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X-Press – First on the street, Wednesdays
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X-Press – First on the street, Wednesdays
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X-Press – First on the street, Wednesdays
DESERT DISSENT
Concert For The Kimberley, a combination of protest and performance regarding the James Price Point Gas Project, takes place at the Fremantle Esplanade on Sunday, February 24, from 1.30-6.30pm. MC’d by Peter Rowsthorn, the concert will feature performances and speeches from Missy Higgins, John Butler, Ball Park Music, and Dr Bob Brown, amongst others. Get amongst it! More details in next week’s issue.
FLICK OF THE BRUSH
Perth music mainstay Felicity Groom curates The Fine Art of WA Music at the Bok Choi Ballroom & Noodle Palace from this Sunday, February 17, until Sunday, February 24. An exhibition that proves that many of our local musos have talents that range far beyond the ability to strum a string, it includes works from John Butler, Diger Rockwell, Andrew Ryan, Alex Arpino, David Craft, Peter Bibby, and more. Opening day also features performances from Alex Arpino and Rockwell & Groom.
Mama Kin Missy Higgins
THAT’S ALL FOLK BLUES CLUES
Given the calibre of the lineup at the 10th Anniversary West Coast Blues ‘n’ Roots Festival - which includes Robert Plant, Iggy and The Stooges, Ben Harper, Santana, and more - there’s a good chance that someone you really admire is going to be treading the boards over the weekend of March 23 and 24. Well, thanks to the Introduce Your Idol Competition, one lucky winner on each day will get the opportunity to introduce one of the acts. Simply flick an email to promos@ sunsetevents.com.au explaining in 200 words or less your expertise and love of one of the artists on the bill and you’re in the running.
Felicity Groom
Tickets for the 21st Folkworld Fairbridge Festival go on sale this Monday, February 18. Featuring 80 acts on three stages over three days, from Friday, April 2,6 until Sunday, April 28, this is Western Australia’s premier family-friendly folk and roots event, with featured artists including Mama Kin, Frank Yamma, Tinpan Orange, and Kristina Olsen. Head to folkworldfestival.com.au or Moshtix to book tickets
KULCHA CLUB
Robert Plant Grace Barbe
KULCHA, Western A u s t r a l i a ’s p r e m i e r promoters of multicultural arts, celebrate their 30th birthday this year in fine style, kicking off with a gala event on Friday, February 22, which features performances from the vibrant Grace Barbe, Middle East-influenced jazz outfit Daramad, and The Merindas with Rhythm 22. Head to kulcha.com.au for more.
STRANGER THAN KINDNESS
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Reactions/Comp Thing
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Flesh
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Music: Paul Stanley of KISS
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Music: Fireballs/Stars
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Music: Joy Formidable /Pete Murray/
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Music: Biffy Clyro/Vida Cain
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New Noise
The always captivating Bob Evans returns with his full live band to announce the national Familiar Stranger album tour throughout April and May. As Mr Evans prepares for the release of his fourth studio record, he’s laid plans to hit the stage at Settler’s Tavern in Margaret River on Thursday, May 2; The Bakery on Friday, May 3, and the Prince of Wales Hotel in Bunbury on Saturday, May 4. Joining him will be Tiger Town and Davey Lane.
Nahko/ FIDLAR
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Eye4 Cover: Masuimi Max
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Eye4 Movies: The Sweeney/Ray Winstone/
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Eye4 Arts Stories
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Arts Listings
West Of Memphis/Miss Bala
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Advertising Feature: Education, Training & Careers
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Salt Cover: Judge Jules
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Salt: News/Marcel Dettman/ L-Vis 1990
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Salt: Lunice/Flight Facilities
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Salt: Club Manual
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Salt: Rewind: Calyx & TeeBee
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Scene: Live
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Scene: Local Scene
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Tour Trails
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Gig Guide
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Volume
Bob Evans
Cover: KISS are joined by Motley Crue, Thin Lizzy and Diva Demolition at Perth Arena on Thursday, February 28. See page 12 for our interview with singer/guitarist, Paul Stanley. Salt Cover: Trance lord Judge Jules is set to rule at The Court this Sunday, February 1, along-side his fellow Judgment Sundays cohorts. www.xpressmag.com.au
THIS LITTLE PIGGY CAME HOME
After dominating the European scene with scorching sets in Paris, London, and Norway, The Potbelleez are bringing home the bacon with an Australia-spanning tour to promote their new single, Saved In A Bottle. Friday, April 26 sees them storm Capitol for what is bound to be one of the must-see gigs of the year. 7
with Casey Hayes... Send your name, address and daytime phone number to win@xpressmag.com.au with the name of the competition in the subject line or enter online at www.xpressmag.com.au. Snail mail entries can be sent to Locked Bag 31, West Perth 6872. Entries close 4pm Monday. By entering you agree to X-Press Magazine’s Terms and Conditions, which can be found online. All competition entries will automatically enable you to become an X-Press subscriber! No details will be given to a third party.
Print and Digital Editions Publisher/Manager Joe Cipriani Editorial
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The Sweeney Band Of Frequencies
BAND OF FREQUENCIES
Folklahoma
FOLKLAHOMA
X-Press Magazine presents Folkahoma! A multi-venue, alt-folk micro-festival bringing Fremantle to life during the busy Fringe World season. Some of WA’s best known and loved acts will be playing simultaneously throughout the night at three separate venues. The Buffalo Club plays host to James Teague, The Big Old Bears, Timothy Gordon and Anton Franc. The Navy Club lineup includes The Morning Night, Bears and Dolls and Lucy Peach and Freo mainstay, Clancy’s, catch Rachel and Henry Climb A Hill, Warning Birds and the Justin Walshe Duo. It’s all happening Friday February 22 and we have double passes to give away for each venue, so email us with your choice.
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Printing Rural Press Printing Mandurah
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CAB AUDITED CIRCULATION: 38,000 OCTOBER 2011 – MARCH 2012
Deadlines EDITORIAL General: Friday 5pm,, Eye4 Arts: Thursday 10am, Comp’ Thing: Monday Noon,, Salt Clubs: Monday 5pm , Local Scene: Monday Noon,, Gig Guide: Monday 5pm ADVERTISING Cancellations: Monday 5pm, Ads to be set: Monday Noon Supplied Bookings / Copy: Tuesday 12 Noon, Classifieds: Monday 4pm Published by: Columbia Press Pty.Ltd. A.C.N. 066 570 803 Registered by Australia Post. Publication No PP600110.00006 Suite 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
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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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LET US ENTERTAIN YOU
X-Press Magazine and Bankwest Movies by Burswood are teaming up to bring you the exclusive premiere of Save Your Legs. It’s a ‘coming of middle-age’ story of a man who refuses to lose his local cricket team to the realities of growing up. An uplifting adventure from the heart of Australia to the soul of India filled with comedy, cricket and Bollywood music. The night will kick off at 6.30pm with entertainment from DJ Charlie Bucket with gold coin donations going to Bankwest Movies by Burswood charities. Email us now to grab yourself a double pass to our exclusive night on February 27!
NEXT STOP HOLLYWOOD
From leaving Australia through to the Oscars, N e x t S t o p H o l l y wo o d follows six aspiring young Australian actors during pilot season in Los Angeles. Some charac ters have already made names for themselves at home. Others Next Stop Hollywood want to leap directly into Hollywood. All are attractive, ambitious and talented, but who will make it in the cut-throat American system? Who has a chance of becoming a star? We have five DVD’s of the series to giveaway - enter now!
The Sweeney is an action packed British police thriller from the director of Football Factory. Jack Regan, a hardened cop who doesn’t play by the rules, is confronted with a criminal from his past. With help from his sidekick George (Ben Drew aka Plan B) they prove that sometimes you have to act like a criminal to catch a criminal. Want to see this movie? Email in now to grab a double pass.
Nahko & Medicine For The People DJ Yoda
DJ YODA
Production Co-ordinator Uli Mauersberg
True believers in sound beyond boundaries, Band of Frequencies draw their influences from a vast spectrum of roots, rock, electronic and psychedelic styles. Celebrating the release of their new album Rise Like The Sun, Band Of Frequencies will be touring WA this February playing Saturday, February 23 at Mojo’s, Sunday, February 24 at the Indi Bar and Wednesday, February 27 at The Ellington. We have double passes to giveaway for each gig, so email in with your preference to grab yourself one!
THE SWEENEY
Named one of the ten top DJs to see before you die, DJ Yoda’s show needs to be seen to be believed. Always out of the ordinary, a night with DJ Yoda can go from him cutting up the Indiana Jones theme tune with full on dub-step to dicing and splicing the Muppet Theme with classic Hip Hop. He’s back with his new release Chop Suey and has just as many surprises up his sleeve. We have two Boomtick prize packs to give away including a double pass to his February 22 show featuring Stickybuds, a copy of Chop Suey and two double entries to Ambar. Email in or jump on our Facebook page and let us know what your all time favourite YouTube video is.
Dethtone Calendar
NAHKO & MEDICINE FOR THE PEOPLE
A mix of Apache, Puerto Rican, and Filipino, Nahko is himself a fusion of cultures that is revealed through his music. With his dynamic group of musical troubadours known as Medicine for the People, Nahko will deliver music with a meaning, spreading a message of social and environmental justice and healing. He is playing at the Fly By Night this Sunday, February 17. Do not miss your dose of musical medicine - enter in to grab a double pass.
VICIOUS CUTS 2013
The latest instalment from Melbourne’s premier dance label, Vicious Recordings has arrived - Vicious Cuts 2013! Welcoming over 45 Vicious Cuts of the biggest club tracks for summer 2013 over two discs, Vicious Cuts 2013 is undoubtedly the biggest and best instalment to date. Mixed by fresh-faced music maestro Stevie Mink, electro fused duo Peking Duk and one of Australia’s leading DJ’s and finest talents John Course. Putting together a list of tracks including artists such as A-Trak, DCUP and Flashmob. We have five copies to give away, enter now!
DETHTONE GUITAR LAUNCH
Dethtone guitars are launching their custom series designed by Perry Ormsby and the Dethtone calendar. The launch party is happening at The Rocket Room this Thursday night. There will be displays and demonstrations along with prizes and giveaways on the night including a brand new Dethtone guitar pack. Catch ‘80’s hair bands Hairmageddon and Dark Karma along with the girls from Coyote Ugly. To help celebrate the launch, Kosmic are offering X-Press readers a 15 per cent discount off already discounted Metal Guitars - offer ends February 21. We are also giving away two signed Dethtone calendars. Email in to win!
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X-Press – First on the street, Wednesdays
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X-Press – First on the street, Wednesdays
GET DOWN WITH THE BROWN SOUND
Brett Winterford
Brilliantly eclectic urban roots crew Blue King Brown will headline the annual City of Wanneroo Global Beats & Eats Festival presented by Act-Belong-Commit on Saturday, April 6. No lesser a personage than Carlos Santana lauded them as “the voice of the street and the band of the future,” which should be all the motivation you need to check out their fusion of dancehall, roots, rock, and afro beats. More details at wanneroo.wa.gov.au
Something For Kate
STAR-CROSSED TOUR
Blue King Brown
THE WINTER OF OUR DISCONTENT
Something For Kate will be embarking on their first Australian tour in over six years this May and June. The Star-Crossed Cities Tour will see the band showcasing material from their new album, the critically acclaimed Leave Your Soul To Science, as well as some of their back catalogue. They’ll be finishing the tour with a show at the Astor Theatre on Friday, June 7.
Folk sensation Brett Winterford is starting 2013 the right way with a nation-wide headlining tour to promote the single Hey Make Believer, taken from The Greenthumb EP he released last year. Catch Winterford’s trenchant, insightful, and invigorating show at The Ellington Jazz Club on Thursday, March 21.
KISStake Photo: 100% Shane
‘TAKE THE KISS
While the real Kiss are our cover stars this week, set to storm Perth Arena on Thursday, February 28, their Antibalas younger, poor cousin upstarts, KISStake, are shining Busby Marou, Nannup Festival up their heels in readiness to warm up the good people of Perth for the real thing. It’s tongues-incheeks-and-cheeks-in-lycra all the way for a free entry Afrobeat legends Antibalas are set to play the With The Nannup Music Festival almost upon us, you rocksteady show at the Mustang Bar next Thursday, closing event at the Perth Festival’s Chevron Festival February 21. Practice those moves, pee-puhl! only have scant days to take advantage of their The Kooks Gardens on Saturday, March 2, but they also going to Earlybird Tickets and Earlybird Camping offers. bring a long weekend load-full of global rhythms and Running form Friday, March 1, until Monday, March good times at Clancy’s in Dunsborough on Sunday 4, this year’s festival is a corker, with performances After nine months on the road with his family in his March 3, with help from Grace Barbe Afro Kreol. A Tickets go on sale today, Wednesday, February 13 for from Emma Louise, Busby Marou, Zoe Keating, veggie oil-powered truck, Dave Mann is back in WA night not to be missed and it’s yours from 6-10pm. The Kooks’ Australia tour, which will see them visiting Band Of Frequencies, and many more. Head to for three months with a plethora of gigs. Catch him Tickets from heatseeker.com.au and the venue. Fremantle Arts Centre on Sunday, May 12. Having sold nannupfestival.org. for details. every Friday in February at Clancy’s Dunsborough; out two previous Australian tours, The Kooks have tonight, February 13, at Cape Mentelle Winery; Sunday, released three albums, providing plenty of sing-along February 17, at Settler’s Tavern and next Wednesday, gold for gig goers. Tickets from oztix.com.au. February 20, at Perth Fringe as part of the Five Rivers Medicine Show. With lots of new songs and a cracking new band show, you should try to catch him while he’s in town. Head to davemann.com.au for more deets.
ANTIBALAS HIT THE SOUTH
GET DOWN, NANNUP
MANN UP
KOOKIE TOUR
South West Craft Beer Festival
BEER! BOOM! BAP!
Yacht Club DJs Super Best Friends
THE EMPIRE NEVER ENDED
Hard-rocking Perth outfit Emperors are doubling down on the heavy sound by bringing over ACT punk rock anti-hipsters, Super Best Friends, for a quick tour ‘round the traps. Seeing as it’s the first time the Canberra trio have braved the West, Emperors have decided to give them a trial by fire, with dates at The Prince of Wales Hotel in Bunbury on Thursday, February 21, Fremantle’s Northfolk Basement on Friday, February 22, with support from The Love Junkies and Foam, and Amplifier on Saturday, February 23, with Grim Fandango and The Sensitive Drunks.
EAT MY SHORTS
More than 2300 short films were entered for this year’s Flickerfest, with 116 being selected for the competition. In total, the festival will be screening 18 world premieres including the much anticipated animation, A Cautionary Tail, starring the voices of Cate Blanchett, Barry Otto and David Wenham. Also being screened for the first time will be Australian film The Captain, co-written and directed by the immensely talented Nash Edgerton. The festival will hit Perth on Thursday, March 7, to Sunday, March 10.
I’M ON A BOAT
Seth Sentry
Mash-up mavens Yacht Club DJs, having honed their prodigious deckhand skills at festivals and events across the nation are bringing their no-sleep-til-sunrise party antics to Amplifier on Friday, April 12, before setting sail for Bunbury’s Prince of Wales Hotel on Saturday, April 11. Dropping sounds from the early ‘60s, blues, current pop numbers, to theme songs and everything in between, this is sure to be a night to misremember.
THE FULL MOON
Late night cafe, The Moon has two free events for you to enjoy. Tonight, February 13, get down for Going Solo, which will feature Rae, Mei Saraswati and Ash Hendriks from 8.30pm. This Sunday, February 17, sees both Davey Craddock and Stacey Gougoulis playing solo as a special send off for Gougoulis, who’ll be leaving town for a while.
SCIENCE IS GOLDEN
Melbourne hip hop sensation Seth Sentry is bringing his Dear Science tour to our fair city. The DeLorean-driving, SxSW-playing, multiple-awardwinning Sentry will drop the needle at Villa on Friday, May 10, then do it all again at Fremantle’s Newport Hotel on Sunday, May 12. Advance tickets are available at sethsentry.com
FAMILIAR STRANGER
Following last year’s Double Life EP acoustic tour, the always captivating Bob Evans returns with a national tour to promote his new LP, Familiar Stranger. The latest single from this his fourth studio record, Go, was produced by Dean Reid (from Marina & The Diamonds and Mystery Jets) and features backing vocals from Scarlett Stevens of San Cisco. See him action at The Bakery on Friday, May 3 with a full live band, Tigertown and Melbourne’s Davey Lane as support.
A collection of WA’s best craft brewers will be assembled this weekend February 16 and 17 at Palandri Estate (north of Cowaramup) for the 2013 South West Craft Beer Festival. Industry stalwarts Bootleg, Colonial, Cowaramup, Bushshack, Occy’s and Old Coast Road will be joined by relative newcomers Duckstein, Eagle Bay, Brew 42, Margaret River Ale Company, Custard Apple Cider and Cheeky Monkey. Entertainment will be provided by triple j unearthed winners Boom! Bap! Pow!, indie pop band Three Hands One Hoof and recent Bunbury Battle Of The Bands winners, The Acitones. Tickets are still available for both days from $25 at moshtix.com.au or for $35 at the gate if not sold out.
TRIBUTE
A tribute song to the 20 children and six adults, who lost their lives recently at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut has been written by two Australian songwriters, Art Storey and Brett Creswell. Youth And Innocence is available for purchase on iTunes with all proceeds going to the families of the victims. Storey, who also provides vocals for the track, says he wrote the song out of horror for the senseless act of violence.
FAIM Damon & Naomi
FAIMEOUS
FAIM (formerly known as The FAIM! Project) have finally managed to channel and bottle their charismatic and unique live energy with their debut album Pretty Well Over The Bay to be released on February 22 through Firestarter Distribution. To celebrate, they’re throwing two parties at The Rosemount. Join them on Friday, March 1 with Scalphunter, Dead Owls and themSHARKS. Entry is $10. They’ll also be performing an acoustic set on Sunday, March 3 with Ben David (Ade), Pat and Dan Decline, Noah Skape, Luke Dux, Mossy Fogg, Yiannos McStavros, Wheels McKenzie and DJ Benny Mayhem. Entry is free. www.xpressmag.com.au
COSMIC GIG
Folk rock couple Damon & Naomi of Galaxie 500 are to play at the Rosemount Hotel for their first ever Perth performance on Saturday, April 13. The two began playing music together as the rhythm section, co-songwriters, and sometime singers in influential ‘80s band Galaxie 500. When that outfit ended, they continued as a duo. They’ll be joined by cosmic pop locals, The Flower Drums and ex-Perth singer/songwriter Guy Blackman. Presale tickets are available from lifeisnoise.com, Oztix and Heatseeker.
The Bronx
GROOVIN’ SIDE SHOW
LA punk band The Bronx are back with their first album in five years, IV. Produced by Beau Burchell, IV marks the 10-year anniversary of the band and will see the band return to Australia this year for Groovin’ The Moo. Fans who aren’t the festival going type can see at their very own side show at Capitol on Friday, May 10. They’ll be supported by Brisbane indie punk duo DZ Deathrays. Tickets go on sale this Friday, February 15 from oztix.com.au. 11
PAUL STANLEY A Kiss Is Still A Kiss
Kiss, Photo: Ash Newell
Kiss are joined on their Monster tour by Motley Crue, Thin Lizzy and Diva Demolition at Perth Arena on Thursday, February 28. It pays off to think big. While The Rolling Stones soaked in their self-description as ‘The Greatest Rock’n’Roll Band In The World’, the gargantuan machine that is Kiss have always traded on the premise that they are the hottest. And they have lived it, through good and bad. Autobiographies from demon bassist Gene Simmons and ex-founding-members Ace Frehley and Peter Criss have described lives writ large and with man-sized predicaments to boot. Singer/guitarist, Paul Stanley, will also release a book in 2013, but doesn’t intend on filling in the other’s gaps or pointing out their weaknesses. Something of a screaming ringmaster/rock’n’roll preacher in concert, in conversation he is quietly spoken and thoughtful. And clearly grateful that god gave rock’n’roll to him. Kiss these days - and since late 2003 - has been Stanley, Simmons, guitarist Tommy Thayer and drummer, Eric Singer. A reluctance by the band to release new material in the early/mid-’90s has been replaced by a happy dynamic that is keen to create. After a 10 year gap from their disappointing 1999 reunion line-up LP, Psycho Circus, Kiss has released two albums, 2009’s Sonic Boom and last year’s Monster. They’re 40 years in, but it’s certainly not all nostalgia, though the group are clear about celebrating the past along with the present. And the 61 year-old Paul Stanley was made to love every minute of it.
“it’s difficult for anybody to compete with their past. Especially when you’ve done something stellar and the myth and the legend of it grows over time. I think what we have done is live up to that legend and it’s certainly not a case at this point of reliving or recreating the past, it’s very much a part of who we are. It’s necessary for us, as a creative band, to continue to create music. I think that every band out there, that’s worth their salt, that’s been around for decades, feels the need to continue to produce music.” Monster, more so than Sonic Boom, sounds like a band playing in a circle in the studio; having fun, recording backing vocals around the same mic. I know it’s also hard work, but does that describe it? Yeah, you know, there’s a joy in it. There’s an enormous pride in being able to do something and have it match your expectations. To have it match the standard that you set for yourself. To be in the studio doing something like It’s A Long Way Down or Hell Or Hallelujah... you know, to be in the studio and to be cranking something out They say that life begins at 40. Is that the same for that people listen to and go, ‘God, that sounds like Kiss, albeit it in ways that some mightn’t expect? a new band’, you can’t get much better than that, You know, it’s difficult for anybody to because in a sense we are a new band. Although compete with their past. Especially when you’ve we’ve been together in this line-up for 10 years, done something stellar and the myth and the legend we are a band that has a long history, but also a of it grows over time. I think what we have done is newfound passion. live up to that legend and it’s certainly not a case at This line-up played its first tour show here in this point of reliving or recreating the past, it’s very Perth at the WACA ground in 2004. It’s actually much a part of who we are. So we do it as best we can the longest-running ‘makeup line-up’ of Kiss... That’s absolutely right. and add more to it, with albums like Sonic Boom and Monster. It’s necessary for us, as a creative band, I guess there’s fans who vote with their feet to continue to create music. I think that every band and fans who vote somewhat differently on out there, that’s worth their salt, that’s been around the internet. Do you feel that you tread two for decades, feels the need to continue to produce worlds with your fandom? music. How so? I’m not sure I understand.
