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X-Press â&#x20AC;&#x201C; First on the street, Wednesdays

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X-Press â&#x20AC;&#x201C; First on the street, Wednesdays

www.xpressmag.com.au

X-Press â&#x20AC;&#x201C; First on the street, Wednesdays

THE BEAR NECESSITIES

The impossibly hard-to-spell and award winning Melbourne outfit Snakadaktal are back with a brand new single, Dance Bear, a release that will see them hitting Australian highways this August for their biggest headline tour to date. After taking out the Triple J Unearthed High competition in 2011, the recent high school graduates have bounded onto the Australian music scene, with tunes Chimera and Air climbing up the charts. Showcasing these tunes, as well as a bunch of newies, the youthful group will charge the Astor Theatre on Saturday, August 4. Joining Snakadaktal will be Sydney pop quartet Sures and local electro popsters Bastian’s Happy Flight. Tickets are $18 plus BF from BOCS.

The Presets

DOWN IN THE PARK

The Beautiful Girls

Summer festival season kicks off with Parklife and the line-up has dropped! Topping the bill is The Presets, who have just revealed the details of their new album Pacifica; along with Nero Live, Passion Pit, Plan B, Justice (DJ set), Rusko, Robyn, Chiddy Bang, and the long awaited homecoming of Tame Impala. Add to that DJ Fresh (live), Chairlift, Labrinth, Jacques Lu Cont, Benga (live), Citizens!, Wiley, Parachute Youth, Jack Beats (live), St Lucia, Hermitude, Art Department, Modestep, Charli XCX, Rizzle Kicks, Lee Foss, Flume, and Alison Wonderland. Oh and did we mention there’s some locals that have been announced as well? They include Black & Blunt, Audageous, Lightsteed, Gran Cavalera, Dr. Space, Kastel, Ace Basik, Killafoe, J.Nitrous, Marko Paulo, Zeke, Kit Pop, Bezwun, Dngrfld, Get More, Morgan Bain, Stillwater Giants, Crooked Colours, Shy Panther, Sun City, Dallas Royal, and Riot Class. Parklife hits Wellington Square on public holiday Monday, October 1. Presales go on sale tomorrow, Thursday, June 21, at midday, until midnight Monday, June 25, from parklife.com.au, with tickets starting at $118 plus BF.

IN SICKNESS AND HEALTH

TREASURE HUNT

A highlight of the Fremantle Winter Music Series last year was Hidden Treasures, and it returns with another tasty line-up next month. Last year Freo bands took over the West End of Freo, but this year it will be based in and around the heritage-listed 19th century Fremantle Boys’ School building, now used by FTI. Over four nights, parties of all shapes and sizes will celebrate Freo’s rich music history. On Thursday, July 19, it’s Freo House Party with Rooster Police, Amani Consort, Ensemble Formidable, and Funlin Gus; on Friday, July 20, The New School Sirens take over, with The Trophy Wives, Spank, Dianas, and Edie Green; on Thursday, July 26, it’s all about Teachers Favourites with Jill Birt & Alsy McDonald of The Triffids, Richard Lane and friends, and The Morning Night; and Back To Cool on Friday, July 27, featuring Kim Salmon and band, Tim Gordon, Gunns, and Greyjoy. Before each of the gigs, head over to Clancy’s Fish Pub between 6pm and 8pm for a feed and Fremantle’s finest acoustic acts. But more on that later. In the Kim Salmon meantime, grab your tickets from Heatseeker.

Reactions/ Comp

Flesh

Music: RocKwiz

Music: Tim Finn

Music: Bustamento/ End Of Fashion

Music: Kelly Hogan/ Voltaire Twins

Music: Dallas Frasca/ Camille O’Sullivan

Music: Macabre/ Cattle Decapitation

Music: Maximo Park/ New Noise

Eye4 Cover: It’s Dark Outside

Eye4 News/ Movies: Brave

Eye4 Movies: Rock Of Ages/ A Royal Affair

Eye4 Arts Listings

Eye4 Art Stories

Salt Cover: Van She

Salt: Cover Story/ News/ State Of Mind

Salt: Muscles/ Zeke/ Testpad

Salt: Club Manual/ Scenery/ Rewind: Bee

Mask 33

Scene: Live

Scene: Local Scene

Food For Thought Feature

Pub Blurbs

Tour Trails

Gig Guide

Volume

Cover: RocKwiz hits Riverside Theatre on Friday, October 26, and Saturday, October 27 Salt Cover: Van She play Capitol on Thursday, July 5

www.xpressmag.com.au

Snakadaktal

Fresh from Mat McHugh re-scheduling his WA Love Come Save Me show (which will take place next Tuesday, June 26, at Mojos Bar), the band that made his name The Beautiful Girls have announced that after 10 years together they’re calling it quits. Catch them for the final time as they make their way around the country on one last road trip, performing a two part show divided into a stunning acoustic set to warm the heart, followed by a second set plugged in and electric to warm the bones. The rootsy partystarters will play four special goodbye shows in WA – at the Prince Of Wales on Wednesday, August 15; Settlers Tavern on Thursday, August 16; and the Fly By Night on Friday, August 17, and Saturday, August 18. Tickets are available from the respective venues and don’t forget to bring your tissues, this could get teary.

HEADING SOUTH

The crowd at Southbound 2011 (photo: Courtney McAllister)

Initial details have emerged about the ninth edition of Southbound. The event’s promoters were so happy with the overwhelmingly positive response to this year’s two-day, 18+ edition, that even picked up a great review in UK music bible NME, that they’ll be going with the same format again in 2012. Southbound returns to its home of Sir Stewart Bovell Park in Busselton on Friday, January 4; and Saturday, January 5, next year. There will be no drinking cages, no security checkpoints, and no one under the age of 18 allowed in. Who’s heading South for the summer? As soon as X-Press knows you’ll know.

WASH YOUR HANDS

Going, going, gone Northbridge could be officially recognised as a public urinal with the City of Perth hoping to install disappearing public urinals as part of its $2.8 million toilet plan. Perhaps inspired by recent trials in Kings Cross in Sydney, Perth council is looking into to installing open air public urinals, that retract into the ground when the sun comes up. Why don’t they just build more of those futuristic public toilets that talk to you and clean themselves. As anyone who has survived a morning in Sydney will attest, Kings Cross is a lot different to Northbridge. Full of 24 hour multi-level bars, gambling dens, hookers of all shapes and sizes, and reasonably priced drinks, Kings Cross is a true red light district - and I don’t know if any country needs more than one. Northbridge isn’t low down and dirty enough to hold a candle to Kings Cross’ spoon, and that’s (probably) a good thing. While legalising public urination benefits the gender that I identify with, it won’t do much to improve on the perception that many associate with our nightlife hotspot. In addition to a handful of activities that attract our city’s least-discerning, Northbridge is also alive after dark with restaurants, small music venues, and a couple of giant screens that show shows like Sesame Street. Do we really want to see and smell a bunch of stumbling drunks pissing while we eat our goulash and treat our kids to a budget outing? Oh, and whatever happened to washing your hands after touching your schlong? _MATTHEW HOGAN

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.

Print and Digital Editions Publisher/Manager Joe Cipriani Editorial

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Music Editor Matthew Hogan: musiceditor@xpressmag.com.au Arts & Fashion Editor Emma Bergmeier: artsfashion@xpressmag.com.au Dance Music & Features Editor Annabel Maclean: danceeditor@xpressmag.com.au Staff Writer Jennifer Peterson-Ward: localmusic@xpressmag.com.au Gig & Event Guides Co-ordinator Melissa Erpen - guide@xpressmag.com.au Entertainment Services Co-ordinator / Competitions Melissa Erpen - win@xpressmag.com.au Photography Callum Ponton, Stefan Caramia, Daniel Grant, Sammy Granville, Matt Jelonek, Denis Radacic Contributing Writers Henry Andersen, Ashleigh Whyte, Nina Bertok, Shaun Cowe, Derek Cromb, Chris Gibbs, Alfred Gorman, George Green, Alex Griffin, Chris Havercroft, Joshua Hayes, Brendan Holben, Coral Huckstep, Travis Johnson, Rezo Kezerashvili,Tara Lloyd, Adam Morris, Andrew Nelson, Chloe Papas, Daniel Parkinson, Tom Varian, Ben Watson, Jessica Willoughby For band gigs and launches - plugyourgig@xpressmag.com.au

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MARLEY THE DEFINITIVE STORY

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Sales and Marketing Manager Paul Morgan - advertising@xpressmag.com.au Online Marketing Paul Morgan - advertising@xpressmag.com.au Music Services / Musical Equipment / Bands / Record Labels Des Richardson - musicservices@xpressmag.com.au Entertainment Venues / Live and Dance Music Promoters Luke Andrioff - entertainment@xpressmag.com.au Agency / Movies / Education / Sponsorship Paul Morgan - advertising@xpressmag.com.au Arts / Fashion / Lifestyle Alia Bannani - eye4@xpressmag.com.au Classifieds Linage Melissa Erpen - classifieds@xpressmag.com.au

Production

WHERE DO WE GO NOW?

Set in a small, isolated Lebanese village, Where Do We Go Now? sees a group of Muslim and Christian women band together to ingeniously devise a plan to distract the local menfolk in an attempt to defuse mounting inter-religious tensions. Extraordinarily inventive and often comical, Where Do We Go Now? received a five minute standing ovation at its Cannes premiere, and won the Audience Award at the 2011 Toronto Film Festival. Want to win a double pass? Enter now as we have five doubles up for grabs.

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Art Director Dwight O’Neil

Design + Production

art@xpressmag.com.au Brooke Gerrick, Andy Quilty, Anthony Jackson

Printing Rural Press Printing Mandurah

Administration

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Accounts Lillian Buckley

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Distribution Distribution

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CAB AUDITED CIRCULATION: 38,000 OCTOBER 2011 – MARCH 2012

Deadlines EDITORIAL General: Friday 5pm,, Eye4 Arts: Thursday 10am, Comp’ Thing: Monday Noon,, Salt Clubs: Monday 5pm , Local Scene: Monday Noon,, Gig Guide: Monday 5pm ADVERTISING Cancellations: Monday 5pm, Ads to be set: Monday Noon Supplied Bookings / Copy: Tuesday 12 Noon, Classifieds: Monday 4pm Published by: Columbia Press Pty.Ltd. A.C.N. 066 570 803 Registered by Australia Post. Publication No PP600110.00006 Suite 73/102 Railway Parade, City West Business Centre, West Perth, WA 6005 Locked Bag 31, West Perth, WA 6872 Phone: (08) 9213 2888 Fax: (08) 9213 2882 Website: http://www.xpressmag.com.au

The Harvest Festival lineup has been announced and east coast music lovers are in for a treat! They’ll be able to catch the likes of Beck, Sigur Rós, Grizzly Bear, Mike Patton’s Mondo Cane, Ben Folds Five, Santigold and many more. We asked our Facebook friends which Harvest Festival bands they’re hoping make the trek over to WA… Russell Ben Folds Five plz

BIKIE WARS: BROTHERS IN ARMS

We have five copies of newly released DVD Bikie Wars: Brothers In Arms to give away. The Australian drama series has been a hit on Network 10 and is based on the book by Lindsay Simpson and Sandra Harvey. Get your entries in now to score yourself a copy.

Do you hate it when a gig is drowned out by a drunken numbskull squawking on a mobile phone in the corner? When your favourite artist’s most heart-wrenching ballad is wrecked by a bozo dropping his pint? Hush is a concert for you. Set within the cavernous, echoey and beautiful Guildford Grammar School Chapel, Hush brings together a hand-picked selection of seven of Perth’s most respected and accomplished local indie, folk, rock and experimental artists, playing unplugged sets in complete and utter pin-drop silence. We are giving you the chance to win one of two double passes to see this amazing show on Saturday, July 7. Enter now to be in the running.

ICE AGE: CONTINENTAL DRIFT

Children and big kids rejoice becayse Ice Age 4 is set to be released in cinemas on June 28. See all your favourite characters back in action as Scrat’s nutty pursuit of the cursed acorn has worldchanging consequences. We have five double passes to see this family favourite in 3D so get in now for your chance to win!

PENNYWISE & MOTION CITY SOUNDRACK

Josh Sigur Ros. 1000x Sigur Ross

Get in now for your chance to win a double CD prize pack consisting of the new album from LA rockers Pennywise entitled All Or Nothing and a copy of Motion City Soundtrack’s fifth full-length studio album Go. With both albums packing a punch, enter now for your chance to score some awesome new music.

Jason Beck so he can sing Lost Cause to Perth Jeffrey Dandy Warhols and Black Angels Emma Cake!! Definitely Cake. Eoin Patton! Oh and cake :) Kawl Sigur Ros is all that matters! Anything else is a bonus.

WARRANTY AND INDEMNITY

Advertisers and/or their agents by lodging an advertisment shall indemnify the publisher, and its agents, against all liability claims or proceedings whatsoever arising from the publication. Advertisers and/or their representatives indemnify the publisher in relation to defamation, slander, breach of copyright, infringement of trademarks of name of publication titles, unfair competition or trade practices, royalties or violation of rights or privacy and warrant that the material complies with revelant laws and regulations and that its publication will not give rise to any rights against or liabilities in the publisher, its servants or agents. Any material supplied to X-Press is at the contributor’s risk.

This is the definitive life story of Bob Marley, the musician, revolutionary, and legend, from his early days to his rise to international super-stardom. Made with the support of the Marley family, there is rare footage, incredible performances and revelatory interviews with the people that knew him best. Get in now for your chance to win a double pass to see this incredible film.

Australian rockers Raise The Flag return to the touring circuit on their Bon But Not Forgotten tour, an ode to the #1 rocker in the world - Bon Scott. On what would have been Bon’s 66th birthday, the band will pay homage to the legend singer. Featuring an all star line-up including Eddie Parise (Baby Animals), Yak Sherritt (Diesel/Jimmy Barnes), Izzy Osmanovic ( The Screaming Jets), James Morley (Ex The Angels) and Mick Adkins, The Charles Hotel will become an AC/DC rock haven on Saturday, July 7. We have five double passes up for grabs to what is going to be a knockout show. Get in now as you don’t want to miss this one.

HUSH

Production Co-ordinator Bryony Crowe

RAISE THE FLAG- BON BUT NOT FORGOTTEN

DOWNLOAD THE QR READER APP AND GET WINNING!

Kerry How far west... do you think they will reach Cirencester?!

THE BREAKFAST CLUB

Pop culture classics continue at Hoyts Carousel with a special screening of The Breakfast Club this Friday, June 15. We have a bunch of doubles up for grabs so enter quick for your chance to win tickets.

CHECK OUT WWW.XPRESSMAG.COM.AU AND SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER ONLINE FOR LOADS MORE EXCLUSIVE COMPS!

X-Press – First on the street, Wednesdays

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X-Press â&#x20AC;&#x201C; First on the street, Wednesdays

The Medics

RELAYING THEIR FOUNDATIONS

Triple J Unearthed winners The Medics unveiled their highly anticipated debut album Foundations last month to much acclaim, and now the band are ready to share their new material on the live stage with a slew of performances across the country later this year. The Cairns-bred quartet emerged onto the music scene with charting singles Griffin and Beggars which has seen them land spots on the Splendour In The Grass, Big Day Out, Laneway, and Groovin’ The Moo line-ups. Now, with a full-length studio release tucked under the belts, the band is once again primed to hit the road and they’ll touch down in WA for one special show on Saturday, September 8, at Amplifier. Tickets are just $12 plus BF from Moshtix.

FREQUENT FLYER

Australia’s favourite adopted folk son Passenger (aka Mike Rosenberg) has announced yet another national tour. This August will see the UK troubadour embark on a weeklong tour, performing songs from his critically acclaimed album All The Little Lights, as well as some new tracks and a few old favourites. Catch him at the Rosemount Hotel on Wednesday, August 22. Tickets are available now from Heatseeker.

FORGIVE BUT DON’T FORGET

Boston outfit Transit will be arriving on Australian shores for the first time this August to celebrate the recent release of their third album Listen & Forgive. On the new record the indie rock/punk band express an arresting degree of honesty and individuality embroiled in contemporary genres, while at the same time displaying a keen ear for heavy early-punk influences. The band will present Listen & Forgive to Australian audiences during an 11-date tour across the country in the coming months, which starts off with an all ages gig at YMCA HQ on Wednesday, August 15 (tickets from Moshtix), and then a show at Amplifier on Thursday, August 16 (tickets at the door only).

PLANNING AHEAD The Joe Kings

PEOPLE ARE STRANGE

We’ve been waiting yonks for Perth-formed, Melbourne-based The Joe Kings to gift us a fulllength album, and they’re finally set to satisfy all our blues rock cravings when they drop Strange Individual this August. Lucky for us, to pass the time the band are getting back out on the road and looking to spread the good word of their bluesy, WAMi Award winning sound to audiences all across the country on their third massive national tour which this time includes shows at the Fly By Night on Thursday, July 5; the Whitestar Hotel on Friday, July 6; and Settlers Tavern on Saturday, July 7.

KWIZ SHOW

You’ve seen them on our front cover this week and you’ve seen them every Saturday night on TV, and now you can see in the flesh at Perth Convention Centre. Yep, in addition to their already announced show due to take place on Friday, October 26, RocKwiz bring a second night of the Some Kind Of Genius Tour to the same venue on Saturday, October 27. Tickets from Ticketek.

2012 will go down as the year that every tween in the universe became obsessed with One Direction. Here’s hoping people will remember them in a year’s time when they take to Perth Arena on Sunday, September 29; and Monday, September 30. Tickets will finally go on sale from Ticketek next Thursday, June 28, at 4pm. That gives you enough time to get home from school and start bugging your parents.

MOVING HOUSE

When Melbourne hardcore outfit House Vs Hurricane announced a massive national tour to promote new album Crooked Teeth earlier in the year, they upset many a local fan by leaving WA off the tour trail.Well, now it’s time to forgive them their sins because they’ve announced a string of local shows – at the Prince Of Wales on Friday, August 10; Amplifier on Saturday, August 11; and an all ages show at YMCA HQ on Sunday, August 12. If you’re a massive fan make sure you grab your pre-sale tickets on Thursday, June 14, from 10am, before tickets go on sale to the general public on Monday, June 18. Hit up housevshurricane.oztix.com.au to secure your tix. Very interesting support is also on offer as Michael Crafter’s new version of Confession will play each show, along with Byron Bay’s In Hearts Wake and locals Foxes.

AERO ZEPPELIN

Celebrate the music of one of the greatest bands of all time with Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin Experience. Led by the son of the legendary skinsman John Bonham, the band showcases a dazzling multimedia concert experience as they run through Zeppelin’s discography. Bonham replaced his rather at the Led Zeppelin reunion concert of 2007, and he’s recruited the right men for the job this time around. See this massive concert at Challenge Stadium on Saturday, September 15.

GARDEN OF EDEN

Karise Eden, the teen singer who took out top honours on The Voice, will appear at Westfield Whitford City on Saturday, July 7, from 3pm. The 19-year-old Central Coaster brought it home for Team Seal, and you can see her near your home (provided you live in the vicinity of Whitford) for free.

AYE OH KAYE

Bryon Bay troubadour Nathan Kaye is heading back to WA following some very big shows over east, including a slot at Australia’s largest folk festival Woodford. The activist and multiinstrumentalist steps into Mojos on Wednesday, July 4; Didgeridoo Breath for a workshop on Thursday, July 5; Bridgetown’s The Cidery on Friday, July 6; Dunsborough’s Cape Wine Bar on Saturday, July 7; Redcliffe On The Murray on Sunday, July 8; Indi Bar on Wednesday, July 11; and the Prince Of Wales on Thursday, July 12.

Bonniwells

BONNIWELL CONNECTED

Victorian purveyors of garage punk, slop hop and sonic explosions Bonniwells are bringing their wild live shows to WA for the first time ever. With a sound that’s been described as “falling squarely into the Black Lips school of dodgy garage entropy”,the enigmatic outfit are promising a set of tunes about “religion, bad health, solidarity and girls”.Aptly, they’ll be joined by some of our most ear-splittingly raucous locals during their three shows at the Velvet Lounge on Friday, August 24 with Frozen Ocean and SMRTS; at Dada Records on Saturday, August 25, with Ermine Coat and The Painkillers; and at Mojos on Sunday, August 26, with The High Learys, The Shakeys and Hurricane Fighter Plane).

BLUES BROTHERS

Perth Blues Club’s ninth annual memorial showcase - A Rhythm And Blues Variety Revue – is set to take place at the Astor Theatre on Friday, June 29. Organised by blues legend and Club President Rick Steele, the concert features a stellar line-up of WA’s finest entertainers who are coming together to honour their departed mates. Confirmed appearances so far include comedian Peter Dee and some of WA’s greatest musicians including Dave Hole, Matt Taylor, The Healys, Rick himself and many more. Funds raised from this concert will go directly to Legacy, which helps families suffering financially and socially after the death of a spouse or parent, during or after their defence force service. Tickets, priced just $30 per person, are available from bocsticketing.com.au, the Astor Theatre box office, or from the Perth Blues Club weekly show on Tuesday evenings at the Charles Hotel. www.xpressmag.com.au

House Vs Hurricane

Dave Hole

Katchafire

CAN’T WAIT TO GET ON THE ROAD AGAIN

New Zealand reggae band Katchafire started life more than a decade ago as a Bob Marley cover band, but over the years, they’ve developed their own sound and have evolved into a formidable force on the international music scene. Off the back of the release of their platinum selling, fourth studio album On The Road Again, a nonstop 2012 has seen the legendary Aotearoa roots rockers smash a mammoth 25 date headline tour taking in the USA, Hawaii and Brazil. Katchafire will blaze into Australian spring with their iconic reggae sound, lighting the way out of the winter chill with a national tour which includes three massive WA shows at the Astor Theatre (with special guests Jah Moko) on Friday, September 14; Settlers Tavern on Saturday, September 15; and the Prince Of Wales on Sunday, September 16. Hit up katchafire.co.nz to nab your tix.

