X-Press Volume Special #23

WA’S MUSIC EQUIPMENT MAGAZINE : ISSUE 23, MAY 2012

Crafter Party

s w ie v e R t n e m u r t Ins Equipment Reervvieiewwss Int

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CRAFTER PARTY

MATTHEW GIOThe WAMi Awards are once again fast approaching and to celebrate the VANNANGELO Craft Awards – given to those people who are considered the best in their (VOLTAIRE TWINS) field by their peers – JENNIFER PETERSON-WARD gathered together some When did you begin playing music and why? After of X-Press picks to take out the top gongs in their respective categories, watching the opening credits of the 1986 Transformers feature film. Vincent DiCola’s soundtrack was just so including our front cover stars: Felicity Groom, Lyndon Blue, Sam Ford, awesome!

Alwyn Nixon-Lloyd and Dave Parkin. Cover image by Daniel Grant.

LYNDON BLUE (SEAMS, HEATHCOATE BLUE, SOLAR BARGE)

When did you begin playing and why? When I was a very young child, because I was scrawny and pale and destined to be rubbish at sport.

What was your first instrument and how did you get it? I had a harmonica I would blow into as an infant, but the first thing I learnt properly was the violin. I was gifted it by a Chinese sailor who called himself Mr. Twinkles.

What was your first instrument and how did you get interesting Tele’s – so we have 4 of them. One of Rhys’ it? A plastic Fisher Price trumpet that my mum gave me is a Tele Elite from the 80’s with porcelain pickups which so I could jam along with my uncle’s school jazz band I think they stopped making. The one I use was hand when they’d rehearse in our granny flat. made by a guy in Carlton – not actually a Tele but with that shape. Super light. I use a Mini-Maton as an acoustic What do you do to warm up before a show? Clap because I’ve never found anything that approaches its push ups level of live versatility. We also tour with a Blues Junior because those things are awesome.

Nominated for Drummer/Percussionist Of The Year

If you could offer one piece of advice to a young aspiring musician, what would it be? Since we’re running with gear I’d say “don’t waste money on shit gear because you’ll just end up replacing it.”

That will be my legacy to the young musos of Perth.

Nominated for Male Vocalist Of The Year Has your taste in instruments and recording equipment changed much over time? My taste hasn’t so much as changed, as been added to. I still like what I liked when I was younger, but a whole lot more now too. Whenever I form an opinion on a certain instrument, some band comes through and shows me a different side of it. I used to hate (BASTIAN’S HAPPY FLIGHT, MMHMMM, VOLTAIRE Stratocasters - now I think they’re sweet!

DAVE PARKIN

What equipments/brands/models do you prefer to use now? Most of my guitars are made by a Texan company from the ‘80s called Daion. They made some really beautiful, quality stuff, although for a while they went downhill and made cheap crap too, so you gotta be careful. I use a Fender valve amp ‘cause that moist reverb you get is just too good. Boss and Roland pedals and samplers, not because they’re particular sexy, TWINS) they’re just reliable and nicely intuitive.

When did you begin playing music and why? When Nominated for Male Vocalist Of The Year & Multi I was 12, my Dad had played me lots of different music growing up, including some great Jazz, so when the Instrumentalist Of The Year opportunity arose to learn the saxophone at school I thought I’d give it a crack. Also, my hairdresser when I was a kid said to me “The saxophone? Mate, save some girls for me!”.

JACK DOEPEL

What do you use to help musos get in the zone while recording in the Blackbird studio? Studio vibes are important. It’s up to everyone in the room to add to that. I find setting up nice recording spaces in the rooms, not rushing, and just generally enjoying the process is important. The studio is chockers full of salt lamps, which gives the studio this cool amber glow – it makes the rooms feel like a What brand/s and model/s of instruments do you good place to spend lots of time! use to get your sound? I play a Conn 10M saxophone, What was your first instrument and how did you various keyboards/synths and an Akai MPC. What has been one of your favourite records get it? I surely can’t count the first instrument as the produced in the Blackbird studio? I don’t think recorder can I? But that was the first instrument I got. I’m If you could offer one piece of advice to a young you can beat recording your own band. I get to still proficient at Speed Bonnie Boat, but even that song aspiring musician, what would it be? Learn as much sounds like a dove slowly dying. I think my dad bought from as many different places as you can. mine for me. I remember he put some red electrical tape on the end of it so I wouldn’t confuse it with the others... which is a darn good thing really. To me they Nominated for Keys/Synth Artist Of The Year & Multi were spit funnels... not an instrument. The Year 6’s in Instrumentalist Of The Year the other class use to tell me that their teacher would dribble in his and then suck it up again. Still makes me gag thinking about it.