How’s your book going? It seems you’re the only person in Kiss universe who hasn’t written one, but one of the only ones who should have... It’s terrific, it really is. I had no desire to do the standard rock’n’roll star book documenting all the women you’ve been with or all the people you’ve outsmarted. The trouble with autobiographies lies in something that George Orwell once said, which is that the autobiography is the most outrageous form of fiction. You know, I’ve done my best. I was reluctant to do one, and then quite honestly I started to think about it and thought there was something to be had for readers and people in general to see a blueprint for succeeding through adversity - and certainly some adversity that people might not be aware of that I’ve had. Plus, I wanted to set something down for my kids and everybody else in my life. And it has been terrific.
In that you’ve recently done a big US tour with Motley Crue that drew loads of fans all over the country, yet there’s another type of Kiss fan who stays at home complaining about the current band on the internet... (Laughs) Those aren’t really fans, are they?
Do you think there’s a great lost Kiss song, one that didn’t get the attention it should have? As a fan I always felt that was Nowhere To Run (1982). Hmm, I love that song. I love that song though I always thought it could have been recorded better, but I thought that the song itself was full of angst and passion and was a page from things that were going on in my life at that point and I love it. It’s a song that I don’t know that it got its due, but at that point things were a bit murky with the band and I think some good things got lost in the journey.
And rock’n’roll music echoes the blues once again. At this stage you’ve spent two-thirds of your life in Kiss - far more time in it than before it. Could you even have imagined? You know, the years leading up to it were years that I saw as the foundation for what was to come. Once the band hit, I never expected this long of a ride. Honestly, it’s the lion’s share of my life and I thank all the fans for sticking with us and I pat myself on the back for navigating an exciting and positive journey.
By BOB GORDON
When asked about releasing new songs about five or so years agoyou made the infamous comment Have I caught you in a rare moment at home? I’m home at the moment, as time would that fan reaction would be ‘that’s great, now play have it, from this never-ending tour that started 40 Love Gun’... (Laughs) Right... years ago. Which is an anniversary that you celebrated on January 30. When you started The Beatles had broken up and The Stones had been going for 10 years. There weren’t any blueprints for longevity, were there? There was no template for this. People ask me, ‘did you think it would ever go this long?’ I just wanted to play in a band that lasted a few years. It wasn’t even considered until the band continued on and audiences and fans stayed with us. You have to remember that rock’n’roll first started it was like a teen idol machine where once you got sick of the ‘Idol Of The Week’ they brought out another. And they had people cranking out songs for them. When bands started writing their own material it changed things dramatically because it meant that as long as you were writing things that were relevant to your audience, the audience would grow with you. So it became much, much more like the blues in the sense that you could do it forever. 12
What marked the attitude change for you? Well I felt that the band was so dynamic and so terrific live that for us not to go in the studio and put our stamp on today and move forward while squarely being rooted in where we came from, would just be a shame. It would have been a missed opportunity. The band is that good and we enjoy ourselves so much. Making an album is a pleasure and it’s fun and it’s creative and it’s social. To not take this band into the studio would just be shortchanging ourselves. When songs have stood the test of time and been soundtracks to people’s lives, we can’t compete with that and nobody here expects to. Whether it be us, the Stones, or anybody else. When you go to see the Stones, you tolerate the new songs, but you’re waiting to hear Brown Sugar. That being so, it feels important to a band to create in the present and not just live in the past.
Possibly not! If you’re a disgruntled fan I’m sorry, but I totally understand if you need to move on. To just stand around and complain is a waste of your time because it doesn’t affect the end. For someone to be wishing for certain shows or certain line-ups that’s all well and good, but I was given the freedom by the fans, particularly, to do what I love doing. And that’s to create what Kiss is. If it doesn’t match someone’s standards, criteria or expectations, well that’s part of me having the freedom that I was given. I don’t have to answer to anybody and I also feel very, very comfortable with the decisions I’ve made, particularly because some of the people who might not understand or feel disgruntled are clueless about what goes on behind the scenes.
That’s possibly an opportunity Peter Criss had with his book, but it seemed to confirm the opposite.. Exactly and in no way am I going to write a rebuttal to anybody else’s book. That’s just a waste of time.
After the Australian tour, what does the rest of the year hold for Kiss? Will you be touring Monster in the US? Yeah, upon completing our time on your beautiful shores - which is never long enough we’ll go back for a short time and we’ll be off to Europe. Then after Europe I believe we’ll be off to Canada and after that some shows in the States. That never-ending tour? It’s never-ending! X-Press – First on the street, Wednesdays
Stars Fireballs
FIREBALLS Eternal Flames
Australian psychobilly stalwarts Fireballs headline the West Coast Lowdown Festival this Saturday, February 16, at the Rosemount Hotel and Sunday, February 16, at the Newport Hotel. SABIAN WILDE speaks with frontman, Eddie Fury. Maybe every family has that embarrassing drunken uncle that turns up at family gatherings. But the lucky ones have the really cool drunken uncle who turns up late, weaponises the stereo and slips you your first under-age beer with a sly wink. Our ‘so bad he’s good’ uncle is Eddie Fury. The appearance of Fireballs at what is essentially a celebration of our homegrown rockabilly/psychobilly/punk/rock bands is incredibly appropriate, an avuncular show of support for a scene that they have no doubt influenced in their two decades of visiting Perth. “Back in the day, you just couldn’t run a psychobilly event like this because there just wasn’t enough people in Australia doing it,” Fury laughs. “Record companies didn’t get it, radio stations didn’t know what format we were and we didn’t really fit any formula but our own.” Whatever it is, that formula has kept the band a mainstay of live music across the country - even
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the ‘new’line up of Fury and Joe Phantom with guitarists Dylan Villain and Pete Speed (replacing original guitarist, Matt Black) have been together for almost a decade. “There’s people who are coming to the band completely new, those that really like it and those who don’t. Then there’s the people who think we should be playing all of the old songs, but 22 years is a long fucking stretch, it’s a whole generation,” Fury laughs. “We still want to record and write and carry on, but at the same time, I’d feel uncomfortable singing about a girl turning 16 at my age,” he says.“I try to write things that will get people thinking. I’m a big fan of double entendres. “Then again, I also wrote Kill Kill Kill and however long that song is, that’s how long it took to write. We’re at the stage where everybody brings something to the table, people bringing in riffs or whatever. But a lot of the time the lyrics get left to me and it is getting harder and harder as I get older,”he says. “But that’s not a bad thing, it’s just a sign that I’m not repeating myself and I’m thinking about it a bit more... but not too much. Maybe I should write about 16 year-olds,” (laughs). While Fury is aware of the special place the Fireballs have in the Australian music scene, he’s not particularly enamoured of it. You kinda get the impression he wants to be impressed. “There’ll never be another one of us,” he semi-jokes. “But that’s just who we are and what we do. It’s the same for the people who’ve come after us. I never went into the studio thinking, ‘Well, now it’s time to inspire a generation’. “Nothing’s intentional and that’s the beauty of it. The beauty of music is that if you turn it up loud enough, you can’t hear your boss, can’t think about your bills - it just takes you away. It’s the greatest drug on earth... and it’s legal.”
STARS Two Lives
Canadian pop outfit Stars perform tonight, Wednesday, February 13, at the Chevron Festival Gardens. BOB GORDON reports. While they’ve just released an Australian tour EP called Far From Home, Stars are still deep within the touring cycle for their 2012 album, The North. “We’ve been out seemingly forever,” says singer/songwriter Torquil Campbell. “Well, since the middle of September. We did all of Canada and all of America. We’ve been out for just... ages. So we’re well into the tour and it’s been going great. “It’s lovely. It’s always amazing that there are still people out here who give shit and it’s a beautiful thing to do for a living.” For Campbell and co. taking new songs on the road is always a joy, in part because they also go on their own journey. “There’s two lives for a song, you know?” he says. “There’s the life when you do it on the record and then there’s the life when you play it live. They really become different songs, so every song we play from every record kind of has two separate identities. We don’t listen to the records after their finished very much, so the songs played live become our relationship with the songs. “They’re obviously similar, they’re the same song (laughs) but you just completely think of them in a different way. It’s always radically different when you start to play things live.”
Is it still a fascinating evolution? “I think it’s just an expectation we have at this point,” Campbell considers. “It’s part of the process of being a musician. The things that surprise us now don’t have as much to do with the process of songwriting as much as they do with what’s happening to us as people. That’s the thing. The more expert you get at doing your music, the more life begins to affect you, in subtle ways. “I think that we know how to work and we know how we work. When you work on things it’s not a surprise because it’s a long process, you’re working towards something. Sometimes you actually get to where you want to be and sometimes you just get halfway, but it’s very methodical. It’s a method.” Stars have become known for their evocative music. Yet while it reflects the lives of the band members at any given time, it might not do so the way it is expected to. “We make very melodic and very soft pop music and I think the way that we cut the knife on that is that sometimes we have very dark lyrical themes,” Campbell . That’s still true on The North but I think that we, as a group of people, are in a lot better place and that’s really what it was. We felt better about our lives, we felt better about each other and better about making it. So you’re physically hearing people in a room having more fun. “I mean the last record - which I think in a way is our best record, even though some people didn’t like it - was made in the midst of a whole bunch of really difficult things... my father dying and all kinds of things. What happens to you in your life - whether you’re driving a bus or being in a band it’s going to affect how you do your job. I think that’s obvious in the music. “At the time that we made this record, it was a beautiful experience for us. We fought a lot, but in a lot less fucked up way. We had a great time and we wrote great songs. I think it’s a great record. It’s undeniable, for me.”
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The Joy Formidable
PETE MURRAY Byron Bond
THE JOY FORMIDABLE Puttin’ On The Ritz Welsh outfit, The Joy Formidable, have released their second LP, Wolf’s Law. ROD WHITFIELD reports. A band that has been making considerable waves around the world in the past few years is Welsh alternative rock act, The Joy Formidable. Early 2011 saw the release of their debut album, the aptly titled The Big Roar, which charted across the globe. They are a band with a big sound and some big ideas and ambitions, and those waves could be about to become tsunami size with the imminent release of their sophomore album, Wolf’s Law. “From the very beginnings of its conception in November 2011, right the way through to mixing in April, it was totally exciting, and it fired up a lot of energy, I had a great time making that record,” vocalist/ guitarist Ritzy Bryan, enthuses. “We had a great time working with Andy Wallace, I think he’s one of the finest collaborations we’ve ever had in our careers… we absolutely loved meeting him and working with him. He’s ridiculously talented, really nice. “So it’s been a real pleasure. Now we’re just fookin’ excited to share the new songs, it sounds great live, the songs are becoming their own live beast.” And so how would you compare the album to the debut? “They’re different records,” Bryan states. “We’re proud of both, but I think this
record definitely has a bit different instrumentation to the first record. Over the course of 12 months we started playing more piano. You have to pass the time in the tour bus somehow, so I’ve been doing a lot of scoring and different types of composition over the course of 12 months. And that definitely seeps into the new record. “The writing approach was quite different as well,” she continues,“In the sense that on this record we stripped everything back to a piano or an acoustic guitar, and that was kind of an exciting new approach to the songwriting, because it gives the lyrics and the melody a lot of focus. Some of the songs have stayed like that, they’re more stripped back, more than some of the tracks on The Big Roar, but some of the other songs have turned into more bombastic, aggressive tracks as well. “They’re different records, but I would hope to be saying that! I think something would have gone drastically wrong if we churned out the same record.” The band have already done a brief tour of Australia back in 2011, and while they have heavy commitments across the UK and Europe in the coming few months, Bryan has great memories of that tour, and is hopeful that they will return to our shores in the not too distant future. “I sincerely hope so,” she says, “We had a really, really good time last time. We genuinely have so many happy memories from that. We did some shows of our own, and we were out with Temper Trap who are a great, sweet bunch of guys, and we went up to do Splendour. We just had a really fun, really busy, but exciting couple of weeks. We’ve wanted to repeat it for so long, but just logistically we haven’t managed to. I sincerely hope that this (Northern) summer we manage a trip back. We definitely want to.”
NAHKO & MEDICINE FOR THE PEOPLE Rocket Man Cult favourite roots outfit Nahko & Medicine For The People play at the Fly By Night Club on Sunday, February 17, and Bridgetown’s The Green Door on Wednesday, January 20. CHLOE PAPAS reports. Nahko & Medicine for the People, a group of peaceful troubadours hailing from Oregon, Portland, are rather unlike any other musical act you’ll have encountered recently. With musical roots in folk, the group - who are sometimes a three-piece and sometimes an eight-piece - explore reggae, roc and the blues, all the while promoting a peaceful, inclusive message. Nahko - who also plays solo under the moniker Nahko Bear - is the captain of the Medicine For The People ship and gives X-Press a little more insight into their act. “We just get crazy,” he says, “we’re a really wild bunch of kids. We’re really expressive in the message and these stories we create, and it’s been really amazing to watch others take them on and make them the mantras of their own lives. We’re loud, but so bright with a really positive social message – people always seem to walk away with big smiles on their faces.” Throughout the conversation, Nahko frequently refers back to ‘the message’ – so we ask if he can pinpoint what exactly it is. He references 14
Byron-based singer-songwriter Pete Murray has released Blue Sky Blue (The Byron Sessions), a stripped back, acoustic rendition of his most recent, electric LP, Blue Sky Blue. Pete Murray plays Capitol on Saturday, March 2; Freo Arts Centre on Sunday, March 3 and Monday, March 4. ANNABEL MACLEAN reports. Pete Murray didn’t want to do a ‘greatest hits’ record. He wanted to celebrate community, the last decade and the Byron Bay lifestyle – his home for the last eight or so years. His new compendium release, Blue Sky Blue (The Byron Sessions), does just this. After living with his most recently released record Blue Sky Blue, Murray decided he wanted to re-record the album with his friends – stripped back, acoustic style and infused with Byron flavours. “Basically the album is out to support the solo tour that I’m doing,” Murray says. “About 18 months ago I spoke with management, we talked about ‘what are we going to do that we haven’t done before?’ and we came up with the solo tour. I’ve never done a solo tour in this country so that’s new and fresh... and we said we were going to work with some other artists. “So we sent the song Blue Sky Blue, which was a demo, down to Natalie (Pa’apa’a) from Blue King Brown and she came back with this hip hop, grimy part on the song which was really cool. So we did some more and then the next question was ‘what songs do we do? Do we do a new album?’. “I’ve got some new songs that I had been writing but I didn’t have enough for a whole album and it was probably too soon to do a new album anyway. What I didn’t want to do was do a greatest hits or have something that sounded like the greatest hits, even for the other artists involved, I just didn’t want that to happen. So I thought that doing an acoustic interpretation of Blue Sky Blue which was an electric album was different to what I did before... and with some other artist friends on board would be kinda cool.”
Pete Murray Blue Sky Blue (The Byron Sessions) features Ash Grunwald, Scott Owen (The Living End), Busby Marou, Bernard Fanning, Katie Noonan, Fantine and more. Murray says working and recording with all these artists on the record proved to be an inspiring and gratifying process. “I’ve probably just realised how talented they all are to be given a song - they’re all friends of mine anyway so I’ve known these guys for a long time - but to be given a song and to just have them do their stuff. Like I just gave a song to Ash - Hurricane Coming - and he just put some amazing guitar on it. “Everyone just does what they do; everyone has their own little flavour. It’s kind of nice just to have that.”
FIDLAR
Nahko
Australian roots group Blue King Brown, explaining that they share the same values and themes throughout their music. “Justice is a big topic and environmental justice, land recovery, indigenous rights – it’s the multicultural clash of trying to figure out who we are as people in these post-colonialist communities, or our government from country to country. In a big way, I think that the message just whittles down to personal empowerment – I guess you could reference in what Ghandi said, ‘Be the change you want to see in the world’. Our songs come back to that – to forgiveness, and just remembering that you can really make your dreams come true.” The singer/songwriter, who writes the majority of the group’s music, affirms that he primarily writes from personal experience. “My background is Puerto Rican and Native American, and my father is Filipino, but I was adopted and grew up in a strictly white community, white family and real Christian values. So coming out of all that and meeting my mother and father about 10 years ago, I had a really longstanding identity crisis and a lot of my music came from that originally.” Nahko & Medicine For The People have released one album and it is not available anywhere online. They have a few songs available on YouTube and a minor online presence. Yet, they’ve amassed an unbelievable following in the US and Indonesia, with a reputation for phenomenal live shows. So, the question remains – how can a band get by so organically in this day and age? “Really, I think it’s spirit,” Nahko says. “I’ve been tripping on that as well, I’m like, ‘how the hell did we get here?’ But it’s just destiny, and we’re on the right path. We’re on a bit of a rocket ship, you know?”
FIDLAR
What’s Not To Like, Like? LA skater-punks FIDLAR have just released their self-titled debut album. BOB GORDON clicks ‘Like’. Los Angeles skate punks FIDLAR, it would seem, are living the dream. Thing is, they already were before they released a debut album and joined the music business. Music, drinking and skating is what they do and have always done. Now they just get to do it with friends in like-minded bands such as Pangaea and Meat Market for their very first US album tour. “It was awesome,” says bass player, Brandon Schwartzel, establishing a theme. “Meat Market and Pangaea have been like our really good friends for a long time. It was always this kind of tour that we had always talked about doing for like almost a year now, but we got busy and they got busy. We always wanted to do like a California tour ‘cause we’re all from California and just do like small venue/small house party shows. “So it was really awesome, like touring with your best friends. The shows were crazy (laughs). They were like, bananas. We had a really good time. We went pretty hard.” With song titles such as Cheap Beer, Stoned And Broke, Max Can’t Surf, Wake Skate Bake and Cocaine it would seem that it’s all about going pretty hard, actually.
“It is I guess,” Schwartzel says. “We kind of all met when we were like, partying a lot. And definitely when the band was starting out we didn’t have plans for recording an album or going on tour, we were just playing and having fun with it. “We’re kind of serious about our songs. We work really hard on the recordings and the songwriting. Like, we think about it. We’re serious about that, but I would say it’s just who we are. It comes out in the music and it comes out when you see us around town (laughs).” It’s a pretty natural combination - they’re all mates and they all skate. Being from LA is a big part of it. And now, the world seems to want in. “It’s awesome,” Schwartzel concurs. “Like, it’s awesome to like have people in Australia, the UK or like, Japan and all the crazy places we haven’t even been to. We would never have dreamed of people hearing our music there and they’re like, sending us pictures of them drinking beers! “It’s like we’re just young and broke and partying; we’re just kids playing music in a band in LA and there’s those kinds of kids everywhere. There’s like, kids all over the world who wanna drink and party with their friends and start a band and plays shows and make music. It’s pretty cool to see that there’s people responding to it all over the world. It’s awesome.” Slightly cooler than the dreaded YOLO acronym, FIDLAR is an LA skating phrase, meaning ‘Fuck It Dawg, Life’s A Risk’. Skating is an important part of the band’s folklore, but these days they must proceed with caution. “We all still skate but we’ve had to tone it down a little bit,” Schwartzel admits. “It’s more recreational so we can’t do that big trick or go off that huge ramp because we’ve got a show tomorrow and we can’t get all banged up. It’s hard enough playing them anyway, we always get all banged up after our shows (laughs). If we were still skating hard and playing hard we’d all be dead already.” X-Press – First on the street, Wednesdays
BIFFY CLYRO Big Double? No Trouble! Scotland’s Biffy Clyro have just released their sixth album, Opposites. AUGUSTUS WELBY chats with drummer, Ben Johnston. Biffy Clyro’s 2009 LP, Only Revolutions, was their biggest success to date, cracking the UK top 5 and earning them a Mercury Prize nomination. Following such critical and popular acclaim, writing a new record might have been an intimidating task but the Scottish heavy-rockers certainly didn’t suffer any sort of creative drought. The band’s sixth album, Opposites, is a monumental two-disc, 20-song step forward and drummer Ben Johnston speaks with unquestioning confidence about the quality of the record. “I’m really proud of the album that we’ve made. I think it’s really ambitious. Even now, when we’re playing the new songs live, they really stand up as being super strong songs and also tons of fun to play.” Recording a double album has been a longstanding desire for the close knit three-piece but Johnston is quick to identify that many artists have fumbled with the dual-disc format. “We went back and did our research, we found out there actually weren’t that many great double albums. There were a few, London Calling and The White Album, but apart from that it’s tough. As
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Vida Cain Biffy Clyro a kid I thought I loved Mellon Collie And The Infinite Sadness by Smashing Pumpkins, but I’ve recently listened to it and realised there’s only a few great songs.” Nevertheless, Johnston reveals the band believed they could be the exception to the rule and craft an entirely enduring set of songs. “We’re really trying to break the mould and make every single second vital. It’s not a really self-indulgent, really weighty album. It’s meant to be an enjoyable listen. We’re hoping to make the first double album that’s not too self-indulgent and too heavy to listen to.” The album follows a thematic progression; side one is a depiction of upset and injury and side two is much more hopeful. However, Johnston explains that when compiling the record they didn’t fastidiously adhere to the concept. “The worst thing to do would be make music that’s contrived and that’s been forced into a corner because of a decision we’ve made. I think it was more important the songs were strong and lyrically it just turned out that they do fall into these categories. A couple of them are almost interchangeable, though. It’s not strictly a concept album. It’s loosely a concept.” Opposites is a roaming showcase of Biffy Clyro’s capacities yet, despite the broadened parameters, the Scottish sincerity that distinguishes the band’s radio-ratified hard rock is centrally present. “I think in a double album you get to show a lot more of your canvas as a band. Sometimes on other albums great songs get cut because they just don’t flow within one album. When you have two albums you’ve got a lot more time to explore different avenues. We have really gone to town on this and we’ve basically tried to explore every little nook and cranny of Biffy Clyro.”
VIDA CAIN Are they Experienced?
Despite having been together less than a year, it’s impossible to fault the work ethic that drives the rock quartet that is Vida Cain as they prepare for their EP launch at the Rosemount this Friday, February 15, with help from Gombo, Room At The Reservoir and Bears And Dolls. SABIAN WILDE speaks to frontman, Josh Johnstone. Everything about Vida Cain is honest and to the point. There’s no pretence, just hard work, lots of regional touring and short, punchy songs that combine pub rock swagger with melodic pop smarts. It’s a combination that describes Josh Johnstone equally well. “Perhaps it has to do with modern attention spans,” he says of the four tracks on the EP. “But the EP kind of demands to be listened to rather than put on in the background - you won’t even have time to make a cup of tea and come back.”
