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ATMOSPHERE & NOW Minneapolis’ almighty hip hoppers Atmosphere are coming to town. A driving force in independent hip hop for 20 years, rapper Slug and DJ/producer Ant are the co-founders of hip hop label Rhymesayers and are heading down under. Slug’s rhymes are poetic, honest and he’s big on story-telling (check out When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That Shit Gold). Joining Atmosphere and their full live band will be LA’s Evidence, the Grammy winning rapper and producer of Dilated Peoples. Evidence has produced tracks for the Beastie Boys, Linkin Park and even co-produced Kanye’s debut The College Dropout. It’s all happening on Friday, May 11, at Villa. Tickets are on sale from next Monday, March 19, from Moshtix and Oztix. Do it.
DevilDriver Kimbra
SOMEBODY THAT WE STILL KNOW
No longer is Kiwi starlet Kimbra somebody that no one really knows. She has surfed the waves of superstardom in the last year and now she reigns supreme, securing her position as an artist of international calibre. Currently touring the USA, she is headed to her adopted home to play her biggest tour yet. Last year she won the ARIA Award for Best Female Artist and enjoyed hits such as Settle Down, Cameo Lover and colossal hit Somebody That I Used To Know with Gotye which has gone 8x Platinum. No biggie hey. Catch her along with high calibre support act Daniel Merriweather and Sam Lawrence at Metro City on Monday May 21, tickets are available from Oztix.
THE DEVIL INSIDE
Having pretty much just walked off stage with a reformed Coal Chamber at Soundwave, frontman Dez Fafara has already plotted his return to our shores, this time with the mighty DevilDriver. Known for their thunderous grooves, haunting vocals and crushing live performances, they’ll take to Capitol on Wednesday, May 9, leaving your scars from the weekend before last with just enough time to heal. Hit up Moshtix for tickets.
Atmosphere
WHAT! NO ANDREW RYAN?
The biggest single day of local music of the year, In The Pines comes alive at the Somerville Auditorium at UWA on Sunday, April 22. After drip feeding you the first two announcements in recent weeks, the time is nigh for the final acts to be revealed. Heading up the announcement are those swamp rocking geniuses The Kill Devil Hills, and they’ve been announced alongside polar opposites Boys Boys Boys!, as well as Apricot Rail, Hang On St. Christopher, Frozen Ocean, Suffer and Tusk. They join the previously announced Benedict Moleta Band, The Big Old Bears, Drowning Horse, The Ghost Hotel, The Leap Year, The Love Junkies, Runner, San Cisco, smRts, Sonpsilo Circus, Split Seconds, Sugar Army and The Sunshine Brothers. Grab your tickets from rtrfm. com.au sooner rather than later.
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Deep Sea Arcade
EXPLORING THE OUTLANDS
The Kill Devil Hills
They’ve already secured themselves as the support act for UK giants the Kaiser Chiefs, but they’ll be heading out on their own tour beforehand to support their brand new album Outlands, which is out this Friday. Sydneysiders Deep Sea Arcade’s indie pop rock flavour has definitely struck a chord with fans all over the world and they’ve played some fairly prestigious spots, including Spain’s Primavera Festival and Homebake, as well as playing alongside Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, Modest Mouse and The Charlatans. The tour kicks off in WA on Friday, March 30, at Capitol; followed by Players Bar in Mandurah on Saturday, March 31, and finally Mojo’s Bar on Sunday, April 1. The next time they guys are back will be on Friday, May 18, at Metro City when they support the Chiefs.
News
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Reactions/Comp
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Flesh
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Music: Boris
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Music: Brian Setzer
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Music: Mick Thomas
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Music: The Necks/ Fun.
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Music: Wooden Shjips/ Portugal. The Man
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Music: Of Montreal/ The Civic Wars
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New Noise
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Eye4 Cover: French Film Festival
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Eye4 News/ Music: Rosie Burgess Trio
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Eye4 Movies: 21 Jump Street/ The Rum Diary/ Margin Call
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Eye4 Art Stories
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Eye4 Arts List/ Lifestyle
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Salt Cover: KRS-One
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Salt: Cover Story/ News/ Opiuo/ Aphrodite
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Salt: Aqua/ West Coast Bootie/ Rewind
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Club Manual/ Scenery
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Scene: Live
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Scene: Pub Scene
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Scene: Pub Blurbs
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Scene: Local Scene
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Tour Trails
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Gig Guide
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Volume
Cover: Boris play The Bakery on Tuesday, March 20 Salt Cover: KRS-One plays Metro City on Friday, March 23 (cover photo by Marie-Claire Batty)
Bob Katter and friends
THE MAD KATTER Once again Bob Katter has gotten himself some great press after running an ad campaign damning Queensland Liberal-National Party leader Campbell Newman for supporting gay marriage. Unfortunately for Katter, he’s not been given the same ‘get out of jail free card’ as his fellow The Project regular George Negus got a few weeks back when he made guesstimations about some GI Joe type’s ability to perform under the cover of sheets. Katter is instead copping flack from everyone with a brain because of his simply bizarre TV ad, which features a partially censored image taken, seemingly at random, from an online image library. Why is it censored? Katter says it’s because Australia is offended by the sight of two men hugging, but it’s more likely because the original image features a young man holding a fake belly and boobs plate over his chest. We hear he walked out of Junior as soon as he’d finished his popcorn. We should have stopped listening to the ignorant MP’s viewpoints years ago, but obviously he has his fans since he’s been in office for almost two decades. People who oppose gay marriage as passionately as Katter does are seriously weird people. When you share any of the same view points as the Westboro Baptist Church it’s time to reassess your life, and since Katter dresses like he’s auditioning for a role in an upcoming stage production of Brokeback Mountain, you would think he would be a more tolerant person. You say you represent the outback, Bob. Spare a thought for the queens of the desert. _MATTHEW HOGAN
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with Melissa Erpen... 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 & 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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OUR IDIOT BROTHER BOXSET
Our Idiot Brother is a belly laugh inducing comedy starring Paul Rudd, about an idealistic man who intrudes and wreaks havoc in each of his three sisters’ lives. We have three boxsets of this hilarious DVD to give away so enter now for your chance to win.
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THE HUNGER GAMES Rooftop Movies
ROOFTOP MOVIES
From the producers of the Fringe World Festival comes an elevated new offering to the Perth summer menu: Rooftop Movies - a pop-up summer oasis in the heart of the CBD. Rooftop Movies will screen classic, cult movies and recent releases from until the end of April. Special events include Bulmer’s Comedy Wednesdays, Friday and Saturday double features and Stella Artois Sunday Classics. Want to win tickets? Well enter now as we have five double passes up for grabs.
Set in a future where the Capitol selects a boy and girl from the twelve districts to fight to the death on live television, Katniss Everdeen volunteers to take her younger sister’s place for the latest match. Sounds like something up your alley? Then get in now as we have a bunch of double passes up for grabs.
DVD PRIZEPACK
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Deadlines EDITORIAL General - Friday 5pm, Arts - Thursday 10am, Comp’ Thing Monday Noon, Clubber’s Guide - Monday 5pm, Rock X-tras - Monday Noon, Gig Guide - Monday 5pm
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The Jezabels just took out the Australian Music Prize (AMP), last week scoring $30,000 for their efforts! Here’s what our Facebook Fans had to say about the band’s recent win… Haidi Hell yeh! Kim I think they confused the word ‘amp’ with ‘snooze’. Daniel Bleeeeeeergh! Abbe May should’ve beaten all those sleepy dorks. Sidewalk Diamonds This makes us most happy! But then Abbe would’ve been well deserved too... Victoria Good on them! Cory It’s a good album, not great though!
Dear X-Press, Firstly, I have to say I absolutely agree with your review of Marilyn Manson’s disgraceful performance at Soundwave. He fucked up the first line of the first song and after slamming his microphone down in a hissy fit managed to trip over a monitor. Not a great opening minute of a set and it didn’t really improve. Suffice to say I was not overly optimistic as I awaited for him to come on stage the following night at Metro City (I was mainly at the show as I’m a big Twiggy Ramirez fan). As soon as he hit the stage though, I have to say all my fears for a bad performance were gone almost instantly. The band sounded amazing and he absolutely owned the stage. It was a highly entertaining and energetic performance (especially for an unfit 40 odd year old drug fiend). It seems as if the Marilyn Manson that performed at Soundwave was a cheap imitation of the Marilyn Manson who performed the following night. What’s funny, is this seemed to have happened all over the country. I know people who saw his sideshows in Brisbane and Sydney and read reviews that say the same thing, he was on top of his game. Yet he seems to have been absolutely terrible at every Soundwave festival around the country. Is it possible he was putting it on in some kind of foolish publicity stunt? Or perhaps he just enjoyed what I assume was a more than generous rider a bit too much before he performed. I think it’s likely the latter. On a side note, Twiggy fucking rocks! BeaNs Via Email
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SOUNDS LIKE A PLAN
Melbournian rockers The Getaway Plan have announced a series of exclusive sideshows to coincide with their appearance on the Groovin The Moo tour this May, including a local show at Amplifier on Friday, May 18. The announcement follows the release of the single Move Along from their second album Requiem. The band has experienced incredible success since reforming in late 2010, including a show-stoppingly spectacular set at the Perth Big Day Out earlier this year. Tickets are available from Moshtix and Heatseeker.
Joe McKee
SALT & SNOW
Two bonafied Australian music originators known for their high quality work are joining forces in order to take the country by storm with a national tour. Ben Salter, of The Gin Club and Giants Of Science, will roll alongside Joe McKee, who is best known for being the brains behind the recently disbanded Snowman. McKee has left his fellow Snowmen behind to focus on a solo career, which will see the light of day later this year, while Salter is still going strong off the back of his debut solo effort, The Cat. See them at The Fly Trap on Friday, April 20; followed by a performance at The Bird on Sunday, April 22.
FLYING THE FLAG
The guys from heavy hardcore outfit Halfmast have just finished up writing their light-hearted new wrestling themed EP titled Tombstone Pile Driver and now they’re ready to bring it to the masses of WA. They’ll be hitting up Oh Snap at Villa this Thursday, March 15, with Anchor; The Den on Friday, March 16, with Afraid Of Heights. They also take to the squared circle of YMCA HQ on Saturday, March 17, where they’ll also be recording their first live clip for the track Consumers.
BROTHERS IN ARMS Emily Barker
ALMANAC ADVENTURES
It’s been seven years since Emily Barker left her native Bridgetown and set up shop in the UK where she has become somewhat of a sensation on the folk scene there. Barker has recieved rave reviews for her latest album Almanac and she’s set to charm local audiences with her gift for weaving melody and words on her biggest solo Australian tour yet. Check out the beguiling chanteuse at the Transmission Lounge in Denmark on Thursday, April 19; Emporium in Bridgetown on Friday, April 20; and Fat Shan’s on Saturday, April 21.
Something of an annual event over east, but never before seen in WA, Snarski Vs Snarski is finally set to make its Perth debut. That’s right, Perth songwriting legends Mark and Rob Snarksi are heading to their home state to reinterpret the music they penned for the likes of Chad’s Tree and The Blackeyed Susans along with newer material. See them play two sets with no supports at the Velvet Lounge on Friday, April 20; and the Norfolk Basement on Saturday, April 21. Tickets from Heatseeker and the usual outlets.
NIFTY SAUSAGES
CUTTING THE FAT
After releasing a critically panned album under the Fatty Gets A Stylist moniker with husband Kier Nuttall last year, quirky folkster Kate MillerHeidke is back to doing what she does best – kickin’ it solo style. Showcasing tunes from Nightflight, her first solo album in three years, Miller-Heidke is set to charm local audiences during an intimate live show at the Astor Theatre on Wednesday, March 28. Tickets are available from katemillerheidke.com and BOCS.
We can breathe a sigh of relief now that youngsters of power pop rock outfit The Never Ever have released their brand new EP Breathe. Responsible for tracks such as She Said and Hey KT they’ve just picked up the east coast support for Canadian pop rockers Simple Plan and We The Kings later this year. But before they do that, the five piece are headed out on a national tour. See them at YMCA HQ on Thursday, April 12, and again at VIlla for Oh Snap later that night. Breathe drops this Friday.
Kooii
THEY GET AROUND
They’ve already infected the entire east coast with their tribal and tropical mix of sounds and now they are set to do the same right here. Kooii are a seven piece outfit hailing from Brisbane and they create a fusion of Afrobeat, reggae and world music on strage. See them with locals Sneaky Weasel Gang and Ensemble Formidable at Mojos on Friday, March 22; Freemasons Hotel in Geraldton on Friday, March 23; Settlers Tavern on Saturday, March 24; and Clancy’s Dunsborough on Sunday, March 25.
SETTING SAIL
Whitley
WHIT’S ABOUT YOU After blowing everyone’s minds with their debut EP Acid Chess all the way back in 2011, sonic terrorists Usurper Of Modern Medicine have announced their sophomore EP, Turbo Handshake. Featuring four new tracks (with great titles like Pigeon Religion and Steak Rainbow) together with four remixes from Ylem, Naik and more, it’s launched on Saturday, April 14, with Melbourne’s Absolute Boys, French Rockets, Naik and DJ Jo Lettenmaier. With their debut album Otis produced by Brian Jonestown Massacre man Ricky Maymi and featuring guest spots from Graham Lee (The Triffids) and Richard Lane (The Stems), The Morning Night are almost set to launch the record. It happens on Saturday, March 31, at Mojos Bar and features support from Lucy Peach, The Deep River Collective, The Fremantle Ukulele Collection, David and Nathan of The Big Old Bears, Richard Lane and Elk Bell. Tickets from Mills and 78 Records. In order to raise awareness of mental health issues the folk over at South Metropolitan Area Health Service return with Music To Open Your Mind at Fremantle’s Kings Square on Sunday, March 25. Split Seconds, Ruby Boots and Big Old Bears head up the free event and more information can be sought from southmetropolitan.health.wa.gov.au. WAAPA team up with Fremantle Arts Centre to present the aptly titled WAAPA Direct To Fremantle Arts Centre; an evening of Broadway hit solos, duets and choruses from the musical theatre students whom are accompanied by the course director David King on the piano. Sharing the limelight will be the student percussion ensemble Defying Gravity joined by guest artist Joshua Webster from Tetrafide Percussion. It happens on Friday, March 30, and tickets are from the venue. After 14 years of supporting up and coming local bands RTRFM and their sponsors Healthway are once again starting up Live Wire Fresh, formerly known as the Fresh Blast Program. Applications are now open for bands and solo artists to present their material to win over $2000 worth www.xpressmag.com.au
If you would like to experience the wonder that is ‘hynofolkadelia’ as well as all kinds of other genre bending madness then be sure to head on down to Fremantle for a session with two of the UK’s biggest funk veterans. Scotsmen Shooglenifty have been credited with being the creators of a sound known as ‘acid-croft’, which they describe as a mix of Celtic traditional music and dance beats. Their English counterparts The Chipolatas mix hip hop and street music with accordions and acoustics. You can catch the two bands when they play the Fly By Night on Wednesday, April 18. Tickets are $25 plus BF from the venue.
A SIGH OF RELIEF
IMAGINE ALL THE ONIONS
John Waters and Stewart D’Arrietta have been bringing the life and music of John Lennon to the stage in their show Looking Through A Glass Onion for a couple of decades now, and to celebrate the success of the groundbreaking production the show is being revived and will tour Australia for one final time before heading to the US. Part concert, part monologue, this unique stage show evokes some of the key events and thoughts that made the man and phenomenon that was John Lennon, from the time he was a lad through to the emergence of The Beatles, Yoko, the break-up and the ominous conclusion of his life. Looking Through A Glass Onion will be performed at the Astor Theatre on Friday, May 25, and Saturday, May 26. Tickets are available through BOCS.
Shooglenifty
The Newport Hotel opened it’s doors back in 1897 and so after 115 years of service to the people of Fremantle they have now created the 1987 Sessions, a series of live gigs drawing on some home grown talent for support. For their first show, the venue will be hosting Melbournian Lawrence Greenwood, who also goes by the name of Whitley, but you already knew that. After retiring from the world of music a couple of years back following the success of his second album Go Forth, Find Mammoth, he’s back. Who would have thunk it? See his first WA show in forever at the first 1987 Session on Thursday, April 26. Tickets from Moshtix and Oztix.
WHEATBELT UP
Usurper Of Modern Medicine of sponsorship promotions for your own CD launch including 50 radio announcements, a live spot on air, as well as cash for venue hire, support acts and more. The application deadline for any launches in April is this Friday, March 16, so get cracking. Head to rtrfm. com.au more more info. Speaking of great opportunities for WA bands, Bigsound in Brisbane has helped launch the careers of some great success stories like San Cisco and Split Seconds. Applications are now open for the September event. Head to bigsound.org.au for more info. Following on from the departure of Paul Bodlovich from the top job, WAM have announced Dr. Wendy Were as the new Chief Executive Officer of the organisation. She’s worked with the Sydney Writers’ Festival and Perth International Arts Festival previously, and will assume her role on May 1.
In order to promote road safety in the Wheatbelt, the RAC and WAM have joined forces to present the pilot initiative The Wheatbelt Touring Music Circuit. Pop and soul collective Boom! Bap! Pow! head up the bill and joining them will be Bunbury singer songwriter Johnny Taylor. See them at Merredin’s Commercial Hotel on Friday, March 16, with Gauge Harder; Grass Valley Tavern on Saturday, March 17, with Gus McKay; Ye Olde Quindanning Inne on Sunday, March 18, with Epaphras.
RUNNING THE NIGHT
Forget about running the night, DJ Havana Brown seems to have taken over the world – the Aussie DJ is currently sitting at #1 on Billboard’s Dance Club Chart with her first single We Run The Night. Madness. She’s recently been touring, recording and living it up in LA and has got herself a 12 month residency as Paris Las Vegas’ Chateau nightclub spinning for all the superstars. Having supported the likes of Lady Gaga, The Pussycat Dolls, Rihanna and a score of VIP parties and concerts, Brown hits town on Thursday, April 5, at Metro Freo. Doors open 9pm. Hit up Moshtix for tickets.
Rosie Burgess and her fellow band mates Sam Lohs and Tim Bennett are setting sail; embarking on a national tour to celebrate their brand new album Before I Set Sail. The Rosie Burgess Trio are originally from Melbourne but since the inception of the band they have rarely spent much time in any one place, leaving in their trail many broken sunglasses and thongs but also many new fans. You can catch the latest work from the group when they hit WA for a five-show string here: Mojos Bar on Wednesday, March 28; Ya Ya’s on Thursday, March 29; Prince Of Wales on Friday, March 10, and then Settlers Tavern on Saturday, March 30, and Sunday, March 31.
HE JUST KEEPS ROLLIN’
After the success of his debut album all over the world, Sydney born Ohad Rein, also known as Old Man R iver, i s b r i n g i n g his latest work back home. The latest album, entitled Trust, was mostly recorded in India and features a host of talented native musicians; so needless to say you’ll be able to hear a range of exotic world music when you hear him play. Old Man River will be plays on Friday, March 30, at the Norfolk Basement in Fremantle. He’ll be joined there by Simone & Girlfunkle and Patient Little Sister and tickets are available from Moshtix, Oztix and Heatseeker. He’ll also be playing at the Joondalup Festival on Saturday, March 31, with The Ghost Hotel.
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Boris
BORIS Tokyo Wonder Band 2011 was an unusual year for acclaimed Japanese experimental rock outfit Boris. Releasing three albums, including one of pure pop, in quick succession – drummer Atsuo explains why a lack of vision proved to be their most useful tool. JESSICA WILLOUGHBY reports ahead of the band’s stint in Perth at The Bakery next Tuesday, March 20. “If we had just gone and released the album we made in 2009, it wouldn’t have done the album justice…so we gave up on it,” Boris drummer Atsuo explains of the band’s new musical direction. “We then started again with the concept of not releasing material in order to make more interesting songs.” Reinvention is a difficult process. But for Boris, a Japanese experimental outfit who continually break common rock conceptions, creation knows no other path. Though the past 12 months have been unusual, even for this three-piece.With 2011 came three outstanding albums, two of which ventured towards the heavier spectrum and another full of sultry pophoned rhythms. Born from the scraps of an unreleased
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full length two years prior, drummer Atsuo points to the nature of the music industry as the reason for the band’s new direction. “The value of music has been declining over time,” he explains. “Everyone casually downloads or shares illegally and the systems in the music industry collapsed all at once. Music literally became free. It felt like if we had released the album in 2009, which had no particular vision, it wouldn’t have done anything for us. From the outset, it was an album we made we really no intention of releasing anyway.” What surfaced from the Tokyo-based trio last year fulfilled the very definition of diversity. Heavy Rocks, sharing the same title as their 2002 release, and New Album explored the soundscapes and atmospheric
“We tried not to smash it as much and there were some parts we put some thought into musically, so we’d like the listener themselves to turn up the volume when they listen to it.” tones of the band’s well-known psychedelic tastes.While Attention Please threw guitarist Wata into the spotlight for different reasons, her breathless vocal tones the only to feature amongst a musical backdrop of Japanese pop blends and soaring electronic beats. “The 2009 album went into three singles and two splits with Torche and 9dw,” Atsuo tells X-Press. “At that time, we were also working on the BXI collaboration with Ian Astbury (The
Cult) – so there was an opportunity for Wata’s vocal progressions. As well as expanding on various concepts and ideas, the songs showed themselves to us. Amongst all that, we began to see two directions – an album that would mainly feature Wata’s vocals and one that would allow us to delve into what we considered at the time to be heavy music. Fundamentally, we don’t always have a concept at first. It’s like the songs show us or it’s like we’re guided by them.” Featuring guest inclusions from The Cult frontman, longstanding Boris live member Michio Kurikara (Ghost) and the Mammifer duo (ex-Isis guitarist Aaron Turner and wife Faith Coloccia) across the three releases, Atsuo points to songwriting being disorganised but inspiration-driven. “Although it might appear to others that we do a lot of different things, to us all of our music as a whole is connected,” he says. “The core band members are all the same, so it all ends up as Boris. Though I do think it’s all a bit clumsy. And with Attention Please and Heavy Rocks, nothing really changed. We had been thinking for a few years that it’d be nice to make something like a solo album for Wata, so it came quite naturally. I guess for others, a change in vocalist seems like a big change. It was quite interesting that there were different vocals, words and vocal output from a different person. Also, with the lyrical content, we were able to use works that we wouldn’t if Takeshi [vocals] was singing. We were able to expand in a lot of ways. “On Heavy Rocks, we focused in on what we considered as heaviness. It’s not just slow tempo, down-tuning and distorted guitar that sounds heavy. Heaviness can come from different things and we incorporated that into what we created. On the 2002 Heavy Rocks, with smashed it so it might sound a bit loud. This time, we wanted to leave the core of that sound there. We tried not to smash it as much and there were some parts we put some thought into musically, so we’d like the listener themselves to turn up the volume when they listen to it.” With the outfit choosing to produce these two LPs, as per norm, New Album saw them invite radical engineer Shinobu Narita to take on these duties. A move, according to Atsuo, that helped to rejuvenate the Boris sound. “We have always looked after everything ourselves,” he says. “Being able to work with Narita, a producer I’ve always liked, was a really great experience. With New Album, the process was that we would send over the recording data to him and get his suggestions. It was like his vision would decipher and create a new Boris, which was a very new and thrilling process. Personally, I think this album ended up being our most heavy album of the three.”