FELICITY GROOM

record, but also get to play whatever I want! I love listening to lots of the records I’ve done, but I enjoy Red Jez time the most. Can’t beat playing!

Nominated for Recording Engineer Of The Year

BENJAMIN GOLBY (SPLIT SECONDS)

When did you begin playing music and why? I wasn’t really that into music as a kid apart from a tape of Graceland which I listened to incessantly. It was my friend and life long band mate Sean Pollard who really got me into it. He would generously share an earphone from his discman while travelling to school on the Armadale line. We listened to all sorts of teenage delights from Sunk Loto to Sigur Ros. Before long I was drawing those lame Radiohead bears all over my backpack. Smooth progression. Life guider!

What was your first instrument? An Aquamarine Rickenbacker bass guitar. In my gap year I went to England and worked nights in room service at the prestigious Brighton Metropole Hilton. I saw some pretty weird stuff. One time I served a platter of Scampi to this proper giantess of a lady from San Francisco. I used to keep a book on my trolley to read in the elevator. She noticed the volume of Goethe I was plodding through, (I was a pretty pretentious dumb youth), and got quite excited. I was given a £50 tip to “follow my dreams”. With more of that I ended up a gormless 17 year old with a bagful of cash. Again, it was who Sean encouraged me to buy a bass. I had no idea what I was doing and thought it was really attractive. They made a batch in 2000 and apparently no-one liked the colour so it is now something of a collector’s item. The bass is on permanent loan to bro, the magnificent Robert Stephens from Sons of Rico.

Nominated for Keys/Synth Artist Of The Year

ALWYN Has your taste in instruments changed much NIXON-LLOYD over time? It continually changes. With every song. I completely believe in picking up a new instrument to get new ideas. I have a collection of strange instruments that I enjoy making all sorts of sounds with. That makes me a jack of all instruments, but master of none... but jack is better than master. Master takes the throne... he has to command always. Jack can just have a bloody good time.

Nominated for Female Vocalist Of The Year

SAM FORD (THE SILENTS)

When did you begin playing and why?

I started playing music when I was in primary school. I heard an electric guitar for the first time and couldn’t stop thinking about it until I had one.

What was your first bass and how did you get it? My first bass was a Music Man copy; I think it was a Samick.

I joined The Silents as a bass player but didn’t play bass or own a bass. So I bought the first bass I could afford off the shelf at Just Music, haha.

(BOYS BOYS BOYS!)

When did you begin playing and why? I started playing in primary school. My mother in her wisdom decided that learning music was an essential part of a rounded education, so off I went to the local town’s piano teacher. I found my first lesson book when I went home the other week, I started when I was eight.

What instruments do you dig now? Synths. Lots and lots of synths. My first synth was a dx7 that I bought after I finished Year 12 and that was really how I got started into synths.

What models do you use to get your sound? My favourite instrument maker is Nord. They make really nice sounding instruments that are really easy to play as well.

Nominated for Keys/Synth Artist Of The Year

NICK ALLBROOK

What models do you use now? I use a Vintage series (POND, ALLBROOK/AVERY) Fender P-bass with Lindy Fralin pickups and I use What was your first instrument and how did you flatwound bass strings. get it? It was an unnamed guitar, a Les Paul copy, with Nominated for Recording Engineer Of The Year & classical guitar knuts and golden texta tags. I dropped it and it snapped so dad glued it together, then John from Bassist Of The Year Bone made it badass with his mad 2012 skills and now I love it and still use it. It is small and light enough to make me look normal size...ish.

SEAN POLLARD (SPLIT SECONDS)

What kind of vocal exercises do you do to warm up before a show? I wail really loud underwater and sometimes on my bicycle

If you could offer one piece of advice to an aspiring musician,what would it be? I guess start off completely ignorant of the possibility of anyone knowing you or liking you ever. Then you won’t be chasing some bogus dream of getting your balls cupped and free blow.

Just be happy with cannies and free samples from the What brands of instruments do you use to get your supermarket. sound? We’re a Tele / Deville / Deluxe band. We like Nominated for Male Vocalist Of The Year What was your first instrument and how did you get it? The recorder. I think my Mum bought it for me.

I always used to forget to bring it into class and then lie about it, saying that someone had stolen it. I’d ALWAYS get away with it too because I was a teacher’s pet.

