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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
MUSTER YOUR COURAGE
The Argyle Diamonds Ord Valley Muster is almost upon us, and one of the highlights is the Kimberley Kitchen and Durack Homestead D i n n e r. T h i s y e a r, celebrity foodie Anna Gare will host, and with renowned chef, Don Hancey, she will whip up a range of tasty treats using locally sourced produce for the Kimberly Kitchen at Celebrity Tree Park on Tuesday, May 21. Then, on Thursday, May 21, the historic Durack Homestead will be the site of a long-table dinner that food critic Rob Broadfield called ‘...a magic evening’. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster, or head to ordvalleymuster.com.au for more information.
Anna Gare, Argyle Diamonds Ord Valley Muster
The Chemist
BETTER LIVING THROUGH CHEMISTRY
Perth bad boys The Chemist have unleashed their debut album on an unsuspecting world. Ballet In The Badlands is a corker of a disc that draws on such influences as Nick Cave and Tom Waits without falling to mere mimicry. Off the back of the release, they’ll be doing a nationwide tour starting in May, before a triumphant return to The Bird for what is sure to be a sold out show on Saturday, June 15. Tickets at the door for that one.
The Devil Rides Out Lewi McKirdy
RESIDENTIAL
Residence is Amplifier’s new Friday night hang out, launching next Friday, April 5. Join triple j’s Lewi McKirdy and soon-to-be residents Eddie Electric and K.La for fancy pants cocktail jugs, feature beers and something about free nachos. There’ll probably be some tunes playing too. Very bloody likely. Doors open at 9pm and entry is $10.
SHAKEN AND STIRRED
On The Rocks crashes into Beat Nightclub this Easter Thursday, March 28, from 8pm with six huge local rock’n’roll acts on the bill. The Devil Rides Out, The Love Junkies, The Floors, The Community Chest and Trigger Jackets will be joined by DJs Turtle and Dennis Gedling. Pre-sale tickets are just $10 for RTRFM subscribers and $15 for non-subscribers from rtrfm.com.au and at the door.
Aurora Jane
AURORA AUSTRALIS
Funky pop-rockers Aurora Jane is pointing her wagons westward for a whirlwind WA tour. Lauded by Rolling Stone and with a growing legion of devoted fans, this talented Australian artist and her trio of troubadours are an act you won’t want to miss. Catch Aurora and company at Mojo’s on Wednesday, April 10, The Indi Bar on Thursday, April 11, Albany’s White Star Hotel on Friday, April 12, Margaret River’s Settlers Tavern on Saturday, April 13, and Clancy’s Fish Pub in Fremantle on Sunday, April 14. aurorajane.com has further details.
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Reactions/Comp Thing Flesh Music: The xx Music: PVT Music: Nantes/Battlefields/Morgan Evans/ Wednesday 13 New Noise Feature: What’s On Eye4 Cover: GI Joe Eye4 Movies: Rust And Bone Eye4 Movies: I Wish Arts Listings Salt Cover: Black Sun Empire Salt: News/ Sun City/ Freqshow Salt: Stanton Warriors/ Test Pad Salt: Club Manual Salt: Rewind: Netsky Live Scene: Live - West Coast Blues ‘N’ Roots Scene: Local Scene Tour Trails Gig Guide Volume
COVER: The Bakery is preparing the way for PVT this Saturday, March 30. SALT COVER: Dutch champs of drum’n’bass doom, Black Sun Empire, are on their way to Amplifier this Thursday, March 28. www.xpressmag.com.au
Gold Fields
ELECTRO POP FIELDS
Fresh from their set at SXSW, Ballarat’s electro-pop outfit, Gold Fields, have just announced their Black Sun Tour with tickets to go on sale this Thursday, March 28. Named as one of MTV’s Artists To Watch In 2013, the band’s debut album Black Sun was named triple j’s Feature Album Of The Week and was praised by many a rave review. Check ‘em out at two gigs Metropolis Fremantle on Friday, June 21, and Capitol on Saturday, June 22. Tickets from Oztix outlets.
SOW THE SEED
Applications for The Seed Fund grants and mentorships are now open, until Monday, June 3. The Seed Fund supports emerging musicians, artists and arts workers via four grant categories, and three initiatives with two new categories put on this year. Head to theseedfund.org for more info on the categories and application forms. 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.
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PLUMP AND PROUD
Have you been to AQWA lately? They are celebrating their silver jubilee and have some double adult passes for X-Press readers. Embark on an underwater journey and travel from the icy waters of the southern ocean to the tropical wonderland of coral reefs in the far north as you explore over 12,000kms of Western Australia’s coastline in just one day. As part of the jubilee celebrations your name and your favourite sea creature will be added to their commemorative wall! Woohoo! Enter now to grab a pass!
The Plump DJ’s are returning to Perth this April with their four deck live show! Andy and Lee have been performing and producing together since the late 1990’s. They began as avid pioneers of diverse electronic music, smashing into the early breaks scene and delivering absolutely iconic albums A Plump Night Out, Eargasm and Saturday Night Lotion. We are giving away one VIP prize pack which includes VIP entry for you and a mate and a Boomtick merch pack. They play Villa on April 19. Enter now to win!
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HAMISH & ANDY: AUS VS NZ
It’s the 20th week anniversary of Hamish and Andy revving up the old Caravan of Courage and trekking 10,000km across Australia and New Zealand. Leaving no stone unturned and no challenge unattempted in an effort to settle the burning question of transTasman rivalry once and for all. To commemorate this milestone we have five copies of the amazing adventure on DVD, enter now to grab yourself copy!
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THE HOST
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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Delicious
IT’S LADIES NIGHT
Delicous Nights is Perth’s ultimate hens and girls night location! They are throwing a strictly ladies only event for their second Birthday this Sunday from 8pm. Upstairs at the Voodoo Lounge you will be treated to 15 ‘Himbo’ waiters at your beck and call, the first heat for the Perth’s Hottest Tradie competition, six choreographed shows and strips including the famous I’m Sexy And I Know It all in Himbo show, a burlesque suspended hoop performance by Miss Pole Dance 2011 and prizes and giveaways for dressing up! To help celebrate we are giving away four VIP double passes to our lovely lady readers. Get your entries in now!
RAW
From author Stephenie Meyer, comes a story set in the near future where our planet has never been more perfect. Greed and violence have been eliminated, and peace and kindness are practiced by all. But perfection comes at a price, as an alien race of pure ‘souls’ has invaded earth, using humans as their hosts. Get your entries in now to see it!
YEAH BABY I LIKE IT RAW
Addiktion presents the Big Room House, Dirty Electro and Breaks event, RAW featuring not one but two internationally renowned names, at the one and only Villa Nightclub. This rockin’ party is sure to blow the roof off with huge tracks from the ARIA chart breaker Mobin Master and the flagship producer J-Trick. As these two masters of the decks tear it up at Perth’s leading club, you can be certain that they’ll explode your senses with their skills as they’re supported by Perth’s highly reputable sensation Micah and the hard and dirty electro genius, Chris Moro. It’s all happening Friday, April 5 and we have two VIP double passes to giveaway! Get your entries in now!
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X-Press – First on the street, Wednesdays
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X-Press – First on the street, Wednesdays
NO BEARDED LADY?
Witness two hours of breathtaking acts of daredevilry with Circus Oz at His Majesty’s Theatre on Thursday-Friday, August 2931. From The Ground Up has been called beautiful, absurd and downright kooky. Powerful acrobatics will contest gravity, graceful aerial artists will win your heart, the knock-about comedy will bowl you over and the live musicians will save the day with the last beat. Tickets are from $30 and can be purchased from the theatre or Ticketek.
The Arsonist
ARSON’S LAW
Having just returned from their national tour, The Arsonist look to continue 2013 in style, playing first at the Rosemount Hotel on Wednesday, April 3, with Helen Shanahan, Archer & Light and The Loved Dead. They then hit the Beat Nightclub on Friday, April 12, to launch their single, Disguises, which will be accompanied by a music video. For more details head to facebook.com/the.arsonist.perth.
Ballin’ In The Park
FREE BALLIN’ Circus Oz
Rocket To Memphis
CRAWL, TWIST, RUMBLE TO MEMPHIS
Touting a distinctive, off-kilter take on rockabilly, swamp and garage rock’n’roll, Perth’s very own rebel rousers, Rocket To Memphis, are soon to release a new album, Do The Crawl. To celebrate, a launch party will be held Friday, April 12, at Devilles Pad where fans can pick up a copy of the album, ahead of its April 15 release date. If you’ve mastered the Voodoo Twist and the Zombie Rumble, it’s time to take things to the next level.
Dilip N The Davs, Shake It
SALT N’ SHAKE
Celebrating its 10th year, the Funk Club has gone and has amassed its biggest and best local lineup ever for their the inaugural Shake It showcase, happening on Anzac Day, Thursday April 25, at Salt on the Beach in North Fremantle. After sifting through over 60 entries from Perth’s groove oriented bands, DJs, producers, emcees and performers, the line up is this... Amani Consort, Beleza, Dilip N The Davs, Ensemble Formidable, Fdel (live), Grace Barbe, Junkadelic, Ladywood, Mathas, Odette Mercy & Her Soul Atomics, Rae & Public School Band, Randa & The Soul Kingdom, Shangara Jive, The Brow Horn Orchestra, The Crux, The Pimps Of Sound, Weapon Is Sound, Whiskey Winter, Wisdom2th, Agent Double O Soul, Beni Chil, Benjamin Dog, Charlie Bucket, Diger Rokwell, Foxman, General Justice, The Impressions, Jay Hurry, Joe Revell, Klean Kicks, Mama Cass, Micah, Shazam, Soul Purpose DJs, Vino, Zeke and Zeus Rock Tickets are $25 (plus booking fee) on sale from this Thursday, March 28, from heatseeker.com. au, Salt on the Beach and usual outlets.
ASTOR ACOUSTICS
The freshly formed Astor Collective is a group designed to bring together Western Australia’s best classical and contemporary musicians in a series of innovative events held at the Astor Theatre over the course of five Sundays. Intended to mesh the old and the new to produce an intriguing musical melange, the series kicks off on Sunday, April 21, with Flipping’ Pictures: A Symphonic Jazz Odyssey. Book through showticketing,com.au, or head to liveattheastor.com.au for more. www.xpressmag.com.au
DAN THE MAN
The inaugural Ballin’ In The Park 3ON3 Championships, will showcase some of Perth’s best basketballers skills next Sunday, April 7, at McCallum Park foreshore. Put together by Vulture Culture, who brought us Rottofest and Whiteboy Dunking from One-up Microcinema, 3ON3 is a fast and furious spectator friendly version of b-ball, much like 20/20 cricket. Community DJs Diger Rokwell, Silence, Arms In Motion and MCs ASAP and FG will entertain, along with a sneaker swapmeet, skateboarding demos, free sausage sizzle and licensed beer garden. Visit ballininthepark.com.au for more or to register to play.
Moore On The Moon RTR FM and Perth DJ stalwart Dan ‘The Man’ Moore (aka Dan Dare, Cardboard City) returns to Perth in support of Mark Pritchard (aka Harmonic 313) on Easter Thursday, March 28, at The Bakery. Special guests also include Savoir, Rok Riley, Jo Lettenmaier and The Community Room with Diger Rokwell, Mathas, Ylem, Vishnu and FG. BOB GORDON catches up for a chat. It’s been several years since you left Perth for Melbourne. What does it mean to you, coming home to play this gig? It means a great deal to me. Of course it feels like I’m coming home, which is always awesome. I got loads of family and friends in P-Town and can’t wait to throw down a set. I’m really honoured to be playing on the same bill as Mark Pritchard, he’s a great DJ and an absolutely awesome producer and a nice dude, too. Perth has also changed, and I hear nothing but good things about the scene so I’m really excited to see what’s going on. What was on your radar to do when you left? I was mainly thinking about my new job at Triple R, I had no expectations at all. I was excited to explore Melbourne and have in a way that I never could have without the help of awesome peeps at Triple R. I mean, a community radio station is a bloody good place to start if you want to get to know the real feel of a city and the people in it.
Dan The Man Moore Photo: Robert Gordon I think the really interesting likeness and differences come in the actual sound of the stations. Community radio really reflects the personality of the city, that’s what I’ve noticed, anyway. Triple R has a kind of laid back presenting style, you know that Melbourne drawl, I was just listening to Dave Graney and Elizabeth McCarthy’s show which I love for their personalities, to me they sound very uniquely Melbourne. The stations share many things in common though, not to mention a long history of management and staff and they are both incredibly diverse places.
Where are you at with music right now? I’m really excited about where electronic music is at the moment, there’s so many really young people making incredibly advanced music. Some sounds have had their time for now, though, but I think there’s massive opportunity to be original as we’re on the cusp of a change. I think we’re going through one of those turning points, it’s like in the movie 24 Hour Party People What have you been doing and how would you when Tony Wilson’s character says, ‘look they’re describe your life now in Melbourne? applauding the DJ’. I had this experience watching I’ve been making radio with Martin L Flume rock his laptop while kids crowd surfed and Richard Rambl on The City Rises show which at Golden Plains and I really don’t mean that in a we’ve just wound up actually. I’m starting a new disrespectful way at all, it was crazy! I’ve always show next week called How High The Moon. I’m been someone that enjoys listening out for what’s really, really excited about it. I never had any next though and I urge you to listen to the likes expectations to be on air at Triple R so I’m really of Rok Riley and The Underground Solution crew honoured. I’ve been experimenting loads in the amongst others on RTR because that’s where studio too and I’m about to release some music you’ll find it. that I’ve been working on in collaboration with friends from the States. We’re called RAYOM, I’ll Are you Dan The Older Man now? Or just Dan keep you posted! The Man as usual? I’m a big fan of re-inventing yourself as What are the similarities and the differences an artist. There’s one way to feel old and that’s to be who you were yesterday. between working at RTR and RRR?
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
RAISING THE ROOF
As the days grow shorter and the wind and the rain sets in like it means to stay, it’s time to bid a fond farewell to one of the best fixtures of the summer season, Rooftop Movies, which winds up on Sunday, April 21. Don’t fret, though! Until then, there’s a stellar lineup of cinematic treats, including Zero Dark Thirty, Easy Rider, Inglourious Basterds, Baz Luhrman’s Romeo and Juliet, and the John Hughes classic Ferris Buller’s Day Off. What’s more, the 2013 Miss Universe State Finals will be hosted there on Friday, April 5, featuring DJ Jus Haus live on stage and an appearance by Miss Universe Australia, Renae Ayris! Head to rooftopmovies.com.au for tickets.
BRASSED OFF
Some 41 brass and concert bands from around Australia are heading this way over Easter for The Yamaha Australian National Band Championships. To be held within the grounds of University of Western Australia at Winthrop Hall, Richard Evans and Rob McWilliams will be chief adjudicators, while Dr Robert Childs will be making a special appearance as conductor of Perth’s Royal Agricultural Society of WA Brass. Tickets cost $10 for a single day or $25 for the whole weekend. Children under 13 get in free of charge. Visit nationalbands2013.com for more. 11
PVT
Humans Being Touring nationally in support of their new album, Homosapien, PVT hits The Bakery on Saturday, March 30, presented by X-Press Magazine, with support from Collarbones. BOB GORDON reports. Lawrence Pike is a little fascinated. His band PVT’s new album, Homosapien was completed in May last year and has only recently been released. So while it’s new to our ears, in a manner of speaking it’s quite fresh to his as well. “Definitely,” he agrees, “anytime you make a record, the distance between it being recorded and released is usually when the true nature of it finally becomes revealed to you. When you’re making it you’re not really thinking about
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it in those terms. It’s a weird process, you’re quite deep inside it. “As an entity, on its own, that’s one thing I love about making records - when you put it out into the world it should have its own life. You know what I mean? It should work under its own momentum. “But I love the record and think it’s the best thing we’ve done. I’m certainly excited in that regard.” The era of a new album begins, naturally, with the end of the old one. Returning from touring their last album, Church With No Magic, in 2011, there was really only one thing for PVT to do. “We got back from that in May and pretty much took six months off from doing any show or really even being together, either,” he notes. “Which was really nice, we hadn’t done that in a long time. The previous four or five years had been extremely busy for us, as far as putting out a couple of records and touring ball over the place. “That was really important for us and I feel that in some ways the time off is when this record started, when our minds shifted into a different gear.” Writing became a way of overcoming the dreaded post-tour comedown for Pike, his brother Richard and Dave Miller. The time away from each other meant that they returned to each other’s company with fuller ideas for new music. “We went in with things that were more considered,” Pike recalls, “mainly so that things could have more space. Church With No Magic
PVT was an overwhelming record in some ways, just in being quite dense, part of that had to do with the way that we were feeling at the time. There’s a release of all sorts of energy on that record (laughs), which felt quite necessary.