...AND NOW THE BAD NEWS

Due to a case of “circumstances beyond their control”, Canadian indie heroes Metric have been forced to cancel their show at Capitol on Wednesday, July 25. Emily Haines and gang have said they’re keen to get back here, but until then you best head back to where you got your ticket from and get your refund. World beater Gotye has announced a massive Australian tour to close out his Making Mirrors world tour. Taking in the biggest venues in Adelaide, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Sydney, there’s no word on any appearances here in the West. Perth Arena is reportedly gutted about being overlooked... again. After boasting one of the biggest lineups of 2011, Harvest Festival returns to Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane, in October with Beck, Sigur Ros, Grizzly Bear, Mike Patton’s Mondo Cane, Ben Folds Five, Santigold, Beirut, Cake, and more. Fear not though, as there’s some awesome sideshows coming to Perth. We’ve got some ideas as to who they, but we’re not telling you just yet.

After a six month haitus, Carl Fox is back with a new single and a bunch of shows around the country. Pencil Warrior is a song about a self-made super hero and it can be downloaded from Fox’s Facebook page along with a Diger Rokwell remix. See it launched at Mojos Bar on Friday, June 29, with support from Mmhmm, and Leure. From the people that brought you the Amy Winehouse tribute a few months back, Hail To The Tribute: A Night Dedicated To Radiohead takes in the Rosemount Hotel on Saturday, July 21. Paying tribute to Thom and the chaps are Tomas Ford, Stillwater Giants, The Love Junkies, Sugarpuss, The Dissapointed and DJ Ndorse. Tickets from Moshtix. Indie rockers The Flower Drums follow up a very busy few months with the launch of their EP Suburban Wilderness at The Bird on Saturday, July 14. They’ve recruited Greyjoy, Dianas, and Leure to support. Freshly announced to make their Parklife debut this year, downbeat dark pop outfit Shy Panther are set launch their debut EP at The Bakery on Saturday, July 7, at The Bakery. They’ve recruited Kucka, Sugarpuss, Ben Witt, and Leure, to support on the night. Folk rocker Joel Barker is launching his album Traces with a four-date WA tour. See him tonight, Wednesday, June 20, at Clancy’s Canning Bridge; Thursday, June 21, at Quindanning Hotel; Friday, June 22, at the X-Wray Cafe; and Friday, June 29, at Ya Ya’s. Fresh from an hugely successful east coast tour, Blanche BuBois will return to The Ellington for a healdine show on Thursday, July 5. Local prog-rock trio Hyte will launch their seven-track self-titled debut EP at the Rosemount Hotel on Friday, August 3. Support comes from The Devil Rides Out, Sure Fire Midnights, and Between Oceans. The EP was recorded with Rob Grant at Poon’s Head. Drawing comparisons to the likes of The Breeders and Mazzy Star, The Wine-Dark Sea will launch the EP Stories Better Never Told at the Rosemount Hotel on Friday, June 29. They’ve recruited Sydney’s Little Lovers to help, along with Umpire and Archer & Light. If you’ve got any local music news, send it on through to localmusic@xpressmag.com.au. Don’t delay, email today!

Carl Fox 11

ROCKWIZ

Face The Music

RockWiz Live is coming back to Perth with their Some Kind Of Genius Tour, and MARK LIEBELT has a chat with judge Brian Nankervis about how audience members can prepare themselves for the big stage. RockWiz Live happens at the Riverside Theatre on Friday, October 26. Tickets from Ticketek.

Brian Nankervis leads the cast and crew off their private jet.

“I’m right here,” announces head SBS RocKwizzer Brian Nankervis, as he answers the phone, to which I replied with Keith Richards oft quoted,‘It’s great to be here, it’s great to be anywhere’ line. It’s incorrectly attributed to Keith Richards as it is actually a line from 1950s British Music Hall performer Max Miller. “It’s great to be anywhere,” Nankervis concurs. Although several months away from the RocKwiz Some Kind Of Genius Tour hitting Perth, Nankervis is very busy at RocKwiz HQ. “We are getting fired up for the big touring show. We are also in the process of making series 10 of RocKwiz. We’re halfway through, we’ve made six [episodes] and we have another six to go. It’s wonderful; we were just watching a couple this morning having the final frosting put on them, there’s some really great shows. It’s like a dream come true sometimes, particularly for me as a music fan, or you could even call me a music tragic.” To be able to reach the magical double digits for a TV series (the RocKwiz team has remained together since 2004 and, according to Andrew Denton, makes Australia’s most beloved music show) is indeed a

milestone. “I know, it’s incredible,” says Nankervis enthusiastically. “It’s been a really wonderful ride, SBS have always been very encouraging and very supportive and also very happy to let us make the shows that we want to make. I’ve never ever experienced such freedom in a TV show… If we were making the show at one of the commercials, there’d be a lot more blokes in suits telling you what to do. But right from the start SBS have trusted us and given us a lot of freedom, which is wonderful.” The Some Kind Of Genius Tour is next and, as on the television show, high profile stars and up and coming artists will rub shoulders with contestants (or should that be music trivia tragics?) selected from the audience, and follows on from the huge 35 date tour in 2010 and the six date 2011 Christmas tour. “We are pretty excited about Festival Hall, it’s such an iconic venue,” says Nankervis about the iconic venue in his hometown of Melbourne. “The very first international act I ever saw was at Festival Hall… I saw The Kinks in about ‘71/’72 [3 June 1971 to be precise, with Chain and Ted Mulry Gang as supports], Lola had just come out and it had been banned. And now all these years later I have a daughter called Lola. Ray and Dave [Davies, the core ingredient of The Kinks, now estranged], it’s a bit sad, but what an amazing body of work they have. I’ve never seen a show at the Hordern, that’s the other iconic venue so I’m looking forward to playing there in Sydney.” The name of the tour had me intrigued, mind. “We realise that a big part of the RocKwiz experience are the contestants and every now and again Julia [Zemiro] will delight the crowd by telling someone that he or she is some kind of genius,” Nankervis explains.“We are taking the Bull Sisters on the road this year, and there will be the usual multiple guests… the shows, they’re bigger, they’re louder and they’re looser, because there are no TV cameras. But essentially they follow the structure of the TV show but with Contestant Karaoke which we don’t do in the Gershwin Room.” Now you might be interested to know how one actually becomes a contestant. If you are lucky enough though to score a ticket to the Espy tapings, you are surrounded by about 400 people, possibly music trivia tragics, possibly all intent on making it to the stage. Your chances are good though as two episodes are filmed per night. “There are 12 tables and every table has to elect one rock brain and then I get 12 from the standing room,” Nankervis paints the picture. “I sort of move around and we run a little quiz out the back to get the 24.”

If we were making the show at one of the commercials, there’d be a lot more blokes in suits telling you what to do. But right from the start SBS have trusted us and given us a lot of freedom, which is wonderful.”

The chosen few were again whittled down in rounds of six to the final four. And let no RocKwizzer be under the delusion that this is your typical local pub or school fund raising trivial pursuit night as the wildcards make clear.‘The wildcard should be used by an audience member with excellent music trivia knowledge, the willingness to participate in the contestant selection process and, if successful, the desire and confidence to be part of the show. If you don’t think you’ve got what it takes, please pass this card to somebody around you who does’. Thus you have been warned; be nice to the people around you! Budding contestants should note that the elimination rounds take place on stage, in front of what is perhaps a jealous audience. Under the substantial lighting rig and under the gaze of the RocKwiz Orkestra. And then there is you surrounded by the heat, the nerves, the intensity and the perspiration! To come out on top as a contestant, in a process taking close to an hour without a drink, mind, is a win in itself. Now whilst contestants might appear calm and collected when we walk on stage to take up our seat, the truth is that they receive a bit of a pep talk from Nankervis. The contestants, Nankervis, Zemiro, The Orkestra, Dugald The Housewife’s choice are all in the cast and we need to work together. One must also be entertaining, so if the answer disappears the moment you have buzzed and Zemiro focuses on you with those piercing hostess eyes, make your answer something funny or be prepared to incur a cutting remark. So when the curtain goes up, the Orkestra plays the RocKwiz theme, and you walk on stage, you all of a sudden go ‘Shit!’. This is real as the enormity of the room, the nerves, adrenaline, humour, pathos, sitting with performers of the calibre of Vika Bull, Dave Gleeson, Josh Pyke and Rebecca Barnard all kick in as it’s game on. And then in what seems a blink of an eye but approaching close to 90 minutes it’s over and you wish that you could do it again. X-Press – First on the street, Wednesdays

Nigel Wood, said ‘That’s a great tune, why don’t you turn it into a song?’. Because I used to just play it as an instrumental when we were rehearsing, just during breaks and whatever I’d just start playing this tune. I’m grateful to Nigel because he was right. “I was reading a book about Australia at the time and I came across that phrase ‘tyranny of distance’,” Finns starts discussing the lyrics. “And I just related that to what I was going through as well, which was a pretty rough time with a partner I’d been living with for years and years, and it was all sort of exploding and devolving, and disintegrating in quite a difficult way. I think I was about 28, or maybe I was about 29 by Returning to Perth to kick off the 2012 then, and that’s always an interesting age where things to disintegrate a little bit for a lot of people. It’s a Artbar concert series at the Art Gallery start weird age so all of that kinda came together for that of Western Australia on Thursday, July song, and I was also being buoyed up by the band were really peaking, and we were just starting to 5, Tim Finn tells MATTHEW HOGAN who work on songs like Dirty Creature. There was a lot of about his recent festival appearancess, creativity and there was a lot of positives as well. That song seemed to crystalise all of that for me.” spending six months in a leaky boat, Back to the present, and Finn is hard at and what it’s like being part of the work on a theatre show called Long White Cloud. “It’s about identity and what it means to be a Pakeha New Pakeha clan. Zealander,” he reveals, referring to the Moari term for ‘person of European descent living in New Zealand. Back in January, Tim Finn and his band wowed “It’s a theatre show that explores growing the Southbound crowd with a set of old and new up in New Zealand and we’ve touched on it before songs, and now he’s coming back again with a but we’re going a bit deeper with it,” Finn explains. different show in mind. “It’s not like a musical or a play or anything, it’s like “Because I was playing in summer and was a show but we’ll be doing songs and actors will be touring and doing big shows and big festivals, like reading from various memoirs. I’m working with a fifth Falls and Southbound, it’s nice to do smaller, more or sixth generation New Zealander, whereas our mum intimate shows,” Finn begins. “There will be three of was born in Ireland and our dad was a first generation, us on stage, and it will be one of those more semiacoustic type things. I love doing those more stripped back type of shows, so yeah, I’m excited.” With the recent fanfare surrounding the Finns on the They Will Have Their Way tribute CDs and concerts, the elder brother’s songs were greeted with rousing crowd responses at the summer festivals. “There was a ripple of awareness going through the crowd when I played certain songs,” he recalls. “I love playing the old Split Enz songs, and there’s certain ones that I just never tire of. I would have thought I would have by now, and I really honestly don’t. I guess I love to revisit them and explore them and try them in different ways.”

TIM FINN

Long White Cloud

Neil Finn so I’m kind of a second generation New Zealander. But this guy, Ken, he goes about six generations back and there’s all these old memoirs and things from ancestors of his. It’s not going to be boring and be like a history lesson, hopefully it will be poetic sort of take on all that. I’ve been writing for that, and it’s been exciting.”

Finn is also planning on making an album of Long White Cloud, and continues to write songs with family. “I’ll probably make an album of those songs at some point,” he says.“Neil and I are doing a little bit of writing together again, and there’s various things that could happen, but I’m not going to rush it.”

“It’s a weird age so all of that kinda came together for that song, and I was also being buoyed up by the band who were really peaking” One song that will never get old is Six Months In A Leaky Boat, perhaps Split Enz’s most covered song. One cover version that didn’t make the compilation CDs though, was done by The Wiggles. It turns out Finn collaborated on a recorded version of the track with the trillionaire kid entertainers too. “They were doing an album where they would combine with certain artists and they asked me if I would come and do something with them,” Finn says. “Because my son at the time was three, and he was into The Wiggles at the time big time, I knew about The Wiggles and I knew about Captain Feathersword. So I asked why don’t we do Six Months In A Leaky Boat with Captain Feathersword, and it just seemed like a perfect fit. But the moral of the story is that I couldn’t wait to get home and show my son this DVD of me singing with The Wiggles and he didn’t like it. He went up and turned it off. We learned then that there’s no point trying to be cool for your kids, which is a useful lesson when they’re approaching their teenage years.” With child-rearing advice noted, Finn takes us back 30 years to the time when he penned the song. It turns out the title of the song isn’t literal. “No, no,” he laughs. “It was 1981 I think and I had this tune on the piano, and our bass player at the time,

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be brought up in a Maltese equivalent of The Jackson Five. We were the darlings of the Maltese community,” he laughs.“We even had a #1 hit in Malta with a singing priest when I was 14.” Like much of the world’s folk music, Mento is primarily an improvised idiom, concerned with the interaction between live performers. Keeping this sense of ‘live-ness’ intact through the recording process was a key concern to the making of the album. The group recorded the album traditionally – live in one room and with very few microphones (in what Bomba calls “the bubble”).“We did this thing we called ‘one musician, one microphone’. Then what we did is we played into the bubble, and then moved that bubble around. So if there was too much drums in the bass mic, you just moved the drums back. If you wanted to play louder you walked closer to the microphone. There is a beauty of playing together, and capturing that was paramount.”

BUSTAMENTO Lost In The Riddim

The Oxford Dictionary will tell you that mento is “a style of Jamaican folk music based on a traditional dance in duple time.” Nicky Bomba, however, can tell you a lot more than that. He speaks to HENRY ANDERSEN ahead of Bustamento’s show at Fly By Night on Saturday, June 23. For anyone wanting to know about mento music, Nicky Bomba is an excellent starting point. He is something of an expert on the form’s history and carries a love for the genre that is quite endearing “Mento music predates ska and reggae in Jamaica,” claims Bomba. “A lot of it was about social commentary at the time. In that sense, I think it was a precursor to the Jamaican style of their music being very much their voice. That part of it really resonates with me. I like the looseness, that connection between social commentary and making things up on the spot. It’s a happy sound and I like that you might have this happy sounding, major key melody but what you are singing about is actually subversive.”

Combining with their love of traditional mento, Bustamento pull a variety of other traditional musical styles into their core sound, including ska and Afro Cuban. “My whole introduction to mento was through reggae. And then I kind of went backwards and discovered ska, then mento and calypso. It’s good to show those roots on the album, but for me as an artist, it’s more important to offer some new variations on the theme. It’s not a purist album by any measure.” The other key influence on the group’s sound is from Bomba’s upbringing on the Mediterranean island of Malta. Malta has its own folk music traditions and Bomba claims there are definite connections between Maltese folk and mento music. “There is this whole Maltese tradition of musicians

Bustamento employed to find out about the people at a wedding, or whatever, and come up with songs about them on the night. It’s a really old tradition and a beautiful one. That was a really strong connection for me between Malta and Jamaica. That freedom and sense of celebration in the music.” Bomba has a rich musical back-story of his own. Best known as drummer for the John Butler Trio, he began his musical life early, drumming in dance bands around Malta. “I was lucky enough to

End Of Fashion

END OF FASHION

Rocking For Ages Justin Burford took a big risk ditching his band to follow his dreams in the musical theatre world, but now he’s back with his old End Of Fashion crew and he couldn’t be happier. JENNIFER PETERSON-WARD spent an afternoon with the ARIA award winning muso to talk about his new album, Holiday Trip Of A Lifetime. As End Of Fashion frontman Justin Burford attests, the only thing his band wanted to achieve with their new album was to “surprise people”. And surprise people they have, with an album most local punters didn’t know was coming, released to even littler fanfare early last month. Written and recorded in 2009 and 2010, Holiday Trip Of A Lifetime was put on the backburner after Burford nabbed a starring role in rock musical Rock Of Ages.“I was given an opportunity to be a part of something completely different which I pursued,” he says simply. Burford also explains that conflict with EMI was also a contributing factor to the album’s delayed release, with his band eventually deciding to part ways with the major label and to finish the record independently.“Our relationship with the record label has been an interesting one to say the least. We got signed to EMI under the premise of our live show, the fact that we were fairly consumer [friendly], but more importantly we had a relationship with the label – we liked each other, we got each other,” he says. “In between the first and second album that family completely changed. Suddenly there were different people in charge and they didn’t get us and we didn’t get them and the second album, well, it was a mess and I think that because there were two groups who just didn’t get each other. “Going into the third album the face of EMI had changed once again and there was a different person in charge once again who was even further removed from that initial period, and so we started the conversation. It was us who instigated this conversation, ‘Why don’t you just let us go, we would prefer to make an album independently and take on those extra responsibilities than pushing shit up hill’.” Following this conflict, Burford says he was relieved to take a break from his End Of Fashion duties.“When I first left I was really happy I was going away to do this other thing that was really exciting, but knowing that I still had this record that I was going to come home to,” he says. “But when I was in the show it was very, very demanding and it was very, very different to what I was used to. I began to miss the guys and miss the process. I’ve been back now for a couple of months and we’ve started to talk a little bit about getting together and writing some songs, just seeing how we go.” While fans may be excited to hear of the band’s reunion, Burford says it may still be a long time before they hit the stage together again: “I don’t know if we’ll play live. I guess if there’s a demand for it, hopefully we’ll get to meet that demand, but it’s hard – it’s a really different world out there in music. Unless you’re a band starting out and your focus is playing live, like it was with us all those years ago, it’s really kinda difficult.” 14

X-Press – First on the street, Wednesdays

KELLY HOGAN VOLTAIRE TWINS

Yesteryear Yearnings Local electro-synth poppers Voltaire Twins are about to release their third EP Apollo. Having already played SXSW and supported San Cisco on a national tour earlier this year, the duo are on a roll. ANNABEL MACLEAN checks in with Jaymes Voltaire ahead of their EP launch this Saturday, June 23, at The Bakery.

With A Little Help From Her Friends Counting Neko Case, Andrew Bird and Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy as close friends, Wisconsin-based singer Kelly Hogan had no problem finding songwriters to pen the tunes for her recently released folk-pop record I Like To Keep Myself In Pain. JENNIFER PETERSON-WARD reports. It’s no surprise that Kelly Hogan has made a few friends through the years. The Wisconsin-based singer’s career is a storied one. She started in Atlanta with rock band The Jody Grind, changed gears for a turn as one of the Rock*A*Teens, then settled in for a spell as the honey voiced sweetheart of the Chicago roots scene. She’s also done hard time singing backup for the likes of Andrew Bird, the Drive-By Truckers, Mavis Staples and long-time friend Neko Case. It’s been 11 years since Hogan sat down to work on a solo record, a fact the softly spoken songstress attributes to a lack of time and funding. “I’ve always been a peanut level artist,” she explains. “I don’t mind taking an economic hit, but I can’t ask my band to go out for less than what they’re worth and come home after four weeks with $100.” A steadfast gig as Neko Case’s backup singer has kept Hogan on the road for years, and in

between she’s lent her syrupy voice to a number of projects, including Mavis Staples’ Grammy-winning You Are Not Alone. That album (and several of Case’s) was issued on the eclectic imprint Anti-, and it wasn’t long before label honcho Andy Kaulkin suggested Hogan do her own record. Kaulkin suggested that Hogan “call in some favours” and compile a wish list of songwriters based on her side work over the past two decades. “The list was really long. I was like, damn, I’ve been alive a long time. I’ve done a lot of singing, I’ve met a lot of people,” she says. “I just sent out email after email and I ended up with about 20 to 30 songs. I equalled it to going to the dog shelter – you go for the St Bernard and you end up with the Chihuahua. The dog picks you. It’s like that – the song picks you.” Not only is the list impressive, but it speaks to the high regard in which Hogan is held around the music world. She was able to pull in contributions (in

Kelly Hogan the form of discarded demos and some tunes written especially for her) from M. Ward, Andrew Bird and The Magnetic Fields’ Stephin Merritt. Yet as Hogan attests her most-loved track on the record is Ways Of This World, a dark, grooving number written by an old friend of Hogan’s, the late Vic Chesnutt. “It has such a visceral feeling; I felt such a huge responsibility to do the song justice,” Hogan explains of the stirring cut.“It was like I had to wear it in enough to break it in.” Armed with a cache of tunes, Hogan set out for the west coast a year ago to record with a dream team of session musicians including Booker T. Jones on Hammond organ, Dap-Kings bassist Gabriel Roth and Beck drummer James Gadson.“It all goes back to Andy. It all goes back to the dude who’s running it, because Andy just loves music so much,” she concludes. “Once he suggested it there was never any doubt in my mind it was going to happen because Andy can usually make it happen.”

Voltaire Twins “I wanted to be more of a rebel than I really was because I really wanted to be cool,” Jaymes says, speaking of his high school days having just indulged in a bacon, egg, mushroom and spinach sandwich. “I missed my year 11 social because I was grounded after my parents found cigarettes, whiskey and weed in my bedroom drawer. That’s as rebellious as it got really. I got in trouble a lot for being a smart arse and lazy, but Tegan was well behaved.” Tegan and Jaymes had many D&Ms about high school when putting together their latest EP Apollo, a collection of tunes concerned with their childhood stories and memories, nostalgia, young love, innocence, fun and summer. Young Adult explores youthful sexuality and early relationships with a video clip to match – Tegan and Jaymes step back into school uniforms and a dance routine takes place in a classroom. “I always look back on high school and think everything was so simple and easy, yet it all seemed complicated and hard, which is kind of what Young Adult is about,” he says. “For me, some of the lyrics are about some of the girls I knew when I was in high school, and one in particular that went to my school who I was kind of friends with, but I ended up being a bit of a jerk to. Most of the stories were about other people, though, not us. We don’t write about ourselves very often.” Having struggled with the title for the EP (“When we were recording we were sure we were going to call it Otis after a friend of ours but that name was taken recently on someone else’s record”), Jaymes says Tegan and himself wanted a title which had something to do with the sun, not the morning or night.“We were reading about different sun and moon gods and the most famous sun god must be Apollo,” he says. “I’m glad we went with Apollo as he was a famous mythical twin, just like Romulus who we named our last EP after. Romulus was the brother of Remus and Apollo was the brother of Artemis.” The Twins have also had to reshuffle a few things around for their live show as Apollo uses quite a bit of instrumentation they haven’t used in the past. “Some of the new songs are quite diverse in how they’re arranged instrumentally so to replicate them we’re having to do a lot of multi-tasking and swapping around,” he says. “We tried very hard to make this EP different to our last one and have some diversity between the different tracks.” Mixed by Lars Stalfors, who has mixed and engineered recent The Mars Volta records, and produced by their drummer Matt Gio, the Twins are excited about this Saturday’s launch of Apollo. “I hope the new songs will be a pleasant surprise,” he says. “It’s not ideal, debuting brand new material at a launch, as it usually takes a few shows for new songs to start gelling but we’re rehearsing the hell out of them to get them up and running smoothly.” And, as for possible costumes for the upcoming launch, there are still decisions to be made. “We haven’t talked about our outfits yet,” he says.“I still have my school uniform from the Young Adult clip and my bird outfit from the Animalia clip. Maybe one of them, maybe not.” www.xpressmag.com.au

Melbourne-based Dallas Frasca and her band showcase their new album Sound Painter at the Indi Bar on Friday, June 22; Prince Of Wales on Saturday, June 23; and at Mojos on Sunday, June 24. TRAVIS JOHNSON checks in with the well-travelled singer/songwriter.