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Setzer’s response has me excited. “Oh, boy, I tell you. I don’t know if you’ve heard of Chris D’Rozario, from Melbourne,” he questions.“He’s brought tricks “It’s always going to on that bass to a new level. I love Royal Crown, man, I don’t know, but I – I think we got it beat.” Former be underground music Stray Cats bassist Slim Jim Phantom also appears with Rockabilly Riot, so duelling basses may be the because it’s rough order of the day. Stray Cats formed with Setzer, Phantom, edge, but there will and Lee Rocker in 1980 in New York, before the always be people band headed, penniless, to London to catch the Teddy Boy revival. They quickly found themselves who want it, and who at the center of this movement, helped in no small part by their once distinct and now much imitated discover it by whatever look, vintage rockabilly gear meets punk. Between way they do.” their second break-up in 1993 and their reunion in Ahead of his Rockabilly Riot show on 2004, Setzer formed The Brian Setzer Orchestra, in Saturday, March 24, at Fremantle Arts which he leads a ‘40s style big band. “I can’t think of an example where a Centre, Brian Setzers talks vintage guitar player ever led a big band back in the day,” Setzer comments. “To rock out in front of it brings a guitars and the joys of pomade with whole new element to the thing. It’s so rich, to hear ROBBIE MILES. all those horns, but it doesn’t sound like an old record. So, I mean, it’s a modern sounding thing.” “I really enjoy this band,” Brian Setzer says of his Modern is a relative term however, as new outfit. Setzer is widely known to favour vintage gear. Can Although 2009 saw the Stray Cats this be attributed to a connection with the past? embark on a farewell tour, we’ll now be treated “Nah, that stuff just sounds better,” Setzer admits, Brian Setzer to something of a retrospective. With the relaxed laughing. “It’s just as simple as that; if they come up confidence that can only come from 30 years of with new stuff I’d be happy to use it. I still count on wrote, and my solo stuff, and even some big band The show also includes a performance successfully doing what he loves, Setzer explains: my old Stray Cat Gretsch, because it’s like puttin’ on “It’s really three different bands on the stage at stuff – you know, without the horns.” Rockabilly element. When asked if the much-discussed double an old pair of jeans, they just fit perfect.” Riot combines almost all of Setzer’s work to date; bass trickery could beat Dave Miller (of Royal Crown different times. I didn’t want to limit it to just Stray Setzer’s latest experiment, the album Cats songs, but I do work some into the stuff that I “yeah, it’s a lot of music,” he says, almost shyly. Revue) playing one behind his head, Hendrix-style, Brian Setzer Goes Instru-MENTAL! is due for release on Monday, April 23. To say it’s fantastic is almost unnecessary, given the consistent high quality of Setzer’s output over the last three decades. From Stray Cats, through big band, a Christmas album and the phenomenal Wolfgang’s Big Night Out – in which The BSO reinterprets classical music with a rock‘n’roll flair – Setzer seems to bring his audience with him on each new project. This begs the question: after so many incarnations, are the fans coming to see the music or are they coming to see the man? “I don’t really have a good gauge for that,” Setzer responds. “I can tell you, the age group is really all over the map… There’s players who sit right in front and watch my fingers… and some places I’ve played have tens of thousands of people, and they’re definitely not 10,000 rockabilly people.” As many Perthlings know, a visit to the Mustang Bar or Devilles Pad on the right night proves that the Perth rockabilly scene is alive and well. Setzer marvels at this lasting quality: “Isn’t that funny? [Rockabilly] just rejuvenates itself. I’m dumbfounded by it. It’s always going to be underground music because it’s rough edge, but there will always be people who want it, and who discover it by whatever way they do.” Setzer himself famously discovered rockabilly by seeing a photo of Eddie Cochrane: “It was just by luck,” he recalls. “I mean, I didn’t know his music would be so great. He was the coolest guy I had ever seen. I just thought, ‘I wanna look like him’. You have to remember, at that time, everybody had hair down to their bellies and was wearing tie-dyed t-shirts.” This emulation of his idol actually led to Brian being cast as Eddie himself in the film La Bamba. “Oh gosh, that was, that was just great,” Setzer enthusiastically recalls his on-set experience. “I’d combed my hair and I’d been doing it for years,” Setzer explains. “But they said, ‘no, you have to go through makeup. We have a hair stylist.’ So this guy insisted on redoing it, and I looked like a French poodle. “So I stuck my head in the water fountain and quickly combed it back, so it was still wet when I was up there.” Pro-tip for the scenesters out there, his style is usually held together by Murray’s Pomade and a spritz of hair spray. After speaking to Setzer for only a short time, what is most clear is the respect and reverence with which he treats the music and those who love it. His steadfast loyalty to rockabilly traditions and the fans he has earned is to be admired. Unpretentious and quick to laugh, Setzer puts it best himself; “It’s just good music.” Indeed.
BRIAN SETZER
I Predict A Riot
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ADAM ANT Insect Nation
‘80s New Romantic legend Adam Ant plays the Astor Theatre on Sunday, April 1. TRAVIS JOHNSON talks to the Dandy Highwayman about his life and legacy. There have been a number of Adam Ants over the years: the punk prince of the Dirk Wears White Sox era, the dandy postmodern swashbuckler of the early ‘80s, the new wave solo pop star, and, yes, the troubled tabloid-tempter of recent years. So it’s fair to ask which Adam we’ll be getting on his Australian tour.“I think you’re getting a selection,” the man known as Stuart Goddard to his parents tells us. “I’m doing a pretty long show - an hour and three quarters up to a two hour show - and looking across the nine albums, I’ve chosen my favourite songs. And that can be anything from the hits to Dirk Wears White Sox, original B-sides, a couple of covers in there. So that’s kind of looking back over the work, which is a nice thing to be
Adam Ant able to do rather than pushing a new album, which will come out later in the year. And also I’ve got a brand new band.They’re a lovely posse and they’re very supportive, young kids - just great back-up. But I’ve spent the last 18 months just reintroducing everything to an audience which, at that time, I didn’t know if it was there or not after the 17 years, you never know.” That’s a little self-deprecating; Ant’s flamboyance and musical experimentation has influenced countless younger artists, including vocal fan Trent Reznor.
“It’s very gratifying as a songwriter to have your songs interpreted by another artist,” Ant admits. “That’s always something that any songwriter looks forward to. Trent did it, and Robbie Williams did Ant Music, so you have two parameters; two very different ends of the spectrum there. When someone does take on a cover on it, it’s nice when they take it into a completely different kind of instrumentation, which Nine Inch Nails certainly did with Physical. It was just so dark but it kind of worked, so I was very happy with it.” He’s also happy with his upcoming album, the much delayed Adam Ant Is The Blueblack Hussar In Marrying The Gunner’s Daughter. “I’ve been waiting for a while,” he exclaims. “The thing is, it took me a long time to get away from the major labels I was signed to, but this is, a 100 per cent, my label. And being a boutique label in this world, certainly when you’re doing a double gatefold 18 track album with liner notes, all very old school, that’s quite an undertaking. We’re looking at July now.” And as for this current tour, Ant assures us that his trademark theatricality remains intact. “It always has been and hopefully it always will be. I mean, for me to go on stage is a great gift, and it’s great to be able to do it. But to me it’s like a ritual, getting prepared. Therefore, when I put on the makeup, and the clothes, I’m in my Sunday best, as it were. It starts off like that, and in the end I’m wringing wet and half of it’s gone, but if I’m not going to make an effort, why should the audience. So I always make an effort; it’s part and parcel of what I like to do.”
Mick Thomas
MICK THOMAS
People You Meet Usually touring under the banner of Mick Thomas & The Sure Thing, TOM VARIAN talked to Mick Thomas ahead of his national tour where he heads to Perth for a string of intimate gigs: Friends Restaurant on Thursday, March 15; Norfolk Hotel on Friday, March 16; and the Oxford Hotel on Saturday, March 17. Mick Thomas, frontman of seminal Aussie band Wedding Parties Anything, may have over 10 years worth of solo albums under his belt since his band’s break up in 1998, but in a lot of ways his latest album, The Last Of The Tourists, marks his first real solo outing. Usually going in to the studio with his backing band The Sure Thing, to record Tourists Thomas went in to the studio without a band behind him. “Yeah, I just felt the need to do something different, so I contacted Darren Hanlon and he was keen to work with me,” Thomas explains. “He’d been working out of Portland, Oregon, recently and everything I looked up about it on the net looked very appealing for me. It seemed to be a city built around bicycles, coffee and micro-brew beer. “And it’s good to go to a city in the States where you don’t get scurvy after a week. You can actually find good stuff to eat,” he adds, with a grin beaming through the phone. Travelling together to the Type Foundry studio in Portland, Darren helped Thomas choose a line-up of tracks and pushed him to bring out some more personal songs, ones he’d never laid down in a studio. Putting together a band using local musicians, including sound engineer and drummer Adam Selzer who plays bass with M Ward, they laid down the tracking for Thomas’s 14th studio album in just five days. Thomas reveals why Portland seemed like a good fit.“Darren is half based over there and it’s just a great studio for me, really well laid out, everything works. And with the dollar, it was cheap. Really cheap,” he adds, laughing.“But it was a great time, made some great friends like Shelley.” Shelley Short is a native of Portland who contributed to Tourists and is coming over to Aus to support Mick on this National tour. Supporting him for a couple of Perth shows will be local lads The Jayco Brothers. “Yeah I’ve played with them quite a bit and I think Grant [Ferstat] is going to have a play with us as well. I mean I’m still bringing musicians with me, it’s not a sake of saving money, but I just want to play with different musicians at the moment. So instead of The Sure Thing it will be Mick Thomas’ Roving Commission,” explains Thomas. The songs of Mick Thomas have always been quite introspective and personal, and listening to The Last Of The Tourists reveals a growing age that has only made his songs more intimate.“I think maybe it’s getting more comfortable and also the people around you, they bring different things out of you,” he says. “I think that’s where Darren was really instrumental in making this sound like a different album than I would have made. He chose a lot of songs I probably wouldn’t have. But that’s a comment a lot of people have made, that it’s comfortably introspective.”
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Fun.
FUN.Young & Free
The Necks
THE NECKS Jazz In The Afternoon
Having just scored the top position on the ARIA singles charts this week for their infectious single We Are Young, New York-based pop trio Fun. have just released their second album, Some Nights, through Fuelled By Ramen. TRAVIS Improvisational jazz trio The Necks bring their avant-garde soundscapes JOHNSON talks to multi-instrumentalist Andrew Dost about the tribulations to The Bakery on Monday, March 26. TRAVIS JOHNSON talks to pianist Chris of trans-continental recording. Abrahams. In many ways, a band’s first album is the easiest. There are no expectations, no weight of prior achievement, and you can pretty much do whatever you want and hope that somebody out there likes it. It’s the second album that gives you grief, bringing with it the axiomatic threat of the sophomore slump. Of course, when you’ve been gigging around the traps as long as Andrew Dost and his fellow Funsters, it’s a bit easier. “We’ve made so many albums with different bands,” he explains. “And we’ve all been playing music for 10 years now - each of us - that it didn’t even really feel like a sophomore album; it just felt like another album. I think at this point we had a very clear vision of what we wanted to do and what we wanted it to sound like, so we just went to work. We didn’t even really think about a sophomore slump, we just wanted to make a great work of art, and that’s all we really set out to do.” And they’ve succeeded. Some Nights is an infectiously enjoyable slice of pop, mixing hip hop beats - courtesy of producer Jeff Bhasker - with a full, rich sound and vocal stylings reminiscent of early Queen. Dost acknowledges that the album represents a definite step forward for the band. “With the first album we were still trying to get to know each other,” he says. “Nate [Ruess - singer], Jack [Antonoff - guitarist], and I all knew each other, but we didn’t really try to write together, and when you do that you kind of
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have to create your own language and you have to learn to communicate. Part of making the first album was just learning to write songs together, so this one was less about learning each other, and it became more about focusing on the songs. So it was a little bit clearer and a little bit more direct, and maybe even a little bit more inspired, because we were only worried about trying to write great songs and get to the core of those songs. I think a lot of the development was interpersonal, but we grew a lot as writers along the way as well.” The album was recorded on both the east and west coasts of the US, a process that Dost found invigorating rather than disruptive. “We went together to a cabin in upstate New York for about a week and we wrote maybe about half the album,” he recounts. “Then we went to LA, we started recording We Are Young and got that into a state we were happy with, and then we went back a week or two later to really dive in to the entire album. So that was nice; we had a lot of distance, and a lot of motion. Between New York and LA we were always moving, and we were always trying to get perspective on the songs, and see them from a lot of different angles, so it was really nice to be working, and then fly on the plane and listen to mixes and try to figure out what to improve.”
Chris Abrahams is soft-spoken, thoughtful, and articulate. He also has an encyclopaedic knowledge of music theory and history, which comes into play when he’s asked even the most innocuous of questions related to those fields, such as what influences Mindset, their latest album, draws upon. “Well, that’s a good question.” he says, pausing in thought before continuing. “It’s our 16th album. I guess we were finding it kind of natural to go into the studio and make things. In some ways, you know, what we’ve done before informs what we do on that album. I’m trying to think of the influences on the band in general, and I think they go right back to possibly listening to African music, soul music, reggae, jazz music, more so than possibly what people think, which is a more conventional form of minimalism. And by that I mean that people like (pioneering minimalist composers) Steve Reich or Morton Feldman. Having said that, I think there’s quite a big Morton Feldman influence, especially on the second track. “For me in particular I guess the melodic idea of the piano is quite further ranging in terms of the number of notes involved in that. I do think it achieves a certain kind of aesthetic that is influenced by Morton Feldman. But in terms of the Steve Reich/ Philip Glass minimalist kind of thing that people think we do, which is about repetition, I don’t think we were influenced by that particularly.”
Of Mindset in particular, he says, “Originally, one idea for what we wanted to do on side one was something that bore a relation to the ecstatic music of [jazz saxophonist] Pharaoh Sanders. Over the last 10 years or so, we’ve tried to develop this method of playing a rhythmic approach that sort of drives things forward but isn’t in any kind of discernible time signature. A kind of staggered pulse that propels forward but doesn’t ever become a generic field. We kind of just fell into that as a way of the rhythm section playing with each other.” Whew. But if Abrahams is a voluble speaker, he’s an even more prolific musician, not only in his work with The Necks, but also in his solo work - seven albums and counting so far - and as a session musician for a remarkable number of artists. Such a work ethic comes easily to him. “What we do is kind of easy, I think,” he explains. “And I don’t mean that in a negative way. I guess things would be more time consuming if we plotted everything out prior to doing it, but that’s really not how we make music. We are improvisational musicians, and one aspect about improvising is that, to make a piece of music, you make it in real time, more or less. We’ve reached a stage, the three of us, where we communicate on a level that is quite unusual for many musicians. We’ve built up a way of playing that hopefully gives what we do strength and logic.”
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PORTUGAL. THE MAN All A Twitter
According to bassist Zachary Carothers, Alaska-via-Portland psychedelic rockers Portugal. The Man have had “enough highs and lows in the last six months to last a lifetime.” JENNIFER PETERSON-WARD reports. Since forming way back in 2004, Portugal. The Man have been on an eclectic, unpredictable musical journey, yet as bassist Zachary Carothers attests, 2011 may just have been the “craziest” year by far. It started with the quartet enjoying the prestige and appreciation that have been due for the best part of half a decade thanks to their new album In The Mountain In The Cloud and an invite to play a dream-come-true performance at Lollapalooza, was followed by the theft of all the group’s musical equipment and ended in a rarity: something truly heart-warming happening on the internet. After a rained-on set at the Chicago music festival, the members of the band parked their van
and trailer, loaded with equipment, near their hotel. The next morning, their entire $80,000 arsenal of gear went missing – along with their tour van. “The show went really good, we were all riding high, feeling really good about the set and how everything was going,” Carothers recounts. “When we woke up the next morning, the van was missing from the parking lot. It was an attended lot, and the guy working there said he didn’t see anything. So whoever stole the van had crept in quickly and unsuspiciously enough that he just didn’t notice. The van just drove away, and it didn’t look weird to him.” After hearing of the heist, lead singer and guitarist John Gourley immediately took to Twitter and Facebook to spread the word, asking fans and
back, but it was pretty heartbreaking to learn that he’d already sold our guitars and keyboards for absolutely nothing,” Carothers says. “I’m like a hawk on the internet now – I check eBay and Craigslist every day to see if any of it gets listed. I would pay pretty much any amount to get it back.” Luckily, Carothers and his bandmates encountered no such malfeasance during their recent tour of Australia, which included sets at the east coast incarnations of the St Jerome’s Laneway Festival. “There are very few places you go to where your first impression is so great, but Australia has definitely been one of those places for us. The crowds seemed to really like what we were doing and we love it here, it’s extremely warm though,” he concludes. “Hopefully we’ll get to come over there to the west coast soon – I have a cousin who lives Portugal. The Man in Perth and I didn’t get to see her this time around and she couldn’t get over to the east coast either so people in the Chicago area to keep an eye out for I would love to catch up with her next time around.” the stolen equipment. “We filed a police report and then we took to the internet, and just let everyone in the area know what the van looked like, what equipment was missing. We were feeling hopeless, basically – because what were the chances of getting it back,” Carothers asks. But later that day, the van and trailer were found in Chicago, empty – and then a week later, the band’s tour manager got a call from the police, who’d found a bunch of the gear – amps, lights and drums – during a house search in Chicago. “When the guy got caught that bought some of [our gear]
WOODEN SHJIPS
Creative State Of Mind
Ahead of their performance at The Bakery on Friday, March 30, Wooden Shjips guitarist Ripley Johnson sheds light on the creative process of one of modern music’s most inventive psychedelic rock outfits to JENNIFER PETERSON-WARD.
Wooden Shjips Almost every songwriter is part inventor. But Eric “Ripley” Johnson, the eclectic, visionary and mainly self-taught San Franciscoborn songwriter and guitarist for psych rock quartet Wooden Shjips is primarily an inventor, in the most creative sense of the term. “It’s our limbs, our organs, an extension of ourselves,” Johnson begins when questioned about the influence the musical equipment he uses have on the shaping of his band’s sound. “We have a range of different gear, some old, some new, but the constant is probably powerful tube amplifiers. Warm vintage stuff is our preference. We started the band with what we had at hand and that definitely shaped our sound. But I suppose if we were forced to play, say all brass instruments, we would have a similar approach and philosophy, but the vibe would be completely different.” Discontent with standard conceptions and conventions of psychedelic rock, Ripley reveals he and his band grew fascinated with alternative approaches, and have reached a point where little outside music influences the tunes they craft. “Musically we’ve reached a point, because we listen to so much different music, that there’s no way to tell what is a true influence. Most of the inspiration just comes from life, experience and thought. So it’s a reflection of our lives at the moment,” he says. Wooden Shjips’ 2011 released LP West was the band’s first album to be recorded in a pro studio with an engineer, and Johnson admits he fully expected to feel like his creativity was being stifled in this new environment. “[Recording is] the most challenging aspect creatively, where you shape your message into a coherent whole. [I only ever felt we were being stifled] in the sense that we were on the clock. That’s always been our issue with studios – time, and of course money. But we weren’t really stifled, just limited. Limitations can be freeing as well, and that was really the case this time around. We wanted to limit ourselves, see what we could do in seven days. It was a great experience in that sense,” he concludes, adding that he’s looking forward to showcasing the new tunes during Wooden Shjips’ upcoming national tour. “Performing is nice because of the adventure and getting to meet different people. Plus, it’s the presentation of all of the work spent writing and recording, which is gratifying. “We hope the listeners will bring something of themselves to the music and therefore have a unique experience. We try to keep things fairly loose, so we just try to ride the wave wherever it takes us. Sometimes it’s easy, sometimes it’s rough, but we ride it out and see what happens.” 20
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THE CIVIL WARS Sleepy Hollow
Of Montreal
OF MONTREAL Paralytic State As Of Montreal’s 11th studio album Paralytic Stalks hits the shelves, frontman Kevin Barnes opens up to JENNIFER PETERSON-WARD about grappling with depression while working on the new material and why he wants to help people struggling with similar demons. “I spend my waking hours haunting my own life / I made the one I love start crying tonight and it felt good,” Of Montreal vocalist and songwriter Kevin Barnes sings in Spiteful Intervention. It’s the second track of his outfit’s latest album Paralytic Stalks and that it is arguably the album’s most buoyant tune speaks volumes of the bleak content found on the record. “I was going through a dark period when working on this record. It came from a frustration with my career and just general unhappiness with life. I was raging against myself, suffering and feeling abused psychically,” Barnes begins. “It wasn’t really something that I set out to do. It wasn’t like I sat down and said to myself ‘I want to make a dark record.’ It was ‘I need to make music’ because it’s the one thing I find extremely fulfilling and also distracts me, in a positive way, from my condition.” Barnes’ willingness to discuss his ongoing struggles with depression has led to the widespread music media championing him as the poster boy for adolescent bedroom angst. However, while in previous years he fought desperately to outmanoeuvre his soul-crushing despondence by writing songs with dancehall melodies and tongue-in-cheek lyrics, Barnes admits he “wasn’t in good enough spirits” to attempt to “fool around with crazy personas” this time around.
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“It’s probably not going to do well commercially and there are probably going to be many disappointed fans who liked my light-hearted stuff, but Paralytic Stalks was an album I need to make. I didn’t have any kind of agenda – it was just the confusion and absolute chaos of my life at that period that made me make this record. I was writing from a more personal standpoint then I probably ever have before,” he says, explaining that, with months of rehabilitation behind him, he is now at a point where he feels completely comfortable talking about his depression: “It’s easy to detach myself. It feels weird talking about it now, only because I’m not really ‘there’ anymore. I came through that. It’s almost like talking about something that happened to someone else. It feels like something I read in a book or saw in a movie.” While Barnes isn’t hanging his hopes on a hit single or “any kind of critical worship”, he does hope his deeply personal record will forge a connection with listeners. “I’m hoping people listening to it will be able to empathise with it,” Barnes concludes. “I hope that it serves the purpose that other confessional records have served for me – for example, a lot of Leonard Cohen and Plastic Ono Band albums are really dark, but if you listen to them when you’re in that state of mind as well you don’t feel as fucked up as those other people who are in there with you. In that way, they kinda make you feel great.”
The Civil Wars are arguably one of the biggest DIY success stories in recent American music having sold 200,000 copies of their debut album with little to no promotion other that word of mouth. CHRIS HAVERCROFT spoke to the duo ahead of the Australian release of their award winning album Barton Hollow. When Joy Williams and John Paul White were paired together at a Nashville songwriting workshop, they weren’t looking to perform, let alone start a band. In the few years since, word of their haunting tunes has spread like a dose over social networks, they have befriended industry heavyweights Adele and Taylor Swift and are still pinching themselves thanks to being the recipients of two Grammy Awards. “We didn’t really think that we would win,” offers a matter of fact White about the Grammy’s experience. “We didn’t write a thank you note until an hour before and the only reason we did was that if we won we would have been so terrified that we wouldn’t remember anyone’s name. Winning Grammy Awards was unexpected but at the same time, over the past year we have worked harder than we have ever worked in our lives. We went in there with an open mind and thankfully it all worked out.” Williams and White had given up on their chances of being successful solo artists and had gone down the path of writing songs for other artists to record and sing. This career option lead the two strangers to a songwriting workshop where they were paired together and the rest, as they say, is history. “We walked into there and honestly we should have repelled each other as we were fried from our past lives,” White explains. “We had relegated ourselves to the idea that we would
The Civil Wars probably just write songs for a living. To be honest I wasn’t really sure that was something that I even wanted to do, as I wasn’t happy writing for the artists that I was writing for. I wasn’t sure exactly where my path would lie. “When I met her (Williams), the last thing that I wanted to do was to put myself out there personally as an artist. The even farther thing from my mind was doing a duo or a band. Sharing the load is hard for me because I am a control freak and Joy would say that she is too. As a solo artist you control everything so it is terrifying joining forces with a complete stranger.” The Civil Wars are drawn to the idea of writing songs that are more about the dark than the light, where the valleys are a little deeper and longer than the mountains are high. Even so, White insists that there are bands out there that are meant to cheer you up - it is just that The Civil Wars are not that band! The duo have nothing to be too concerned about because their success proves they have a formula many people find solace in. The Civil Wars are content to do what they do and not overthink it. “From the start we have inadvertently stumbled into a writing pattern where we play with the light and the dark and all the grey in between,” continues Williams. “If people can form an attachment to those emotions that we are putting to music then that is just icing on the cake to us. There are different types of artists and I feel there is a place for all of us. Music that has always moved me is the music that has been inclusive rather an exclusive.”