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X-Press – First on the street, Wednesdays

PRODUCT NEWS HYDE AND SEEK

John Lennon Signature Series harmonica

PURE IMAGINATION

Hohner has had a long relationship with John Lennon and The Beatles, dating right back to the early days of Beatlemania. Now, by special arrangement with the John Lennon estate, Hohner is set to release a limited edition John Lennon Signature Series harmonica. The instrument features reproductions of John’s signature five-colour self-portrait on a specially engraved white cover plate. It also features a transparent acrylic comb, screwed construction throughout and MS style reedplates. This special edition harmonica is distributed locally through Pro Music Australia. Click over to promusicaustralia.com for full specs and prices.

Allans Billy Hyde North Perth store is already loved by local musos for their comprehensive range of musical instruments from the world’s leading brands and they’ve got a few more brandspanking-new products due to hit shelves. Among the new products is new Schecter C1 Custom Guitars in see-through Black Cherry finish (with or without Floyd Rose bridge), and Schecter Damien Elite 6 Floyd Rose fitted Electric Guitar in Crimson Red or Dark Metallic Blue finishes. They’re also set to stock the legendary Ampeg brand’s first foray into the guitar amp market, the Ampeg GTV Amp, and the Line 6 Dream Rig, which consists of a Variax, a POD HD and a DT amp. For those who prefer pounding the skins, new PDP Performance Drum Kits, Ludwig Centennial Kits and Pearl VBA Space Junk Kits are sure to satisfy. Click on over to allansbillyhyde.com.au for full specs and prices.

CLEAN SWEEP

Play every note like your instrument was brand new with Music Nomad’s line of equipment care for guitars, amps, cases, drums, cymbals, hardware and much more. Their pro strength eco friendly silicone and oil free cleaning agents smell great and are musician and repair teach tested so you know they’ll restore a brilliant shine to your worse-forwear gear. Click on over to promusicaustralia.com/ other/MusicNomad to check out the full range of Music Nomad cleaners, conditioner, detailing towels, polishing clothes and cleaning tools.

HOHNE YOUR SKILLS

When most people think harmonicas, they think Hohners. The world’s largest manufacturer of harmonicas, Hohner has proudly maintained a tradition of high quality instrument making. This practice continues with the Hohner Weekender, a tremolo harmonica for beginners which guarantees a cheerful and merry tone! Already a popular model from the Hohner 91105 pack, the blues band harmonica (in the key of c) is now available separately from Pro Music Australia.

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Denon SC3900

DIGITAL FLOW

The Denon SC3900 digital turntable and media controller will ensure you are the smoothest DJ in the house. This digital media turntable boasts a range of features to help users maximise their DJing experience. There is no need for a laptop with this one – it connects straight to your software using Denon’s Engineer program. CDs and MP3s can be connected, as can USBs. The player’s vinyl mode provides a responsive turntable feel, giving you a convincing sound. For full details visit the DJ Factory at 222 James Street, Northbridge, or call them on (08) 9228 1911.

GAME OF THRONES

Kudos to local folk-metal oufit Claim The Throne who’ve have just secured endorsement deals with ESP Guitars, Blackstar Amplification, Intune Guitar Picks and Guitar-Cable.com. Having just recently returned from a highly successful UK tour with Alestrom, the courageuos melodic death metal, ale-guzzling warriors are busy preparing material for their upcoming album, which is anticipated to be released in late 2012 or early 2013. Meanwhile, check out Triumph And Beyond – the album they successfully toured Australia, New Zealand and the UK with last year.

TONALLY WILD

Imagine having complete tonal control over your guitar, with no manual rewiring required and over 250,000 pick-up combinations to choose from. Well, The Game Changer switching system has now made this a possibility. Guitar and bass players alike can now unlock their instruments’ tonal possibilities with an extensive library of tones. It’s an offer for musicians to personalise their tones like never before. In addition, The Game Changer can be fully integrated with any programmable guitar rig via its enhanced MIDI implementation, which allows for MIDI program change or controller information to be sent to The Game Changer from the guitar rig, or from The Game Changer to the guitar rig. Based on Music Man’s award winning Reflex guitar and bass, the Game Changer guitar is available in HH or HSH configuration with hard tail or vintage tremolo bridge, and with or without piezo bridge.

The Ernie Ball Music Man Game Changer guitar and bass are distributed in Australia via CMC Music. Click over to cmcmusic.com. au for full specs and prices.

Game Changer bass guitar

Southern Jumbo special edition acoustic-electric guitar

SOUTHERN FRIED GIBSON

Grammy Award winning American singer-songwriter Sheryl Crow has partnered with Gibson Guitar for a second time to create the Southern Jumbo special edition acoustic-electric guitar. It’s a mahogany model guitar boasting a classic look and a live sound so natural it will fool audiences into thinking it’s not plugged in. The guitar uses an advanced pick-up system already favoured by Crow during live performances. It boasts power, projection and a tonal range so dynamic it is unlike any other Southern Jumbo Gibson model. For full product details and prices click on over to gibson.com.