Vida Cain Rots Your Brain was essentially recorded live - which Johnstone says is how he intends to proceed; a combination warts-and-all approach that also highlights how tight the band is. “Rather than overproducing it, what you hear on the EP is what you get when you buy a ticket,” he says,“there’s no room for disappointment.” Regional touring has a lot to do with the band’s tightness and it’s part of Vida Cain’s bread-andbutter rather than a special event. “We’re cutting our teeth out there, I guess, playing Kalgoorlie, Geraldton, Carnarvon... Dunsborough and Bunbury. “Being on the road is better than rehearsing a couple of times a week. It’s a great way to get the band tight really quickly.We’ve been together less than a year, but we’ve already got a lot of things going on because we’ve put the time in. “Audiences are out there, starved for good music.They’re sick of watching their mate Barry strangle an acoustic guitar trying to knock out Cold Chisel every Friday night. Then again, there’s the odd guy who just wants to knock you out too... shit, I could write a book on West Australian touring,” he laughs,“and I will.” Johnstone started his career here in Perth as lead guitarist in Bordello over a decade ago. Since then, he’s toured three continents with his Melbourne-based band The Happy Endings - after a chance encounter with a European music industry type in a road-house near Broome who told Johnstone he should ‘play Estonia some time’. “I kept in touch and the first show she offered us was at a festival supporting The Killers, Moby and the Ting Tings,” he laughs,“and she kept inviting us back. The good news is she wants to do the same with Vida Cain.” The single, Only Love Things, has just been picked up nationally by MMM, so best take the opportunity to catch Vida Cain before they head outback or overseas.
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X-Press – First on the street, Wednesdays
OFF! Off!
PITBULL Global Warming
Vice/UNFD/WMA
RCA
Keith Morris once sang he didn’t want to live to be 57. Now he’s 57 and he’s still playing music that sounds like it’s fuelled in equal parts by amphetamines and negativity. A couple of years ago the former Circle Jerks and Black Flag singer joined with Mario Rubalcaba (RFTC/ Hot Snakes), Steven McDonald (Redd Kross) and Dimitri Coats (Burning Brides - yeah, me neither) to form LA punk supergroup, OFF! After releasing four EPs in 2010, they released this their first ‘full-length’ album in 2012. Full-length is in quotes ‘cause the album has 16 songs and goes for 16 minutes. This isn’t a problem, though. The pace and lack of indulgence in these songs is still refreshing nearly 40 years after the first wave of punk rock. The music is exactly what you’d expect given the band’s members - jagged, speedy riffs over a pummelling rhythm section; Morris’ gravelly yelp topping it off. He’s not gonna win a Pulitzer for his lyrics, but they’ve got the right balance of nihilism and sarcasm needed to make this kind of thing work. The songs themselves are drum-tight and there’s a few change-ups pitched in so it doesn’t just whizz by without making an impression. Last of all, the album’s wrapped up in some snazzy Raymond Pettibon artwork. This is not an earth-shattering step forward in musical composition, but it is a swell punk album. Made by some dudes in their ‘50s. World’s pretty upside-down these days, eh?
Wow! This isn’t just a Pitbull album! No siree! All these bastards are on there too! You get Sensato! TJR! Christina Aguilera! Chris Brown! Usher! Afrojack! J. Lo! The Wanted! Afrojack! Danny Mercer! Enrique Iglesias! Havana Brown! Afrojack! Akon! David Rush! Shakira! Vein! Pitbull and Afrojack must be best buds. He gets three feature spots. They probably go shopping for white suits and ladies’ sunglasses together all the time. But it’s not just partying for them. They still have time to ruin the Toots and the Maytals classic, Funky Kingston; rob Take On Me of any of its charm and do things to Sheryl Crow that even Lance Armstrong would be ashamed of. On top of that, they also do unspeakable things to Mickey and Sylvia’s version of Strange Love. And there’s a song with whistling in the hook. Good time club music. For jerks, by jerks. There is a serious side however. Pitbull offers this incisive piece of commentary on I’m Off That - ‘Communism- I’m off that! Dictators- I’m off that! (something that sounds like) Pig Riders- I’m off that! Freedom- I love that!’ Noble sentiments. Incidentally, Mr Worldwide is also off skateboarding. It’s about time someone put those sidewalk surfing commies in their place. Needless to say, this album totally sucks for every single second of its duration. You could probably tell that just from looking at it. Listen to it and you’ll know for certain. 0 stars _ SAM SCHERR
_ SAM SCHERR
FUNERAL FOR A FRIEND Conduit
PVT Homosapien
Roadrunner/Warner
Coming up in the early 2000s, Welsh band, Funeral For A Friend, dived headfirst into that whole emo wave. To give them credit, they never wore make-up; but they did rock those scenester asymmetrical haircuts for a while. In any event, they survived and managed to keep making records long after the mascara was shelved at the back of the bathroom cabinet. The 2013 version of Funeral For A Friend sees them get a bit more blunt. Conduit is a welcome departure from the poppier moments heard in their previous effort, 2010’s Welcome Home Armageddon. The band has become a little bit more pissed off and has thrown down a lot of heavy riffs to convince us all. Singer, Matthew Davies-Kreye, still drifts towards a safety net of toofamiliar vocal melodies, but against the heavy-handed, frenetic guitar work of Kris Coombs-Roberts and Gavin Burrough, it actually works well most of the time. The most surprising moments on the album are when the band turn up the volume and get a bit raucous. Songs like Grey and lead single, Best Friends And Hospital Beds are fast and ferocious, signposting the hardcore direction the band has taken in general. The Distance is an excellent example of when Davies-Kreye’s pop sensibilities work well with the heavier content, whereas songs like Travelled show where it just doesn’t gel at all. Conduit could be the most straightforward album Funeral For A Friend has ever made and that’s probably why it’s one of the most interesting.
DAWN McCARTHY & BONNIE ‘PRINCE’ BILLY What The Brothers Sang
Create/Control
Man and machine battle it out to both arise from the eerie, primordial soup that is electronica in this fourth studio album from Sydney and London-based trio, PVT (formerly known as Pivot). This binary is evidenced not only in the name and subject matter of each track but also in the seamless merging of post rock and synth pop in this concept album that, true to its name, is at times searching, melancholy and triumphant. No strangers to the instrumental, with their first two albums being sans vocals, there is enough mood in this body of work to keep the manufacturers of Prozac laughing for an eon, while the amount of sci-fi flavour is reminiscent of a Kubrick film score. Richard Pike on vocals creates an almost new romantic, goth atmosphere with a brooding timbre conveying longing, particularly in Cold Romance and Vertigo. Mostly laid-back with synth meets guitar driven build-ups, the album mostly holds it own but at time loses energy, as with New Morning. It concludes with Ziggurat. A ziggurat is an ancient Mesopotamian pyramidal temple with a shrine at the top. This one is sublimely introspective and oddly uplifting with uber amounts of synth sci-fi, It conjures up images of an outer space version of Michelangelo’s Creation Of Adam, reaching for the hand of God. Homosapien is definitely a unique _ RICK WARNER production that won’t be everyone’s cup of tea but it’s great to see these guys refusing to follow the herd. Very cool, without being a wank-fest.
Spunk
_ JO CAMPBELL
Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy has regularly teamed up with female vocalists to act a foil for his country folk tunes. One of the most talked about has been Dawn McCarthy, who joined him for the album The Letting Go and its companion album, Wai Notes. The idea of the two artists joining forces again is tantalising, but becomes an even more delicious prospect when the pair announced that the album would be a collection of their interpretation of Everly Brothers tunes. The Everly Brothers are remembered predominantly for their tight harmonies that permeated the string of hits they unleashed in the late ‘50s and early ‘60s. Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy has been hand-picking artists to join his band to act as his vocal foil for decades, so although the tunes on What The Brothers Sang are refashioned for a new audience, you can be assured the harmonies are as always top notch. McCarthy and Billy clearly have a stronger understanding of The Everly Brothers than just their radio hits and have delved deep for the gold. Milk Train kicks along like a Brill Building special to show an upbeat version of Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy that is far from his norm. Devoted To You is one of the most faithful renditions showing the timeless nature of Everly Brothers songs. What The Brothers Sang is a record that will strike a chord with Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy and Everly Brothers fans alike. This understated curio of the Wil Oldham catalogue is tidy. Take that message to Mary. _ CHRIS HAVERCROFT 17
VIDA CAIN Vida Cain Rots Your Brain Independent - available on iTunes
A powerful little four-track EP that barely cracks the 10 minute mark, Vida Cain Rots Your Brain is clearly a leave’em-wanting-more debut from an experienced group of musos taking another bite of the cherry. The single track, Only Love Things, is a pretty straight-forward affair, punchy, if heavily stylised a la’ Jet and other rock revivalists - but it’s easy to imagine it raising the roof in venues across the country or turning festival mosh pits to mud. Interestingly, the next two tracks, Josie and Domino, seem to conjure up melodies and harmonies from ‘80s US hair-metal, but delivered with a distinctly Aussie brutalism. Final track, Red Light, is the gem of the piece, holding up best to repeated listening and containing all the key elements of Vida Cain. The pairing of frontman Josh Johnstone (Bordello, The Happy Endings) and Debaser Studio whiz Andy Lawson seems to have paid off in terms of big riff guitar sounds that don’t sacrifice the vocals and impeccable tightness. These songs scream off the EP and know exactly how and when to stop.
_ SABIAN WILDE X-Press – First on the street, Wednesdays
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X-Press – First on the street, Wednesdays
BURLESQUE IN EXCESS Fetish model and burlesque dancer Masuimi Max performs as part of the inaugural West Coast Lowdown this weekend. See her on Saturday, February 16 at The Civic Hotel with Fireballs, Bloody Hollys, Kuillotines, and Creature, and Sunday, February 17, at The Newport Hotel with Fireballs, Rocket to Memphis, Shot Down in Sugartown, and many more. Head to westcoastlowdown.com.au for tickets. Considering her career has taken her to almost every corner of the globe, it’s surprising that model and dancer Masuimi Max is about to embark on a journey to a country she’s never been to before: Australia. “This is gonna be my first time,” she admits, sounding a little contrite. “And I’m very excited because I’ve always wanted to come.” Is that a double entendre? It’s hard to tell. Since she began modelling, Max has been at the forefront of the mainstreaming of burlesque and fetish culture, helping to move it from an interstitial niche to a more or less accepted part of the live entertainment spectrum - if you’ve any doubts about that, take a look at the preponderance of burlesque shows in this year’s Fringe World. Her exotic looks - a mix of Korean and German heritage - helped her stand out from the pack, from her first modelling gigs at the age of 18 to her position now as one of the most recognisable alternative models in the world. For Max, who has carried an obsession with ‘50s bump ‘n’ grind culture for as long as she can remember, it’s not a question of why the form is seeing a resurgence, so much as why it dropped off our radar in the first place. “It used to be so popular,” she says. “And I don’t know why it died out. After being reintroduced to the public they realised how much fun it was. And it’s sexy but it’s innocent - you can watch it with your significant other and not, you know, get in trouble!” Trouble is, of course, relative. When asked what she’ll be performing on her Australian sojourn, which will see her share the stage with Melbourne punkabilly legends, Fireballs, she responds, “I’m going to be doing my secretary act, where I’m blindfolded and tied to a chair. I’m also doing my booty twirl act, where I twirl butt tassels - assels!” It’s all very naughty and kinky, and it skates right up to the edge of good taste without quite crossing over - although it does teeter on the line in eight-inch spike heels. Yet there’s more to Max than meets the eye; not just a (remarkably) pretty face, she’s a shrewd businesswoman, having learned early on that she needed to take control of her own assets and image. “Yes, you have to!” she asserts. “And you also have to be open to change. I don’t know... I tried to have people help run the site before, and I was never happy with it. They either took too long or they took my site from me - that being the more drastic thing that’s happened. Yeah, if you run it yourself it gets done right away, and you’re portraying yourself to the public as you want to be seen.” _TRAVIS JOHNSON
www.xpressmag.com.au
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GHOST STORIES
I May Live On As A Ghost, the new exhibition by UK artist Alex McIver, is on now until Sunday, February 24 at Paper Mountain. Presented as part of Fringe World, this intriguing collection fuses narrative, object, and representation by using a variety of media designed to make the observer question whether what they are seeing is real or an illusion. Further information can be found at papermountain.com.au
SHINE ON YOU CRAZY DIAMONDS
Shine, the Central Institute of Technology’s annual grad show, is on now at Gallery Central until Saturday, March 2. Featuring the best works from the brightest students across a wide spectrum of disciplines, including photography, fashion, design, and sculpture, this represents a perfect opportunity to see tomorrow’s leading artistic lights today. Head Parentheses Records presents The Cinematic to gallerycentral.com.au for details. Scores II at the PS Art Space in Fremantle on Saturday, February 16. A captivating combination of live musical performance and iconic films from the dawn of cinema, this project sees a number of diverse musical groups composing and performing Direct from the Big Apple comes the awardlive scores for five silent, black and white films, winning Trixie Little and the Evil Hate Monkey including such classics as Nanook of the North, with their show, Flipping and Stripping. Combinging Battleship Potemkin, and Le Voyage dans La Lune. Music trapeze, striptease, burlesque, boylesque, and a aficionados and cineastes will find this an unmissable monkey in a tutu, this promises to be one of the treat. fringeworld.com.au is the place to go for tickets. must-see events at this year’s Fringe World. It’s on like Donkey Kong at De Parel Spiegeltent until Tuesday, February 19, and fringeworld.com.au is your destination to book tickets.
MUSIC AND MOVIES
SOFTLY, SOFTLY, CATCHEE MONKEY
Trixie and Monkey
MONTHLY MIRTH
Continuing their monthly stand-up comedy showcase, HaHas at Ya Ya’s, tonight, Wednesday February 13, Ya Ya’s plays host to Nick Sun, a comedian who has been described as ‘unhinged,’ ‘offensive,’ ‘nihilistic,’ and ‘selfdestructive’ - you know that’s got to be worth a look. Also rocking the mic will be Steele Saunders, Jack Tandy, Colin Ebsworth, and Sean Conway.
Nick Sun
The Sweeney
THE SWEENEY Nicked Directed by Nick Love Starring Ray Winstone, Ben Drew, Hayley Atwell, Damian Lewis, Steven Mackintosh, Paul Anderson
This modern update of the venerable and hugely influential British cop show from the ‘70s is essentially a giant collection of clichés that have been polished Nanook of the North to a glossy sheen. That doesn’t mean it’s not enjoyable, though, but it’s certainly not as good as it could have been. The mighty Ray Winstone is Detective Celebrate the history of entertainment in Western Australia at The Museum of Performing Arts with Inspector Jack Regan, the toughest cop in London’s Caught in the Act, an exhibition that looks at live elite Flying Squad, who take down armed robbers performance during the great gold rush of the late and violent offenders with extreme - and extremely brutal - prejudice. Ben Drew - better known as rapper 19th and early 20th centuries. Plan B - is his partner and protégé, George Carter. Painting a vivid picture of Together they... well, in all honesty, the plot doesn’t a time when plays and really matter. They spend a good chunk of the movie concerts were mounted kicking in heads while snarling about slags, manors in shotgun shacks and and villains, and it’s hugely entertaining. muslin under the searing That’s not the whole movie though, which Au s t ra l i a n s u n , a n d is a shame. The film is far too exposition-heavy and drunken miners and spends a lot of time setting up relationships and violent bushrangers rivalries that are never fully explored. In fact, it feels were constant threats, like a pilot to a series rather than a self-contained this is an endlessly film - at the very least, they were crossing their fascinating look at an fingers for a sequel. Regan is being investigated by often-overlooked part Internal Affairs Inspector Lewis (Steven Mackintosh), of our artistic heritage. who has it in for Regan for a number of reasons, The exhibition runs until not the least of which is the fact that he’s having Tuesday, April 30. Go to an affair with Mackintosh’s estranged wife, Nancy hismajestystheatre.com.au for Nellie Stewart (Hayley Atwell), also a member of the squad. Carter more information.
ALL THAT GLITTERS
wants a promotion, but his loyalty to Regan, whose ‘by any means necessary’ tactics raises the ire of their superiors, puts him at a disadvantage. It’s all perfectly serviceable character dressing, but it’s largely wasted in what should be a brisk action thriller. (Also, far too much time is spent on Regan’s affair - three Winstone sex scenes is four too many). It also doesn’t help matters that director Nick Love shamelessly cribs from far better films in his desire to make a gritty, modern, police procedural. The Sweeney might have been a decent film, but it was never going to be as good as Michael Mann’s Heat, and Love swipes so much from that film that it beggars belief - there’s a daylight shootout in Trafalgar Square that’s so similar to one of Heat’s iconic scenes that you almost expect Al Pacino to come jogging around the corner with an assault rifle at any second. For all that, when it’s firing on all cylinders, The Sweeney is a lot of fun. Winstone is a hugely charismatic figure, and it’s so much fun watching him (literally) taking an axe handle to the knees of London’s criminal element. Drew acquits himself well, bringing some street edge to the role and holding his own in Winstone’s effortlessly intimidating presence, and Love does manage to inject the proceedings with a healthy dose of grit and a nice line in workaday cynicism. It’s all chrome and polish on an engineless car, though. With a more robust narrative framework, it could have been great; as it stands, it’s passably entertaining. _ TRAVIS JOHNSON
WEST OF MEMPHIS ...And Justice For All
Directed by Amy Berg Starring Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin, Jessie Misskelley, Henry Rollins, Eddie Vedder, Peter Jackson
Ray Winstone
RAY WINSTONE Sweeney Tough
He’s built his career playing a wide range of hardnut skull-crackers, in films such as Scum, Sexy Beast, The Proposition and The Departed, but in conversation British actor Ray Winstone is utterly disarming. He’s warm, self-deprecating, and his London accent is just as thick as you expect it to be. He’s more teddy bear than terror, but in his new film, The Sweeney, he still manages to essay the role of iconic tough cop Jack Regan with a perfect combination of menace and charm. From the second he was offered the role, Winstone was eager to pursue the project.” It was such an iconic programme,” he says of the ‘70s series that inspired the film. “It really changed the face of British TV, you know? Before that, it was Dixon Of Dock Green and Softly, Softly. Those were really good shows in their own right, but it was all a bit chappy, you know? This was working class girt - realism, if you like, for the time - and it captured the imagination of a nation.” However, even the formidable Winstone, who once hit Kathy Burke so hard that Gary Oldman never directed another film, admits to having some misgivings. “I thought, ‘What am I doing? Iconic actors - John Thaw, Dennis Waterman; iconic show - we were on belting for nothing, here. We’re gonna get smashed to pieces, you know? ‘Cos we can’t do what they done’. So I had to sit down and have a little rethink, and the answer is, ‘Well, you’re not playing them, you’re 20
not copying them, you’re making your own film, you’re bringing your own stuff to it’.” That meant trying to get a handle on what set his Regan apart from the original character, played by Thaw. “When I was reading Regan,” he tells us, “I kind of come to the conclusion that he’s not the man you want to sit down and have dinner with, you know? It was a question of actually finding some vulnerability in there, you know? So when you start off, you dislike him because he’s a brutal man in the way he goes about his business, but then you see a vulnerable side that draws you in. “So that’s what I was really concentrating on; it would have been very easy to just play Regan straight down the middle, smashing things up, a brute of a man.” Eagle-eyed viewers will also notice that Winstone is credited as an executive producer on the film. A lot of actors tend to dabble behind the camera in various roles - for one thing it makes it easier to make sure you get offered the kind of roles you want to play - but when asked what role he played in the production, he has a surprising answer. “Nothing!” he chortles. “Not a carrot! It’s a terminology, isn’t it? You put your name to something. I guess I did in a way, but really it’s gotta go down to all the people, the producers and director, who put this together, the package, you know? What I done was a very small thing. I told them not to put my name on there, I said ‘I’m not an executive producer, I’m an actor; it’s what I do.’ but they put it on there anyway, so it’s alright.” _ TRAVIS JOHNSON
There’s a good chance that you’re already familiar with the plight of the West Memphis Three, probably through the Paradise Lost documentary trilogy by Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky. Even so, this new doco feature on their arrest, imprisonment, and eventual release is, if anything, even more affecting. For those who came in late, Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin, and Jessie Misskelley were teenagers when they were charged with the murders of three children in the rural town of West Memphis in 1993. They were weird kids who wore black and listened to heavy metal, and they looked like a good fit for the crime, if viewed through the lens of the so-called ‘Satanic Panic’ that gripped the US at the time. Baldwin and Misskelley got life, while Echols was given the death sentence. The film follows the efforts of their supporters - including celebrities such as Eddie Vedder, Henry Rollins, and Peter Jackson - to prove their innocence, as well documenting the deadly cocktail of incompetence, apathy, and official corruption that resulted in their conviction in the first place. Director Amy Berg has handled dark and uncomfortable subject matter before, most notably in Deliver Us From Evil, her 2006 investigation of a paedophile Catholic priest. An astute and insightful filmmaker, Berg presents the elements of the story with a cool matter-of-factness which makes the horror and injustice of the situation even more unsettling. Berg eschews Michael Moore shock tactics, instead relying on interviews and archival footage to move the narrative along. Emotions may run high in some of her subjects the families of the murdered children, the tireless supporters of the Three - but Berg’s camera is largely inert and unjudging. By avoiding hyperbole and sensationalism, the hard, irrefutable fact that these boys lost half their lives to political expediency and blind prejudice settles over the viewer like a cold sweat, only countered by the heat of righteous anger that the film generates in the pit of the stomach. Indeed, it’s a difficult film to parse, emotionally speaking. Horror competes with
Damien Echols anger, and triumph when the Three are released is leavened by disgust at the way the State of Arkansas engineered it so as to leave them no legal recourse against the government that served them so poorly. Over it all hangs a pall of extreme melancholy, sadness and loss. There are scenes, such as when Baldwin, fresh out of prison, admits he’s never even owned a piece of luggage before, nor tasted cheese in a salad, that punch low and hard. More than a good film, West of Memphis is an important one. Functioning both as an extremely personal narrative and a searing indictment of institutional corruption, it’s a stark, chilling, and ultimately quite moving account of horror compounded by incompetence and lies. It is, quite simply, unmissable. _TRAVIS JOHNSON X-Press – First on the street, Wednesdays
SOFT SOFT LOUD Steve Newcombe
Soft Soft Loud – The Antihero Suite is presented as part of the Perth International Arts Festival on February 14 at the Fremantle Arts Centre. Tickets are available by visiting the PIAF website perthfestival.com.au. The antihero is one of the most popular characters in Western storytelling. We crave him in TV shows (the ABC’s Rake is a sublime example), we immortalise him in literature (think Jay Gatsby, Alex DeLarge, or even Severus Snape), and we lust after his rise and ultimate fall in reality (someone like Al Capone). This man is the symbol of the our struggling conscience – he is not noble, he makes choices based on lust rather than morality. Soft Soft Loud – The Antihero Suite is a chance for this character to be immortalised once more. Through intimate programming by Mathew Hoy and James Ledger, and performances from by Paul Dean, Steve Newcombe, WA baritone James Clayton, the story of this man will come to life. At the heart of this performance is Steve Newcombe’s work The Antihero Suite, which explores these notions using the childlike and somewhat dystopian sound of the toy piano. Throughout this work the toy piano fights the rest of the ensemble, taking on a character of its own. “The toy piano, compared to everything else in the ensemble, it stands out – it definitely doesn’t blend,” says Newcombe. “It’s really put on a pedestal in a way. I guess, when I’m looking at it, the toy piano is the antihero in my work.” According to Newcombe, however, it was pure chance that bought him to this instrument. “I was in New York for two years not so long ago, and I was walking at an antique fair, and I just spotted this brown piano-looking thing. So I went to make the guy an offer, and the only money I had in my wallet was $26. He was trying to sell it for $40 but I talked him down...So I walked away with this instrument not even knowing anything about it.” In order to achieve this dystopian relationship, Newcombe worked with Artistic Director Hoy in researching the way heroes and villains had been traditionally portrayed in movies. These themes were used as the inspiration for the piece. “Hoy did some research on movie themes, and used them as the inspiration for this piece... I haven’t used them in a direct way, but there’s a real
Soft Soft Loud thread between them all and I’ve sort of hinted at them.” explains Newcombe. Flanking Newcombe’s suite will be pieces from controversial antihero himself Thomas Adès, whose Living Toys captures the dream-adventures of a child hero, and Frankenstein!!! by Heinz Karl Gruber. In sticking with the theme, the latter of these two pieces involves performances from the toy clarinet, saxophone and trumpet, as well as a plastic lasso, Soft Soft Loud is somewhat curiously programmed on Valentine’s Day. If you’re keen to avoid another of our favourite tropes – the starcrossed lover – then hanging out with the antihero would be the place to do it. _LEAH BLANKENDAAL
Miss Bala
MISS BALA
Beauty Scream Directed by Gerardo Naranjo Starring Stephanie Sigman, Noe Hernandez, Lakshmi Picazo, James Russo, Jose Yenque, Miguel Couturier.