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THE TING TINGS Sounds From Nowheresville
LAMBCHOP Mr M Spunk / EMI
Columbia / Sony
With the sudden passing of his dear friend and musical collaborator Vic Chesnutt, Lambchop chief Kurt Wagner turned away from the band that had been his life for 10 albums and put his creative energies into painting. If not for being approached by former Lambchop member-cumsuper producer Mark Nevers with an idea for making a record, who knows if we would have seen another Lambchop release. Armed with a crack band, Wagner has found making most Lambchop albums to be a relatively easy experience. Mr M came from the idea of wanting to make a “psycho-Sinatra” record and was built slowly in the studio from the ground up. You wouldn’t know that Wagner had been shunted from his comfort zone with tunes like 2B2 finding his calm drawl as relaxed as ever, even when carrying the burden of a more complex arrangement. Likewise, Wagner and his cohorts have managed to make a record that is more intricate without losing their air of spaciousness. In many ways though it is business as usual for Lambchop as the crisp and clear sounds often hide a deeper and more thought provoking lyric. When Wagner says that he thought Lambchop had “one more good record” in them he wasn’t whistling Dixie. Mr M is without doubt that record. Here’s hoping for many, many more.
The Ting Tings fans prepare to be disappointed. You will not find any successors to the hugely successful tracks experienced on 2008’s We Started Nothing. Hit tunes Shut Up And Let Me Go and That’s Not My Name enjoyed success on the charts as well as in the advertising world, but on this sophomore effort the duo has replaced their winning formula to writing songs with a seemingly lazy attitude and it most definitely shows. The eighth track on the record, Day To Day will actually have you questioning who you are listening to; it’s a straight up Jessica Simpson pop song and it’s horrid. It’s not as if the duo simply decided to change their direction after their first record, none of the tracks seem to display any sense of uniformity or relevance to one another. The only track with any semblance of being successful is perhaps Silence, the first record on the track which is essentially seems rather indie in comparison to anything they have done before. Jules de Martino’s work on this track is quite nice, using a series of electronic sounds with a good tempo, but Katie White’s vocals are fairly average; she is in now way unique. Ultimately the album is a let down and it’s a shame given the potential The Ting Tings had to pump out hit tracks.
_CHRIS HAVERCROFT
_HAYLEY MIDDLETON
SLEIGH BELLS Reign Of Terror
GONJASUFI MU.ZZ.LE
MOM+POP / Liberator
Warp / Inertia
When listeners first encountered Sleigh Bells in early 2010 following the release of their debut Treats, most were not sure what to think. Pummeling electronic beats, ear-bleedingly hardcore guitar arpeggios, sugary sweet female vocals. It defied logic, yet somehow, it worked. Not only was the sound itself something new, but the Brooklyn duo comprised of Alexis Krauss and Derek Miller offered energy and variation that showed off Krauss’ vocals and badass persona to brilliant effect. The band’s much-anticipated sophomore album, Reign Of Terror, shows the band facing followup pressure with newfound vulnerability and at times, even a bit of artistic restraint – which, combined, create an album that is darker than Treats but ultimately less assaulting and subsequently less engaging. In a music scene overpopulated with bratty buzz bands, Sleigh Bells’ decision to peel back their coarse outer layer and reveal that, yes, they have feelings too, should come as something of a relief. Yet without its shocking abrasion, the band’s take on ironic metal feels tiresome. They’re hardly stuck for deep lyrical inspiration (in the time between albums, Miller’s father was killed on a motorcycle trip and his mother was diagnosed with cancer), but the lyrics don’t get much deeper than a rousing chorus of “I know it’s hard but you gotta deal with it” on single Comeback Kid. A disappointing mess.
MU.ZZ.LE is the most recent articulation of Gonjasufi’s personal mythology. Mythology inflects any listening experience in music but Gonjasufi has gone a good deal further than most in shaping his identity within this folklore. He becomes a shamanic musical figure, a hip hop troubadour. The music is steeped in his characterisation, from the lo-fi production and pulsating backdrops to the quasi-spiritual lyrics. Throughout the album Gonjasufi’s raw but affecting voice embodies the lone traveller while the music around him knits together bleary hip-hop and psychedelic rock. The opener, White Picket Fence, strains liquid blues through a vinyl crackle. By the third track, we have moved into more recognisably hip hop territory, with DJ Sadowesque pairings of broad, choral harmonies and taut drum loops. The only criticism is that, for an album so invested in an evocation of space, the stereo-field is remarkably narrow. With the whole thing coming in at just 28 minutes one might expect a tight, pared-down production, loosing time by trimming fat, but MU.ZZ. LE is anything but. There is a Devendra Banhart comparison to be made, not so much in terms of sound but in the way the music functions as a sketchy window into its creator’s mind. Half formed ideas and lo-fi production bring more intimacy to Gonjasufi’s mythology than studio polish ever could. _HENRY ANDERSEN
_JENNIFER PETERSON-WARD
ANDREW BIRD Break It Yourself
RAINY DAY WOMEN Sleigh Bed
Spunk / EMI
Firestarter Distribution
Andrew Bird is not your run of the mill lanky indie rock kid. By the age of four he was playing violin – an instrument he would learn by ear, by his teens he was becoming bored with classical music and started leaning towards jazz. He now packs out venues with his tunes that involve the expert use of a loop pedal, and along the way offers a tune solely made up of whistling to The Muppet Movie. Those familiar with the Bird live show would have seen him fastidiously building his songs from the ground up with a handful of instruments and a loop pedal. The child prodigy comes across as someone who is considered in every move that he makes, but for his latest album Break It Yourself, Bird collected his band mates in his barn and let the tape run. By the second take, all of the new tunes were given life and the album was born. There are few artists who are capable of doing what Bird appears to do with ease singlehandedly. He has cornered the market on violin lead tunes that are instantly hummable (Eyeoneye) but remain particularly skewed (Danse Caribe) pop tunes. Hearts, rules and hymens, Bird threatens to destroy them all on Break It Yourself.
Rainy Day Women is an odd name for a band of five young men who make sunshiny indie-pop. It is, however, a good deal more fitting when one realises it is a nod to the opening song on Bob Dylan’s Blonde On Blonde, a track that’s jubilant energy better fits the band’s aesthetic. Sleigh Bed is the debut EP from the local band, which centres around songwriter Dylan Olivierre. The EP opens strongly as the scratchy Kooks-esque guitar chords of title track suddenly blossom into lush ‘60s vocal harmonies. Following this, Betty Blue sings out a bluesy, organ-centric stomp which occasionally spirals off into psychedelic territories. It’s a fantastic tune but unfortunately the rest of the EP never reaches its high-water mark. If comes close, with its strutting rhythms and sing-along melodies but, whilst both Aimee and On The Run both feature some interesting sounds and good performances, they don’t have the same melodic craftsmanship of the earlier songs. Overall though, it’s an impressive debut from a band already starting to attract some national attention. Where it’s at its strongest it is un-ashamedly pop, with bright melodies, clear harmonies and clever arrangements.
_CHRIS HAVERCROFT _HENRY ANDERSEN www.xpressmag.com.au
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X-Press – First on the street, Wednesdays
Rum Diary FILM Rosie Burgess Trio EYE4 MUSIC
C’mon Get Happy
www.xpressmag.com.au
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LOMO IN FREO
High Tea at His Majesty’s Theatre
MUM’S THE WORD
It seems like ages away but soon enough Mother’s Day will be upon us, and unless you get organised pronto, chances are you’ll be left battling for flowers at your local florist with all the other neglectful sons and daughters. If you want to do something special for your mum, bring a smile to her dial by booking a table for High Tea at His Majesty’s Theatre. Your mum will feel like a queen indulging in High Tea surrounded by the Edwardian splendour of His Majesty’s, sampling sweet and savoury delights with fresh tea and coffee. It’s $45 per person, and reservations for Mother’s Day (Sunday, May 13) are likely to come in thick and fast so act quick, secure your table today by emailing restaurantreservations@aegogdenperth.com.au.
THE POWER IS YOURS
The organisers of Rooftop Movies have put the call out to local cinephiles to share their opinions on what films should make up the venue’s second season, so if you’re an opinionated cinema-goer, now’s the chance to make your voice heard. Perth’s first skyhigh cinema, Rooftop Movies has attracted a large following since its launch not all that long ago, screening classics and contemporaries; and if you’ve been to the venue and said to your friends ‘man, I wish they’d screen (insert movie name here)’, while chomping on popcorn, well, it’s time to put your money where your mouth is. Email hello@rooftopmovies.com.au with your top five picks; one lucky film-lover who shares their top choices will get a double pass to the launch of season two on Sunday, April 1.
Lovers of light leaks and other lowfi photography techniques will gather at the Fremantle Arts Centre in April for FotoFreo’s fun and fabulous Lomography workshop with local Lomo expert Yolanda Stapleton. Covering Lomography basics with plenty of tips and tricks thrown in for good measure, the workshop will run from 1-4pm on Saturday, April 7, and is a must for anyone with a penchant for toy cameras. It’s only $50 to take part; secure your spot by hitting up fotofreo.com.
Lomography by Yolanda Stapleton
FINE TALENT IN FREO
WAAPA’s best and brightest will take centre stage at the beautiful Fremantle Arts Centre later this month for WAAPA Direct, a showcase of work by the Academy’s incredibly talented musical theatre students. Set to take place on Friday, March 30, WAAPA Direct will feature solos, duets and big ol’ fashioned choruses; and best of all, entry is only $10, or is free for youngins under 16. The evening will also feature Defying Gravity, WAAPA’s rhythm celebrating ensemble. Get your tickets now from fac.org.au.
SUNDAY SERENADE
One of the most beautiful venues in Perth, The Quarry Amphitheatre will play host to Mark Lizotte, aka Diesel, this Sunday, for the final Live At The Quarry show for 2011/2012. A renowned singer-guitarist, Diesel will be supported by the lovely Jessica Morhall, a local lass and graduate of WAAPA’s Contemporary Music course. Ahead of the recording of her debut EP later this year, Morhall will test out tracks on the Live At The Quarry crowd this Sunday, March 18. Bookings can be made via liveatthequarry.com.au.
Rooftop Movies (Photo: Jarrad Seng)
Jessica Morhall
Rosie Burgess Trio
ROSIE BURGESS TRIO Smooth Sailin’
The Rosie BurgessTrio will play at Mojos in Fremantle on Wednesday, March 28; at Ya-Yas on Thursday, March 29; The Prince of Wales in Bunbury on Friday, March 30; and at Settlers Tavern in Margaret River on Saturday, March 31, and Sunday, April 1. Australian artist Rosie Burgess is poised to be one of the next big singer-songwriters. Although her style is impossible to define, effortlessly mixing blues, rock and roll and folk influences, all her work is entangled with personal stories, wry observations and a personable warmth. She’s just about to release her new album with the rest of her trio, comprising of Sam Lohs on stomp box drums and Tim Bennett on bass guitar. “It was a very quick album to make, really,” says Burgess of her fourth studio album Before I Set Sail. “You know, everybody calls their albums their babies and I think this is about my fourth, and they do say that the fourth child always comes out the quickest,” she laughs, before sharing the fact that the album was recorded in a mere four weeks. “It just kind of rocked out. We had the idea to do it in December and by mid-January it was all finished.” Burgess attributes her hard work and quick turnover on the album to the fact that the band got in the studio and didn’t stop playing until they were done. “We just played and played and played. Every night we went in and didn’t stop playing until it was exactly how we wanted it to sound. “It all went incredibly smoothly; nothing broke down and the instruments survived, so there was nothing to stop it from going really well.” 26
It’s lucky that the rest of the group share Rosie’s enthusiasm for hard work; they’ve been on the road together for the past two and a half years. “For me, the festivals always win out, every time,” says Burgess. The band has played at Woodford Folk Festival in Queensland, the Port Fairy Folk Festival in Melbourne, and the California Worldfest in California. “I love playing at festivals, there’s always such a great vibe and everybody’s really happy and excited and there to have a great time, and you also get to see so much great music. “I think that’s what I like the most about festivals, you get to play and you get to hear other people play and that’s exciting.” Being on the road for so long has surely given Burgess good writing material for the songs of Before I Set Sail, which she says are all based on personal experiences. Well, except for one. “There’s one song on the album which is inspired by a story I read about a lady in New York, her name’s Typhoid Mary. And that’s the only song that isn’t inspired by personal experiences. “She was a lady who contracted typhoid and she didn’t know that she had it, and she was spreading typhoid and it was all terrible. She was killing people and she didn’t even know that it was possible for her to kill people, because at that point they didn’t really understand the medical implications. “My mum rang me up and she said ‘I really like the album but... who is Mary?’. And she was terribly worried that there was someone called Mary in my life who was trying to kill me.” Luckily there’s no typhoid-riddled Mary on Rosie’s trail, and you can catch her on her state-wide tour later this month. _TARA LLOYD X-Press – First on the street, Wednesdays
21 Jump Street
21 JUMP STREET School’s Back
Directed by Phil Lord & Chris Miller Starring Channing Tatum, Jonah Hill, Ice Cube Take away that iconic theme, the church setting, and a couple of visual throwbacks to the original series, and you wouldn’t know 2012’s 21 Jump Street was even based on the TV series of the same name. Tonally and structurally, the film and the series - one of the many prime-time hits produced by the late, great Stephen J.Cannell in the 1980s - are chalk and cheese. But you know, maybe that’s what works about 21 Jump Street the movie - the fact that it isn’t a remake of a TV show. The series was an over melodramatic, slightly preachy action series about a group of young-looking cops - one of whom was played by then rising star Johnny Depp - who are assigned to task of going undercover in highschool as students. The film features a similar précis, but takes itself far, far, less seriously than the show did. Writers Michael Bacall and Jonah Hill cleverly decided to write their version of 21 Jump Street as a comedy. Though laughs are the emphasis, the film mirrors real life - just like the original show did - by exploring how it’s now ‘nerds’ that are popular in school, not ‘jocks’ as would have been the case in the ‘80s. It also emphasises how much technology has changed since the show, making a policeman’s work somewhat easier. And there’s obvious humour to be had with the revelation that many of today’s young cops have been raised on a diet of Bruce Willis movies, and therefore chase the thrill, more so than the pride of playing community protector. Hill and Tatum play former highschool enemies - the former was the chubby loser, the latter
the fit jock; of course they clashed! - who reunite as police officers. This time though, they get along - though mostly they’ve bonded because of their equal suckiness as cops. Being rather hopeless at their jobs - they don’t even remember the Miranda rights - the juvenile duo are asked to report to an address on Jump Street where they’ve been nominated to participate in a program from the ‘80s - that’s just been resurrected. Upon arriving at a familiar-looking building, Schmidt (Hill) and Jenko (Tatum) are advised - by their gruff captain, played by the smartly-cast Ice Cube they’ll be going undercover as highschool students at a local institute. First day back at school it’s immediately evident to Schmidt and, especially Jenko, that things have changed a lot since they were at school. For starters, good-looking athletes like Jenko aren’t popular anymore; instead, it’s the smart science-geek and dramaclub types that have all the friends and followers. What works about 21 Jump Street is that, on its own, it’s a legitimately funny and very entertaining movie. And at the same time, it’s also paying homage and much respect to the show that inspired it. Writers Bacall and Hill, with directors Chris Miller and Phil Lord, are obviously huge fans of the original show and wanted to show it some love - while not neglecting the next generation’s needs. But despite the great cast, the terrific music (Cube’s Straight Outta Compton is a welcome highlight), and the well choreographed action sequences, it’s Bacall and Hill’s script that’s the star here. The duo haven’t simply written a good comedy, full of genuinely well penned gags and characters, but also a movie that successful satisfies the needs of both the contemporary teenager and those who pencilled ‘Tommy Hanson Forever’ into their wooden school desks back in 1988. _CLINT MORRIS
The Rum Diary
THE RUM DIARY Island In The Sun
Directed by Bruce Robinson Starring Johnny Depp, Giovanni Ribisi, Aaron Eckhardt, Amber Heard, Michael Rispoli Yes, it’s based on a book by the late Hunter S. Thompson, it stars Johnny Depp, and it comes to us from a well-regarded cult director (Bruce Robinson, who gave us the essential Withnail & I), but The Rum Diary falls somewhat short of Terry Gilliam’s adaptation of Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas. Which isn’t to say it doesn’t have merit. Based on Thompson’s first - and only novel (written in the ‘60s but not published until ‘98, which in itself speaks volumes) the film sees Depp as Thompson avatar Paul Kemp, a young journalist who takes up a position with a Puerto Rican newspaper. Ensconced in the beautiful but politically troubled island paradise, Kemp soon sees himself embroiled in a shady real estate deal by Ugly American Hal Sanderson (Aaron Eckhart, bringing the smarm) while simultaneously wooing the man’s fiancée, Chenault (the luminous Amber Heard). Meanwhile, much drinking and debauchery ensues, generally in the company of fellow newspaper employees Bob Sala (Michael Rispoli) and the unhinged Moberg (Giovanni Ribisi). The film is charming and funny enough, and Robinson - both a recovered alcoholic and director of one of the greatest drinking movies ever can handle material like this in his sleep, but it suffers,
like pretty much every Thompson adaptation, from loose plotting and a woolly, at times contradictory, theme. Towards the end the film tries to position itself as a story of political awakening, as Kemp clues in on the effect that American business interests are having on Puerto Rico, but up until that point we’ve had too much fun with the excesses of chequebook tourism for the point to really stick. Still, the cast is a lot of fun. Depp initially tries to give Kemp his own flavour before eventually settling into a watered-down redux of his Raoul Duke performance, and both Eckhart and Heard bring a little something extra to roles that are somewhat one-dimensional. The real value lies in Rispoli and Ribisi’s double-act as Kemp’s jaded newspaper cronies. Sala is essentially an avatar of Benicio del Toro’s Doctor Gonzo, albeit with the mania turned down, all sweaty pits and casual debauchery, but Ribisi is a real revelation. Moberg, a complete wreck of a man, ruined by alcohol and given to listening to recordings of Hitler speeches at deafening volumes, is also the moral centre of the film, a self-possessed psycho who refuses to be beaten down by the prurient interests of the paper’s owners. After this and his turn in the otherwise disappointing Contraband, it’s clear that Ribisi is one of the most interesting character actors out there at the moment. The Rum Diary is hardly going to set the world on fire, and given that there’s now a cottage industry of HST documentaries chugging away, it’s doubtful whether it’ll even inspire much love in the Gonzo faithful. But it’s a fun, off-kilter little film all the same. _TRAVIS JOHNSON
Margin Call
MARGIN CALL Safety In Numbers
Directed by J.C. Chandor Starring Zachary Quinto, Kevin Spacey, Paul Bettany, Demi Moore, Stanley Tucci Simon Baker, Jeremy Irons As a culture, we process our reality through narrative, so it was inevitable that, after a handful of well regarded but little-seen documentaries, we’d get a feature film about the Global Financial Crisis sooner or later. What we couldn’t expect is that it would be this good. Margin Call is, in a word, masterful. Writer/director J.C. Chandor, making his feature debut after a lengthy career in documentaries and commercials, lays the pieces on the board with impressive economy and precision. In the midst of a ruthless series of lay-offs, young risk analyst Peter Sullivan (Zachary ‘Spock’ Quinto, who also produced), building on the work of his recently fired boss, Eric Dale (Stanley Tucci), discovers that the trading firm he works for is dangerously overextended, to the point that they risk assuming losses greater than the value of the company itself. Tracking the events of the 24 hours following Sullivan’s discovery, the film details the ethical, personal, and professional negotiations that play out as his colleagues and superiors wrestle with the need to offload their tainted assets, even though they know it will destabilise the world economy for years. It may sound desert-dry, but the smart and witty script – at times the film is laugh out www.xpressmag.com.au
loud funny – ensures that it is never less than engrossing. The crackling dialogue is jargon-heavy but remains accessible, and Chandor has pulled off the neat trick of rendering a complex situation in relatable human terms. It also resists the temptation to paint any of its characters as outright villains, refraining from the histrionics of Oliver Stone’s Wall Street films. Although characters such as Jeremy Irons’ aristocratic CEO or Simon Baker’s coldly efficient boardroom tactician may seem like the bad guys, the film makes the point again and again that it is the system that is flawed, and history demonstrates that catastrophic fluctuations like the GFC are inevitable, and as much as we may want to vilify those responsible, they’re merely playing the game by the rules. If the script is good, it is matched by the quality of the direction. Rarely do we see such an assured, confident debut. Chandor gives the film a steely hue and a brisk, gripping pace, cutting his dialogue scenes like action sequences. There are few, if any, wasted shots or edits, and he manages to make his dialogue-driven scenes as arresting as a car chase. If this film is any indication, Chandor is destined for the upper echelons of Hollywood’s filmmaking pantheon, and no mistake. While the odd line of dialogue is a little on the nose and a few too many characters need things explained to them too simply, when you’re combing the film for flaws that insignificant, you know you’re in the presence of greatness, and that’s what Margin Call is: a truly great, truly gripping, and truly intelligent thriller, and the first must-see movie of 2012. _TRAVIS JOHNSON 27
ALLIANCE FRANÇAISE FRENCH FILM FESTIVAL C’Mon Get Happy
The Alliance Française French Film Festival is on at Cinema Paradiso, Luna on SX and Windsor Cinema from Wednesday, March 21, to Monday, April 9. Tickets can be purchased from lunapalace.com.au There might once have been a time folks could argue that Perth was devoid of any serious cultural events, not so any longer, as almost every second week Perthites can gather for a festival of some kind. One that rates highly is the Alliance Française French Film Festival, now in its 23rd year of showcasing the diversity of French cinema, it’s fine actors, directors and it’s cuisine and scenery, that will have you reaching for your red wine and beret, and possibly even your passport to experience the wonders of the region first hand. While there are plenty of cultural clichés that tend to spring to mind when one thinks of France, the mix of features on offer during the Alliance Française French Film Festival really demonstrate what an interesting nation it is. When asked about what makes a film truly ‘French’ the Festival’s artistic director Emmanuelle Denavit-Feller notes “there are many things that make a film French, I think that it is very true