“The by-product of that is that ideas can feel quite smothered when you throw them up quickly against a wall. One of the benefits of us spending more time writing by ourselves is that you can give ideas a bit more weight. “A lot of people in interviews have said the vocals are much more considered and prominent on this record. They are more prominent, but I don’t know if they’re necessarily a lot more considered; it’s just that there’s a lot more room for them so you can hear what’s actually going on (laughs).” Was that a conscious decision or did the resulting music dictate that in a more organic sense? “Well there’s certain things that you do very deliberately,” Pike responds. “The desire to have a stronger focus on the vocals has more to do with us wanting our ideas to be clearer, in some ways. It’s just something that developed very organically. It probably goes back to 2008 when we were touring Soundtrack My Heart, we were doing a lot of stuff live where we were using a lot of vocals and vocal samples in songs that didn’t originally have them. It just rolled on from there. “Our ethos, generally, is just to do whatever we want. We’re not overly concerned with commercial expectations or anything like that, we just want to make our music and create this world that we like to be in and hope that other people can join us in it (laughs).” Richard Pike’s vocals certainly do stand out more at front and in centre, though it would seem there’s perhaps been too much focus by some on the increased vocal presence. “Yeah, maybe some more cynical people might think that it’s some sort of attempt to be more accessible or commercial, which is a pretty silly idea, really, when you think about what we do. “We’re musicians and we just follow our impulse. And Richard’s always sung; it’s not a case of him wanting to do something different. He’s sung since he was a kid. It’s just that we never wanted to force anything onto the music. (Laughs) It’s been four albums of evolution, you know? Sure, we could’ve done it faster, but it’s just the way it happened.” PVT’s national tour is the first outing for the band since the release of Homosapien, though preparation for the live presentation of the album has been given a head start. “I think we’ve always been a pretty good live band,” Pike notes. “I’ve never liked rehearsing though. I think we find it a bit annoying and boring (laughs). We enjoy playing for people, not so much for ourselves in a smelly room. “We have played a bunch of shows for this record though, a couple in the US and Europe late last year, so we’ve had a change to play the new songs, which is really exciting. We’ve never really had that before, when embarking on an album tour. Usually we make an album in the studio and then go on tour and figure out how to play it. So that’s a nice feeling. And the songs feel fun and easy to play, which is great and also a very nice change from the last record, which was a bit overwhelming when we first went out.” Following the national album tour PVT will again heed the call of the US and Europe. Pike, however, is keen to focus on keeping the homefires burning. “I’d like to definitely do another Australian tour later in the year,” he says. “I think one thing we’d like to achieve on this record is to build our profile at home a lot more and give people a chance to see us play. It’s something I feel we’ve neglected a little bit; not by any conscious decision, we’ve just spent a lot of time overseas and Richard lives in London. “I just feel that we’ve really underplayed in this country, which is disappointing because you want to be most successful at home, in a weird way. In a sentimental way you’d like to have your presence felt there. So hopefully it’ll be a really busy year for us in Australia.” X-Press – First on the street, Wednesdays
THE XX Iridescence
Touring in support of their second album, Coexist, The xx perform at Metro City on Monday, April 1, and Tuesday, April 2 (sold out), presented in Perth by X-Press Magazine. ALASDAIR DUNCAN speaks with vocalist, Romy Madley Croft. The xx’s music has a hushed and intimate quality, and their music sounds like a private conversation between two lovers in the small hours of the morning. They are best appreciated late at night, but unfortunately, that’s not how festival timetables work, and when they toured Australia a few years ago, they found themselves playing shows in the scorching afternoon sun. It felt awkward, as you can imagine. “When you’re starting out, you don’t have the luxury of being able to play in the dark at festivals,” singer Romy Madley Croft says.“I remember feeling very exposed! I was wearing a lot of necklaces, and a lot of black, and my outfit sort of absorbed the heat, which was a bit uncomfortable. I’m very grateful that now, we’ve reached the point where we can play at night.”
came from. The artwork for the album reflects that effect, that iridescence. I love the idea that these two things that don’t mix can still create something very beautiful.” Madley Croft shares vocal duties in The xx with her friend Oliver Sim, their voices intertwining to haunting effect on the band’s gossamer-fine songs. One particularly striking thing about their songs is the ambiguity of the lyrics – they sing about love and loss and heartbreak, but do so without ever mentioning gender. This does not happen by accident. “We don’t like the lyrics to be too specific,” she explains.“We like the idea that the songs are about ‘you and I’. Whether you’re a boy or a girl, and whether you like boys or girls, you can fit yourself into the songs. We never mention places or times for that reason. We like to keep it quite open to interpretation.” W h i l e Th e x x c o u l d g e n e r a l l y b e considered a shy bunch, Coexist sees them coming out of their shells a little – some of its tracks, such as Sunset and Reunion, even hint at a love of clubbing and house music. “I’ve always loved those things,” Madley Croft explains,“but we were on tour so much between the ages of 19 and 22 that I never got to do them. “When we came back from touring and had our time off, we caught up with our friends and went out a lot and did normal stuff. Jamie spent a lot of that time DJing, and he got really into house music at that point, and I guess I did too. It just felt very natural to start putting those sorts of sounds into our music. It’s fun for us. Our live show has developed into something much more upbeat, which is also a lot of fun for us.”
The xx A short while ago, a sample of The xx’s song Intro showed up on the Rihanna track, Drunk On Love. While you wouldn’t make any immediate connection between the two artists, The xx were thrilled to hear their music in this new context. “We’re such fans of Rihanna’s,” Madley Croft says, “and when it came out, we were really excited. She’s one of the artists who inspired us when we were
younger – she and Beyonce. It’s such a different way of making music, when you get to that massive pop star level – it’s very different from what we know – and it felt very interesting to be a part of that. We’d love to write for pop stars like that one day.” Jamie xx also performs a solo show on Sunday, March 31, at The Bakery.
“One day, we saw a puddle of oil and water on the ground. It was really beautiful, and I spent a long time staring at it, because I was really fascinated by the rainbow on the surface. I wondered why it was that way, so I researched it, and found that oil and water don’t mix, they coexist – that’s where the name of the album came from. The artwork for the album reflects that effect, that iridescence. I love the idea that these two things that don’t mix can still create something very beautiful.” When the band return to Australia, they will be playing a series of their own shows, and much to Madley Croft’s relief, they will be doing so under cover of darkness. “I’m really excited to be coming back,” she enthuses. “We’re really excited about the new show. We’ve spent a lot of time on getting it just right.” Of particular interest is the band’s new lighting setup.“It sort of reflects the artwork for Coexist – it’s a very engaging part of the show, and I think it adds to the experience,” Madley Croft continues. “It brings something new, and it’s something that you wouldn’t get just from listening to the album. We’re very happy, first of all, that we get to come back and play in the dark, but also that we get to show off this cool and beautiful thing to people.” As far as their live show is concerned, The xx are very conscious of the need to constantly evolve and change. Anyone who’s seen them more than once will know that the songs are ever-shifting and changing beasts, with new and surprising elements coming out in every performance. “That’s one of the things we really try to do,” Madley Croft says.“We were rehearsing today, working on various different versions of the songs, working on connecting passages to blend them all together. We played a show in New York a few months ago and we wanted to put on a different show to what people would have seen the last time we were in New York. We want to keep evolving, and to keep it interesting for ourselves as well as the people who come to see us.” The xx’s second album, Coexist, was released last year to great acclaim, and Madley Croft says that the inspiration behind its title came from a very peculiar place.“What happened is that one day, we saw a puddle of oil and water on the ground,” she explains. “It was really beautiful, and I spent a long time staring at it, because I was really fascinated by the rainbow on the surface. I wondered why it was that way, so I researched it, and found that oil and water don’t mix, they coexist – that’s where the name of the album www.xpressmag.com.au
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Battleships
Nantes
NANTES
Being Human Beings Sydney alt-pop adventurers Nantes, along with fellow east coasters, Battleships, play the Amplifier on Saturday, March 30, and the Newport Hotel on Sunday, March 31. TRAVIS JOHNSON caught up with main man, David Rogers. Following on from the release of their debut album, Beingsbeing, 2013 is shaping up to be a banner year for Nantes, with the record receiving strong reviews and a national tour kicking off in Perth this weekend. All up, that’s no mean feat for a band that started out as a scratch project for its two founding members, David Rogers and Josiah Eastwood. “Nantes began as a simple recording exercise,” Rogers recalls. “I had a couple of songs written and we had the opportunity to go into a studio and record with producer/engineer Simon Todkill. From there we released a few of the tracks and started playing shows. We now tour with a new lineup featuring; Mathew Gardner, Benjamin Morgan and Timothy Adamson.”
Those early experiments led to the recoding of the band’s eponymous EP, and now Beingsbeing, their inaugural LP. Rogers explains that it has been a process of constant learning and progression. “There’s definitely been a large development of sound and texture on BeingsBeing, we have been developing our sound from the beginning - its always developing and changing, we want what we do to be exciting for us, so everything new we do, we want it to be completely new for us as swell, we want to keep evolving our sound and see how far we can push ourselves in that respect.” Rogers describes their creative process as fairly democratic, but it is clear that he himself is the engine of the band’s writing process, with most of the song ideas originating with him. “It usually starts with a song that I’ve fleshed out a fair amount, which I then bring to Josiah or Simon, then we will build and create from that. All opinions are welcome; if there’s a disagreement we usually just work out a new option. Anything goes.” A key example of the result of this process is the latest single from Beingsbeing, Avid, which - along with Unsatisfy and Drones - was released ahead of the LP launch in a kind of teaser campaign. Rogers maintains that the song stood out from the pack from the very beginning. “Avid popped out as the first single pretty easily,” he tells us. “We knew straight away when that came out that Avid was going to be a good song to get people ready for the album, and is one of our favourite songs we have recorded so far.” As for the rest of the year, Rogers’ mind is firmly on the rapidly approaching national tour. “We are really exited to get out on the road,” he says. “We’ve missed it. There’s also plans for the next album, and hopefully more touring!”
BATTLESHIPS The Anti-Strategy Of Indie
In war, the secret to success is often the ability to take the enemy by surprise, to be perfectly positioned. Or maybe just lucky. If you haven’t heard of Battleships yet, you might find yourself at their mercy before too long. SABIAN WILDE speaks totheir keys/bass player, Jonathan Bowden, in the lead up to their shows with Nantes this weekend. As a general rule, overnight sensations take about 10 years to happen in the music industry. So when Sydneysiders Battleships manage two national tours and the indie-pop Holy Grail of British airplay after forming just over 12 months ago, it’s time to pay attention. It almost seems an anachronism, but Battleships are purveyors of epic, guitar-driven indie pop. There’s not a hint of rap, electro, beats with a ‘z’ or irony. This is the pure stuff. With band member ages ranging between 24 and 29, it’s a pop sensibility that seems to belong to a different age. “I guess our influences are Britpop and post-Britpop,” keys/bass player, Jonathan Bowden says. “The obvious ones are Radiohead, Coldplay, Elbow and
Doves... stuff like that. Our drummer loves Mars Volta but I don’t know if that comes through in the music,” he laughs. “So yeah, our music, melodically, is very British, but there are darker overtones than you generally find in their pop music.” Bowden says that while each band member had done a bit of gigging, Battleships is their first band to ‘have legs’. “We had our first show early last year, after getting together and jamming in late 2011. We’ve been pleasantly surprised by the reception we’ve had. We always just intended to do what we do and never imagined it would take off so quickly, but we’re stoked that it has,” he says. It’s a reception that includes winning the Unearthed slot at Sydney’s Homebake, one successful national tour with Paper Kites, three singles and now, the release of single number four, As You’d Begun and another tour with stablemates, Nantes. All four singles have been collected on their To You release. “We’ve produced it ourselves, the recording and mixing, and then (Australian recording legend) Don Bartley comes along and just polishes it during the mastering,” Bowden says.“With all his years of experience, it just makes it more accessible, I guess. It makes a difference. “When we record, we try to avoid doing anything we can’t replicate live... it’s more about working on the right sounds, the right frequencies and arrangements, rather than a lot of overdubs. Luckily, we can all sing,” he laughs, “or at least contribute to the vocals when we play live. “We try to have the songs be open to interpretation, lyrically, so even when there are those epic swells, we can only ask that the audience feels something... whatever they feel,” he says. “On stage, it’s great when you get those moments when you’re covered in goosebumps, when it’s more than just playing the song again. That’s what you live for, why we do it.”
MORGAN EVANS Newcastle To Nashville
Morgan Evans has the kind of jawline that should sell records. Lucky for him he backs it up with a fair bit of songwriting nous, as his ‘New Artist Of The Year’ win at the Country Music Channel Awards held earlier this month has proved. CHRIS HAVERCROFT reports. Newcastle lad, Morgan Evans, has been raised on a diet of pub rock and good old country music. It was in the power trio Solver where he cut his teeth as a rocker, but as country music was always in his blood there was no doubt it was going to one day win out. His modern take on the genre has seen him rising quickly amongst the pack of up-andcomers of the rural circuit and saw him get handpicked by Taylor Swift to open her last Australian tour. “I have always played country music and my parents always had it on in the house as they are both from the country, so it was pretty natural to me,” says Evans of his move into the country scene.“It wasn’t a shock to my system to play country music in public, it’s just that in Newcastle there was nowhere to play it. When the Road To Tamworth competition started I just went in that as a way to play some country music. As it happened, a couple of years into it I managed to win the thing which was incredible and has opened up many more doors.” Of those doors that have opened, Evens has found himself repeatedly visiting Nashville, the scene for his latest release, While We’re Young. The EP is something that Evans suggests came together through good luck more than through stringent planning. “I have been to Nashville a few times over the past few years and each time that you go back you get more familiar with the place. This time was my first time as a pure writing trip with the idea of putting together an album for later this year. About halfway through the trip we got a call from the label and they suggested we stay for an extra week and 14
Morgan Evans record an EP. I obviously jumped at the chance to do that. The music business is notoriously slow, and this is the first time for me that it has happened this fast so it’s really exciting.” To make the recording happen so quickly, Evans enlisted the help of producer, Jedd Hughes, another Australian guitarist now residing in Nashville. It was an experience that Evans found to be both productive and enjoyable and he has earmarked Hughes as the person he wishes to make his album with if the opportunity arises. “It all happened really quickly this time around and he (Hughes) just opened his phone and happened to know the numbers of some of my favourite musicians in the world so that helped. He also had a good approach as he is a young, guitar playing singer/songwriter guy, so he knew what it was that I was going for, and tried to make sure it wasn’t the same as everything that is being released by everyone else at the moment. I think While We’re Young is a good step towards that.” Evans has no desire to move from his beloved Newcastle at the moment, and is well pleased to be around the country music scene as Australia starts to acknowledge some of its icons more formally. With festivals growing bigger and country radio networks developing, Evans can see it rivalling the pop charts format. “I live in Newcastle near the beach, but the energy, songwriting and the music community in Nashville is unrivalled in terms of my experience. The more time that I can spend over there playing music the better it is for my development. In terms of living there – if I have to do that one day then it’s not too bad - but I just want to get as much out of it musically and go there as often as I can at the moment.”
WEDNESDAY 13 Charms N’ Chills With his sixth solo album out now, Wednesday 13 dials up SHANE PINNEGAR to discuss The Dixie Dead, horror movies and whether shock rockers can still actually shock audiences any more. The Dixie Dead. It conjures up all sorts of connotations, but when it comes to Wednesday 13, it can really only mean a certain thing. “It’s a story about some hillbilly zombies,” he explains. “Basically, The Dixie Dead is also a movie that I’m working on, that I hope to complete later this year as well.” When asked what modern horror inspires him, Wednesday’s reply is blunt. “Nothing! I always go back to what I grew up on – bring in those two little girls off The Shining and how creepy they were, or there’s a few old ‘70s movies that have that grainy, gritty, unproduced, like ‘what the hell is going on behind the camera?’ feel. That’s really the kind of stuff that I like.“ Wednesday has been singing his B-movie horror lyrics for more than 20 years now across umpteen albums with Frankenstein Drag Queens, Bourbon Crow, Gunfire 76, The Murderdolls and as a soloist. Despite the passing of time he still thinks that he and theatrical forefathers, Rob Zombie and Alice Cooper, have the ability to shock audiences. “It’s definitely a lot harder to shock,” he confirms. “I don’t think all the tricks are used up yet.
Wednesday 13
When I go to see Rob Zombie shows he still pulls out stuff that I’m not expecting. Alice Cooper, Marilyn Manson, me, we’ve all got tricks up our sleeves. It’s not like back in the days when Alice walked the stage with a 12 foot boa constrictor around his neck. That was horrifying back then, it’s not so crazy these days. You’ve just got to dig a little deeper. “When I used to play shows and walk in wearing a dress and a wig in a North Carolina bar, singing songs like Mr Motherfucker, it shocked people doing that. So there are definitely ways to still shock people, you’ve just got to be a little more clever at it.” The past five years has seen a huge influx of horror-themed TV, with shows such as Walking Dead, True Blood and American Horror Story charming and chilling audiences around the world, but Wednesday is unsure how much he has helped to bring the horror genre more into the mainstream. “I only hope that because of shows like that people will hear what I do and it will turn them on to what I do. I feel like culture and entertainment has really kind of caught up with what I do now, and I think it’s only a win-win situation for me. I would like to think that I brought some of that to mainstream, but I don’t think so.” Currently on a US tour that started on Wednesday the 13th, Wednesday 13 has big plans for the rest of the year – and Australia is on the agenda. “We’re playing a spring/summer tour which will start in the US and we’re trying to put a horror-themed tour together. It will be like a travelling freak show sort of thing, and hopefully if that works according to plan that’ll be something we will take across the rest of the world, so Australia is definitely on the itinerary. So that’s the tour plans, hopefully people won’t be tired of me by the end of the year and going, ‘Oh, I’m sick of hearing that guy’.” X-Press – First on the street, Wednesdays
DICK DIVER Calendar Days Chapter Music
THE CHEMIST Ballet In The Badlands Create/Control
From the day that The Chemist played their first gigs as part of the Next Big Thing competition in 2007 and scooted their way all the way through to the runner-up position, they have been a band that has turned heads. Lead by wonder kid Benjamin Witt, they were destined to be signed sooner rather than later. Their debut full-length, Ballet In The Badlands, has been in the can for close to 18 months and is now unleashed to deliver on The Chemist’s obvious promise. These musical scholars push the boundaries of the darker regions of blues based romps to great effect. Silver & Gold has fuzzed out appeal and obtuse sounds thrown in for good measure, as Witt channels the verve and charisma of Nick Cave or Tom Waits. Sad Eyes is a majestic number that has all the hallmarks of a stadium filler. A rousing chorus isn’t the only of its charms with its layered guitars and primal beat in no short part adding to its irresistibility. The Chemist make music that makes a lot more sense when the sun goes down.This music should be the soundtrack to such activities as waiting on a secluded street corner or pondering your next poison, yet remains as sexy as it is sinister. Very few albums this grand would have had their origin in the humble grounds of Hamilton Hill. Ballet In The Badlands has a feel that is far more worldly than the band’s members’ location, or tender years, should allow.
Calendar Days rakes its songs into an understated story. It’s ostensibly about a breakup, but it sounds as though the songwriters have plotted the whole tale out carefully, only to shred it, and form songs from strands they pluck out of the bin. Each piece is weighted with a gentle sadness that should speak to a number of young Australians – but many are rife with hope and humour, too. The best moments come when Steph Hughes tempers the loose guitars and wayward raggedness of the male vocals. On Calendar Days, she keens, clear-eyed, over her vowels. On Two Year Lease, she duets with an extraordinary tenderness – her delivery makes the songs so honest that you can feel her character’s loneliness wash through you. Bold tracks bookend the record; Blue & That opens with glowing keys and drum machine that buoy an ambling lyric about getting stoned and pining for an ex. Languages Of Love mirrors it – Al Montfort goofily muses about love, while synth and flanged guitars dapple the track. Neither sounds like Dick Diver, but each serves the record well. Calendar Days is a charming and progressive album for Dick Diver. It charts the loneliness and confusion of a collapsed relationship, opening with despondency, ending with optimism. _ LUKE TELFORD
LOW The Invisible Way Sub Pop/Inertia
_ CHRIS HAVERCROFT
YOUNG DREAMS Between Places Modular
Norwegian collective Young Dreams have attempted to create an album of symphonic wonder. It’s not lacking in ambition, but in attempting to reach too high, Between Places falls short. Core members, Matias Tellez and Rune Vanderskog, had a big vision from the first mutterings of the project in 2009. Rather than rent a studio, they decided to build one, begging and borrowing equipment from their friends – among them, Erlend Øye of Kings Of Convenience. Tellez and Vanderskog wanted to create a grand, dense, summery pop album, in contrast to the damp, dark and claustrophobic atmosphere of their hometown, Bergen. It clearly owes a huge debt to the experimentalism of Brian Wilson at his Pet Sounds peak. The driving drum machine and seaside strings of Footprints starts the album off promisingly, before the songs become unmemorable and indistinguishable from one another. The nods to The Beach Boys – the identikit chanting and harmonies – also become tedious before too long. Frankly, you’re on a hiding to nothing when you make an album that will invite such unavoidable, strong comparisons to Pet Sounds – a piece of pop perfection that even a sonic genius like Brian Wilson could only consider making after mastering his craft on 10 prior LPs. You can’t fault Young Dreams for dreaming big. Unfortunately their ambitious debut is, if not quite an epic fail, certainly not a total success.