is achingly vulnerable, but Sigman manages to let us see the core of strength within. For much of the film the character lacks agency, but that’s kind of the point; to everyone around her, from the police, to the cartel, to the pageant organisers, she is chattel. Laura has value as a person only to her immediate family; as far as the rest of the world is concerned, she’s merchandise. She spends much of the film being dragged around and told what to do, and it’s a credit to Sigman’s performance that, even as her character is acquiesces to whatever authority figure has sway over her at any given time, we’re still able to grasp her humanity and individual personality, even when it is being deliberately stripped from her. Hernandez’s Lino, on the other hand, remains a disquieting figure because of his deliberate opacity. For much of the film, his motives are obscured. He shows kindness to Laura, and sometimes even something approximating affection, but there’s an aura of no-nonsense violence to him that means his every appearance is fraught with tension, and it’s only gradually, and rather obliquely, that his true intentions and priorities are revealed. It’s the interplay between these two characters that is the emotional heart of the film, preventing it from being a mere polemic. Uncompromising, unflattering, and bereft of easy answers, Miss Bala dramatises the Mexican drug war without ever glamourising it. Gritty and unsentimental, it’s definitely worth checking out.
Mexican writer/director Gerardo Naranjo examines the violence and corruption of the border states drug war from an unusual angle in this taut, thoughtful thriller, which is loosely based on a true story. In Baja California, the poor but beautiful Laura Guerrero (Stephanie Sigman) sees the Miss Baja Beauty Pageant as a way of improving her lot in life. Unfortunately for her, she is caught up in a gang hit at a nightclub along with her friend and fellow aspiring model, Suzu (Lakshmi Picazo). This brings her into the orbit of the dangerous and unpredictable drug lord, Lino (Noe Hernandez), who seems to take a liking to her. It isn’t long before Laura realises she is being used as a pawn in a strike against a Mexican Army officer, General Duarte (Miguel Couturier). Naranjo lets his story play out in an unsentimental, almost documentary-like style. Although there are flashes of violence that occasionally verge on being over the top, his matter-of-fact style keeps the proceedings grounded in reality. We’re taken into a world where the threat of violence is always present, and the war between the state and the cartels _TRAVIS JOHNSON might spill out onto the street at any moment, but Naranjo highlights the ugly banality of the situation, Miss Bala screens as part of the Lotterywest Festival rather than succumbing to its dangerous glamour. The film is anchored by solid, believable Films season at Joondalup Pines from February 19performances from Sigman and Hernandez. Laura 24. For more details, head to perthfestival.com.au. www.xpressmag.com.au
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MUSIC VISUAL ARTS Traversing Antarctica: Western Australian Maritime Museum, Fremantle A rare collection of artefacts from the 1911-1914 Australasian Antarctic Expedition, famously led by Sir Douglas Mawson. Runs ’til Feb 23.
SHORT AND SWEET Perth Film News
Buff is screening tonight, Wednesday February 13, at Movies By Burswood Curtin, along with The French Connection, then at FTI’s Bohemia Outdoor Cinema along with The Manuscript on Saturday, February 16 - fti.asn.au is your destination. The Disappearance is screening this Sunday, February 17, at Banks Reserve as part of The City Of Vincent Film Project, along with Blue Drag, Leederville, and Red Dog. Vincent.wa.gov. au has further information. Since it first screened at the closing night of the 2012 Revelation Film Festival, Gavin Bond and Ian Abercromby’s Buff has gained a life of it’s own. The affectionate, hour-long look at the inner lives of film geeks was born out of Bond’s own obsession with cinema, a peccadillo that has seen him work on the Access 31 film show Flicktease for a good decade, as well work as a film critic for The Sunday Times. “We made Flicktease for 10 years,” Bond explains. “I got to meet a lot of film reviewers and filmmakers, film enthusiasts who came on the show, and one of my stock questions was ‘What’s you favourite movie of all time?’ and I was always fascinated by their answers; they were never predictable. In the back of my mind I thought, ‘That’d make a good, fun doco.’ So when the show folded and David and Margaret were in town for Revelation last year, that was the impetus to say now or never.” David and Margaret are, of course, David Stratton and Margaret Pomeranz, easily Australia’s most recognisable and beloved film critics, who are both interviewed in Bond and Abercromby’s film.
David Stratton Other interview subjects include Quickflix’s Simon Miraudo, UWA’s Tristan Fidler, Mark Naglazas of The West Australian, and Revelation curator and film academic at large Jack Sargeant. “I wanted it to be a mix,” Bond tells us. “I didn’t want it to be a film about film geeks, I didn’t want it to be a film with a pretentious, intellectual agenda; I wanted a mix. I wanted people to come on who were going to be passionate and have a bit of personality, and I wanted a mix of age and gender as well.” Also screening this weekend are three short films that received funding from the 2012 City of Vincent Film Project. Each year, the Vincent Council, in conjunction with the Film and Television Institute, provides a number of local filmmakers with funding and equipment in order to create films that reflect the cultural and social concerns of the community. Back in May of 2012, Burleigh Smith, Rubin Pracas, and Ali Winter were each earmarked for funding on the strength of their respective proposals for the romantic comedy, Blue Drag; the drama, Leederville; and the documentary, The Disappearance. Now with all three short films completed, they’ll be unveiled to the public on Sunday, February 17, at Banks Reserve. It’s Winter’s film that seems the most intriguing. What began as profile of local eccentric Alex the Birdman, a regular sight on the Perth streets, took a turn for the sinister when his constant companion, Cheeky the Corella, went missing during filming. _TRAVIS JOHNSON
Picturing New York: Photographs From The Museum Of Modern Art: Art Gallery Of WA, Northbridge Depicting the iconic New York that captivates the world’s imagination and the idiosyncratic details that define New Yorkers’ sense of home, this exhibition from MoMA’s extraordinary photography collection celebrates the city in all its vitality, ambition and beauty. Made by approximately 90 artists responding to the city as well as professionals on assignment, including Henri Cartier-Bresson, Walker Evans, Lewis Hine, Helen Levitt, Cindy Sherman, Alfred Stieglitz, and Weegee. Runs ‘til May 12. Made To Remember: Ar t G a l l e r y O f WA , Northbridge Made To Remember is a beautifully considered display of significant Indigenous objects from the State Art Collection. With a diverse selection of works including glass and ceramic objects, textiles and clothing, as well as examples of traditional sculpture, Made to Remember encourages dialogue about the place of an object not only in Indigenous art and culture, but in the broader Australian context. Runs ‘til Jun 30.
David Lynch Presents Chrysta Bell: Chevron Festival Gardens, Perth Performance Feb 14. Bookings via Ticketek. Soft Soft Loud: The Antihero Suite: Fremantle Arts Centre, Fremantle Performance Feb 14. Bookings via fac.org.au. Celtic Thunder: Perth Arena, Perth Performance Feb 16. Bookings via Ticketek. Cliff Richards: Sandalford Estate, Swan Valley Performance Feb 23. Bookings via sandalford.com. Laurie Anderson & Kronos Quartet: Perth Concert Hall, Perth Performance Feb 27. Bookings via Ticketek. Western Australian Police Pipe Band, The Quarry Amphitheatre Performance March 13. Tickets via Ticketmaster
FESTIVALS Summer Nights: Blue Room Theatre, Perth Over the last four years The Blue Room Theatre’s Summer Nights has developed as a significant program of eclectic performance, creative development of new work and contemporary theatre experiences. In 2013 Summer Nights will progress once more and feature the premium theatre and performance offerings of the Fringe World, spread across The Blue Room Theatre and PICA performance spaces. Run Jan 25Feb 24. Bookings through blueroom.org.au. Perth Festival: numerous locations across Perth Bringing together the best in visual arts, theatre, dance, classic and contemporary music, films, opera and more, the Perth Festival is an all encompassing celebration of art. Runs Feb 7-Mar 2.
Dump by Paul Caporn - Sculpture By The Sea Sculpture By The Sea: Cottelsoe Beach, Perth Over 70 local, interstate and international artists will transform Perth’s most popular beach into a stunning sculpture park overlooking the Indian Ocean with some of the most glorious sunsets of any major city in the world. Runs from Mar 8 - Mar 24. Entry is free.
Fringe World Festival: numerous locations across Perth and surrounding suburbs Perth’s Fringe World Festival is set to massively entertain in 2013. Expanding on the success of the first full Fringe Festival in 2012, Perth will be brought to life over four jam-packed weeks with more than 300 events taking place in more than 50 traditional and nontraditional venues throughout the City of Perth and beyond. Runs Jan 25-Feb 24. Bookings through fringeworld.com.au. Summerset Arts Festival: City Of Stirling Now in its fifth year the City of Stirling’s premier cultural celebration the Summerset Arts Festival returns for three weeks in February 2013. Jam packed with over 22 free or low cost events, the community can look forward to a mix of art exhibitions, live comedy, kids events, theatrical shows and live music. Runs Feb 6-23.
THEATRE/DANCE/ PERFORMANCE
Fremantle Street Arts Festival: City of Fremantle The streets of Fremantle come alive over the Easter weekend with a range of performances spread over Ballet At The Quarry: Quarry Amphitheatre, Floreat 10 stages, including busking, street theatre, comedy, Bring a picnic, relax under a starry sky and be circus acts, cabaret, and more. Runs from Mar 30 immersed in three superbly choreographed works Apr 1. from around the globe as part of the 20th anniversary of Ballet At The Quarry. Showcasing two world FolkWorld Fairbridge Festival: Fairbridge Village premieres, Yes, I’ll Move For You from Cass Mortimer A friendly celebration of folk, roots, blues, acoustic, Eipper and Jubilaté from Daniel Roberts, and by Celtic, a capella and world music in a traffic-free, selfthe great Glen Tetley the West Australian premiere contained bushland site at Fairbridge Village. Three of a modern Everest, Voluntaries, this special season days of the best folk music that Australia and the includes the music of Poulenc, Mozart and the world has to offer, including Kristina Olsen, Tinpan American band, Beirut. Runs Feb 8-Mar 2. Bookings Orange, and Pugsley Buzzard. It runs Apr 26 -Apr 28. via perthfestival.com.au. Bookings through folkworldfestival.com.au
Philip Glass Complete Piano Etudes: Perth Concert Hall, Perth Performance Feb 16. Bookings via Ticketek.
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X-Press – First on the street, Wednesdays
Joe Pernice and Norman Blake
Dead Can Dance
NORMAN BLAKE & JOE DEAD CAN DANCE Perth Concert Hall PERNICE Saturday, February 9, 2013 Chevron Festival Gardens Friday, February 8, 2013 Norman Blake and Joe Pernice may be from different parts of the world originally, but as they have both married Canadian lasses they are now almost neighbours. The fledgling relationship finds the pair clearly getting to know each other better with every day. They surprise by each other, and joke around as if they have just started their first day of class together. While the banter and setlist may appear to be off the cuff, the harmonies are anything but. On their own, each singer is adored and when you put the two of them together the harmonies are nothing short of spectacular. Tunes were taken from Blake’s outfits Jonny and Teenage Fanclub, while Pernice offered songs from The Pernice Brothers. Having familiarised themselves with each other’s songs they have also written tunes together under the band name The New Mendicants and will be releasing an album later shortly. Of the new songs Sarasota stood out, as did the sombre Out Of The Lime. Everything Flows was jaw dropping in its beauty when stripped back to its acoustic roots, although Pernice was not to be outdone with his tune written in the Spunk Record boss’s house Cronulla Breakdown. In typical humble fashion the duo rounded things out with a tribute to Grant McClennan by playing Finding You, one of his least discovered gems. A simple wave and Blake and Pernice were off to sign autographs and sell CDs after giving the crowd a lesson in the power of the pop song.
To say that this was a highly anticipated concert is the very definition of understatement. There’s an aura of mystery around Dead Can Dance, and their long hiatus and infrequent touring schedule meant that tickets were highly sought after - after all, it’s been 20 years between drinks for Australian audiences, and almost as long since we got a new album. Fittingly, after an enjoyable but oddly self-deprecating solo opening performance by Dead Can Dance percussionist David Kuckhermann, Lisa Gerrard, Brendan Perry, and company started off their set with Children of the Sun, a track from their latest album, Anastasis. In terms of genre, Dead Can Dance are easy to broadly define, but very difficult to pin to a specific niche. The goth scene claimed them decades ago, but they’ve always been a bit uncomfortable with that label. There’s Celtic-influenced folk here, and darkwave, ambient, opera, and world music - Anastasis’s Mediterranean rhythms are unmistakeable. It’s all held together by Perry’s impeccable and inventive musical direction and Gerrard’s soaring, sweeping, almost otherwordly vocals. Not a moment or a movement went unappreciated by the rapt crowd, although the haunting The Host of Seraphim certainly got the most emotional reception. Hopefully it won’t be another two decades before we get to experience this magic again.
_CHRIS HAVERCROFT
_TRAVIS JOHNSON
MACEO PARKER
Chevron Festival Gardens Thursday, February 7, 2013 Perth’s finest culture connoisseurs were out in force for a special pre-PIAF celebration at the Chevron Festival Gardens on the eve of the Perth International Arts Festival’s official launch. The crowd sampled the impressive range of food and beverages on offer before taking in an electrifying performance by funk legend Maceo Parker.
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Carolyn, Rio
Kate, Nick
Charlie, Kate, Ashleigh
Trinity, Sam
Claire, Ben
Emma, Chris, Alice
John, Peter 23
WELL MANNERED: ONLINE SAVVY NAME
EMILY GREENWOOD
OWNER OF
MANNER BORN
AGE
22
INDUSTRY
3. What didn’t you get out of your courses that you were hoping to? With Communications I thought I’d immediately be able to relate my units to the career I wanted at the end, which wasn’t the case. I thought I would really get into all my units, but I struggled to put time into the units I wasn’t enjoying.
ONLINE/FASHION
4. How has your study helped you in your professional career or industry so far? A semester in Communications hasn’t contributed to the running of Manner Born so far, however there are some aspects of Psychology that have influenced the way I’ve marketed or advertised something. A couple of the business units I studied have been the biggest help in the bookkeeping side of things. The biggest help has been the hands on experience I gained working in retail, I learnt a lot about buying, ordering and the running of accounts. Manner Born is still young, and I’m learning a lot of things as I go! I’ve had a lot of help from people around me too.
COURSE STUDIED Started at ECU doing Communications, then Criminal Psychology. Currently at Curtin doing Psychology/Business. 1. You used to work in retail and spent a bit of time online shopping. Is this how you came up with the concept for Manner Born? Definitely! I met my original partner in crime for Manner Born, Nicole, at a previous job. We became friends pretty much instantly and we spent every moment emailing, texting and facebooking online sites we loved and clothing we’d seen online. We worked on setting up another site together and joked about how it was something we should do. Well, that joke became pretty serious and we started planning a site of our own. There were so many elements we loved about online shopping that we worked to incorporate in the site, some of which I’m still working on. Nic is working with something different now, so the concept for Manner Born is changing a little bit as it’s just me! I’m constantly working on new ideas and concepts for the site.
5. What direction do you see the site going in? Do you have plans to expand? Definitely expand! My next step is to look into getting stock on the site that isn’t widely available in Australia and 2. What were the best and worst aspects of the increasing the level of stock I carry. The good thing about being young is that I am essentially a part of the courses you studied? After I left school I was unsure about which demographic I sell to, so I’m starting to pick up on the direction I wanted to head in, so I took a year off to things my demographic wants to see more of online. work in retail. I loved the industry, and decided to start Hopefully I can keep finding pieces girls love! There a Communications degree. I wanted to head into brand management or possibly PR at the end of my course. When I started I had the sudden realisation that the units wouldn’t relate to or involve fashion – I lasted a semester and called it quits. I’ve had a long-standing love affair and interest in psychology, so I decided to forget the retail/fashion industry and start that degree. I’ve loved it, all the units engage the students and from the start you’re thrown into the deep end. Even though I won’t end up as a psychologist I can still use everything I’ve learnt from the units, such as consumer behaviours. I also started throwing in some business units, which I’ve used in relation to Manner Born and its daily running.
GET CREATIVE @ WCIT
If you have a passion for all things digital, or like the idea of writing your own computer games or developing web pages, check out West Coast Institute’s Academy of Digital Technologies (ADT), which also has a range of sensational short course starting mid-March. These guys hold a reputation for delivering high quality training and producing award-winning graduates in a range of IT industries and are at the forefront of digital media, particularly animation, 3D modelling, and in the new field of augmented reality and CGI. Students are provided with a realistic learning environment with the use of current industry software, motion capture and an animation studio. Check out ADT’s range of courses at adt.wcit. wa.edu.au and see below for their soon to start short courses.
Intro to 2D Animation in Flash (6 weeks) Tuesdays 6.30 – 9.30pm Cost: $484 Digital Art using Photoshop (6 weeks) Tuesdays 6.30 – 9.30pm Cost: $473
are a lot of areas on the site I’d like to build on, such as shoes and accessories. Hopefully in the not too distant future I’ll also be able to dip my hands into menswear. I’d love to open a ‘brother’ site to Manner Born! Ever since the site opened I’ve been questioned about when there will be men’s stuff available (probably because I have two brothers close to my age!). I definitely think there is an opening there. 9. What advice would you give to year 12s finishing school who’d like to create an online shopping website or head down the direction you have taken? Don’t rush into things too quickly. Take time to work in retail for a while. Get to know customers and how the industry works – this is where I learnt the most valuable lessons and made some of my greatest friends/Manner Born contributors. Be confident with your ideas, if you’re unsure it will be easy for you to burn out. Take time to build on them and do your research! Starting your own business will take a lot of time and hard work, be prepared for hiccups and bumps in the road – learn from them and it will all pay off!
UWA TOP CHOICE To go to uni in Melbourne or Perth? – that was the question for WA’s 2012 top high school student, 17 year-old Katie Dyer, who last year scored the highest possible university admission rank (ATAR) – an amazing 99.95. This giant result won her the Beazley Medal for the top score in the WA Certificate of Education exams but also left her with a tough decision. Her older brother studies Science at Melbourne University while her older sister is doing Law (Honours) at The University of Western Australia. In the end, Dyer chose UWA’s Bachelor of Philosophy (Honours) because of its flexibility. “It’s a really exciting course,” Katie explains. “You have the freedom to choose from a range of subjects from different areas and the opportunity to meet international research leaders visiting UWA.” While under taking her philosophy degree, Dyer will also study mathematics, chemistry,
physics and ancient history, with her interest in the latter being recently sparked by a family holiday to Rome. “I also hope to get involved in tennis again as I didn’t have the chance to play much while I was at school. And as I play the cello, I’d love to join an orchestra.” During the four-year course, Dyer and her class-mates will be expected to develop research, teamwork and communication skills. They will work on collaborative and interdisciplinary research projects, work closely with a research mentor, present their research, develop a web presence for their research and, on top of all that, spend some time studying overseas. Classes at UWA start soon, but in the meantime, Dyer has an urgent assignment: to go shopping and find some decent clothes to wear to uni. “I haven’t got that many clothes,” she says. “At school we had a uniform!”
