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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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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