Dallas Frasca

DALLAS FRASCA

Painting Pictures

Sound Painter, the follow up album to the breakthrough Not For Love Or Money, has been a long time in gestation, Dallas Frasca tells us. “Well, we spent two years working on it,” she says. “And then for four-and-a-half months we worked every night making it, because we just wanted to make a good album, you know?” A big part of that involved acknowledging the pressure that comes with producing a new album such a successful release, and then putting herself in a position where such pressures were mitigated. After what she describes as a fairly challenging production schedule on Not For Love Or Money, Frasca wanted to ensure that the demands of the marketplace, where interesting acts can be quickly forgotten if they don’t have something new on the shelves, didn’t affect the quality of her work. “We took all the deadlines off,” she explains. “We went, ‘All right, the songs are going to dictate when the album’s ready.’ It was just about everything being right - the stars aligning. I didn’t really feel the pressure

of doing a second album going in there, but we’re all quite self-critical of our work, so I think most of the pressure came from ourselves just wanting to get the songs right. I find songwriting quite challenging - how do you write a good song? But I had a lot to write about. I went through a pretty hectic break-up, as most break-ups are, so I had a lot of stuff I wanted to write down and get out. I wanted to pour all of that energy into the album - it’s great therapy, and really healing.” Frasca credits a lot of the success of the new album to producer Andy Baldwin, a veteran who has worked with everyone from Kim Salmon to Bjork. “We were in a fortunate position to have a lot of different producers to choose from for it,” Frasca says.“But when we met Andy Baldwin, who ended up producing it, there was kind of no question about it. While we were working on it, we initially were going to get Andy over to Australia, but the Aussie dollar at the time was amazing, and it worked out to be not that much more expensive, after all the hard work that we put in, to record it in New York.” That decision, she says, has lent the work and energy and immediacy that it might otherwise have lacked.“I think the lead-up to making it, the fact that we were flying internationally, we really had to make it count. We had to make the songs count and put the hard work in. And even when we got there, we were in a foreign country; our minds were being blown by our surroundings. Every day we took that high energy into the studio. It definitely made a huge difference, rather than it being just a record that we would have made two suburbs away in Melbourne.”

Camille O’Sullivan

CAMILLE O’SULLIVAN Changeling Tides

Ditching her career as an architect to runaway with the circus (The Famous Spiegeltent tent as it were), IrishFrench chantuese Camille O’Sullivan is set to take to the Astor Theatre on Thursday, June 21. KIM KELLY chats to O’Sullivan ahead of the show.

With a healthy obsession for all things Nick Cave, Tom Waits, Jacques Brel, David Bowie, and Radiohead, songstress Camille O’Sullivan tours the world interpreting their songs, all the while taking audiences on an emotional rollercoaster ride. But life wasn’t always going to be this exciting for O’Sullivan. She only pursued a career in music after a near-death experience. “Well I left architecture after a serious car accident,” she recalls. “It was a swift clear realisation that even though I was scared of being on stage, I only had one life to live and to just get on with it. Architecture was in a way a form of expression, absolute dedication and creation, and singing is that - it just happens I use my body to create the work! I still love the aspect of expressing yourself on stage, I find it very cathartic.” Despite her admitting to stage fright, when she hits the stage she’s a new person. “I don’t understand it as I suffer from stage nerves and plenty of doubt before I hit the stage which can be quite debilitating, but with the aid of a glass of wine and the love of singing it all seems to fade,” O’Sullivan offers. “I remember hearing Beyonce talking about her alter ego Sasha Fierce who can do anything and I feel I may have one of them in me. Someone recently said they watched me pacing backstage and went around the front as I stepped onto the stage and said it was like a completely different creature - you feel powerful and feel your presence ground you - you can be anything and become something far stronger than yourself. I think it helps to give yourself over 100 per cent and inhabit the songs and be an open channel. Certainly I’m the last person to sing at a private party of friends!” O’Sullivan’s latest album is Changeling, which features her interpretations of songs made famous by Arcade Fire, Radiohead, Nick Cave, and more. She says she has to be obsessed with song before she makes it her own. “It comes from my obsession with the songs first, I’ll probably play it hundreds of times until I put it away and sing it to myself and hear how I can make the song my own,” she says. “Usually it has moved me, whether that is to cry, laugh, be tough, show a darkness to oneself, have fun.The show and the album is all about a variety of different songs showing how varied you are as a person, all your different aspects. Some songs were chosen like the hymnal Nick Cave for the haunting simplicity of melody strength of lyric and narrative or a theatrical poignant gem like Tom Waits that vividly paints a picture of a past lost to us now. And others are just for singing and rocking out.” O’Sullivan invites you to rock out with her at the Astor tomorrow night, and offers advice on how best to enjoy the show.“Have yourself a drink of wine,” she says. “The show has been likened to an emotional rollercoaster - all the different characters and the stories they tell - enjoy the dark, the light, the madness and the fun. You may hear the odd ‘meow’ also! You have to see the show to understand that uplifting expressive sound!” X-Press – First on the street, Wednesdays

MACABRE Death Knock

It has been a very long time between drinks for murder metal outfit Macabre. With eight years spent behind the fray, 2011 saw the release of Grim Scary Tales. Guitarist Lance Lencioni, aka Corporate Death, tells why this album marked part one of band’s history of carnage. JESSICA WILLOUGHBY reports ahead of their headline slot at Your Civic Duty at the Civic Hotel this Saturday, June 23. “Serial killers are a unique breed and they are all individuals, just like we are,” Macabre frontman Corporate Death says of his lifelong obsession with meticulously planned slaughter. Eight years is a long time between releases, but for these Chicago death grinders, the break was warranted. After almost two decades of consistent touring and writing about slaughter, in all acts and forms, this trio longed for a breath of fresh air. One that led them to lead normal lives, even if it was just enough to get the creative juices flowing. After three years, vocalist Lance Lencioni – aka Corporate Death – took to the books to create a mission statement for the band. Dubbed a ‘history of murder’, 2011’s Grim Scary Tales marked part one with the guitarist noting more to come. “Basically, this album stopped at World War One,” he tells X-Press. “When I do part two it’ll take off some time a little bit before that and go into modern times. There will be songs about different killers because there is a lot we haven’t covered yet. I think I’ll start around 1912 with Martina Ricketta, the baby killer. She used to kill kids, in kinda a Hansel & Gretel deal. She make potions out of babies and eats kids. But I might bring it back even further than that.”

Macabre With six full songs already written for the second chapter, Death points to Macabre’s writing style as a slow and laborious process. “I know eight years was a long time between albums, but we like to take breaks,” he says. “I’m on another break right now. But I still had so much left over from writing for Grim Scary Tales that we already have some fully written songs. I just don’t want to read about killers for a while because too much of a thing is bad for you. Though I have a song about Andrei Chikatilo, the Butcher of Rostov. It’s all Russian music to fit the theme, which is cool. And I have another John Wayne Gacy song. He would have these barbeques every year for his neighbours with all these dead bodies in the house. He’d even have dead bodies buried in the barbeque pit. So it’s called There’s A Barbeque At John Gacy’s House. Just pretty crazy, goofy stuff like that. “But maybe after the Australian tour, I’ll be super excited and I’ll come to my office and start to write more. My office is a Mexican restaurant across the road from my house where I come to have a couple of tequilas and margaritas while I’m working.” But fans can expect a more diverse sound from this longstanding outfit in the future. “I want to be more versatile,” Death says. “I only really touched on the vocal styles I’m capable of on this recent album because you have to phase in change. I don’t even really call our style ‘murder metal’ anymore, I call it ‘murder music’ and I am going to push that more on the next album.”

CATTLE DECAPITATION Inhuman Traffic

Monolith Of Inhumanity, the seventh full length from Californian vegetarian grind outfit Cattle Decapitation, sees them looking to live up to the acclaim of previous work. Vocalist Travis Ryan is brutally honest with JESSICA WILLOUGHBY about how difficult this was to achieve. “I’m glad it came out as good as it did because if it didn’t that would have been it and I would have been done,” Cattle Decapitation frontman Travis Ryan tells of the issues with their latest effort, Monolith Of Inhumanity. It would be easy to say the seventh full length from this notorious vegetarian-influenced grindcore outfit was difficult. But for these four musicians, it was a test of whether they had the skills needed to continue on creatively after releasing the most exalted album of their career – The Harvest Floor (2009). One of the first to recognise the pressure, vocalist Ryan points to apprehension leading to his worst period with the band after 16 years at the helm. He agreed inner tensions were at an all time high. “Are you kidding me,” he says. “It was fever pitch. I was so glad to get the fuck out of the studio after we recorded that album. The Harvest Floor was such a drastic leap forward for us that I personally felt it was going to be hard to be. So I was even worried about going into the studio for Monolith Of Inhumanity. Writing the album was like pulling teeth and then recording was just the total climax. Everything that could go wrong did. We recorded in Westminter, Colorado and we were practically snowed-in the entire month of January this year. We had to endure all sorts of hardships, from not having any income because we were away from our jobs to missing our girlfriends and family and all that stuff. Recording just went really slowly and we ran overtime. And our fucking producer’s dog died. It was horrible; the whole thing just sucked. But for some reason the album is smooth as. It’s just a complete 180 of what actually happened. So nobody could complain completely… sort of.” Written over a year with new bassist Derek Engemann in their ranks, this LP sees the quartet straying from longtime producer Billy Anderson for the talents of Dave Otero. While Ryan notes this also added to delays, he says the change was needed.“We have been friends with Cephalic Carnage for years and they kept telling us about Dave,” he says. “We’d also seen what he’d done with a local band. He made www.xpressmag.com.au

Cattle Decapitation them sound absolutely amazing. We also wanted to do something different, to go along with a bunch of material that was just as different. And he is a full-on producer, which was something we were not used to. He gave us a lot of ideas that we shot down, but a lot we also took on board too.” But no dates have been set for a possible upcoming Australian tour yet. “We’ve been trying to get out there for years and it’s just turning into the biggest pain in the arse,” Ryan says. “Nothing ever seems to materialise. We’re just here in San Diego, so if someone can help bring us over – we’re there.”

BOBBY WOMAK The Bravest Man In The Universe

THE HIVES Lex Hives Dew Process

Maximo Park

MAXIMO PARK Good Health

With their fourth The National Health released this past week, Maximo Park are back with a vengeance. Frontman Paul Smith chats to NICK MASON. The National Health is out through Cooperative Music. Celebrated post-punk revivalists Maximo Park have returned at long last with a new release in tow. With The National Health out, frontman Paul Smith can’t wait to gauge a general consensus on the album. “I just want to make sure that people get a blast of it and see what they think,” he gushes. “That’s the attitude I’ve got at the moment: I’m a country preacher who goes from town to town and says ‘Hey, check this out! Spread the word!’” Fans can expect a few familiar Maximo Park hallmarks to feature throughout the new record. According to Smith, the band’s expertise not only remains intact, but honed, even, in the name of The National Health. “We wanted to make a record that was very direct. Every record is a response to the last one. You look back at the other things that you’ve done and you try and make something that shows you’ve learned from your mistakes, that showcases your strengths,” he muses. “To be direct and to be full of hooks and kind of positive - that’s what we believe the band to be. We have to question, ‘What is Maximo Park? What are we doing?’ One of the things that rang true is that we make pop music. That’s one

of the things we do when we’re together. Outside of that, we all have quite different tastes and interests, but when we’re together, that’s one of the things that happens.” Evenings with the wireless proved a huge catalyst in Smith’s musical awakening, his adolescence an exploration of pop music’s splendours.“I’ve always been really bewitched by the power of pop music – hearing a song on the radio for three minutes, whether it’s daytime radio or a more specialist show that’s on an evening. I used to spend my evenings after doing my homework or whatever listening to the radio, becoming obsessed with bands like Stereolab or Tindersticks or Cocteau Twins... stuff that was coming through on the late night radio wave. It did change my life and it made my life better and improved my life when I was listening to these songs,” he recalls. “Even something like The Smiths... I first heard The Smiths on daytime radio and I thought, ‘Wow, this doesn’t sound like Duran Duran! This is a bit different to Bon Jovi!’ This doesn’t mean that they’re not good, either.” Smith himself has carved a career out of a superb lyrical prowess, the frontman a gifted wordsmith. His penchant for the personal, too, resonates throughout Maximo Park’s catalogue at large, his approach adored by fans. According to Smith, it was after an extensive bout of trial and error that he found his niche as a writer. “I wrote so many different kinds of songs and the only ones that made sense to me and felt real and honest were the ones that kind of reflected the turmoil in my own life – the kind of daily turmoil you feel when you’re just living your life, things that I suppose everybody goes through. Even though at the start I’d thought I’d write ‘confessional’ songs, I realised that they weren’t that confessional. I see people singing along with Going Missing that in their masses on a nightly basis. I still think, ‘How did that happen?!’ It can only be because people go through the same things.” The all-too-brief interview comes to a close, the last-gasp matter of another Australian tour inevitably surfacing. In spite of an apparent gagging order, Smith does his best to let the tiniest of tidbits slip. “I’m absolutely not allowed to talk about it,” he laments, “but we would like to come back and there are plans afoot.”

XL / Remote Control

Five years in the making, Swedish rockers The Hives are back with yet more loud garage rock… but has it been worth the wait? Lex Hives has been touted as The Hives’ return to their garage punk roots, and as far as the guitars are concerned, it is. While not as abrasive as the band’s very early work (which was often loud enough to invoke listener fatigue), there’s enough crunch on a track like I Want More to excite even the most hardened lo-fi purist. Conversely, there’s great news for anyone who is worried that the band might have gone totally retrograde and lost the sense of adventure they uncovered on The Black & White Album (2007). Lex Hives mashes everything from Stax and Motown to proto-punk and beyond, but unlike the last album it does so in a consistent and coherent fashion. Basically the band is on fucking fire here. Vocalist Pelle Almqvist for the most part delivers his trademark sideways Swedish punk sneer but has managed to mix in some of the catchiest god damn hooks he’s ever delivered. As far as Hives albums go, this is right up there with the best. 1000 Answers is an instant classic, while Without The Money mines the ‘60s and Take Back The Toys is pure Hives.

At 68 Bobby Womack is a survivor, the soul legend has endured decades of music while also surviving drug and alcohol addictions. After the turn of the millennium his music career faded away with the only noise being made during his induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2009. Damon Albarn helped reignite Womack’s career on the Gorillaz 2010 album Plastic Beach.Here again, Albarn aids Womack’s resurgence as he co-produces with the owner of XL Recordings, Richard Russell. The album is primarily a combination of Womack’s soulful voice accompanied with electronic blips and pulses, the result is a bit of a confusing mess. The best songs are the simplest, with Womack’s powerful voice accompanied by a acoustic guitar like on the track Deep River. Womack sings two duets on the album, one with starlet Lana Del Ray and the other with Malian singer Fatoumata Diawara. Dayglo Reflection is an odd choice for Del Ray to sing on. In this song, Womack’s experience shines through while Del Ray has to feign a deeper understanding. A major thread on the album is about forgiveness as Womack sings on the opener:“The bravest man in the universe is the one who has forgiven first”. The clash of styles on this album may alienate longtime listeners of his work.

_BEN WATSON

_AARON CORLETT

REGINA SPEKTOR What We Saw From The Cheap Seats

SIGUR ROS Valtari EMI

Warner / Sire

The 2008 release of Með Suð I Eyrum Við Spilum Endalaust heralded a daringly different sound for Sigur Rós; a decidedly unfamiliar pop aesthetic marked by shorter songs and a handful of English lyrics. Yet, although no English (hooray!) and little brass (boo!) may initially signal a throwback to their pre-( ) era, it is with Valtari that the foursome break most forcefully with the conventions of their oeuvre. Save for Varúð, the spectacular, omnipotent builds that are exemplary – if not definitive – of their previous work are all but absent on the eight tracks of Sigur Rós’s sixth studio album. Yet Valtari revels in being anomalous, unusually channeling a compilation album in its splicing together of new material with three tracks recorded back in 2005. Here is Sigur Rós at their most down-tempo and pared back, a restraint immediately noticeable in the glacial choral murmurings and sparse instrumentation of opener Ég anda. Even the tracks that make maximal use of Jón Þór “Jonsi” Birgisson’s choir-boy-soloist vocals feature the measured, delicate pealing out of tintinnabular melodies over gentle, economic accompaniment. Valtari closes with three instrumental tracks that are attenuated almost to the point of muzak, reiterating the difficulty and supremely beautiful payoff of Valtari’s challenge to keep the distillation of effulgence at the centre of one’s attention. As spectacular for Sigur Rós fans as it will be inaccessible for the uninitiated.

Regina Spektor can do no wrong. Over the course of a six-album career, she’s released increasingly bubbly and enticing tunes that pull the listener into a whirlpool of ‘quirk’ and ‘charm’ like a talented Zooey Deschanel, dropping pseudo-scat and a massive vocal range into folk-pop while creating uniquely powerful musical moments. Her latest record, What We Saw From The Cheap Seats is an 11-track exercise in the unsurprising. Not in the way your three-bottle hangover is unsurprising, but in the way that freshly baked pretzels are a genuinely failsafe day-maker: light, crisp and a little buttery, but incredible nonetheless. All The Rowboats (already sailing the radio waves) is a standout, its drum-heavy, keyboard-infused kinda-electronica almost indefinitely listenable. Firewood is laden with heartfelt longing and heavier on the piano – yet still so wide and inviting. The Party is anthemic, underlaid with choral organ and rolling snares, and so very convincing. It’s an album full of good songs, and while there may be no piece that strokes the soul quite like Samson from Begin To Hope, at its worst it is still some of the best pop music to come out this year. This is easy-listening super-pop, just alternative enough that it suits your left-of-field aesthetic, but accessible enough that you can listen to it in the car with your mother, and talk about its intricacies, and how eclectic the music is.

_ANDREW YORKE

_ALEX WATTS

JULIA HOLTER Ekstasis

PALOMA FAITH Fall To Grace

Spunk

Sony Music / RCA

The story goes that when Paloma Faith was preparing to follow up her platinum-selling debut album, 2009’s Do You Want the Truth Or Something Beautiful?, she reread Milan Kundera’s Immortality. She seems to have attempted to interpret the novel’s complex themes of art and death in her lyrics, particularly evident in Black & Blue’s pseudoprofundities: “I know people who use chatrooms as confessionals/I know down and outs who once, once they were professionals”. It’s not typical pop song fodder, but Faith isn’t a typical pop singer. If she winds up as popular in overseas as she is at home in the UK, it’ll be despite her reluctance to embrace the monotonous realities of promotional mechanics. Unfortunately, throughout Fall To Grace, there’s only the tiniest whiff of her witty, takeno-prisoners interview persona. Unlike her Amy Winehouse, with whom she is often compared, Faith’s heart-as-smoking-gun lyrics feel underwritten. Time and time again, her voice is the sole saving grace. Her pipes are by far the roughest, most charming thing here, even when she imitates her favorite jazz vocalists – especially Billie Holiday – much too closely. After listening to Fall To Grace it’s clear that, for all the hype, Faith is not yet ready to produce an album of sufficient depth to match her voice.

It is usually young men who are prone to making unusual noises when they are confined to their bedroom, but Los Angeles singer-songwriter Julia Holter is not to be outdone. Holter’s second commercial release Ekstasis is full of weird and wonderful sounds that are well beyond what you would expect from the hands of just one person. With her experimental approach to music Holter draws on downtown ‘80s New York and the work of Laurie Anderson, and her study of composition at CalArts, coupled with her child like voice, has drawn comparisons to quirky folk chanteuse Joanna Newsom. Aiming for a more complete sonic listen than her early CD-R’s would accommodate, Holter loops her vocals in haunting fashion as Rhodes piano and electronica form the backbone for Marienbad. Stints with a guru in India have added an eastern flavour for Four Gardens, but it is when synths and electronica take over on In The Same Room that Holter is her most accessible. For the most part though, Ekstasis is an ambient listen that is a thing of beauty and guile even if not as challenging as some of her earlier pieces. Even so, Ekstasis has more layers than a baby’s first winter outfit without over boiling the broth.

_CHRIS HAVERCROFT _JENNIFER PETERSON-WARD 18

X-Press – First on the street, Wednesdays

KWES Meantime Warp Records

There are some CDs that you use as soundtracks to your everyday life, music to get you moving, but more than that – music to keep you going. The mini-album Meantime from 25 year-old Londoner Kwes does just this. Kwes began as a producer of other people’s music (Speech Debelle, Micachu, Damon Albarn, the XX) before he decided to become the focus of his own productions, and Meantime breathes quietly with his attention to detail. Like Albarn, and Hot Chip, whom he also re-mixed, Kwes repurposes the fundamental elements of electronic music to create his own wandering and beguiling pop songs. The four-track EP offers a form of electronic escape although listening to it can lead you to question whether you should be switching off or switching on. The EP is a fluid experience, with each song picking up mid-way with the bass or heavy vocals kicking in. The melodic, textured instrumentals are accompanied by Kwes’ soft vocals. It is easy to hear his distinct London accent, especially on the emotive and pretty Lgoyh (Let Go Of Your Hurt). For those who don’t like percussion instruments digitized or who prefer songs to tell stories instead of fragments of the songwriter’s feelings, then this isn’t for you. But for me, this mini-album left me wanting more of the same.