It wouldn’t be Low’s style to release a double deluxe special edition album to celebrate 20 years in the business. Instead we get a familiar collection of intimate ballads from the Minnesotan trio and, thankfully, their 10th album is one of their finest. The unique selling point of The Invisible Way is Mimi Parker’s vocals. The drummer takes lead on around half of the 11 tracks and does a grand job. We’re more used to hearing her harmonising with guitarist and husband Alan Sparhawk on previous Low material, but alone she is revealed to have a startling voice, perfect to tackle the themes of depression heard throughout this record. So Blue finds euphoria in mutual isolation, powerful piano lifting Parker’s repeated refrain of ‘So blue/with you’ all the way to the heavens. It’s a perfect example of how producer Jeff Tweedy (Wilco) keeps things in check. The song could become overwrought but he treats it with the most delicate of touches, giving Parker the space she needs to simultaneously break your heart and fill it with joy. Her voice can also be unsettling. Touching on religion on Holy Ghost, accompanied by just acoustic guitar and brushed drums, Parker sends shivers down your spine as she sings, ‘I feel the hands/But I don’t see anyone’. On the hymn-like closer, To Our Knees, she sings of love and nature and is more affecting than any Greenpeace campaign. The duets and husband/ wife harmonies are still present though, with Mother demonstrating that Sparhawk and Parker sing as well together as they ever have. Two decades in, Low might well have hit their all-time high. The Invisible Way is a beautiful country rock gem. _ DAVID WILD
_ DAVID WILD
BLACK REBEL MOTORCYCLE CLUB Specter At The Feast
SPIT SYNDICATE Sunday Gentlemen Obese
Specter At The Feast was originally planned as a double album, and the distinction between the tone of the first and second half reinforces this, but as it stands, the tracks that made the final cut form a solid body of work. It plays like a memorial, winding through different stages of grief. The album was written following the death of bassist/vocalist Robert Levon Been’s father Michael backstage at a festival performance in 2010. The first single, Let The Day Begin, is a cover of one of Michael Been’s songs and has a decidedly un-BRMC elation to it. The first track, Firewalker, begins with a two-minute instrumental and plays like the haunting score of a tragic film. Returning and Lullaby are similarly melancholic ballads, beautiful in their lyrics and instrumentation. The style then switches to the more familiar, bluesy rock of their more recent albums,with the triptych of Hate The Taste, Rival and Teenage Disease, before coming full circle with the transformative Lose Yourself, which plays out the album with Been’s mournful vocals and Peter Hayes’ fuzzed out guitar rising to a finish – as close to triumphant as such a grief-soaked record can get – before fading to a discordant silence. Not as immediately gripping as Beat The Devil’s Tattoo,Specter At The Feast is more of a slow burner. Given time to breathe, it’s a rewarding experience for those willing to see BRMC try something different.
Sydney lads Spit Syndicate have gone from strength to strength recently, from supporting Cypress Hill to picking up an ARIA nod. Sunday Gentlemen is the third record from the Inner West duo, and they’ve certainly not held back on spitting it how it is. Nick Lupi and Jimmy Nice seem to have penned a verse on just about everything that crosses the mind of your average 20-something Australian – from asylum seekers, to relationships, to finding your feet in a big bad world – but for all the earnest soapboxing, there is something about Sunday Gentlemen that falls short of the mark. The worst part is that you really wish it didn’t. Take opening track, Amazing, which features a line such as, ‘try to write an album/get a couple spins/ throw pussy in/that’s what you call juggling’, which seems to fit in with the casual objectification of women that many people still expect from hip hop; and then a few tracks down the line comes Kill That Noise, imploring us to do away with slut-shaming and double standards. It’s a minor but nevertheless disappointing contradiction. Meanwhile, Beauty In The Bricks, outshines lead single, Folly, in leaps and bounds, thanks to the stripped-back production, and brings a lived-in rawness to the record.The ubiquitous Illy and Drapht make guest appearances, but their presence doesn’t particularly add to or detract from the tracks they appear on. When it wants to, this record possesses a maturity and a freshness lacking in a lot of Australianproduced hip hop at the moment. But when it falls, it falls very flat indeed.
_ NATALIE AMAT
_ MARISSA DEMETRIOU
Cooperative
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A PREVIEW of EVERYTHING HAPPENING IN THE PERTH SCENE this april ADVERTISE: ADVERTISING@XPRESSMAG.COM.AU
EAT TO THE BEATS
It’s all set to be a safari of food from around the world plus some sensational sounds for all at the free City of Wanneroo Global Beats & Eats Festival. Presented by ActBelong-Commit, it all happens on Saturday, April Natalie Pa’apa’a, Blue 6, from 5pm at Reserve King Brown Liddell in Girrawheen. Enjoy everything from an American burger to Argentinean ribs or Colombian empanadas. Food vendors will operate until 9pm, while a world class line-up of performers will take to the stage including headline act Blue King Brown and Perth’s very own Grace Barbe. See you there!
SCITECH AFTER DARK
Scitech After Dark
Are you ready for science fiction to become a reality? Scitech is set to open its doors on Saturday, April 13, from 6-10pm, for a Science Fiction themed event for adults. Come along dressed in your favourite futuristic fashions and channel your inner geek chic as you explore Scitech without the kids. Grab a drink from the bar and head over to the Science Fiction, Science Future exhibition where you can be mimicked by a robot, use mind control to your advantage, experiment with teleportation and test out what it would be like to be invisible. Scitech’s old-time favourite exhibits are bound to rekindle some childhood memories and with more than 100 of them across the floor, there is plenty to see and do to keep you entertained throughout the night. Tickets are $17 through www.scitech.org.au.
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THE NUMBER OF THE BEST
Tinpan Orange
The Perth Theatre Company presents Caryl Churchill’s enigmatic The 21st Folkworld Fairbridge Festival is just around and provocative play, the corner. This years event features 80 acts on A Number, starring three stages over three days, from Friday, April legendary Australian 26, until Sunday, April 28. It’s Western Australia’s After dominating the European scene with scorching comedian and actor premier family-friendly folk and roots event, with sets in Paris, London, and Norway, The Potbelleez are Kim Gyngell, at Studio featured artists including Mama Kin, Frank Yamma, bringing home the bacon with an Australia-spanning Underground from Tinpan Orange, and Kristina Olsen. Head to tour to promote their new single, Saved In A Bottle. Kim Gyngell, A Number April 11-27. Also starring Friday, April 26 sees them storm Capitol for what is folkworldfestival.com.au or Moshtix to book tickets. award-winning WAAPA bound to be one of the must-see gigs of the year. graduate Brent Hill, the piece deals with a young man’s emotional turmoil when he discovers that his father (Gyngell) cloned him some 30 years ago. Tickets are available through Ticketek.
Potbelleez
THAT’S ALL FOLK
THIS LITTLE PIGGY CAME HOME
ZARM
Turnstyle
ZARMED AND DANGEROUS TURN IT ON
Reggae/soul/roots collective ZARM have been entertaining local audiences for some time now, so they are understandably excited about the release of their debut EP, Elephone, set to be launched on Saturday, April 13, at The Bakery. Like-minded good friends Grace Barbe, Odette Mercy & Her Soul Atomics, Pimps Of Sound, DJs Corby and Flex join the party and you can be assured it will be one. Tickets are on sale now from nowbaking.com.au.
Record Store Day Australia
RECORD THIS
For the fifth year running, Australia is set to pull the crowds into stores across the nation for Record Store Day Australia. To get into the spirit, Record Store Day Australia is counting down the days to Saturday, April 20, on their Facebook page with a daily vote on best album/videoclip. Visit facebook.com/ RecordStoreDayAustralia to vote and check out the stores in WA that are celebrating this great occasion.
Following the successful Reactivated Turnstyle show with original members Adem K, PJ and Dean Davies back in 2010, the much-loved Perth indie band have returned with all four members from the 1998-2000 line-up, completed by Todd Griffiths. At the behest of RTRFM, Turnstyle have accepted a spot on this year’s In The Pines 20th Anniversary Edition as well as adding an exclusive sideshow on Friday, April 19, at the Rosemount Hotel, with The Tigers, The Dianas and Ermine Coat. Don’t miss out.
The Griswolds
NATIONAL STAMPOON
Sydney’s The Griswolds have had so much fun with their new single, The Courtship Of Summer Preasley, that they’ve decided to commemorate it with a quick run round the state capitals. Bless! This marks the latest phase of a meteoric rise for the band, who only formed in February last year. They’re set to embark on their first international tour later in the year before heading back to the studio to lay down the follow up to 2012’s Heart Of A Lion EP. You can catch them on Sunday, April 28, at the Newport Hotel in Fremantle.
AQWA Silver Jubilee
AQWA 25
Perth’s hidden treasure, AQWA, celebrates its 25th birthday this April with a bounty of events including a treasure hunt through its amazing exhibits. Search for silver while surrounded by giant sharks, stingrays, turtles and hundreds of glittering fish in the largest single aquarium in Australia, AQWA’s Shipwreck Coast.There are rare and unique sea creatures as well as the jewel of the ocean, a living coral reef, plus an underwater adventure be with a deadly line-up of sea creatures.Explore it all for your chance to win one of 25 prizes – including a 1kg bar of silver, iPad minis, a pearl pendant, a Go Pro silver edition camera plus much more! The celebrations start on Saturday, April 13, with divers descending AQWA’s main aquarium with an icy fish cake for the sharks. The full schedule of events can be found at www.aqwa.com.au and if you visit during the 25 days of celebrations (ending Tuesday, May 7) your name and favourite sea creature will be included on a commemorative wall. AQWA is open daily from 10am-5pm and is located just 20 minutes north of the city at Hillarys Boat Harbour.
X-Press – First on the street, Wednesdays
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ARTBAR @ AGWA
Mad Caddies
HITS & PITS 2013
The Hits & Pits 2013 national roadshow stops into Metropolis Fremantle on Monday, April 1. It’s a punk rock and ska-fest o’plenty, starring Mad Caddies, Good Riddance, A Wilhelm Scream, Voodoo Glow Skulls, The Flatliners, Diesel Boy, One Dollar Short, Jamie Hay, Jen Buxton, Totally Unicorn and Paper Arms. Tickets are on sale now via heatseeker.com.au.
Now into its fifth season, ARTBAR brings you four nights of brilliant live music made up of international and national acts. Tickets to ARTBAR gigs also includes entr y to the current MoMA exhibition on the night, prior to the Katy Steele main performance. Per forming under the stars to open the 2013 ARTBAR season, singer/ songwriter Katy Steele is back from New York on Thursday, April 11, while Tex Perkins & Charlie Owen will perform an intimate show at AGWA on Thursday, May 9. Tickets are available through ticketek.com. au or at the AGWA Box Office.
Dying Fetus The Black Seeds
SEED SOWN
Described by Rolling Stone as being the best reggae band on the planet right now, New Zealand reggaesoul heavyweights The Black Seeds have announced an Australia tour, which will see them docking in to Metro Freo, Wednesday, April 24. Last year saw the release of their fifth studio album, Dust And Dirt, which was lauded by both critics and fans alike. Tickets are $40+bf from metropolisfremantle.com.au.
METAAAAAAL
Since emerging during the height of the death metal explosion in the early ‘90s, the delightfully named Dying Fetus have evolved into one of the premiere extreme death metal/grindcore acts leading the way from the global metal underground. They have once again combined an innovative mix of technical virtuosity and catchy song structures on their latest album, Reign Supreme, which they are touring the world on as you read. See them with Putrid Pile at Amplifier on Tuesday, April 23. Tickets are on sale now from the usual outlets.
Sons of Rico
GO TO RICO
Perth indie rockers Sons Of Rico have unleashed their new album, In Rico Glaciers, a sordid collection of tales of cannibalism, infidelity, and moral terror. To celebrate they’re embarking on a nationwide tour by way of launching it. Catch them at Amplifier on Friday, April 5, and at Settlers Tavern in Margaret River on Saturday, April 6.
Big Scary
GET YOUR PHIL OF BIG SCARY
Melbourne’s Big Scary have announced a national tour, on the back of their latest single, Phil Collins, a preview of their forthcoming new album Not Art, due out mid-year. The alt-pop outfit’s Tom Iansek and Jo Syme will expand their live set-up to include an additional player, hinting at the fuller sound to be found on Not Art. They’ll be joined by Caitlin Park at Mojos and Amplifier on Saturday-Sunday, April 18-19. Tickets from heatseeker.com.au.
Silence In The House Of God
LUNA TUNES
Heading into Easter, Luna Palace Cinemas continue to enjoy and celebrate all that is French with the Alliance Française French Film Festival 2013, presenting the best French cinema on offer - featuring comedies, romances, dramas and a compelling selection of documentaries; screening at Paradiso, Windsor and Luna on SX. See sensational performances by stars such as Sabine Azema, Audrey Tautou, Juliette Binoche, Pierre Ardit and lots more including the Closing Night special event featuring the masterpiece of cinema Les Enfants du Paradis! You can also see the phenomenally passionate and romantic Rust & Bone starring Marion Cotillard in a film by Jacques Audiard (The Prophet) as well as Bill Murray in Hyde Park on Hudson, a bona fide feel-good crowd pleaser and considered ‘this season’s The King’s Speech”. Over the Easter weekend you can continue to enjoy the pinnacle of ballet in the Bolshoi Ballet’s stunning grandiose production, La Bayadere. On a different cinematic note entirely is Silence In The House Of God, in which Oscar-winning filmmaker Alex Gibney exposes the secret crimes of a charismatic priest who abused over 200 deaf children in a school under his control. The film shows the face of evil that lurks behind the smiles and denials of authority figures and institutions who believe that because they stand for good they can do no wrong. A film for the times indeed. For more, head to lunapalace.com.au. www.xpressmag.com.au
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Frank Turner
FRANK TURNER Unsold Soul
Touring in support of a new album, Tape Deck Heart, Frank Turner & The Sleeping Giants hit Amplifier on Thursday, April 4, with support from Grim Fandango and Kill Teen Angst. RICK WARNER reports. “The first time I ever got called a sell-out was when I was in a band and it was our first tour in a van that had seats in it instead of just sleeping on top of our equipment – and a bunch of people, no shit, called us sell-outs.” On the day of this interview, it had just been announced that punk rock troubadour and self-fashioned DIY spirit, Frank Turner, had made the switch for his US licensing – from the much-lauded independent label Epitaph Records to Interscope Records, a corporate behemoth under the Universal Music Group umbrella.
“The first time I ever got called a sell-out was when I was in a band and it was our first tour in a van that had seats in it instead of just sleeping on top of our equipment – and a bunch of people, no shit, called us sell-outs.” Turner, perhaps having already fielded questions about the switch all morning, is quick to defend the choice. “I know some people are going to be dismissive about it,” he says with a sigh. “Every single step, if you even vaguely come from a punk rock background, is going to be accompanied by people shouting obscenities at you. So, I’m kind of getting used to it by now.” He pauses, and then adds with an air of finality, “At the end of the day, I wouldn’t do it if I thought it was going to change the way I make music.” Turner’s latest studio album, Tape Deck Heart, is due out mid-April. After the success of his previous effort, 2011’s England Keep My Bones (which culminated in a sold-out Wembley Arena gig for 12,000 fans), Turner chose to work with US record producer, Rich Costey, a man whose panel work has been worthy of the likes of stadium rockers Muse and Foo Fighters. Turner and his 18
band The Sleeping Souls left dreary London to head off to make the record in Los Angeles. “We might as well have been on the moon, for all that we saw of America,” he says. “We basically didn’t ever leave the studio.” Costey proved a hard taskmaster, pushing the band to their limits through countless late nights. “We called him Sauron because he’s the all-seeing eye,” he jokes. “He sees every detail. He made me and all the guys in my band reach really deep in ourselves to pull out something that we might not otherwise have pulled out. For example, there was one song where Rich made me do 42 vocal takes… usually I do five. He just kept saying, ‘There’s something more you can give to this song’, and it drove me up the fucking wall! But he was right and the final result is better than it otherwise would’ve been.” As a preview of Tape Deck Heart, Turner released the song, Four Simple Words, on his label’s website back in December. It’s a relief to see that the cliché of “a band from England records an album in LA, then suddenly gets around in a sports car with a porn-star girlfriend,” that Turner drily describes, didn’t actually come to pass. His earnest songwriting is still intact. The unaffectedness and warmth that comes through when listening to his music still makes you want to share a beer with him – and it’s not just me who feels this way. Last year, UK brewer Signature Brew offered to make a beer for the singer – surely a dream come true for most punk rockers. However, he seems more humble than a man with his name on a beer should be. “I feel like, on the very rare occasions when I am home and I invite a guest around, to open up my fridge and just have a ton of beer with my name on it would be a little bit OTT.” He’ll soon be enjoying a nice cold frothy, as he returns to Australia to tour the album in April. It will be his fourth time down under, and his third with regular travelling buddies Dropkick Murphys. Having just completed a mini Euro tour and a string of US dates with them, Turner almost seems inseparable from the Bostonian Celtic punk band. However, he did confess that when he comes to Australia in April, he will manage to tear himself away from the guys long enough for some headline shows with just The Sleeping Souls, as he will do here in Perth. But these are the kind of shows Turner loves to do. During his last tour of Australia he took time to play the less-travelled rock’n’roll paths through the Northern Territory and North Queensland. And while he gushes about the beauty of regional Australia, it was in Australia’s favourite commodities trading partner, China, that Turner discovered his most unexpected fan base. “I went to China in 2010 and did a sort of illegal tour. I didn’t really have the proper permits. I went over and did eight shows in China, and it was mad – like really mad, in a good way.” He then adds quickly, just in case the Chinese authorities get a hold of this interview, “I’m going back there again just before I get to Australia and we do have proper permits this time around!” X-Press – First on the street, Wednesdays
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X-Press – First on the street, Wednesdays
JOHN M. CHU COMMANDER IN CHIEF A quick perusal of John M. Chu’s c.v. doesn’t exactly make you think he’s a natural choice to take over the reins of G.I. Joe, the venerable action toy franchise turned blockbuster action movie series. After all, this is the guy who has directed not only two Step Up movies, but two Justin Bieber concert films. However, Chu, now 33, was such a huge fan of the Joes as a kid, he went after the assignment with everything he’s got.
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“I went hard,” he tells us. “I had to convince them, having just finished the Justin Bieber movie, that I could handle G.I. Joe. I was a big fan growing up; I used to play with the toys, watch the cartoon all the time, and I knew what I wanted to see in a G.I. Joe movie. Executives didn’t necessarily grow up with G.I. Joe, so it was helpful for us to have a great conversation about what I wanted to see in the movie.” Still, Chu understood that his desire to see his own favourite storylines and elements had to be balanced with an understanding of the wants of the broader Joe fanbase. After all, G.I. Joe has been around since 1964 and existed across a wide array of media, including toys, television, comics, games and now film. CONTINUED ON PAGE 22
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The Rats of Tobruk - From War to Remembrance
DON’T MENTION THE WAR
From War to Remembrance - A Living History of the RSL is an exhibition presented by the RSL and the State Library of Western Australia. Incorporating art installations, interactive displays and an impressive collection of artefacts and photographs, the show celebrates the formation, purpose and activities of the RSL. A number of activities are planned, including guest speakers, guided tours, and a screening of the classic 1944 film The Rats of Tobruk. The exhibition runs from Saturday, April 20 until Sunday, June 30 and entry is free. For more information, go to rslcenenary.org.au
Drawn From Sound
SOUND AS A POUND
Curated by Perth composer and sound artist Cat Hope, Drawn From Sound is an exhibition of graphic scores - musical notation described through the language of colour, vision, film, sculpture and more. The exhibition is sponsored by TURA New Music and includes works from Philip Brophy, Samuel Gillies, Percy Grainger, Lindsay Vickery and more. It runs at Spectrum Project Space from Thursday, March 28 until Friday, April 12. Head to drawnfromsound.com for more information.