IT’S BUSINESS TIME

WA has an abundance of world-class creative talent when it comes to making music, but just as important are the people behind the scenes – label owners, promoters, managers, event organisers, just to name a few – who support and bring this talent to audiences, both at home and abroad. The WAMi Music Business Conference aims to equip both artists and music industry professionals with the latest knowledge and industry practices through a range of panels and practical workshops, and connect both delegates and speakers alike for deal making and idea sharing opportunities. This year’s conference will see local, interstate and international experts – including Pat Pattinson (Berklee College Music), Adam Lewis (Planetary Group), Philip Mortlock (Alberts), Mark Dodds (Intertia), John Mullen (Dew Process), Marianna Annas (ABC Music Publishing), Millie Millgate (Sounds Australia) –share their thoughts and experiences on a range of topics including digital marketing, publishing, licensing, touring, management and much more.

Taking place during the 2012 WAMi Festival, this year’s conference will be happening on Friday, June 1, at The Bakery. Presale tickets to the conference are available now from nowbaking.com.au.

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PRODUCT REVIEWS ROLAND HPD-10 HANDSONIC ELECTRONIC HAND PERCUSSION

Roland has recently released the HandSonic HPD-10. This electronic hand percussion unit offers the same playability that made the original HPD-15 HandSonic so popular and includes new features with a multitude of sounds, rhythms and effects. A new collection of sounds has been created for the HPD-10; 400 high-quality instruments are included. All of the percussive essentials are on board - congas, bongos, tabla, djembe, cajon - as well as melodic percussion, drum kit, and various special effects.

Basically, the HPD-10 provides an all-round live and studio percussion solution. The tones are authentic; in fact when the conga patch was tested against an actual set of congas it was genuinely difficult to pick a difference. The HPD-10 eliminated the need for multiple microphones both live and in the studio as s t e r e o o u t p u t s a r e p r ov i d e d..

The pitch of any patch can be altered in real time to match the band’s per formance which is a huge advantage over traditional percussion, especially in a studio setting where results are needed in a short time.

The round playing surface is divided into 10 individual pads,, all of which are touch sensitive. In addition to this a D Beam is also included for triggering and pitch control. The D Beam essentially works just like a Theremin; various sounds can be assigned that are triggered by running a hand over the beam. It’s a feature that could be utilised in a visually stunning fashion for live performances.

For practice purposes, HPD-10 is equipped with a metronome and a rhythm coaching system which provides exercises to improve timing and rhythm.

Primarily the HPD-10 is for hand percussion, but an optional kick trigger or footswitch can be added to make additional sounds. The input is dual-trigger compatible; via an optional PCS-31L Y-cable, two triggers can be added simultaneously.

Although the unit may not be as visually impressive as a decent acoustic percussion setup, it will surely detract the over-enthusiastic punter from ‘having a go on the bongos’ at shows, and takes a fraction of the time – and space – to set up. At a retail of $1099, the Roland HPD-10 sets a new standard for electronic percussion.

Mega Music in Wangara have the Roland HPD-10 on sale for $989.

FENDER TV DUO 10 BASS AMPLIFIER

Fender have been re-visiting many successful early products and re-releasing them for 21st century players for some time now. Brand new to the bass market is the Fender TV Duo 10 bass amp.

Retro enthusiasts will love the design: lacquered Tweed covering with vintage style TV panel cloth grille (hence the name) and black chicken head control knobs sitting on top of a chrome chassis. The included caster wheels can be removed for transport and placement purposes. Controls include gain, bass, mid and treble knobs, deep and bright switches and a master volume. A low gain setting combined with high master volume creates a clean bass tone, upping the gain adds growl and bite for bassists who like to get dirty. The bass, mid and treble pots provide plenty of colouring options; players looking for more will make good use of the deep and bright switches too.

The two inputs provide both a normal and a padded input stage to accommodate basses differing in output levels. An XLR output is included on the rear of the amp to send a direct signal for recording and live performance purposes.

A Valve preamp drive by 12AX7 tubes and a class-D power amp combine to provide 350 watts output into 4 ohms. The speakers are 2 10-inch Fender special design Eminence Ferrite Bass Speakers, each with an 8 ohm, 200 watts rating.

GODIN 5TH AVENUE JAZZ ELECTRIC GUITAR

Roland HPD-10 Handsonic Electronic Hand Percussion

WITH CHRIS GIBBS

Still considered by many to be a ‘new’ guitar company, Godin commenced production of guitars in 1972. Godin has spear-headed numerous leaps forward in technology and playability across the company’s broad range of electric guitars. In recent years, Godin has branched out to focus on particular styles of player. The 5th Avenue Jazz guitar has been released with jazz players in mind.