NED COLLETTE & WIREWALKER 2

GRIZZLY BEAR – Sleeping Ute (Warp) Harmony-loving indie rockers Grizzly Bear haven’t put out a record since 2009’s outstanding Veckatimest, and haven’t toured regularly since 2010. Now, after a welldeserved break, we finally have the first new music from the band from their album which is tipped to drop in late September. Barreling through the gates, Sleeping Ute is a noisy ride that calms in the track’s last section but is a powerhouse nonetheless. It’s an intricate, ambitious, creative tune with an emotional undercurrent – so basically all you’d expect from Grizzly Bear, really.

TY SEGALL – I Bought My Eyes (In The Red) Hot on the heels of his superb collaborative album with White Fence’s Tim Presley, Hair, Ty Segall has another record coming out, this time with his touring band. More punked-up than anything heard on Segall’s previous solo record, 2011’s Goodbye Bread, I Bought My Eyes is an ebullient jam. Almost everything is tight and controlled, showcasing the simple power of an upbeat rock song. It’s not particularly deep, but it’s energetic, buoyant, fun and more than a little infectious. BERTIE BLACKMAN – Mercy Killer (Mercury Records) Mercy Killer seems to be to be symptomatic of a broader trend at the moment to demand our female artists be both credible and commercial at the expense of achieving anything great in either camp. Although there is definitely musical colour here, Blackman’s vocal delivery and attitude has a tendency to overshadow the music, which seems quite melodically inventive, but listeners aren’t really given the chance to realise this – it’s _CORAL HUCKSTEP paper-thin and paper-cut annoying.

PLACE OF INDIGO – Changing Ways (Independent) Local indie rockers Place Of Indigo’s new single Changing Ways may not resonate upon first listen Dot Dash / Remote Control – it’ll have to grow on you, but once it does, there’s It has been more than two no denying its enchantment. What the tune lacks in years since Melbourne momentum it makes up for in sweet vibes, which may crooner Ned Collette not keep Place Of Indigo going for ever, but is enough packed his bags for Berlin for the moment. Off the back of this slick, smooth slice and the songs from his new album 2 are the fruits of shoegaze-y delight, it’ll be exciting to see where this of his eventful journey. He may have an increasing homegrown talent goes to from here. and ever enthusiastic audience attending his fortnightly shows at the Berlin club Valentin _JENNIFER PETERSON-WARD Stuberl but his latest album maintains a strong Australian connection. The other half of Wirewaker (Joe Talia) recorded all of his parts for 2 from the comforts of Melbourne town while Collette worked away in BEN LEE Europe. The result is an album that does at times Catch My Disease feels disjointed and disconnected. Madman Il Futuro Fantastico has the rapid fire Despite a remarkable musical quality of They Might Be Giants without any career that has taken him perceivable punch line. Luckily it also has a from the suburbs of Sydney hypnotic quality that draws you in the longer you to the boroughs of New York, lend your ears to it. indie popster Ben Lee’s private Collette chooses Spanish guitar for a life has largely remained an large portion of 2 although steps out of character enigma and although this with Long You Lie that sounds like waking up from documentary now promises to a Eurovision Song Contest nightmare. “open the doors on [his] private Too often Collette plods along at world” the reality is far tamer. a pedestrian pace and the attempts from That’s not to say it won’t satisfy the fans Wirewalker to create different textures are no – from the early days of his first band, Noise Addict, more fruitful than trying to nail jelly to a wall. when Lee was just 14, to the present day, Catch My Sadly for 2, the songs are equally as uninspiring Disease relies on a wealth of previously unseen live as the album’s title. footage and includes interviews with musicians Mike D (Beastie Boys) and Thurston Moore (Sonic Youth), who supported Lee in his formative years. However, considering that this film _CHRIS HAVERCROFT supposedly took eight years to make, it’s disappointing it avoids giving away so much about Lee’s personal life CARRIE UNDERWOOD and only reveals the lighter sides of his story. One for the Blown Away fans only. _JENNIFER PETERSON-WARD Arista / Sony Music Seven years and four albums after winning American Idol, country songstress Carrie Underwood is still the jewel in the crown of the reality AT THE DRIVE-IN television franchise. The Acrobatic Tenement demure blonde who sung country songs was Simon Cowell’s pet project as he cheered her all the way to In 1996, At The Drive-In were the 2005 winner’s podium. still a few years away for Since then the Oklahoma ‘girl next door’ the raw intense power to has sold records by the truck load and dated the be seen on their swansong, rich and famous. The Underwood that was first Relationship Of Command, presented to the general public all those years ago but there’s plenty of things has now been photo-shopped and auto-tuned to learn from listening to their debut album, Acrobatic beyond recognition. Tenement. Where her previous albums would have The first thing you pick is just how fresh a couple of songs that would have enough country they were. StarSlight shows their ‘80s influences of early twang or a cheeky melody to get the listener in, indie rock bands and hardcore. It’s ramshackle, without Blown Away has no such appeal being sterile and any apologies. Initiation is one of the best songs on the soulless with next to no redeeming features. record, and it’s the only time At The Drive-In came close Underwood can still sing the chrome off a to recording a ballad. While Cedric Bizler’s lyrics have tow bar but even manages to make a tale of deceit always require a significant amount of deciphering to and murder sound dull with Two Black Cadillacs. Do understand what he’s on about, this track tells a heartYou Think About Me is one of the brighter moments warming tale of fan falling in love with a band, and that here, but is the type of love song that wouldn’t fan being loved by a stalker, the only way a stalker can. make it past the first draft before being discarded Recently reissued along with Relationship by Taylor Swift. Thank God For Hometowns is overly Of Command (but not with their only other album In/ earnest but at least it has a smidgeon of country Casino/Out), Acrobatic Tenement sadly is without any heart. extras, but still worth picking up for those that missed Blown Away? Nope, just overblown! it the first time ‘round for it is a great document of some clearly talented musicians just coming to grips with their unique sound. _CHRIS HAVERCROFT www.xpressmag.com.au

_MATTHEW HOGAN 19

X-Press â&#x20AC;&#x201C; First on the street, Wednesdays

Sundown Syndrome

Photo: Richard Jefferson

www.xpressmag.com.au

FASHION FANATICS

Pigeonhole

PIGEONHOLE SALE TAKES FLIGHT

The end of financial year is looming and that means two things – soon you’ll have to make an appointment to see your accountant (boo-urns), and, more importantly – Pigeonhole is having an epic June sale! Every Pigeonhole store (all six of them) will be offering massive discounts on their wonderful wares until June 30, with up to 75 per cent off fashion, home wares, sunnies, tees, camera gear and stationery. Though every Pigeonhole store is in sale mode, Pigeonhole’s massive pop up at 140 William is discount HQ, with tees from $15, giftware from $5 and dresses from $50. Huzzah! If you snooze, you lose, so don’t delay – flock into Pigeonhole for some wicked winter bargains quick smart! Find your closest store at pigeonhole.com.au.

If you love fashion and think you’ve got the patience, determination and work ethic to help Perth Fashion Festival run smoothly then read on, because PFF is on the hunt for a team of enthusiastic volunteers. Offering stylish individuals the chance to gain experience in the fashion events industry, PFF volunteers will get a rare behind-the-scenes look at how things run, working backstage and front of house. Email volunteer@perthfashionfestival.com.au with a resume and cover letter before June 30 to express your interest.

ELECTRIC SCREAM

Things are likely to get wild at the Kingsway Indoor Stadium this Saturday, June 23, when the WA Roller Derby presents the Phi Slammer Jammer, a headto-head battle between Electric Scream and Sonic Doom. Freshman players will cut their teeth in front of a home crowd while wearing their shortest short shorts, causing mayhem with their elbow shoving, roller derby goodness. Tickets are only $11 for adults and $6 for children (aged 12 or under); get yours today from warollerderby.com.au.

It’s time to crack out your comfy pants because The Good Food & Wine Show is set to return to Perth in July, and unless you’re a seasoned gorger, you’ll need an elasticised waist line to facilitate the consumption of copious amounts of delicious food and drink. Set to take over the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre from July 13-15, The Good Food & Wine Show will boast demonstrations from celebrity chefs such as Ainsley Hariott, Adriano Zumbo, Manu Feildel and George Calombaris, plus tastings, cooking classes and displays from WA’s best purveyors of fresh produce. Tickets are on sale now from Ticketek.

BRAVE

Highland Fling Directed by Mark Andrews and Brenda Chapman Starring Kelly McDonald, Emma Thompson, Billy Connolly, Julie Walters

Perth Upmarket

George Calombaris appears at this year’s Good Food & Wine Show

IN THE MOOD FOR FOOD

Brave

UP, UP AND AWAY!

Fans of independent art, hand-made fashion, quirky home wares and off-beat jewellery will descend on UWA’s Winthrop Hall this weekend for another edition of Perth Upmarket. Bringing together 150 different artisans from all walks of life, the upcoming Perth Upmarket will offer up more creative goodies than you could poke a knitting needle at, with plenty of woolen beanie and scarf creations on offer to fend off winter’s chill. Head on down to Winthrop Hall this Sunday, June 24, from 10am-4pm, to check out stalls by Patricia Fernandes, Koi Girl, Jasmin Jones Jewellery, Lily & Me, Twiceloved China, Ella & Lily, Pure Tots and many more.

Animation uber-studio Pixar’s latest offering, a coming-of-age fable set against a gorgeous, misty Medieval Highlands backdrop, is as beautiful a piece of animation you’re likely to see this year. But such striking design work, while still breath-taking, is kind of par for the course these days - how does the story hold up? Pretty well - although it doesn’t quite hit instant classic status, as so many of its stablemates have. Brave is the story of Scottish princess Merida (Kelly McDonald), daughter to King Fergus (Billy Connolly) and Queen Elinor (Emma Thompson). A bow-slinging tomboy, Merida wants no truck with the courtly duties her mother forces on her, especially a mooted political marriage to shore up an alliance with the local lords (voiced by Kevin McKidd, Craig Ferguson, and Robbie Coltrane - it’s nice that Pixar went almost exclusively Scottish with their voice cast). Desperate to change her fate, she asks a local witch (Julie Walters) for help, which brings about dire consequences for all concerned. Brave is both smaller in scale and more mature in theme that Pixar’s previous offerings. There are only a handful of characters, and while the principals are well-rounded, some of the supporting cast are a bit thinly sketched - Merida’s three

suitors in particular are barely-there caricatures, although McKidd has fun imbuing one with an incomprehensible Highlands accent. Thankfully, Merida is such an engaging protagonist that the weak ensemble is forgivable. Headstrong, courageous, conflicted, and ultimately determined to do the right thing, Merida, along with The Hunger Games’ Katniss Everdeen, proves that this is shaping up to be a pretty good year for strong female role models in cinema. While there’s plenty of comedy to be found in Brave - Connolly chews the scenery with fervour, and Merida’s infant triplet brothers have a good line in physical comedy - this is by far the darkest film that Pixar has produced. The monstrous bear that skulks around the edges of the narrative is a truly frightening antagonist, and the story dips into some primal fears here and there that may be upsetting for the younger set. The film has been explicitly stated to be a fairytale, and to Pixar’s credit, it’s not one that’s had all it’s rough edges sanded off to make it more palatable. Which isn’t to say this is some kind of cartoon Company Of Wolves – merely that the pre-school patrol may want to wait a few years before sampling this one. While it’s not a crowd-pleaser like Toy Story or Monsters, Inc., Brave is a work that will grow in stature over the years. Gorgeously constructed and redolent in the trappings of myth and legend, it’s a film of deep resonance and simple yet profound insight. Anyone expecting the laugh-a-minute shenanigans of Pixar’s more populist productions may be disappointed, but more thoughtful viewers will find a lot to enjoy here. _TRAVIS JOHNSON

X-Press – First on the street, Wednesdays

A Royal Affair

A ROYAL AFFAIR Aristocratic Adultery

Directed by Nikolaj Arcel Starring Mikkel Boe Følsgaard, Mads Mikkelsen, Alicia Vikander If rolling hills, heaving bosoms, forbidden romance, and strapping young men galloping around on horses is right up your alley, then A Royal Affair – the epic true story of an 18th-century saga that changed Denmark forever – is definitely the film for you. The drama begins when Caroline Mathilde (Alicia Vikander), the youngest sister of English King George III, leaves Britain at 15 to wed the King of Denmark Christian VII (Mikkel Boe Følsgaard). Their marriage is an unhappy union and the young queen is resigned to despondency until the King returns from a tour of Europe with a new physician, Johann Struensee (Mads Mikkelsen), in tow. Struensee seems content to simply entertain the king, rather than actually treating his conditions, and earns Christian’s loyalty and friendship quickly. Mathilde also finds kinship with him based on their mutual ideals and philosophies, which soon leads to a clandestine affair. Wielding more power than a physician should, Struensee has the ear of the king and asserts himself into a new council, spreading his ideals and quickly attracting many enemies. Reforms are on the agenda for the progressive pair but the court council, desperate to protect their own self-interested laws, are out for blood. While they are slow to halt the couple’s influence on the king, the corrupt officials eventually expose the clandestine romance and plot the lovers’ downfall.

Young Swedish actress Vikander is perfectly cast as the young heroine: an intelligent, biddable young woman who glides through what is expected of her, irreproachably charming in dress and manner, and for whom dissent is restricted to a quizzical half-smile and elevation of the eyebrows. This movie is certainly very kind to the Queen, but there is a controlled brilliance to the opening scenes, in which Mathilde is spirited from her home in Britain to appear at the crowded Copenhagen court, as alien as an astronaut. Apart from some introductory narration, these scenes are almost entirely dialogue-less, approximating Mathilde’s isolation and bafflement. As for Mads Mikkelsen’s Johann Struensee, he plays his conceit and hauteur well, though his surrender to love is still a little on the reticent side. However it is Mikkel Boe Følsgaard in the role of Christian VII who really lifts the film. With the demeanor of a spoilt child, Christian’s antisocial nature, voracious sexual appetite and bizarre outbursts (modern day historians have suggested that he was perhaps autistic or schizophrenic) are, at first, irritating, but quickly soon become pitying notions as he is used and manipulated by those who surround him. Følsgaard makes a lasting impression in his complex role – and although he treats his wife with cruelty and ignorance in turn, his descent into complete madness paints him as a tragic figure of extreme naivety. There are no great interpretative liberties in this historical re-telling, but the movie still succeeds as a sumptuous period drama and a superb, deeply atmospheric tale of a passionate, doomed romance. _JENNIFER PETERSON-WARD

Mikkel Boe Følsgaard on set with Mads Mikkelsen

MIKKEL BOE FØLSGAARD It’s A Mad World

In portraying one of Danish histories most memorable royal figures, Mikkel Boe Følsgaard’s induction into the world of film is one most young actors can only dream of. Whilst studying at The Danish National School of Theatre (from where he will graduate later this year), Følsgaard was encouraged to audition for A Royal Affair, a period drama based on a reallife scandal – of how a physician fell in love with his Queen – that rocked Denmark in the late 18th century and changed the course of its political history. “It’s something almost everybody in Denmark has learned about in elementary school. So, most people in Denmark have a meaning about the story. When I was invited to the casting I firstly went to the internet because I wanted to refresh it,” Følsgaard explains. In trying out for the role of the notorious King of Denmark Christian VII, it was Følsgaard’s dedication and attention to detail which helped the young actor score the role – his first in any major film production. “When I got the part, and I told my friends and my family that I got it, their first reaction was always, ‘Oh, you’re going to play the crazy king.’ People had this image about him being crazy. So, of course, I tried to understand him a bit more. I went to the library and rented all the books they had. I saw movies that portrayed the time he was alive and I listened to classical music just to get into the feeling of being in the time,” he says. “Some of the things that I read about was the physical stuff that I do in the movie – particularly his laugh, which is quite loud and

distinctive. That really helped me really get into the character.” Not only was Følsgaard faced with the difficult task of portraying a historical figure dismissed today as simply “the mad king,” he also had to share the screen with – and be cuckolded by – one of the Europe’s biggest talents, Mads Mikkelsen (Casino Royal, Clash Of The Titans). “He’s probably the biggest Danish actor ever,” Følsgaard says of Mikkelsen. “We developed a very good friendship – he really took good care of me and he gave me advice about my career. We play football and poker together now, he’s just like any other friend. “It was mental, it was my first movie and I was playing with the biggest and most famous Danish actors around right now…But once we started shooting I felt really at home. I learnt that famous people are really just normal people,” he laughs. Even after filming wrapped up, the 28-yearold’s whirlwind adventure continued when he was awarded the Silver Bear for Best Actor at the 2012 Berlin Film Festival. “It was crazy, I really didn’t expect that at all. Normally these are not the kinds of movies that win awards,” he says. “I wasn’t even planning on going to the ceremony, but someone from the awards called me and said ‘I think you’d better come’. I’m so happy and glad I did. It feels surreal – it’s like a big clap on the back.” While Følsgaard says he is appreciative of the critical acclaim,he is more encouraged by the huge numbers of Danish cinemagoers who have flocked to local cinemas to watch the historical film. “It’s been getting pretty good reviews and a lot of Danes have seen it at the cinema – almost half a million people have seen it, which is a lot for us. Everyone seems to be very glad about the movie which is nice.” _JENNIFER PETERSON-WARD

ROCK OF AGES Stop Believing

Directed by Adam Shankman Starring Tom Cruise, Julianne Hough, Diego Boneta, Alec Baldwin Adapted from the jukebox musical of the same title, this rock comedy about the hair-metal ‘80s gathers the talent, connects the dots, and performs the covers. But it doesn’t mock the excesses of the era the way it should and never catches fire, either musically or comedically. The story is something cinemagoers will have already seen a billion times before – small town girl Sherrie (Julianne Hough) is an archetypal aspiring singer who bumps into city boy Drew (Diego Boneta) the moment she lands in LA. Drew, a bartender-cum-singer convinces his boss Dennis (Alec Baldwin), owner of a popular nightclub which hosts rock concerts, to employ Sherrie as a waitress. Together, they hope to make it big some day. But fame doesn’t come easy and they’re distracted along the way by assorted sleazoids – including the distinctly charisma-less Paul Giammati as record label exec Paul Gill, and a fractionally more appealing Mary J. Blige as Justice Charlier, the owner of a local strip joint – who help them sing their way through one of those ‘80s rock compilations that get advertised on TV in the runup to Father’s Day. Blame can be squarely directed at director Adam Shankman (who also brought musical Hairspray to the big screen back in 2007) for bringing us a movie based, with chilling calculation, on a hit stage show franchise, this one being laboriously structured around the songs of the once mocked, then ironised and now adored heavy-rotation favourites from the glory years of MTV – think Journey, Bon Jovi, Poison, Whitesnake, Twisted Sister, etc. With Shankman at the helm, it’s hardly surprising that everything has been squeakycleaned up. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with a feel good motif – but there is no irony, no heartache, certainly no dramatic plausibility, and weirdly, no hint that the characters know whose songs they are singing; there is no sense of perspective on the music. The saving grace of the film is Tom Cruise as washed-up rock superstar Stacee Jaxx (an amalgam of Axl Rose, Keith Richards, Bret Michaels, and others). Of course he overdoes it, yes, but you www.xpressmag.com.au

Rock Of Ages

Rock Of Ages can’t accuse him of condescending to the material any more than you can fault him for taking it too seriously. The impression left by the old pros who make up most of the cast is that they have nothing to be ashamed of and nothing to prove, and that worrying about dignity is for newbies and amateurs. So Catherine Zeta Jones (as Patricia Whitman, the religious conservative wife of Mayor Mike Whitman, who wants revenge against Jaxx for sleeping with her in college and never calling back) bellows her way through Hit Me With Your Best Shot, and Russell Brand and Alec Baldwin discover their love for each other to REO Speedwagon’s I Can’t Fight This Feeling (though it is a shame that scene is played for comedy rather than tenderness). As the star-crossed lovers, Hough and Bonteta have a harder time, though not for any lack of effort. They have to work while the old timers are having fun, and to carry the picture’s unconvincing, flat-footed attempts at melodrama. It climaxes, inevitably, with their duet of Don’t Stop Believin’ to which one can’t help but think: “Stop? I never started”. _JENNIFER PETERSON-WARD 23

VISUAL ARTS Exhibit C: Guest Fine Art Services, Subiaco Showcasing works by renowned artists such as Mr Brainwash, Shepard Fairey, Russ Mills, Prefab77, Pahnl and Lora Zombie, Exhibit C showcases prime examples of stencil art, an extremely popular and important branch of street art. Runs Jun 22-Jul 6. On The Streets Of The City: Moore’s Building, Fremantle Kathryn Sprigg unveils an exciting new collection of images which celebrates the vibrant energy and frenetic pace of New York City. On The Streets Of The City expertly captures the iconic, world-famous imagery of NYC: soaring sky-scrapers, brash billboards and canary-coloured taxis. But the exhibition also reflects the artist’s trademark interest in finding beauty in the everyday. Runs Jun 22-Jul 8. Kaleidoscope: Claremont Quarter, Claremont A self-taught artist, David Bromley has emerged as one of the most recognisable and innovative painters in Australia. He has fostered widespread acclaim and notoriety both nationally and internationally and has been a finalist in the prestigious Archibald Prize six times.With a view to seeing the world through different eyes, the exclusive Western Australian exhibition titled Kaleidoscope encapsulates a fun, joyous and playful vibe. Runs ’til Jul 12. Suburblia And Other Exotic Locales: Elements Art Gallery, Dalkeith Suburblia And Other Exotic Locales is Bryan Bulley’s firsttime showing to a Perth audience. The established Darwin-based artist lives and works in the Northern Territory, where he has been exhibiting his paintings for over two decades. Bulley’s new body of work captures imagery of an Australian suburbia we all recognise, but can not quite put our finger on. His landscapes and suburb-scapes are not based in the reality of Darwin, but echo aspects of an imaginary utopian Australia. Runs Jun 28-Jul 15.

THEATRE/DANCE

Ruby Jean by Pippa McManus A Is For Arizona: 140 William, Perth Renowned local illustrator Pippa McManus pays homage to her favourite national and international models in her latest exhibition – A Is For Arizona. An A to Z of McManus’ favourite editorial and runway beauties, A Is For Arizona features work created with charcoal, paint pens and spray paint, and is a mustsee for fans of fashion illustration. Exhibition runs from Jun 22-24

Black As Michael Jackson… And Other Identity Monologues: Blue Room Theatre, Northbridge Presented by Yirra Yaakin, Black As Michael Jackson… And Other Identity Monologues is a raw, emotional and at times irreverent look at race and what it’s like to actually want to be proud of identifying as Aboriginal. This first time collaboration between emerging writer Michelle White and Noongar Radio drive announcer Karla Hart (co-writer and performer) will see the pair draw on their own real life experiences for the variety of monologues. Runs Jun 21-Jul 7. Bookings via blueroom.org.au.

