz Cut Copy Kaskade Paul Van Dyk Rudimental Tine Tempah Will sparks COMO HOTEL Ansell & Fretall DUNSBOROUGH TAVERN Kris Buckle THE ELLINGTON Nicki Gillis Sam Rabonne FLINDERZ HILLARYS Adrian Wilson THE FLY TRAP (FLY BY NIGHT) Stage Fright Open Mic Night THE GATE Choppa + The Hitman GOSNELLS HOTEL Steve Hepple THE GREENWOOD Abbasalutely INDIAN OCEAN BREW CO Retriofit INDI BAR Simon Kelly & The Big Bamboo & Trojan John & Mike Hayes Gay Paris & Wizard Sleeve & Scalphunter LOBBY LOUNGE Thierryno MOJOS BAR Ruby Boots The High Learys The Atlas Mountains Joni In the Moon MUSTANG Lewis Clayton & The Cyclones Blue Gene DJ James MacArthur DJ Holly Doll
SIDEWALK DIAMONDS/RAILWAY HOTEL/ SATURDAY 1 OCEAN ONE BAR Tahnee DJ Martin PORT KENNEDY TAVERN Greg Carter QUARIE BAR & BISTRO The Gypsy Minions ROSEMOUNT HOTEL The Wonder Stuff ROYAL PALMS RESORT Stu Harcourt THE SAINT Howie Morgan Project SANDALFORD ESTATE Lionel Richie John Farnham SETTLERS TAVERN Lucie Thorne SOUTH ST ALEHOUSE Jamie Powers SWALLOW BAR Steel Guts THE SWAN HOTEL (LOUNGE) MattyTWall Highway Breakdown At The Space Jam UNIVERSAL Off The Record ROSEMOUNT The Wonder Stuff VERNON ARMS TAVERN Adam Morris WANNEROO TAVERN Matt Williams X-WRAY CAFE Click Brown Fox John Bannister The Charisma Brothers THE WINDSOR Ryan Webb YMCA HQ Defy The Leader Atlantis Ain’t No Grave Branch Circus Just say Mercy MONDAY 03/03
ARENA JOONDALUP Soundwave 2014 Green Day Alice In Chains Rob Zombie Placebo Biffy Clyro Panic! At The Disco and more AVIARY (rooftop) Adrian Wilson BRASS MONKEY Wire Birds CLAREMONT SHOWGROUNDS Good Life Festival 2014 Deadmau5 Macklemore & Ryan Lewis Hardwell Knife Party
Rudimental and more MERIDIAN ROOM (CROWN ) James Wilson ELLINGTON JAZZ CLUB His Merry Men MOJOS BAR Wide Open Mic MUSTANG BAR Triple Shots ROSEMOUNT HOTEL Bex ‘n’ Turin’s Open Mic Night YAYA’S Big Tommo’s Open Mic Variety Night TUESDAY 04/02
THE BIRD Open Mic Night BRASS MONKEY Open Mic Night Josh Terlick THE CHARLES HOTEL Harp Attack CROWN: LOBBY LOUNGE Hans Fiance CROWN: MERIDIAN ROOM James Wilson THE ELLINGTON Rupert Guenther KEWDALE TAVERN Tigerlily Zoolanda Chardy Kronic Courtney Mills Brooklyn Rob Pix LANEWAY LOUNGE Perth Jazz Society LUCKY SHAG Adrian Wilson MERRIWA TAVERN Celebrations Karaoke MOJOS BAR Bughunt Motet King Crime MUSTANG BAR Danza Loca Salsa Night NATIONAL HOTEL Open Mic Night with Jasmin OCEAN ONE BAR Undergrowth Open Mic Night X-WRAY CAFE The Tom Tale Jazz Quartet YAYA’S Sly Withers The Baskervilles Showering Vixens Leah Miche And The Regular Hunters
LOCAL GIG
FLOWER DRUMS
THE FLOWER DRUMS FELICITY GROOM THE DIANAS LEURE, YLEM Saturday, March 1 - The Mustang Bar
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MUSIC GEAR & TECHNOLOGY
DJ SERVICES D J WA N T E D S e e k i n g D J w i t h e x p e r i e n ce & e q u i p m e n t . C o n t ac t www.dancefloordjs.com.au 0416 171 883 FOR SALE HEADPHONES all brands & styles. 23 Harrogate Street, West Leederville. Contact Headphonic 08 93886333 headphones.com.au MUSOS WANTED BASS PLAYER WANTED for estab Perth band Hailmary. Available for tours. Stage presence a must. Contact Kevin 0401033743 hailmaryband@hotmail.com DRUMMER REQUIRED High quality working rock covers band requires reliable, capable drummer. Call/text 0427 471 423 or email pjkm@westnet.com.au OPEN MIC NIGHT at National H o t e l F r e m a n t l e Tu e s d ay n i g h t s from 7pm til late. Contact Jasmine 0412 185 674 OPEN MIC NIGHT every Thursday night at Indi Bar. Text Josh on 0430 313 577 for a spot. PHOTOGRAPHY P R O J E C T P H OTO G R A P H Y P r o m o photography, studio, live, location. Mike Wylie 0417 975 964 wwwprojectphotography.com When its time to ice the cakeÖ PRODUCTION SERVICES CD & DVD MANUFACTURE Check out our latest CD & DVD specials online at www.procopy.com.au 9375 3902 DISK BANK Perth’s premier CD & DVD manufacturer, with options for all budgets. (08) 9388 0800. www.diskbank.com.au/ specials. MATRIX PRODUCTIONS AUSTRALIA Lighting, staging, sound systems, smoke machines, night club FX, intelligent lighting, strobes & mirror balls, crowd barriers, video projectors. 9371 1551 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 ANALOG MASTERING VINTAGE TAPE, TUBES & TRANSFORMERS with the latest state of the art digital converters. Clients include: Melody’s Echo Chamber, Pond, Gossling, Knife Party, Felicity Groom, The Floors, Jeff Martin & The Panics. World class facility, World class results. Www.poonshead.com. 9339 4791 ANDY’S STUDIO International multi award winning songwriter / producer. No band required. Broadcast q u a l i t y. A s o n g w r i t e r ’ s p a r a d i s e . Ph 9364 3178 GOLDDUST Production Mixing, recording and composition. Leederville $80 p/h. 0408 097 407