change of a young French couple that discovers they are expecting, but that the unborn child is gravely ill. With furious energy it follows the efforts of the young couple as they deal with their change in fate through the help of their friends and family. At the other end of the filmic spectrum, Point Blank is an intense thriller involving a case of mistaken identity, and is sharper than a wedge of French cheese and equally as satisfying. It traverses some of Paris’ most interesting locations as the protagonist is forced to undertake a mammoth mission in order to save his pregnant wife from the hands of violent criminals. It’s a fast paced French thriller; complete with doublecrossings, backstabbing and a violent shoot out, French style. A historical piece that tells the not so widely known tale of the work between Arab émigrés and the French resistance during World War II – Free Men is told through the eyes of black marketer turned freedom fighter. When he’s caught working the black market he’s given the choice of prison or act as a spy for the Gestapo and is soon working both sides to save his own skin. But, as the atrocities become more apparent and the Gestapo increasingly vicious, he begins to take a stand against the evil forces of the war. It’s a gripping A Happy Event account that is reminiscent of Roberto Benini’s 1997 Oscar winner Life Is Beautiful and will engage not only the historian but the drama lover and thrill seeker. that in France you can have a wide variety of films.” And Those desiring cinema that is slightly more indeed there’s plenty of variety in this year’s program light-hearted will likely enjoy Nobody Else But You, a - from light hearted comedies, to compelling crime dramas, stories of friends, family, lost love and tragedy and a little known tale of espionage in the French resistance during World War II. One of the highlights of the festival - A Happy Event - co-written by French director Remi Bezancon and his wife, who just so happens to hail from Perth, chronicles the carefree life of a young Parisian couple who are confronted with the prospect of an earlier than expected venture into parenthood. It’s a topic that might not get the same attention in France as in other Western societies, because as the director puts it, in France “a child is like a sacred thing. It’s called a happy event and it MUST be a happy event.” The struggles and confusion that go along with being a new parent are not well documented in French cinema, and although well received by the general public Bezancon admits, “some critics didn’t like the attention to the subject in such this way, but I don’t listen to the critics.” The director believes that a filmmaker should become so adept at creating their work that, “when you see one shot, you know who the director is.” And it’s this passion that inspires the film-maker to create his own distinct style - “it’s like for literature, you know the style of writing, it’s the same for film.” Emotionally charged, the opening night film of the festival - Declaration Of War - follows closely in theme to A Happy Event, charting the lifestyle
Free Men crime caper set in a remote area of France. A small town starlet is found dead by self-administered sleeping pills, but a bestselling crime novelist from Paris isn’t convinced and sets about finding the truth. In 2012 the Alliance Française French Film Festival boasts something for all tastes with over 40 films covering action, comedy, animation, documentaries and of course, what’s a French film festival without a slather of romantic flicks as well? Bon appetite! _JOE CASSIDY
Arcadia (Photo: Robert Frith)
ARCADIA
Ego Is Not A Dirty Word Tom Stoppard’s masterful stage presentation Arcadia is performed by The Black Swan Theatre Company at the Heath Ledger Theatre from Saturday, March 17, ’til Sunday, April 1. Tom Stoppard (Rosencrantz And Guildenstern Are Dead, Brazil) is one of the most celebrated wordsmiths of the modern era. His 1993 play, Arcadia, which follows two parallel storylines that take place in the same country manor, albeit separated by two centuries, is acknowledged as one of his finest works. Thus, it would take a much more arrogant man than Scott Sheridan, who essays the part of Septimus Hodge, a 19th century tutor, to say that he approached the material without at least a hint of trepidation. “Absolutely,” the WAAPA graduate says candidly. “Even when I was reading the play, the subjects that it brings up - the identity, and the philosophy, and the mathematics, and the relationships in it - only a genius could put this kind of play together. A lot of people I’ve spoken to, when I tell them I’m doing Arcadia, they go ‘Oh my God, I love Arcadia!’. So there’s that immediate pressure that’s put on you. But at the same time, because it’s such a brilliantly written play, it’s an honour just to be taking part in it, you know?” Sheridan’s character is, as he describes it, “incredibly intelligent, very witty, and he has a pupil - Thomasina (played by Whitney Richards). She’s a precocious young thing with 28
an incredible mind as well, and they have this battle of wits throughout the play, so to speak. He discovers how incredibly intelligent she is, and this beautiful relationship forms between the two. Septimus grows up throughout the play as well; he’s a bit cheeky, he has various affairs with the women on the estate, but he also has a lot of fun with the people who are around. He’s not afraid to kind of take people on and use Stoppard’s language as a bit of a weapon - he’s quite well armed with that.” Sheridan also promises that this interpretation will be largely faithful to the original text. “Although everyone’s going to bring something different to it, obviously, unlike Shakespeare, where you tend to have all these different interpretations, with this play, because it’s so well written and where it’s set is so specific, the only thing that differs is the representation of the present day. When it was first done, the present day was the 1990s. Now we have to bring it up to date in 2011. But there’s not a lot of playing around with it as much, because you respect the language so much.” Although he does admit that even the most well-prepared of performers can have their slip-ups. “You try to stick to the text as best you can, but if you’re ever caught short, you’re quite obviously caught short. It’s so sharp and so quick and so intelligent, and it’s completely different from the rhythms and the way we speak today. It’s a challenge, but it’s a good challenge.” _TRAVIS JOHNSON X-Press – First on the street, Wednesdays
We Must Cultivate Our Garden: Perth Cultural Centre, Northbridge Scottish artist Nathan Coley is bringing his sculpture We Must Cultivate Our Garden to Perth, the Australian debut of this internationally acclaimed artwork. Nathan Coley is an eminent Scottish artist and Turner Prize nominee, whose practice is based Cup City: Spectrum Project Space, Mt Lawley on the exploration of public space and the social February 2012 is the 25th anniversary of aspects of our built environment. The 10 metre Australia losing The America’s Cup, and Cup City long sculpture is made from fairground lights, is a photographic exhibition by Kevin Ballantine suspended on a temporary scaffolding structure; documenting Fremantle and Perth during the creating an intriguing juxtaposition between the summer of the failed cup defence. Cup City will profound text and dingy travelling fairground take place at Spectrum Project Space in March aesthetic. On display’til Mar 26. 2012 as part of the biannual FotoFreo International Photography Festival. This is the first time these Everything You Touch Turns To Time: Mojos Bar, 25-year-old images have been exhibited and North Fremantle Cup City consists of large black and white Everything You Touch Turns To Time - an exhibition prints arranged in triptychs of stark, bleached by documentary and arts photographer Gary landscapes, taken with a medium format camera Cockburn - features iconic Perth band The Triffids, in in the summer of 1986/1987. Runs ’til Mar 23. rehearsal and on stage for a number of their recent concerts held in celebration of David McComb’s Close To The Bone: Mojos Bar, North Fremantle wonderfully evocative songwriting. The UK-born In her FotoFreo exhibition, Vanessa Stasiw presents photographer spent several days with the band as a series of photographs that were created on they prepared for shows at Melbourne’s Hamer Hall re-claimed farm and bushland nearby Perth in in January 2009 and at the Queenscliff Music Festival Cullacarbardee. Engaging with found objects, in November 2011. Runs Mar 25-Apr 5. Stasiw considers the process of working with bones as a sublime act of re-using and recycling. Sixth Sense: Gallery Central, Northbridge Beauty and usefulness doesn’t diminish, only Sixth Sense delves into the work of six outstanding changes. Opens at 12pm on Mar 18, and runs ’til WA photographers. Through their images we are Mar 24. drawn into a space where unease is shrouded in beauty. As we look further, we are transported Solo: Artitja Fine Art, Fremantle beyond the literal image. We are invited to see what Respected Indigenous artist Maureen Hudson is not there - an insight into narratives beyond our Nampitjinpa from the remote community of senses, a world observed and explored through the Mt Allen in central Australia returns to Perth lens, that is in this case, the sixth sense. Runs Mar for Solo. Through a skilful application of paint 19-Apr 5. and her dotting technique, Nampitjinpa creates a three dimensional view of sand Year 12 Perspectives: Art Gallery Of WA, blowing over the desert sand dunes in a Northbridge flowing movement across the canvas, and An annual survey of work by WA’s top Visual Arts other images of her homeland. Runs ’til Mar 25. students, Year 12 Perspectives promises to deliver works of technical excellence and emotional The Floating Garden: Free Range Gallery, Perth complexity. Works depict relationships between Perth based artist Fran Rhodes presents her first self and the wider community, amongst family solo exhibition of photographic imagery that members and explore the relationship one has reflects on the experience of an immigrant to with one’s self. Fifty-one artists challenge us to Australia in an increasingly globalized culture. The reflect, explore and understand the world in which works in this exhibition are part of her ongoing they inhabit and provide us with an opportunity to research by practice into the metaphor of the connect to the experiences of the young people of garden and migrant experience. Runs Mar 17-27. Western Australia. Exhibition runs ’til Apr 9.
VISUAL ARTS
Bed Head by Annette Bezor Postcards From Home: Midland Railway Workshops, Midland After a successful career in the London music and editorial industries, where his subjects included the likes of Beth Orton, Jamiroquai, Victoria Beckham, Jarvis Cocker, Blur and Johnny Lydon, Sam Harris abandoned his career to change direction and travel with his family. Eventually, he settled in the forests of Balingup, WA. His photography now has a very different focus… Postcards From Home revolves around his domestic life, especially that of his two daughters Uma and Yali as they grow up. Runs Mar 15-Apr 15.
At First Sight: Greenhill Galleries, Claremont One of Australia’s most highly respected painters, Annette Bezor’s studies of female subjectivity take inspiration from mediums as diverse as classic portraiture, contemporary media representations and erotica. Bezor is most interested in the conventional views and idealised classifications of female beauty, perceived both by the female self and by the male population. Characteristically, her large paintings of beautiful women, often just head and shoulders, challenge the viewer, staring straight at or through the audience. Alternately, by averting the gaze, we are drawn into an unknown world of erotic seduction with underlying feelings of suppression, control and denial. Runs Mar 15-31.
style encompasses the spiritual and artistic dimensions of Aboriginal culture as his art is transformed through traditional and modern practices, including developing a world first technique that infuses the artwork with traditional ochres and plant dyes. Runs Mar 20Apr 24.
Larry Mitchell: A Pilbara Project Exhibition: FORM Gallery, Perth It takes a skilled and sensitive artist to interpret the complexities and contradictions of the Pilbara, and show its scenery in a fresh light. In Larry Mitchell: A Pilbara Project Exhibition, we have the opportunity to witness the encounter Munda Ungai Munda (Earth To Earth): Japingka of one of Australia’s leading visual artists with Gallery, Fremantle this vast region, from the industrial landscapes Wayne Quilliam is one of Australia’s leading of the Burrup and Port Hedland to the SpinifexIndigenous photographic artists and in studded hills way east of Newman. Larry Munda Ungai Munda, Quilliam has curated his Mitchell’s paintings offer a perspective of the work into three themes. Respectively titled Pilbara in painstaking and sometimes painful Lowanna, Ceremony and Towindri, Quilliam’s detail. Runs ’til May 29.
KNUCKLEHEAD SHIPPING COMPANY Future Vintage Bangladesh Photomedia Summer School by Tijana Lilac Bangladesh Photomedia Summer School: Spectrum Project Space, Mt Lawley Bangladesh is visually powerful place to visit – just ask Edith Cowan University’s photojournalism students. Fifteen students got the chance to experience the colour and excitement of the county last summer through ECU’s Bangladesh Photomedia Summer School program. Students worked in collaboration with students from Pathshala: South Asian Media Institute to produce stories of those living in Bangladesh’s most remote areas. Exhibition runs from Mar 26-29.
THEATRE/DANCE Blackbird: Studio Underground, Northbridge Perth Theatre Company will produce Blackbird by Scottish playwright, David Harrower as the Company’s first production in 2012. Inspired by a true story, Blackbird is a riveting play that raises challenging questions about society, morality and how the past irrevocably effects the present. Blackbird exposes the story of two people who shared a forbidden relationship 15 years earlier, when she was 12 and he was 40. Una confronts Ray at his workplace, and the unflinching study of their affair that follows reveals the brutal truth of unconventional love with shattering consequences. Season runs ’til Mar 31. Bookings via BOCS. Luminaire: The Blue Room Theatre, Northbridge The brand new theatrical work by Renegade Productions, Luminaire has been cleverly crafted to produce a beautifully existential piece about love, life and infinity. This is not your ordinary theatre experience; it considers light as another performer on stage. Exploring a range of innovative and experimental techniques and effects to create lighting sculptures and ‘lumiscapes’, including ground breaking use of chemiluminescence, Luminaire is designed to take your breath away. Runs ’til Mar 31. Bookings via blueroom.org.au. Medea: Subiaco Arts Centre Studio, Subiaco Medea’s husband Jason is leaving her for a younger woman, and she is hurt, angry and shamed. Medea wants revenge, but just how www.xpressmag.com.au
far is too far? Re-imagined in Perth’s western suburbs, Medea is brought (a little too) close to home in a new production by Class Act Theatre. Directed by Deckchair Theatre’s Emerging Director for 2012, Michelle Trainer (In the Garden, Gasp, Alaska), Euripides’ classic is updated in a new translation by the director. Runs Mar 21-31. Bookings via BOCS. Men In Pink Tights: Regal Theatre, Subiaco Making their world premiere season in Australia, Les Ballet’s Eloelle are bringing their new production Men In Pink Tights – the most spectacular, talented and hilarious all-male comedy ballet ever, to Perth. The greatest troupe of it is kind around the globe; Les Ballet’s Eloelle features over 50 ballets in its repertoire and an array of the best international professional male ballet dancers from 13 nations. Season runs Mar 23-24. Bookings via Ticketek. Arcadia: Heath Ledger Theatre, Northbridge Sidley Park, Derbyshire, April 1809. Surrounded by eccentric family members, fastidious house guests and surly staff, tutor Septimus Hodge is in charge of educating Lady Thomasina Coverley, aged 13. Beyond the grand windows are the 500 acres inclusive of lake, where Capability Brown’s artificially manicured naturescape is about to give way to the fashionably ‘picturesque’ Gothic style of landscape gardening. 180 years later, garden historian Hannah Jarvis and academic Bernard Nightingale stand in the same room, trying to shed light on the garden’s secrets and uncover the scandal which is said to have taken place when Lord Byron stayed at Sidley Park in Lady Thomasina’s time… Runs Mar 17-Apr 1. Bookings via BOCS.
“Clothing for Bond villains,” is how Knucklehead Shipping Company creative director Ben Frichot describes his label’s aesthetic. Launched last week, Knucklehead Shipping Company has already received endorsement from the likes of Vigilante Carlstroem (The Hives), Taka Hirose (Feeder), Chris Sheldon (producer for Radiohead, Foo Fighters) and Gil Norton (producer for the Pixies, Foo Fighters), which comes as no surprise when you look at the calibre of the team who conceived the brand. Alongside visual artist/musician Ben Frichot, band manager Ross MacPherson and web guru Tony Wong are the brains behind Knucklehead Shipping Company, a label which takes is sartorial cues from the fashions of yesteryear. “It’s funny, I own a black 1966 Mustang and it’s this beautiful old car that was made in a time when the world was so much more full of dreams,” Frichot begins when asked about the catalyst for the creation of Perth’s newest menswear brand. “I’m very much a retro-head and for menswear, so much of what is good menswear is still very classic, whereas women’s fashion is a fickler and faster evolving world.” Seeking a new challenge, Frichot, MacPherson and Wong decided to try their hand at fashion, and after a whole lot of research and hard work, they’ve come up trumps. “There wasn’t a lot of really cool, classic stuff when we started,” Frichot muses. “I felt like the world was in an ’80s phase, which was a bad version of the ’50s. The primary theme for all the clothing we’ve designed is that it’s for Bond villains. Think early ’60s James Bond movies – we have the wardrobe for every single bad guy.” Getting music heavyweights to model for their inaugural lookbook is an amazing feat for any label, made slightly easier for the Knucklehead team given their many connections. “Over the last 20 years we’ve done a lot of design work for lots of different bands and artists and we’ve worked with them frequently enough that we got to know them reasonably well, so when we started doing this we thought ‘we can’t afford models, who will we get to hang our clothes on?’. So we rang these friends and they looked at the stuff and said it was cool, so they helped out. Artists and musicians tend to get along and talk philosophy and madness.”
Vigilante Carlstroem of The Hives wears Knucklehead Shipping Company Unfortunately women are going to have to look elsewhere for their own slice of ‘Future Vintage’, with Frichot revealing that the Knucklehead crew is determined to stick with what they know – slick, dapper menswear. “On a flight from Sydney to LA a girl asked the director of the company ‘what are you going to do for women?’ and he said ‘I’m going to make your men look good’,” Frichot chuckles. “We just want to do simple things really well.” _EMMA BERGMEIER 29
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X-Press – First on the street, Wednesdays
Hip Hop legends don’t come any more revered than KRS-One, aka Kris Parker, making his Australian tour one of the year’s biggest – especially since nobody thought it would ever happen. JOSHUA HAYES speaks with ‘The Teacha’ about hip hop’s past, present and future. As Parker doesn’t fly, Australian fans long assumed he would never perform on our shores. However, after spending 24 days sailing from America’s west coast, he is spending a month travelling around Australia and performing in each major city. He describes his set as “two hours of rap madness.” “You’ve never seen the KRS-One show live in your country; now you’re going to see it and I’m at my best, I’m at my peak performance right now,” he says. “Even Americans that have seen me for [two decades], they still can’t get enough.” Parker’s tour comes on the 25 year anniversary of the release of his debut album, Criminal Minded, as a member of Boogie Down Productions. 1987 proved a pivotal year for hip hop, with debut albums also coming from Public Enemy (Yo! Bumrush The Show), Eric B & Rakim (Paid In Full) and Big Daddy Kane (Long Live The Kane).
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But even amongst these peers, Parker’s discography is held in unrivalled esteem. Few rappers have ever been able to match the chestbeating braggadocio of The Bridge Is Over or the indignant outrage of Sound Of The Police. He has released over 20 albums and, although his more recent output lacks the potency of classic albums such as 1988’s By All Means Necessary and 1993’s Return Of The Boom Bap, he maintains a strong following thanks to his advocacy for hip hop. This has potential to change, though, with a long rumoured follow up to Return Of The Boom Bap, his collaboration with equally legendary producer DJ Premier. Unfortunately, Parker says progress on the album, called Return Of The Boom Bip, isn’t going to plan. “You should write in big bold letters: Premier, comma, get KRS-One some beats already, exclamation point,” he laughs when asked about the project. Parker speaks of hip hop as a philosophy, rather than a popular culture or a genre of music, and he’s travelling to spread the good word (literally – he wrote The Gospel Of Hip Hop, published in 2009). Spirituality played a formative role in his early years. After leaving home as a teenager, he spent a year living in a shelter where his interactions with a group of Hare Krishnas inspired him to adopt Krishna – Kris – as his first name. He created the Temple Of Hip Hop in 1996, as a quasi-religion and a preservation society for hip hop culture and has been working to build its congregation ever since. “We have a huge following around the world, but not a committed following,” Parker says. “[What we do have is] a society of people that agree that hip hop should be preserved according to the way Kool Herc, Afrika Bambaataa, Grandmaster Flash, Doug E Fresh, Crazy Legs and others intended for it to be.” Parker speaks with the fervour of a televangelist. He’s passionate, engaging and committed to his cause, but also overzealous at times. That being said, when he gets on a roll – which is often – Parker is enthralling to listen to. He explains that the ‘60s was hip hop’s original ‘dark age’, when those who would eventually pioneer the culture were born. And, in much the same way, he believes the culture has now entered a second ‘dark age’ that will eventually give rise to a new civilisation formed around hip hop. “It really has to do with being birthed, being cocooned, so it can come out as a butterfly,” he says of this new civilisation. “Borders are crumbling, controls over peoples movements are falling. There’s a new global community that’s being pushed now, and hip hop is not only immune to it, hip hop is riding the tides of it.
A TSUNAMI IS COMING
SIDESHOW MADNESS
KRS-One “This is our opportunity to build a new civilisation on the earth and really be free people. [That’s what] happens when hip hop looks at itself not as an entertainment pastime, but as a new group of people on the earth; a new civilisation.” Only the most dedicated adherents to the Temple Of Hip Hop are likely to believe that hip hop culture can form the basis of a new civilisation. But, in many ways, his underlying message about the power of hip hop is spot on. After all, the soundtrack to the Arab Spring uprisings that overthrew tyrants in Tunisia and Egypt was the protest song Rais Lebled by 21 year old Tunisian rapper El Général. The most intriguing moment in Soundtrack To War, Australian filmmaker George Gittoes’s acclaimed documentary about the Iraq War, comes when he films a young African American soldier rapping about the parallels between Baghdad and the Florida ghetto he calls home. And, last year, Common was invited to perform at the White House. All of these moments, arguably, would not have been possible without Parker. Hip hop is becoming the universal language of protests and parties; swagger and self-expression. And Parker has had a guiding hand in it all. Whether you consider him the high priest of the Temple Of Hip Hop or an elder statesman of one of the world’s most adaptable, widespread and endearing popular cultures, Parker’s impact on and ongoing contribution to hip hop is unquestionable.
» KRS-ONE » FRIDAY, MARCH 23 @ METRO CITY
Straight out of the back alleys of Melbourne comes the hyperactive DJ and producer SIDESHOW. Based in Calgary, Canada, SIDESHOW serves up the freshest dubstep, drum’n’bass, glitch hop, breaks, ghetto funk and electro bangers to get you sweaty and wild. Put it this way, he could leave the stage bleeding, sweaty and soaked in beer. And that’s how you could leave Amplifier when he plays Fluxx tonight, Wednesday, March 14. For all the drum’n’bass fans, N1 and Last Minit will be there alongside MC Kid Deus who will be in good form too. JS will be smashing out some dubstep and moombah. The almighty Death Disco DJs will also causing mayhem on the d-floor. Get down early for drink specials. Entry is free until 10pm. Do it.
Metrik
GET VIPERED
Viper is coming to Villa. Saturday, April 21 marks the first instalment of Viper, a night which will showcase one of the hottest imprints drum’n’bass right now – Viper Recordings. Perth’s favourite ShockOne will be returning from the UK for the grand event to smash out what will without doubt be an epic set. He’ll be joined by one of drum’n’bass’ most talked about and fastest rising dudes – the mighty Metrik. Phetsta will also be bringing the basslines and Ekko & Sidetrack, Illusiv & Dvise, Xsessiv, Bear and Stylee are on support duties. Tickets are $30 plus booking fee. No bullshit. Grab them from Moshtix, Planet, Mills and the DJ Factory.
OPIUO
APHRODITE
Melbourne-based producer Opiuo, aka kiwi Oscar Davey-Wraight, has been building a solid reputation nationally and internationally from his pimpin’ base in Victoria (“It’s where I’ve built my career and my family of creators and friends”). RK talks to him about getting creative and his fresh three part EP Butternut Slap.
Sharing your stage name with a female deity, particularly when you’re a male, takes some stones. In the case of UK legendary DJ and producer born Gavin King however, it can be justified. The dance music scene has gone from “scandal and illegal activities” to worldwide acceptance and is still going strong as the legend explains to ANDREW HICKEY.
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Not really. But, local producer and hip hop dude Kid Tsunami is releasing his album The Chase shortly and to celebrate, this Friday, March 16, The Manor will play host to the album’s sneak-peak listening party. Being released through U.S label Head Bop Music, the record is littered with soul, jazz and funk samples, featuring a sick lineup of MCs including KRS-One, Masta Ace, Bahamadia, Kool G Rap, Sean Price and more. Tsunami will be spinning tracks and giving a brief synopsis of each tune on the record. DJs Nathan J and Royce will be spinning tunes until late. Tickets are $10 on the door.