Fear Not Death’s Shadow by Alex Proyas Fear Not Death’s Shadow: Buratti Fine Art, North Fremantle Alex Proyas, renowned director of internationally successful films such as The Crow, Dark City and I Robot shares another side of his incredible talent and creativity with his first Western Australian photographic exhibition. His photographs are inspired by the narrative tradition of film noir. Proyas views his photographs as an extension of his films, often dealing in the themes he has so successfully explored in his movies. Entitled Fear Not Death’s Shadow, this exhibition explores ideas regarding identity, mortality and the nature of perception. Runs Jun 16-Jul 10. Sacred Gardens For The Blind: Perth Centre For Photography, Northbridge Patricia Casey’s exhibition Scented Gardens For The Blind displays her artistic creativity in the form of black and white photographic prints on cotton, with embroidered details of metallic threads, and handmade lace. These works are firmly embedded in the tradition of photography forming a partnership with high end digital imaging and old world crafts. Runs Jun 28-Jul 29. Form, Process & Materiality:The Oats Factory, Carlisle This exhibition showcases the works of five influential West Australian artists who share a common respect for material and authenticity. Using various methods of layering and duplication, these artists demonstrate a consistency in making and a willingness to experiment with the conventions of painting and sculpture. Runs Jul 7-Aug 4.

X-Press – First on the street, Wednesdays

Tim Watts, Arielle Gray and Chris Isaacs are set to perform It’s Dark Outside (Photo: Richard Jefferson)

IT’S DARK OUTSIDE Sundown Syndrome

It’s Dark Outside is on show at Studio Underground at the State Theatre Centre Of WA from Friday, June 29, ’til Saturday, July 14. Bookings can be made through BOCS. Back in 2009, Perth theatre-makers Tim Watts, Arielle Gray and Chris Isaacs of Weeping Spoon Productions premiered a quirky, low budget show at the Blue Room Theatre entitled The Adventures Of Alvin Sputnik: Deep Sea Explorer. Little did they know that their beloved Alvin was about to become bigger than Ben-Hur… Following rave reviews from critics and audiences alike,

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Alvin Sputnik was then picked up by the Perth Theatre Company, as well as being toured internationally to far off places such as New York, India and Auckland. Three years on from first staging the show, Watts and his fellow thespians are finally getting the chance to whet their appetite with something new. “Yes, it’s great working on a new project because last year was pretty much just Alvin,”Watts tells X-Press while on a break from It’s Dark Outside rehearsals. “Last year I was going a little insane doing the one thing over and over,” he chuckles. Though they certainly grew tired of staging the same show day in, day out, extensive touring for The Adventures Of Alvin Sputnik: Deep Sea Explorer helped Watts, Gray and Isaacs further develop their practice, which shaped their approach to It’s Dark Outside. “Getting to perform one show that many times in front of that many people, you get bored so you start to dissect what works and you get to have more in depth and varied chats with people about what they like and didn’t like about it so you get to form more of an understanding about the show.” Inspired by a number of things – including Watts’fascination with Sundowner Syndrome (a strange symptom of Alzheimer’s disease that sees people go wandering at sunset), It’s Dark Outside combines puppetry, animation and live performance to create a fearless show about aging. “It’s a bit of a strange one because I’ve tried to do lots of research on it and generally it’s just a bit of a mystery. At sunset for some reason the symptoms of Alzheimer’s are heightened quite a lot and what that results in is people going wandering at sunset which is just bizarre. To me poetically, it feels like this bizarre primal instinct about getting back to wild, even though it’s not a very wise survival instinct to wander around especially if you’re frail and losing your mind. It was basically just that, an image of an old man wandering down into the wild at sunset that was a bit of an image for this show. Whenever we’re thinking about what fits the show and what doesn’t, it always comes back to that, an image of an old man wandering out into the wild at sunset.” In a bid to heighten the themes and emotions touched on in It’s Dark Outside, Watts, Gray and Isaacs have brought Rachael Dease on board to create a unique and moving score for the production. “Because there’s no real words in this show, the soundtrack is incredibly important and really lifts the show. What she’s created so far is just gorgeous. It’s a relatively simple soundscape with western influences in it so it will hopefully really lift the piece and give it that magical and adventurous feeling. It gives the piece a real rising, sweet, sad, hope in a way. We’re really thrilled she is a part of this project. Music is such an important part of the theatrical experience and it’s great to have someone of such talent creating a score for us.” _EMMA BERGMEIER

Tricia Helfer in her starring role as Number Six on Battlestar Galactica

TRICIA HELFER Cylon Siren

Tricia Helfer will make a rare Australia convention appearance at the Supanova Pop Culture Expo at the Claremont Showgrounds on Saturday, June 23, and Sunday, June 24. Tickets are currently available from Foxtix. Some actors, following the demise of the show that put them on the map, spend a goodly chunk of time on the convention circuit, pressing the flesh and signing autographs for their faithful fans. Not so for Canadian model turned actor Tricia Helfer, most famous for her role as the humanoid Cylon, Number Six, on the acclaimed science fiction series Battlestar Galactica. “I don’t go to a lot of them, no,” she says. “But I certainly go to a few. I normally go to about one or two a year, depending on work. If I’m filming something, it’s definitely harder to get to them, and it’s definitely harder to book in advance. In general I’ve found them very enjoyable to go to. I like getting out and meeting everyone and hearing their stories about the show and what drew them to it. I assume most of them are there for Battlestar Galactica, but they could be there for other things as well - I mean in terms of meeting me, not the whole convention! But I haven’t done one in Australia before, so it’ll be nice to come down there and meet the Australian fans.” Fans are certainly keen to meet her. BSG, as it’s commonly abbreviated, is one of the big genre media successes of recent years, earning a

rabidly loyal fanbase as well as a level of critical esteem unusual for a sci-fi property. Of course, as a fledgling actor, Helfer had no idea what she was getting into. “I went through the normal audition process,” she explains.“I was a brand new actor, so I didn’t have a resume to work off of. One of my first jobs in LA was an episode of C.S.I. It was the same casting director that called me in for Battlestar Galactica. At the time they wanted a name actor for the role, but no one bigger wanted the role, so I went back in and ended up booking the job. They were very wary of hiring me, because I was so new as an actor, so they did take a leap of faith.” And because of that leap, Helfer became a part of a show that went from being perceived as a dubious remake of an already tainted show - the original Galactica being, let’s face it, not very good - to the example of modern, serious television scifi. “It’s one of those shows that, when we were filming it, there wasn’t a lot of people watching it,” Helfer says.“It definitely had a new life on DVD, and I think it’s going to be one of those shows that continues to find new fans. I remember Edward James Olmos coming to all of us when we shot the original miniseries and saying ‘Hey kid, we’ve got a great show here’. And it’s only now, after we’ve finished the series and looking back on it I go, wow, he was so right. Not only do we have a show that was critically applauded, but also a show where the cast and crew just became a family. So that something which is extra special.” _TRAVIS JOHNSON

X-Press â&#x20AC;&#x201C; First on the street, Wednesdays

IDEA OF HAPPINESS

Sydney four-piece Van She are ready to release their sophomore record Idea Of Happiness. Having lived with the tracks on the record for the last few years,Tomek Archer tells ANNABEL MACLEAN that they “can’t wait for everyone else to hear it”.They also can’t wait to be in Jamaica and get on the turps with Rüfüs, their support act for their upcoming national tour. A slender gent who looks like ‘a boss’ crossed with Jesus sprays hairspray across his face in slow-mo, walks around in a g-banger playing pool, dances with a sexy lass, drives around in a vintage car with what appears to be a pink plastic Christmas tree in the back seat and he is completely content. This is what happens in Van She’s video clip for first single and title track off their forthcoming sophomore record Idea Of Happiness. “One of the directors came back [after the band put out expressions of interest] and pitched this guy to us and his name was Emil and he’s from Germany,” Archer says down the line from Sydney, finishing his lunch. “He’s a vintage car collector and dealer and likes going to motor shows. He also likes being an exhibitionist. So the director’s pitch was to make a video about this guy’s idea of happiness. He’s not an actor. He’s a real guy and it is shot in his house and it’s shot with his friends and, to some degree it’s a set up party, but he’s a real guy. It’s all about Emil.”

CONTINUED ON PAGE 34

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Although the video clip is about Emil’s idea of happiness, Archer has his own in mind. “It’s pretty cold in Sydney at the moment,” he says. “All I would like to do is go on a holiday somewhere hot. Fortunately we’re going to Jamaica next week.” And no, they’re not going to play in Jamaica, they’re just popping over for a few days to make the video clip for Jamaica, a dreamy, tropical tune from Idea Of Happiness. “None of us have been to Jamaica so the song was never written about Jamaica; it was more of this idea about a happy, sunny kind of holiday place, like another place basically,” he explains. “It was kind of funny that none of us have been there so the idea of this video – to actually go there - it’s kind of a selffulfilling prophecy; make a song about a place you’ve never been to and then you go there.” Although much of Idea Of Happiness is upbeat electro-pop with daydream-like synths and tropical beats, Archer can’t quite put his finger on where exactly the sound came from. “It’s hard to know whether the mood of the music comes from the mood you’re in or if you consciously make it and it just makes you more light-hearted,” he says. “We had a pretty good time making this record and it’s a pretty uplifting, light-hearted record. I don’t know if we got on really well because we were making music that was happy.” It’s been four years since Van She released their debut record V and Archer says the great luxury this time round was they were able to produce it themselves. “The most important thing about the recording process is to have the freedom to make mistakes and to go through making lots of stuff and trying different things and then reviewing it and going back and trying to critique it,” he says. “With the first record we had the experience of going and working with a producer in London and that was great. We spent a couple of months over there. We found that’s one way of doing it and you have a deadline and you’ve got so many weeks in the studio and it’s really expensive and you have to get everything done so you don’t really want to be stuffing around. There’s not much room for experimenting and trying different things. You’ve got to just do what you know. With this record – we were doing it ourselves and if things were working we’d stick around and if something wasn’t working we’d leave it and come back to it.” Mixed by Tony Hoffer (Phoenix, Air, M83, Beck), Idea Of Happiness is very much a collaborative record for the four-piece despite the fact that songs such as Sarah and Tears lean towards more personal, individual experiences. “It’s been a long process of song-writing over the last couple of years,” Archer says.“Just the way that things happen, we usually end

TWERK IS COMING

Plan B

PARKLIFE IS HERE Van She up pairing up. “So everyone kind of plays every instrument on the record. We don’t necessarily write by setting it up like a band and jamming like a band and just hitting record. It’s a lot more like everyone has guitars, keyboards, drum machines and everything at home, all the kind of tools. And then basically everyone writes everything. Everyone’s written significant parts of the record.” Now focused on their upcoming national tour (“We’ve got a really full schedule. The label’s been like ‘you really need to lay low and focus on the record and the tour and not overexpose yourself’”), Archer says they’re looking forward to meeting and hanging out with their tour support Rüfüs. “One of the things about touring with another group is that you get to hang out. Sometimes it’s tricky. We didn’t really hang out with the supports on our last tour very much. Hopefully we’ll get to hang out with these guys. Maybe we should all go out to dinner or get really drunk or something.” But, although the tour is a priority, Jamaica is at the forefront of their minds. “Every report that we’ve had from anyone who’s been to Jamaica is like ‘if you’ve heard it’s rough, like whatever you’ve heard, it’s rougher!’. It sounds like a terrifying place to be a white boy,” he concludes, laughing.

» » » »

For all those music heads and dancing feet, listen up! The Parklife 2012 lineup is out. Bringing their treasured tunes and a bunch of fresh beats will be The Presets, Justice (DJ set), Jacques Lu Cont, Nero (live), Rusko, DJ Fresh (live), Benga (live), Modestep, Passion Pit, Plan B, Wiley, Hermitude, Labrinth, Lee Foss, Alison Wonderland and a bunch more. There are no price increases for this year, yippee! Presales start tomorrow, Thursday, June 21, from 12 midday AEST and end next Monday, June 25. Tickets are $138 plus booking fee. Remember Tuesday, July 3, 12 midday AEST time for the general ticket release date. Get pumped.

BARING ALL

LA dubstep DJ and producer BARE is about to launch his twisted, face-melting beats on Australia. With roots in rock, west coast hip hop and aggressive drum’n’bass, BARE has released tracks on Play Me, Ultragore, Basshead Music, Tuff Love Dubs and other high profile labels has seen this bad boy rise to the top of his game. His productions have found their way onto playlists of Excision, Funtcase, 12th Planet, Borgore, MRK1 and more. BARE plays Villa on Friday, July 20. Hit up villanightclub.com.au for all the deets.

VAN SHE IDEA OF HAPPINESS [MODULAR] OUT FRIDAY, JULY 6 THURSDAY, JULY 5 @ CAPITOL

Bare BARE

Bounce that ass! That’s right, the Deadweight! Crew have been pushing good underground bass music for a while now. They’ve been fortunate enough to be able to host and play alongside acts like Jon Convex, Dark Sky, DMZ and even hosted a music extravaganza alongside Arp 101, Martyn and Africa Hitech last New Year’s Eve. Now, they’ve got a new night. It’s called Twerk and it’s going to be a night dedicated to footwork, juke, trap and ghetto tech music. Twerk launches on Friday, July 20, at The Bakery. Get on down to hear cutting edge beats from Nebula, Kit Pop, SaussBauss, Oni Cash, RobiHusslin and Boy P. Hit up nowbaking.com. au for tickets. Get Twerked.

Z-Trip

A TRIP DOWN Z LANE

No stranger to our shores, Zach Sciacca, aka DJ Z-Trip, is bringing his new AV show down under. Known for his epic mash-up skills, Z-Trip has gone further than Cut Chemist and Grandmaster Flash with his mash up talent, working directly with technology companies like Rane/Serato and was instrumental in the development of the DJ Hero videogame series. He’s done official remixes for Nirvana, 2Pac, LL Cool J as well as a career spanning and artist approved Beastie Boys catalogue mix. Z-Trip plays The Bakery on Saturday, August 11. Hit up nowbaking.com.au for tickets.

THRE3STYLIN’ IT

Just in case you missed this one, the DJ contest Red Bull Thre3Style is back for its second year. Last year’s state champion Junior will face up against Zeke, Wasteland, Ace Basik, Rekab and Klean Kicks to battle it out for the title. Each DJ must rock the house for 15 minutes with a set that incorporates at least three genres of music. Ballarat’s own Yacht Club DJs will be behind the decks to get the d-floor warmed up. There’ll be a national final and then the overall winner will go on to represent Australia in the Red Bull Thre3Style World Final in Chicago. It’s all happening tonight, Wednesday, June 20, at Air Nightclub. Doors open 9pm.

State Of Mind process for Maxwell and Hawkins. “To an extent we make our music thinking about how it will sound live,” he says. “I don’t mean we think that every single track we make should be or is a big banger but we always think about things like ‘wouldn’t it be cool if we took it down here and had all the lights go down so it’s pitch black and play some sort of deeper track?’.” Creating an experience unlike an average DJ set, State Of Mind the tempo and presentation of their shows “I think there are two things that all control personally.“[We] design it to mesh with the music,” he really sick tracks have in common,” says.“It adds a whole new level to the performance.” Over the course of six years, a relationship Stu Maxwell, one-half of drum’n’bass can change. The same rings true for musical saviours State Of Mind, says. “One: relationships. Maxwell believes his chemistry with does it create an emotion? It could Hawkins has evolved for the better.“We each have our sets sure but we usually work together from start be a ‘fuck yeah, fist pump rave out’ skill to finish. Sometimes, though, just one of us will make or it could make you happy or sad. It a tune at home or on the road and be like ‘hey what do just has to connect somehow. Two - you think of this?’.” is probably the case for others, but less important - it should be well drum’n’bassAs brought the two together. Meeting produced.” The New Zealand native through mutual friends they started hanging out at before joining forces. “We were both making gives ANDREW HICKEY a glimpse parties music individually, not very well back then I might into the musical mayhem he and his add, and we figured let’s make on together,” Maxwell explains. “We opened my flatmates crappy PC with partner-in-rhythm cook up. Fruityloops and got stuck in.” It didn’t take long for attention to come It’s been quite a journey since Maxwell and Patrick Hawkins first came together in 2005. The boys from their way as they received an offer for their very first State Of Mind are ready to make their return to recording together. “We thought we must be onto Australian shores. The Auckland duo are hitting up something so we made some more,” he says. “We Villa for what should be a night of mayhem and grand never released that first tune in the end, probably a drum’n’bass. Their admiration for our land is quite wise move.” With plenty of well honed productions apparent as Maxwell enthusiastically tells us about now under their belt, State Of Mind are gearing up to their past visits to Perth and Melbourne. “Mind you, hit the studio for their next release which Maxwell says there are so many Kiwis there now it’s a bit like being at will drop “this time next year,” through their own SOM home innit?,” he says. The architects behind anthems Music imprint. like Sunking and Kinetic are known for the crazy and energetic live shows and are ready to bring the ruckus to back to the west. » STATE OF MIND The process of creating anthems in the » SATURDAY, JUNE 30 @ VILLA studio and translating them live is a fairly natural

STATE OF MIND KINETIC ENERGY

X-Press – First on the street, Wednesdays

MUSCLES GROWING UP

ZEKE

He has successfully earned himself a reputation as a ‘one-man party machine’ but there’s more to Muscles than you think. Returning in 2012 with a self-described “mature” and “darker” sophomore record, Muscles has done quite a bit of growing up since his debut album Guns Babes Lemonade, as he tells NINA BERTOK. “I’ve been known as that guy who just brings the oneman party,” Chris Copulos, aka Muscles, admits. “But I’ve also always been the guy that’s really planned out his life and is always thinking five years ahead. That’s the other side of me. I’m always thinking ‘what will I do?’ and ‘how am I gonna get there?’. But lately I’ve realised a pretty important lesson – everything in life doesn’t turn out to be how you plan it to be, it usually ends up being way more exciting and crazy and chaotic. So there’s been some lessons learned in the last few years and on this album [Manhood] I feel like there is very much a strong narrative story being told from the first track to the last.” Copulos claims on his aptly-titled second album Manhood he’s shedding his past and moving towards a whole new sound in the process.“It’s more sophisticated, darker disco, but at the same time I’m trying to still retain my own style and personality,” he explains. “Some of the songs are even slower ballads but mostly it’s just weird leftfield futuristic music. I just can’t stand conforming to what’s popular or what’s gonna sell lots of records. I’ve come to a point where I completely trust in myself to rely on the hunger inside of me to create these songs. A lot of it has come from the time I’ve spent in the last few years just travelling overseas and meeting all sort of strange and wonderful people. There are definitely some stories in there.” According to the man himself, one of the most exciting things about making Manhood was taking a different approach with regards to creation. “That was something different for me, for sure,” he says. “I decided I would do it like a rock band would do it – so you go into a studio for a couple of months, you try to write at least about 20 tracks and then you trim it down to 12 for the album.

SCRATCHING DEEP

Muscles “It’s probably a bit bizarre the way that I approach song-writing. In the back of my head, I try and make each part of the song from a different decade. So, for example, I’ll be going for a bassline from the ‘70s, like maybe disco or something, then the vocals might have a ‘90s tinge, and the synths might be more ‘60s experimental or maybe I’ll add in an ‘80s drum sound. I think that’s what makes each track so unique. I engineered, wrote, recorded, edited and mixed the whole album myself – I didn’t collaborate with anyone else – it was just directly from my brain and into my mouth or into my fingers and onto a CD.” Copulos also promises that his third record will take nowhere near as long as Manhood did. “I’ve been so excited about this album coming out because it’s been almost five years!,” he enthuses. “I actually couldn’t even sleep last night; I was up ‘til 4am both excited and apprehensive about the album coming out but then I woke up in the morning with a good feeling. It’s all been really full on so far – I even locked myself out of my house by accident earlier. The third album is definitely not going to be a five year wait. I have other plans at the moment though – I think I will do an acoustic album as a bit of a buffer in between, which is something different for me again, so I’m looking forward to seeing what people think of that.”

» MUSCLES » MANHOOD [MODULAR] » OUT NOW

Zeke Ugle got his first DJ residency when he was 17. It was at Geraldton’s famous club The Nighty. Since then, the now Perth-based DJ and producer has taken out the State DMC DJ Champ twice, the Australasian IDA DJ Champ and received the honour of Skratch Champ/Valedictorian from Qbert’s Skratch University. ANNABEL MACLEAN chats with the Paperchain artist ahead of his appearance at Syrup this weekend.