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R E CO R D I N G M I X I N G M A S T E R I N G 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 AND BANDS! - 30TH ANNIVERSARY DISCOUNTS! UNLOCK YOU R S O N G ’ S P OT E N T I A L ! F R E E APPRAISALS. UK Producer, 40,000+ hours studio experience, 20 yrs in London. 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 STUDIO ZED Digital Mastering, Demo’s, albums, Live tracking sessions special from $250 p/day. Studiozed.net.au Ph: 9207 2072 THE SOUND FACTORY RECORDING STUDIOS 24 and 16 track tape. Vintage amps, mic & effects. Special rates for BTC/ LTC/DOGE. 0423803063 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 STREAM STUDIO’S 89 Stirling S t , Pe r t h . M o b i l e : 0 4 0 3 1 5 2 0 0 9 info@streamrehearsal.com.au TUITION * * * G U I TA R L E S S O N S * * * N ew Ye a r enrolments, book online. Beg to prof, all styles. Catering to WAAPA and AMEB standards. All tutors have WWC clearance. Cliff Lynton Guitar Institute. Mt Lawley 9342 3484 / www.clifflynton.com BASS GUITAR LESSONS AVAILABLE by WAAPA tutor. A practicle approach to learning. .All styles.Years of experience. Tony Gibbs 9470 6131
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CLASSIFIEDS
BACK TO SCHOOL Dreams of learning to play are as common as crooked politicians, but it can be difficult to make the jump from dreamer to doer. It doesn’t have to be that hard, though - there are plenty of schools and institutions in the Perth area that offer solid, affordable music tuition to aspiring musos. Here’s a handful of schools and other resources that are worth your attention.
CENTRAL INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY Yes, TAFE. The Diploma Of Music course provides the student with a solid grounding in instrumental and vocal performance techniques as well as musical literacy and analysis skills. Students are taught to prepare material for group performance and have the opportunity to not only record in in-house and external studio facilities, but to undertake the complete process of recording a CD from pre-production through to marketing and release. CIT also houses a full live venue, plus recording and rehearsal studios. Head to eti. wa.edu.au for more details. CIT
CLIFF LYNTON GUITAR INSTITUTE One of the leading lights in music tuition for the past 30 years, Cliff Lynton Guitar Institute’s proven system of one on one teaching is designed to help unlock the musical potential in any student. Starting with basic principles, their courses cover an incredibly wide range of styles and musical genres and include training in improvisation, playing by ear and musical theory. All ages and all skill levels are welcome. Head to clifflynton. com for full details. Cliff Lynton
CLASSIFIEDS
WALTHER MUSIC Operating out a beautiful two story mansion in East Perth, Walther Music is almost a one stop shop for music tuition. Lessons on offer include guitar, vocals, bass, drums, piano, violin, saxophone, music theory, songwriting, production, ensembles and more, plus the school offers studio and equipment hire. Both one on one and classroom lessons are available. Go to walthermusic.com for more info.
FORTE MUSIC Forte Music in Canning Vale offers classes to suit all ages and all skill levels. They offer both small group classes and private tuition and most popular instruments are catered for, including piano/keyboard, guitar (classical, acoustic, electric & bass) saxophone, flute, violin, viola, singing and drums. The teaching philosophy at Forte favours what they call a multi-sensory approach, insuring that students are always actively engaged by the material. Check them out at fortemusic.com.au
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THE WEST AUSTRALIAN MUSIC TEACHERS ASSOCIATION This independent body functions as a professional association for music teachers in our state. Somewhat uniquely, WAMTA is a body that teaches teachers, offering a number of courses and seminars designed to help music instructors hone their abilities to impart knowledge in a clear, forthright and engaging manner. Subjects on offer include History Of Music and Teaching Principles. For more information, visit their website at musicteacherswa.org.au.
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