BACKYARD KNIGHTS
Perth has a new online radio station called The Backyard Project and now, to accompany the station will be Backyard Knights, a night dedicated to supporting and developing Perth’s sick electronic music scene. Just like The Backyard Project, Backyard Knights will offer a platform to promote, support and uncover Perth’s immense talent pool in the developing DJ and producer scene. Backyard Knights hits the Big Room at Villa this Friday, March 16, celebrating the launch of the radio station, the release of the App and the beginning of bi-monthly local electronic music nights. GETMORE will be spinning tunes alongside Darren J, Frankie Button, New Noize, Q-Bik & Seeka, ST1, James Francis, Fielong, VANDAN, Grizzly and Barons Red on the night. Hit up Moshtix for tickets.
LA BEATS
Having firmly cemented himself in the famed Los Angeles beat scene, experimental beat-maker Dibiase is bringing his left field productions to town as part of his debut Australian tour. Think early-era Nintendo beats with lo-fi eccentricities and MPC action and you’ve got a touch of Dibiase. He hits The Rosemount Hotel on Wednesday, April 4. Electric Sea Spider, James Ireland, Zeke and Rorschach support. Tickets are $25. Hit up Facebook.com/Lucidity.Perth for more info.
URBAN JUNGLE
BUTTERNUT BEATS
Oscar Davey-Wraight’s tunes have dominated the digital download charts. His 2010 debut full length record Slurp And Giggle was nominated for Best Dance/Electronic Release at the Australia Independent Music Awards The album reached #10 on iTunes and was the most downloaded album for 2010 on addictech.com. Now, Davey-Wraight brings us his new three part EP entitled Butternut Slap, dropping it over the course of this year. The EP is essentially the LP follow-up to Slurp And Giggle but it’ll be released as a three part EP series. “Each part is a definite EP and when put together creates a long player,” he says of Butternut Slap. “I felt this was a good opportunity to let people get the music in their hands quicker and have the chance to enjoy each section on their own. “Some music today is too easy to listen to once and throw away; hopefully this gives people more time to appreciate each piece. The styles through the three parts are created in a super varied way and progress through different time signatures, tempos and styles, whilst still maintaining the ‘Opiuo vibe’. I’ve also been remixing a bunch of amazing producers on the side, plus completed our debut full length album with my side project Sunmonx.” To be released on Addictech Records, Butternut Slap has been a challenging project for Davey-Wraight so far. “I’m moving in and out of different styles to give people a second to think about what they are listening to; or finding that new dance move they never knew they had and busting it out,” he says.“I like to think my style is funkadelic bass music… I draw inspiration from everything, often
Kid Tsunami
SIDESHOW
Opiuo not even realising that some particular experience or sound has actually inspired me. That’s why music for me was always going to happen. Life is so up and down, sideways, interesting and challenging that in some way - positive or negative - it is always inspiring every piece of me.” Indeed, music has always been his chosen pathway for showcasing his feeling as well as how he perceives the world. “I make sure I never forget that I’m so lucky to do what I do,” he says. “Talking to people after a show and having them tell me that my music has in some way changed their life is way beyond what I could have ever imagined. It’s a dream.” Hitting Perth shortly as part of his national tour, he says punters can expect a full live show.“We’ll have a core crew consisting of drums, keyboards, sax, trumpet and myself on sampler, drum machine, synths and laptop,” he says. “Plus [we’ll have] a guitarist and vocalist at some of the shows thrown in for good measure! It’s going to be amazing to be able to tour and play live music again with real musicians – it’s where I come from. I’m also always on the look out for ways to change up what I do, to work with whoever I gel with who has something amazing going on. Music is evolution!”
» OPIUO » SATURDAY, MARCH 24 @ CAPITOL
Since emerging in 1988, the man known simply as Aphrodite has seen and done it all. From rave and acid house to hardcore, jungle, drum’n’bass and beyond, King’s been at the forefront of the scene. Now, after releasing what seems like hundreds of recordings, this pillar of the dance community is still standing strong. Like all great sagas, it started humbly enough. “I used to run a club night call Aphrodite many years ago without a DJ name at the time,” King explains in his energetic British drawl. “As I was booked more and more, the name somehow stuck.” King went on to collaborate with Claudio Giussani in a jungle, hardcore and drum’n’bass production outfit known as Urban Shakedown. The lads released Some Justice and Bass Shake with UK DJ and producer Micky Finn. King then founded Aphrodite Recordings and set up Urban Takeover, a joint label with Micky Finn and ever since then, it’s been non-stop. Now, King will be bringing the madness to Perth shortly for Jungle Fever, making his return to our shores after his last whirlwind visit two years ago.“I always enjoy coming to Australia, great people, great country, great parties,” he says, with obvious reverence.“Being a Brit, Aus can be a home away from home when travelling,” he says. “I haven’t been [as] often the last few years due to being such a handson dad but now is the time.” And, if we’re going by some of his crazy gigs, punters can expect nothing short of total annihilation behind the decks from this maestro.
Aphrodite “Once at a club on the first floor in Canberra, the ceiling of the shop below broke up because of the crowd dancing too vigorously,” King says, reflecting on some of his past gigs in our sunburnt country. When he’s not overseeing destruction or “chasing a six foot kangaroo for a photo of it”, the prolific DJ delivers some of the most blistering live sets you are likely to witness. Telling Aussie fans to expect “lots of beats and bass that you have to dance to”, he always has surprises in store for punters with a blend of classics, new cuts and exclusives. “There is always a part of a set that any jungelists or drum’n’bass heads can really enjoy,” he says. King also has his own massive catalogue of anthems to draw from including Bad Ass with Micky Finn, King Of The Beats and countless others. “The early days of jungle were massive,” he says. “Since then, the music has become more embedded in the UK culture so it always goes down well… I include quite a few of the tunes that people know me for but in ways that don’t make them sound like you heard them before.”
» APHRODITE » FRIDAY, MARCH 23 @ VILLA X-Press – First on the street, Wednesdays
WEST COAST BOOTIE PIRATE PARTY
AQUA
RIGHTFUL MEGALOMANIACS Danish dance-pop group Aqua took over the world with their 1997 #1 global smash hit Barbie Girl. Fearing a one-hit-wonder rep, the foursome were relieved when their follow-up single Doctor Jones hit #1 too. Having sold an estimated 33 million albums and singles, ANNABEL MACLEAN catches up with guitarist Claus Norreen ahead of their upcoming shows. When keyboardist Søren Rasted visited an art exhibition in Copenhagen which contained numerous Barbie dolls on display, he had no idea that the exhibition would result in a #1 global hit and superstardom, making Aqua one of the biggest bands to hit the international scene in the ‘90s and early noughties. When the concept of Barbie Girl was established amongst the group, they decided to keep it very quiet, using the code word ‘Burger King’ when talking of the song.“We were very secretive about the title,” Norreen says down the line from Copenhagen, taking a break from the day’s session in the studio. “It was such a great idea and we didn’t want anyone else to know about it, so for a long time we called the song Burger King,” he says, laughing. But, after releasing such a grand hit which virtually made them a household name overnight, the band had concerns with becoming a one-hit wonder. “We’d released two singles in Denmark before but when we released Barbie Girl as the first single in other countries, I was very afraid that we would end up being a one-hit wonder band,” he says.“That would be a terrible thing but it can happen when you have such a big song. So it was a huge relief when Doctor Jones became #1.” After releasing two highly successful records – 1997’s Aquarium and 2000’s Aquarius, the band split up, touring had taken its toll on the group and relationships were rumoured to be frosty. Solo
Guy Davy, DJ Defanutley (James Nutley) and DJ Angry Buda (David TukakiJohnson) are responsible for Perth’s new mashup night West Coast Bootie. A pirate themed event with ‘pirated’ music, Bootie is a well established brand which started out in San Francisco and is now causing one big party across the globe. ANNABEL MACLEAN sits down the lads to talk pirates and police. Aqua careers then flourished for vocalists René Dif and Lene Nystrøm and Norreen and Rasted collaborated, writing music for theatre shows. Marriage and kids then came along too. “We bring our kids now,” Norreen says, talking of their shows. “We’re not afraid. They stay side stage and watch the show. Actually, all together we have four kids so we have a little mini Aqua (laughs).” Getting back together in 2008 as a result of Nystrøm’s initiation, the band released their Greatest Hits album in 2009 - which included three new original tracks – and now, their third record Megalomania has just dropped down under, in time for their national tour.“It was actually René who came up with this idea as [we’re] a bit big headed sometimes,” he says of the album’s title in relation to the band. “It’s always been like that actually with the four of us, in a way we have an inflated self esteem - we are quite [humble] on our own but together it seems like we have developed this huge ego.” Aqua will be showcasing tunes from Megalomania at their upcoming shows here over the next week. Norreen says fans can expect a glorious mix of the old and new. “There’s a lot of energy and good vibes,” he says.“We’re a lot more rocking and powerful than you would expect.” As for the future of Aqua, well, even Norreen isn’t sure what direction the group are headed in, but, he says they’re soaking up every moment. “No one knows what’s going to happen. If somebody said to me 10 years ago that we would reform and go and do touring in Australia, we [would have] never thought it was going to happen. So we’re just enjoying it at the moment and really enjoying being on stage together and performing old songs and new songs and basically having a laugh.”
» AQUA » SUNDAY, MARCH 18 & TUESDAY, MARCH 20 @ METRO FREO
MONKEY MAGIC Bonobo Capitol Friday, March 9, 2012
Bonobo (photo by Max Fairclough)
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A mainstay of the Ninja Tune stable for 10 years now, the UK’s Simon Green has released four LPs under the Bonobo banner, but it was with 2010’s Black Sands that he really shot to prominence and mastered his unique fusion of trip hop, jazz, funk and soul. Celebrating the release of Black Sands Remixed, Green was finally coming to Perth with his live band, and to top that off, following a late cancellation from James Lavelle, Green stepped in to save the day, announcing a Bonobo DJ set at Ambar. Following his brilliant Boiler Room mix, the news of this Bonobo double header was enough to have people acting like those naughty little monkeys after which Green takes his moniker. Diger Rokwell was in support, playing a tasteful selection of down tempo grooves and trip hop beats, followed by local stars Naik, who relished the
West Coast Bootie may not initially bring to mind the thought of bootleg and mashup parties but rather the idea of a booty-shaking party. But, either way, you’d be right. West Coast Bootie is a mashup night which Guy Davy, the founder of Bootie Brisbane, says “everybody secretly loves but no one will admit it.” Dressed in a suit, Davy is a charismatic gent who appears professional in the X-Press office during this interview, yet it his care-free party banter which permeates much of the conversation. “It’s for people who love their music and who just love music in general,” he says in his clipped English accent, talking of West Coast Bootie. “Basically, sometimes I feel that people that go out are missing that party vibe. Things can become very serious in a nightclub environment depending on what people are there for… you go to a certain night and there’s a certain behaviour which is attached to it. If you break that away, then people tend to be a bit more loosey goosey.” Friend and fellow Bootie collaborator DJ James Nutley is in agreement with Davy. “Once you put people in a little dress up mode – the instant ‘I’m going to have a good time’ comes out,” he says. “They’ve lost that ‘I’ve got to look this way because I’ve got this pair of shoes, I’ve got the hair going this way’ – all of that is gone because you just put a silly hat on and you’ve got an eye patch.” Having previously run a house night in Brisbane, Guy Davy saw the opportunity to jump on the mashup party train as a way to “play silly buggers with lots of other genres which we wanted to do.” After getting in contact with the folk who run Bootie in America, Bootie kicked off in Brisbane and expanded into a night of 200 party punters getting their pirate madness on. “Even the police came along a couple of times, bless their cotton socks,” Davy says, talking of one Bootie session which turned into a rave. “The party got bigger and bigger and bigger and we started moving around venues,” he continues. “James [Nutley] - who was an avid mashup DJ - started coming along to the parties
opportunity to purvey their wares in front of a receptive crowd. They were a well chosen support, with their combination of live electronics and instruments, their set climaxed with the soaring, guitar strains of Masakela. Bonobo came onstage around 9.30pm. Taking their positions, the five-piece band comprised of drummer, guitarist, flautist, keys and to the right, Green himself bumpin’ on bass guitar, as well as driving the beats from behind his bank of equipment. After flexing their musical muscles, they launched into the jazzy, summery sounds of Pick Up from 2003’s Dial M For Monkey. First to emerge from Black Sands was Kong, with its familiar swinging bass and stuttering beat. The way the live band of consummate players recreated the studio albums was very impressive. Green announced that after seven years touring the live band, he was very happy to finally make it to Perth. The applause got even louder as he introduced to the stage, the lovely Andreya Triani, and throughout the night, the vocalist captivated punters on all songs she featured in. Stay The Same saw the flute man swap to sax. The sound was solid, but did seem to struggle at times to capture all the intricate layers of the band. Thankfully Triani’s soulful voice was perfect in the mix
Angry Buda at West Coast Bootie and then we got introduced. It was always good to have a proper mashup DJ because they’re not easy to find, it’s not easy music to play, to mix or to use or to understand. He’s got far more music than I had and [is] actually much better at this than I was, so that’s why I quite enjoyed the organising of the stuff.” Nutley and David Tukaki-Johnson who have been friends since DJing in New Zealand together back in the day got in contact when Nutley moved back to Perth. And, with Tukaki-Johnson’s rep about town, it’s no surprise he wanted to be involved with West Coast Bootie. “I’ve been whoring myself out,” Tukaki-Johnson says jokingly of his numerous weekly residencies about town. “[I’m] still very much on the pulse of what’s happening in Perth but at the same time, looking for something different as well. I’ve just been trying to branch out and work with all sorts of different people and playing across the board musically.” With plans to go regional, if you haven’t got on down to this pirate party session yet, you best be getting your booty down there.
» WEST COAST BOOTIE » SUNDAY, MARCH 18 & APRIL 22 » @ THE VELVET LOUNGE
and she stayed on stage to deliver The Keeper; melting hearts with her honeyed vocals dripping over the slinky groove. She even launched into a beat-boxing, freestyle acapella, looping her own vocals. Triani left the audience enraptured, while the band kept things moving with an absolutely stunning live version of Kiara, which melded into Ketto from 2006’s Days To Come. Whether on bass, or conducting the music from behind his desk, Green seemed totally in control. We Could Forever followed and Eyesdown saw Triani return to the stage, emoting over the killer tune’s sub-bass rumble and two-step beat. The mariachi beat of El Toro gave the talented drummer and sax player a chance to show off before the full band dropped back in for the finale. Green thanked the crowd and invited everyone to party on at Ambar with him. They were soon back for a brief encore of the sublime title track of Black Sands, then Green swapped to Rhodes and Triani returned for the awesome finale of Between The Lines. A superb set and a long overdue visit, and for those who wanted more, Green’s wicked DJ set at Ambar had them dancing into the night.
» ALFRED GORMAN
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FLAWLESS
THE NEWPORT
WEDNESDAY 14/03 Amplifier – Fluxx ft SIDESHOW/ N1/ Last Minit/ MC Kid Deus/ JS/ Death Disco DJs Captain Stirling – Fiveo Clancy’s (Applecross) – Upbeat – DJ Andy Club Bayview -SmithAgentSmith (LMFAO) Connections – DJs Joby /JJ /Rueben Double Lucky – Last Wednesday Eurobar – Wild Wednesdays - DJ iPod/ Ben Pettit Eve – DJ Don Migi/ Skooby Flying Scotsman – DJs Travis Døøm/ Jimmy The Exploder Gold Bar–DJ Adroc Hipe Club – DJ Roger Smart Leederville Hotel – We Love Wednesdays ft DJ Slick Mustang – DJ Giles Norma Jeans – DJ Mischief Sovereign Arms – Lokie Shaw The Deen - DJ Zelimer/ DJ Viper/ DJ Benny/ T– Zone 1 The Rosemount - Cowboys & Indie Kids DJs The Queens – Wriggle on
THURSDAY 15/03 Bolt Bar Tavern (Maylands) – DJs Divise/ Remedy/ Studsy/ Mental/ MC Fro/ Treppa/ Haste Clancy’s (Canning Bridge) - DJ Wrighteous Claremont Hotel – DJ Double Dee/ DJ Matt/ DJ Millie Club Marakesh – DJ Simon
360 Connections – Bingay Cottesloe Hotel – DJ Shots/ DJ Andy M Eve – DJ Tony Allen Flying Scotsman – Cowboys & Indie Kids DJs Leopold Hotel – DJ Riki/ Roger Smart Llama Bar – DJ Maxwell/ EMAS/ Lukas Wimler Mint Nightclub – DJ Simon Barwood Mt Henry Tavern - DJ Matty J Mullaloo Beach Hotel - DJ John Paul/ DJ Slick
Mustang – DJ James South St – DJ Castasia/ Dpad Swinging Pig – DJ Simon The Avenue – Jon Ee The Bird - Speekeasy/Delirious/ Joshua Evans The Causeway – EMAS DJs The Craftsman – Roger Smart The Deen – DJ Flex/ DJ Nano/ DJ Surge/ DJ Don Migi The East End Bar - The Prestige The Queens – Kapitol The Rosemount Hotel – 360 The Whale & Ale – Josh Tilley The Whistling Kite - DJ Gareth Woodvale Tavern – DJ Melvin
BEAT NIGHTCLUB
Brooklands Tavern - DJ Jayden Capitol – Retro Mash Carine Tavern – Greg Packer/ MC Assassin Clancy’s (Canning Bridge) - DJ Boogie Claremont Hotel – DJ Nick Sheppard/ DJ Max Club Bayview - Infexious ft Ben Stevens/ Nomad Como Hotel – DJ Gazz Eve – DJ Don Migi/ DJ Danny Boi Flawless – Therapy ft DJ Zelimir/ Kastel/ DJ Light and Shade/ El Dario/ Carl Drake Flying Scotsman – DJs Jo19/ Rok Riley Flying Scotsman (Defectors) Back To Mono DJs Ginger Nightclub – Rondevoo Fridayz Gosnells Club – DJ Now Hipe Club - DJ E-Funk Lakers Tavern – Fresh Fridays - DJ Dooey Left Bank – DJ Frankie Button Library – Sneaky Little Creatures Loft – Marine Beats Llama Bar – DJ Reuben/ DJ Morris Malt Super Club - Fiveo Merriwa Tavern – DJ Real McCoy Metro City (Solace Bar) – DJ Slick
FRIDAY 16/03
SIDESHOW
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Ambar – Bootleg ft The Bootleg Brothers/ PDS/ Tee EL/ FTW/ The Barons Red Amplifier – Cowboys & Indie Kids Bar 459 - DJ Smurf Bar Orient – Higher Fyah The Reggae Club ft DJ Kevz/ Ras Mwas/ DJ Kilian/ The Empressions/ DJ Armee Beat Nightclub - Play Boheme Bar - DJ Majiika Boulevard Tavern – DJ Andyy Broken Hill Hotel – DJ Nick Alexander
Kid Tsunami
Metro Freo – Frat House Fridays ft Death Disco DJs Mint Nightclub – Club Retro ft Chris McPhee Mullaloo Beach Hotel - DJ John Paul Mustang – Swing DJ/ DJ James MacArthur Paddy Hannans – Crazy Craig Paramount - DJ Johnny Boi/ DJ Jordan Queens Tav – DJ Rueben Sail & Anchor - Balcony Beatz/ DJ J-MAC Sovereign Arms – Fiveo The Avenue – JMC The Carine – Ditch Fridays ft DNGFLD/ Az-T/ Josh Tilley The Causeway – 4by4 DJs The Eastern – DJ Midfield The Generous Squire - DJ Anaru The Manor – Kid Tsunami’s prelaunch of The Chase listening party ft Kid Tsunami/ Nathan J/ Royce The Queens – DJ Rueben The Rosemount Hotel - 360 The Saint - DJ Jordan The Shed – DJ Glenn 20 The Whale & Ale – Josh Tiley Tiger Lils – Paul Malone/ Adam Kelly The Vic - DJ Giles The Wembley Hotel – Funky Bottoms/ Jon Ee Windsor – DJ Riki and Ray Victoria Park Hotel – DJ Giles Villa – Backyard Knights Launch ft GETMORE/ Darren J/ New Noize/ VANDAN/ The Barons Red and more YaYa’s – Junk ft DJ Whoa!