Intensive Screen Performance (8 weeks) Wednesdays 6.30 – 9.30pm Cost: $430 Intro to Art & Drawing (6 weeks) Wednesdays 6.30 – 9.30pm Cost: $484
Intro to 3D Modelling (6 weeks) Wednesdays 6.30 – 9.30pm SHORT COURSES COMMENCING MARCH 12/13: Cost: $473 Intro Scriptwriting (6 weeks) Tuesdays 6.30 – 9.30pm Cost: $484
Intro to VFX using After Effects (6 weeks) Wednesdays 6.30 – 9.30pm Cost: $473
Katie Dyer with sister Essie in Florence 24
X-Press – First on the street, Wednesdays
SOUND SCORE
Murdoch Sound Student Gets Signed
Murdoch University Sound (B Media) student Daniel Cavalli (aka Makee) has been lucky enough to have a university remix project released by independent music label Hidden Shoal Recordings. The Computer Science graduate, who took Sound units at Murdoch on an elective basis, produced a collaborative remix of San Francisco-based outfit Caseworker’s Hold on to the Road, taking the track’s shoe gazing shuffle to inject it with an infectious groove. Referring to himself as a sample-based electronic producer, Cavalli identifies the tune’s retrogarage sound as his reason for initiating the project. “My process involved listening to the track and chopping up loops of parts I liked and experimenting with effects and other techniques until I found something that sounded good to my ears,” he explains. “I was chuffed that the band liked it and the label wanted to do a release. It’s been a great opportunity to build rapport with an established label, and obviously the exposure that a label release can bring.” Murdoch University Media senior lecturer,
Simon Order, says the Music Technology unit Cavalli undertook was an introduction to learning about computer and musical sound composition, which offers a 50/50 balance between hands on experience and theory. “We try to get students to think theoretically and creatively and respond to their environment to make them think about how we respond to sound as human beings,” Order explains. “Prospective students often ask how the course is made up and are keen to know that they won’t just receive skills education but also theory and practice.” Murdoch’s degree in Sound, now in its third year of being offered, has proven very popular and uses state of the art facilities such as a well-equipped lab and two recording studios - one large enough to fit an orchestra. Order says students work on small projects, such as designing one sound for a computer game, to entire sound tracks for film and that a large range of careers are associated with it. “Jobs in film and TV, in recording studios or music production, if you’re lucky,” he says.
Daniel Cavalli
VISUALISE THIS New Techy Major at Curtin Never before has the phrase ‘a picture is worth a thousand words’ been more accurate as culture increasingly communicates with digital imagery. Curtin University has announced a unique new major, Visualisation Technologies, developed in response to the growing use of new forms of computer-based applications. The course covers the innovative use of images and interactive technology in a range of applications, such as architecture, design, art, engineering, media communication and gaming. Virtual and augmented experiences, multi-touch interfaces, mobile device views and social networks mean users can see, explore and share relationships,
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experiences and insights in new ways. As a stand-alone or complimentary second major, Visualisation Technologies will help to meet the growing demand for emerging technologysavvy graduates in virtually all disciplines who can understand, manage and communicate using virtual and augmented realities, interactive media and immersive technologies. It’s designed to provide students with the skills and insights in their future professions or creative practice. More info can be found by typing ‘Visualisation Technologies’ into the search bar on the Curtin.edu.au website.
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To say that trance pioneer Judge Jules is an entrepreneur extraordinaire is no stretch of the truth. He currently holds down the tri-careers of lawyer (hence the stage name), radio presenter and producer/DJ. JO CAMPBELL exchanges words with the man who almost single-handedly shaped the Ibiza trance scene with his legendary club night Judgement Sundays, soon to hit Perth. Responding to my questions from a flight 37,000 feet somewhere between London and Australia, Judge Jules (Julius O’Riordan) is expressive in a way that many an artist isn’t - not surprising given his involvement on the other side of the microphone over the past two decades. And that’s not the
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only piece of pie the master of trance tunage has his finger in. “I’ve been travelling a lot recently, on the long haul front having been to Asia, South Africa, the US, and now Australia, in a five-week period. When at home, I’ve been in the studio churning out more remixes and productions, and
during the week I spend a couple of days a week he was responsible for signing seminal acid as a music lawyer too, dealing mainly with dance trance track, Josh Wink’s Higher State of music based clients,” he reels off. Consciousness. Being on the other side of the decks has long been a par t of O’Riordan’s modus operandi, starting with his work in A&R for London’s Manifesto Records in the ‘90s, where
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Judge Jules “I was lucky enough to be given Universal Music’s chequebook at a ver y young age, with the opportunity to set up my own label,” he explains. “Thankfully, their trust in me paid off and what we created, Manifesto Records, had a string of hits, including Higher State. I remember playing it to the CEO of the label and him looking at me like I’d gone mad. It’s not a conventional chart-topping tune, but it did just that.” Another stroke of genius was the inception of Judgement Sundays at Eden Discoteca in ‘99 - the first weekly running club night in Ibiza (for 16 weeks of the summer season) that has without doubt helped shape the UK world of trance and has gone on to be a huge brand. “I was DJing weekly in Ibiza throughout the late ‘90s for four different promoters on rotation and drawing in crowds,” he recalls, “so when the opportunity to team up with a then brand new venue came along, I jumped at the chance to brand a weekly event of my own. Although other DJs like Guetta, Tiesto, Armin, Morillo now have them too, I was the first DJ to take the plunge and launch my own weekly night in Ibiza.”
Now in his mid-40s with two children, O’Riordan still looks like and has the energy of a twenty-something, spending every summer in Ibiza parting with friends and family. “Although some aspects of Ibiza are more corporate than they were ten years ago, with more VIP tables appearing in clubs (not my cup of tea at all), Ibiza remains the world’s outstanding party destination.” “And yes, I do get out clubbing socially quite a bit, largely because during the season in Ibiza every night is a Saturday night, allowing me to go to other global cities to DJ for the weekend, return for Judgement Sundays, and go out socially to the clubs on Mondays and Tuesdays. “The most memorable and irritating moment that stands out is when, as my back was turned during my set, a clubber stole the track that was playing at the time, disappearing back into the masses on a packed dancefloor. The club was left in silence, and when the culprit was eventually found the security gave him a good ‘talking to.’” Having released three albums, one under his Hi-Gate moniker, and two as Judge Jules, O’Riordan is still releasing four to five singles annually and last year signed to Paul Van Dyk’s Vandit Records, having put out three MP3 singles. “Vandit is a legendary label that I’m proud to be associated with. As regards the future of release formats, just about all physical music stores here in the UK have shut down, so it seems like digital is the unavoidable way forward. It’s a shame, because the joy of browsing through record shops, both corporate and independent, was immense. The internet has changed the face of retail in so many different sectors, and sadly those sectors have to adapt or die.” One production that doesn’t seem like carking it anytime soon is his weekly Global Warm Up podcast, which is internationally syndicated to nearly half a million subscribers - a recent addition to his radio/online voice, having presented on then pirate radio Kiss FM in the ‘90s and on BBC 1 for nearly 15 years. O’Riordan admits that each of these platforms have been instrumental in gaining him international notoriety. “Putting a voice and a personality to an otherwise anonymous DJ name gives one a huge step up in the competitive DJ marketplace, although it can be a disadvantage if a listener decides that your voice really bugs them!”
» JUDGE JULES » JUDGEMENT SUNDAYS » SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 17 @ THE COURT
PLAY THAT TUNE
NETSKY RUMOUR
Rumour has it that the promoters bringing out Hospital Records’ Netsky are doing their best to lock in a second date after his show at Villa on Saturday, March 23 sold out in a mere 12 hours last week. This guy has quickly become one of the biggest names in D’n’B, having taken out last year’s UK Drum n Bass Awards’ Best International and Best Liquid DJ titles. A second gig the Thursday before his Villa show is currently rumoured. Watch this space.
STREET CARNIVALÈ
Those crazy cats at Ambar are planning a doozie for their 12th birthday this Friday, February 17. Not content constricting the party to the confines of the club, they’ll also be taking over the side laneway for some good ol’ fashion carnival fun. Face-painting, balloon-sculpting, fairy floss and friendly (hopefully) clowns are just some of the activities that await you. There’ll be a few DJs too - Micah, 4by4, Beatsmack, Benny P, DNGRFLD, Genga, Len Bones, Marko Paulo, Mr B, MR eD, Ol Wright, Oli, Philly Blunt, Qwerk, Tapeheads, Tee EL and Tonic. Tickets are $15 - cheaper from the Ambar App. Happy B-Day Ambar!
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The Potbelleez
HIT THIS
Sydney electro house duo, The Potbelleez are to release a new single this Friday, February 15 ahead of a national tour. Saved In A Bottle has already become to most popular YouTube clip for the band, receiving over 100,000 hits in it’s first three days. Known best for their chart-toppers Hello, From The Music and Don’t Hold Back, these guys will perform live at Capitol on Friday, April 26. Tickets from oztix.com.au.
You’ve had some great success with the label since it’s inception in 2010, giving the world its first taste of Mosca, Girl Unit and Egyptrixx. How much do you get into the actual day to day running of the label and how does Bok Bok get involved? You don’t want to know about that boring stuff! Kinda kills the magic don’t you think?
FUTURE SOUND
Berghain is thus named because it is near the border of Kreuzberg (former West Berlin) and Friedrichshain (former East Berlin). Marcel Dettman has been involved with the club for a long time and is still a resident. The enormous venue, an old power station, was previously home to the legendary club, Ostgut, which closed in 2003, where Dettman was also a resident. “I was there right from the beginning,” he recalls. “I played at the Ostgut from the beginning, which makes it nearly 14 years in total. The German scene has changed in many ways, but there is no reason for nostalgia, as a lot of it is better - and more than anything - sounds better nowadays. Techno is the soundtrack of the future and as long as there are people having a vision, electronic music will always stay interesting.” Dettman lives in the now, looking to the future, while paying due respect to the past. He grew up in Fürstenwalde, half an hour from Berlin, and spent a lot of his teenage years in the city, before finally moving there in 2003. “As genre-defining clubs in Berlin I would definitely consider the Tresor and the E-Werk as the ones that influenced me the most. The DJs who were really laying it down for me were Rok, Dr Motte and Jonzon, just to mention a few.” L i k e m a ny o f u s, D e t t m a n’s f i r s t exposure to dance music was through a friend who gave him a tape. “That was my very first contact, and it had quite an impact on me. From then on it just grew continuously and increasingly into a serious passion for this sound.”
Local purveyors of very danceable disco, Bastian’s Happy Flight are at it again with a new single out ahead of a new EP and national tour. Come For The Early (Stay For The Late) follows the release of their popular track RELATIONSHIPDENIAL, and a busy 2012 that saw them supporting Beni and Snakadaktal, and providing the fun at Beaufort Street Festival, Parklife and Southbound. The single, which was remixed by Brooklyn producer Sweater Beats, is available for a listen on Soundcloud and triple j Unearthed, and will be out on iTunes soon. Join them for their EP launch at Amplifier on Friday, March 8 with Rainy Day Women.
Ol Wright
MARCEL DETTMAN Berlin’s infamous Berghain in Berlin is widely regarded as the best techno club in the world, holding a reputation as being the most notorious and hedonistic. Resident DJ and cornerstone of the club is Marcel Dettman, a man who really is all about the music. ALFRED GORMAN checks in with the globetrotter in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Bastian’s Happy Flight
Netsky
L-Vis 1990
L-VIS 1990 Marcel Dettman From there he was hooked, learning everything he could about mixing and making this music. His music is dark, raw and rough – he’s often labelled minimal techno, but this doesn’t really encompass the full scope of his sound.“I just play the full range of electronic music I like at the moment. It´s a vast field of numerous different styles, so trying to pigeon-hole it does not make much sense to me.” He says his label, MDR, has some exciting new releases on the way, but can’t reveal anything at this point. Though he did mention Answer Code Request as being “a very talented guy you should pay attention to.” In terms of his own productions, Dettman has been busy; he recently released an EP on the Ostgut Ton label, has a track out on 50 Weapons, a track on the new Bleep compilation and music for a ballet production, Masse. Regarding Australia, Dettman has been a regular visitor of late, this coming tour will be his fourth, “I have enjoyed every single visit very much and I remember some really amazing parties in Melbourne, Perth and Sydney. The Australian techno scene is definitely happening and good fun!” It would seem most of his life is taken up with music, but Marcel wouldn’t have it any other way. “I totally love all of it. To me it´s almost impossible to imagine not being involved with music, and I think even if I wasn’t doing what I’m doing now, I would be involved in music in a different way, otherwise it just wouldn’t be me.”
» MARCEL DETTMAN » SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 17 @ SHAPE
GUTTER EDGE
Like-minded London DJs/producers Bok Bok and L-Vis 1990 are coming to town this weekend to perform an extended set at Gilkinsons. Their Night Slugs brand was spawned just a few years ago and has already developed a world-wide following for its fresh approach to bass. JO CAMPBELL asks a few questions of L-Vis 1990.
How much of your sound has been influenced by London’s unique underground heritage? What are your other influences? The London underground club music runs through my veins so it comes out in everything I do. It has massive influence in my production but not in such an overtly direct way. I don’t use ‘two-step beats’ or ‘jungle breaks’, it’s more to do with the way I approach my productions. I use broad brush strokes, I make statements, not whisper and there is always this underlying intensity and aggression, even with my more melodic tracks. My influences as a whole are incredibly broad, ranging from Chicago ghetto house, ‘80s post industrial pop, disco, horror soundtracks, Bowie, Prince and Art of Noise. All of these things fit together in my head and make my sound right now, this will be more apparent with my releases over the next year.
Why did you recently move from your native London to New York and how is the scene different there? I really just needed a change of scenery and a new city to be inspired by. The scene in London has reached a plateau in my opinion, this may seem crazy looking from outside but when you’ve been a part of the scene for so long you really notice it. It just did not feel exciting anymore, I decided to make a change. New York is an amazing city. I always wanted to live here, so Yourself and fellow bass-mutator, Bok Bok, have it seemed like a logical move. The scene here feels like developed your Night Slugs imprint and London it’s in its fledgling days, due of the lack of real accessible/ club of the same night to nearly cult status. good clubs for underground artists. A lot of really What was the main concept behind opening the great warehouse spaces and parties are cropping up club and starting the label and how did it come everywhere and it feels as though something exciting is building. But I didn’t move here for the scene, it was about? Night Slugs started out as a club night almost five more about the energy of a new place. years ago, in those early days we just wanted a home to showcase our new hybrid style. Back then What’s behind the use of your alter ego JM Anthony? we were finding our way stylistically, but we already JM Anthony is just an idea I’m toying with at the had a very distinct sound that combined gutter moment. I’ve got a few tracks I’m working on but I’m just music from around the globe with that real London getting a feel for who he is right now. I have quite a few edge. There weren’t many club nights in London other projects I’m working on under different names that catered for us back then so we had to start our that may or may not see the light of day in 2013 own thing! It was under similar circumstances that we started the label two years down the line. We were sitting on these amazing tracks by the likes of Mosca, Kingdom and Egyptrixx, but we couldn’t » BOK BOK & LVIS 1990 think of a single label that they fitted logically. Night » FRIDAY FEBRUARY 15 @ GILKINSONS Slugs the label was born. X-Press – First on the street, Wednesdays
LUNICE
BAD B(ASS) BOY 2012 was a watershed year for Montreal experimental hip hop/ bass electronica producer Lunice Fermin Pierre II, better known as Lunice. His TNGHT collaboration with Scottish artist Hudson Mohawk smashed speakers the globe over. SIMON HAMPSON finds out more. Like most success stories, there’s a lot more to Lunice than the sudden attention TNGHT’s first EP received. He first started producing music in 2000 after hearing the work of producer 9th Wonder and dabbled with a b-boy period, which has imparted a huge performance side to his show. Since his first show in 2007, he’s met Hudson Mohawk and signed to Lucky Me, which released two of his EPs, toured with Major Lazer and collaborated with Diplo and Azaelia, making an appearance in the video for her song, 212. “I’ve always been the kind of person to self-analyse myself and where I’m at with things to make sure that every step forward is solid,” he explains from his home in Montreal before visiting Australia again this month. It’s his second time over here following rave reviews of his last tour. “I guess I came up with this behaviour in high school. I tried to be a ‘bad boy’ just to catch attention but soon realised it’s really just pointless so I went in my own direction.” The TNGHT collaboration was a happy accident. With a few days off in London, Lunice joined Hudson Mohawk in the studio and they started to lay down some tunes. They wanted to create some stripped back, hip hop inspired, party tunes and after talking about it for a while they finally got together to collaborate. There is a sense of ‘less is more’ in their approach that Lunice sees too. “Exactly! We’re simply making straightforward rap instrumentals but coming from our perspective of how we process these songs.” The tunes may be straight-forward but they captured a massive following last year. These bass-heavy tracks only have to play for a short time
Lunice and whole clubs start dancing with a higher energy. “Minimalism has always been one of the biggest and hardest element to explore to me,” Lunice admits, “and it’s a part of life that, I find, will always intrigue me whether it’s music, cooking or dancing. “The TNGHT project really set a platform for us to present to rappers and vocalist in the mainstream realm. I’ve always felt that team effort has a bigger presence than solo work depending on the situation. But in general it just naturally has a bigger effect because there’s more than one mind in the works.” Lunice had a fairly quiet year for solo releases last year. “I was working on my full-length album but then got a little sidetracked with the TNGHT project. So I just focused on working with vocalists for most of 2012. This year I’m planning to finish my album.” So does Lunice want to reveal who any of those vocalists are? “I got a few projects going at the moment. Been working on some new stuff with the homie Rockie Fresh. But in general, I’d rather just keep it on the low until everyone hears it. I sort of like that whole element of surprise.”
» LUNICE » FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 15 @ GEISHA BAR
Flight Facilities
FLIGHT FACILITIES HIGH FLYERS
Sydney electronic duo Flight Facilities are ready for takeoff at the Perth International Arts Festival this Saturday, February 16. RYAN BUTLER spoke to the band member known simply as Hugo ahead of the show. Flight Facilities are a bit of an enigma. Speaking with one half of the duo, only going by the name Hugo, you get the sense these guys are letting their work do the talking rather than the personality behind the music. The less is more approach of the band’s persona is matched in their output too. Mixed amongst a collection of mix-productions are only four original tracks. Single Clair De Lune came in at number 17 in the latest Triple J Hottest 100 countdown. Hugo reminds us not to take the duo’s minimalist output as a lack of ambition. “I don’t think you can do an album of dance music,” he says. “We do quite poppy things but we feel like certain pieces would be left in the dust by others, one might outshine the others, so rather than letting any of those tracks just become a part of the background noise between the stronger singles, we really want to put them in the light as much as we can. The best example of that would be Clair De Lune. That would never have been a single off an album www.xpressmag.com.au
but now that we’ve released it as single it’s done far better than we thought it ever could’ve. “We’re going to keep releasing single after single because it’s the system that works best for us, we’ll eventually have a collective of work but it’ll already be stuff that’s out, just to package it all up and say ‘This is a fair representation of what our music is’. We’ll be able to do a few more EPs, we should be able to get three new songs out this year, which is really pushing it for us, and there should be hints of a new song out around the time the Perth [International Arts] Festival takes place.” With a name like Flight Facilities it’s no surprise that the duo have been seemingly everywhere in the past year, including two tours in Asia and the US. It was in New York that the duo felt most at home according to Hugo. “We go to so many cities but that one is really in a league of it’s own. There is something on every single night. It’s funny that they call it the city that never sleeps because every bar closes by two but it’s just such a lovely city. Walking through Central Park is like walking through a giant CBD and we had a lot of friends there so it felt like being home and there are just so many good looking girls on the street. “I fell in love on the subway, I was just standing there and I was like ‘My god who are these people?’ It’s like a breeding pool, they’ve found all the best looking people and chucked them on this one island.”