A HEAD FOR SIN
Dwayne Johnson and Jon M. Chu CONTINUED FROM COVER “There’s so much expectation and everyone wants different things,” Chu agrees. “The original G.I. Joe guys want the real gritty war movie, and then another group wants the cartoon, another group wants the crazy toy vehicles and stuff like that, and then another group wants the last movie, because a lot of people saw the last movie. It was a lot of balancing. And because it’s a mashup movie - literally, it’s part 007, part Western, part military, part ninja movie - I think the studio had a hard time understanding the tone of it. So I just had to trust what I think I felt was what G.I. Joe was like in order to balance all those things. “That’s why we brought Joe Colton (Bruce Willis) into the movie - we just thought we should bring together everything that people expect and put them in the movie. That’s kind of the power of G.I. Joe. So I expect ninjas - I expect crazy ninjas. I expect a big, big action hero, so let’s get The Rock. I expect a legend from before that tells everyone that it’s not
about laser guns and crap, it’s about the man inside, the soldier inside, the original soldier, so we got Bruce Willis.” One thing Chu was adamant on including was more ninja action focussing on the rivalry between fan favourite character, Snake Eyes (Ray Park) and white-clad assassin, Storm Shadow (Byung-hun Lee), something that the first film only lightly explored. “The first film established what Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow was,” Chu says. “What their rivalry was, and I think you needed to have that in order to add another layer, so I was very lucky to come into the second layer, which shows that Storm Shadow isn’t white or black, actually - he’s an individual. He’s a lone warrior with a lot of complicated issues. Lee said ‘I want to bring the rage into this character now. He was so precise and fine in the last one, but I want to bring the rage now. I want him to bleed in the white mask.’ So that’s where we took it.” _TRAVIS JOHNSON
Heads and Sex
Jordy Hewitt’s second solo art exhibition, Heads and Sex, explores notions of eroticism, lust and isolation. A series of drawings and paintings that trace the line between desire and fear, her work is haunting and evocative. The exhibition runs at Fremantle’s Feat Your Eyes Gallery from Friday, April 5 to Wednesday April 17. Go to feastyoureyes.net.au for further information.
SHACKLED TO THE PAST
Perth writer/director Jaginder Singh’s ambitious short historical drama is complete! Shackles of the Batavia tells the story of two Batavia mutineers who are marooned on the hostile coast of Western Australia in the early 1600s. The premiere is at Event Cinemas Innaloo Wednesday, April 10, and tickets are available from thebataviamovie.eventbrite.com.au
Innovation Week
IT’S NEVER TOO LATE TO INNOVATE
April is Innovation Month at the Northbridge Piazza, a celebration of technology, creativity and ingenuity. A range of activities and presentations are on the cards, including zumba and tai chi session, lots of hands-on educational opportunities and movie screenings including Wall-E, Brave, Inception and Looper. For more info, hit up showmeperth.com.au
KICKSTART MY ART
Part of National Youth Week, the 2013 KickstART Festival runs in the Perth Cultural Centre from Friday, April 5 until Friday, May 31. Now in its third year, the festival showcases the artistic skills and endeavours of our youth, as well as offering an ingress into the world of art. With a wide range of exhibitions and activities, there’s sure to be something here to suit every taste. Go to kickstartfestival.com.au for more.
VENN DIAGRAM
Two new shows open at Venn Gallery on Friday, March 29. Western Australian artist Tom Freeman undertakes his first major solo exhibition, Formative, a collection of paintings and sculptures that explore form, colour, process and materials; while Kate McMillan’s presents her new installation, In the shadow of the past, this world knots tight. Both shows run until Friday, May 10. Go to venn.net for more.
I Wish
I WISH
Train In Vain Directed by Hirokazu Koreeda Starring Koki Maeda, Ohshiro Maeda, Nene Ohtsuka, Kirin Kiki, Jo Odagiri, Kyara Ochida Japanese writer/director Hirokazu Koreeda (Nobody Knows, After Life) again turns his attention to the tribulations faced by children trying to make sense of an adult world in this somewhat shapeless but poignant comedy-drama. Koichi (Koki Maeda) lives with his mother (Nene Ohtsuka) and grandmother (Kirin Kiki) in the city of Kagoshima, in the lee of a rumbling volcano. His younger brother, the rambunctious Ryunosuke (Ohshiro Maeda), lives in Hakata with their father (Jo Odagiri). Their parents’ separation is a fairly recent trauma and, though he tries not to show it, Koichi longs to reunite his sundered family. The construction of a new bullet train line connecting the two cities strikes him as the ideal opportunity; he hears a playground legend that anyone witnessing two bullet trains passing each other can make a wish and have it granted, and so he begins planning a reunion with Ryunosuke at a town midway along the rail line. Koreeda has always excelled at getting great performances out of child actors, but his skills are buoyed here by the masterstroke casting decision of having the two lead characters be played by real life brothers Koki and Ohshiro. Although only ten and eight, respectively, at the time of filming, they were already seasoned performers, having worked as a stand up comedy team, MaedaMaeda, for three years. 22
This, coupled with their inherent comfort around each other, lends their performances a palpable sense of naturalism. That naturalism is mirrored in almost every aspect of the film. Although there is a plotline here, and one that builds to a beautiful conclusion, for the most part Koreeda seems content to just hang out with his sprawling cast of characters, dipping in and out of their lives to see what they’ve been up to. Every character here comes fully formed, with their own needs, desires, fears and history; Koichi’s friend Megumi (Kyara Ochida) wants to be an actress, another child mourns for a dead pet, the boys’ father dreams of being a rock star. Often one gets the sense that the camera could simply follow one of the supporting players, Slacker style, and we’d find a whole and equally engaging story waiting for us there. But though Koreeda is clearly fascinated by every player in his milieu, Koichi and Ryunosuke remain the film’s emotional core. Although the film’s lackadaisical pace and meandering structure might indicate that the film lacks drive, it’s impossible not to be moved by Koichi’s need to believe that the bullet train will heal his family. It’s easy to imagine a more sentimental director letting the story veer into the realms of magical realism, but Koreeda refrains from such cheap theatricality, and the result is all the more powerful and moving. A profound and trenchant look at childhood, I Wish is well worth the effort to see. It’s not a kids’ film, it’s a film about kids, and those are notoriously hard to pull off. The fact that Koreeda has done so repeatedly over the course of his career is remarkable.
Rust and Bone
RUST AND BONE One From The Heart
Directed by Jacques Audiard Starring Marion Cotillard, Matthias Schoenaerts, Armand Verdure, Corinne Masiero, Bouli Lanners
Taking a couple of short stories by Canadian author Craig Davidson as his jumping off point, Jacques Audiard has followed up the acclaimed A Prophet with this frank and unsentimental love story. Alain (Matthias Schoenaerts) is a destitute single father who moves in with his sister (Corinne Masiero) while looking for a job to support himself and his five year old son, Sam (Armand Verdure). Finding work as a nightclub bouncer, he encounters Stephanie (Marion Cotillard), who is injured in a fight. Stephanie, who trains orcas in a marine park, later loses both her legs in an accident, and is at her lowest ebb when she impulsively calls Alain, who had given her his number. His frank acceptance of her state and refusal to pity her catalyses her return to emotional functionality and, almost inevitably, their relationship becomes physical. Yet Alain is a selfish man who hates being beholden to anyone, and the exact nature of their relationship is constantly in question. Putting the plot down in words does Audiard’s film a disservice; what we have here is a work of incredible humanity and truth. It’s an examination of the way emotionally damaged people strive to connect, and both Cotillard and Schoenaerts _TRAVIS JOHNSON inhabit their characters completely. Indeed, Cotillard’s
utterly compelling combination of vulnerability and strength firmly cements her place as one of the best actors currently working. There’s never a moment when the characters are not wholly believable, their choices and reactions completely plausible within the context of the narrative – it’s stunning. Au d i a rd, fo r h i s p a r t, f ra m e s t h e proceedings with an idiosyncratic eye, managing to bring out the emotional resonance of his story without ever straying into mawkish sentimentality. Alain and Stephanie as characters aren’t given to talking about their feelings; their lives are mediated through their physical experience. He has ambitions as an MMA fighter, she is obviously renegotiating her physical place in the world. Yet we are invited in to the inner lives of these inarticulate people without the film ever resorting to voiceover or excessive monologues, and that in itself is worth celebrating. Audiard certainly knows his way around a camera, and there are framing and lighting choices here that are simply jaw-dropping, but it’s never done in a showy or self-indulgent manner; everything he does is at the service of the story. And it is a great story: tender and truthful and emotionally real in a way that so few films are. In Rust and Bone we have a film that, on paper, sounds ridiculous: a down and out kickboxer helps an amputee whale trainer rediscover her zest for life? Really? Yet this is, far and away, one of the most resonant and affecting films of recent years. Many critics lauded A Prophet as a masterpiece. This proves Audiard is capable of producing more than one. _TRAVIS JOHNSON X-Press – First on the street, Wednesdays
GI Joe: Retaliation
G.I. JOE: RETALIATION Toys For The Boys
Directed by Jon M. Chu Starring Dwayne Johnson, Bruce Willis, Adrianne Palicki, Ray Park, D.J. Cotrona, Lee Byung-hun, Jonathan Pryce, Ray Stevenson G.I. Joe returns to the big screen in an explosion of overt silliness and macho posturing, having jettisoned most of its cast and any pretense of realism or subtlety, and it’s all the better for it. Following directly on from the first film – and with a brief but clunky recap for those who never bothered checking in to the Stephen Sommers-helmed G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra – Retaliation sees the elite G.I. Joe anti-terrorist team decimated and disavowed by order of the shape-shifting Zartan posing as the U.S. President (Jonathan Pryce, chewing the scenery with relish). The survivors, led by Roadblock (Dwayne Johnson), strive to clear their names while at the same time trying to foil a plot by Cobra Commander (sadly not a returning Joseph Gordon-Levitt) to hold the world hostage with an orbiting weapons system. It is exactly as preposterous as it sounds, and your enjoyment depends entirely on whether you’re willing to engage with the film at a base and juvenile level. This is a movie where the entire plot judders to a halt for an extended cliff-side ninja fight centred on Ray Park’s Snake Eyes, where retired General Colton (Bruce Willis) keeps an arsenal hidden in his home for emergencies, where RZA crops up as
a blind martial arts master, and everybody has a silly tough guy codename. It’s a mashup of everything ten year old boys thought was cool in 1986, and it mostly works. Mostly. Every so often director Jon M. Chu tries to inject some pathos, with predictably laughable results. A meaningful conversation between Lady Jaye (Adrianne Palicki) and Flint (human test pattern D.J. Cotrona, here because Channing Tatum has an actual career now) stops the film dead in its tracks, although Chu gets some good mileage out of the history between Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow (Lee Byung-hun). Chu mounts the action scenes effectively, and it’s a given that his background in filming dance sequences – he directed Step Up 2 and Step Up 3D - has endowed him with an astute understanding of how to frame and cut human movement. It also helps that Chu is an avowed fan of the property, and he approaches it with... well, respect is the wrong word, but he has an innate understanding of what works and what doesn’t with G.I. Joe, balancing fanboyish attention to detail with a populist’s grasp of broad audience appeal. There’s an evident enthusiasm to his work here, which lends the proceedings an infectious sense of fun. Ultimately, that’s what elevates G.I. Joe: Retaliation above the usual rank and file brainless popcorners: it never takes itself too seriously. It’s a romp, a party, a sideshow attraction, fully aware of its toy line origins and revelling in them. Fans will be well pleased, and newcomers should find themselves enjoying the ride much more than anticipated. _TRAVIS JOHNSON
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PERTH INTERNATIONAL COMEDY FESTIVAL LAUNCH Comedians and connoisseurs of comedy were both out in force on Friday, March 22, to inaugurate the 2013 Perth International Comedy Festival at The Astor.
Peta, Enzo, Tania and Fiona
Photos by Daniel Grant
Claire and Ben
Nikita and Laurence
Leonie and Rochelle
Cinnamon, Lauren, Sean
Natalie, Nat and Amanda
Gordon, Asher and Greg
Carmen, Jodie, Trevor and Joanne
Laura and Yvette
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ROB TORRES Flights of Funny
When we talk to professional street performer Rob Torres, he’s sitting in a New York airport, waiting to catch a flight to his parents’ home in Florida for a couple of days’ downtime. “For the past five months I have been headlining at the Cirque d’Hiver in Paris,” he explains. “It is one of the most beautiful circus theatres left in the world. It was built by Napoleon in 1852 and is the last circus building still in Paris.” That’s just one leg of a journey that has, so far, lasted 21 years. Torres fell in love with the theatre in high school, and after graduation went straight into the Ringling Bros. Circus School, where he developed a fascination with the art of clowning, which he describes as “...a bit of theatre and circus fused together.” Since then, he has supported himself almost exclusively through performance, although he admits that it hasn’t always been easy, particularly in the early years. “It took my father especially a few years to adjust to the idea of this abnormal career,” he recalls. “Like most parents he just wanted to know I would be ok and could take care of myself and early on in any showbiz career, especially a circus and clown career. It took a lot of work to just survive until I developed as a successful artist.” Funnily enough, Torres’ father also serves, at least in part, as one of the key inspirations for his act. “My character was inspired by my father who is a very happy go lucky soul that loves to joke and laugh. Even some of the costuming is taken from his normal style which I find endearing and naturally comical at times. I blended that with an amplified sense of my own wonder and childlike amusement in the world and it all came out to be a bit of a parody of an American tourist and a bit of an immature adult. I have had to do different tasks in different shows, but the character is the mainstay through it all.” That character, with its built-in universal appeal and roots in such comedic archetypes as Charlie Chaplin’s Little Tramp and Buster Keaton’s hapless heroes, has allowed Torres to travel the world performing for years. Indeed, he admits to not really having a permanent residence. He estimates that he tours “...between 10 and 11 months of the year and I visit with friends and family the other month or two. I have been on the road now almost a decade without a ‘home.’ Sometimes I have a contract that will keep me in a place for a few months like the contract I just finished in Paris
Rob Torres and sometimes I am jetsetting through four or five countries in a month. The great thing about this is I truly feel at home in the world and have come to see how much we have in common and how small our differences really are when we get down to the real and important things in life. My home is the world now and it is a beautiful home.” _TRAVIS JOHNSON Rob Torres performs at various spots around Fremantle this Easter Weekend as part of the 2013 Fremantle Street Arts Festival. Go to fremantle. wa.gov.au for details.
ANGOVE COMES ALIVE PIGEONHOLE FLOCK ON THE MOVE
Our fabulous, feathered friends at Pigeonhole are pleased to announce that they’re set to open another new store at enex100 sometime near the Pigeonhole end of April. Though their expansive pop-up at 140 William will close its doors around the same time, the new nest is set to be just as jam-packed, with all the best fashions, home wares, photography and accessories that we’ve come to expect from the Pigeonhole crew. Stay up to date with all things Pigeonhole by heading to pigeonhole.com.au or facebook.com/pigeonholeaustralia.
The heart and soul of North Perth, Angove Street will come alive with retailers, performers and culinary kings and queens on Sunday, April 8, when the Angove Street Festival returns for another year of good times. Paying tribute to the amazing cafes, restaurants and boutiques that call North Perth home, the Festival will feature stalls from the likes of Sidney Loves Audrey (a super cute home, gift and coffee shop tucked away at 307 Fitzgerald Street in West Perth), Great Southern Truffles, Song Textiles, Miss Brown Vintage, Simply Paella, The Flying Taco and The Swim Shop, among many others. Festivities kick off at 10am and wind down around 5pm. Keep up to date with everything Angove Street Festival via angovestreetfestival.com.au.
WATER WISE
In a bid to help raise money and awareness for Earth Month in April, Aveda Australia’s two top WA salons – Element and Djurra – have joined forces with a bevy of talented local designers for a unique fashion event set to be staged at City Farm on Monday, April 8. Entitled Walk For Water, the fundraising initiative will feature designs from creative minds such as Shop 28, Love in Tokyo, Fenella Peacock, Megan Salmon and Sab 55, showcasing fashions complemented with b e a u t y by Ave d a stylists. Tickets are only $25, with all proceeds going to the Aveda Walk For Water charity, which has raised a whopping $26 million globally since its inception in 1999. Tickets can be purchased on the night or via Element Aveda Garments by Megan Concept at 17 Rokeby Salmon, hair and Road in Subiaco, or makeup by Djurra Djurra Aveda Lifestyle Lifestyle Salon (Photo: Salon/Spa at 4/61 High Carlos Arevalo) Street in Fremantle. 24
Sidney Loves Audrey will take part in this year’s Angove Street Festival fun
FACE OFF
If you think you’ve got what it takes to become an ambassador for enex100 then read on, because the city based shopping centre is on the look out for a gorgeous guy and girl to front their new campaign. TV presenter and former Miss Universe Australia titleholder Jesinta Campbell will host the search, which will culminate with a party and the big reveal on Sunday, April 14. To be in the draw all you need to do is upload a photo of yourself to enex100’s Facebook page and describe in 25 words of less why you should become the new face. Winners will receive a $1000 enex100 wardrobe and will star in the centre’s 2013/2014 campaign shoot. Head to facebook.com/ enex100 to find out more. X-Press – First on the street, Wednesdays
Freefall - Gravity and Other Myths Freefall - Gravity and Other Myths: The Mandurah Performing Arts Centre South Australia’s leading circus and physical theatre company performs for two shows only on April 13. Go to manpac.com.au for info and tickets. The City of Melville Sculpture Walk: Deep Water Point, Mt Pleasant Now in it’s 10th year, the Sculpture Walk presents 26 new Picturing New York: Photographs From The sculptures and installations set against a picturesque Museum Of Modern Art: Art Gallery Of WA, backdrop. It runs until April 7, and entry is free. Northbridge Depicting the iconic New York that captivates the Year 12 Perspectives: Art Gallery of WA, Northbridge world’s imagination and the idiosyncratic details that An exhibition of works from the best, brightest, and define New Yorkers’ sense of home, this exhibition most creative graduating high school artists in the from MoMA’s extraordinary photography collection state. Runs until June 30. celebrates the city in all its vitality, ambition and beauty. Made by approximately 90 artists responding Drawn From Sound: Spectrum Project Space to the city as well as professionals on assignment, A collection of artworks drawn from musical notation, including Henri Cartier-Bresson, Walker Evans, Lewis curated by Cat Hope. It runs from March 28 - April 12. Hine, Helen Levitt, Cindy Sherman, Alfred Stieglitz, and Weegee. Runs until May 12. David Bromley - Every Day A Sunday: Jahroc Galleries, Margaret River Made To Remember : Ar t G a l l e r y O f WA , An exhibition by internationally acclaimed artist Northbridge David Bromley which includes works across a variety Made To Remember is a beautifully considered of media, including paper, canvas, textile, bronze display of significant Indigenous objects from the and surfboards. This is a rare opportunity to view a State Art Collection. With a diverse selection of works collection by an artist whose efforts have been lauded including glass and ceramic objects, textiles and on the world stage. It runs from March 30 - April 27. clothing, as well as examples of traditional sculpture, Made to Remember encourages dialogue about the From War to Remembrance - A Living History of the place of an object not only in Indigenous art and RSL: The State Library of WA culture, but in the broader Australian context. Runs An exhibition on the history, goals and activities of the RSL in Western Australia, encompassing art until Jun 30. installations, interactive displays, archival photographs Kieron Hayter - Still Life and Unmarried Brides: The and objects, film screenings and guest speakers. It runs from April 20 - June 30. Moores Building, Fremantle Two separate photographic exhibitions that explore the formal parameters and artistic values of still life photography and wedding photos. Runs until Mar 31 The Importance of Being Earnest: The Heath Ledger Wendy Sharpe - Artist and Model: Buratti Fine Theatre Arts, Fremantle The Black Swan State Theatre Company presents Oscar A selection of works by the Australian painter Wendy Wilde’s classic play of manners and misunderstandings. Sharpe. Runs until Apr 18. Runs until Mar 28. Tickets through Ticketek.