In terms of specifications, this guitar is appropriately simple. A Godin mini-humbucker jazz pickup provides the sound and is controlled by ebony volume and tone knobs. An ebony fingerboard, high ratio tuners, custom tailpiece and an adjustable Graphtech bridge round out the features.

Played through a clean Fender Twin, the guitar provides unexpected sparkle. The tones are well-balanced right across the fretboard and the intonation is perfect for jazz voicings at any neck position. Rolling off the tone provides those deeper, muffled tones that many jazz players favour. On a gain setting, the guitar responds surprisingly well, and as with many guitars of this type, retains much of its natural character if gain is used sparingly.

The taut string tension and smooth action combine to provide the perfect playing conditions

HUGHES & KETTNER TUBEMEISTER 18 AMPLIFIER

Low-wattage, high-gain, compact, plenty of cool features. Oh, and cheap too. Are guitarists asking for just a little too much of their amplification these days? Many amp companies, both corporate and boutique, have responded to these demands over the last few years with varying degrees of success.

Hughes & Kettner, an amplification company of very high regard, have recently released the Tubemeister series, weighing in to this sector of the market in true H&K style.

Driven by two 12AX7 preamp tubes and powered by two EL84 tubes which glow away in that unique H&K blue through the transparent amp face, this is an amp that looks like it means business. And it does. The clean sounds are crisp and the gain sounds are warm. There’s a satisfying range of gain on tap and most players regardless of style should be able to pull their preferred sound with a little experimentation. In fact, this amp is quite a little tone monster, providing classy, professional tone at any gain level.

Fender TV Duo Bass Amplifier The TV Duo 10 is not an amp that has plenty of power or headroom - bassists with high volume requirements and a need for super-clean signal at high volume will look elsewhere - but bluesman,‘60s posters and indie rockers will fall in love with the look and the sound of this proud throwback to times gone by. Fans of The Who’s John Entwistle and Cream’s Jack Bruce can also easily dial in that warm, slightly overdriven bass tone that can really fill in the blanks both live and in the studio, especially in one-guitar bands.

This product is so new that the 2012 Fender catalogue does not even feature it. Perth’s newest Fender dealers, Guitar World in Cannington, have one in stock at the time of print. The Fender TV Duo 10 retails for $2099. for extended chord voicing sequences and jazz arpeggios. This is a guitar perfectly suited to its namesake, yet there is an all-round feel to the Godin 5th Avenue Jazz that would lend itself to a number of genres. However, players who are into howling bends will probably look elsewhere, or at least change the string gauge.

It’s not often that you can pick up a guitar that ‘feels like home’ from the first chord. Godin have made an art of creating that impression with many of their flagship models and the 5th Avenue Jazz is no exception. Godin guitars are all made in Canada and sometimes assembled in the US depending on the model; it is always impressive to see these guitars retailing at price points more often seen for guitars bulk-produced in the Asian market.

The Godin 5th Avenue Jazz retails for $2799.

Concept Music in Wembley has the guitar in stock for $2299.

Godin 5th Avenue Jazz A four-step power soak control, allowing the amp to be run at 18, 5, 1 watt or silent recording mode is a clever and welcome inclusion, affording players even more tonal control across a variety of gig volume scenarios and recording scenarios. There’s even an emulated speaker output for running the amp through a PA without the need of a microphone, and an effects loop for chaining effects after the pre-amp stage.

The amp comes with a soft protective cover and an optional footswitch featuring channel switch and lead boost is available. The Hughes & Kettner Tubemeister 18 is another amp that offers a compact low wattage solution to the space and volume-conscious guitarist.

All the bases have been covered both in terms of quality tone and specifications, making this amp a hard one to beat in this category.

The H&K Tubemeister 18 amplifier retails for $999. A 1x12 speaker cabinet is available for $499.

Alternatively a combo version of the amplifier retails for $1199 Guitar World in Cannington currently stock this product.

Hughes & Kettner Tubemeister 18 Amplifier Many thanks to Guitar World Cannington, Mega Music Wangara and Concept Music Wembley for letting us review their products. www.xpressmag.com.au

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PAT PATTINSON

Pat Pattinson

is your favourite song lyric of all time?

A Way With Words What Tough choice. There are so many. Quick, before I change my mind: “What’ll I do / When you are far away /And I am blue / What’ll I do? / What’ll I do? / When I am wond’ring who / Is kissing you / What’ll I do? / What’ll I do with just a photograph / To tell my troubles to? / When I’m alone / With only dreams of you / That won’t come true / What’ll I do?” (What’ll I Do, Irving Berlin, 1923).