» FLIGHT FACILITIES » FUTURE CLASSIC SHOWCASE » SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 16 @ CHEVRON FESTIVAL GARDENS 29
LEEDERVILLE WEDNESDAYS
WEDNESDAY 13/02 Bar Orient – DJ Ben Renna Boulevard Tavern – Wub Wub Wednesday Capitol – Harlem Wednesdays Captain Stirling – Fiveo Club Red Sea – Cheek Connections – DJs Joby /JJ /Reuben Flying Scotsman – DJ Armee Flying Scotsman (Defectors) – Bodega ft Philly Blunt/Keysey Geisha Bar – Roulette ft Get More/ Mannerism/Fendi/C0rz Leederville Hotel – DJ Slick/DJ Reuben/DJ ViSon Llama Bar – Jo 19 Mustang – DJ Giles Niche Bar – Juicy ft Frankie Button Newport Hotel – Tom Drummond/ Angry Buda Rosemount Hotel – DJ Anton Maz Sovereign Arms – Lockie Shaw The Court – Wicked Wednesday The Grand Central – Jeremy Stark The Velvet Lounge – Face ft Ben Taaffe/Andrew Sinclair/Wilder & Wilder
THURSDAY 14/02 Boulevard Tavern – 151 Thursdays Old Skool R&B Claremont Hotel - Institution Thursdays ft DJs Bryn Jones/ James Thorne Connections - BINGAY Eve Nightclub – Retro Thursdays DJ Tony Allen Flying Scotsman –Gidget Duck/ Muldoon Wing
THE LEEDERVILLE
Leisure Inn – DJ Peta Llama Bar – Danni Boi/ Charlie Bucket/Skooby/Klean Kicks Mullaloo Beach Hotel - DJ John Paul/ DJ Slick Mustang – DJ James MacArthur Newport Hotel – DJ Tahli Jade Paramount –DJ Jordan Rosemount Hotel – Sons Of Rico DJs The Avenue – Jon Ee The Bird – Hip Hop Kara“YO”oke The Craftsman – Fiveo The Deen – Chase The Sun ft DJ Flex/ DJ Nano/ DJ Surge/ DJ Don Migi The Grand Central – Roger Smart The Queens – DJ Riki Toucan – DJ Matty J
FRIDAY 15/02 Admiral Hotel – DJ Beats & MC Amplifier –DJ Jamie Mac Ambar – Ambar Alley Birthday Carnivale ft Micah/4by4/ Beatsmack,/Benny P/DNGRFLD/ Genga/Len Bones/Marko Paulo/ Mr B/MR eD/Ol Wright/Oli/Philly Blunt/Qwerk/Tapeheads/Tee EL/ Tonic Bar One Twenty – DJ Grandmaster Vicious Bar Orient - The Reggae Club ft General Justice/Meld Redi/Sexy Hot Chocolate/The Empressions/ Mumma Trees/Sista Che Boheme Bar - DJ Majiika Boulevard Tavern – Habit@ ft DJ Andyy/(6-8) Sea Level
Flosstradamus
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THE NEWPORT
Brass Monkey - DJ Viktor/DJ James Ess/Green George Brighton Hotel – Peta C5 – Underground ft DJ K-La Capitol – Retro Mash Capitol (Upstairs) – I Love ‘90s Claremont Hotel – The Soul Purpose/Tea King Club Bayview – Fresh Devilles Pad – Razor Jack/Gunner Lee Eastern Hotel – DJ Munch Empire Bar – James Shipstone Eurobar - DJ Fat Albert/DJ zOOM Eve Nightclub – DJ Don Migi Flying Scotsman – Back To Mono DJs Flying Scotsman (Defectors) – Rok Riley Geisha Bar - Lunice ft Kit Pop/Benny P/Dr Space Gilkisons Dance Studio - Bok Bok & L-Vis 1990 ft Mike Midnight/Ben T/ Allstate/420 Crew Ginger Nightclub – Mondo Fridays Lakers Tavern –Grizzly And Friends Library - Sneaky Llama Bar – Jim Pearson Malt Supper Club – DJ Scotty J Metro Freo – Frat House Fridays ft Death Disco DJs Mint Nightclub – Club Retro Mustang – Swing DJ/ DJ James MacArthur Newport Hotel – Sardi/Evan/Tahli Jade Niche Bar – Let Loose ft DJ Jonny Zimber Paramount - DJ John/DJ Jordan PS Art Space - Screening of Paris/ Berlin 20 Years Of Underground Techno ft Allstate/Craig Hollywood/ Joe Stawarz Rocket Room – Coyote Ugly Sail & Anchor - Balcony Beatz Shape - Phetsta ft MC Xsessiv/Ekko & Sidetrack/Illusiv & Dvise/Motion Sovereign Arms – Fiveo The Avenue – Jon Ee The Beat Nightclub - Control The Bird – DJ Helen Hunt The Carine – Shane Hewson The Court – DJ Flex/DJ TimBee The East End Bar – Az-T The Generous Squire – DJ Anaru The Grand – The Jinx Project The Saint - Abstar The Shed - DJ Glenn 20 The Velvet Lounge – The Boudica Sessions ft Amanda Power/Jewel/ Sani/Sistym Tiger Lil’s – Paul Malone/Adam Kelly Toucan – Misschief Villa – Miguel Migs ft Makitan/Oli/ James A Whale & Ale - DJ Spinback
THE LUCID DREAMING BOAT PARTY
SATURDAY 16/02 Admiral Hotel – Insane Dwaine Ambar – Japan 4 ft Diistortiion/Tee EL/Philly Blunt/Dead Easy/Mr ED Amplifier –Eddie Electric Bar One Twenty – Little Nicky Bar Orient – DJ Troy Boheme Bar – Amanda Power Brass Monkey - DJ Peta (downstairs)/ DJ Jewel (upstairs) Brighton Hotel - Misschief Capitol – Death Disco Capitol (Upstairs) – Cream Of The ‘80s ft DJ Ryan Chevron Festival Gardens - Future Classic Showcase ft Scenic/ Panama/ Flight Facilities/ Mitzi Claremont Hotel - Safari Club Bay View – DJ Roger Smart Devilles Pad – Johnny Nandez Hammond Explosion/Razor Jack/ Safari Empire Bar –James Shipstone Eurobar – DJ Fat Albert/DJ Zoom Eve Nightclub – DJ Crazy Craig Flying Scotsman – Andrei Maz Flying Scotsman (Defectors) – Future Wives Club Leederville Hotel –DJ Vison Library – DJ Victor/DJ Riki Liquid Nightclub - DJ Klar55/ DJ Stevie M Llama Bar – DJ Reuben Metro City – Rhythm & Dance Saturdays Metro Freo – Roger Smart/DJ Wazz/ Ben Carter Metro Freo (Upstairs) – I Love 80s 90s DJ DTuck Mint Nightclub – Pop Life ft DJ Aaron/ AJ Mullaloo Beach Hotel – DJ Danny Mustang – Rockabilly DJ/ DJ James MacArthur Newport Hotel – Tahli Jade/Tom Drummond/Sardi/Lucas Niche Bar – Frankie Button/ Cee/ Jonny Zimber/Adam Kelly Paramount- DJ John/DJ Jordan Sail & Anchor – Catch The Child’s Play DJs Shape – Big Ape ft Flosstradamus Sovereign Arms – The Jinx Project The Avenue – Jon Ee The Beat Nightclub - Canvas The Bird - Paradise Found Presents Heatwave Dance The Boheme – Amanda Power The Causeway – Luke Miguel/Clint Turner The Cornerstone – Mark Circleworkz The Court – DJ Flex/DJ TimBee The Craftsman – Michael Brittliff
Miguel Migs The East End Bar – Little Tim/DJ John Carder/DJ Loki/DJ Janoek The Generous Squire – On Tap ft DJ James Nutley The Grand Central – Armee The Queens – Fiveo The Saint – DJ Anaru/ANG3L The Shed –DJ Andyy The Wembley – Lokie Shaw Tiger Lil’s – DJ Bojan/Benjamin Sebastian Toucan – DJ Samuel Spencer Ya Ya’s – Sass @ Ya Ya’s ft DJ Pup/Dan
SUNDAY 17/02 Capitol – The Hoff Chevron Festival Gardens Macklemore & Ryan Lewis with UPNUP Claremont Hotel – James Thorne/ Dan Delstra Club Bay View - Jon Ee Empire Bar –DJ Riki/ DJ Victor Eve Nightclub –DJ Slick Flying Scotsman – Nathan J/ Nizbet/ Pasha/ Chris Flying Scotsman (Defectors) – Boogie Bash/Starkytron 4000 Mustachio Jones/Lamborghini Steve
Ginger Nightclub – DJ Rudebean Mustang – DJ Rockin Rhys Newport Hotel – Tom Drummond Shape – Marcell Dettmann ft Allstate The Avenue – Az-T The Court - Judge Jules ft Seans Tyas/Illuminor/German The East End Bar –DJ Gold Finger/ AZ-T The Grand – Lockie Shaw/Philly Blunt The Queens – Samuel Spencer The Saint - DJ Anaru The Shed – James Wilson and more
MONDAY 18/02 Eve Nightclub - DJ Don Migi Llama Bar – Jo 19 Malt Supper Club – Industry Night The Deen – DJ Birdie
TUESDAY 19/02
Bar Orient - DJ Lyndon High Road Hotel – DJ Matty J Llama Bar – Charlie Bucket Victoria Park Hotel – DJ Melvin
X-Press – First on the street, Wednesdays
AMPLIFIER/CAPITOL
CALYX & TEEBEE
SHAPE
FRAT HOUSE FRIDAYS
METRO FREO
IN THE THIS WEEK
COMING UP
Future Music Festival ft The Prodigy/ The Stone Roses/ AVICII/ PSY/ Dizzee Rascal/ Bloc Bass Culture ft Joe Mac/A10bra/ Party/ Azealia Banks/ /Rita Ora/ Miguel Migs JS/Genga Friday, February 15 @ Villa Boys Noize (live)/ Hardwell/ Thursday, February 21 @ Newport The Temper Trap/ Fun./ Lunice ft Kit Pop/Benny P/Dr Hotel Madeon/ Rudimental/ Ellie Space Goulding/ Steve Aoki/ Alesso/ DJ Yoda ft Stickybuds Friday, February 15 @ Geisha Bar Gypsy & The Cat/ A-Trak (live)/ Friday, February 22 @ Villa Feed Me (live)/ Zeds Dead/ Kill The Noise/ DJ Fresh (live)/ Ambar Alley Birthday Carnivale ft Clockwork-RL Grime Nervo/ Zane Lowe/ Borgore/ Micah/4by4/Beatsmack,/Benny Friday, February 22 @ Ambar Sven Vath/ Richie Hawtin/ P/DNGRFLD/Genga/Len Bones/ Ricardo Villalobos/ Seth Marko Paulo/Mr B/MR eD/Ol K-Holic Gangnam Style Troxler/ Magda/ Cosmic Gate Wright/Oli/Philly Blunt/Qwerk/ ft Emma Hewitt/ W&W/ tyDi/ Tribute ft DJ Jay/DJ Randolph/ Tapeheads/Tee EL/Tonic Andy Moor/ Super8 & Tab/ Ben Sammy K Friday, February 15 @ Ambar Gold/ The Stafford Brothers/ Friday, February 22 @ Metro City Timmy Trumpet/ Tenzin/ Bombs Away Huxley Phetsta ft MC Xsessiv/Ekko & Sunday, March 3 @ Arena Saturday, February 23 @ Shape Sidetrack/Illusiv & Dvise/Motion Joondalup Friday, February 15 @ Shape Illuminate Street Party ft Keb Darge ft Seventh The Potbelleez Son/Charlie Bucket/Mamba Saturday, February 23 @ Pioneer Screening of Paris/Berlin 20 Snake Charmer Park, Gosnells Years Of Underground Techno ft Sunday, March 3 @ Devilles Pad Allstate/Craig Hollywood/Joe The Potbelleez Stawarz Exposed Foam Party Friday, February 15 @ PS Art Space, Saturday, February 23 @ The Dusk ft Hanna Conda/DJ Flex/DJ Lounge Fremantle P Lilly Sunday, March 3 @ The Court Mac Miller Future Classic Showcase ft Scenic/ Saturday, February 23 @ Metro Sampology Panama/ Flight Facilities/ Mitzi Freo Friday, March 8 @ Leederville Saturday, February 16 @ The Hotel Chevron Festival Gardens Speakeasy ft Clubfeet/What So Not Bastians Happy Flight Saturday, February 23 @ Villa Flosstradamus Friday, March 8 @ Amplifier Saturday, February 16 @ Shape Subculture ft John Smokey’s Tour ft Urthboy O’Callaghan/Sied Van Riel/Artic Friday, March 8 @ Mojos Paradise Found Presents Moon/Indecent Noise/Sneijder/ Heatwave Dance GeRmAn/Illuminor/Flare/Jt/ Smokey’s Tour ft Urthboy Saturday, February 16 @ The Bird Chris Hynds/N.abled/Alpha Saturday, March 9 @ Amplifier Sunday, February 24 @ The Court Marcell Dettmann State Of Mind ft Voltron/ Sunday, February 17 @ Shape Network/Nartex/Darren D/ Omega/Jeremy Tan/ MCs Xsessiv,Stylee & Armee Danny Gilligan Sunday, February 24 @ The Court Saturday, March 9 @ Villa Macklemore & Ryan Lewis ft UPNUP Savage Skulls Chance Waters Sunday, February 17 @ Chevron Thursday, February 28 @ Newport Saturday, March 9 @ Ambar Festival Gardens Hotel Maiko Boat Cruise 003 ft Judge Jules ft Seans Tyas/ Lovebirds/Adam Carter/Rob Yolanda Be Cool Illuminor/German Sharp/Luke P Friday, March 1 @ Newport Hotel Saturday, March 9 @ Barrack Sunday, February 17 @ The Court St Jetty Journey Into Bass ft Blu Mar Ten/Optimus Gryme/ The Heroes Of Villa ft Royalston/Gracie/Sistym The Only/Peking Duk/Saccas/ Friday, March 1 @ Shape Knoagents/Tapeheads Friday, March 15 @ Villa District’s First Birthday ft QWERK/Miss Demeanour/ Actress ft Oneohtrix Rekab/Philly Blunt/Hammer & Point Never/Leaving/Basic Nailz/Get More/Marko Paulo Mind/Reece Walker/Emerald Friday, March 1 @ Ambar Cabal/Kynan Tan/Ben T & Clunk Fantastic Mr Fox ft Leon Saturday, March 16 @ The Bakery Osbourne Marcel Dettman Saturday, March 2 @ The Bird Sets On The Beach ft Hermitude/Strange Talk/DJ Slaughterhouse You/Twinsy/Drop Out MARCEL DETTMAN Saturday, March 2 @ Metro City Lord/Yes Orchestra/Luke Million Sunday, March 17 @ SUNDAY, FEBRUARY Scarborough Beach Chance Waters 17 @ SHAPE Amphitheatre Saturday, March 2 @ Civic Hotel
www.xpressmag.com.au
Ministy Of Sound Clubbers Guide To 2013 ft Denzal Park/ Uberkak’d Friday, March 22 @ Villa Gemini ft Genga/Micah/JS Friday, March 22 @ Ambar Netsky ft Ekko & Sidetrack/Blend/Bezwun Saturday, March 23 @ Villa The Uni-Verse Tour ft Drapht Thursday, March 28 @ The Rosemount Easter Thursday ft Mark Pritchard/Dan The Man/Mathas/ Diger Rokwell/Ylem/Vishnu/FG Thursday, March 28 @ The Bakery Roller Easter lineup TBC Thursday, March 28 @ The Rosemount Jason Lema Friday, March 29 @ Mullaloo Beach Hotel PVT Saturday, March 30 @ The Bakery Stanton Warriors ft Far Too Loud/Micah Sunday, March 31 @ Villa The xx Tuesday and Wednesday, April 1 2 @ Metro City Jason Lema Friday, April 4 @ The Dusk Lounge RAW ft Mobin Master/JTrick/Micah/Chris Moro Friday, April 5 @ Villa Sound Utopia ft Lazy J/Big Guy/Israel Cruz Saturday, April 13 @ Red Hill Auditorium Movement Festival ft Nas/2 Chainz/Chiddy Bang/Joey Badda$$/Angel Haze/Spit Syndicate Tuesday, April 30 @ Red Hill Auditorium Seth Sentry Friday, May 10 @ Villa Groovin The Moo Festival ft Alison Wonderland/DZ Deathrays/Example/Flume/ Midnight Juggernaughts/Pez/ Seth Sentry/Shockone/Tuka w/ Ellesquire/Urthboy/DJ Woody’s Big Phat Mixtape/Yacht/Yolanda Be Cool Saturday, May 11 @ Hay Park Bunbury Atari Teenage Riot Sunday, May 19 @ The Bakery
All hail Calyx & TeeBee
CALYX & TEEBEE IN THE ZONE
Genga/ Eyes Down/ Ekko & Sidetrack/ CALYX & TEEBEE The Switch @ Shape Bar Friday, February 8, 2013 Local drum ‘n’ bass was representing without shame last Friday as Shape hosted the Perth leg of Calyx & TeeBee’s All Or Nothing album tour. Despite the increasingly claustrophobic dancefloor and a few issues with low sound in the early hours, things were cranked-up a notch as each new contender took the decks. Local and mo-clad lad, DJ Genga, didn’t conform to the evening’s D’n’B theme, opting instead to spin a selection of down-tempo, hip hop inspired bass, baffling this reviewer’s desire to define with a generic term. Good mixing, but the venue could have turned the volume up a bit, although the upside was that you could exchange words with your mates without going hoarse, at least for the start of proceedings. As Down Face took over, the D’n’B kicked in and the decibels increased as the partygoers legged it to the dancefloor. Things got hectic
with the entrance of local duo, Ekko & Sidetrack, accompanied by MC Xcessiv on the microphone. These guys had the crowd where they wanted them from early on and delivered an energetic and engaging set from beginning to end - the use of TC’s Tap Ho was a particular highlight. They also featured a D’n’B track produced by local bass outfit, Gran Calavera, which was off the hook. Looking forward to Ekko & Sidetrack’s support slot when Netsky hits town. Absolute legends in the world of D’n’B in their own right, each having carved out their own solo reps, London-based Calyx & TeeBee didn’t disappoint. Promoting their latest LP, All Or Nothing, out on Andy C’s irrepressible Ram Records, it makes sense that at least half of the record was performed. The two were playful, with Calyx taking his own photos and performing live vocals on Elevate This Sound, one of the stand-out tracks from the album. Not to be left out, TeeBee performed some live scratching on more than a couple of tracks. Their set was varied, including some old crowd-pleasers, such as Aphrodite and Mickey Finn’s Bad Ass but they never let the energy diminish. They also employed some impressive fast mixing, fittingly using Andy C’s remix of Major Lazer’s Get Free in one such selection. If the success of a set is judged on how many punters are in the dance zone, these guys 100 per cent nailed it.
» JO CAMPBELL
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ST JEROME’S LANEWAY FESTIVAL Perth Cultural Centre Saturday, February 9, 2013 St Jerome’s Laneway had a run there for a while of being something of a best-kept secret in some ways. This year’s edition, however, captured the imagination of many, with a sold-out crowd heaving happily on a hot, hot day. Still some lessons were to be learnt about festival fun and coping with hot weather, as the predictable shirtless-tattooed-boys stumbled through the crowd and young girls seemed to fall about like newborn giraffes but alas, experience itself is the greatest teacher. While Real Estate’s warmth should have suited the blistering mid-afternoon sun, there was something rather empty about their hazy jams. While the live setting could have offered the technically proficient trio the opportunity to push their buoyant riffs and beaming guitars into new territory, unfortunately on this day their set, although a pleasing listen, ultimately lacked the depth to make it really memorable. One can’t help but feel the Brooklyn-via-New-Jersey outfit remain in danger of being, well, just another indie band. Punk rock four piece The Men played with the kind of volume that is to be expected of a band of their explosive reputation. Taking up the centre of the stage, Ben Greenberg plays his bass guitar like he hates it. Greenburg thrashes away at the instrument that offers the band’s rumbling low end while banging the headstock on the ground and knocking the neck against the poles in the Speiglltent. By the time Turn It Around was aired, the crowd had knocked each other off their feet in a set that got more melodic as it went on.
Pond (Photo: Callum Ponton)
MOJOS BAR
This Saturday, February 16 Cameron Avery steps up to play a solo headliner show at Mojos. Cam has been very busy being the front man for The Growl who, days after this gig, begin a sold out national tour of USA courtesy of Tame Impala. He is supported by The Felicity Groom Trio, Rabbit Island, and Naked News. The show starts at 8pm, entry is $15 at the door - or $10 if you have a flower in your hair. To win a double pass to this show, email mojos@coolperthnights.com with ‘Cam Avery’ in the subject line.
THE BRIGHTON HOTEL
Thursday, February 14 is Open Mic Night at The Brighton Hotel, showcasing fresh local talent at this popular venue south of Perth. If you’re a local aspiring artist with original music contact The Brighton for your chance to perform. Come down for a relaxing night and enjoy $10 pizzas plus great live entertainment. It’s all happening from 8pm.
YA YA’S
Comedy night Ha Ha’s @ Ya Ya’s is on tonight, Wednesday February 13, headlined by Nick Sun (NSW) and MC, Pat Burtscher (Canada). To win a double pass to the show tonight, email adam@ya-yas.com.au with ‘COMEDY’ in the subject line to win! Saturday February 16, SASS kicks off at 9PM with Resident DJs Pup and Dan - entry is free. Function packages available for the night, email adam@ya-yas. com.au for more information.
THE MUSTANG BAR
Catch The Roadmasters this Saturday, February 16. With the combined talents of some of Perth’s most experienced musicians, The Roadmasters are a real favourite with dancers and fans of ‘50’s R&B and Rock ‘n’ Roll. Come down for a dance!
FLY BY NIGHT
With his dynamic group of musical troubadours known as Medicine for the People, Nahko delivers a soulful dose of music and vibration that will make you dance, laugh and cry. In the true spirit of redemption music, his work reveals an honesty and depth so raw it inspires an internal revival that echoes out into the world. Feel it all on Sunday, February 17. Tickets available at flybynight.org. www.xpressmag.com.au
While Laneway is renowned for bringing the hottest indie pop and folk acts (along with whoever is racking up hours of Triple J rotation), it’s often not thought of as a dance-heavy festival. Yet while there are usually only a few electronic acts sprinkled throughout their lineup, the Laneway organisers never fail to impress with their choices. This year, locals Rex Monsoon, Kit Pop and Ta-Ku proved a perfect choice to get the vibe going on the Derrick’s stage, before Shlohmo (aka LA native Henry Laufer) impressed with a gloriously lo-fi set that mixed electronic blips and seductive tempos with the likes of Christina Aguilera’s Genie In A Bottle. Much earlier in the afternoon Path To Laneway winner Kucka battled the midday heat to rouse something jagged, desperate and utterly beguiling with their arty electro-pop set. Pond’s Nick Allbrook induced a sigh of disappointment which swept across the tightlypacked crowd when he announced his band’s performance today would be their one and only for 2013 (due, we can presume, to duties with Tame Impala). He and his bandmates put on one hell of a performance. Pond played their psych-rock like a high-wire act, sounding ever on the edge of falling apart, flirting with chaos and collapse, just on the right side of din and derangement. The presence of an additional green spandex body suit-clad dancer and a guest performance from Brooklyn’s EL-P (who had performed a memorable hip hop set earlier in the afternoon) only added to the crazy awesomeness. Jessie Ware brought some delightful English charm to the stage, commenting how lucky she was to be playing in the only air conditioned stage of the venue. With a crowd that was full of lots of her countrymen there were plenty of fingers pointing in the air as she playfully made her way through tunes from her debut with 110% and Wildest Moments rightfully getting the biggest response. Ware had arguably the greatest voice of the whole festival, putting on a relaxed, feelgood set. She is certain to play bigger stages on her next visit. The Laneway festival lineups have never been heavy on the rockier end of the indie spectrum but, as Violent Soho proved in 2011 and DZ Deathrays proved last year, it is these acts which often garner the best reception from festival-goers. This year’s rock drawcard was Canadian two-piece Japandroids, who were still touring their critically acclaimed sophomore LP Celebration Rock, nearly a year after its release. The fact that their set drew
THE EASTERN
The Eastern is Perth’s newest original music venue, with great floor space for punters, a massive PA, quality sound engineers and one of the best stages. See it for yourself this weekend! Saturday, February 16, features a great line-up, with some quirky and entertaining local music acts including Sexy Robot, The Gizzards and Tashi Hall. $8 on the door from 8pm.
THE ELLINGTON
Song Lounge, North Street Music’s flagship singer/ songwriter showcase is back for 2013 with a bang! Head to The Ellington on Monday, February 18, to catch the young and talented David Lazarus performing songs from his debut album. Combining his sun-kissed acoustic riffs with his optimistic lyrics and warm pure vocals, this set will be filled with catchy beachside tunes that will take you on a summertime journey. Starts at 7pm – Book early for seating or purchase tickets at the door.
While the tunes contained on Bat For Lashes’ latest album, 2012‘s The Haunted Man, may have taken a less bombastic direction than her previous records (2006’s Fur and Gold and 2009’s Two Suns), her headline performance proved she hasn’t lost her theatrical touch - dressed in a bohemian head scarf and pleated ruby cape, she seemingly offered herself as a sacrifice to some ancient god she’d spotted in the lighting rig. While her set offered a nice contrast to those of many of the more subdued indie acts on the line-up, her stage antics sometimes felt contrived when juxtaposed against the starker blues of her newer songs. Sometimes, as they say, less really can be more. As the evening headed towards the witching hour, the surrounds of the Cultural Centre were thriving. Perth is brilliant in February and Laneway is a big part of that.