Zeke

English composer Gabriel Prokofiev, Ugle says it’s definitely a project which will make for an exciting challenge which hits The Astor in August. “He’s [Prokofiev] created this whole show with mixing the orchestra and DJ and integrating the two styles so he’s chosen me as the turntablist,” he says. “It’s weird because I’ve got to work with musicians who have actually made me like a full score sheet up so they’re going to help me try and Zeke Ugle won a competition at Geraldton’s The read it. It’s the first time I’ve really had a whole bunch Nighty back when he was 17 and from there, the of people having to rely on me besides working with crew at The Nighty hired him as a resident DJ but Kit Pop.” it did have its drawbacks. “I had to have my mum or Ugle’s work with Kit Pop is instrumental, my aunty [present] so that I could do it so that was exciting and 100 per cent live (“All the mixing and all pretty nice,” Ugle reveals. “You know how you can the scratching – nothing is pre-done. We think too give consent for somebody to be my guardian – they many DJs these days just do automatic mode… we ended up giving it to the manager. He didn’t do a just like to keep it raw, like old school”). Signed to Kit good job of looking after me (laughs).” Force-fed you Pop’s label Paperchain, Ugle is currently preparing drinks? “Yeah exactly,” he says, laughing. for tonight’s Red Bull Thre3Style competition and has Ugle moved to Perth back in 2006 to released two remixes recently – Get Lost for French pursue his music career and got an apprenticeship as label Black Elk Recordings and Dead Fetus’ track an electrician. “I finished my electrical apprenticeship Medicinal for American imprint STYLSS. Ugle’s track and that was just something to have as a back up so Who’s There will be released as a single later this year I could focus mainly on my music which is why I’ve with remixes from Ta-Ku, Lakritze and more. had releases this year,” he says. “Before that, I was But, he can’t confirm whether these tracks never really full devoted to the production and that will make it onto his set list for this month’s instalment but now I’ve got the time to.” But, although he’s not of Syrup. “Possibly,” he says. “It’s weird because the practising his trade, it has come in handy. “I’ve done a couple of jobs for Ezra Pound and The Bird. Any little music I make compared to the music I like playing bars that find out that I’m an electrician snap me up out is a bit different because when I play out I like to smash it pretty much. People know me for that heavy straight away,” he says. It’s not just Ugle’s electrical skills which are music, music that’s hard to find but it’s still really big.” making him a man in demand, he’s recently been asked to partake in the West Australia Symphony » ZEKE Orchestra’s (WASO) Latitude Series, a symphony concert which will see Ugle join his turntable skills » SYRUP with the orchestral talent of WASO. Composed by » FRIDAY, JUNE 22 @ 23 IRWIN STREET, PERTH

LICK IT UP Shape Friday, June 15, 2012

AMON TOBIN

CHASM

BOXSET NINJA TUNE

THIS IS HOW WE NEVER DIE OBESE RECORDS

Brazilian born Amon Adonai Santos de Araújo Tobin (it’s easier to say Amon Tobin) rewards his fans for 15 years of dedication with a mammoth release containing (deep breath) six vinyl 10-inches, seven CDs, two DVDs and a few posters chucked into to boot. “It’s a collection of things that happened along the way,” the man himself describes. “I’m proud of these things but I have never found a way to consolidate them.” Tobin is a difficult artist to review without venturing down into cliché corner. The cinematic soundscapes and ethereal sci-fi tones sometimes border on being background mood music (which in the case of his movie and video game scores they are) but his legendary audio-visual performances are captured excellently in the DVD ISAM Live and his dramatic tendencies are brought to the surface through collaborations with the likes of Noisia (Sunhammer) and domineering remixes such as his re-working of Ryuichi Sakamoto’s Grief. One for the connoisseur only, those trainspotters willing to fork out for this 4000 limited edition behemoth won’t be doing so with their eyes closed, they’ll know exactly what they’re getting, and lots of it too. For everyone else, suggest testing the water with his earlier long-players before plunging into this one.

» ANDREW NELSON 3/5

Shape’s new fortnightly Friday celebration – The Lick – hit the ground running last Friday, June 15, with DJ Royalston from Med School Music behind the decks. Dance music lovers flocked to the East Perth venue to get their bass on until the wee hours of the weekend. Photographs by Lachlan Parkin

Sydney hip hop producer Chasm has delivered another solid album with This Is How We Never Die, his third release. While his production doesn’t have an immediately identifiable sound – like, say, Obese Records label mate M-Phazes – his warm, dub-infused basslines and soulful samples form a melodic backdrop for an impressive international guest list. This Is How We Never Die peaks early with Highs And Lows, which unites Fashawn, Solo and David Dallas – amongst the most exciting upcoming rappers out of America, Australia and New Zealand, respectively – and Ruthless, the album’s hardest hitting track, featuring Guilty Simpson and Brad Strut. Th e d i ve r s e l i n e u p ra re l y f a l te r s. Surprisingly, the flattest performance comes from New York veteran A.G., who delivers a half-baked verse on I Am Legend (fortunately Delta saves the track). The only other issue is that Chasm rarely gives himself a chance to shine. The two instrumental songs, New Day and Smokey, promise interesting things but both clock in at less than two minutes. Had it been released six months ago, This Is How We Never Die would have been a perfect summer soundtrack – but it will still carry listeners away to warmer weather.

» JOSHUA HAYES 4/5

THIS WEEK

TOTALLY ENORMOUS EXTINCT DINOSAURS TROUBLE

It’s the long-awaited debut record from 22-year-old UK DJ and producer Orlando Higginbottom. If you like playful and dreamy synths then this is for you. Think Bag Raiders, Junior Boys, Soul Clap. Could be quite minimal for the hardcore EDM fan. www.xpressmag.com.au

WEDNESDAY 20/06 Air – Red Bull Thre3Style Competition ft Junior/ Zeke/ Wasteland/ Klean Kicks/ Ace Basik/ Rekab/ Yacht Club DJs Captain Stirling – Fiveo Clancy’s (Applecross) – Upbeat – DJ Andy Connections – DJs Joby /JJ /Rueben Eurobar – Wild Wednesdays - DJ iPod/ Ben Pettit Flying Scotsman – UniQue DJs/ DJ Bones/ DJ Moflow Gold Bar–DJ Adroc Hipe Club – DJ Roger Smart Leederville Hotel – We Love Wednesdays ft DJ Slick Metro Freo - Rapture Mustang – DJ Giles Newport – Newport Wednesdays Shape - Blank Wednesdays Sovereign Arms – Lokie Shaw The Deen - DJ Zelimer/ DJ Viper/ DJ Benny/ T– Zone 1 The Queens – Wriggle on The Velvet Lounge – Roulette DnB YaYa’s - DJ Agent 85/ Dr Zaius

THURSDAY 21/06 Blvd Tavern – DJ Andy Clancy’s (Canning Bridge) - DJ Wrighteous Club Marakesh – DJ Simon Cottesloe Hotel – DJ Shots/ DJ Andy M

NEWPORT

FLAWLESS

METRO CITY

Empire Bar – Halo/ DJ Bojan/ DJ Ben Sebastian Eve – DJ Tony Allen Flawless - DJ Zelimir/ DJ Minna Flying Scotsman – Cowboys & Indie Kids DJs Leopold Hotel – DJ Riki/ Roger Smart Library - Dorcia 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 Paramount – DJ Johnny Boi/ DJ Jordan Players Bar – MASH South St – DJ Castasia/ Dpad Swinging Pig – DJ Simon The Avenue – Jon Ee The Carine Tavern – Punchy & Juicy/ Little Nicky 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 ft Az-T The Queens – Kapitol The Velvet Lounge – Poke The Box The Whale & Ale – Josh Tilley The Whistling Kite - DJ Gareth Tiger Lils – Paul Malone/ Adam Kelly Woodvale Tavern – DJ Melvin

FRIDAY 22/06 23 Irwin Street, Perth - Syrup ft Zeke/ Ben T/ D.Y.P/ Saus Bauss/ Sleepyhead/ Raaghe Ambar – Rated X Amplifier – Cowboys & Indie Kids Bar 459 - DJ Smurf Beat Nightclub - Play Boheme Bar - DJ Majiika Boulevard Tavern – DJ Andyy Broken Hill Hotel – DJ Nick Alexander Brooklands Tavern - DJ Jayden Capitol – Retro Mash Capitol (Upstairs) – I Love ‘90s Carine Tavern – Greg Packer/ MC Assassin Clancy’s (Canning Bridge) - DJ Boogie Claremont Hotel – DJ Pasha Hayat/ Jon Ee Club Bayview – Amnesia ft Fendi/ Axon/ Fellis Como Hotel – DJ Gazz Eastern Hotel – DJ Munch Empire Bar – DJs Halo/ Bojan/ Ben Sebastian Eve – DJ Don Migi/ DJ Danny Boi Flawless – DJ Ryan Flying Scotsman – DJs Jo19/ Rok Riley/ Armee 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 – Dorcia 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 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 Norfolk Basement – Rae/ Pimps Of Sound ft Milly James/ Ngati/ Freqshow Paddy Hannans – Crazy Craig Paramount - DJ Johnny Boi/ DJ Jordan Players Bar – Sugar Queens Tav – DJ Rueben Rocket Room – DJ Brett Rowe/ DJ Cain Sail & Anchor - Balcony Beatz/ DJ J-MAC Sovereign Arms – Dylan Hammond The Avenue – Az-T The Bakery - MC Fashawn/ Exile/ Marksman ft Lenny/ Charlie Bucket/ Coin/ MT5k The Carine – Mind Electric/ Little Nicky/ Az-T The Causeway – 4by4 DJs The Court - Sebastien Drums The East End Bar – Funk Fridays The Generous Squire - DJ Anaru The Queens – DJ Rueben The Saint - DJ Jordan The Shed – DJ Glenn 20 The Whale & Ale – Josh Tilley Tiger Lils – Paul Malone/ Adam Kelly The Vic - DJ Giles The Wembley Hotel – Lokie Shaw Windsor – DJ Riki and Ray Victoria Park Hotel – DJ Giles Villa - 360/ Hermitude YaYa’s – Junk ft DJ Whoa!

SATURDAY 23/06 360

Zeke

Ambar – Japan 4 ft Mat Cant/ Bezwun/ Oli/ Philly Blunt/ Micah Amplifier – Pure Pop ft Eddie Electric Basement On Broadway – DJ Ricky Boheme Bar – Carte Blanche DJs Broken Hill Tavern – DJ Roger Smart/ Matt Richards/ Ben Dallin Capitol – Death Disco DJs Capitol (Upstairs) – Cream Of The ‘80s ft DJ Ryan Clancy’s (Canning Bridge) - DJ Dood Claremont Hotel – Jon Ee/ J.V.R Club Bay View – Little Nicky Empire Bar – DJ James Ess Eurobar – Roger Smart/ DJ Raci East End Bar - Fiveo Eve Nightclub – DJ Crazy Craig Flawless – Offset/ Jackness/ Travis LeBrun Flying Scotsman - Under The Influence DJs Flying Scotsman (Defectors) - Fore DJs High Road Hotel – DJ Simon High Wycombe – DJ Matt

SUNDAY 24/06

Exile 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 Freo – DTuck/ Darren Briais/ DJ Wazz Mint Nightclub – Pop Life ft DJ Aaron/ AJ Mullaloo Beach Hotel – DJ Danny Mustang – Rockabilly DJ/ DJ James MacArthur Niche – Frankie Button/ Cee/ Jonny Zimber Norma Jeans – DJ Darren Oxford Hotel – DJ Sequeria Paramount- DJ Cornflake / DJ Jordan/ DJ Johnny Boi Players Bar – Embrace Queens Tav - Gareth Richardson Rocket Room – Delicious (Ladies Only) ft DJ Brett Rowe South St Ale House – DJ Jay Sovereign Arms – Rockwell The Astor - 360 The Avenue – Jon Ee The Brighton (Upstairs) – Micah/ Kill Dyl/ eSQue The Boheme – DJ Sneakee The Causeway – Sun City DJs The Cornerstone – Tammy Stevens The Craftsman – Tammy Stevens The Deen - DJ Birdie/ DJ JJ/ DJ Tony Allen The Generous Squire – On Tap 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

Captain Stirling – DJ Jay Claremont Hotel – DJ Double Dee Clink – DJ Tony Allen Club Bay View – Fiveo Empire Bar – CB3/ DJ Riki/ DJ Vicktor Euro Bar – DJ Flex Eve – DJ LStreet Flying Scotsman – Nathan J/ Nizbet/ Pasha/ Chris Flying Scotsman (Defectors) – Eclectic Picnic Mint - Chris McPhee Mustang – DJ Rockin Rhys Paramount – Glo/ DJ Slick/ DJ Benny C/ DJ Matty S Players Bar – Electro House Battle Rocket Room – Coyote Ugly Sovereign Arms – Josh Tilley The Astor - 360 The Avenue – Az-T The Causeway – Lukas Wimmler The Cott – Cott Sessions The Kiosk – DJ Cinder The Saint - DJ Anaru The Shed – DJ Andyy

MONDAY 25/06 Bar Orient - DJ White Label Broken Hill Tavern - DJ Mario Tavelli The Deen – Plastic Max/ The Token Gesture The Paddo – DJ John Paul The Shed – DJ Andyy

TUESDAY 26/06 Bar Orient - DJ Lyndon Eastern Hotel – Jon Edwards High Road Hotel – DJ Matty J High Wycombe – DJ Ricky Hipe Club – DJ Roger Smart Players Bar (Norma Jeans Bar) – Stevie M Victoria Park Hotel – DJ Melvin

MC Fashawn

X-Press – First on the street, Wednesdays

AMPLIFIER

CAPITOL

FRAT HOUSE FRIDAYS

METROS FREO

IN THE THIS WEEK:

Syrup ft Zeke/ Ben T/ D.Y.P/ Saus Bauss/ Sleepyhead/ Raaghe Blank Wednesdays Wednesday, June 20 @ Shape Friday, June 22 @ 23 Irwin Street, Perth Red Bull Thre3Style 360 Competition ft Junior/ Saturday, June 23 @ The Zeke/ Wasteland/ Klean Astor Kicks/ Ace Basik/ Rekab/ Yacht Club DJs 360 Wednesday, June 20 @ Air Sunday, June 24 @ The Astor Nightclub Internet Rap Is Fucking Up My Social Life III ft Klunk/ Sleepyhead/ Booty Collins/ Fresh Produce ft Benny P/ Ashwall WasteLand/ 4by4/ Axon/ Thursday, June 21 @ The Bird ElKymbo Friday, June 29 @ Ambar 360/ Hermitude Friday, June 22 @ Villa Tantrum Desire & State Of Mind Rated X Saturday, June 30 @ Villa Friday, June 22 @ Ambar Electrified ft DJs Damien Blaze/ Rinski/ Hutcho/ Greg MC Fashawn/ Exile/ Packer & MC Assassin and Marksman ft Lenny/ Charlie Bucket/ Coin/ MT5k more Friday, June 22 @ The Bakery Saturday, June 30 @ Gilkisons

COMING UP

Japan 4 ft Mat Cant / Bezwun/ Oli/ Philly Blunt/ Micah Saturday, June 23 @Ambar

Dirtyphonics Thursday, July 5 @ The Rosemount Hotel

Van She Thursday, July 5 @ Capitol Addicted To Bass ft Bombs Away/ Kid Kenobi Friday, July 6 @ Villa Logistics Friday, July 6 @ Shape District ft Zeke/ Get More/ Philly Blunt v Meet Mark/ Riot Class/ Genga/ Benny P Friday, July 6 @ Ambar Alex Smoke Saturday, July 7 @ Geisha

The Big Ape Tour ft Joker/ Skream/ Sgt Pokes/ Plastician Wednesday, July 18 @ Villa BARE Friday, July 20 @Villa Twerk ft Nebula/Kit Pop/ SaussBauss/Oni Cash/ Robi Husslin/Boy P Friday, July 20 @ The Bakery Bootleg ft Mind Electric/ Joe Revell/ Tapeheads/ The Bootleg Brothers/ DNGRFLD Friday, July 20 @ Ambar

C&C Music Factory Friday, July 13 @ Metro City

Major Bass ft Rennie Pilgrem/ Cutline/ Nick Thayer Saturday, July 21 @ Villa

Ajax Friday, July 13 @ Ambar

Speakeasy’s 1st Birthday ft Clubfeet/ Yuksek Friday, July 27 @ Villa

Snowbreeze Dance Party Friday, July 13 @ Villa

Lee Coombs Friday, July 27 @ Ambar

The Substance Showcase Saturday, July 14 @ Villa

Doorly Sunday, July 29 @ The Bakery Zombie Crawl Friday, August 3 @ Villa Z-Trip Saturday, August 11 @ The Bakery Parklife ft Chairlift/ Modestep/ The Presets/ Nero (Live)/ Passion Pit/ Plan B/ Justic (DJ set)/ Robyn/ Benga (Live)/ Rusko/ Wiley/ Labrinth/ DJ Fresh (Live)/ Flume/ Alison Wonderland/ Lee Foss/ Jack Beats (Live) and more TBC Monday, October 1 @ Wellington Square This Is Nowhere ft lineup TBC Sunday, October 14 @ Dolphin Theatre & Lawrence Jackson Court, UWA

Hermitude

360/HERMITUDE FRIDAY, JUNE 22 @ VILLA

www.xpressmag.com.au

Stereosonic ft Tiesto/ Destructo/ Dillon Francis/ Gesaffelstein and more TBC Sunday, November 25, at venue TBC

Bee Mask (photo by Dan Grant)

MAKING SPACES BEE MASK/ Craig Mcelhinney/ Adam Trainer/ Michael Terren PICA Bar Saturday, June 16, 2012 In many ways, it was the perfect weather for a Bee Mask show. Though the Philadelphia-based electronic performer may have been disappointed to not catch Perth at its sunniest, the grey skies and drizzle added a surreal atmosphere to the evening’s performance. There was a real feeling of coming together as audience members were drawn from the dreary cold outside into the intricate, synthetic sound worlds of Bee Mask and his local supports. First act, Michael Terren, performed solo on keyboard and laptop. His opening texture used a matrix of computer feedback to elicit liquid bass sounds and sibilant pads. This abstract beginning proved fertile soil from which muffled layers of piano were allowed to emerge. As the set progressed, Terren increasingly pulled his sounds into twitching beat patterns to mesmeric effect.

The next performer, Adam Trainer, drew the undivided attention of the room. His set consisted of guitar, vocals and various other sound sources being coloured and overlayed by laptop manipulation. Fennesz is a definite reference point here, not only in sound but in musical approach, and Trainer allowed the same studied simplicity in his soundscape’s construction. The set’s intrigue comes from the interplay between the concrete sounds of the instruments and voice and their digital abstractions. A particularly beautiful moment came when Trainer suddenly pulled away much of the digital jetsam to leave a naked guitar loop shivering in the cold. Craig Mcelhinney’s set was full of images of nostalgia, degradation, memory, etc. Mcelhinney sampled from tapes that he has recorded and re-recorded countless times. This process ensures that each tape has a long history of past sounds and, for the attentive listener; there were ghostly suggestions of these sounds amongst the sea of tape hiss. His set was beautiful, playing contrasting textures against one another in long, slow chains. It’s unusual to see a huge degree of audience focus at any gig but it was perhaps particularly surprising, considering the ambient and abstract nature of the music, to see how concentrated Bee Mask’s listeners were. PICA Bar really lends itself to such focused listening, the sound filled the tiny room and the audience sat on chairs, bean bags or crossed-legged on the floor in appreciative silence. Bee Mask (Chris Madak to his mother) makes very digital music. Unlike the support acts, who all manipulated acoustic sounds to varying degrees, Bee Mask’s music is almost entirely synthesized. His approach to improvising with these sounds is deliberate and considered. The main formal technique at play is one of accumulating texture. At any one time there is a sense of one central mass and a number of other stray sounds being gradually drawn into it. Though this is hardly a unique idea, Bee Mask manages it with elegance, resulting in sounds which bloom, grow and gradually reside. Though nothing ever happens suddenly, the set allows a fairly wide array of sounds from bubbling synthetic water through to cartoon voices and chiming gamelan. For an hour, Bee Mask constructed immersive sonic spaces. In the real world it was still raining and, for the length of his set, Bee Mask’s music was a beautiful place to be.

» HENRY ANDERSEN

X-Press â&#x20AC;&#x201C; First on the street, Wednesdays

LISA MITCHELL Georgia Fair / Aluka St Joseph’s Church, Subiaco Friday, June 15, 2012 A church may seem an incongruous setting for a pop concert, but, surrounded by deep, seated pews on three sides and with an expansive floor area set for standing, St Joseph’s Church in Subiaco lent an air of austerity to Friday night’s events as an assembly of possibly the most polite people in the galaxy eagerly awaited the entry of their princess – that, of course, being the doyenne of Australian nu folk, Lisa Mitchell. Support came from genial folk twopiece Georgia Fair, who impressed with a set of soaring harmonies and delicately finger-plucked tunes before doubling up with duties as backing

_JENNIFER PETERSON-WARD

JACOB DIAMOND The Flower Drums / The Big Old Bears / Amanda Merdzan Mojos Bar Friday, June 15, 2012

Jacob Diamond (Photo: Daniel Grant)

Young troubadour Jacob Diamond’s self-titled EP launch at Ya Yas last month sold out early in the piece, but he was all to willing to oblige his ever growing local fanbase with a second launch party south of the river last Friday evening at Mojos Bar in a night filled with wholesome tunes delivered by youthful performers. While Fremantle’s temperature was dropping outside, singer-songwriter Amanda Merdzan warmed the audience up with an acoustic set well-suited to the intimate early night crowd. Merdzan played with an emotional intensity broken only by the intrusion of an over-anxious fire alarm. She played some new material from her forthcoming EP (which she revealed is due for release this September); one of which was the gloomily beautiful Crawl. The Big Old Bears stepped in at the last minute to replace The Autumn Isles, who were struck with food poisoning. The Bears were without half their members, leaving lead singer, guitarist and harmonicist David Craft and singer/keyboard player Nathalie Pavlovic and singer/violinist Pippa Lester. Despite proclaiming they felt lonely without their fellow members, the three delivered a stunning set. They sounded as wintry as mulled wine, with Craft’s deep vocals sparring with the piercing violin and jaunty keys. Craft could easily pass for a cross between Johnny Cash and the Crash Test Dummies’ Brad Roberts. While Craft and Pavlovic held their own as a duo, Lester’s extra strings added a

FRENZAL RHOMB Agitated / Negative Reinforcement Rosemount Hotel Saturday, June 16, 2012 Okay. Take all the rad ‘80s hardcore punk you can possibly think of – starting with say, Negative FX – update the sound to crushing modern intensity and cram it into a 15 minute set. That’s Negative Reinforcement in a nutshell: an ADHD dream.Tonight’s openers, they swung wildly from style to style without stopping and didn’t talk to the audience at all, so it was barely possible to tell one song from another.The result was a seamless tapestry of textures and speeds. Here a lightening blast-beat, there a crunching metal-core riff, then a touch of doom and suddenly, mid-set – out of nowhere – a wild feedback effect. Each of these pieces,

THE BLACK SEEDS

vocalists and guitarists during Mitchell’s set. Adorned with halos, Melbourne-based a capella trio Aluka also provided a mini choir of angels with soft, lovely backing vocals. Decked in an ethereal floor-length white gown, Mitchell’s pure vocals cradled by rich band harmonies reached every corner of the vast church. Great though her band were, they seemed to be here more for Mitchell’s benefit than ours. The respectful audience were spellbound, pulled in by invisible strings, when they left her alone for her solo section, where she sung a bulk of songs from her first album, 2009’s Wonder, as well as a selection of new tunes from her upcoming sophomore effort (which she revealed will hit shelves in September). From her melancholic Love Letters to favourites Coin Laundry and Neapolitan Dreams, boppy Oh! Hark! and uplifting new single Spiritus (which was also gifted to every audience member) the “parishioners” were hushed from start to finish. It wasn’t a particularly spiritual experience, but had fans, irrespective of religious persuasion, happily breathing hallelujah.