DJ Minx
Club Bay View – VIP Saturdays ft DJ Ryan Eurobar – Roger Smart/ DJ Raci Eve Nightclub – DJ Don Migi/ DJ Stevie M Flawless - Stache Saturdays ft DJ Minx/ DJ Zelimir/ DJ Minna Flying Scotsman - Under The Influence DJs Flying Scotsman (Defectors) Fore DJs High Road Hotel – DJ Simon High Wycombe – DJ Matt Hipe Club – DJ E-Funk Library – MKT ft DJ Riki/ DJ Richie G/ DJ Vicktor Little Creatures Loft – Marine Beats Liquid Nightclub - DJ Klar55/ DJ Stevie M Llama Bar – DJ Reuben/ DJ Melvin Malt Super Club – Fiveo Metro City (R&B Lounge) - DJ Slick/ DJ Ruthless/ DJ Soso Metro City - DJ Stevie M/ DJ Matty S/ DJ Ruthless/ DJ Makka Metro Freo – DTuck/ DJ Minna Mint Nightclub – Pop Life ft DJ SATURDAY 17/03 Aaron/ AJ Ambar – Japan 4 ft Mono Lisa/ Tee Mullaloo Beach Hotel – DJ Danny EL/ Marty McFly/ Oli/ JS Mustang – Rockabilly DJ/ DJ Amplifier – Pure Pop ft Eddie James MacArthur Electric Niche – Frankie Button/ Cee/ Basement On Broadway – DJ Jonny Zimber Ricky Boheme Bar – Carte Blanche DJs Norma Jeans – DJ Darren Oxford Hotel – DJ Sequeria Broken Hill Tavern – DJ Nick Paramount- DJ Cornflake / DJ Alexander/ James Wilson Jordan/ DJ Johnny Boi Capitol – Death Disco DJs Queens Tav - Gareth Richardson Capitol (Upstairs) – Cream Of Rocket Room – DJ Brett Rowe The ‘80s ft DJ Ryan Clancy’s (Canning Bridge) - DJ South St Ale House – DJ Jay Sovereign Arms – Rockwell Dood Claremont Hotel – DJ Tone Def The Avenue – Jon Ee
X-Press – First on the street, Wednesdays
METRO CITY
THE COURT
The Brighton (Upstairs) – Micah/ Kill Dyl/ eSQue The Boheme – DJ Sneakee The Causeway – Sun City DJs The Clink – Az-T The Cornerstone – Aiden Wallis The Deen - DJ Birdie/ DJ JJ/ DJ Tony Allen The Generous Squire – DJ Defuntly The Saint – DJ Anaru The Shed –DJ Glenn 20 The Wembley – Az-T The Whistling Kite - DJ Craig The Vic – DJ Kristian Tiger Lil’s – DJ Bojan/ DJ Ben Sebastian Victoria Park Hotel – DJ Melvin Windsor – DJ Ray Woodvale Tavern – DJ Real McCoy YaYa’s – Saturday Social ft The Kings Of Cheese DJs
The Avenue – Az-T The Causeway – Lukas Wimmler The Cott – Cott Sessions The Kiosk – DJ Cinder The Saint - DJ Anaru The Shed – DJ Andyy The Velvet Lounge – West Coast Bootie ft Guy Davy/ Angry Buda/ Defanutley and guests
MONDAY 19/03
IN THE THIS WEEK: SmithAgentSmith (LMFAO) Wednesday, March 14 @ Club Bayview Fluxx ft SIDESHOW/ N1/ Last Minit/ MC Kid Deus/ JS/ Death Disco DJs Wednesday, March 14 @ Amplifier 360
Bar Orient - DJ White Label Thursday, March 15 @ The Rosemount Hotel Broken Hill Tavern - DJ Mario Tavelli Kid Tsunami’s pre-launch of Eastern Hotel – Adam Morris The Chase listening party ft Kid The Deen – Plastic Max/ The Token Tsunami/ Nathan J/ Royce Friday, March 16 @ The Manor Gesture The Paddo – DJ John Paul Therapy ft DJ Zelimir/ Kastel/ DJ The Shed – DJ Andyy Light and Shade/ El Dario/ Carl
SUNDAY 18/03
TUESDAY 20/03
Broken Hill Tavern - Sophie Jane Captain Stirling – DJ Jay Claremont Hotel – DJ Double Dee Clink – DJ Tony Allen Euro Bar – DJ Flex Eve Nightclub – DJ Birdie Metro Freo – Aqua/ Boys Boys Boys!/ DJ DTuck Mint - Chris McPhee Mustang – DJ Rockin Rhys Salt On The Beach - Punchy & Juicy/ Charlie Bucket
Bar Orient - DJ Lyndon Eastern Hotel – Jon Edwards High Road Hotel – DJ Matty J High Wycombe – DJ Ricky Hipe Club – DJ Roger Smart Metro Freo – Aqua/ Boys Boys Boys!/ DJ DTuck The Cott (Upstairs) –Maxwell/ Jus Haus?/ Damian John Victoria Park Hotel – DJ Melvin
District ft Black & Blunt/ Dr Space/ Marko Paulo/ DNGRFLD/ Chris Moro/ Fellis/ ST1/ Beckon MC Friday, March 23 @ Ambar King Tito’s Dirty Disco ft Yacht Club DJs Friday, March 23 @ East End Bar
Higher Fyah The Reggae Club ft DJ Kevz/ Ras Mwas/ DJ Kilian/ The Empressions/ DJ Armee Friday, March 16 @ Bar Orient
DJ Hype/ Sigma Saturday, March 24 @ The Overflow (The Court)
360 Friday, March 16 @ The Rosemount Hotel Bootleg ft The Bootleg Brothers/ PDS/ Tee EL/ FTW/ The Barons Red Friday, March 16 @ Ambar Backyard Knights Launch ft GETMORE/ Darren J/ New Noize/ VANDAN/ The Barons Red and more Friday, March 16 @ Villa
West Coast Bootie ft Guy Davy/ Angry Buda/ Defanutley and guests Sunday, March 18 @ The Velvet Lounge AQUA/Boys Boys Boys!/ DJ DTuck Tuesday, March 20 @ Metro Freo
Aqua
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Jungle Fever ft Aphrodite Friday, March 23 @ Villa
The Butternut Slap/ Sunmonx/ Russ Liquid/ JPS/ Opiuo Saturday, March 24 @ Capitol
AQUA/Boys Boys Boys!/ DJ DTuck Sunday, March 18 @ Metro Freo
SUNDAY, MARCH 18 & TUESDAY, MARCH 20 @ METRO FREO
Full Frequency ft Micah/ Ben Mac/ Massiv Trav/ Dart/ Sardi/ Declan/ Ben M/ Rok Riley/ James A/ Miranda Menzies/ JoLettenmaier/ FTW/ Bezwun & JS/ Ari Sistym/ Puff/ Ru-Kusa Friday, March 23 @ Shape
Drake Friday, March 16 @ Flawless
Stache Saturdays ft DJ Minx/ DJ Zelimir/ DJ Minna Saturday, March 17 @ Flawless
AQUA
LEEDERVILLE HOTEL
COMING UP KRS-One/ Cut Nice/ Money J/ Sugar Ray/ Armee/ MC Optamus/ Breakers/ Maze/ Hi 5/ Mega/ King Leonidas/ Cortext Friday, March 23 @ Metro City
Japan 4 ft Vengeance Saturday, March 24 @ Ambar Sets On The Beach Volume 7 ft The Aston Shuffle (live)/ Yacht Club DJs/ Ajax/ Sampology (AV/ DJ set)/ Canyons (live)/ New Navy Sunday, March 25 @ Scarborough Beach Amphitheatre Yelawolf Tuesday, March 27 @ Capitol MANIK Friday, March 30 @ The Velvet Lounge Hermitude Friday, March 30 @ Mojos Diafrix & Joelistics Friday, March 30 @ Bar 120 Peo De Pitte Friday, March 30 @ Ambar
Diafrix & Joelistics Sunday, April 1 @ Norfolk Basement
Viper ft Metrik/ ShockOne/ Phetsta/ Ekko & Sidetrack/ llusiv & Dvise/ MCs Xsessiv/ Bear & Stylee Saturday, April 21 @ Villa
DJ Havana Brown Thursday, April 5 @ Metro Freo
Soul Project ft JT Donaldson Saturday, May 5 @ Geisha
Creamfields ft David Guetta/ Above & Beyond/ Dirty South/ Alesso/ Excision/ W&W/ Giuseppe Ottaviani (live)/ Congorock/ Vitalic/ Sied van Lucidity ft Diabise/ Riel/ Tritonal/ Downlink/ Electric Sea Spider/ James MaRLo/ Bombs Ireland/ Zeke/ Rorschach Supafest ft P.Diddy/ Ice Cube/ ShockOne/ Away/ MC Stretch Wednesday, April 4 @ The Rick Ross/ Trey Songz/ Kelly Saturday, May 5 @ Supreme Court Rosemount Hotel Rowland/ Lupe Fiasco/ Chris Gardens Brown/ Missy Elliot/ Big Machine Drum & Jacques Sean/ Naughty By Nature Atmosphere/ Evidence Greene/ Nik Ridikulas vs Ben Sunday, April 22 @ Arena Friday, May 11 @ Villa Taaffe/ Ylem vs Rachael Dease/ Joondalup Rok Riley/ Kit Pop/ Solar Krafty Kuts Barge/ Clunk/ Modo/ Oni Cash/ Clark Saturday, May 12 @ Villa Sleepyhead Friday, April 27 @ The Bakery Thursday, April 5 @ The Bakery Digitalism/ Adrian Lux Friday, May 18 @ Villa The Funkoars Villa’s 3rd Birthday ft The Friday, April 27 @ Bar 120 Groovin’ The Moo ft 360/ Hilltop Freestylers/ Marten Hørger/ Hoods/ Adrian Lux/ Beni/ DNGRFLD/ Black & Blunt Derrick May Digitalism/ Hermitude/ Muscles/ Thursday, April 5 @ Villa Purple Sneaker DJs/ Wavves Friday, April 27 @ Ambar Saturday, May 19 @ Hay Park, Hot Cross Buns Easter Thursday Bunbury The Funkoars ft Tonite Only/ The Medics/ Saturday, April 28 @ The Yesyou/ Mind Electric/ Death Mickey Avalon Rosemount Hotel Disco DJs/ Kno Agents/ Sun Saturday, May 26 @ The City/ Jus Haus?/ DJ Cody and Rosemount Hotel Make The Face ft Kid more Kenobi/ Surecut Kids Thursday, April 5 @ Amplifier 360 Saturday, April 28 @ Villa Capitol Friday, June 22 @ Villa
M.A.N.D.Y & Stacey Pullen Thursday, April 5 @ Shape Japan 4 ft Bitrok Saturday, April 7 @ Ambar Bag Raiders Saturday, April 7 @ Villa Van She Tech Saturday, April 7 @ The Aviary Soul Project ft Miss Honey Dijion Saturday, April 7 @ Geisha Grizzled ft SKisM/ Zomboy/ TC/ Culprate and more Sunday, April 8 @ Capitol
Ministry Of Sound Clubbers Guide To 2012 Tour ft Denzal Park & Danny T Saturday, March 31 @ Villa
Trafik: The Drum & Bass Reunion ft Rintel/ Rufkut/ Frantik/ JRippa/ Armee/ Xsessiv/ Mystique/ Dazz K/ Roller Crew/ Dart/ Devo/ Kent/ Teneacity/ Webbz Friday, April 13 @ The Rosemount Hotel
Diafrix & Joelistics Saturday, March 31 @ Hyde Park Hotel
The Herd/ Thundamentals Saturday, April 14 @ The Rosemount
Hermitude Saturday, March 31 @ Amplifier
Roger Sanchez Friday, April 20 @ Villa
DJ Fresh/ MC Messy and more Friday, March 30 @ Metro City
360 Saturday, June 23 @ The Astor
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X-Press – First on the street, Wednesdays
DIRTY THREE The Kill Devil Hills The Astor Theatre Friday, March 9, 2012
Wild Flag (Photo: Daniel Grant)
WILD FLAG
most admirable aspects of Wild Flag: though they could have easily used their power and status to promote themselves and sell out stadiums around the world, they chose to walk the same path as all other rock bands and begin from the ground up. Playing small clubs and pubs and quietly announcing tours, The Bakery the integrity of these musicians is all part of their Wednesday, March 7, 2012 impressive package. Carrie Brownstein and Mary Timony Fans were lining up behind The Bakery prior to gates shared lead vocals, and chose to alternate songs, open on Wednesday night, and it wasn’t difficult to rather than complementing each other – a good see that the hardcore fans were the most stereotypical: move, considering their differing styles. Timony Doc Martens and fishnets galore. However, as the tends towards an extended alt-rock depth, whereas night went on the fanbase got broader; young, old, Brownstein identifies with the hard and fast rock tunes. female, male – a cross-section of people who just love Keyboardist Rebecca Cole brought an extra element great rock music. to the band, and rather being the token keyboard girl, Opening up the night were Erasers, kings actually contributes to each and every song in a big and queens of extreme experimental. It was a strange way. Janet Weiss lives up to her reputation and is an choice in genre for supporting Wild Flag, and the absolute legend, up there with the drumming greats; crowd seemed to think so too – most punters chose there’s unbelievable energy and force behind every to sit out in the beer garden, with a few stragglers standing up the back inside. Refined, rhythmic, rolling beat that is unbelievable to watch. The fierce foursome ran through a songs blended together, with Rebecca Orchard number of different ‘angry girl music of the indie wailing a chant over the odd instrumental refrains. Up next were Rabbit Island (the project rock persuasion’ tunes, including Glass Tambourine, fronted by soft-spoken chanteuse Amber Fresh, who Something Came Over Me, and the majority of tracks was tonight backed up by Will Stoker, Sam Kuzich from their recent self-titled release, ending on the and Tame Impala’s Dom Simper), bringing something rambunctious harmonies of Romance. True to form, sweet yet sombre to the table. Fresh’s vocals have an they graciously took to the stage for an encore after ethereal, hypnotic quality, and with such a stunning demand from the crowd, and played two perfectly voice, all that’s needed is a little instrumental fitting covers: Bobby Freeman’s Do You Wanna Dance, and Television’s See No Evil. refinement. Attempting to compare Wild Flag to The crowd had grown significantly for go time, when Wild Flag hit the stage to a considerable members’ previous bands (Sleater-Kinney, Helium, The amount of fan-girling and men attempting to look Minders) would be amiss, as they have simply become nonchalant. It was odd to be so close to four women an amalgam of everything that was excellent about who have each held such musical influence in their past groups – they’re just carrying on the legacy. different outfits over the past few decades. No barriers All that’s left to say is this: fuck yeah, lady-rock. between fans and stage, no rock star arrogance, just down to earth alt-rock at its finest. That’s one of the _CHLOE PAPAS
Rabbit Island / Erasers
THE BEARDS The Stiffys
The Indi Bar Sunday, March 11, 2012 Novelty acts have a distinct and brief shelf life. After a while, they just become a theoretical exercise in how long one can sustain a single note, and everyone moves on to better, or at least more interesting, things – hence why Pauline Pantsdown isn’t packing them in any more. The only way to circumvent such a fate is for the band in question to actually have some serious musical talent. Which brings us to The Beards, and the serious musical talent that they clearly possess, as witnessed by the capacity crowd that crammed themselves into the tight confines of The Indi Bar to take part in a bacchanalian paean to face fuzz. Yes, all their songs are boisterous ballads about beards, but underneath that is some serious, ‘70s rockinspired musicianship.
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Sailor-suited two piece outfit The Stiffys warmed the crowd up nicely with a set of songs about erections, but their enthusiastic efforts were met with politeness more than anything else – it was clear that the punters were champing at the bit for The Beards, and when the furry foursome finally hit the stage, the response was deafening. For a band who sings about one thing and one thing only, The Beards have a remarkable range, with established favourites like If Your Dad Doesn’t Have A Beard, You’ve Got Two Mums and You Should Consider Having Sex With A Bearded Man giving way to newer stuff from their third album, Having A Beard Is The New Not Having A Beard, such as the reggae-tinged Bearded Nation. Ultimately, it’s impossible not to get caught up in the joyous, inclusive fervour of a Beards gig. Yes, there’s a used-by date on this kind of act, but thankfully we haven’t hit it yet, and as long as these guys can keep coming up with fresh permutations on their singular theme, we shouldn’t reach it any time soon. _TRAVIS JOHNSON
As the crowd - near enough to capacity to make no difference - began to fill up the swelteringly hot Astor Theatre, and the stench of several hundred different brands of sweat began to mingle and coalesce into one putrescent cloud, it became easy to see why shamans use sweat lodges to induce altered states of consciousness. The comparison seems apt; Dirty Three gigs always have more than a hint of the primal and ritualistic about them, and their music, at its best, edges towards the transcendent. The Kill Devil Hills were an obvious choice for the warm-up slot, which is no bad thing sometimes you go for the obvious because it’s clearly the best fit, and the Devils and the Three go together brandy and cigars. Word was that The Kill Devil Hills were keeping out of the public eye for a while to work on their next album, but clearly when Warren Ellis and company call, you don’t let it go through to message bank. They delivered up a shortish but mesmerising set of country-flavoured dirges, including the haunting When The Wolf Come and Cool My Desire, setting the mood of the night perfectly. Dirty Three took to the stage to the strains of Boz Scaggs, an eclectic choice that still somehow managed to fit with the tone of the proceedings. That’s the thing about Dirty Three; for all their ethereal, beautifully evocative soundscapes, there’s something irreverent about their actual presentation, and that tongue-in-cheek approach prevents the evening from descending into maudlin navel-gazing. The band have taken the old adage “take the work seriously, not
Dirty Three (Photo: Callum Ponton) yourself” to heart, and Ellis in particular kept up a steady stream of patter with the audience in between songs, weaving a strange, haphazard personal cosmology that involved afternoon television, Justin Bieber, Gina Reinhart, and whatever else popped into his fevered brain at any given moment.The crowd, in turn, saw fit to call out suggestions, requests, and criticisms throughout the night, all of which were deftly batted back by Ellis. The heat, the sonorous sounds, the red lighting, all contributed to that ritualistic mood, with Ellis taking a role somewhere between carnival barker and drunken Pentecostal god-botherer, lurching about the stage as he sawed at his violin. He dedicated The Restless Waves to Grinderman bandmate Martyn Casey, Some Summers We Drop Like Flies to dead friends, and reminded us that Everything Is Fucked is what passes for a hit single in the Three’s neck of the woods. Authentic Celestial Music gave way to a short but hypnotic encore, and still the audience stamped and roared for more, but for naught. The houselights came up, the spell was broken, and the punters shuffled out into the street, knowing they’d just seen something very special. _TRAVIS JOHNSON
ST. VINCENT Oscar + Martin
Rosemount Hotel Thursday, March 8, 2012 In Hiro Murai’s recent video clip for Cheerleader, Annie Clarke (aka St. Vincent) appears as a gargantuan porcelain sculpture, coming to life and tramping through an art gallery like some kind of serene Godzilla. It is an apt image for St. Vincent, whose slight frame and elegant dress sense disguise an imposing personality. Live at the Rosemount, the songs sound huge. They play out a large scale conversation between sweet, almost naive melodies and unabashed noise. St. Vincent fully embodies their majesty. She slips effortlessly between beautiful, porcelain vocals, frustrated yells and violent, Tom Morello-esque guitar riffs. It was a surprisingly small turn out for the American songstress, but the crowd were clearly all fans. Support act and Triple J favourites Oscar + Martin played through an impressively dynamic set whilst the crowd and excitement levels grew steadily. Wasting no time, St. Vincent opened with some of her harder hitting songs, Surgeon, Cheerleader, and Champagne Year. Her band, consisting of two synth players and a drummer, are impeccably tight but she is definitely the focal point. By the time the jagged guitar riff of Chloe In The Afternoon, had kicked in, it was clear that this was to be a visceral performance. Most of the set consisted of songs from St. Vincent’s most recent LP, Strange Mercy. Listening to the album there are hints of deep aggression and violence latent in its lilting synth lines (Hiro Murai describes her music as “a really ornate layer cake, but filled with knives.”) Live, this hidden aggression
St. Vincent (Photo: Sammy Granville) comes to the surface with nearly every song approaching some violent catharsis.Take, for example, Dilettante. Recorded, the song is beautiful but stately. In performance, it takes on an almost industrial character. Annie’s cries of “Oh Elijah, don’t make me wait,” transform from plea to threat. The rest of the set continued into increasingly primal territory. A cover of Pop Group’s She Is Beyond Good Or Evil, proved that St. Vincent has some legitimate punk credentials, trading her sweet singing voice for animal shouts and gnashing guitar play. The set closed with the Year Of The Tiger’s anthemic calls of “Oh America, can I owe you one?” After such large scale arrangements, the first encore song was an abrupt but perfectly placed shift. Leaving her guitar and most of her band offstage, St. Vincent sang a slower, stripped back version of 2009’s The Party, accompanied by a single synth. It was one of those beautiful moments where the attention of the entire crowd is completely focussed for three and a half minutes. At the conclusion of the Cheerleader video clip, the enormous Annie Clarke sculpture shatters into a thousand porcelain pieces. Hiro Murai said that he wanted this moment to feel “like a release rather than a death.” The live set’s equivalent was the closing song Your Lips Are Red, the song’s metallic stomp suddenly fracturing into tranquil chords and directionless guitar lines. It was a moment of beautiful, bodiless release. A perfect finish to an incredible set. _HENRY ANDERSEN
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DROP ANCHOR Sail & Anchor Sunday, March 11, 2012 Punters made the most of the unseasonably warm weather Perth has been experiencing lately by getting down to the Sail & Anchor for a good ol’ fashioned Sunday Session last week. As the sun beat down, friends and families indulged in ice cold beverages and delicious meals, farewelling the week that was. Get down to the Sail & Anchor in the coming weeks for St Patrick’s Day Celebrations and to try out the Buskers Blonde, brewed especially for the Fremantle Street Arts Festival.
Ben & Cait
Photographs by Matt Jelonek
Warren, Lisa & Fiona
Sheree & Andrew
Stuart & Emma Peter, Sam & Ryan
Meegan & Glenn
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Huinee, Oliver & Lauren
X-Press – First on the street, Wednesdays
SLEEPING BEAUTIES THE LEEDERVILLE HOTEL
Come down and enjoy this St Patrick’s day (Saturday, March 17) at The Leederville Hotel. The venue is going all green, with all the best DJs and entertainment. There will be prizes for the best dressed leprechauns and, who knows, you might even find your own pot of gold at the end of a rainbow.
JAM PACKED WITH MUSICAL GOODNESS
Get ready for one massive day of the biggest names in Christian music in Albany at the Handasyde Strawberry Farm on Sunday, April 8. P.O.D, Hawk Nelson and Stu Larsen are just a few of the awesome acts who’ll be playing sets on the day, so click on over to strawberryjam.net.au to grab your tix.
THE BEAR NECESSITIES
Winner of six 2011 ARIA awards, and voted #4 in last year’s Triple J’s Hottest 100, wildly popular folksters Boy & Bear are heading down south soon. Catch the Sydneysiders at the Albany Entertainment Centre on Thursday, May 10, or the Bunbury Entertainment Centre on Friday, May 11. Both shows are all ages and tickets can be purchased from the respective venues.
FAIREST OF THEM ALL Coyote Ugly Sunday Session
COYOTE UGLY SUNDAY SESSION
Fairbridge Festival of world and folk music is is a friendly celebration of folk, roots, blues, acoustic, celtic, a capella and world music at Fairbridge Village, five kilometres north of Pinjarra. This year marks the festival’s 20th anniversary and the scene is set for another great weekend of joyous music making, with a number of top international, interstate and home grown artists set to take the stage. Tickets are available from Moshtix.
FLYIN’ FAR FAR AWAY
The Butterfly Effect frontman Clint Boge has announced he is quitting the band to pursue other “musical interests”. The Effected tour, which will give fans a chance to see the much-loved outfit perform together for the last time, includes one south west show on Saturday, June 2, at the Prince of Wales in Bunbury. Grab your tickets from thebutterflyeffect.com.au.
Don’t be fooled by their latest tour’s title, Brisbane alternative rockers Dead Letter Circus are sure to bring heavy doses of high energy rock that will have you anything but sleepwalking during their upcoming national Sleepwalker tour. Joining them for the ride will be amazing support acts in the form of American rockers Fair To Midland and energetic Victorian upand-comers Twelve Foot Ninja. You can catch the show first at the Prince of Wales in Bunbury on Thursday, May 10. Grab your tickets today from Oztix or Moshtix.
FU YOU
Kiwi hip hop icon Che-Fu is set to make his Australian debut later this month as he embarks on a massive national tour, which includes WA shows at the Burlington Hotel in Bunbury on Wednesday, March 28, and the Settlers Tavern on Thursday, March 29. Che-Fu will be performing his best known tracks from the albums 2b Spacific, Navigator and Beneath The Radar, along with a slew of bangin’ new tunes. Tickets are available now from Oztix or through the individual venues.
Julius Lutero
ROOTS AND ALL
He’s been described as “a cross between Jack Johnson and Jimi Hendrix” and now you can witness local roots/funk/blues aficionado Julius Lutero in all his glory at the Settlers Tavern on Sunday, March 25.
PLAYING WITH THEIR DELIRIUM
In order to showcase the success of their latest album and new single She’s Delirious, Calling All Cars are embarking on a national tour entitled The Delirium Tour. Joining them on the road will be local rockers Arts Martial. The victory lap of the country will include a southwest show at the Prince Of Wales on Friday, April 20. Grab your tickets through Oztix.
Starting with a “pub style erotic-dance review” with a slow transition to a rock‘n’roll vibe around 10.30pm, The Voodoo Lounge’s Coyote Ugly Snday Session is your one stop shop to finish your week with a bang!
RAILWAY HOTEL
The Railway Hotel wraps up its open-mic sessions in the Beer Garden this Sunday, March 18. Pop on down and enjoy a free sausage sizzle and some acoustic tunes from 2pm.
ROSEMOUNT HOTEL
This Wednesday, March 14, catch Yin, Oak Tree Suite, Saysky and Von Heart in the Main Room from 8pm. The Cowboys And Indie Kids DJs will also be doing their usual thing in the Beer Garden from 7.30pm.
THE COMO
The Como offers free pool all day Mondays, free entry to The One Thing music quiz on Wednesday, plus live bands and DJs all weekend, including acoustic tunes from David Fyffe on Sundays.
THE NEWPORT HOTEL
This Thursday, March 15, dub purveyors The Weapon Is Sound and reggae-rock stalwarts Dilip N’ The Davs will play a huge set if tunes custom-rigged to put some boogie in your bonnet.
THE WEMBLEY
From 6pm on Friday, March 23, The Wembley is throwing a party to launch a new cloudy Australian Ale from Matilda Bay Brewers and to also showcase the newly refurbished Alexander Bar. Go down and get your drink on!
FLY BY NIGHT
Get your 18 wheels rolling down to the Fly on Saturday, March 24, for the Truckers & Trailer Trash Ball! The Devil Rides Out, Chainsaw Hookers, The Dirty South and Guns Of August will be providing the tunes.