Several of your students have won Grammys (John Mayer, Gillian Welch etc) – do you feel that validates your teaching method? Well, they do. So who am I to argue? Gillian, in her foreword to the Second Edition of Writing Better Lyrics wrote: “I would not be the writer I am today without [Pat’s] teaching and his unique and comprehensive understanding hear the lions growl / And to hear the coyotes yowl of language, rhyme, rhythm, and structure.” John has / When I get that awful scare / What will stand up also said some pretty nice things. straight? My hair. / I will have to use a comb / And then I’ll say, ‘Oh let’s go home’.”

What is the strangest/weirdest song lyric you’ve ever heard? After Lorena Bobbitt [infamously] “disWhen did you realise you wanted to teach lyric membered” her husband, a student at a seminar writing full-time? I’ve been teaching in one form delivered a song with the hook, “Please don’t take or another ever since high school. In grad school my penis when you go.” Hilarious.

I was a teaching associate in philosophy, then went on to teach philosophy. After a few years If you could offer one piece of advice to an on the road with my band, we ended up on the aspiring lyricist, what would it be? Bring your east coast of the US, where I got a job at Berklee seven senses to the table and channel them into teaching English and poetry. A put together some your writing. The smell of fresh-cut grass, the redphilosophy courses there, and then decided to winged blackbird warbling and swaying on a cattail. teach a course in Literary Criticism. I called it They are your tickets to your unique writer’s voice. No “Analysis of Song Lyrics” and applied the tools of one has ever seen the world from your perspective linguistic analysis (gleaned from my philosophy before – in the order, time and context you’ve courses) and literary criticism to the lyrics of Paul experienced from. Sense-bound writing stimulates Simon, Steely Dan, Dylan, Leonard Cohen, etc. It your listener’s imagination – it forces your listener opened my mind as a songwriter. My students told to respond sensually with pictures and sounds from me how much it helped their writing, so I added a his/her own experiences, filling your words with their second semester, which finally morphed into the stuff. Because your words are filled with their images, first songwriting major in the world with a lot of your song is about them. help from some very talented folks. When I was 35, I realised that if I never wrote another song, Pattinson will make the keynote speech at the I’d survive. If I never taught again, I wouldn’t. That WAMi Music Business Conference on, Friday, June makes me a teacher who writes, not a writer who 1, at The Bakery. Presale tickets to the event are teaches. Big difference. on sale now from nowbaking.com.au.

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X-Press – First on the street, Wednesdays

SEER CYA

KONTRABAND

Describe your sound: Balls-out rock. Biggest Influences: Pennywise, Lost Prophets, Guns and Roses, Slayer, Grinspoon, Foo Fighters, Calling all Cars, Gyroscope. Favourite Perth Venue: The Rosemount. Favourite Perth Band: Gyroscope.

Where can we buy your album? iTunes or at our live shows. Describe the album: An awesome mix of songs combining all our musical influences which includes true Aussie rock to fast paced punk and showcases catchy riffs, seductive melodies and face melting guitar solos for your ear tongues to enjoy.

No overproduction, just balls-out rock! Upcoming Gigs: Mojos Bar, Sunday, May 27. Stand out track: Smoke

SINGLE:

Prohibition

RELEASE January 2012

Describe your sound: Blues/rock and a hint of country. Biggest Influences: Led Zepplin and Texas blues bands, such as SRV. Favourite Perth Venue: Mighty Quinn. Favourite Perth Band: Vdelli. Where can we buy your album? It will be available online or at the venues we play. Describe the album: We recorded the base in the old-school style, all together at the same time on separate tracks, then went back to add guitar parts, re-sing vocals where necessary. Stand out track: Monkey On My Back.

Upcoming Gigs: Mighty Quinn Residency, Mt Helena Tavern, monthly. Check kontrabandmusic. com for more details.

EP:

Slipping Away

RELEASE July 2012

JADE DIARY

THE MIGHTY PIRATE

Describe your sound: Atmospheric, emotive original indie pop. Some say I sound like Sarah McLachlan, Ingrid Michaelson, with a touch of Kate Bush. Biggest Influences: I love pop music with great melodies and lyrics – a good song is a good song – it doesn’t matter who wrote or performed it. Favourite Perth Venue: The Ellington Jazz Club.

Favourite Perth Band: Blanche DuBois. Love their vocals, harmonies and tunes. Where can we buy your album? iTunes, Fat Shans, CD Baby, or from jadediary.com/store. Describe the album: The EP is like an ‘entrée’ to my first album which will be ready in September this year. While the EP is more laid-back and something you’d enjoy on a sunny afternoon with friends or in the car, my album will turn it up a notch with more dramatic elements.