VISUAL ARTS
THEATRE/DANCE/PERFORMANCE
Bell Shakespeare’s Henry 4 Bell Shakespeare’s Henry 4: The Heath Ledger Centre John Bell directs, adapts, and essays the iconic role of Falstaff in this new production of William Shakespeare’s rousing tale of court intrigue, adventure, rebellion and familial conflict. Bell aims to recapture the bawdy, dramatic atmosphere of Elizabethan theatre for a modern audience. It runs from April 5 - April 13. Go to statetheatrecentrewa.com.au for more. FolkWorld Fairbridge Festival: Fairbridge Village A friendly celebration of folk, roots, blues, acoustic, Celtic, a capella and world music in a traffic-free, selfWAAPA Big Band, The Fremantle Arts Centre contained bushland site at Fairbridge Village. Three Performance March 28. Tickets via fac.org.au days of the best folk music that Australia and the Flippin’ Pictures: A Symphonic Jazz Oddyssey, world has to offer, including Kristina Olsen, Tinpan Orange, and Pugsley Buzzard. It runs Apr 26 - 28. The Astor Performance April 21. Tickets via showticketing. Bookings through folkworldfestival.com.au com.au Perth International Comedy Festival: numerous locations across Perth Encompassing over 50 acts and 150 performances over 19 days, the 2013 Perth International Comedy Festival brings together the world’s top comic Fremantle Street Arts Festival: City of Fremantle The streets of Fremantle come alive over the Easter talent for a concentrated blast off laughs. Guests weekend with a range of performances spread over this year include 30 Rock’s Tracy Morgan, Margaret 10 stages, including busking, street theatre, comedy, Cho, Jim Jefferies, Stephen K. Amos, and The circus acts, cabaret, and more. Runs from Mar 30 - Wayans Brothers. It runs May 1 - 19. Head to perthcomedyfest.com.au for details Apr 1.
MUSIC
FESTIVALS
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X-Press – First on the street, Wednesdays
BLACK
SUN EMPIRE
DARK COLLABORATIONS Fifteen years and five albums on, drum’n’bass dark-steppers Black Sun Empire are well on the way to creating the powerful syndicate alluded to by their Star Wars referencing alias. JO CAMPBELL caught up with one third of the Dutch trio ahead of his visit to Australia to spruik their latest dancefloor decimator, From The Shadows. Micha Heyboer is relaxing in his hotel room ahead of the night’s gig in Auckland. He’s nearing the end of the album tour, which has seen him traversing the globe to perform to sweaty, packed out rooms, taking in 80 dates since From The Shadows was released in September last year.
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He’s temporarily parted ways with his usual partners in crime, brother Milan Heyboer and lifelong friend, Rene Verdult after their appearance at last weekend’s Miami Ultra Music Festival where they played alongside Dieselboy, Matrix & Futurebound and Concord Dawn. “Milan and Rene have kids now, so I often do the shows solo,” he explains with distinct Dutch enunciation. “We never really played the three of us. It was always just back to back and the other guy would drink beer,” he laughs. “Three men behind the decks is just too much. It’s the same way we play now. It’s mostly just one of us or you play back to back and after a few months you notice we play the same tunes, only in a different order - because we have the same tastes.” From The Shadows has been blitzing it across the charts, making it into Beatport’s top five best selling albums for 2012, across all genres. This most recent offering has seen the trio returning to drum’n’bass, after a foray into dubstep and mixed tempos with their last LP, Lights And Wires. “It’s pretty unexpected,” Heyboer says of the new album’s success. “I think it was maybe the right time for a pure drum’n’bass album after the whole dubstep thing and of course, the insane amount of collaborations we did.” Along with a collaboration with fellow Dutch lords of darkness Noisia and Virus Recording’s Audio, the LP includes collabs with New Zealand neuro-rollers State of Mind. BSE have also headed into new uncharted territory with a vocal number with UK hip hop outfit Foreign Beggars and another with vocalist Inne Eysermans, which comes close to being a drum‘n’bass ballad. “We are basically always collaborating, working as the three of us,” Heyboer says of the amount of group projects on the LP. “We’re kind of used to it and it’s nice to see how other people work and get inspiration from that, change things up and make friends... or enemies,” he laughs. “We have a lot of new fans. Young kids who are able to sing along to some of the songs, which is cool because we haven’t really done any vocal tunes before.” Following the success of From The Shadows, a remix EP of the album has this week been released with six re-workings from producers Memtrix, Telekinesis, Prolix, Icicle, Receptor and June Miller. Heyboer says that having the freedom of owning their own label, Black Sun Recordings, has allowed the outfit complete creative control. “We started the label because we’re all pretty stubborn and you already have to make a lot of concessions when you’re working with three
people. With the first releases we had out on other people’s labels there was always a struggle to get it out in the time you wanted, with things like artwork. “Maybe we were young and naive but we decided to do it all ourselves. We do the artwork ourselves, we do everything ourselves. We really enjoy doing that and maybe we could have been a lot bigger if we’d gone on other labels but we’ve developed a good fan base. If we’d gone with a bigger label, they may have directed us to make different music and maybe we would have had a different career but I guess, we would never have listened to it...” he laughs. Along with a plan to launch a new imprint called Blackout to focus more on pushing other artist’s work, Heyboer has embarked on a new solo spin-off project entitled Tinlicker. Surprisingly, Tinlicker’s sound is deeply introspective, broaching melodic house and techno, without any hint of BSE’s frenetic darkness. “We always made all kinds of electronic music and we’ve been doing drum’n’bass for so long, the urge was gone for a long time, but the urge slowly came back to do other forms of music,” says Heyboer. “Two years ago I started making a lot of four to the floor music and made a lot of tracks and eventually I had 30. And I thought ‘maybe I should do something with it’. It gave me such a lot of joy that I re-found my love for drum’n’bass, which had never really gone. But you have to keep challenging yourself. Right now I really enjoy making both forms of music.” The Tinlicker EP is currently available for free download on Soundcloud with the full album, Remember the Future, to be released in April.
» BLACK SUN EMPIRE » THURSDAY, MARCH 28 @ CAPITOL & AMPLIFIER BAR
Roller Crew
RSD
Black Sun Empire
ROLLING LEEDY STYLES
BASS FACE NECESSARY
Strap yourself in for a sub heavy evening with Bristol bass music legend and dubwise pioneer RSD. Better known as bass music stalwart Rob Smith and one half of production duo Smith and Mighty, RSD has been pushing bass heavy rhythms for more than two decades. Smith and Mighty’s early releases were influential in laying the groundwork for the trip hop and jungle scenes, while, under his RSD moniker, Rob Smith produces fresh, innovative bass music, pushing things ever forward. He’ll be joined at Geisha on Thursday, April 18 by Brethren Sound and Saxon & Boy Prince.
Down to problems getting renovations completed in time, Roller Easter will now be held at Leederville Hotel rather than Rosemount Hotel this Thursday, March 28. Rosemount had planned to unveil its new outside beer garden via Roller Easter, but has failed to make it in time. A free bus will loop between the two venues between 8 and 11pm. The Roller Crew will be joined by Ekko & Sidetrack and Vishnu from 7pm til midnight.
Peter Hook
HAPPILY HOOKED
Random Access Memories
Ahead of their Wednesday, May 8 gig at Metropolis Fremantle, Happy Mondays have announced they’ll be joined by Joy Division and New Order founding member, and Manchester legend in his own right Peter Hook, for a DJ set. They’ll also be joined by the Death Disco DJs. The venue has been upsized from Capitol to Metropolis Fremantle due to the huge demand for tickets. Happy Mondays will be touring with their original lineup. Tickets can be sorted via Oztix and Heatseeker.
AROUND THE WORLD AGAIN
FREQSHOW
haven’t gigged much due largely to the lack of bands to gig with. Also on the horizon are Gorilla Tactics, currently a studio project and label but I’m made to understand at some point it’ll get taken to the stage.
French godfathers of funky cyber disco, Daft Punk, have this week announced the release of their fourth studio album this May. Random Access Memories will be the long-awaited follow-up to 2005’s Human After All and is available for pre-order via iTunes. A loop from the LP is available for a listen on their website, but apart from that, the enigmatic duo are keeping things under their hats... er, helmets.
Freqshow Sun City
SUN CITY ON A HIGH
They’ve come out of nowhere but local synth-driven duo, Sun City, is certainly living life in the sunshine. JO CAMPBELL catches up with one half of the outfit, Tobias John, for a chat about their recent rise to the spotlight. Life-long best buds Tobias John and Daniel Mackey only started making electronic music in 2011 and within six months, a couple of good reviews and a helping hand on, they were already landing spots at the Parklifes and Stereosonics of the festival circuit. Now, two independent EPs on, they’re on regular rotation on triple j, Rage and have been featured on an ad promo for MasterChef Australia. They’re also on the way to getting noticed in the US, with their most recent single, High, having gotten some love on MTV IGGY. Not bad for a solely independent outfit, with no record label deal. High also reached #2 on the Hype Machine most popular chart in January, resulting in over 40,000 plays of the track in one day on their Soundcloud page. 28
“That was nuts,” says John of the attention given to High overseas. “We’ve been really fortunate that we’ve been given some exposure on some of the bigger blogs in America. They really seem to like what we’ve been doing and we seem to have developed a bit of a following there, which is good.” The two have just wrapped up a 15 date national tour, which saw them supporting Miami Horror and Parachute Youth and playing the bigger stages at Summadayze and Future Music. “I don’t think it could have gone any better, especially for being a first national tour. We are really lucky to have a great booking agent and just by chance he heard us on the radio last year, just when we were starting to think about putting on a first tour and he got in touch. So we signed to Premier Artists, just for the tour.” More surprising is their following in South Africa, which has seen them headlining festivals in Zimbabwe, with more booked for the end of this year. But for now, the boys are basking in their support slot for Example’s upcoming show in May. “It will be our first support for a big act that’s not at a festival,” says John.“We were fortunate to meet him about two years ago when we did our first Parklife. We met him at the after party - being in the right place at the right time helps. There’s a lot of talent in Perth and its really ‘going’ at the moment. There’s so many new guys that are producing amazing quality.” Sun City will perform the work from their two EPs live at the Example gig, along with some live remixes and the premiere of their next new single.
» SUN CITY WITH EXAMPLE » FRIDAY, MAY 10 @ METRO CITY
LIVE ‘D’ TO THE ‘B’
Eight-piece act, Freqshow, fearlessly brings a live face to the D’n’B dancefloor. They’ll be joined at The Rosemount next Thursday with three-piece live outfit Throwing Shapes and DJ Illusiv and MC Webbz. Bass player Adam Germano, aka DJ Screech, tells us more. What’s your musical background and how did you get into D’n’B? Personally, my background as a bass player is in funk and soul, however as a DJ and music lover there’s not much I don’t listen to. I very happily genre hop amongst many genres and I tend not to listen to much popular music, although I don’t deny that there is the odd diamond in the rough there as well. D’n’B is something I’ve liked for a while but only in the last few years have I known where to look and specifically what I like about it. Gamma (Freqshow’s MC) who I’ve been friends with for years now, gave me my first formal introduction to it. Live D’n’B seems to have really taken off locally in the last year or so. Sure has! Freqshow have been gigging around that length of time, Pimps of Sound have an extra year on us, and Throwing Shapes have apparently been around for a few years now, but
What instruments make up Freqshow? We have a drummer, percussionist, bassist, guitarist, synth player, trumpet, sax and MC, making up eight members. Some of us sing as well - that’ll slowly become more and more prominent in our sound over time. Logistical issues must be interesting with eight of you in the outfit?! Haha where to begin!? Things are tricky with this band what with everyone working day jobs or doing gigs with other outfits etc, but we usually manage to get together to jam once a week and play gigs as well. I’m also fortunate to be blessed with great organisational skills (if I say so myself). I think as the band progresses it’ll get easier to keep things moving and people motivated. Favourite gig so far? Most of them have been memorable in some way or another but I think personally it’s a toss up between The Rosemount last year (22/11) or Clancy’s just a few weeks ago (14/3). Good vibes in the room, a reasonably good turnout and a very receptive and active dancefloor for literally the entire set! Three words to describe Freqshow? Heavy, groovin’, goodness!
» FREQSHOW » APRIL 4 @ THE ROSEMOUNT X-Press – First on the street, Wednesdays
STANTON WARRIORS
RECIPE FOR SUCCESS From their inception, Stanton Warriors have reigned supreme in the world of breaks, so it’s no surprise their sets are met with fervour here in Perth. ANDREW NELSON catches up with one half of the duo to talk about food, friendship and turning down Britney Spears. If Stanton Warriors were chefs, who would they be? Given that the UK break-beat duo have been at the top of their game since they started releasing tunes back in ‘97, they would have to be someone well established, respected by their peers, a sort of Marco Pierre White of the breaks world. But the way they describe themselves they could almost be compared to Keith Floyd the famed English chef who was never seen without a glass of wine in his hand. “We work hard, never rest on our laurels, drink a lot and don’t get caught up in jumping on the latest bandwagon,” says Dominic Butler, who along with Mark Yardley makes up the duo, hailing from the West Country. Their fresh new sound, showcased on the 2001 compilation, The Stanton Sessions, along with the devastating drums and b-line of tracks like Da Antidote, catapulted them to the top table of the dance music world, and it’s a place they’ve remained ever since. Having notched up countless accolades, most recently best album at the 2012 Breakspoll (for The Warriors), it would also be a must to liken them to a Michelin starred chef, as Butler explains, “If we were in a kitchen, I would source the ingredients and prepare the menu, Mark would start the cooking process. We would both constantly taste the flavour and then deliver it to the diners in a loud way.” Though they do have differing ideas on who their dream collaboration would be with, “Mark would like to work with Prince,” answers Butler when quizzed, “I would like to work with a fresh up-and-coming artist and turn them into a star.” But
Stanton Warriors they’re both on the same page when it comes to not compromising their principles for a quick buck. “We have turned down Backstreet Boys, Britney Spears, and All Saints, a) because the songs were shit and b) because we thought we were far too cool at the time.” In between a hectic touring schedule the boys have found time for the fourth instalment of the acclaimed mix series The Stanton Sessions, due out next month and also a new artist album, which is almost completed and hopefully should be on the horizon shortly after. The next stop on the tour is Australia, but do they tailor their sets for the place they’re currently playing in? “Not really, we just play to how we feel and try and work the crowd,” Butler explains “It seems to work. Aussie crowds are great though, they appreciate music. Our facebook stats tell us that Perth is our number two city in the world after London. For that reason alone it’s our second home.” Stantons are continuously mixing things up, and that’s one of the reasons they’ve remained overwhelmingly popular in the face of a rocky period for the breaks world these past few years. Their sets are packed with cheeky re-edits of well-loved tracks. So is there any chance of letting slip if they have any lined up for us? “We have plenty [of remixes], you’ll have to come and hear for yourself!” Butler teases. With these two cooking up a storm it sounds like we’re in for a tasty treat, make your reservation asap.
» STANTON WARRIORS » SUNDAY, MARCH 31 @ VILLA NIGHTCLUB
SOJA
BRYTE
Washington DC reggae outfit SOJA’s fourth album Strength To Survive has just received an Australian release to coincide with the band’s current east coast tour, more than a year after it was released in the States. The album opens strongly with the horn-heavy album Mentality, featuring lead singer and guitarist Jacob Hemphill delivering politically potent lyrics and declaring “forwards ever, backwards never”. Other early tracks like the socially conscious Everything Changes and the catchy romantic number Tell Me also stand out, as does the particularly skanky groove of It’s Not Too Late. Unfor tunately, Strength To Sur vive loses momentum as it reaches its second half. Otherwise enjoyable songs like Don’t Worry and Gone Today are hampered by lyrics that are preachy – even by roots reggae standards – to the point of being naff. Meanwhile, producer John Alagía, best known for his work with John Mayer and The Dave Matthews Band, provides the band with a polished sound that lacks the endearing grit and spontaneity of the ‘70’s-era reggae SOJA is evoking.
Brisbane born, Perth based emcee Bryte pulls no punches on his second album. A grim intro featuring the sounds of an hysterical crowd punctuated by gunfire, launches the listener straight into World On Strike - an aggressive but thoughtful take on the financial crisis. Abruptly shifting gears sonically, but not lyrically, the next track Brainwash speaks on media control, a logical progression. Then comes Gotcha Goin’ Like, which is a little bit NSFW. If this seems like a strange switch up for an album, it kind of is - and it continues this way throughout. The thing is though, it actually works. Bryte has an ability to sneak snippets of insight into playful tracks full of humour and braggadocio, and vice versa. It’s like that conversation with your mate that starts out deep and meaningful, somehow turns into a bunch of in-jokes, and then comes full circle to the real issues. Once you tap into Bryte’s mentality, this album is an engaging and unique experience. Featuring vocals from Porsah Laine, Cor text, Chekid, and the consistently dope Dazastah (who also contributes the album’s beats), Bryte’s latest is witty, hyperactive, and reflective. Also, there’s a song called Chainsaw Dick.
STRENGTH TO SURVIVE INERTIA
» JOSHUA HAYES
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BRYTE SIDE OF LIFE TOO SOLID RECORDS
» NICK SWEEPAH
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NETSKY
VILLA
GEMINI
WEDNESDAY 27/03
THURSDAY 28/03
Bar Orient – DJ Ben Renna Beat Nightclub (Downstairs) – SWAG Boulevard Tavern – Wub Wub Wednesday Capitol – Harlem Wednesdays ft Genga/Benny P Captain Stirling – Fiveo Club Red Sea – Cheek ft DJ Butcher Flying Scotsman – DJ Arme/The Boson Geisha Bar – Roulette ft Killafoe/ Defyre/Lost Tempo/Games Leederville Hotel – Sexy Bunny Easter Party ft DJ Rueben/DJ Johnnie Boi Llama Bar – Akuna Club Mustang Bar – DJ Giles Niche Bar – Juicy ft Frankie Button Newport Hotel –Lorne Padman ft Tom Drummond/Angry Buda/ Lorne Padman Rosemount Hotel – DJ Anton Maz Sovereign Arms – Lokie Shaw The Bird – Sable/Longbear/Nora Zion/Raaghe/Oni Ca$h/Morgan St Soundsystem The Court – Wicked Wednesday The Grand Central – DJ ANG3L The Velvet Lounge – Face ft Basic Mind/Henry Gillet/Clare Savage/ Wilder Instincts
Ambar - Force Majeure ft RESET!/ Micah/Tapeheads/Qwerk/Baden M Amplifier – Black Sun Empire ft Voltron/Skoptix Beat Nightclub (Downstairs) – PLAY Boulevard Tavern – 151 Thursdays Old Skool R&B Capitol - Retro Mash Capitol (Upstairs) – I Love ‘90s Claremont Hotel – Backyard Party ft DJ Pup/DJ Double Dee/ Live Phase/DJ Maxwell/DJ Reuben Connections – Easter POPtastic! ft Scout/Curlee/Feminem/Tim Bee Devilles Pad – Easter Karaoke East End Bar – Easter Mash-up Party Eve Nightclub – Retro Thursdays DJ Tony Allen Flying Scotsman –Gidget Duck/ Muldoon Wing Leisure Inn – DJ Peta Lost Society – Burger Malt Supper Club – Kabaret Thursdays Metro City – Allied Health 2013 Easter Edition ft DJ Ndorse/The Good Knights/Lukas Wimmler Metro Freo – The Animal House: Circus Mullaloo Beach Hotel - DJ John Paul/ DJ Slick
RESET!