THE SAINT
The fine folks from The Saint have all your weekly pub needs covered - on Mondays mums eat free, on Tuesdays you can play poker for free, plus your first round is on the house during the Friday Sundowner, and DJ Aruna and The Howie Morgan Trio will have you up and dancing on Saturdays and Sundays respectively.
BRIGHTON HOTEL
Sink a pint whilst listening to live music and helping a good cause this Sunday, March 18, at the Brighton Hotel as local muso Aiden Varro donates his hair, time and talent to support the World’s Greatest Shave.
SPRINGS TAVERN
This St. Patrick’s Day, Springs Tavern will have Guinness, Kilkenny and Magners flowing from the taps and tasty Irish-themed food on offer, as well as talented muso Adrian Wilson live from 4pm.
ROSIE O’GRADY’S
Perth’s biggest and longest running St Patricks Day event is at Rosie O’Grady’s in Northbridge this Saturday, March 17, and will feature a massive street party as well as the normal fun inside the hotel, including tunes from U2 tribute act Achtung Baby. And, of course, there will be plenty of Guinness.
THE MOON & SIXPENCE
The Moon & Sixpence will be hosting a two day St Patricks Day extravaganza, kicking off on Friday, March 16, with U2 tribute act Achtung Baby playing live in the beer garden from 8.30pm. The fun continues on Saturday, March 17, from 11am. 39
X-Press – First on the street, Wednesdays
Runner
RUNNER
Run This Town Their music may sound as if it falls easily from their fingers, but JENNIFER PETERSON-WARD learnt just how hard local indie rock outfit Runner work to create their sound. The quixotic quintet launch their debut EP Indiana at The Bakery this Friday, March 16. Following a meteoric rise to fame, the buzz of excitement surrounding Runner’s every musical move suggests the talented indie-rock fivesome might just be the luckiest young band playing the local circuit at present. Between taking out taking out top honours in the National Campus Bands competition, playing local shows alongside everyone under the sun and launching their single Outlines & Colours to a sold-out show at The Bird earlier this year, you’d be right in assuming the local indie-rock five-piece outfit just never stops. “It gives you some legitimacy on a national level. We’ve done something on a national level, people have liked us – and although it doesn’t entail Triple J airtime or a tour or anything like that and the prizes were actually bigger on the state level, just being able to say that you’ve done that, you’ve been to Melbourne and ‘they liked you in Melbourne’ – that’s always a nice thing to say,” multi-instrumentalist Andrew Clarke says. Utilising every minute of their leisure time to full effect, the last few months have seen the talented outfit hunkering down to pen tunes for their debut EP Indiana, which they only recently wrapped up recording with Laurie McCallum at Sumo Sound Studios in Osborne Park.
“I am exceptionally happy with how it’s all gone. The thing that I love the most about it is that we’ve got all of us singing leads on at least one track and then all of the tracks everyone has put heaps of time and energy to get it all done, it’s been a really collaborative effort. I think when you listen to it, it captures the dynamic of the band as we are right now,” fellow multi-instrumentalist Chris Watson says. “What is really interesting is the song Pilgrim which was written by Andrew but is sung by [Jason] Pang, when I listen to it, it doesn’t sound like one of Andrew’s songs – it has been transformed into something else [by] those creamy smooth vocals.” “It worked out that Jason’s voice suited the song perfectly – probably better than mine because a couple of the high notes I struggle to hit. I don’t know why I write songs I can’t actually sing,” Clarke laughs. Listening to the EP, you can imagine Runner’s music being described using grandiose terms: their sinister-sweet susurrations are crying out to be called “swooningly celestial”, while the layers of instrumentation demand liberal deployment of the phrase “shimmering majesty”. Perhaps unsuprisingly, the lyrics on the EP meet the melancholy atmospherics head-on: “We decided that all the songs on the EP generally, in some form or another, reference the ocean. Andrew sits in his room and his view is of the ocean and the beach and naturally when he’s stumped for ideas he tends to look over at to the ocean. We’re inspired by what’s around us – we’re very in touch with nature,” Chris Watson laughs. “Basically every song I’ve ever written has some sort of aquatic imagery in it,” Clarke adds. “There are some classic water metaphors going on.” An EP this grand and cinematic calls for an extraordinary launch, and the up-and-comers are set to deliver on that front, as well, with an epic live show this Friday, March 16, at The Bakery. Supporting on the night will be equally talented outfits Usurpers Of Modern Medicine, Rabbit Island and Mei Swan, plus DJs Sleepyhead and Pussymittens. Presale tickets are $9 plus booking free or $12 at the door on the night and ticket price includes a copy of the EP.
James Teague and his band
JAMES TEAGUE Labour of Love For local musician James Teague, establishing himself amongst some of the great contemporary artists of this year has surely been a labour of love. But it seems that things are starting to pay off with Teague cementing himself in amongst that ever growing list of up-and-comers and racking up some serious career highlights. Ahead of the launch of his debut album Lavender Prayers, at Mojos Bar this Friday, March 16,Teague talks to HAYLEY MIDDLETON about sharing the stage with some industry heavyweights. There aren’t many up-and-comers who can count support sets for Bob Dylan, Grace Jones and Elvis Costello as career highlights, but local muso James Teague is no ordinary singer-songwriter. “Sharing that massive stage, well, it was all pretty surrealistic,” begins 22-year-old Teague. He is quietly humble when talking about his career progression which has thus far peaked in a set at last year’s West Coast Blues ‘N’ Roots Festival, but Teague has put in the hard yards to get to where he is today. After leaving school, Teague knew that music and poetry were big passions but he says he didn’t realise that they were to be his path in life. “The whole music aspiration hadn’t really made itself evident,” he says.“So I ended up just randomly signing up for [the Western Australian 40
Academy of Performing Arts].” After completing his studies at WAAPA, Teague felt that he finally had the freedom to start applying his skills, and so he started assembling a band that could take his songs to the next level, which was a long process. “Back when the songs were still acoustic skeletons, I had a pretty good idea of what I wanted them to sound like, fully arranged in my head,” he says. “They are all of a standard where they could accurately interpret what I wanted for the songs.” The band began to rehearse in order to achieve unity and Teague took on several admin roles whether it was manager or fundraiser, hence the labour of love. After several gigs, Teague and the band went down to Pemberton and recorded Lavender Prayers, due for release later this year.“It was hot, it was sweaty, but it was fun,” he says of their time there. Describing the album as very honest with plenty of quirks, Lavender Prayers seems to be rather a personal manifestation for Teague, having written most of the songs when he was 19 and simply waiting to unleash them unto the world. “It’s an amalgamation of styles. I am just a sponge, I take in different influences, music, literature, nature or just my own thoughts and it’s just an expression. It is original in the sense that it comes from inside of me but stylistically there are lots of things going,” he concludes. If you find your fancy tickled or your ears tingling with anticipation, then find yourself at Mojos Bar, on March 16, for the launch of this seductive new record. Support comes from Hunting Huxley, The Flower Drums and Seven Weapons.Tickets are $10 or $25 with a copy of the album, and are available at the door. X-Press – First on the street, Wednesdays
TRACKSUIT The Love Junkies The Bird Friday, March 9, 2012 Judging a band by its bland name, one might presume that this particular gig was destined to be an uninteresting affair. Though patient, I’d yet to be proven wrong and, as the Friday afternoon drink crowd mingled inside and filled out the back courtyard, things began to look somewhat promising. We held high hopes for support band The Love Junkies, and their bi-polar blues rock proved substantially better than average entertainment. They’re a heavier take on the modern psychedelic thing, with a vocal versatility and quirky shifts in their sound. ‘70s guitar riffs traded place with that harder to identify sound as they searched for some sense of continuity. Amongst a raft of technical issues the band ploughed on and handled their soon to be resoldered equipment just fine rocking on with full merit. Few bands’ names sound any good until you’ve heard them enough times to forget how ridiculous they are (cough, Eskimo Joe, cough) but Tracksuit have shot themselves with that typically coverband combination of two short words borrowed from pop culture but without any real meaning. Perhaps Tracksuit could join Silverchair and Powderfinger on their next ‘wings across my bank account’ tour – or whatever it was called. Sorry fellas.
Tracksuit (Photo: Callum Ponton) So, it was with this completely unreasonable bias that we found ourselves at The Bird only half expecting to hear Green Day’s American Idiot; but far from City Beach t-shirts and oddly spiked hair, its flares and swagger and authenticity for this band playing quality original tunes for The Bird’s sparse but merry punters. Theirs is a mainstream sound, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing - early tune No Way Out was comfortable and catchy (if not a little generic), as was their recently released single Beat Up Radio, but all the while (amongst the naff shit) are cool tempo changes, rock moves, and a band threatening to explode like The Mars Volta! Seriously, it’s there just below the surface. So you whilst their rocked-up pop may not be to everyone’s tastes, Tracksuit do have a niche. They are a party rock band! No, not like LMFAO – but like a band of rock musicians without pretence playing music for an audience that probably should care more than they do. _DANIEL PARKINSON
JUST BEAT IT
The Novocaines
Its official the Beat Nightclub on William Street now has a brand spanking new band room and to celebrate local punk rock icons The Novocaines, beats purveyor Sam Perry, and grunge rockers Foam will be putting on a show to end all others this Friday, March 16. Tickets are $12 on the door. Doors open at 8pm.
BEARY GOOD TUNES
This Friday, March 16, Sonic Velvet sees Bears And Dolls, Spoonful Of Sugar, Boston And Chevy and Morgan Bain hit the Velvet Lounge from 8pm. Entry is $10 on the door.
LOCAL & LAUNCHING JAMES TEAGUE Lavender Prayers LP launch March 16 – Mojos Bar
RUNNER
Indiana EP launch March 16 – The Bakery
LANTANA
Red EP launch March 17 – The Rosemount Hotel
‘ KUCKA ‘
Kucka EP launch March 22 – The Bird
CHILLING WINSTON Pessimistic 7” EP launch March 23 – The Rosemount Hotel
HEYTESBURG
PYR EP launch March 24 – The Rosemount Hotel April 27 – Prince Of Wales April 28 – Norfolk Basement
LISTENING FOR TRIGGERS EP launch April 5 – The Civic Hotel
USURPER OF MODERN MEDICINE Turbo Handshake EP launch April 14 – The Bakery
If your band is gearing up to launch an album, EP or single soon and you’d like to be listed in this space, please shoot through an email to localmusic@xpressmag.com.au. 41
NOT SO BLUE
This Sunday, March 18, Moondyne Joes in Fremantle hosts a big day of blues music. It all kicks off at 3pm with the extremely talented Pete Romano and Mark Constable up first before The Bob Patient Band take to the stage at 5pm and local icon Linsday Wells finishes the night off from 7pm. An absolute must for fans of the genre.
SUPER SMASH
Not for the faint of heart, Smashing Skulls at the Rocket Room this Friday, March 16, will provide you with the loudest, brashest and heaviest local sounds around town this weekend. A serious night of metal, blistering riffs and lightning speed solos will be provided by headliners Thirty3Victims, opening the sonic door of madness will be Gates Of Perdition and bringing the dirt will be All this Filth and deep into metal cavern will be To the Depths opening the night. Plus, DJ Brett Rowe will be spinning your favourite metal, hardcore and heavy rock tunes through the night!
BIRTHDAY BLISS
The Norfolk Basement reaches the 10 year milestone at the end of March and is marking the occasion with a month long celebration, featuring 22 separate gigs, and over 60 bands and artists joining in to toast Freo’s own cellar full of noise. Among the many glorious musical treats on offer this week is a free afternoon performance from Quick Brown Fox in the courtyard on Saturday, March 17.When the sun goes down, you can catch The Autumn Isles, Mezzanine, Spoonful of Sugar and The Gold Blooms in the Basement.
FEELIN’ FOXY
It’s been two years in the making, but finally sassy, sexy, rock foxes Lantana have completed their debut five track EP Red. Prepare to be titillated when they launch the record at The Rosemount Hotel this Saturday, March 17. Supporting the rock goddesses on this fine St Patricks Day will be the exclusively talented lads from Hailmary, Gombo and Nevsky Prospekt. There will be drink vouchers for the first 50 people through the door, door prize giveaways and an ending to the girls’ launch they promise “you’ll never forget”.
WEIRDLY WONDERFUL
The Paddo is a great place for a meal, a beer and the best Sunday original music session in town and this week playing host to three awesomely inventive bands for a line-up not to be missed. If you’re craving something a little off-centre and theoretically amusing then come see Juan Don Rocco, The Brown Study Band and Dr. Preposterous. It all kicks off from 7pm. Best of all, entry is free!
THE GIRL NEXT DOOR
After a memorable solo shows at Nannup Festival last weekend blues and roots songstress Leah Miche is back with the band this Wednesday, March 14, at Mojos Bar alongside Jess Gorden and Cat Edmunds. This Friday, March 16, and Saturday, March 17, the trio will also play their final shows for the summer at Hotel Rottnest for the third year running.
NEW IN TOWN
Dub fans rejoice – this Thursday, March 15, The Weapon Is Sound and Dilip ‘N’ The Davs will be satiating all your desires at The Newport. Then on Sunday, March 18, the DomNicks are playing with support from One Thousand Years. Entry to both gigs is 100 per cent free!
RETRO VISION
A retro-rockin’ time machine blasts Perth back to the ‘50s this Saturday, March 17, at the Indi Bar as three of Perth’s best rockabilly bands – Johnny Law & Harry Deluxe, The Continentals and Rocket To Memphis –proffer tunes to get your hips shaking and toes tapping. This hot‘n’heavy event will not only satiate rockabilly aficionados, but is sure to provide the perfect introduction for newbies to the unique rock‘n’roll subculture.
WHAT ABOUT MEME
This Thursday, March 14, quirky folksters Rachel & Henry Climb A Hill are asking punters to join them at Mojos Bar to film their latest video clip. Not only will you get the chance to have your beautiful mugs plastered across the interwebs, but you also get to enjoy an early start to the weekend with a soundtrack provided by Sugarpuss, Seams, The Flower Drums, The Tumblers and of course, Rachel & Henry Climb A Hill. X-Press – First on the street, Wednesdays
John Butler, March 17, Fremantle Arts Centre
Bleeding Knees Club, April 25, Indi Bar
FRANKIE VALLI & THE FOUR SEASONS 27 Kings Park 18 Astor Theatre CHARLES PIERRE BENSUSAN BRADLEY 27 The Ellington 14 The Bakery BORIS YELAWOLF 20 The Bakery 27 Capitol HALFMAST ADAM ANT 15 Villa MARCH 28 Metro City 16 The Den 17 YMCA HQ LEO SAYER SINCERELY 28 Bunbury GRIZZLY Entertainment MICK THOMAS 21 Rosemount 15 Friends Centre Hotel Restaurant CHE-FU 23 Ya Ya’s 16 The Norfolk 28 Burlington Hotel 24 The Den 17 The Oxford Bunbury JOHN BUTLER Leederville 21 Mandurah Arts 29 Settlers Tavern Centre 30 Metropolis THE GO SET 22 Clancy’s Fish Pub Fremantle 15 Clancy’s Dunsborough ROSIE BURGESS Fremantle 23 Albany TRIO 16 Indi Bar Entertainment 28 Mojos Bar Centre 29 Ya Ya’s DIESEL 25 Queens Park 30 Prince Of Wales Theatre Geraldton 16, 17 & 31 Settlers Tavern 26 Carnarvon Civic 18 Quarry THE LITTLE Amphitheatre Centre STEVIES 29 Astor Theatre 29 Little Creatures 30 & 31 Sun 360 GRACE KNIGHT 15 & 16 Rosemount Pictures Broome 29 Fremantle Arts KOOII Hotel 22 Mojos Bar Centre 23 Freemasons 30 The Ellington TANIA DOKO Geraldton DIAFRIX/ 16 Bamboo Bar 24 Settler’s Tavern JOELISTICS Highgate 25 Clancy’s 29 Prince Of Wales Dunsborough 30 Bar 120 TENORS BABY ANIMALS 31 Hyde Park Hotel UNLIMITED 23 Charles Hotel 16 Octagon Theatre 24 Endeavour Hotel BRITISH INDIA 30 Civic Hotel Lancelin 31 Kalgoorlie Hotel BELINDA WOLFPACK WOODEN SHJIPS CARLISLE 23 The Den 16 Mandurah 30 The Bakery 24 Prince Of Wales Performing Arts SNAKADAKTAL 25 The Newport Centre HETTY KATE 30 Villa 17 Astor Theatre 24 The Ellington OLD MAN RIVER DANIEL 30 Norfolk NUKARA NUSIC O’DONNELL Basement FESTIVAL (The 24 Riverside Theatre 31 Joondalup BRIAN SETZER’S Go Set, Mick Thomas, Blind ROCKABILLY RIOT Festival Lemon, Minnie 24 Fremantle Arts CHILDREN COLLIDE Centre Marks, The 30 Capitol Fancy Brothers, DURAN DURAN 31 Players Bar Shelley Short) 24 Sandalford GEORGE MICHAEL 17 Chapman Valley Estate Swan Valley 31 Sandalford DARYL Estate Swan Valley BRAITHWAITE SEEKAE 24 Bunbury HERMITUDE 17 The Bakery Entertainment 31 Amplifier 18 Mojos Bar Centre EDDI READER ON THE QUARTET JOHN BUTLER SETS BEACH (The Aston 31 Fly By Night 17 Fremantle Arts Shuffle, Yacht Club PETULA CLARK Centre DJs, Canyons and 19 Goldfields Arts 31 Mundaring Weir more) Centre Kalgoorlie Hotel 25 Scarborough HOLLY THROSBY Beach 31 Norfolk AQUA / RADIO Amphitheatre Basement INK/BOYS BOYS NICK LOWE DEEP SEA ARCADE BOYS! 26 Astor Theatre 30 Capitol 18 & 20 Metropolis THE NECKS 26 The Bakery Fremantle 31 Players Bar
MARCH 14 – MARCH 20
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BOMBAY BICYCLE CLUB / I A MAN
DevilDriver, May 9, Capitol
APRIL DIAFRIX & JOELISTICS 1 Norfolk Basement DEEP SEA ARCADE 1 Mojos Bar PETULA CLARK 1 Albany Entertainment Centre CHILDREN COLLIDE 1 Mojos Bar WEST COAST BLUES ‘N’ ROOTS (John Fogerty, Crosby, Stills & Nash, The Pogues, The Specials, My Morning Jacket, Buddy Guy, Keb Mo, Steve Earle, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, Husky, Gin Wigmore, The Sheepdogs and more) 1 Fremantle Park ROSIE BURGESS TRIO 1 Settlers Tavern BRITISH INDIA 1 Joondalup Festival XAVIER RUDD 4 Fly By Night Club 5 Astor Theatre YES 5 Riverside Theatre MACHINE DRUM/ JACQUES GREENE 5 The Bakery BAG RAIDERS 7 Villa COLD CHISEL 7 Sandalford Winery Swan Valley DEAD MEADOW / PINK MOUNTAINTOPS 7 The Bakery BALL PARK MUSIC 7 Amplifier 8 Newport Hotel STRAWBERRY JAM MUSIC FESTIVAL (P.O.D., Hawk Nelson, Mike Mains & The Branches and more TBA) 8 Albany SUBLIME WITH ROME / MAT McHUGH 11 Metropolis Fremantle THE NEVER EVER 12 YMCA HQ (early) / Villa (late)
SETH LAKEMAN / CARUS THOMPSON 12 Clancy’s Fish Pub Fremantle 13 Hyde Park Hotel PASSENGER 13 Fly By Night Club FAIRBRIDGE FESTIVAL OF WORLD & FOLK MUSIC (Paul Brady, Seth Lakeman, My Friend The Chocolate Cake, Chipolatas, Chris While, Julie Matthews, Kavisha, Tjupurru, Stiff Gins, The Woohoo Revue and more TBA) 13 - 15 Fairbridge Village Pinjarra THE HERD 14 Rosemount Hotel SEAL 14 Sandalford Estate SNEAKY SOUND SYSTEM 14 Villa LAST DINOSAURS 14 Amplifier 15 Mojos Bar JUSTIN TOWNES EARLE 14 Fly By Night 15 Rosemount Hotel SHOOGLENIFTY / THE CHIPOLATAS 18 Fly By Night AMON AMARTH 19 Capitol BLUEJUICE 19 Settler’s Tavern 20 Capitol CALLING ALL CARS 19 Indi Bar 20 Prince Of Wales 21 Rosemount Hotel BIG SCARY 20 Amplifier BEN SALTER / JOE MCKEE 20 The Fly Trap 22 The Bird LIAM BURROWS 21 The Atrium Mandurah 22 The Ellington DEEZ NUTS 21 Amplifier 22 YMCA HQ SUPAFEST (P. Diddy, Chris Brown, Missy Elliot, Naughty By
X-Press – First on the street, Wednesdays
Listing deadline is Monday 5pm. The Gig-Guide is a service to advertisers listing bands. All inclusions are at the discretion of X-Press Magazine. Email reception@xpressmag.com.au or fax 9213 2882.