Stand out track: A Thousand Days. Upcoming Gigs:

Describe your sound: Alternative/acoustic/folk/ rock. Biggest Influences: The Gaslight Anthem, Nikola Sarcevic (Millencolin), Frank Turner, The Menzingers, Billy Talent. Favourite Perth Venue: Indi Bar. Favourite Perth Band: Gyroscope. Where can we buy your album? iTunes, CDbaby.com, Amazon, Indigogo. Describe the album: Reels you in with its sweet and charming vocals that swirl around the warm and inviting acoustic guitar. Fans of acoustic rock music will really enjoy the delectable songs on the superb CD. Stand Out Track: The Ravine. What now? I’m raising funds online to make a music video for The Ravine in the US. To support go to indiegogo.com/ TheMightyPirate

EP:

The Calm That Never Came RELEASE March 2012

EP:

I love They Will Be Done

RELEASE May 2012

HAILMARY Describe your sound: Hooky, hard rock with plenty of riffery. Biggest Influences: Alice In Chains, Doors, Deftones. Favourite Perth Venue: Amplifier.

Favourite Perth Band: A tie between the Brown Study Band, Gombo and Nevsky Prospket. Where can we buy your album? At our live shows, on iTunes and CDbaby.com, and there may be one or two floating around at 78 records and Dada’s.

Describe the album: Hooky, hard rock with plenty of riffs. Stand Out Tracks: Live It and Breathe.

Upcoming Gigs: Amplifier, Friday, May 25. We are also playing the Espy in St Kilda in Melbourne for the Rock N Load festival as well as a couple of other shows in Melbourne.

EP:

A Million Miles And Days RELEASE March 2010

X-Press VOLUME - JULY 11th 2012 - WA’s Only Locally Constructed Music Gear Guide X-Press Volume looks closely at what sounds make WA musicians tick. All the latest music instruments, DJ equipment, product reviews, local artist interviews, brand endorsee interviews, how do you get that sound, music service listings and a whole lot more. Published bi-monthly – Contact Des musicservices@xpressmag.com.au to ‘Turn Up’ in VOLUME. 42

X-Press – First on the street, Wednesdays

THE PREVUES Describe your sound: Indie pop with jagged guitars, rolling drum beats and cave dwelling harmonies intertwined together. Our sound shows glimpses of The Strokes and Television but we also have darker, slower ballads comparable to Girls. Biggest Influences: The Velvet Underground, The Strokes, Beach Fossils, The Kinks, Beck. Favourite Perth Venue: Norfolk Basement. Favourite Perth Band: World A Fuzzy. Where can we buy your album? from facebook.com/theprevues or at our live shows.

Describe the single: A frantic indie pop song that surges with summer energy. It has nostalgic themes about young romance before the routine of everyday life takes hold. Kick Me Out is the B-side and it’s a laid-back pop/garage rock tune featuring resonating piano melodies and reverb guitars. Upcoming Gigs: Clancy’s Fish Pub in Fremantle on Friday, May 25.

SINGLE:

Teenage Love

RELEASE May 2012

Describe your sound: Imagine you have a cat that has just accidentally swallowed a pair of castanets.

Douse it with a mild vinegar/water solution until it is thoroughly saturated and presumably equally upset.

Choose a large rough-barked tree then, taking a firm grip on your cat, rub it vigorously against the trunk using a clockwise swirling motion. While it takes some effort to visualise, the resulting noise can be used as a point of reference in the sense that it is almost entirely unlike the sound of Axe Girl the band - the latter being undeniably more rhythmic and melodic, having a strong drum/bass/ guitar/vocal type of vibe. Biggest Influences: Some more general influences include: genetics, diet, gravity, solar energy, shapes and colours, deeply repressed childhood traumas (possibly), the lunar cycle, modern life, ancient life (esp. Mesozoic Era), things and, to a lesser extent, stuff. Favourite Perth Venue: Mojos Bar. Favourite Perth Band: The Chemist. Upcoming Gigs: The Hyde Park Hotel, Thursday, May 24; The Hyde Park Hotel, Thursday, May 31; The Hyde Park Hotel, Thursday, June 7; The Norfolk Basement, Friday, June 15.

RENZULLO PROJECT

ROBBIE JALAPENO & THE FABULOUS BAND OF FACELESS BUREAUCRATS

Describe your sound: High-energy Gypsy-Folk.