Cheap Fakes The Bakery Thursday, June 14, 2012

Lisa Mitchell (Photo: Callum Ponton)

special twist, especially on Never Haunting Storm. The band dedicated their last song of the night to Merdzan because “her songs are so beautiful”. By the time The Flower Drums took to the stage Mojos was filling up. The five-piece band played an ambient set but unfortunately did not capture their audience’s attention as well as the bands before them. Amid the chatter, lead singer Leigh Craft (brother of The Big Old Bears’ David) performed an excellent Bon Iver-esque solo piece. Highlights of the multifarious set included the dabs of haunting electric guitar and the understated, rippling drumming. While there had been escalating chatter beforehand, the audience was hushed when Jacob Diamond started his performance with an unexpected energetic rendition of The Beatles’ Don’t Let Me Down. Diamond and his band – including Derry Doyle, Phil Cilli, Elliot Smith and Rob Tomlin – then descended into into their trademark dreamy, jazzy best. Diamond was joined at one point by Spoonful Of Sugar bandmate Karin Page, but while their voices were clearly suited to a duet, they were a little unbalanced and Page was harder to hear. Nonetheless, Diamond put on a charming performance, playing all songs from his self-titled EP and more. There was an acoustic solo in the middle before Diamond promised to “hit the audience in the face with music”.The addition of the double bass, keys, and mandolin definitely added an extra something, especially on I’m All Alone It’s A Losing Game and It Is The Industry, where indie, folk and jazz influences mingled. Diamond was particularly impressive on the romantic lullaby Moonlight, where he moved his voice along with the guitar seemingly without catching a breath.

taken in isolation, was straightforward. But accidentally or otherwise, the overall result was a surprisingly hooky journey through time and style, during which it was simply not possible to get bored. As evidence of this, the band was called back for an encore, which is very unusual indeed for a support band. More straightforward but no less effective, crackling with timeless intensity like a battered 7” record that’s seen too many drunken evenings, Agitated’s classic riffs could have been photocopied straight from Minor Threat, or even The Adolescents. The vocals were manic, the energy infectious, the results bitchin’, yellin’, rockin’ ‘80s hardcore. In contrast to the openers, Agitated interacted freely with the bulging, seething, crowd-surfing Rosemount punters. They brought a charismatic sense of enjoyment to the stage and the night responded in kind, crackling with excitement. Meanwhile, ever supportive of the people who support them, members of Frenzal Rhomb

Dub is the darker, slower, harder cousin of reggae. I once heard it described as “reggae on drugs... different drugs... harder drugs.” Dub, short for ‘double,’ refers to the process of replicating a recording to make a new version. The form dates back to King Tubby and “Scratch” Perry’s ‘80s experiments creating long instrumental mixes of reggae singles for digestion in Jamaica’s dance halls. In those early days, dub was a studio echo of live reggae but its techniques soon fed back into the main-stream and live reggae bands began to mix dub techniques into their sound. It is this tradition of live dub reggae which informs the music of New Zealand octet The Black Seeds. During their sold out show at The Bakery, the band demonstrate the incredible energy and raw weight of sound capable when reggae embraces the deeper, darker elements of its psyche. Support for the night comes from Brisbane band Cheap Fakes. The group are energetic, sharp suited and have a sound that sits somewhere between the tight soul-funk of The Commitments and a soundtrack to an ‘80s porn film.What stands out most from their performance is the astoundingly tight horn section. Too often however, the band crutch on this horn section and there are only so many times per set that a sax solo, no matter how virtuosic, is appropriate. In contrast to Cheap Fake’s sharp dressing and angular licks, The Black Seeds carry a looser, more bohemian aesthetic. The group has been playing together for 14 years now, and they carry themselves with a maturity and a surety that befits their performance. Despite having eight members, there is a real sense with the Black Seeds of each member being fully present in the sound. No-one seems overshadowed or particularly dominant. Especially impressive is Daniel Weetman, one of the group’s two front men, whose rich, earthy voice effortlessly takes command of the packed venue. The Black Seeds have a sound which lends itself well to live performance. One favourite technique is to build up layers of deep reverb and squalling delay sounds until breaking point, then leap suddenly into a huge chorus. And they do get a pretty huge sound when they want to, with trumpets, sax and as many as three percussionists lending some immense sonic weight to the set’s high points. The darkness in the band’s sound (somewhat surprising considering they share an ex-member with Flight Of The Conchords) is almost never overt. Rather, it is a feeling of depth and latent aggression that is buried in moments of The Black Seed’s music. Traditionally, reggae has a close association with Jamaican revolutionary politics. There are a few political messages laced into The Black Seed’s set as well, but they are mostly vague and tokenistic (“we have to fight the power people!”). This is the strange nature of dub reggae, part jubilant dance mix, part revolutionary anthem.Though the appropriation of revolutionary politics by a well-off Wellington band is occasionally uncomfortable, the overarching message of the set is one of celebration. The Black Seed’s mastery of rub music shows that the echoes from those early experiments are still being felt today - in all corners of the globe.

_CORAL HUCKSTEP – most visibly, affable guitarist Lindsay McDougall (otherwise known as Triple J’s The Doctor) – freely intermingled with their punters and made the effort to watch the local bands. When the time came to take the stage, they brought that same accessible, relatable sense of engagement with them. Before the band even played a note vocalist Jay Whalley was in full raconteur mode, sharing a quick summary of the tour so far, explaining to the packed house that he had managed to thrash his vocal chords out and would possibly not be able to carry“the same five notes I use in every song”. Happily, it was an unnecessary warning. In contrast to the upbeat McDougall, Whalley’s biting intellect and self-deprecating wit can lead him down a critical path, but it’s indicative of this evening’s radness that he reserved his venom for his own throat and, as ever, for his self-imposed celebrity nemesis Russell Crowe. Unlike last year’s Rosemount show, there were no dickheads at this gig, just a relentless sea of

_HENRY ANDERSEN awesomeness and classic times. It was a good night, and Frenzal Rhomb were clearly in a good mood as they wisecracked their way through a set peppered with highlights from their new album and back catalogue. And it was fun. Between songs, McDougall dropped into wry versions of old numbers by Jebediah, who were in the audience. At one point, erstwhile Perth legends Beaverloop received a shout-out, as did local band The Decline, whose members just about fell over at the reference. That’s exactly what has made Frenzal Rhomb so enduring over 20 years in the game. They know what city they’re in, they know about the people who have helped make their career possible, and they give a shit about what’s important. Long may they reign as Australia’s finest and most iconic punk band. _BEN WATSON

X-Press – First on the street, Wednesdays

WAM SONG OF THE YEAR 2012 Offering a shot at the big time for local songwriters, original solo artists and bands,WAM Song Of The Year is the contest that might just open the right doors, make the right connections and get your songs heard. Earlier this month JENNIFER PETERON-WARD learnt from 2010 winner Georgi Kay and WAM Project Officer Alexis Courtin why local songwriters of all ages and levels of experience can benefit from entering this prestigious songwriting competition.

Georgi Kay Festival are sponsoring the Jazz and World/Folk categories respectively, which brings the credit that these two categories deserve and will hopefully encourage more musicians to enter them.” Schoolgirl songstress Georgi Kay became the first ever schoolage winner of SOTY back in 2010, taking out the grand prize for her tune Breakfast In Bedlam. “It was a great way to get my name and face out there in the Perth music scene and boosted my confidence as a singer and songwriter,” she says, adding that taking out the title has afforded her to opportunity to work with renowned national and international artists. “It was at the 2010 WAM SOTY awards night that I met The Stoops, who I collaborated with, writing and singing my vocal part in our hip hop track Free. The track aired on Foxtel commercials on a few of the major channels, in particular Triple 1 Hits, which was awesome! That’s where the DJ duo Feenixpawl first heard my voice and, after Shazam-ing the track and seeing my name, hit me up on Twitter and flew me over east to write and sing the vocals for our club/dance track In My Mind, which is being played worldwide! Flo Rida’s got a version of the track which will be on his album, releasing in July, I believe. Which is well amazing!” Showing no signs of stopping, Kay’s career continues full pelt: “I’ve recently signed with Sony ATV publishing, and through that wonderful team of people I’ve met and collaborated with Dann Hume, Daniel Johns and many more. I’ve been working very hard on new songs and am really putting the effort in to find my true sound, which is a feat in itself for any musician and artist,” she concludes. “Winning the SOTY and working with WAM opened many a door for me.”

Since 1989, the WAM Song Of The Year Songwriting Competition, WA’s leading songwriting event, has been honouring songwriters, composers, bands, and recording artists across our fine state. This year’s competition is open to unpublished local songwriters of all ages and levels of experience, and offers more than $30,000 in prizes, including cash, free recording studio time, pro recording equipment and more. “WAM Song Of The Year has now been running for 23 years and has achieved level of national and international recognition. It’s fantastic to see that some previous category and Grand Prize winners have benefited from that exposure and have gained important career outcomes from publishing and distribution deals, to mentoring sessions with industry creative teams or just from more booking opportunities,” says Alexis Courtin. As Courtin attests, in 2012 WAM is aiming to make the SOTY categories more representative of the actual scenes they represent.“Some categories have always been well represented and have seen a steady number of entries every year while others such as indigenous, experimental, jazz or urban/hip hop didn’t always fully embody the richness of these scenes and we want to change that perception,” he says. “Over the last few years, WAM has engaged a lot more with key arts and music organisations across its programs and it’s proven well. Having Entries for this year’s SOTY competition are open from now ‘til Sunday these relationships in place has allowed me to secure relevant sponsors for July 30. For more information about how to enter hit up wam.asn.au/ each category. This year for example The Ellington Jazz Club and Fairbridge Events/WAMSongoftheYear.

SURE FIRE MIDNIGHTS

Hurricane Fighter Plane / The Dirty South/ The Caballeros Mojos Bar Saturday, June 16, 2012 There’s no guarantee that any given live performance is going to be decent, but an easy way of tipping the odds in your favour is to scan the gig listings for a birthday show. Promoter or performer, it doesn’t matter; when bands come together to celebrate one of their own, the combination of goodwill and good music makes for a good night out. Our case study: The Sure Fire Midnights’ show to mark the ageing of their rhythm section, sisters Abby and Kylie Soanes. Hurricane Fighter Plane kicked things off, the four piece offering up a ‘60s pop-rock sound reminiscent of the British Invasion. There’s a touch of The Who, and a bit of The Yardbirds, and a whole heap of The Kinks in there - complete with a cover of David Watts. Occasionally they seem to have trouble knowing when and how to finish a song, and their commitment to a retro aesthetic means they lose a few points for originality, but what they do, they do very well, and a music-savvy audience - such as the one normally found at Mojos - will appreciate their work.

Three piece outfit The Dirty South rock a heavier, dirtier groove. With their ranks filled with veteran Perth musos, they seem intent on reviving that most maligned of genres: good, old fashioned, Aussie pub rock. Their subject matter leans more towards Nick Cave and Tex Perkins than Angry Anderson and AC/DC, with titles like The Crow and Unlucky Jane, but their mix of heavy, aggressive instrumentation and darkly ironic lyrics tick all the right boxes. The Sure Fire Midnights killed it, as usual. They’re a tight and ferocious live presence, one of the best rock acts in Perth, and the fact that they’re not nationally renowned as yet is a mystery for the ages. Some feedback issues kept their set from being numbered amongst their very best - in point of fact, there was trouble with the mix for the entire night - but no minor technical snafus can mute the power of songs as good as Strike At Midnight, and their blistering cover of Kick Out The Jams was the highlight of the night. It takes a brave band to follow the Sure Fire Midnights on stage. Thank Christ for The Caballeros - Perth’s most handsome band, if they do say so themselves - who see such a position not as a handicap, but as a challenge to be overcome. These boys always hit the ground running, and tonight was no exception. Vocalist Jake “Dr. Green” England spent as much, if not more, time in the crowd than on the stage, accosting the prettier punters and even leaping onto the bar during “Hey Mister Bartender.” Green is a goddamn wild man, and he and the rest of the band brought the energy necessary to ensure the sure ended on a high note. All up, it was a killer evening of tunes. Let’s just hope we don’t have to wait a whole year to see such a solid and entertaining line-up grace the stages of Perth once more. _TRAVIS JOHNSON

X-Press – First on the street, Wednesdays

STRINGS ATTACHED Kosmic Sound’s Restring And Reskin Day was a smash hit with the punters when it took over the store last Thursday, June 14. Everyone who came down to be a part of the day and donate to StrikeA-Chord went away a winner. With Kosmic’s end of financial sale in full swing, many customers took advantage and walked out with a bargain as well as a fresh sounding guitar or snare drum. Guitars of all kinds were retrieved from wardrobes or under beds all over Perth for due care and attention; sad looking snare drums were nursed lovingly back to health by dedicated drum staff. The highlight of the day was a 1960s 12-string Epiphone acoustic signed by all four members of The Beatles. Needless to say, extra special care was taken with that one.

Luke

Gary with the 12-string Epiphone singed by The Beatles

Trevor Jalla

Marty Damian

CLEVER TREVOR

Having played festival and club dates across Australia, USA, Europe and Asia over the past 15 years, Trevor Jalla launches a stellar six-piece lineup with two upcoming shows at Ellington Jazz Club on Wednesday, June 20, and the Charles Hotel next Tuesday, June 26. Navigating the periphery of classic Motown, ‘50s soul-jazz and New Orleans R&B, these will be two special shows music lovers won’t want to miss.

THE LIGHT FANTASTIC

Thought ambient music had been drowned in a sea of New Age nonsense and chill out? Think again! Archer & Light are breathing new life into ambient music with their sweet indie pop grooves. Catch them at The Norfolk Basement on Saturday, June 23, with support from The Autumn Isles, Spoonful of Sugar and Lucas Jones.

UP ON THE HORIZON

Loud and energetic combo Mezzanine return to the fore in 2012 and are inviting listeners to delve into their recently released EP Vile Horizons this Friday, June 22, at The Rosemount. Special guests The Love Junkies, Trigger Jackets, Dead Owls and Foam will be strutting out their own brands of rock goodness from 8pm. Tickets are $15 on the door which includes a free copy of the EP.

NEW VELVET

This Friday, June 22, Sonic Velvet at the Velvet Lounge hosts a line-up of bands who’ve only started playing around town recently, but have also put in the hard yards: Mourning The Collector, Hello Colour Red, Neutral Native, Nymph Honey and Mat Cammarano. Doors open 8pm, $6 entry.

AFRICAN RHYTHMS

This Friday, June 22, singer, kora player and percussionist extraordinaire Ziggi Mabeye Diagne takes to the stage at Kulcha. Ziggi will be performing solo and with traditional West African act Ngewel Kora from 8pm.

Richie & Komando

Chris

THE BAND FORMERLY KNOWN AS

After weeks of arguing and hair pulling, the band formerly known as Sleeping Giant are ready to re-introduce themselves to the world under the Damage Kings moniker. As a result, the hard rock purveyors hope to no longer be mistaken for a national bedding company with the same name. To coincide with the name change the band will take over the Rocket Room on Friday, June 22, with help from Gombo, Animal and Brutus.

PERFORM YOUR CIVIC DUTY

Your Civic Duty will be held at the Civic Hotel in Inglewood over two stages on Saturday, June 23 for a 10 hour onslaught of the musical sense courtesy of some of Perth’s top metal, rock and hardcore bands including Chainsaw Hookers, Empires Laid Waste, Morghl, Cold Fate, Born On The Bayou, Nexus, Befallen, The Other Eden, G ates O f Perdition, Maximum Perversion and Blunt Force Trauma. Tickets are available from Heatseeker and Oztix.

SWINGING IN THE AISLES

Be part of internationally acclaimed t r u m p e t e r a n d v o c a l i s t A d a m H a l l ’s triumphant return to Perth when he swings into South Perth’s St Mary’s Anglican Church on Friday, June 22, for a fundraising concert. With pianist Lenny Whittle, Hall will take the audience on a nostalgic journey through the sounds of 1920s to 1950s swing, jazz and rock‘n’roll. Presale tickets are $35 from trybooking.com/25066 or by caling 0412 637 531.

YOUNG GUNS FIERCE CREATURES

Even those who aren’t overly familiar with the sub-strains of the hard rock genre are sure to be impressed by ferocious displays of playing technique on display from local trio Paltiva when they tear up the stage this Friday, June 22, at the Beat Nightclub. Support comes from Mantl, Buzz Kill Vamps and Bad Shannon. www.xpressmag.com.au

Head along to the Sound Overload final on Saturday, June 23, to see finalists Reilly & Chris, Splinta and The Foctaves battle it out for the Sound Overload title, as well as studio recording time, a professional photo-shoot, cash and an X-Press promotional package. There’ll also be a headline performance by last year’s winners The Plugs! It all goes down at the Morley Sport And Recreation Centre from 7pm. 35

X-Press â&#x20AC;&#x201C; First on the street, Wednesdays

ADRIANO ZUMBO

Sweet Success A passionate patissier who has become a household name thanks to his memorable appearances on Masterchef (who could forget his incredible gingerbread house or that immaculate toffee covered croquembouche), Adriano Zumbo is heading west this July to share his secrets with dessert lovers at the Good Food & Wine Show. EMMA BERGMEIER reports. When X-Press calls through to Zumbo he’s busily preparing for a Masterchef challenge, www.xpressmag.com.au

which is something the young chef become quite accustomed to over the last few years. “They’re great people and it’s a lot of fun,” Zumbo says of the Masterchef experience. And although the publicity his businesses receive from his participation on the show is fantastic, Zumbo laments the fact that regular customers to his four cafes and patisseries often want him to recreate the out-of-this-world desserts he lovingly constructs for the show. “It’s good to be a part of it although it doesn’t have much relevance to my business because everything I do on there I don’t do[at my shops] . The hardest thing is when you have to recreate things you do on Masterchef. After the show airs we get a lot of requests. The producers want something spectacular and then people see it on the

show and they want that and you can’t do that in real life.” Growing up in Coonamble, where his parents owned a supermarket, Zumbo was exposed to food at a young age, and at just 15 he left his home town in the country to undertake an apprenticeship in the big smoke. “I used to eat junk food growing up and my parents cooked Italian, well my mum did, my dad can’t cook. I’ve been around food a lot. I started making packet mix cakes for a bit of fun because I had to work everyday after school in the shop. Eventually they opened a little bakery in the shop and I used to work there after school because I found it fun – making donuts and cakes and stuff. I didn’t like school – I wasn’t academic. Well, actually, it’s not that I wasn’t academic;

it’s that I didn’t focus. I was a bit of a rat of a kid. I left school when I was 15 and moved to Sydney and got an apprenticeship. It was a big risk – I didn’t know I wanted to be a pastry chef – it was just something to get me out of school in the start. And I just so happened to like it.” Though Zumbo isn’t sure exactly what he’ll be bringing to the Good Food & Wine Show, “I haven’t thought that far ahead! I’ve been so busy with Masterchef that I haven’t really had a chance to think of what I’ll do,” fans of the pastry master are sure to be treated to something spectacular. The Good Food & Wine Show will take over the Perth Convention & Exhibition Centre from July 13-15. Bookings can be made via Ticketek. 37

TIME FOR TEA

COCKTAIL FANCIES

English Breakfast or Darjeeling? Warm scone or thick slab of vanilla slice? Nothing says winter like a steaming hot cup of tea and a slither of cake. If you are in search of a refreshing cuppa that does the tango with your palate, why not try one of these homely parlours…

THE EAST END BAR & LOUNGE

THE SECRET GARDEN CAFÉ CABIN FEVER This delightful inner city haunt on Murray Street offers all anyone could want in a café – fresh produce, delicious drinks, and friendly service. Whether its black tea, green tea or something a little different (try the Arctic Fire, its delicious!) you’re hankering for, the Secret Garden Café is an absolute gem.

GREEN TEA HOUSE

Green Tea House in Subiaco is a quaint little place that sells a good selection of green teas of varying grades, including houjicha, matcha, sencha and the all-conquering gyokuro (the highest grade, strongest flavoured green tea), all of which have been imported directly from Kyoto in Japan. They also have a selection of tea sets, tasty Asian snacks and traditional Japanese goods which make pretty neat gift ideas.

Despite its city location, Cabin Fever on Barrack Street remains a peaceful hideaway. This quirky little café in the city is always busy with hipsters ingesting carbs without removing their sunglasses – don’t hold that against it, though, it’s lovely. There’s a wide selection of teas and tasty treats which, combined with eclectic décor and wonderful service, make this hipster haven a little slice of a heaven.

X-WRAY CAFÉ

Located in a little, blink-and-you’ll-miss-it car park in Fremantle, X-Wray is a cafe by day and a bar at night, with live music every Sunday evening. Decked out in retro simplicity, recycled San Pellegrino bottles are used to hold sugar and toilets are filled with gigs and street festival information.

UTOPIA BUBBLE TEA

If you like your tea in a cup and saucer, stop reading now. Bubble tea is a long way from Earl Grey. In fact, it’s more like a bizarre blend of a milkshake and an ice tea: cool, very sugary, and – here’s the rub – filled with soft little jelly or tapioca pellets. Downing a glass is a surreal experience, not least because half of it isn’t liquid and it needs to be sipped through a straw that is as fat as your forefinger. There are dozens of bubble tea joints located all over WA (and more popping up by the day) but it’s Utopia Bubble Tea on Barrack Street, which has been open since way back in 2001, that gets our vote.

ROCHELLE ADONIS

Rochelle Adonis’ is redolent of a more elegant era, when women wore lace gloves and indulged in afternoon fancies. A full range of delicious teas are served by the pot at this Northbridge cafe, and there are savoury dishes, home-baked cakes and delicate petit-fours to tempt the taste buds.

East End’s Marshmallow Martini

Tell us all about your specialty cocktail? Marshmallow martini. Indulge your senses with a blend of our signature Marshmallow vodka, Licor 43 amd Chambord shaken over ice. Served straight up surrounded by 100s and 1000s. How much does it cost? $17 Do you have any other cocktail specials? Fridays $10 cocktails. Sundays $12 cocktails. Limited menus. What’s the ultimate winter cocktail? Espresso martini. Do you have any special events coming up at your venue? Sugar Sundays, [which is] launching this Sunday, June 24. In a world of excessive luxury and Sunday boredom, we invite you to indulge in the launch of Perth’s sexiest indoor Sunday session. [There will be] beautiful boys and lipstick beauties all night long.