Getaway Plan, May 18, Amplifier Nature, Big Sean, Ice Cube, Rick Ross, Trey Songz, Kelly Rowland, Lupe Fiasco and more TBA) 22 Arena Joondalup LOU BARLOW 22 Rosemount Hotel RTRFM’S IN THE PINES 22 Somerville Auditorium BURT BACHARACH 23 Riverside Theatre AUGUST BURNS RED 25 Amplifier AN HORSE 25 Rosemount Hotel WHITLEY 26 Newport CLARK 27 The Bakery THE FUNKOARS 27 Bar 120 28 Rosemount Hotel BLEEDING KNEES CLUB 25 Indi Bar 26 Prince Of Wales 27 Amplifier 28 Mojos Bar POND / THE LAURELS 28 The Bakery RUFUS 27 Villa HOODOO GURUS / REDD KROSS / THE
Mutemath, May 20, Amplifier
FLESHTONES 28 Astor Theatre
MAY THE MOUNTAIN GOATS / CATHERINE TRAICOS & PHILIP EVERALL 1 The Bakery MIKE STEWART 2 The Ellington HUSKY 4 The Bakery FU MANCHU / BLACK COBRA 5 Rosemount Hotel DEVILDRIVER 9 Capitol FRANK TURNER & THE SLEEPING SOULS / WILLIAM ELLIOTT WHITMORE / THE SMITH STREET BAND 9 Amplifier BOY & BEAR 10 Albany Entertainment Centre 11 Bunbury Entertainment Centre 12 Fremantle Arts Centre DEAD LETTER CIRCUS 10 Prince Of Wales 11 Metropolis Fremantle 12 Capitol SICK OF IT ALL / AGNOSTIC FRONT 11 Amplifier
KRISTIN BERADI 11 & 12 The Ellington LANIE LANE 12 Fly By Night Club 13 Amplifier WAVVES 18 Rosemount Hotel THE GETAWAY PLAN / NEW EMPIRE 18 Amplifier DAVID CAMPBELL 16 Mandurah Performing Arts Centre 17 Queens Park Theatre Geraldton 18 Perth Concert 19 Bunbury Regional Entertainment Centre ANDREW W.K. 17 The Bakery FLORENCE + THE MACHINE/ BLOOD ORANGE 17 Burswood Dome THE MACCABEES 18 Capitol KAISER CHIEFS / DEEP SEA ARCADE 18 Metro City GROOVIN THE MOO (360, Andrew W.K One-ManParty Tour, City And Colour, Digitalism, The Getaway Plan, Hilltop Hoods, Kaiser Chiefs, The Maccabees, Public
Kimbra, May 21, Metro City
Enemy, Wavves, Ball Park Music and more TBA) 19 Hay Park Bunbury NATURALLY 7 19 Perth Concert Hall CITY AND COLOUR 20 Fremantle Arts Centre MUTEMATH 20 Amplifier KIMBRA / DANIEL MERRIWEATHER / SAM LAWRENCE 21 Metro City THE BRIAN JONESTOWN MASSACRE / THE RAVEONETTES 22 Astor Theatre BELL BIV DEVOE / GINUWINE 24 Astor Theatre ANTI-FLAG / STRIKE ANYWHERE / FLATLINERS 24 Capitol S-CLUB / BIG BROVAZ 25 Metro City CATCALL 26 Amplifier BITTER END 26 The Den 27 YMCA HQ LIAM BURROWS 26 Friends Restaurant 27 Jazz Fremantle BARNEY MCALL 27 The Ellington NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK /
BACKSTREET BOYS 29 Burswood Dome BOB HIRST 30 & 31 The Ellington
JUNE JOSH KYLE 2 The Ellington THE BUTTERFLY EFFECT 2 Prince Of Wales 3 Metro City THE JEZABELS / LIGHTS 5 Metro City TINA ARENA 8 Riverside Theatre MATT CORBY 9 Astor Theatre TIM FREEDMAN 14 & 15 The Ellington LENNY HENRY 15 Burswood Theatre GUY SEBASTIAN 19 His Majesty’s Theatre 20 Mandurah Performing Arts Centre 360 22 Villa 23 Astor Theatre NADIA ACKERMAN 28 The Ellington
JULY LADY GAGA 7 Burswood Dome MELISSA ETHERIDGE 20 Riverside Theatre
Bombay Bicycle Club
BOMBAY BICYCLE CLUB
Bombay Bicycle Club isn’t from India, nor will any of its members roll ride across the country on bicycles during their upcoming tour. But the four British indie rockers are set to bring the sounds of their 2011-released LP A Different Kind Of Fix to local audiences on Sunday, March 18 for a special all ages show at The Astor Theatre. Support comes from Melbourne indie-rock four piece I A Man, who are sure to win over local music lovers early with their washed out guitar ambience and dreamy Mogwai-esque melodies. Tickets for the show are available to purchase through BOCS.
www.xpressmag.com.au
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Oak Tree Suite, Wednesday at The Rosemount Hotel
WEDNESDAY 14.03 BAKERY Charles Bradley BALMORAL James Wilson BLACK BETTY’S Everlong CLANCY’S FISH PUB (CANNING BRIDGE) Roly Skender Ben Merrito CLAREMONT HOTEL Open Mic Night ELLINGTON JAZZ CLUB Speak No Evil FLY BY NIGHT Riks Live Sound Seminar HALE ROAD TAVERN Fenton Wilde HYDE PARK HOTEL Cog The Brett Smith Group INDI BAR Mason Rack Lightning Jack LOBBY LOUNGE (BURSWOOD) Courtney Murphy LUCKY SHAG Howie Morgan MOJOS BAR Jess Gordon Leah Miche Suite Cat Edmunds MUSTANG Aftershock PADDO The Date Paige Barrett & Dan Wiggins The Red Embers ROSIE O’GRADY’S (NORTHBRIDGE) David Fyffe ROSEMOUNT Yin Oak Tree Suite Saysky Von Heart SOUTH ST ALE HOUSE Greg Carter SWAN LOUNGE Iain Alex Adam THE MOON Jozef Grech Luke Dux Ellen Oosterbaan Adam Tatana
UNIVERSAL Strutt YA YA’S Tomas Ford’s Pop Quiz
THURSDAY 15.03 ROCKET ROOM Launch ROSIE O’GRADY’S (NORTHBRIDGE) Fenton Wilde ROSIE O’GRADY’S (FREMANTLE) Clayton Bolger SOVEREIGN ARMS David Fyffe SWAN LOUNGE Kerri THE BLVD TAVERN Crusaders Trio THE BOAT Jen De Ness THE BROOK Open Mic Night THE GATE Better Days UNIVERSAL Off The Record VILLA Halfmast YA YA’S Sidewalk Diamonds FOAM Nevada Pilot Meet The Sun
FRIDAY 16.03 7th AVENUE Undercover Acoustic BALLYS BAR Jamie Powers BAKERY Runner Usurpers Of Modern Medicine Rabbit Island Mei Swan BAILEY BAR Mod Squad BALMORAL The Other Guys BAMBOO BAR Tania Doko BASSENDEAN HOTEL Overload BEAT NIGHTCLUB The Novocaines Foam Sam Perry BELGIAN BEER CAFÉ Feisty Burlesque
The Novocaines
THE NOVOCAINES FOAM SAM PERRY
FRIDAY,MARCH 16 BEAT NIGHTCLUB
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Seams, Thursday at Mojos Bar BELMONT TAVERN Everlong Acoustic BENTLEY HOTEL Dove BLACK BETTYS J Babies BRASS MONKEY Adrian Wilson CAPTAIN STIRLING Bluebottles CARLILSE HOTEL Reload CHASE BAR Greg Carter CIVIC HOTEL (THE DEN) Afraid Of Heights Halfmast MD & TK Them Orphans Adrift CLANCY’S FISH PUB (FREMANTLE) The Funkelerros COMO HOTEL Tip Top Sound CRAIGIE TAVERN Good Karma DEVILLES PAD The Continentals The Rough Housers EAST 150 Trevor Jalla ELEPHANT & WHEELBARROW Daren Reid & The Soul City Groove ELLINGTON JAZZ CLUB Adam Hall And The Velvet Playboys Deuces Cristal Phillips Solomon Pitt EMPIRE Halo FLY BY NIGHT That Velvet Echo Dilip Parekh Trio Joe Black Trio Mitch Becker Trio FUSE BAR Groove Karaoke GLOUCESTER PARK Kenji HERDSMAN TAVERN Acoustic Nights HYDE PARK HOTEL Nathan Gaunt One Trick Ponies INDI BAR The Go Set LANGFORD ALE HOUSE Nasty Dogz MANDURAH PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE Belinda Carlisle MERRIWA TAVERN Parker Ave MOJOS BAR James Teague Hunting Huxley The Flower Drums Seven Weapons MOON & SIXPENCE Achtung Baby MUSTANG Oz Big Band Swing DJ Cheeky Monkeys DJ James MacArthur NEWPORT Party Rockers
Spoonful Of Sugar, Friday at Velvet Lounge
NORFOLK BASEMENT Mick Thomas Shelley Short The Jayco Brothers OCTAGON THEATRE Tenors Unlimited OSBORNE PARK HOTEL Howie Morgan Duo OXFORD HOTEL Recliners PADDO Stu Harcourt PADDY HANNANS Gun Shy Romeos PARAMOUNT Flyte PRINCIPAL Dirty Scoundrals QUARRY AMPHITHEATRE Diesel RAILWAY HOTEL Sabata Sound Ras Movement Sound ROCKET ROOM Thirty3 Victims Gates of Perdition All This Filth To The Depths DJ Brett Rowe ROSE & CROWN HOTEL Karin Page ROSEMOUNT 360 SAIL & ANCHOR Switchback SPRINGS TAVERN B.O.B SOUTH ST ALE HOUSE Robbie King Karaoke STIRLING ARMS Acoustic One SWAN BASEMENT Delusions Of Grandeur Coronal Sky Kim Louise SWINGING PIG Better Days Greg Carter THE BIRD Blackmilk The Deep River Collective Stunning In Red THE BLVD TAVERN Vanilla Fox Duo THE BOAT Pop Candy THE GATE Smoking Section THE GREENWOOD Baby Piranhas THE SHED Kickstart THE VIC Jack + Jill UNIVERSAL Retriofit VELVET LOUNGE Morgan Bane Boston & Chevy Spoonful Of Sugar Bears & Dolls VICTORIA PARK HOTEL Ivan Ribic WANNEROO TAVERN Clayton Bolger WOODVALE TAVERN
Dr Bogus YA YA’S Head Full Of Steam Honeywheeler Shock Octopus Starcleaner DJ Whoa
SATURDAY 17.03 AMPLIFIER I Am Eternal Paradise In Exile Reflections Of Ruin Storm The Shores ASTOR THEATRE Belinda Carlisle BAILEY BAR Dr Bogus BALLYS BAR Cory Carlyon BAKERY Seekae BAR 120 Flyte BAR ORIENT Christian Thompson Shane Keena Duo BLACK BETTY’S Redstar BROOKLANDS TAVERN Christian Thompson CAPTAIN STIRLING Leighton Keepa CHAPMAN VALLEY Nukara Music Festival The Go Set Mick Thomas Blind Lemon Minnie Marks The Fancy Brothers Shelley Short CIVIC HOTEL Paul Hannigan CIVIC HOTEL (THE DEN) Battle Of The Plants Pyramid Of The Coyote Kite Magic CLANCY’S FISH PUB (CANNING BRIDGE) The Morning Night Duo CLANCY’S FISH PUB (FREMANTLE) Dub Linh COMO HOTEL Tip Top Sound CRAFTSMAN Chris Murphy & The Holy Rollers DEVILLES PAD Stratosfunk ELEPHANT & WHEELBARROW Gun Shy Romeos ELLINGTON JAZZ CLUB Howie Morgan Melody Whittle Deuces FLY BY NIGHT Morphica Caprycon Beyond Never FREMANTLE ARTS CENTRE John Butler HIGH ROAD HOTEL The Damien Cripps Band HYDE PARK HOTEL The Basement Sea Nymph Honey Neutral Native
X-Press – First on the street, Wednesdays
Listing deadline is Monday 5pm. The Gig-Guide is a service to advertisers listing bands. All inclusions are at the discretion of X-Press Magazine. Email reception@xpressmag.com.au or fax 9213 2882.
James Teague, Friday at Mojos Bar INDI BAR Rocket To Memphis Johnny Law Harry Deluxe The Continentals DJ Holly Doll INDIAN OCEAN BREW CO The Other Guys KULCHA Jez Lowe Kate Bramley LAKERS TAVERN The Kickstarts LANGFORD ALE HOUSE Nasty Dogz LEOPOLD HOTEL Steve Hepple MARKET CITY TAVERN Juliet’s Diary MANNING PARK KISS Alive MERRIWA TAVERN Celebrations Karaoke MOON & SIXPENCE Blaze M ON THE POINT Rhythm 22 MOJOS BAR Ngati Rae And Band Jahmoko Ronmak DJ Simmo T MULLALOO BEACH HOTEL Overload MUSTANG 10 Cent Billionaire The Rusty Pinto Combo NEWPORT Kizzy Gravity NORFOLK COURTYARD Wolves At The Door NORFOLK BASEMENT The Autumn Idles Mezzanine Spoonful Of Sugar The Gold Blooms OCEAN ONE BAR Julius Lutero OSBORNE PARK HOTEL Nathan Gaunt OXFORD HOTEL Mick Thomas Shelley Short PADDY HANNANS Billy & The Broken Lines Fenton Wilde PARAMOUNT Felix PRINCIPAL Lips McConague QUARRIE BAR Electrophobia QUARRY AMPHITHEATRE Diesel RAILWAY HOTEL Bonfire ROCKET ROOM Delicious Kickstart (Midnight) ROSEMOUNT Lantana Hailmary Nevsky Prospekt Gombo
ROSIE O’GRADY’S (NORTHBRIDGE) Chris Murphy & The Holy Rollers Billy & The Broken Lines Achtung Baby SAIL & ANCHOR Parker Ave SPRINGS TAVERN Adrian Wilson SOVEREIGN ARMS The Irish Rockers Reckless Kelly STEVES BAR Bernadine STIRLING ARMS Karin Page SUBIACO HOTEL Off The Record SWAN BASEMENT Escape Fall Of Man El Capitan Shadow City SWAN LOUNGE Miranda & Gordo SWINGING PIG Greg Carter THE BALMORAL The Kickstarts THE BLVD TAVERN Renzullo Bros Projects Lynda Smyth & The Borrowed Few Matt Cal & The Black Heart Sun Pete Usher & The Global Pandemic Heath Marshall Midnight Mules The Crusaders THE BOAT Deuce THE BROOK Retrofit THE GATE Dirty Scoundrels THE GREENWOOD Local Heroes THE SHED Huge THE WHALE & ALE Raglan Road Renegade UNIVERSAL Soul Corporation WANNEROO TAVERN Paul Foster WOODVALE TAVERN Mod Squad The Chris Murphy Trio The Irish Rockers Reckless Kelly YA YA’S The Kuillotines Wizard Sleeve High Horse Blazin Entrails Lucille The Kings of Cheese YMCA HQ Halfmast
SUNDAY 18.03 7TH AVENUE Reckless Kelly ASTOR THEATRE Bombay Bicycle Club BALLY’S BAR Greg Carter BALMORAL Cranky
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Friday Friday Travis Caudle Adrian Wilson, Saturday at Travis Caudle FlyBy ByTavern Night Springs Fly Night BROOKLANDS TAVERN Greg Carter BROKEN HILL HOTEL The Organ Grinders CAPTAIN STIRLING Christian Parkinson CHARLES HOTEL Karaoke Party CHASE BAR James Wilson CHURCHILL PARK Blues Alive Home Brew Sticky Sweer CLANCY’S FISH PUB (DUNSBOROUGH) The Funkelerros CLANCY’S FISH PUB (FREMANTLE) The Zydecats CLAREMONT HOTEL Sunday Driver COMO HOTEL David Fyffe EAST 150 Adrian Wilson ELEPHANT & WHEELBARROW Daren Reid & The Soul City Groove ELLINGTON JAZZ CLUB The Russell Holmes Trio EMPIRE CB3 FLY BY NIGHT Shooglenifty The Chipolatas HIGH WYCOMBE HOTEL Undercover Acoustic HIGH RD Mike Nayar HYDE PARK HOTEL Mike De Velta Stella Donnelly INDI BAR Andrew Winton INDIAN OCEAN BREW CO Dove Retriofit LAKERS TAVERN Jamie Powers LEISURE INN Steve Hepple M ON THE POINT Parker Ave METROPOLIS FREMANTLE Aqua Radio Ink Boys Boys Boys! MOJOS BAR Seekae Usurper Of Modern Medicine James Ireland DJ Jo Lettenmaier MUNDARKING HOTEL Courtney Murphy Murphy’s Lore MUSTANG Peter Busher And The Lone Rangers DJ Rockin Rhys NEWPORT Tim Nelson The DomNicks One Thousand Years NORTHBRIDGE PIAZZA Adrian Allen OCEAN VIEW Midnight Rambler OXFORD HOTEL Mick Thomas Shelley Short The Jayco Brothers
The Brown Study Band, Sunday at The Paddo
PADDO Juan Don Rocco The Brown Study Band Dr Preposterous PIG AND WHISTLE B.O.B PRINCIPAL Bernadine Grigson PINK DUCK LOUNGE BAR Neil Colliss QUARRIE BAR Gotham City QUARRY AMPHITHEATRE Diesel QUEENS TAVERN Big Bamboo RAILWAY HOTEL Open Mic Session ROCKET ROOM Coyote Ugly ROSEMOUNT Scorcherfest SAIL & ANCHOR Shawne + Luc SOUTH ST ALE HOUSE Anthony Neives SOVEREIGN ARMS Ivan Ribic SPRINGS TAVERN Scott Nelson SWAN BASEMENT Underground Hound GOAT Neutral Native Stray Dogs Of Athens SWINGING PIG Stu Harcourt THE CARINE Electrophobia THE GATE Better Days One Trick Ponies THE MOON Pete Bibby Adam Brown THE SAINT The Howie Morgan Trio THE SHED The Healy’s Blue Hornet UNIVERSAL Retriofit VICTORIA PARK HOTEL Paul Foster WANNEROO TAVERN Chris Murphy
WOODVALE TAVERN Mia Good Company X-WRAY CAFE The Charisma Brothers
MONDAY 19.03 BRASS MONKEY The Organ Grinders ELLINGTON JAZZ CLUB Song Lounge GOLDFIELDS ARTS CENTRE John Butler LOBBY LOUNGE (BURSWOOD) Courtney Murphy MOJOS BAR Wide Open Mic Night MUSTANG BAR Marco & The Alley Cats THE DEEN Plastic Max And The Token Gesture
TUESDAY 20.03 BAKERY Boris CHARLES HOTEL Perth Blues Club Powertrain Mason Rack Band Banana Theory ELLINGTON JAZZ CLUB Juliana Areias LOBBY LOUNGE John Sandosham LUCKY SHAG Christian Thompson METROPOLIS FREMANTLE Aqua Radio Ink Boys Boys Boys! MOJOS BAR 44th Sunset Blue Lucy Anton Franc Edie Green PADDO Stu Harcourt PRINCE OF WALES Open Mic Night SETTLERS TAVERN Open Mic Night X-WRAY CAFE Open Piano Night
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Classifieds and Music Services Hotline: 9213 2888 Display ads: musicservices@xpressmag.com.au Deadline: 4pm Monday Credit cards welcome
MENS WAXING/CLIPPING Itís a guy thing! Hair removal for men, private, qualified, experienced. Ph Athletes Effigy 9384 2950 MUSOS WANTED BASSIST SEEKS GUITARIST & DRUMMER Aged 20-32 to form death metal band. Influences: Cannibal Corpse, Morbid Angel, Immolation, Gorguts, Nocturnus, Agressor, Metallica. 0419 043 293 LEAD GUITARIST WANTED for original female fronted hard rock band. Must be competent in panatonics and phyrigan scales. Please listen to music on the web before calling reverbnation.com/ sophiamariesmusic. Call Steve 0425 570 069 M U S I C I A N S WA N T E D B Y MANAGER to form all female punk/top 40 covers band. Lead guitar, drums, bass guitar, vocals. Guaranteed work waiting. Tony 0411118304 OPEN MIC NIGHT every Thursday night at Indi Bar. Just call Bex on 0404 917 632 OPEN MIC NIGHT - THURSDAY At Moondyne Joe’s. 8:30 - 12pm. Friendly atmosphere, good sound. To book ring Mark on 0409 137 850. THRASH METAL SINGER WANTED Young Thrash Metal band requires singer - Matt Tuck vocal style. Rockingham Area. Contact Mark on 0435 713 415 WANTED TALENTED TRUMPET AND TROMBONE PLAYERS If you are new to Perth, have left school or university and want to be in a big band, please phone Chris: 0451 458 533
PHOTOGRAPHY PROJECT PHOTOGRAPHY Promo photography, studio, live, location. Mike Wylie 0417 975 964 www p ro j e c t p h o to g ra p hy. co m When its time to ice the cake. PRODUCTION SERVICES CD & DVD MANUFACTURE Check out our latest CD & DVD specials online at www.procopy.com.au 9375 3902 M AT R I X P R O D U C T I O N S AUSTRALIA Lighting, staging, sound systems, smoke machines, night club FX, intelligent lighting, strobes & mirror balls, crowd barriers, video projectors. 9371 1551 PA HIRE FX Lights club to concert s i z e . P r o E q u i p m e n t w w w. perthconcertsound.com.au. Ph 9307 8594 / mob 0404 410 020 / 9309 6219 RECORDING STUDIOS A L A N D AW S O N ’s W I T Z E N D 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 ANDY’S STUDIO International multi award winning songwriter / producer. No band required. Broadcast quality. A songwriter’s paradise. Ph 9364 3178 AVALON STUDIOS BIBRA LAKE One of Perths best equipped studio. Record to analog tape or digital, Avalon pre amps, Neumann mics, the latest and best universal audio, plug in’s for digital recordings. All styles of music, $55 per hour call Tony 0411 118304 email - avalonstudios@ bigpond.com
GOLDDUSTCONSTRUCTION.COM Production, mixing, recording and composition for your music. Unique award winning skills to take songs from ideas to finished mixes or to fulfill the potential in existing ones. Located in Subiaco. $60 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 SONGWRITERS! - UNLOCK YOUR SONGS’ POTENTIAL +FREE BAND APPRAISALS. UK Producer, 40,000+ hours studio experience. 20 yrs in London with bands and songwriters. Kicking arrangements, great studio and the ability to really listen will give your material the edge you need. Call Jerry on 0405 653 338 or visit www. jerichomusic.com.au TONE CITY RECORDING STUDIO Professional recording & mixing. Clients include Abbe May,Pond,Felicity Groom & The Silentís.Ph:0409 297 362.
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. P L AT I N U M S O U N D R O O M S Professional rehearsal rooms, airconditioned, quality PAs mob 0418 944 722 STREAM STUDIOS The place to rehearse in Perth.. Phone: 0403 152 009 www.streamrehearsal.com.au TUITION ***GUITAR LESSONS*** JAN/FEB ENROLMENTS NOW. Beg-adv, all styles and all levels including bass. Cliff Lynton Guitar Institute. Mt Lawley 9342 3484 / www.clifflynton.com BASS LESSONS Rock, funk & jazz. Tony Gibbs 9470 6131 DRUM LESSONS All styles, WAAPA prep. Modern techniques, rudiments, soloing, favourite songs. Ph: Pascal 0413 172 817. Available all holidays. SINGING LESSONS Learn a technique that actually works! The method used by over 120 Grammy award winners. Certified Speech Level singing instructor. Call Simon 0431335495.
SHURE ULX-D WIRELESS MICROPHONE SYSTEM Mic Check
Whether it is for DJ-ing at clubs, musical stage work or rockin’ out in the studio, wireless microphone systems allow for more flexibility in performance.This week, Volume investigates a game-changing new product which has just hit the market. Wireless microphone systems are a key component in almost every broadcast, motion picture, theatrical and sound stage production, and to meet this need, Shure Incorporated have recently introduced the ULX-D Digital Wireless system, offering unmatched sound quality, improved spectral efficiency, robust encryption, and intelligent rechargeable batteries for professional sound reinforcement applications. A wireless microphone, as the name implies, is a microphone without a physical cable connecting it directly to the sound recording or amplifying equipment with which it is associated. The biggest advantage of a wireless microphone system is its freedom of movement. Since a wireless microphone is not connected by any cable, the user does not get restricted by the length of the cable. Wireless microphones send audio signals over the air, rather than through microphone cables. The microphone is attached to a transmitter and the signals are received by a receiver connected to the audio console or recording device. The user can avoid cable problems which frequently occur because of the constant moving and stressing of the cables. While there are many different brands and models of wireless microphones available, the ULX-D system differs from others because its audio quality, signal stability, and spectral efficiency is driven by a unique digital wireless audio technology. The ULX-D system also raises the bar for spectral efficiency and RF signal stability. The intermodulation performance of ULX-D enables a dramatic increase in the number of simultaneous active systems in one channel, making the most of the available spectrum. Up to 14 ULX-D systems can operate in one six MHz TV channel, making it easy to use, even in highly congested 46
Shure ULX-D Wireless Microphone System urban areas where open channels can be scarce. For applications where secure transmission is required during confidential meetings, the ULX-D system also includes Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) 256-bit encryption for privacy. While audio quality is always paramount, wireless users are often frustrated by something more mundane: battery management. Based on the technology used in Shure’s Axient wireless system, the SB900 Lithium-Ion rechargeable battery pack provides ULX-D transmitters with up to 12 hours of performance time. The battery can be recharged at any time with no memory effect, and a complete discharge is never necessary. A dual docking charger recharges batteries while in the transmitter or out, and up to four chargers can be linked together and powered by one power supply.ULX-D transmitters can also run on standard AA batteries for up to 11 hours. The Shure ULX-D Digital Wireless system is now shipping and available through authorised Shure resellers, including Australian suppliers Jands. Full product information is available at shure.com and jands.com.au. X-Press – First on the street, Wednesdays
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X-Press – First on the street, Wednesdays