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AMBAR
Empire Bar –James Shipstone Eurobar – DJ Fat Albert/DJ Zoom Flying Scotsman – Andrei Maz Flying Scotsman (Defectors) – Future Wives Club Gilkisons Dance Studio XXYYXX ft Modo/Water Graves/ Zehnmee/Clunk Library – DJ Victor/DJ Riki Liquid Nightclub - DJ Klar55/ DJ Stevie M Llama Bar – DJ Reuben Malt Supper Club – Scotty J Metro Freo – Bunny Bash ft 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 Bar – Rockabilly DJ/ DJ James MacArthur Newport Hotel –Wot Evs/Tahli Jade/Sardi/Lucas Paramount- DJ John/DJ Jordan Players Bar – LUXE ft DJ Francesco Sail & Anchor – Catch The Child’s Play DJs Sovereign Arms – The Jinx Project The Avenue – Jon Ee FRIDAY 29/03 The Aviary - Beni The Bakery – PVT ft Collarbones/ Ku ka SATURDAY 30/03 The Boheme – Amanda Power Admiral Hotel – Insane Dwaine The Causeway – Luke Miguel/ Ambar – Japan 4 ft Tonic/ Clint Turner Bezwun/Oli/Micah/Mr eD The Cornerstone – Michael Amplifier – Pure Pop ft Eddie Brittliff Electric The Court – DJ Flex/DJ TimBee Bar One Twenty – Little Nicky The Craftsman – DJ Shortz Bar Orient – DJ Troy The Generous Squire – On Tap ft Beat Nightclub (Upstairs) DJ James Nutley Canvas The Grand Central – Armee Black Bettys - Demigodz ft The Queens – Kenny L Apathy & Celph Titled The Saint – DJ ANG3L Boheme Bar – JMC The Shed –DJ Andyy Brass Monkey - DJ Peta The Velvet Lounge – Welcome (downstairs)/ DJ Jewel (upstairs) To Loco ft DJ Jessical Kill/DJ Mega Brighton Hotel - Misschief Mike/DJ Drum/DJ Holly Doll Capitol – Death Disco The Wembley – Lokie Shaw Capitol (Upstairs) – Cream Of The Tiger Lil’s – DJ Bojan/Benjamin ‘80s ft DJ Ryan Sebastian Claremont Hotel - Safari Toucan – WHIP Launch Club Bay View – DJ Roger Smart Villa - Cyantific ft The Prototypes/ Connections – Giddyup! ft DJ Utah Jazz/Illusiv & Dvise/Qbik/ Jewel/P Lilly/Mama Cass/Milly Bastian/MCS: Xsessiv, Stylee & East End Bar – Home Easter Bear Special Ya Ya’s – DJ Pup
THE COURT
Mustang Bar – DJ James MacArthur Newport Hotel – Mills Djs Paramount –DJ Jordan Rosemount Hotel – Drapht ft N’Fa Jones/Seven & Mr Hill Rosemount Hotel (Beer Garden) – Roller Easter ft Ekko & Sidetrack/Vishnu/Roller Crew Shape – Easter Thursday Throwdown ft Kit Pop/Dr Space/ Zeke/Charlie Chan/Sidetrack/ Eyesdown/Genga/Brosonic/JS/ BMB The Avenue – Jon Ee The Bakery - Easter Thursday ft Mark Pritchard/Dan The Man/ Mathas/Diger Rokwell/Ylem/ Vishnu/FG 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 – Midsummer Nights Dream Villa - Speakeasy:Woodstock ft Dune Rats
Drapht
SUNDAY 31/03 Ambar - The Grizzly Tour ft Sinden/Brenmar Claremont Hotel – James Thorne/Dan Delstra Club Bay View - Fiveo Connections – Dan Slater East End Bar – Easter Silent Disco Empire Bar –DJ Riki/ DJ Victor Eve Nightclub –DJ Slick Flying Scotsman –Nathan J/ Nizbet/ Pasha/ Chris Flying Scotsman (Defectors) – Record Hop/Monster A Gogo Ginger Nightclub – DJ Rudebean Metro Freo – Foam Party Mustang Bar – DJ Rockin’ Rhys/ DJ James McArthur Newport Hotel – DJ Laith Tyranny/ Tom Drummond Swan Basement – Unlikely Events Open Turntable Night ft Syfer/ Wilinja/Olin/Mungo The Avenue – Az-T The Bakery - Jamie xx The Court – Gay Prom 2013
The East End Bar –DJ Gold Finger/AZ-T The Grand – Lockie Shaw/Philly Blunt The Queens – Samuel Spencer The Saint – Jon Ee/JMC The Shed – James Wilson and more Villa - Stanton Warriors ft Far Too Loud/Micah
MONDAY 1/04 Eve Nightclub - DJ Don Migi Llama Bar – Jo 19 Malt Supper Club – Industry Night Metro City – The xx ft Jagwar Mar The Deen – DJ Birdie
TUESDAY 02/04 Bar Orient - DJ Lyndon High Road Hotel – DJ Matty J Llama Bar – Charlie Bucket Metro City – The xx ft Jagwar Mar Victoria Park Hotel – DJ Melvin
X-Press – First on the street, Wednesdays
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AMPLIFIER/CAPITOL
THE NEWPORT
FRAT HOUSE FRIDAYS
METRO FREO
IN THE THIS WEEK Black Sun Empire ft Voltron/ Skoptix Thursday, March 28 @ Amplifier The Uni-Verse Tour ft Drapht Thursday, March 28 @ The Rosemount
XXYYXX ft Modo/Water Graves/Zehnmee/Clunk Saturday, March 30 @ Gilkisons Dance Studio
Miller City Sessions ft Jason Lema Friday, April 12 @ The Dusk Lounge
AGWA Nights ft Craig Hollywood Friday, April 26 @ Art Gallery Of WA
Stanton Warriors ft Far Too Loud/Micah Sunday, March 31 @ Villa
Dialectrix & Chasm Friday, April 12 @ Mojos Bar
The Grizzly Tour ft Sinden/ Brenmar Sunday, March 31 @ Ambar
Sound Utopia ft Lazy J/Big Guy/Israel Cruz Saturday, April 13 @ Red Hill Auditorium
Heavy Industrial Concern ft Motet/D-Jeong/Ourobonic Plauge/Sub Ordnance/ Furchick/Sonic Smut/ DJ Asciimov/The Golden Quadrangle/Strunkdts Saturday, April 27 @ The Perth Artifactory, Osborne Park
Easter Thursday ft Mark Pritchard/Dan The Man/ Jamie xx Mathas/Diger Rokwell/Ylem/ Sunday, March 31 @ The Bakery Vishnu/FG Thursday, March 28 @ The Bakery The xx Speakeasy:Woodstock ft Dune Tuesday and Wednesday, April 1 - 2 @ Metro City Rats Thursday, March 28 @ Villa Force Majeure ft RESET!/Micah/ Tapeheads/Qwerk/Baden M Thursday, March 28 @ Ambar Roller Easter ft Ekko & Sidetrack/Vishnu/Roller Crew Thursday, March 28 @ The Rosemount Easter Thursday Throwdown ft Kit Pop/Dr Space/Zeke/Charlie Chan/ Sidetrack/Eyesdown/Genga/ Brosonic/JS/BMB Thursday, March 28 @ Shape Beni Saturday, March 30 @ The Aviary PVT Saturday, March 30 @ The Bakery Demigodz ft Apathy & Celph Titled Saturday, March 30 @ Black Bettys Cyantific ft The Prototypes/ Utah Jazz/Illusiv & Dvise/Qbik/ Bastian/MCS: Xsessiv, Stylee & Bear Saturday, March 30 @ Villa
XXYYXX
XXYYXX
SATURDAY, MARCH 30 @ GILKISONS
www.xpressmag.com.au
Chasm Saturday, April 13 @ Ya Ya’s Plump DJs ft Black & Blunt/ Marko Paulo/Tonic Friday, April 19 @ Villa
COMING UP
Torro Torro ft Kill Dyl/ Tapeheads/Micah Friday, April 19 @ Ambar
Blu, Exile & Houseshoes ft Mathas/Speekeasy/Up&Up/ Soma Thursday, April 4 @ The Bakery
AGWA Nights ft Paul Lindsay Friday, April 19 @ Art Gallery Of WA
Spit Syndicate ft Jacki Freqshoq ft Throwing Shapes/ Onassis DJ Illusiv/MC Webbz Saturday, April 20 @ Amplifier Thursday, April 4 @ Rosemount Sunday, April 21 @ Metro Freo Jason Lema Thursday, April 4 @ The Dusk Lounge Get Weird ft His Majesty Andre/Cassian/Shazam/ Manimal/Amnesia Effect/ Molochi/Massive Toys/Jack Doepel/Willy Slade Friday, April 5 @ Ambar
The Aston Shuffle (DJ Set) ft Mo’Fly/Dngrfld/Black & Blunt Wednesday, April 24 @ Ambar Handpicked ft ShockOne/ Baauer/ Eats Everything/ Mosca Wednesday, April 24 @ Metro City and The Bakery
Movement Festival ft Nas/2 Chainz/Chiddy Bang/Joey Badda$$/Angel Haze/Spit Syndicate Tuesday, April 30 @ Red Hill Auditorium Blokhe4d Friday, May 3 @ Geisha Bar AGWA Nights ft Chris Wheeldon & Craig Hollywood Friday, May 3 @ Art Gallery Of WA Bombs Away Saturday, May 4 @ Villa Example ft Sun City Friday, May 10 @ Metro City Yacht Friday, May 10 @ The Bakery Seth Sentry Friday, May 10 @ Villa Sunday, May 12 @ Newport Hotel
Groovin The Moo Festival ft Alison Wonderland/DZ Deathrays/Example/Flume/ Midnight Juggernaughts/ Pez/Seth Sentry/Shockone/ Miller City Sessions ft Warren Throw The Hammer ft Tuka w/ Ellesquire/Urthboy/ Peace Derrick MayBen Klock/ DJ Woody’s Big Phat Mixtape/ Friday, April 5 @ Mullaloo Beach Clunk/Allstate/Ben Taffe/ Yacht/Yolanda Be Cool Hotel Everyteen/Milanov Wednesday, April 24 @ Capitol Saturday, May 11 @ Hay Park Bunbury AGWA Nights ft Charlie Bucket Friday, April 5 @ Art Gallery SUPAFEST ft T.I./50 Cent/ Flume ft Chet Faker Of WA Waka Flocka/Akon/Ne-Yo/ Sunday, May 12 @ Metro City Young Jeezy/Mindless RAW ft Mobin Master/J-Trick/ Behaviour/DJ Unk/Kevin DJ Afrika Bambaataa Micah/Chris Moro McCall/DJ Nino Brown/Dizzy Saturday, May 18 @ The Bakery Friday, April 5 @ Villa Doolan/Phinesse Thursday, April 25 @ Perth Delta Heavy ft Fred V/ Grafix/Killafoe/Illusiv & Dvise/ White Trance Party Arena Gracie/Systym Saturday, April 6 @ Villa Saturday, May 18 @ Villa Rufus Saturday, April 25 @ Newport Yacht Club DJs Atari Teenage Riot Hotel Friday, April 12 @ Amplifier Monday, April 26 @ Amplifier Sunday, May 19 @ The Bakery The Loops Of Fury Dash Berlin ft Marlo The Potbelleez ft Mr.Ed/Qwerk/ Sunday, June 2 @ Metro City Friday, April 26 @ Capitol STRANGERTHANDIGITAL Friday, April 12 @ Ambar A$AP Rocky Fresh Produce ft BMB/ Sunday, June 30 @ Metro City Crystaleyez/Ben Vital/Stone/ AGWA Nights ft Holly Doll Polyxo Friday, April 12 @ Art Gallery ALT-J Friday, April 26 @ Ambar Of WA Saturday, July 27 @ Challenge Stadium
Netsky Live
NETSKY
ALIVE CAPACITY Villa Saturday, March 23, 2013 When a gig sells out in mere hours, you can be fairly confident it’s going to be an epic night out and Netsky Live last weekend was no deviation to that theory. The anticipation for the main set was palpable inside the venue as punters cattle-herded out front to snatch up the limited amount of door sales on offer. Based on the the love given to the Netsky Live tour so far, Hospital Records head honchos must view the Belgian drum’n’basser’s live concept with flashing, neon dollar signs in their eyes. Blend took the decks first up. As the stage was prepared for the live set up, the DJs were suspended high above in a booth, making crowd interaction difficult. Always a professional, the Ambar regular and Roller Crew DJ created a feel good vibe, starting with some liquid D’n’B, sprinkled with bits of tech before slowing the tempo down to make way for Bezwun. I won’t lie here, I was a few G&T’s down by now, but this part of proceedings confused me a little. With at least four giant screens displaying the Hospital Records logo (the label Netsky is signed to), well known for its drum’n’bass, you’d expect the DJ before the main act to perhaps play a little of that sound. Bezwun, also an Ambar regular, completely bypassed the genre of the night to deliver an hour of ‘90s hip hop inspired mash-up with the occasional
moombahton and break beat. It was masterfully put together, and perhaps there was some logic to not warming up the dancefloor too much before the main set, but the result was that most people were just waiting for Netsky, much in the way crowds look at an empty stage, waiting for a band to start. And as the DJ set died down, the now at capacity venue heaved with the sweat of anticipation as the crowd called out for Netsky. Quite new to the scene, D’n’B producer Boris Daenen usually spins liquid, but his Netsky Live concept involves him being joined by a drummer, synth master and mc. To be honest, I couldn’t quite work out what Netsky himself was bringing to the live experience (note previous G&T reference), but he did have fun vibing up the audience as the outfit traversed most of his latest album, 2. They started strong with Love Has Gone, ducking and weaving between D’n’B to more down tempo moments. The crowd lost it for vocalist Scarlett Quinn as she came out to deliver her powerfully uplifting cut on Come Alive. Another highlight was an extended drum solo towards the end and, of course, Netsky’s tightly fitted jeans. It’s been a while since I’ve seen people dancing on furniture while singing along to the tunes, so Netsky’s show can only be seen as being a 100 per cent success. Local duo Ekko & Sidetrack then took over on the decks to take what was left of the crowd on nothing less than a drum’n’bass odyssey that made all in the house from the first timers to the more seasoned D’n’B campaigners give into the beats. Seamlessly moving from jump up to dubstep to liquid, these guys took us on a superbly frenetic marathon of mayhem that lasted for nearly four hours. Quality.
» JO CAMPBELL
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Iggy and the Stooges
WEST COAST BLUES ‘N’ ROOTS Fremantle Park Saturday-Sunday, March 23-24, 2013 Blues ‘N’ Roots is always such a pleasant way to wrap up the tail end of the festival season, a peaceful respite after the sometimes frenzied fun of The Big Day Out and Soundwave. There’s little aggro to found at this festival, just good music and chilled people. This year we got the added treat of whole extra day, and anyone who made the effort to hit the park on Saturday and Sunday can attest to what a great weekend it was. British singer and guitarist Newton Faulker played a friendly, subdued set to a receptive crowd, bantering with the audience between songs. Faulkner’s not especially well known around these parts, so it comes as little surprise that his covers got more attention than his originals, particularly a remarkably decent acoustic riff on Bohemian Rhapsody. One of the best discoveries of the weekend was the white hot Tedeschi Trucks Band, fronted by singer Susan Tedeschi and her husband, blisteringly good guitarist Derek Trucks. They come across like the greatest honkytonk roadhouse the band the world has ever known, serving good, old-fashioned stomp-along country rock. Tedeschi has a set of lungs that wuld make Janis Joplin weep with jealousy, and Trucks is a regular fixture on ‘World’s Greatest Guitarists’ lists, and the combination of the two is simply electrifying. Julia Stone drew a rapt crowd to the Big Top stage, such is the magnetism of her beautiful melancholy. Delightfully self-deprecating, she drew attention to the fact that her set largely consisted of ballads about love gone wrong, dedicated to or written about a series of men she dismissed as “dickheads.” Her brilliant cover of You’re The One That I Want - yes, from the Grease soundtrack - is perfectly pitched between hilarious and heartfelt, though. On this sunny, pleasant afternoon, nothing was going to be more agreeable than a set from Chris Isaak. Resplendent in a powder blue nudie suit, the man was all charm and armed with a band that was loyal as the day is long and on-song to boot. Want to make a Perth/Freo crowd fall in love with you from the get-go? Tell them ‘it’s great to be back home’ before leading off on Blue Hotel. From there it was easy pickings for Isaak, however he brought in the heavy artillery with Baby
Michael Kiwanaku 32
Did A Bad Thing, Wicked Game and Somebody’s Crying, while also dipping into crowd-friendly favourites such as Ring Of Fire, Can’t Help Falling In Love and It’s Now Or Never and Oh, Pretty Woman, channelling his heroes’ voices but with his own swagger at all times. A costume change into a mirror-suit made him shine even more (if that were possible) and by the time he walked offstage, having also covered Jerry Lee Lewis’ Great Balls Of Fire, a good half of the ladies present were Googling divorce lawyers. There was no talk of Coles in the Big Top when Status Quo took to the stage in a manner akin to conquering heroes. The tent was packed and there were devotees lining the front row and backing up several rows behind. Led by Francis Rossi and Rick Parfitt, the Quo are full of old school English rock’n’roll character, plus skinny jeans with white sneakers and legs apart, as their Telecasters boogied through the likes of Down Down, What You’re Proposing, Roll Over Lay Down, Whatever You Want and Rockin’ All Over The World. It was what rock’n’roll is all about and given the flak they’ve copped lately due to their supermarket it was great to see that in concert the music of the matter not only lives, it rules. The world wants Led Zeppelin to reform. Failing that it seems the world wants Robert Plant to perform Led Zeppelin songs in the style of Led Zeppelin. When performing as s solo artists Plant has never done this, and with a backing band such as The Sensational Space Shifters, this wasn’t about to happen. He may appear more Golden Retriever than Golden God these days, but Plant still packs a punch in terms of delivery and sheer presence. While the majority of the show was indeed Led Zeppelin material, the versions replaced the riff-focussed nature of those songs, with world music dynamics and segues into other rhythms with the songs. Heartbreaker, Black Dog, Ramble On and Whole Lotta Love (itself swaying into Who Do You Love?) were made-over to challenge the audience. Other Zep songs such as Going To California, Friends, Four Sticks and Bron Y Aur Stomp maintained their folkier climes. In between Plant and co. brought the balance back with songs from his 2005 LP, Mighty Rearranger, as well as covering Howlin’ Wolf’s Spoonful, by way of a blues education for the assembled. Recall his infamous 1972 police ‘bust’ in Perth, Plant farewelled with Rock’n’Roll, not in 4/4, but rockin’ nonetheless. Some scratched their heads, but most applauded this set from one of rock music’s greatest figures. Phenomenally, Iggy & The Stooges soon took over from Plant on the Main Stage. The nononsense Stooges counted in as Iggy Pop tore on stage, all-black-jean-legs-and-leathery-topless, waving at the crowd like a kid while bearing down hard on Raw Power. It was intense and unforgiving, yet Iggy always makes it fun, whether it be new tracks such as Burn, or classics such as Search And Destroy, Funhouse or I Wanna Be Your Dog. Dancers were invited up on stage, most had a cool time of it, but some people just can’t help but be dickheads even when handed a golden ticket. (Don’t bump over equipment, don’t manhandle the musicians). Either way, the band brought the game to the players as The Passenger, No Fun and I Got A Right closed out Saturday night on the big stage. Total wow. Age has certainly not wearied Steve Miller, a phenomenally accomplished guitarist and songwriter with an enviable pedigree. As he and his eponymous band tore through a non-stop set of decades-spanning hits, it was hard to remember that Miller is knocking on 70, such is the energy and enthusiasm he brings to the stage. Even late-period soft-rock radio mainstay Abracadabra had its fans, although it must be said that Fly Like An Eagle easily got the biggest response. The hardest thing about watching Michael Kiwanuka perform is remembering that the guy is only 24 years old - his voice carries the pain and heartache of a much older man. There are so many exponents of reggae and its derivatives around the traps these days, but a lot of them seem to focus on the sunny side of the genre. Not Kiwanuka. While not strictly a reggae artist, he takes elements of the style and mixes it with soul and blues influences to come up with a sound that draws on themes of struggle, oppression and ultimately redemption. His was probably the darkest act in what is, normatively, a pretty upbeat festival, but it was also one of the most moving. He’s a young guy, and a relatively unknown performer, but it’s easy to predict that he won’t be relegated to the secondary stage in a year or two.