Japandroids (Photo: Callum Ponton) one of the largest - and most animated - crowds of the festival can be partially attributed to their energetic stage presence but, more likely, came as a result of their taut, crunchy songs, which have all the hallmarks of good rock music – deadly hooks, sing-along choruses, irresistible momentum. Containing members of Spoon and Handsome Furs, Divine Fits are very much a ‘supergroup’ but by no means a side project. Britt Daniel relished in the idea of not having to be the sole frontman of the band, with the paper thin Dan Boeckner taking the reins for most of the set. Civilian Stripes is not characteristic of the band’s sound but was given more breadth in the live setting as Boeckner staked his claim as the premier writer on their debut. The tidy set aligned itself with local punters even more by finishing with Roland S. Howard’s Shivers
Divine Fits (Photo: Callum Ponton)
_ CHRIS HAVERCROFT, LINDSAY WEIR & BOB GORDON
Bat For Lashes (Photo: Callum Ponton)
CLANDESTINE ELEGANCE Harlem Wednesdays @ Dive Bar Wednesday, February 6, 2013 An historic vibe was in full force for the launch of Dive Bar’s new cocktail night, based on that of a 1920s speakeasy. Fortunately, the liquor was legal with a range of five lavish concoctions, selected from an hilariously potty-mouthed menu. The majority of attendees dressed in garb from the era, while the venue, which sits above Capitol, was superbly decked out with objects from the period. Local DJs Genga and Benny P made the vibe current with a bevy of delicious hip hop and trap. Don’t miss tonight’s instalment! Photos by Max Fairclough
ROSEMOUNT HOTEL
This Friday, February 15, Perth’s favourite rock n roll ladies The Sure Fire Midnights hit the stage to celebrate their 7th birthday! Support comes from reformed Melbourne rock favourites Warped and locals Chainsaw Hookers, The Floors, Custom Royal and The Shakeys. Doors open 7pm and entry is $15.
RAILWAY HOTEL
Want live music this weekend? Friday, February 15, things get heavy with Medusa Gaze, Got Sharks, Evolution Machine and Tempest Rising. Doors open 8pm, $10 entry. Saturday, February 16, it’s Reaper’s Riddle with special guests. Doors open 8pm, tickets at the door. Sunday, February 17, catch a great arvo session with The Aunts, Valiant, Los Porcheros, Tabas.co, Dear Hella and Simone Taylor. Doors open 3-9pm and entry is $10.
THE BIG SPLASH
WA’s biggest band competition, The Big Splash, will run across various venues between June 4 and August 10.This is a call out to all Western Australian original, unsigned bands - you immediately qualify to enter. To be in the running to win $10,000 in cash, send your band name, contact phone number, an online link to your music and a brief outline of what your band would do with $10,000 to thebigsplash@coolperthnights.com with subject “Big Splash Entrant”. Entries close May 15, 2013. Get in now! 32
SILENT KNIGHT Unholy Knight
Local Perth power metal devotees Silent Knight are releasing their debut Masterplan on February 15 at Amplifier and 16 at Elliot Street Bar in Bunbury along with Sydney power metal legends Lord. BRENDAN HOLBEN chats with guitarist Stu McGill about the lead up to the debut album and the Perth metal scene. While the Perth metal scene is awash with grind, thrash and brutal vocals, there are still a few bands such as Silent Knight waving the power metal banner proudly. Band co-founder Stu McGill said his passion for the genre, and a lack of other Australian bands doing it, led to the creation of the band with Cameron Nicholas. “The writing started about three years ago before the band was even formed. Me and Cam started recording some demos and we recruited the band around that. The general goal was to have the album based on all those songs we’d written, just finding the right guys to play alongside with us,” McGill explains about the formation of Silent Knight. “I’ve always wanted to have a power metal band, it’s definitely my favourite genre of music ... no-one in Perth’s really doing it, not many bands in Australia are doing it, and so I thought it was a good opportunity for someone to come out and do it really well and get some interest going. It’s been doing quite well so far so I think we made the right decision there.”
Silent Knight McGill says the idea for Masterplan more or less came from his own plans for the creation of the band and how to make it successful.“I gave that to Cam when I wrote the song and he wrote all the lyrics for the album. It’s not the usual power metal with dragons and princesses and all that sort of stuff, it’s a little bit more in depth than what you expect from a cliché power metal band.” Drawing on inspiration from highly energetic live shows power metal is known for, McGill says Silent Knight works heavily on crowd interaction. “The songs are very energetic and there’s a lot of sections where the crowd can pump their fists to ... and guitar melodies and harmonies throughout the crowd can sing along to as well.” Masterplan will be released worldwide through Heavy Metal Merchant.
ONCE IN A BLUE MOON
Going Solo at the Moon Cafe continues with Ash Hendriks, Mei Saraswati, and Rae bringing you music to munch meals by from 8:50pm. Entry is free.
UNDER THE VOLCANO
The unstoppably awesome Volcanics are the latest notable Perth act to throw their collective hat into the ring at The Leederville Loungeroom. Joining them will be Man The Clouds and Violet Scene, along with performance poet Byron Bard and magician Jon Madd. MC Tomas Ford will be overseeing the action at Perth’s première rock -n’ roll variety show. The show starts at 8pm, entry is free.
The Sure Fire Midnights
THE SURE THING
Hard-charging local rockers The Sure Fire Midnights celebrate seven years in the music trenches this Saturday, February 16, at The Rosemount Hotel. Joining them for a typically raucous and rocking evening will be Warped (VIC), Chainsaw Hookers, The Floors, Custom Royal, and The Shakeys. Doors are at 7pm, entry is $15
GET YOUR MOTOR RUNNING
Get your mojo rising this Valentine’s Day, Thursday, February 14, where else but Mojos Bar in Fremantle. Red Engine Caves are playing, with sweet, sweet support from Bryan Rice Dalton, and The Galloping Foxleys. The love-in begins at 7:30pm.
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Mulder
ACOUSTIC GROOVE
PICA Bar continues to make your weekend afternoons pleasant with their ongoing schedule of solo and acoustic acts. This Saturday, February 16, from 3pm, a stellar lineup of local talent will be serving up music to drink by, including Jacob Diamond, Luke Dux, Mulder, Timothy Nelson, and James Teague. Entry is free.
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X-Press – First on the street, Wednesdays
Sarah Blasko
Tim Rogers
The Cat Empire
Banks, Rita Ora, Boys Noize, THE MARK OF CAIN DAVE JACKSON Hardwell, The Temper Trap, 17 Capitol 24 The Ellington FUN, Madeon, Rudimental, MUTEMATH MARILYN KELLER Ellie Goulding, Steve Aoki, 19 The Astor 26 The Ellington Alesso, Gypsy & The Cat, THE POTBELLEEZ VANCE JOY A-Trak, Feed Me, Zeds Dead, 22 St Josephs Church 26 Capitol Kill The Noise, DJ Fresh, FAIRBRIDGE FESTIVAL WILLIAM ELLIOT Nervo, Zane Lowe, Borgore, WHITMORE (Tinpan Orange/ Cocoon Heroes ft Sven Bustamento/ Frank 23 Mojos Bar Väth, Richie Hawtin, Ricardo WEST COAST BLUES Yamma/ Kristina Olsen) Villalobos, Seth Troxler, 26-28 Fairbridge & ROOTS FESTIVAL Magda, Wake Your Mind (Sensational Space Shifters, MIDGE URE ft Cosmic Gate & Emma 27 Charles Hotel Iggy & The Stooges, Chris Hewitt, W&W, tyDi, Andy DIG IT UP (Hoodoo Gurus, Isaak, Jason Mraz, Staus Moor, Super8 & Tab, Ben Flamin’ Groovies, Blue Gold, The Stafford Brothers, Quo, Manu, Chao La Ventura, Oyster Cult, Buzzcocks, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Fred Timmy Trumpet, Tenzin, Bombs Away & More TBA) Wesley & The New JB’s, Julia Peter Case, The Stems) 28 The Astor Stone, Newton Faukner, 3 Arena Joondalup MOVEMENT FESTIVAL Kitty, Daisy & Lewis,The SOUNDWAVE 2013 (Metallica, Linkin Park, Music Maker, Blues Revue, (NAS, Bliss N Eso, 2 Chainz, Blink-182, A Perfect Grace Potter, Russell Morris, Chiddy Bang, JOEY BADA$$, Angel Haze, Spit Circle, The Offspring, Mama Kin, Blue Shady & Syndicate) Paramore, Garbage, Slayer, Breakthrough Winner) 30 Red Hill Auditorium Cypress Hill, Bullet For My 23 Fremantle Park Valentine, and more) DEBORAH CONWAY MAY 4 Claremont Showgrounds 23 The Ellington BOB EVANS RUSSELL PETERS THIS WILL DESTROY YOU 2 Settlers Tavern 5 Perth Arena 23 Rosemount Hotel 3 The Bakery RICKIE LEE JONES WEST COAST BLUES & 4 Prince Of Wales 5 The Astor ROOTS FESTIVAL BLACK SABBATH NICK CAVE & THE BAD (Ben Harper, Santana, Paul 4 Perth Arena SEEDS Simon, Steve Miller Band, HAPPY MONDAYS 6 Red Hill Auditorium Wilco, Bonnie Raitt, Jimmy 8 Capitol DEEP PURPLE/JOURNEY Cliff, Rufus Wainwright, 7 Perth Arena TEGAN AND SARA Michael Kiwanuka, Gossling, 9 Metro City GEORGE CLINTON Ash Grunwald, Graveyard 11 Hay Park, Bunbury & PARLIAMENT Train, Brothers Grim, Sticky THE BRONX/DZ FUNKADELIC/GREG Fingers, Benjamin Francis DEATHRAYS WILSON 7 Metro City Leftwich,The DomNicks & 10 Capitol BOB SEDERGREEN Davey Craddock And The 11 Hay Park, Bunbury 7 The Ellington Spectacles) THEY MIGHT BE GIANTS BIRDS OF TOKYO 24 Fremantle Park 10 The Rosemount 7 Prince Of Wales DRAPHT 11 Hay Park, Bunbury 8 Fremantle Arts Centre 28 The Rosemount GROOVIN THE MOO (Alison URTHBOY PVT Wonderland/Alpine/ 8 Mojos 30 The Bakery The Amity Affliction/The 9 Amplifier Bronx/DZ Deathrays/ GUY SEBASTIAN GUNS N’ ROSES / ZZ TOP / 30 Crown Theatre Example/Flume/Frightened ROSE TATTOO Rabbit/Hungry Kids Of STANTON WARRIORS 9 Perth Arena Hungary/The Kooks/Last 31 Villa SAMPOLOGY Dinosaurs/Matt And Kim/ 8 Leederville Hotel APRIL Midnight Juggernauts/Pez/ GARY PUCKETT & THE Regurgitator/Seth Sentry/ HITS & PITS 2013 (Mad UNION GAP Shockone/Tame Impala/ Caddies, Good Riddance, A 9 The Astor Wilhelm Scream, Voodoo Tegan And Sara/The Temper CAT EMPIRE Glow Skulls, The Flatliners, Trap/They Might Be Giants/ 10 Fremantle Arts Centre Tuka With Ellesquire/ Diesel Boy, One Dollar DINOSAUR JR/ THE Urthboy/DJ Woody’s Big Short, Jamie Hay, Jen JON SPENCER BLUES Phat 90’s Mixtape/Yacht/ Buxton, Totally Unicorn & EXPLOSION/ MOON DUO Yolanda Be Cool) PEOPLE Paper Arms) 12 The Astor 11 Hay Park, Bunbury 17 Fly By Night MARCH RONAN KEATING/ BRIAN 1 Metropolis Fremantle THE KOOKS 18 Princess Margaret Hospital SOUL II SOUL MCFADDEN THE xx 11 Hay Park, Bunbury 20 YAC Nannup 12 Crown Theatre 1 The Astor 1 Metro City 12 Fremantle Arts Centre TITLE FLIGHT/LUCA BRASI 2 Metro City 20 The Green Door, YOLANDA BE COOL CHRISTINE ANU REWIND 13 Amplifier Bridgetown 1 Newport Hotel PENNYWISE 14 YMCA HQ – THE ARETHA FRANKLIN BAND OF FREQUENCIES 2 Metro Freo THE JACKSONS SONGBOOK 1 Settlers Tavern LUKA BLOOM JENS LEKMAN 14 Perth Arena 17 & 18 The Ellington 2 Fly By Night 18 Chevron Festival Gardens 2 Nannup Music Festival FUNERAL FOR A FRIEND 3 Clancy’s Fish Pub Canning PAUL KELLY/ NEIL FINN/ COUNTING CROWS LISA MITCHELL/GRACE 18 Prince Of Wales Bunbury Bridge 3 Perth Concert Hall SLEEPY SUN WOODROOFE 19 Amplifier THE TALLEST MAN ON 19 Chevron Festival Gardens EARTH 14 & 15 Kings Park Botanical THE SCRIPT ATARI TEENAGE RIOT 3 Perth Arena Gardens 19 The Bakery 1 Chevron Festival Gardens FRANK TURNER IAN DATE THE GASLIGHT ANTHEM DAVID BRIDIE AND FRANK GLENN SHORROCK/ 4 Amplifier WENDY MATTHEWS/ 19 Metro City YAMMA AND GEORGE GRINSPOON DOUG PARKINSON DEFTONES 1 Fly By Night 14 & 15 Quarry Amphitheatre 5 Prince of Wales WASHINMACHINE 1 Nannup Music Festival 21 Metropolis Fremantle 6 Amplifier DAMIEN DEMPSEY 19 The Ellington AIRNORTH KIMBERELEY NEIL YOUNG BIRDY 15 The Bakery MOON EXPERIENCE (Guy 2 Perth Arena 6 Riverside Theatre FESTIVAL OF THE WIND JOANNE SHAW Sebastian, Mark Seymour, ANTIBALAS (Dan Sultan, French Butler ROGER HODGSON James Reyne, Gurrumul 2 Chevron Festival Gardens TAYLOR Called Smith and more) 7 Riverside Theatre Yunupingu) PETE MURRAY 19 The Perth Blues Club 16 The Sound Shell YACHT CLUB DJS 25 Jim Hughes Amphitheatre 2 Capitol Esperance 12 Amplifier Kununurra 3 Fremantle Arts Centre BOB MOULD JOSH GROBAN FEBRUARY THE SEEKERS 4 Fremantle Arts Centre 16 The Rosemount 16 Kings Park Botanic Garden 30 Riverside Theatre HOW TO DRESS WELL & SLAUGHTERHOUSE PRESIDENTS OF THE ZUCCHERO AXOLOTL DRAGON 2 Metro City UNITED STATES OF 17 Regal Theatre 20 Chevron Festival Gardens BABY ANIMALS 31 The Astor Theatre AMERICA / HEY GERONIMO STU LARSEN RINGO STARR 3 The Quarry Amphitheatre 16 Metro Freo 17 The Ellington JUNE 21 Challenge Stadium HOODOO GURUS IN HEARTS WAKE SPIT SYNDICATE/JACKIE PINK JOSE JAMES/ HOATUS 3 Hotel Rottnest 16 Amplifier ONASSIS 25, 26 & 28 Perth Arena KAIYOTE GALLOWS 17 YMCA HQ 19 Prince Of Wales 21 Chevron Festival Gardens 3 Amplifier SETS ON THE BEACH SEPTEMBER 20 Amplifier EMPERORS FUCKED UP VOLUME 10 (Hermitude, AMANDA PALMER & THE 21 Prince Of Wales 3 Capitol Strange Talk, DJ Lord, Yes 21 Metro Freo GRAND THEFT ORCHESTRA SILVERSTEIN 22 Norfolk Basement FUTURE MUSIC FESTIVAL You, Twinsy, Drop Out 8 Astor Theatre 22 Amplifier 23 Amplifier 2013 (The Prodigy, The Orchestra, Luke Million) ONE DIRECTION EPICA THE POTBELLEEZ 17 Scarborough Beach Stone Roses, PSY, Dizzee 23 Capitol 28 & 29 Perth Arena Rascal, Bloc Party, Azealia Amphitheatre 23 The Dusk Lounge 23 Pioneer Park, Gosnells LAST DINOSAURS/RAINY DAY WOMEN 22 UWA 13 Riverside Theatre 27 Curtin University JULIA STONE STARS 13 Chevron Festival Gardens 22 St Joseph’s Church DJ YODA 22 Villa CHRYSTA BELL THE RAAH PROJECT 14 Chevron Festival Gardens 22 Chevron Festival Gardens WORKING HORSE IRONS 22 Amplifier STRANGERS 23 Prince Of Wales 14 Newport Hotel SARAH BLASKO/THE 15 Prince Of Wales NECKS/WINTERCOATS 17 Indi Bar 23 Kings Park MAC MILLER FATHER JOHN 23 Metropolis Fremantle MISTY/RUBY ED SHEERAN/ PASSENGER 23 Challenge Stadium BOOTS 15 Chevron Festival Gardens CLIFF RICHARDS 23 Sandalford Estate ROGERS/ THE JIMMY BARNES & TIM BAMBOOS JON STEVENS 23 Chevron Festival Gardens 15 Perth Zoo BAND OF FREQUENCIES 16 Castelli Estate Denmark 23 Mojos Bar 24 Indi Bar 27 Ellington Jazz Club LORD / SILENT 28 Prince Of Wales Bunbury KNIGHT CLUBFEET/WHAT SO NOT 15 Amplifier 23 Villa 16 Eliot St. Blues Club PHRONESIS Bunbury 24 Chevron Festival Gardens GLENN FREY CELTIC THUNDER 24 Kings Park & Botanical 16 Perth Arena Garden SOUL REBELS FUTURE CLASSIC 25 Chevron Festival Gardens POWER (Scenic, Panama, CAT 26 & 27 Chevron Festival Flight Facilities, Gardens LAURIE ANDERSON & Mitzi) 16 Chevron Festival Gardens KRONOS QUARTET 27 Perth Concert Hall KISS/ MOTLEY CRUE/THIN DAVID LIZZY 28 Perth Arena HASSLEHOFF JAMES CARTER ORGAN 17 Capitol TRIO 28 Chevron Festival Gardens MACKLEMORE JACK CARTY AND THE & RYAN LEWIS/ FALLS 28 The Ellington UPNUP 17 Chevron Festival Gardens DEERHOOF 28 The Rosemount CHANCE WATERS NAHKO & 28 Newport Hotel MEDICINE FOR THE 1 Civic Hotel
THIS WEEK
NORAH JONES
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Tomas Ford, Wednesday at the Bok Choi Ballroom
WEDNESDAY 13.02 BAR 120 Felix BOK CHOY BALLROOM Tomas Ford BRASS MONKEY Sugar Blue Burlesque CAPE MENTELL Dave Mann CHEVRON FESTIVAL GARDENS Stars CLAREMONT HOTEL Acoustica ELLINGTON JAZZ CLUB Memory Of Elements GREENWOOD Bernardine GROOVE BAR (CROWN CASINO) 5 Shots INDI BAR The Lucky Wonders Jay Grafton LUCKY SHAG Howie Morgan MOJOS BAR Fremantle Blues And Roots Club Man The Clouds Mt Mountain Catbrush Duo MOON CAFÉ Rae Mei Saraswati Ash Hendriks MUSTANG BAR Lixy PADDO Chris Gibbs The Date The Red Embers RIVERSIDE THEATRE Norah Jones ROSEMOUNT Make Believe Me Vice Versa Cupidfalls DJ Anton Maz ROSIE O’GRADY’S (NORTHBRIDGE) David Fyffe THE BROWN FOX Courtney Murphy UNIVERSAL Strutt Ses Sayer VILLAGE BAR Village People - Open Mic YAYA’S Ha Ha’s @ Ya Ya’s Nick Sun Pat Burtscher
THURSDAY 14.02 ADMIRAL Greg Carter Karaoke BALLYS BAR Sophie Jane BELGIAN BEER CAFÉ Howie Morgan BRASS MONKEY Rhythm Bound Karaoke BRIGHTON Open Mic Night BROOKLANDS TAVERN Celebrations Karaoke
I, Said The Sparrow, Thursday at Beat Nightclub
CHEVRON FESTIVAL GARDENS Chrysta Bell COMO HOTEL Courtney Murphy DEVILLES PAD Love Karaoke DUNSBOROUGH TAVERN Open Mic Night ELEPHANT & WHEELBARROW 5 Shots ELLINGTON JAZZ CLUB Blanche DuBois ELMARS IN THE VALLEY Adrian Wilson FREMANTLE ARTS CENTRE Soft Soft Loud: The Antihero Suite GREENWOOD Monarchy GROOVE BAR (CROWN) Dr Bogus HIGH WYCOMBE HOTEL Flyte INDI BAR Bex’s Open Mic Night LUCKY SHAG James Wilson MALT SUPPER CLUB Kaberet Thursdays Adam Hall And The Velvet Playboys MOJOS BAR Red Engine Caves Galloping Foxleys Bryan Rice Dalton MT HENRY TAVERN Neil Adams MUSTANG BAR Wrongtown Rocket To Memphis Reapers Riddle NEWPORT HOTEL Strangers Further Earth Coveleski PORT KENNEDY TAVERN Adam James PRINCE OF WALES Almost Famous ROCKET ROOM Dethtone Launch Party Hairmageddon Dark Karma ROSEMOUNT Neutral Native Lillium Stargazer Miranda And Gordo Silver Hills Sons Of Rico DJs ROSIE O’GRADY’S (FREMANTLE) Clayton Bolger ROSIE O’GRADY’S (NORTHBRIDGE) Bill Chidgzey SOVEREIGN ARMS Fenton Wilde STEVES BAR Dove THE BEAT NIGHTCLUB Valentines Traffic Light Party I, Said The Sparrow Black Birds Here Come The Calvary THE BOAT Jen De Ness
Blanche DuBois
BLANCHE DUBOIS THURSDAY 14TH
ELLINGTON JAZZ CLUB
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THE BROOK Open Mic Night THE GATE Greg Carter THE PRINCIPAL Bernardine THE SHED The Mystery Men UNIVERSAL Off The Record WOODVALE Two Plus One YA YA’S Tyto Kings Katt Nelson Little Skye The Derouets
FRIDAY 15.02