Biggest Influences: The Tea Party, Something for Kate, Jeff Buckley. Favourite Perth Venue: The Fly By Night. Favourite Perth Band: Karnivool. Where can we buy your album? Through iTunes, or direct from our website – therenzulloproject.com. Describe the album: Touch The Ground is an album that explores the issues not normally dealt with. Alzheimer’s, confidence tricksters, a cat stuck on a roof – a wide range of subjects that we felt were worth exploring. But there is one subject we don’t explore, and that’s love. You won’t find a song about a lost love, a blooming romance, or even a lovers’ quarrel. Why? While some bands choose to go down the brightly lit, busy main road, we have turned down a dimly lit alley to see what’s lurking. We don’t know what to expect, but we’re hopeful we’ll come out of it alive! Stand out track: Touch The Ground.

Upcoming Gigs: The Hyde Park Hotel, Saturday, July 21.

ALBUM:

Touch The Ground

RELEASE January 2012

Describe your sound: Dirty swamp folk. Biggest Influences: Life. Death. Stuff. Favourite Perth Venue: The Ellington and Mojos Bar. Where can we buy your album? From out online store Describe the album: Mirror Man is a powerhouse exercise of lyrical self-loathing, delivered with the bands trademark dirty swamp rhythms, smooth baritone vocals and underpinned by the relentless pound of the double bass. Stand Out Track: Mirror Man. Upcoming Gigs: WAMi Saturday Spectacular, Saturday, June 2; Gyspy Tapas House, Thursday, June 7. Favourite Perth Band: How could you pick it?

SINGLE:

Mirror Man

RELEASE December 2011

ARKAYAN

CORTEZ Describe your sound: Bottom end of bands like the Velvet Underground and more contemporaries like U2 with vocals comparable to, but not imitating, Pearl Jam and Kings of Leon. Biggest Influences: Beck, Brian Jonestown Massacre, Radiohead, Bjork.

Favourite Perth Venue: Mojos Bar. Favourite Perth Band: Bears And Dolls. Where can we buy your album? ITunes, Amazon, Google Music and all good record stores. Describe the album: No pop, barely a ballad, mostly intimidating rock without violence but splashes of menace, impending threats and haunting thoughts. But it’s not a dark disc. It’s realism. Cortez sounds cascade like riding the waves after watching the flashing white line as you flow down the highway with the baying of hounds on your trail. Where was the album recorded? Poons Head. Stand out track: Not Enough.

ALBUM:

Describe your sound: Imagine if Chevelle and Porcupine Tree were ninja turtles fighting underwater using only fried bacon strips and empty beer cans as weapons. Biggest Influences: We’re currently listening to a lot of Skindred, Children Collide, Chevelle, Grinderman, Isis, Regurgitator, Porcupine Tree and Puscifer. Favourite Perth Venue: Your mum’s place – she really knows how to poach an egg in the morning. Favourite Perth Band: Fear of Comedy. Where can we buy your album? On iTunes or at our shows. Describe the album: Indie metal meets progressive grunge.

Stand out track: Scarecrow. Upcoming Gigs: Ya Yas, Thursday, May 24.

ALBUM:

All The Way RELEASE June 2012

The Marsh Chapel Experiment

CAVEFIRE CINEMA

I Want To Be Your Stepdad RELEASE May 2012

www.xpressmag.com.au

RELEASE Jan 2012

HOSTILE LITTLE FACE Describe your sound: Alt. rock with dynamics, thoughtful instrumentation and catchy melodies.

A sound that connects. Biggest Influences: Jimmy Eat World, Incubus, Greenday, Lior, Thrice. Favourite Perth Venue: The Rosemount.

Favourite Perth Band: Karnivool. Where can we buy your album? iTunes and JB HiFi. Describe the album: Called “a formidable debut” with “songs spot on at both extremes” by Blunt Magazine. Alternative rock with heart. Where was the album recorded? Recorded at Real2Reel (Perth) by James Newhouse, mastered at Sterling Sound (New York) by UE Nastasi. Stand out tracks: Superhero and The Architect. Upcoming Gigs: Saturday, June2, The Bird.

Describe your sound: It’s grunge rock with a few more colours. Mostly upbeat and energetic without being so gosh damn wholesome like the Poo Biters.

Biggest Influences: Each member has their own biggest influence. Favourite Perth Venue: The Rosemount, The Rocket Room and The amplifier.

Favourite Perth Band: The Bransontramps. They make me want to set fire to cars. Where can we buy your album? At one of our gigs preferably.

Otherwise at all the usual places that support local music. Describe the album: There is lots of jangle and shimmer for a “hard rock” album. Stand out tracks: Away From Here and Mumma’s Boy. Upcoming Gigs: The Rocket Room, Friday, May 25.

EP:

AXE GIRL

ALBUM:

The Architect

RELEASE October 2011 43