He may be no stranger to Perth, but this was a far more subdued Rufus Wainwright who arrived at West Coast Blues & Roots. There were no lederhosen, fishnet stockings or glittering suits as Wainwright appeared as a solo figure on stage with a black t-shirt with only the most minute piece of sparkle. The stripped back nature of this outing gave Wainwright the chance to delve deep into his catalogue. After an acoustic version of Jericho, the larger than life performer sat behind his piano to take on Hallelujah, Going To A Town and the crowd favourite Cigarettes and Chocolate Milk. This may have been his least theatrical performance in this town but it was no less impressive. The surprise draw card of the festival was Bonnie Raitt who had people flocking in droves to take a look at the flaming-locked blues legend. With a highly touted new album under her belt, Raitt kicked off with Used To Rule The World and her take on the Gerry Rafferty tune Right Down The Line from her album Slipstream. From the opening strains it was clear that Raitt has a voice to be reckoned with when she steps on stage, but it is her world renowned slide guitar playing that stands her amongst the big boys. Something To Talk About was bound to be a staple of her set and it didn’t disappoint, and neither did Raitt and her cracking band. Ben Harper has jumped around a few genres over the years but has always remained a popular figure in Australia. Maybe taking the branding of the festival literally, Harper played a set that covered all of the cornerstones of your standard blues fair. He was joined by legendary harmonica player Charlie Musselwhite as they made their way through many of the tunes off their recent Get Up! Album. Harper tipped his hat to local lass Grace Woodroofe who watched from the side of the stage, in a set that had too many of the clichés to be more than background fare. Jimmy Cliff holds an Order Of Merit in Jamaica and it was a regal like performance that the singer come actor put on this evening. People spilled out of the tent and took vantage points on the nearby hill to catch a glimpse of the nimble 64 year old. Cliff danced around the stage with boundless energy as he unveiled the song from the film that took reggae to the world in Harder They Fall. Johnny Nash’s I Can See Clearly Now was met with glee and Cliff moved to the bongos to end this feel good set with Rivers of Babylon. Paul Simon was the absolute highlight of the weekend - there can be no argument. It’s received wisdom that Simon is one of the greatest songwriters of all time, and for many his work has always been a part of the background noise of their lives, but seeing the man perform live, you very quickly realise that that bit of received wisdom is 100 percent accurate. Simon unselfconsciously worked through a set completely absent of filler: 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover, Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes, The Obvious Child, Mother & Child Reunion - which came complete with a shout out to Jimmy Cliff, who was finishing up on the other stage
- Me and Julio Down By The Schoolyard - every song he played was a work of brilliance, played brilliantly. This was a world class gig that will stay in the memories of those lucky enough to be there forever. The Wilco of today have very little by way of their performance that would see them fall under either the blues or roots banner and over the course of their past few albums have become a band that are more about the gear they use and the ‘sounds’ they create than the actual songs. Even with all that in mind, from the moment that they began Art Of Almost it is clear as to why they are still considered one of the greatest live acts of the planet. Jeff Tweedy could break hearts singing a shopping list, yet the shows have become more and more about the ludicrously dynamic drumming of Glenn Kotche and the virtuoso prowess of the peerless Nels Cline. There were plenty of solos and extended outro’s, but the songs were the order of the day and Jesus Etc, Impossible Germany and Shot In The Arm were all fine parts of an hour long set that went way too quickly. There could not have been a better band to close the festival. _BOB GORDON, TRAVIS JOHNSON AND CHRIS HAVERCROFT PHOTOS BY MICHAEL WYLIE
Chris Isaak
Paul Simon
Robert Plant
Wilco X-Press – First on the street, Wednesdays
FOAM
FOAM
FOAM launch their second EP. Run Kon Koma, at The Bird this Saturday, March 30, with support from Dead Owls, Blackbirds and Pat Chow. Doors open at 8pm, entry is $10.We caught up with bassist Harley Barnaby. How did you guys form? Joel (Martin, singer/guitarist) and Jackson (Hawdon, drums) have known each other since childhood and formed a band with some friends in their first year of high school. Naturally their lineup went through some changes in the following years until they found themselves in need of a bassist. I was playing guitar in another band when they asked me to fill the spot.
to emulate this by recording live with as few plug-ins as possible with intent to capture the right attitude.
What made The Bird stand out as a venue for you? Great sound. We’d seen bands like The Love Junkies, Sonpsilo Circus and The Novocaines play there way before we had the pleasure of doing so - all fantastic shows, so the idea had been conceived. We had our first show there in early February with PUCK, who totally blew the roof off the place in one of the best demonstrations of live How would you describe your sound? The main factors include wildly driven guitar and a heavy, pounding sound I’ve ever borne witness to, which really solidified the intent. rhythm section seasoned with tasteful pop melody. In terms of Plus it’s got a good vibe and is pretty intimate, all the better for a influence, an easy one to mention is your ‘90s garage/punk era good, sweaty rock show. catalogue, but I’d probably say acts like The Drones, Johnny Cash, Nick Cave and anything Steve Albini has ever done hold an impression What’s next? The very near future holds a slight cut back on live shows to focus just as strong. on spit shining new material so we can record again in the not too distant future. The plan is to see how the EP does for us and go from What was the recording process of the new EP like? We decided to take a different tack for Run Kon Koma than we did for there, but we’re probably looking at doing another EP before the end Sarpa Salpa, predominantly due to our collective discovery of Steve of the year. We’re playing a couple of shows with The Rubens when Albini’s work as both a producer and musician. His techniques, we they come on over in May, and we’ve got some other good shows find, encapsulate a raw, live energy and the very core of the band’s coming up to keep us busy. Maybe we’ll get jobs as well. But you sound. The lo-fi garage goodness of it all really appeals to us. We tried know, baby steps. How did you guys form? The Rumble is stage three or four of a blues/rock based, funk/ grunge infused musical collaboration between myself and guitar player Matthew James Abraham Hort. We have been writing and recording together under various monikers for the last five years. The Rumble was officially born in mid 2012 from the remains our prior project, Goose. Who are your influences? We developed a kind of melting pot of sounds that I’d say would sit most comfortably under the rock and roll banner. A few different genres are referenced but as a whole blues/rock takes the biggest slice of The Rumble pie, positioned firmly amongst elements of swing, rock and even a sliver of mo-town. We’re going for a Black Keys meets White Stripes kind of thing. Lucky no-one’s thought of doing that eh? The different musical tastes w within the band form an excellent dynamic though, with rehearsals filled with the often combative d off Ji H d i Paul P l Kelly, K ll The T Stone Roses, and Curtis Mayfield sounds Jimii Hendrix, and some weird things in between.
THE RUMBLE The Rumble’s debut EP is unleashed this Saturday, March 30, at Ya Ya’s, with support from Paradise Motor Inn, Black Heart Sun, Billie Rogers and The Midnight Mules. Drummer Tim Hosken gave us some background.
FEE FI FO FUM
Some seriously good live music is happening on the last Sunday of every month upstairs at Fi & Co on William St in Northbridge. This Sunday, March 31, catch Tracey Read, Benedict Moleta and Julian Bolleter, Scott White, Simon Sieradzki and Joe Bludge. Doors open at 3pm, and entry is free.
LOVE ON THE ROCKS
How was recording your EP? We recorded live and independently over one day in Ben’s lounge room with basically borrowed everything, including beer from Ben’s Dad’s fridge. Throw in the help of one Stuart Van der Plank and a few neighbor complaints and the process was done. We had Robbie later track vocals whilst house squatting at a friends place in city beach. Stuart was awesome to lend us his gear and although relatively new to recording bands live - in family rooms - managed to capture the sound quite well and you know what? It doesn’t sound shit. Jim Power who mixed it down at Fat Shan Records said so himself. What’s your writing process like? Is there one main writer, or is it more egalitarian? Matt Hort currently holds the sole song writing honours, with almost all of the set adopted from beefed up versions of our previous works. Our end style of jamming and writing is a collaborative journey though. Lyrically Matt is an absolute creative king so we leave most of that up to him. Egalitarian as you put it sums us up nicely. We are all in charge of our own instrument and it’s a bit of a band democracy. Basically if your idea is rubbish the band will shut you down on the spot.
HEARD AT THE BIRD
Sean O’Neill returns from his UK sojourn to showcase some songs he penned on his journey, as well as some sweet tracks off of his debut EP, Moving in Time. It all happens this Sunday, March 31, from 8pm.
DIP INTO DILIP
Dilip ‘N’ The Davs hit Clancy’s Fish Pub in Fremantle this Saturday, March 30, playing tracks from their debut album, Together. Doors open at 8pm, entry is $10.
On The Rocks hits Beat Nightclub this Thursday, March 28! It’s an all out noisefest featuring such rowdy stalwarts as The Devil Rides Out, The Love Junkies, The Floors, The Community Chest and Trigger Jackets. Doors open at 8pm, and presale tickets are $15/$10 for subscribers Got an upcoming show and worried no one’s gonna go? Drop us a line from rtrfm.com.au at localmusicarts@xpressmag.com.au to get the word out.
PLUG YOUR GIG!
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X-Press – First on the street, Wednesdays
The xx April 1-2
THIS WEEK STICKY FINGERS/ LYALL MOLONEY 27 The Rosemount 28 Prince Of Wales 30 Settlers Tavern
DRAPHT 28 & 30 The Rosemount
TIJUANA CARTEL 28 & 30 Mojos Bar 31 Indi Bar
PVT 30 The Bakery
GUY SEBASTIAN 28 Crown Theatre 30 Crown Theatre
NANTES/ BATTLESHIPS 30 Amplifier 31 Newport Hotel
STANTON WARRIORS 31 Villa
JAMIE XX 31 The Bakery
HITS & PITS 2013 (Mad Caddies, Good Riddance, A Wilhelm Scream, Voodoo Glow Skulls, The Flatliners, Diesel Boy, One Dollar Short, Jamie Hay, Jen Buxton, Totally Unicorn & Paper Arms) 1 Metropolis Fremantle
THE xx/JAGWAR MAR 1 Metro City 2 Metro City
PENNYWISE 2 Metro Freo
LUKA BLOOM 2 Fly By Night
APRIL COUNTING CROWS 3 Perth Concert Hall THE SCRIPT 3 Perth Arena FRANK TURNER 4 Amplifier DEAD LETTER CIRCUS 4 Prince Of Wales 5 The Rosemount GRINSPOON 5 Prince of Wales 6 Amplifier
SONS OF RICO 5 Amplifier 6 Settlers Tavern ICEHOUSE/MARK SEYMOUR 5 Perth Zoo BIRDY 6 Riverside Theatre ROGER HODGSON 7 Riverside Theatre HUNGRY KIDS OF HUNGARY 11 Newport Hotel 12 Capitol SUNDOWN SESSIONS (Xavier Rudd, Tinpan Orange & Morgan Bain) 12 Scarborough Beach JAGWAR MA 12 Metro Freo 13 Amplifier YACHT CLUB DJS 12 Amplifier 13 Prince Of Wales SETS ON THE BEACH VOLUME 11 (Yacht Club DJs, Owl Eyes LIVE, D-Cup, Mitzi LIVE, Jagwar Ma, Dr Dondon & Slicker Cities) 14 Scarborough Beach Amphitheatre JOSH GROBAN 16 Kings Park Botanic Garden ZUCCHERO 17 Regal Theatre STU LARSEN 17 The Ellington BUZZCOCKS 18 The Rosemount BIG SCARY 18 Mojos Bar 19 Amplifier 28 DAYS 19 Capitol THE DRONES/KING GIZZARD AND THE LIZARD WIZZARD 19 The Astor SPIT SYNDICATE/ JACKIE ONASSIS 19 Prince Of Wales 20 Amplifier 21 Metro Freo SILVERSTEIN 22 Amplifier DYING FETUS 23 Amplifier EPICA 23 Capitol THE BLACK SEEDS 24 Metro Freo DAVE JACKSON 24 The Ellington HANDPICKED (Shockone, Eats Everything, Baauer, Mosca and more) 24 Metro City SUPAFEST (T.I, 50 Cent, Waka Flocka, Akon, Ne-Yo, Young Jeezy, Mindless Behaviour, DJ Unk, Kevin McCall, DJ Nino Brown, Dizzy Doolan & Phinesse) 25 Perth Arena
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Hungry Kids of Hungary April 11-12 RUFUS 25 Newport Hotel 26 Prince Of Wales 27Amplifier BRITISH INDIA 25 Prince Of Wales 26 Settlers Tavern 27 Capitol MARILYN KELLER 26 The Ellington THE POTBELLEEZ 26 Capitol FAIRBRIDGE FESTIVAL (Tinpan Orange/ Bustamento/ Frank Yamma/ Kristina Olsen) 26-28 Fairbridge Village MIDGE URE 27 Charles Hotel SIX60 27 Metro City THE GRISWOLDS 28 Newport Hotel DIG IT UP (Hoodoo Gurus, Flamin’ Groovies, Blue Oyster Cult, Buzzcocks, Peter Case, The Stems) 28 The Astor MOVEMENT FESTIVAL (NAS, Bliss N Eso, 2 Chainz, Chiddy Bang, JOEY BADA$$, Angel Haze, Spit Syndicate) 30 Red Hill Auditorium
MAY THE RUBENS 2 Prince Of Wales 3 Capitol 4 Settlers Tavern BOB EVANS 2 Settlers Tavern 3 The Bakery 4 Prince Of Wales TRUCKFIGHTERS 3 The Rosemount BLACK SABBATH 4 Perth Arena BETH ORTON 6 St Joseph’s Church HAPPY MONDAYS/ PETER HOOK 8 Capitol NORMA JEAN 8 Amplifier UNIDA 9 The Rosemount TEGAN AND SARA 9 Metro City 11 Hay Park, Bunbury EXAMPLE 10 Metro City THE BRONX/DZ DEATHRAYS 10 Capitol 11 Hay Park, Bunbury THEY MIGHT BE GIANTS 10 The Rosemount 11 Hay Park, Bunbury OM 11 The Rosemount SETH SENTRY 10 Villa 12 Newport Hotel
The Drones April 19
GROOVIN THE MOO (Alison Wonderland/ Alpine/The Amity Affliction/The Bronx/ DZ Deathrays/ Example/Flume/ Frightened Rabbit/ Hungry Kids Of Hungary/The Kooks/ Last Dinosaurs/Matt And Kim/Midnight Juggernauts/Pez/ Regurgitator/Seth Sentry/Shockone/ Tame Impala/Tegan And Sara/The Temper Trap/They Might Be Giants/Tuka With Ellesquire/Urthboy/ DJ Woody’s Big Phat 90’s Mixtape/Yacht/ Yolanda Be Cool) 11 Hay Park, Bunbury THE KOOKS 11 Hay Park, Bunbury 12 Fremantle Arts Centre FLUME/CHET FAKER 12 Metro City DARYL BRAITHWAYE/ JOE CAMILLERI/ JAMES REYNE/ROSS WILSON 12 Perth Concert Hall CRADLE OF FILTH 12 Metropolis Fremantle TENACIOUS D 15 Riverside Theatre EVERMORE 16 Newport Hotel 17 Players Bar 18 The Charles CHRISTINE ANU REWIND – THE ARETHA FRANKLIN SONGBOOK 17 & 18 The Ellington DJ AFRIKA BAMBAATAA 18 The Bakery TAME IMPALA 18 Belvoir Amphitheatre FUNERAL FOR A FRIEND 18 Prince Of Wales Bunbury 19 Amplifier THE GASLIGHT ANTHEM 19 Metro City DEFTONES 21 Metropolis Fremantle JULIE ANDREWS 21 Riverside Theatre THE GHOST INSIDE 23 Amplifier OWL EYES 24 Amplifier AIRNORTH KIMBERELEY MOON EXPERIENCE (Guy Sebastian, Mark Seymour, James Reyne, Gurrumul Yunupingu) 25 Jim Hughes Amphitheatre Kununurra
THE REVEREND HORTON HEAT 28 The Rosemount BOOMTOWN RATS 28 Challenge Stadium THE SEEKERS 30 Riverside Theatre DRAGON 31 The Astor Theatre
JUNE SAN CISCO 1 The Astor CABLE SOUNDS (Icehouse, The Stephen Pigram Quartet & Desert Child) 2 Cable Beach Amphitheatre KATE MILLER-HEIDKE 5 St Joseph’s Church 6 Mundurah Performing Arts Centre 7 Albany Entertainment Centre 8 Margaret River Cultural Centre THE BEARDS 7 Amplifier 8 Prince Of Wales KILLING JOKE 9 The Rosemount EMMA LOUISE 13 Prince Of Wales 15 Amplifier MUNICIPAL WASTE 21 The Rosemount PINK 25, 26 & 28 Perth Arena A$AP Rocky 30 Metro City