7th AVENUE Free Radicals ADMIRAL The Littlest Fox AMPLIFIER Lord Silent Knight BAILEY BAR Mod Squad Tip Top Sound DJ Bren BALLYS BAR Anderson BALMORAL Mike Nayar BAR ORIENT The Reggae Club The Empressions Mumma Trees Sista Che BELMONT TAVERN Electrophobia BENTLEY HOTEL Sophie Jane BLACK BETTYS Everlong BLVD TAVERN Sea Level Trio BRASS MONKEY Acoustic Aly BREAKERS Ragdoll BROKEN HILL HOTEL Nat Ripepi BROOKLANDS TAVERN The Bluebottles BROWN FOX Easy Tigers CAPTAIN STIRLING Chris Gibbs CARINE Chasing Calee CARLISLE HOTEL Reload CHEVRON FESTIVAL GARDENS Father John Misty Ruby Boots CIVIC HOTEL A Nameless Fear Epignosis Midnight Boulevard MakeGoCrazy CLANCY’S CITY BEACH Marc Osborne Quartet CLANCY’S DUNSBOROUGH Dave Mann CLANCY’S FREMANTLE Zarm COMO HOTEL Trevor Jalla CORNERSTONE Easy Company CRAFTSMAN Nicki Rose Trio DEVILLES PAD The Wal-Tones Razor Jack & Gunner Lee Les Sataniques DUNSBOROUGH TAVERN Kamikaze Pilots EAST 150 BAR Aidan Hargreaves EDZ SPORTZ BAR One Trick Phonies ELEPHANT & WHEELBARROW Darren Reid & The Soul City Groove ELLINGTON JAZZ CLUB James Flynn Dd Soul Chealsea Cullen EMPIRE BAR Howie Morgan
Wrongtown, Thursday at Mustang Bar
FLY BY NIGHT The Mahlot String Quartet & Alex Hay GLOUCESTER PARK Courtney Murphy GREENWOOD Greg Carter GROOVE BAR HI-NRG HERDSMAN Ali Towers Duo HIGH ROAD HOTEL Glen Davies Envy HIGH WYCOMBE HOTEL Dr Bogus HIGHWAY HOTEL Northern Muse HOTEL ROTTNEST Hundred Acre Wood HYDE PARK HOTEL Ricky Green INDI BAR Vdelli INDIAN OCEAN BREW Ben Merito KALAMUNDA HOTEL Frenzy LAKERS DJ Grizzly Slickenside Melee LEFTBANK Groove Acoustics LEGENDS BAR The Organ Grinders LYNWOOD ARMS Mustangs MAHOGANNY INN Dean Anderson MARKET CITY TAVERN Sami Moore Greys And Blues Jenia G Chantelle Schuurmans Sharyce Ferris MERIDIAN ROOM (CROWN) Local Heroes MERRIWA TAVERN Nasty Dogz M ON THE POINT James Wilson MOJOS BAR (ARVO) Captn K Simmo T MOJOS BAR (EVE) Dianas Electric Toad Doctopus Mild Child MOON & SIXPENCE Soul Corporation MUSTANG BAR Adam Hall The Velvet Playboys Swing DJs Cheeky Monkeys DJ James McArthur NEWPORT HOTEL Party Rockers NORFOLK BASEMENT Los Porcheros The Whiskey Pocket Waiting For Andy OCEAN REEF SPORTS & SAILING CLUB Gary Fowlie PADDO Troy Anderson Stu Harcourt Booty Juice PARAMOUNT Flyte PEEL ALE HOUSE Carbon Taxi PERTH ZOO Jimmy Barnes Jon Stevens PINK DUCK LOUNGE Jonathan Dempsey PRINCESS ROAD TAVERN Local Heroes RAILWAY HOTEL Medusa Gaze Got Sharks Evolution Machine Tempest Rising ROCKET ROOM Coyote Ugly Kickstart ROSE & CROWN Kizzy
ROSEMOUNT Vida Cain Gombo Room At The Reservoir Bears And Dolls ROSIE O’GRADY’S (FREMANTLE) Wesley Goodlet Jamboree Scouts ROSIE O’GRADY’S (NORTHBRIDGE) Billy & The Broken Lines SAIL & ANCHOR Howie Morgan Nightshift SOUTH ST ALE HOUSE Robbie King Karaoke SPRINGS TAVERN Shawne & Luc STEVE’S BAR Better Days SWAN BASEMENT Devanta This Will Stop The Machines Xenon Artifacts In Motion SWAN LOUNGE Jimmy Rockets Voodoo In Blue Crawjaw Burst & Bloom SWINGING PIG Spritzer Greg Carter THE BEAT NIGHTCLUB Obscenium Dawn Of Leviathan Tusk Servertone THE BIRD Leure Perth Rabbit Island DJ Helen Hunt Paul Reisner THE BOAT J Man & Rosie THE BROOK Kizzy THE GATE Dirty Scoundrels THE PRINCIPAL B.O.B THE SAINT Almost Famous THE SHED Krank THE VIC Jen De Ness UNIVERSAL Retriofit Nightmoves VICTORIA PARK HOTEL Ivan Ribic WOODVALE TAVERN The Damien Cripps Band YA YA’s Tired Lion Mezzanine Frighteners
SATURDAY 16.02 AMPLIFIER The Strangers BAILEY BAR Slim Jim & Phatts Tip Top Sound DJ Bren BALLYS BAR Dove BALMORAL Astrobat BAR 120 Flyte BELGIAN BEER CAFÉ Mike Nayar BELMONT TAVERN Stu Harcourt BLACK BETTY’S J Babies BLUES CLUB, BUNBURY Lord Silent Knight BLVD TAVERN JOONDALUP Afterglo Minky G Duo BREAKERS Mixtape Band BROOKLANDS TAVERN Pretty Fly CASTELLI ESTATE,
X-Press – First on the street, Wednesdays
Listing deadline is Monday 5pm. GO TO www.xpressmag.com.au /PLUG YOUR GIG and plug away! The X-Press Guide is a Perth metropolitan service for advertisers listing tours, live, dance and arts events. All inclusions are at the discretion of X-Press Magazine. The one entry system will update our print edition, website and App
Devanta, Friday at the Swan Basement DENMARK Jimmy Barnes Jon Stevens CIVIC HOTEL West Coast Lowdown Masuimi Max Fireballs Bloody Hollys Kuillotines Creature Miss Ink Australia COMO HOTEL Ricky Green DEVILLES PAD Johnny Nandez Hammond Explosion Razor Jack Gail Force Les Sataniques DONNYBROOK AMPHITHEATRE Courtney Muphy & Murphy;s Lore ELEPHANT & WHEELBARROW Blue Hornet ELLINGTON JAZZ CLUB James Flynn UPNUP Horny Horns ELMARS IN THE VALLEY Chris Gibbs FLY BY NIGHT Scott Ruthenberg FORRESTFIELD TAVERN Christian Thompson GOSNELLS HOTEL Sugarfield GREENWOOD Carbon Taxi GROOVE BAR (CROWN CASINO) Hi-NRG HIGH ROAD HOTEL Dr Bogus HOTEL ROTTNEST Hundred Acre Wood INDIAN OCEAN BREW The Blackbirds INDI BAR Matt Gresham David Lazarus LAKERS Celebrations Karaoke LANGFORD ALEHOUSE Die Hard Karaoke LEOPOLD HOTEL Steve Hepple MALT SUPPER CLUB Chelsea J Gibson MARKET CITY TAVERN Juke Box Lady Mike Anderson M ON THE POINT Rhythm 22 MERIDIAN ROOM (CROWN CASINO) Howie Morgan Duo MERRIWA TAVERN Greg Carter Karaoke MOJOS BAR Cameron Avery Felicity Groom Rabbit Island Naked News MOON & SIXPENCE The Damien Cripps Band MOONDYNE JOES A Salute To Bon Hells Bells Vamp MUSTANG The Roadmasters Rockabilly DJ Milhouse DJ James McArthur NEWPORT HOTEL Gravity Kizzy NORFOLK BASEMENT Blackhart And Strangelove The Suntones Max White OSBORNE PARK HOTEL Plastic Max PADDO Cheeky Monkeys PARAMOUNT Felix PEEL ALEHOUSE Chris Gibbs Duo PERTH ARENA Celtic Thunder
PICA BAR Acoustic Afternoon Mini-Fest Jacob Diamond Luke Dix Mulder Timothy Nelson James Teague PORT KENNEDY TAVERN Kizzy QUARIE BAR Electrophobia RAILWAY HOTEL Reapers Riddle ROSEMOUNT The Sure Fire Midnights Warped Chainsaw Hookers The Floors Custom Royal The Shakeys ROSIE O’GRADY’S (NORTHBRIDGE) Blue Gene ROYAL PALMS RESORT Nathan Gaunt SAIL & ANCHOR Retriofit Childs Play STEVES BAR Sue Johnson SWAN BASEMENT Darren Gurthrie Ethereal Red Roads Ready To Fire Rotaxus SWAN LOUNGE Demolition In Progress Take It Or Leave It Artifacts In Motion Tempest Rising We Stand As Heroes SWINGING PIG Greg Carter Big Steve Spouse THE BEAT NIGHTCLUB Runaways I Am Enternal I, Valiance THE BOAT The Organ Grinders THE BROOK One Trick Phonies THE EASTERN The Gizzards Tashi Hall THE GATE Dirty Scoundrels THE SAINT Lixy THE SHED Huge THE VELVET LOUNGE Zealous Chang Apollo’s Seven Mai Barnes Neutral Native THE VIC Greg Carter Karaoke UNIVERSAL Soul Corporation WANNEROO TAVERN Chris Gibbs WHALE AND ALE Mixtape WOODVALE TAVERN HI-NRG YAYA’S SASS @ Ya Ya’s
SUNDAY 17.02
7TH AVENUE Good Karma ADMIRAL Sugarfield James Wilson ALLEN PARK Wesley Goodlet Jamboree Scouts BALMORAL The Blackbirds BANKS RESERVE Bob Patient Wayne Freer Elliot Smith Dave Brewer Dave Billing Sue Bluck Rick Steele Edo Ekic Tony Papa Adams BARRACK ST JETTY Folk @ The Jetty Fiona Heath & Darren Adair BELMONT TAVERN Acoustic Aly
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Friday Friday Leure, Friday at The Bird Travis Caudle Travis Caudle FlyBy ByNight Night Fly BLVD TAVERN JOONDALUP Open Mic Night BOK CHOY BALLROOM Fine Art Of WA Music Alex Arpino Diger Rockwell Felicity Groom BREAKERS BAR Chris Gibbs BRIGHTON Spectacle BROKEN HILL HOTEL Chris Murphy BROOKLANDS TAVERN Mike Nayar CAPITOL David Hasslehoff CAPTAIN STIRLING Jamie Powers CARINE The Bluebottles CHASE BAR Chasing Calee CHEVRON FESTIVAL GARDENS Macklemore & Ryan Lewis UPNUP CIVIC HOTEL Neil Adams CLAREMONT HOTEL Sunday Driver DJ Dan COMO HOTEL Adrian Wilson DE PAREL SPIEGELTENT 30 Years Of Drastic Rabbit Island & Kucka Hayley Beth & Cat Hope Yang Iambe Sarah Tout & Kristie Butler ELEPHANT & WHEELBARROW Daren Reid & The Soul City Groove ELLINGTON JAZZ CLUB Rick Webster EMPIRE BAR CB3 FLY BY NIGHT Nahko & Medicine For The People GOSNELLS HOTEL Conny The Clown GROOVE BAR (CROWN CASINO) Switch HIGH WYCOMBE HOTEL The Organ Grinders HIGH ROAD HOTEL Nat Ripepi HOTEL ROTTNEST Howie Morgan Project INDI BAR Strangers Further Earth Boston & Chevy INDIAN OCEAN BREW CO Shawne & Luc Retriofit INGLEWOOD HOTEL James Wilson KALAMUNDA HOTEL Bernardine LAKE JUALBUP Sea Of Tunes M ON THE POINT A Bit On The Side MERIDIAN ROOM (CROWN PERTH) Local Heroes MOJOS BAR (ARVO) Paddy’s Welcome To The Week MOJOS BAR (EVE) Oren Ambarchi Joe Talia Emerald Cabal Craig Mcelhinney MOON CAFÉ Davey Craddock Stacey Gougoulis MUSTANG BAR Peter Busher & The Lone Rangers DJ Rockin Rhys NEWPORT HOTEL Tim Nelson West Coast Lowdown Masuimi Max Fireballs Rocket To Memphis Shot Down In Sugartown Insinnerators
The Sure Fire Midnights, Saturday at The Rosemount Hotel
Dux N Downtown Johnny Groove & The Deadbeats Miss Pinup Australia NORTH FREMANTLE BOWLING CLUB Surf N Turf Fundraiser For Surf Aid David Sofield Jeff Harald And Friends Hombres Del Mar The Dads The Fremantle Ukulele Collective Jill Birt and Alsy MacDonald The Morning Night Deep River Collective PADDY MALONE’S Gary Fowlie PEEL ALEHOUSE Christian Thompson PINK DUCK LOUNGE BAR Glen Davies PORT KENNEDY TAVERN Dirty Scoundrels PORTOFINO’S RESTAURANT Glen Davies QUARIE BAR & BISTRO Better Days QUEENS TAVERN Velvet RAILWAY HOTEL The Aunts Valiant Los Porcheros Tabas.co Dear Hella Simone Taylor ROSIE O’GRADY’S (NORTHBRIDGE) Neil Colliss David Fyffe SAIL & ANCHOR Mike Nayar SETTLERS TAVERN Dave Mann SOUTH ST ALE HOUSE Anthony Nieves SOVEREIGN ARMS Craig Ballantyne SWAN LOUNGE The Merrics That Velvet Echo Lipstick Pickup SWINGING PIG Jamie Powers Sophie Jane THE BOHEME Todd Woodward THE DEEN Plastic Max & The Token Gesture THE GATE Greg Carter THE LAST DROP Fenton Wilde THE PRINCIPAL Helen Shanahan THE SAINT Howie Morgan Project THE SHED James Wilson The Healys Blue Hornet UNIVERSAL Retriofit WANNEROO TAVERN Adam James WHISTLING KITE Nathan Gaunt
WOODVALE TAVERN Free Radicals
MONDAY 18.02 BRASS MONKEY James Wilson CHEVRON FESTIVAL GARDENS Jens Lekman Anton Franc ELLINGTON JAZZ CLUB Song Lounge Ricky Green David Lazarus Minky G Helen Shanahan GROOVE BAR (CROWN CASINO) Chris Murphy & Courtney Murphy MERIDIAN ROOM (CROWN) Chris Murphy MOJOS BAR Wide Open Mic Night MUSTANG BAR Tripple Shots THE DEEN Plastic Max & The Token Gesture YA YA’S Big Tommo’s Open Mic Variety Night
TUESDAY 19.02 CHARLES HOTEL Perth Blues Club Joanne Shaw Taylor Andrew Winton Paul Gioia CHEVRON FESTIVAL GARDENS Sleepy Sun Foam ELLINGTON JAZZ CLUB Matt Richards Creatures Of The Deep GROOVE BAR (CROWN) Ruby’s Groove LUCKY SHAG Ben Merito MERIDIAN ROOM (CROWN) Courtney Murphy MERRIWA TAVERN Celebrations Karaoke MOJOS BAR Mojo’s Monthly Comedy Sami Shah Josh Makinda Tien Tran Sarah Furtner Ayden Doherty Sam Cribb MUSTANG BAR Danza Loca Salsa Night PADDO Stu Harcourt SETTLERS TAVERN Open Mic Night THE COURT Open Mic & BBQ Night TWO ROCKS TAVERN Jump For Joy Karaoke
Man the Clouds
MAN THE CLOUDS MT MOUNTAIN CATBRUSH DUO WEDNESDAY 13 MOJOS BAR
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MUSIC GEAR & TECHNOLOGY EDITED BY TRAVIS JOHNSON
FOR SALE AUDIOFLY HEADPHONES Designed in Perth by a small team, unique headphones to capture every detail in your favourite music www.audiofly.com MUSOS WANTED BAND MANAGER WANTED Articulate/ Professional/Experienced. 5 piece contemporary electronic lounge band. Contact 0438 771 128 BAND MEMBERS WANTED 21 y.o. Guitarist. Infls Marty Friedman and early Megadeth/ GNR. Call 0439 976 770. (West Perth Abode) MALE ROCK SINGER Req 4 a comedy rock recording project with view to gig. Inf Steel Panther. Joondalup Area Ph 0404 556 592 MUSO’S FOR ANGELS TRIBUTE Guitarist looking for exp muso’s with prof attitude to form Angels tribute band. Email:overthetopband@gmail.com MUSO’S WANTED For Blues/Rock cover band. Required..drumer, guitarist and keyboard player. Reliable and professional. Email trevorkidd@y7mail.com OPEN MIC NIGHT every Thursday night at Indi Bar. Just call Bex on 0404 917 632. OPEN MIC NIGHT Every Tuesday night at the Craigie Tavern 8-11pm. Call Corey for bookings 0431 448 235 SUPREMES TRIBUTE Wanted 2 female vocalists for a Supremes tribute. Aimed at corporate events market. Call Brian Davidson at Focus Promotions 9 - 5 Mon - Fri 9272 4144 PHOTOGRAPHY PROJECT PHOTOGR APHY Pro m o p h o to g ra p hy, s t u d i o, l i ve, l o c a t i o n . Mike Wylie 0417 975 964 www.projec tphotography.com When its time to ice the cake... PRODUCTION SERVICES * L I G H T I N G * A U D I O * S TA G I N G * www.nightstarlightingaudio.com.au www.nightstarlightingaudio.com.au w w w . i n s t a n d t . c o m . a u w w w . i n s t a n d t . c o m . a u 9381 2363/ 9444 6651 CD & DVD MANUFACTURE Check out our latest CD & DVD specials online at www.procopy.com.au 9375 3902 MATRIX PRODUCTIONS AUSTRALIA Lighting, staging, sound systems, smoke machines, night club FX, intelligent lighting, strobes & mirror balls, crowd barriers, video projectors. 9371 1551 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
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ANDY’S STUDIO International multi award winning songwriter / producer.No band required. Broadcast quality. A songwriter’s paradise. Ph 9364 3178 AVALON STUDIOS BIBRA LAKE One of Perths best equipped studio. Record to analog tape or digital, Avalon pre amps, Neumann mics, the latest and best universal audio, plug in’s for digital recordings. All styles of music, $55 per hour call Tony 0411 118304 email avalonstudios@bigpond.com GOLDDUSTCONSTRUCTION.COM Production, mixing,recording and composition for your music. Unique award winning skills to take songs from ideas to finished mixes or to fulfill the potential in existing ones.Located in Subiaco.$70 p/h.Andrew 0408 097 407 POONS HEAD MASTERING Analog mastering at its best. Clients include Mink Mussel Creek, Jeff Martin,The Panics, Pond + The Floors.World class facility.World class results. www.poonshead.com 9339 47 91 RECORDINGMIXINGMASTERINGPRODUCING Fremantle location. Call Pete Kitchen Cooked Records. Ph 0407 363 764 / 9336 3764 REVOLVER SOUND STUDIO Ph 9272 7505. www.revolverstudio.com.au SONGWRITERS! - UNLOCK YOUR SONGS’ POTENTIAL +FREE BAND APPRAISALS. UK Producer, 40,000+ hours studio experience. 20 yrs in London with bands and songwriters. Kicking arrangements, great studio and the ability to really listen will give your material the edge you need. Call Jerry on 0405 653 338 or visit www.jerichomusic.com.au REHEARSAL STUDIOS AAA VHS REHEARSAL ROOMS Great facilities, great vibe & great price!!! Unit 5 /16 Peel Road, O’Connor. Phone 9418 5815 or 0413 732 885 BIGBEAT SOUND STUDIO Clean rooms, all new PA systems, air-con and good parking . Willetton Ph: 0425 698 117. PLATINUM SOUND ROOMS Professional rehearsal rooms, airconditioned, quality PAs mob 0418 944 722 TUITION ***GUITAR LESSONS*** The Guitar Specialist. New year enrolments.Beg-adv,all styles and levels including bass. Cliff Lynton Guitar Institute. Mt Lawley 9342 3484 / www.clifflynton.com BASS LESSONS Rock, funk & jazz. Tony Gibbs 9470 6131 DRUM LESSONS All styles, all ages.WAAPA prep. Modern techniques & rudiments, Beginner to advanced. Ph Pascal: 0413 172 817. FREE MUSIC LESSONS Book your free 30-min trail lesson.All instruments,all ages,all experience levels. 0403 162 641 | walthermusic.com GUITAR & KEYBOARD TUITION (BeginnersProfessional) One on One lessons. Burswood Ph 6460 6921/ 0415889645. www.gvkschoolofmusic.com.au
Dethtone Guitars
DETHTONE GUITARS This Thursday, February 14, discerning rockers will be proving their love for their craft by getting down to The Rocket Room for the Deathtone guitar & Calendar Launch. Doors open at 8pm, tickets are $10. For more information, head over to facebook.com/Dethtone When it comes to instruments, there’s always a tension between quality and affordability. Let’s face it, generally speaking, your average jobbing muso doesn’t have a whole lot of cash to flash around, and so bang for your buck is an important consideration. Enter Dethtone Guitars. The Dethtone brand began as a set of guitar strings, but since 2009 their most visible product has been their range of guitars and basses. Specifically designed for those toiling at the heavier end of the rock and roll spectrum, Dethtone guitars are just the thing for the headbanger on a budget. With guitar and amplifier packages starting at $299, and bass packages beginning at $499, selecting a Dethtone axe means not compromising on quality without breaking the bank. This year, Dethtone have taken their rock ethos to the next level by recruiting respected
Australian luthier, Perry Ormsby, to design and construct a range of custom guitars. Renowned for his commitment to quality guitar-making, Romsby is probably best known for crafting the Randy Rhodes tribute eight-string bass for Kelly Garni, a founding member of Quiet Riot. That piece of work recently sold for $100,000, a sum that speaks volumes about Ormsby’s talents. Ormsby’s designs will be unveiled, along with the new Dethtone Calendar, at a gala event at The Rocket Room this Thursday, February 14. Metal monsters Dark Karma will be on hand to mark the occasion, along with ‘80s metal tribute band Hairmageddon, and special guest appearances from guitar legend Graham Greene, Mark ‘The Animal’ Gale, and more. The theme for this rock bacchanalia is ‘80s metal, with door prizes for the best outfits. Dethtone guitars are available from Kosmic Sound. Swing by their Osborne Park store and have the friendly staff help design your dream Dethtone. As a special offer to X-Press readers, printing or cutting out this article and bringing it into the store nets you a special 15 per cent extra off the already discounted marked price of any heavy metal guitar. Not just limited to Dethtone models, the discount also covers Ibanez, ESP, Gibson, Jackson, and PRS products. Offer ends Saturday February 16 at 5pm.
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X-Press – First on the street, Wednesdays