JULY LA DISPUTE 6 Amplifier 7 YMCA HQ BALL PARK MUSIC/ EAGLE & THE WORM 12 Metro Freo ALT-J 27 Challenge Stadium
AUGUST ANDREW STRONG: THE COMMITMENTS 22 Metro Freo THE WHITLAMS/ WASO 30 Perth Concert Hall
SEPTEMBER AMANDA PALMER & THE GRAND THEFT ORCHESTRA 8 Astor Theatre FOALS 22 Metro City RIHANNA 24 Perth Arena ONE DIRECTION 28 & 29 Perth Arena
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Autumn Thorns, Thursday at The Swan Basement
WEDNESDAY27.03 BAR 120 Felix BEAT NIGHTCLUB (DOWNSTAIRS) SWAG BRASS MONKEY Sugar Blue Burlesque CAPITOL Harlem Wednesdays CARINE Open Mic CLAREMONT HOTEL Acoustica ELLINGTON JAZZ CLUB The Russell Holmes Trio GREENWOOD Bernardine GROOVE BAR (CROWN CASINO) 5 Shots HALE ROAD TAVERN Fenton Wilde INDI BAR Benny Walker Polly Medlen Band LEEDERVILLE HOTEL Sexy Bunny Easter Party LUCKY SHAG Howie Morgan MOJOS BAR Fremantle Blues And Roots Club Mitch Becker Duo Minky Gardner Duo Carolyn Thomas MOON CAFÉ Mei Saraswati Smokey Flower Eyes Mota MUSTANG BAR Easy Tigers DJ Giles PADDO Toni Etherson Nevsky Prospekt The Long March
ROSEMOUNT Sticky Fingers Current Swell Lyall Moloney DJ Anton Maz ROSIE O’GRADY’S (NORTHBRIDGE) David Fyffe THE BIRD Catbrush Thee Gold Blooms Trash House THE BROWN FOX Courtney Murphy UNIVERSAL Strutt Ses Sayer VILLAGE BAR Village People Open Mic YAYA’S Moana Sun Ties Down Misty Mountain
THURSDAY 28.03 ADMIRAL Karaoke With Robbie King AMPLIFIER Black Sun Empire BAR 120 Lady Lauryn BEAT NIGHTCLUB (DOWNSTAIRS) PLAY BEAT NIGHTCLUB (UPSTAIRS) On The Rocks The Devil Rides Out The Love Junkies The Floors The Community Chest Trigger Jackets BELGIAN BEER CAFÉ Jean Proude BELMONT TAVERN Electrophobia BRASS MONKEY Rhythm Bound Karaoke
Little City Dream, Thursday at Ya Ya’s BRIGHTON Squinty Matt Gresham BROOKLANDS TAVERN Celebrations Karaoke CARINE Pop Candy CHASE BAR & BISTRO James Wilson CIVIC HOTEL Nexus Red Descending Darkenium Obscenium CLANCY’S FREMANTLE Benny Walker COMO HOTEL Courtney Murphy CROWN THEATRE Guy Sebastian DEVILLES PAD Rock’N’Roll Karaoke DUNSBOROUGH TAVERN Open Mic Night EAST END BAR & LOUNGE Easter Mash-Up Party ELEPHANT & WHEELBARROW 5 Shots ELLINGTON JAZZ CLUB Adam Hall And The Velvet Playboys EMPIRE BAR Howie Morgan FLYING SCOTSMAN Gidget Duck & The Muldoon Wing GREENWOOD Anthony Buttaccio GROOVE BAR (CROWN) HI-NRG HERDSMAN Astrobat INDI BAR Bex’s Open Mic Night
Catbrush
CATBRUSH
THREE GOLD BLOOMS TRASH HOUSE WEDNESDAY 27TH THE BIRD
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We Move Walls, Thursday at The Velvet Lounge
KALAMUNDA HOTEL Better Days KANGAROO ARMS Gary Fowlie LUCKY SHAG James Wilson MALT SUPPER CLUB Kaberet Thursdays MARKET CITY TAVERN Sarina Cooper Brothers Of Angac Jenia Reuben De Melo Jedd METRO FREO The Animal House: Circus MOJOS BAR Tijuana Cartel MT HENRY TAVERN Neil Adams MUSTANG BAR Oz Big Band Envy DJ James MacArthur NEWPORT HOTEL Milhouse PADDO Easy Tigers Stu Harcourt PEEL ALE HOUSE Carbon Taxi PERTH CULTURAL CENTRE The Freo Grasshoppers Rachel Dilkon John McNair Keith Anthonisz Duet PLAYERS BAR Three Corner Jack PRINCE OF WALES Sticky Fingers Lyall Moloney ROSEMOUNT Drapht N’Fa Jones Seven & Mr Hill SOVEREIGN ARMS David Fyffe STEVES BAR Dove SWALLOW BAR Mama Cass SWAN BASEMENT Autumn Thorns Cachua Fuzzbucket Lionizer SWAN LOUNGE Surprise Headliner Mad Rabbit Crossbars Darren Guthrie SWINGING PIG Frenzy Acoustic Aly
THE BOAT Jen De Ness THE BROOK Chris Gibbs THE GATE Greg Carter THE PRINCIPAL Bernardine THE SHED Krank THE VELVET LOUNGE We Move Walls Shouting At Camels Nevada Pilot UNIVERSAL Off The Record WOODVALE Two Plus One YA YA’S Little City Dreams Rachel Dease Holly Norman Jay Howie
FRIDAY 29.03 SATURDAY 30.03 ADMIRAL Insane Dwaine AMPLIFIER Nantes + Battleships BAILEYS BAR Dr Bogus Tip Top Sound DJ Bren BAKERY PVT BALLYS BAR Dove BALMORAL Retriofit BAR 120 Flyte BEAT NIGHTCLUB (DOWNSTAIRS) Runaways Xenobiotic Iconoclast BEAT NIGHTCLUB (UPSTAIRS) CANVAS BELGIAN BEER CAFÉ Mike Nayar BREAKERS BAR Almost Famous CIVIC HOTEL Here Come The Cavalry Mt Mountain El Capitan COMO HOTEL Acoustic Aly CROWN THEATRE Guy Sebastian DUNSBOROUGH TAVERN Kris Buckle Rok DJ EAST END BAR & LOUNGE Home Easter Special
ELEPHANT & WHEELBARROW Timeout ELLINGTON JAZZ CLUB Adam Hall And The Velvet Playboys David Ryan Harris & Friends ELMARS IN THE VALLEY Adrian Wilson FLYING SCOTSMAN Under The Influence Andrei Maz FORRESTFIELD TAVERN Christian Thompson GOSNELLS HOTEL Light Street GREENWOOD Carbon Taxi GROOVE BAR (CROWN CASINO) HI-NRG HIGH ROAD HOTEL Flame HOTEL ROTTNEST Easy Tigers INDI BAR Blue Shaddy INDIAN OCEAN BREW The Blackbirds KALAMUNDA HOTEL Andrew Winton KULCHA The Cambodian Space Project LAKERS Celebrations Karaoke LANGFORD ALEHOUSE Die Hard Karaoke LEOPOLD HOTEL Steve Hepple M ON THE POINT Rhythm 22 MERIDIAN ROOM (CROWN PERTH) Howie Morgan MERRIWA TAVERN Greg Carter Karaoke MOJOS BAR Tijuana Cartel Amani Consort MOON & SIXPENCE The Damien Cripps Band MUSTANG The Rusty Pinto Combo Rockabilly DJ Milhouse DJ James MacAurthur
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
Here Come the Cavalry, Saturday at The Civic NEWPORT HOTEL Kizzy Gravity OSBORNE PARK HOTEL Plastic Max PADDO Cheeky Monkeys PARAMOUNT Felix PEEL ALE HOUSE Acoustic Licence PORT KENNEDY TAVERN Bernardine QUARIE BAR Electrophobia RAILWAY HOTEL Asylum Of Grind Facegrinder Obscenium Nails Of Imposition Genocidal Catalyst ROSEMOUNT Drapht N’Fa Jones Seven & Mr Hill ROYAL PALMS RESORT Ben Campain SAIL & ANCHOR Better Days Childs Play SETTLERS TAVERN Sticky Fingers Layall Moloney SWAN BASEMENT Unlikely Events Open Turntable Night Syfer Wilinja Olin Mungo SWINGING PIG Greg Carter Rock-A-Fellas THE BROOK Retriofit THE EASTERN Nevsky Prospekt Rish Rash & Gash The Stokies THE GATE Dirty Scoundrels THE SHED Huge DJ Andyy THE VELVET LOUNGE Creature All Star Perth Combo UNIVERSAL Soul Corporation WANNEROO TAVERN Chris Gibbs WHALE AND ALE 5th Avenue WOODVALE TAVERN Flash Nat & The Action Men
YAYA’S The Rumble Paradise Motor Inn Black Heart Sun Billie Rogers And The Midnight Mules
SUNDAY 31.03 7TH AVENUE Reckless Kelly ADMIRAL Sugarfield James Wilson ALEXANDRA BAR Neil Adams BAKERY Jamie XX BALMORAL The Blackbirds BEAT NIGHTCLUB (BOTH FLOORS) Insomniacs Ball IV Bayou Got Sharks? Short Of Daybreak Wicked Wench Afraid Of Heights Reapers Riddle BELMONT TAVERN Frank Gemmiti BLACK BETTYS Pokkets Of Resistance Subject 2 Change Stone Bleeder Astro Pig BLVD TAVERN JOONDALUP Open Mic Night BRASS MONKEY The Wild Frontiers BREAKERS BAR Chris Gibbs BRIGHTON Ali Hill BROKEN HILL HOTEL Nathan Gaunt BROOKLANDS TAVERN Mike Nayar CAPTAIN STIRLING Christian Thompson CARINE The Bluebottles CHASE BAR Chasing Calee CIVIC HOTEL Jean Proude CLAREMONT HOTEL Sunday Driver DJ Dan COMO HOTEL Adrian Wilson CYRIL JACKSON REC CENTRE Mustangs DUNSBOROUGH TAVERN Ben Campain
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Friday Friday TravisSunday Caudle The Love Junkies, Travis Caudle FlyBy ByMojos Night at Fly Night EAST END BAR & LOUNGE Easter Silent Disco ELEPHANT & WHEELBARROW Daren Reid & The Soul City Groove ELLINGTON JAZZ CLUB The Gavin Kerr Quartet Ft Mel Crothers Samba Social Club Marcio Mendes & Friends ELMARS IN THE VALLEY Chris Gibbs EMPIRE BAR CB3 FLY BY NIGHT Stage Fright Open Mic GOSNELLS HOTEL Conny The Clown GROOVE BAR (CROWN CASINO) HI-NRG HIGH WYCOMBE HOTEL The Organ Grinders HIGH ROAD HOTEL Christian Thompson HOTEL ROTTNEST Easy Tigers INDI BAR Tijuana Cartel INDIAN OCEAN BREW CO Retriofit Double Take INGLEWOOD HOTEL James Wilson KALAMUNDA HOTEL Bernardine LAKERS TAVERN Sea Level LAST DROP TAVERN Kristen Kingwell M ON THE POINT Third Gear MOJOS BAR The Love Junkies Red Engine Caves Dilip & The Davs Old Blood Felecity Groom Duo MUSTANG BAR The Roadmasters DJ Rockin Rhys Flash Nat And The Action Men DJ James McArthur NEWPORT HOTEL Nantes + Battleships Tim Nelson
OCEAN VIEW TAVERN One Trick Phonies PADDY MAGUIRES Madam Montage PADDY MALONE’S Gary Fowlie PADDO Groovetube Acoustic PEEL ALEHOUSE Christian Thompson PINK DUCK LOUNGE BAR Glen Davies PORT KENNEDY TAVERN Dirty Scoundrels QUARIE BAR & BISTRO Better Days QUEENS TAVERN Velvet SAIL & ANCHOR Mike Nayar SOUTH ST ALE HOUSE Kizzy SWINGING PIG Matt Angell Stu Harcourt THE COURT Gay Prom Garden Of Eden Desert Bells Tim Bee THE DEEN Plastic Max & The Token Gesture THE GATE Greg Carter THE SAINT Howie Morgan Project THE SHED James Wilson The Healy’s Blue Hornet UNIVERSAL Off The Record WANNEROO TAVERN Acoustic Aly
Three Hands One Hoof, Sunday at Ya Ya’s WHISTLING KITE One Trick Phonies YA YA’S Mt Mountain Silver Hills Three Hands One Hoof Ramona Bird The Chinos
MONDAY 01.04 BRASS MONKEY James Wilson GROOVE BAR (CROWN CASINO) Chris Murphy & Courtney Murphy METRO CITY The xx Jagwar Mar METRO FREO Hits & Pits Festival Mad Caddies Good Riddance A Wilhelm Scream Voodoo Glow Skulls The Flatliners Diesel Boy One Dollar Short Jamie Hay Jen Buxton Totally Unicorn Paper Arms MOJOS BAR Wide Open Mic Night MUSTANG BAR Tripple Shots THE DEEN Plastic Max & The Token Gesture
TUESDAY 02.04 BRASS MONKEY Open Mic Night ELLINGTON JAZZ CLUB Shaun Rammers Harry Winton FLY BY NIGHT Luka Bloom GROOVE BAR (CROWN) Ruby’s Groove
LUCKY SHAG Ben Merito MERRIWA TAVERN Celebrations Karaoke METRO CITY The xx Jagwar Mar METRO FREO Pennywise MOJOS BAR Blue Lucy Dave Billie Rogers Band Rachel Gorman MUSTANG BAR Danza Loca Salsa Night OXFORD HOTEL Perth Blues Club Bob Patient Wayne Freer Elliot Smith Rick Eastman Ace Follington Roy Daniel John Wilson Gary Howard Rick Steele Dave Brewer Bill Rogers Bill Blissett Sue Bluck Pete Romano Mark Constable Ripping Horns Lucky Oceans Trevor Jalla SETTLERS TAVERN Open Mic Night THE COURT Open Mic & BBQ Night TWO ROCKS TAVERN Jump For Joy Karaoke YA YA’S Lillian Stargazer 10,000 Rupee Travis Aron
The Devil Rides Out
THE DEVIL RIDES OUT THE LOVE JUNKIES, THE FLOORS THE COMMUNITY CHEST TRIGGER JACKETS
THURSDAY 28TH THE BEAT NIGHTCLUB
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MUSIC GEAR & TECHNOLOGY EDITED BY TRAVIS JOHNSON
HAIR, HEALTH & HAPPINESS MUSO INJURIES? Acupuncturist in Maylands specializes in carpal tunnel, RSI, wrist pain, shoulder pain. Call METRO HEALTH 1300 132 830 MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS BETTA GUITARS & REPAIRS Hand crafted steel string, classical and electric guitars and repairs. New bone nuts, saddles, set ups, fret dress, refrets, pickups and more. Call Ray on 0449 878 438. www.perthguitarmaker.com or check out Betta guitars on Facebook. MUSOS WANTED BASS PLAYER NEEDED To complete Hard Rock/ Jazz trio. Must be enthusiastic, reliable and above all, in the pocket. An hour set of originals and film clip produced already. From 18 to 25 years old. Call Kyle - 0433 386 330 METAL DRUMMER WANTED In Joondalup area. Double kick & blast beats a must. Call Ryan 0415 744 648 MUSOS NEEDED For established original band. Seeking Bass Player/Sax/Trumpet/Violins/Backup Singers Contact 0448 436 491 OPEN MIC AT MOONDYNE JOE’S Every Thursday night 8-12. Grand Piano, good sound and friendly atmosphere. Call Mark 0409 137 850 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 VOCALIST NEEDED Perth prog rock band, must have vocal & lyrical power and creativity. Call Brendon on 0435 508 833 WANTED MUSICIANS Vocals, Trumpet and Trombone players. For more info contact 0451 458 533 PHOTOGRAPHY PROJECT PHOTOGRAPHY Promo p h o t o g r a p h y, s t u d i o, l i v e , 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 * AU D I O * S TA G I N G * w w w. n i g h t s t a r l i g h t i n g a u d i o . c o m . a u w w w. n i g h t s t a r l i g h t i n g a u d i o . c o m . a u www.instandt.com.au www.instandt.com.au 9381 2363/ 9444 6651 CD & DVD MANUFACTURE Check out our latest CD & DVD specials online at www.procopy.com.au 9375 3902 MATRIX PRODUCTIONS AUSTRALIA Lighting, staging, sound systems, smoke machines, night club FX, intelligent lighting, strobes & mirror balls, crowd barriers, video projectors. 9371 1551 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 118 304 email avalonstudios@bigpond.com BANDS! - UNLOCK YOUR SONGS’ POTENTIAL +FREE 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 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 RECORDING MIXING MASTERING PRODUCING Fremantle location. Call Pete Kitchen Cooked Records. Ph 0407 363 764 / 9336 3764 REVOLVER SOUND STUDIO Ph 9272 7505. www.revolverstudio.com.au S AT E L L I T E R E C O R D I N G S T U D I O www.satelliterecording.com 0419 908 766 ProTools..17 Years exp 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*** Perth’s ultimate guitar studio. 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 CUBAN MUSIC COURSE 10 wks $440. Starts in April. Testimonals..www.tresmambo.com Txt 0415 272 158 I’ll call back. FREE MUSIC LESSONS Book your free 30min 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 GUITARWORKS JOONDALUP Guitar tuition. ALL levels from beginners to advanced. Ph 0414 448 907 guitarworks@iinet.net.au
MUSO NEWS
We take a look at some the recent goings-on in the Perth music scene and beyond.
INTERESTING DEVELOPMENTS
The winners of the 2013 APRA Professional Development Awards have been announced, and the 40-odd judges, who included Jason Mraz, Josh Pyke and Gary Clarke, have whittled the pool of around 2000 competitors to select eight winners. The winners are: Thomas Calder (Popular Contemporary) Morgan Evans (Country) Leah Flanagan (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Alexander Garsden (Classical) Husky Gawenda (Popular Contemporary) Georgi Kay (Popular Contemporary) Matthew Sheens (Jazz) Joe Twist (Film and Television)
PLAY FOR TODAY
If you’ve got a hankering to learn to play some good old-fashioned mascara-ruining mope-rock, then Ubisoft’s Rocksmith has you covered. Three new songs by The Cure are now available on the authentic guitar game - for those unfamiliar, it’s essentially Guitar Hero with a real guitar - including Love Cats - because who doesn’t love Love Cats? Head over to rocksmith.ubi.com for more.
Each winner will take home a prize pack valued at $30,000, including $12,000 in cash courtesy of APRA. Our heartfelt congratulations go out to all and sundry.
Rocksmith
GOTTA GET A GIBSON
PDA Winner Georgi Kay
Kosmic Sound and Lighting are offering some sweet deals on their Gibson range at the moment, with beautiful guitars walking out the door at ridiculously low prices. At under $1500, the opportunity to own a Gibson SG Standard Heritage Cherry is worth seriously considering. Featuring a mahogany body, Gibson 490R neck pickups and 498T bridge pickups, and classic styling, this is the preferred weapon of such luminaries as Pete Townshend, Angus Young, Tony Iommi and Eric Clapton. Head to kosmic.com.au for more.
FEED THE SEED
Applications are now open for the 2013 Seed Fund, a foundation that supports emerging artists and musicians through various grants and funding initiatives. Grant categories this year include Art on the Street, which will support one visual artist up to the tune of $5000; Professional Development, which grants musicians up to $3000; and Money For Managers and Publicise It, which give those who have completed the Seed Management Workshop the opportunity to receive up to $5000. Entries close on Monday, June 3, so head on over to theseedfund.org to check out the application requirements.
Gibson SG Standard Heritage Cherry
X-Press – First on the street, Wednesdays
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