THE NEWPORT HOTEL What makes your venue different from the rest? It’s a heritage listed venue currently undergoing vast refurbishments that will incorporate modern design with a focus on preserving and highlighting the original 19th century style. Part of the new look is a collection of striking, lowbrow artwork by Perth artist Ben Frichot of Knucklehead New Media Design. The new(ish) owners hope the changes will make the Newport a venue that Fremantle can be proud of and promise to maintain the things that the venue does best: relaxed atmosphere, great cold beer and live entertainment. What’s the most popular drink item on your menu? One of the most exciting things about new bars being built is it means a new drinks selection! Both bars have their own tailor made cocktail menus and the new theme bar downstairs will serve over 40 different rums! We’ll find out what the most popular drink is when the bars open around the start of August. Tell us all about your specialty cocktail: It’s a secret! We can’t really tell you what the specialty cocktail is without giving away what the theme is for the new bar downstairs. Have you got any winter specials? A winter drink you can’t go past is our Gosling’s Dark And Stormy served in a mason jar with fresh mint and lime.

Do you have any special events coming up? We are holding a Tea Party on Wednesday, June 27, to celebrate the end of first semester for students, BYO tea cup to receive extra drink deals! Mind Electric is on the main stage, Tom Drummond in the front bar and it’s free entry!

Gosling’s Dark And Stormy at the Newport

_JENNIFER PETERSON-WARD

X-Press – First on the street, Wednesdays

THE SHED

The Shed’s pub size meals are designed so if you come in hungry, you will leave happy. There’s a different special every day with a $10 homemade shepherd’s pie on Wednesdays; roast dinner on Thursday for $12; on Fridays get marinated sweet ribs into you for $13.50; Saturday is all about sirloin steak with onion rings and wedges for $14; get your $12 full breakfast as you pick up the pieces on Sunday; and let’s not forget the $10 ultimate beef burger. Yummers!

Zambrero

THE GARDEN

ZAMBRERO

Zambrero has landed on the Perth food scene with its own brand of ‘fresh mex’, a healthy take on Mexican food. Offering simple fare in an unpretentious environment, Zambrero offers its own take on Mexican fare, with plenty of options for carnivores and vegatarians. Plus, every time Zambrero sell a plate of food they provide a plate of food to a child in need, so you can feel good next time you head on in to the Mt Lawley or Leederville restaurants for a feed. The owners pay for these meals out of their profits and so far we have provided over 500,000 meals.

Situated just up from the corner of bustling Oxford and Newcastle streets, The Garden opened in September 2009,l and has since become one of Perth’s most popular venues. Originally part of the old Leederville hotel, the space has been transformed into one of Perth’s best beer gardens. There’s also plenty of undercover areas where you can dig into their excellent winter menu which boasts countless tasty treats.

HYDE PARK HOTEL

Perth’s pub of the year the Hydey is not just renowned for its iconic front bar gigs. Their inner urban chic décor blending with real pub vibe has all your pub food favourites covered – be it a kilo of chicken wings on a Thursday ($15) or steak sandwiches for four, they’ve got what you crave. The kitchen at the Hydey is open seven days a week from 11am to 10pm, so just walk in or book to claim your spot. With 24 beers on tap, 15 ciders and their classic Jugtails they can quench any thurst – and if you’re smart you can more in for $7 pints and $6 spirits every day from 11am-12pm and 4-5pm. Plus, this Thursday, June 21, come along to Thursty, a weekly student/indie night featuring The Spitfires plus special guests. Then on Friday, June 22, local blues musician Nathan Gaunt will get you in the mood for the weekend with a special afternoon set before Waiting For Bliss, Patient Little Sister, Reid Maul and Kate Gilbertson perform live on stage in the evening from 8pm. Saturday, June 23, will showcase the awesomely eclectic talents of Graphic Fiction Heroes, Nymph Honey, Bashamm and Ezereve.

Hyde Park Hotel

THE SAIL & ANCHOR

Pop into the Sail & Anchor in Freo for a quick bite and great value with a selection of $15 lunch specials Monday to Friday between 12pm and 3pm. The Sail & Anchor have been nominated in the ‘Best Beer Themed Venue’ and ‘Best Beer Large Venue’ categories; please take the time to vote for Fremantle’s best pub in both categories. Voting closes on July 31, so get voting! Head to sailandanchor.com.au to find a link to the voting form.

Snags And Sons

SNAGS AND SONS

Move over burger bars, pizza joints and purveyors of late night kebabs because Snags And Sons have just opened in Leederville and our mouths are watering already! Decked out to resemble a nostalgic butcher’s shop/deli, Snags And Sons is a casual eatery that takes its food seriously – offering dishes that explore exciting food flavours from home and overseas. A variety of international snags with fresh perky salads and tasty side dishes – think venison, bratwurst and kransky – await those who seek out this shrine for sausages. Not a meat eater? Don’t fret because Snags And Sons has options for vegos too! Expect to find great local brands with approved farming practices and free range and organic options; open for breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days a week. Check it out for yourself at 749 Newcastle St or find out more on (08) 9228 3008 or snagsandsons.com.au.

HALE ROAD TAVERN

Situated in Forrestfield, Hale Road Tavern is family owned and operated with friendly staff and management. Come along to this family friendly venue to enjoy a delicious meal in the bistro or relax in the atmosphere of the beer garden. There are even daily bistro specials, so you can enjoy some classic pub favourites (think rump steak, king snapper and chips, and chicken parmies) without hurting your wallet. Catch up with friends for a casual drink or enjoy your favourite sporting events on the big screen. Local troubadour Fenton Wilde takes to the stage every Wednesday night as he entertains the crowd with everything from classics all the way to the latest top 40 hits. There is something for everyone and an excellent audience connection at Fenton’s shows so come down, grab a drink and enjoy.

www.xpressmag.com.au

SNAGS AND SONS Perth’s very first sausage shop nestled in urban Leederville. Nostalgic European deli with a modern twist, grazing style menu with a wide variety of choices. Sausages, salads and smallgoods with a something for your sweet tooth! Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days a week. Expect to find a range of international s n a g s, f r e s h s a l a d s a n d European smallgoods. Couple with lovely sweet treats and organic options all wrapped up in a cosy environment. Vegetarian, gluten free and kids choices all available. LOCATION: 749 Newcastle Street, Leederville CONTACT: snagsandsons.com.au

The Norfolk Hotel

NORFOLK HOTEL

The Norfolk’s kitchen is open for lunch and dinner, and all points in between. A Fremantle The Norfolk, that has been the social hub of the harbour city since opening as Oddfellows Hotel in 1887. Great winter food, wine and beer, and the best intimate live and original venue in Fremantle, the Norfolk has the total package. Located in the heart of Fremantle, within easy walking distance of all major attractions, the historic pub is known for its magnificent limestone-walled alfresco courtyard.

THE GARDEN Situated just up from the corner of bustling Oxford and Newcastle Streets, The Garden opened in September 2009 and has since become one of Perth’s most popular venues. Originally part of the Old Leederville, the space has been transformed into one of Perth’s greatest outdoor beer gardens adding a sense of flair and fun to the Leederville scene. The Garden is all about sharing great times and good food! Their seasonal menu offers both grazing and more substantial options and plenty of beer and cider on tap and bottled, to quench any thirst. LOCATION: 742 Newcastle Street, Leederville CONTACT: thegarden.net.au, (08) 9202 8282

THE PADDINGTON ALE HOUSE

Kimberly’s Restaurant in the heart of Mt. Hawthorn, The Paddington Ale House is open seven days a week for lunch and dinner. It offers diners a warm and intimate atmosphere with a cosy open fire place, candle lighting and friendly service. There are two menus for you to choose from - a snack menu offering burgers, pizzas and nachos, or the more extensive main menu which is packed full of fresh local produce and seafood, transformed into a variety of modern Australian dishes which include braised lamb shanks, chilli seafood linguini and Linley Valley pork. Plus, every Wednesday night they host Paddo POW featuring live music by local bands with absolutely no cover charge. Tonight, Wednesday, June 20, Paddo POW features live artists Dove, Boston And Chevy and The Suntones playing tunes from 8pm.

A Brookland’s winter treat

BROOKLANDS TAVERN

Keep out of the cold this winter at Brooklands Tavern and you’ll find a venue to get you as high as ‘Heaven’ and as warm as ‘Hell’. You will be visited by angels throughout winter, as Brooklands hosts the AFL Angels competition. Heats two and three will be running on Friday, June 22, and Friday, June 29, with the final to be held on Friday, July 6. Contact Crazy Sexy Cool on info@crazysexycool.com.au to apply for you halo, and enter. This Saturday, June 23, get warm as Hell with AC/DC tribute band Hells Bells cracks the skies open with their raging acca dacca sounds. Tickets from Heatseeker. Brooklands also has a meaning to make you salivate with the Carnivore Hall of Fame featuring the 800 gram Grazier rump steak. Not to mention their specials: barramundi Mondays, pizza and pasta Tuesdays, parma Wednesdays, and steak Thursdays each for under $15.

THE BRASS MONKEY

The Brass Monkey Hotel has fantastic new grazing menu which is guaranteed to tempt all – from the discerning food critic to the just plain hungry. The grazing menu is specifically designed to share and is intended to compliment quality beer, good wine and good friends. Come and enjoy the unique outlook of the upstairs lounge and balcony bar with friends. Enjoy some food, enjoy a drink and enjoy the atmosphere.

X-Press – First on the street, Wednesdays

www.xpressmag.com.au

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.

Boris The Blade, June 20, Amplifier

Charge Group, June 22, Mojos & June 23, Dadas

Buried In Verona, June 24, YMCA HQ & Amplifier

21 YMCA HQ 16 Amplifier Bar 29 Mandurah THE BEAUTIFUL GIRLS Performing Arts Centre KID MAC 15 Prince Of Wales 20 Mojos XAIVER RUDD 16 Settlers Tavern 21 Settlers Tavern BORIS THE BLADE 25 Goldfields Arts 17 & 18 Fly By Night BAND OF SKULLS Centre Kalgoorlie 20 Amplifier OWL EYES 23 The Bakery 26 Esperance Civic 16 Artbar LADYHAWKE Centre HUNTING GROUNDS 24 The Bakery GUY SEBASTIAN 28 Albany 16 Prince Of Wales METRIC 20 Mandurah Entertainment Centre 17 Amplifier 25 CANCELLED Performing Arts 29 Fremantle Arts HILLTOP HOODS ROSETTA Centre 17 Challenge Stadium Centre 25 Rosemount Hotel 30 Caves House DARYL BRAITHWAITE NORTH WEST Yallingup 25 Friends Restaurant FESTIVAL (Hilltop CAMILLE Hoods, The Living End, RUSSIAN CIRCLES / THE TEA PARTY JULY O’SULLIVAN EAGLE TWIN The Cat Empire and 26 Metro City BREAK EVEN / MILES THE SMASHING 21 Astor Theatre 30 The Bakery more TBA) AWAY 18 Port Hedland Turf PUMPKINS 1 YMCA HQ 26 Challenge Stadium Club DEXTER JONES CEREMONY OCTOBER KENNY ROGERS / CLUBFEET 3 The Den 22 Settlers Tavern JOE BANAMASSA GLEN CAMPBELL 27 Villa YMCA HQ 21 Riverside Theatre 1 Perth Concert Hall KARNIVOOL 23 White Star Albany 4MENTAL AS BURNING LOVE / REDCOATS / PARKLIFE (The Presets, 24 Newport ANYTHING SLEEPMAKESWAVES 22 The Den Nero, Passion Pit, Plan 4 Friends Restaurant 27-29 Rosemount Hotel HERMAN’S HERMITS B, Rusko, Tame Impala, In The Valley NARISSA CAMPBELL 22 Friends Restaurant CHARGE GROUP / 56 Elmars Chiddy Bang, Robyn, Charles Hotel 27 & 28 The Ellington PASSENGER and more) JOE MCKEE 7 Atrium Hotel EIFFEL 65 / N-TRANCE 22 Rosemount Hotel 1 Wellington Square 22 Mojos Mandurha 28 Metropolis Fremantle PITBULL / TAIO CRUZ MARTIKA TIM FINN 23 Dadas / HAVANA BROWN / KIM SALMON 4 Metropolis Fremantle 5 Artbar 27 Hidden Treasures FTI TIMOMATIC VAN SHE HYPERFEST (line-up 23 Burswood Dome 28 The Bakery DALLAS FRASCA 5 Capitol TBA) BONNIWELLS LOADED DICE THE JOE KINGS 7 Midland Oval 22 Indi Bar 28 & 29 Charles Hotel 24 Velvet Lounge 5 Fly By Night CANNIBAL CORPSE 23 Prince Of Wales 6 Whitestar Hotel 25 Dada Records / DISENTOMB 26 Mojos Bar 24 Mojos 7 Settlers Tavern AUGUST / ENTRAILS PENNYWISE / THE DIESEL MARK GARDENER ERADICATED MENZINGERS / 5 Friends Restaurant 360 / GOSSLING / 6 Drakesbrook Hotel 1 Fly By Nightclub SHARKS 9 Capitol DENI HINES / 29 Metropolis Fremantle STEEL PANTHER HERMITUDE / BAM Waroona MONIQUE MONTEZ SLASH FEAT. MYLES 11 Metro City 7 Boulevard Tavern BAM 2 Bunbury KENNEDY & THE PAUL CAPSIS Joondalup 22 & 23 Villa Entertainment Centre CONSPIRATORS 11 Artbar 8 Icon Restaurant CHILDREN COLLIDE 23 & 24 Astor 30 Metro City THIS IS NOWHERE Karratha / DUNE RATS / BAD ILLY Theatre THE BAMBOOS (line-up TBA) DREEMS 31 Metropolis Fremantle 6 The Bakery 14 Somerville 2 Prince Of Wales BUSBY MAROU / Auditorium 3 Amplifier Bar KARNIVOOL LEADER CHEETAH COUNT BASIE SEPTEMBER EMPRA 22 & 23 Mermaid / THE HELLO MORNING 3 Rocket Room ORCHESTRA ILLY 6 Prince Of Wales Hotel Dampier 14 Perth Concert Hall 1 Capitol 4 Prince Of Wales 7 Rosemount Hotel THE ENGLISH BEAT EVERCLEAR SNAKADAKTAL 8 Newport 1 Astor Theatre 4 Astor Theatre 14 Capitol YOUR CIVIC DUTY JONATHAN BOULET HOWARD JONES THE BRIDE TODD MCKENNEY (Macabre, Beyond 7 Amplifier 5 Astor Theatre 4 C5 Metropolis 18 & 19 Astor Theatre KARISE EDEN Terror Beyond JOSE FELICIANO Fremantle PAUL HEATON 7 Westfield Whitford 5 Regal Theatre 5 YMCA HQ Grace, and more) City 21 Fly By Night THE BEACH BOYS ED SHEERAN 23 Civic Hotel BASTARDFEST(Astriaal, LADY GAGA 6 Burswood Dome 6 Riverside Theatre 7 & 8 Burswood Dome Fuck I’m Dead, and DAMIEN LEITH SAY ANYTHING / THE TIM BARRY 7 Mandurah Performing more) 8 The Den MUNGAH GETAWAY PLAN 27 Civic Hotel Arts Centre JINJA SAFARI / FESTIVAL (Jessica 11 Amplifier ROCK IT (The Black 8 Astor Theatre OPOSSOM / WHITE Mauboy, Angela TERROR Keys, Royal Headache, THE MEDICS ARROWS 12 Amplifier and more TBA) 8 Amplifier Rule, Karrie-Anne HOUSE OF SHEM 8 Astor Theatre 28 Joondalup Arena SUBHUMANS Kearing and more) 12 Wanneroo Tavern BELL BIV DEVOE / 12 Amplifier GINUWINE 13 Elliot Bar Bunbury 23 Mandurah AMERICA 9 Astor Theatre 14 Rosemount Hotel NOVEMBER Performing Arts 12 Perth Concert Hall BOB BARRETT 15 Leisure Inn EMMYLOU HARRIS Centre PATRICK WOLF 9 The Ellington Rockingham 6 Perth Concert Hall 14 Fly By Night EVEN / THE FAUVES JACKSON FIREBIRD JOSH PYKE KATCHAFIRE 9 Prince Of Wales 13 Hyde Park Hotel BURIED IN 14 Astor Theatre 8 Artbar 10 Rosemount Hotel SET SAIL VERONA 15 Settlers Tavern 11 Mojos GEORGE MICHAEL 13 Rosemount Hotel 16 Prince Of Wales 10 Perth Arena 24 YMCA HQ (Day) / 14 Melville Youth Centre 12 Indi Bar HOUSE VS HURRICANE EARTH / MARGINS 14 Mojos STEREOSONIC (line-up Amplifier (Night) 15 Rosemount Hotel / CONFESSION / IN 15 Clancy’s TBA) RUFUS WAINWRIGHT HEARTS WAKE Dunsborough 25 venue TBA 19 Riverside Theatre 10 Prince Of Wales MAT MCHUGH FLIGHT OF THE WHEATUS 11 Amplifier CONCHORDS 26 Mojos Bar JANUARY 2013 20 Metropolis Fremantle 12 YMCA HQ 18-20 Challenge SOUTHBOUND (lineKATE MILLER-HEIDKE / HANSON Stadium JUNE 22 Metropolis Fremantle up TBA) THE BEARDS TROY ROBERTS GYROSCOPE KARNIVOOL 11 Astor Theatre 19 The Ellington 4 & 5 Sir Stewart Bovell 27 Prince Of Wales TOMMY EMMANUEL 22 Rosemount Hotel DOC NEESON Park Busselton JULIA STONE NADIA ACKERMAN / 19 Friends Restaurant 12 Perth Concert Hall BENNY LACKNER TRIO MELISSA ETHERIDGE NASUM / PSYCROPTIC 28 Astor Theatre SEPTEMBER 2013 KATIE NOONAN & 28 The Ellington 15 Amplifier 20 Riverside Theatre ONE DIRECTION KARIN SCHAUPP TRANSIT DAMO SUZUKI & HEROES FOR HIRE 28 & 29 Perth Arena 28 Winthrop Hall UWA 15 YMCA HQ POND 20 The Den

JUNE 20 – JUNE 26

28 The Bakery DEXTER JONES 28 Breakers Bar Geraldton 29 Beat Nightclub IMPIETY 29 Amplifier BREAK EVEN / MILES AWAY 29 Prince Of Wales 30 Amplifier JUDITH DURHAM 30 Riverside Theatre

X-Press – First on the street, Wednesdays

www.xpressmag.com.au

Anchored, Wednesday at Amplifier

WEDNESDAY 20.06 AMPLIFIER Boris The Blade Anchored Averia Skies BALMORAL Nathan Gaunt BAR 120 Felix CALNCY’S CANNING BRIDGE Joel Barker CLAREMONT HOTEL Open Mic Night ELLINGTON JAZZ CLUB Trevor Jalla Sextet GREENWOOD Bernardine HALE ROAD TAVERN Fenton Wilde INDI BAR Rock Scholars Showcase Figurehead LUCKY SHAG Howie Morgan MANDURAH PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE Guy Sebastian MOJOS BAR Matt Southon Junior Bowles Lucy Peach MUSTANG Blue Gene PADDO Dove Boston & Chevy The Suntones PADDY HANNANS 5 Shots ROSEMOUNT Ashoka Neutral Native Epsilon Bears & Dolls ROSIE O’GRADY’S (NORTHBRIDGE) David Fyffe THE BROWN FOX Courtney Murphy THE MOON Naked News

Black Board Minds, Thursday at Mustang Bar

Caleb Entrails Gilroy UNIVERSAL Strutt YA YA’S Wicked Wench Sons Of Saviour The History Of Nymph Honey

THURSDAY 21.06 ASTOR THEATRE Camille O’Sullivan BELGIAN BEER CAFÉ Adam James BLVD TAVERN Midnight Escapade Trio Lucas Jones BROOKLANDS TAVERN Celebrations Karaoke COMO HOTEL Courtney Murphy DEVILLES PAD Rock ‘N’ Roll Karaoke ELLINGTON JAZZ CLUB Freddie Grigson Quartet FLY TRAP Jugular FUSE BAR Christian Thompson HIGH WYCOMBE HOTEL Chris Murphy HYDE PARK HOTEL The Spitfires The MDC INDI BAR Bex’s Open Mic Night INGLEWOOD HOTEL 2che LUCKY SHAG James Wilson MARKET CITY TAVERN Tash Primitive Luke Kordyl Aaron & Alysha Don Jonome From The Dunes MERRIWA TAVERN Overload

MOJOS BAR Mulder Turin Robinson The Bosons Bastian’s Happy Flight MUSTANG BAR Datura Black Board Minds NORFOLK BASEMENT The Witness Elli Schoen I Of Ra The Fantastic Mr Fox NORTHWOOD TAVERN Avenue Karaoke OCEAN BEACH HOTEL Open Mic Night OXFORD HOTEL Johnny Taylor PADDY HANNANS Dr Bogus QUINDANNING HOTEL Joel Barker RIGBY’S Open Mic ROSEMOUNT Legacy Of Supremacy Reapers Riddle Needles Douglas The Branson Tramps ROSIE O’GRADY’S (FREMANTLE) Clayton Bolger ROSIE O’GRADY’S (NORTHBRIDGE) Fenton Wilde SOVEREIGN ARMS David Fyffe THE BIRD Klunk Sleepyhead Booooty Collins Ashwall THE BOAT Jen De Ness THE BROOK Open Mic Night THE GATE One Trick Phonies UNIVERSAL Off The Record WOODVALE Two Plus One YA YA’S Three Hands One Hoof Amanda Merzan DAVE

FRIDAY 22.06

Voltaire Twins

VOLTAIRE TWINS BASTIAN’S HAPPY FLIGHT PLACE OF INDIGO LEURE REX MONSOON SALUT BARBU

SATURDAY,JUNE 23 THE BAKERY

7th AVENUE Undercover Acoustic AMPLIFIER Paradise In Exile BAILEY BAR Mod Squad BAKERY Fashawn Exile BALLYS BAR Christian Thompson BALMORAL Dirty Scoundrels BASSENDEAN HOTEL Overload BAR 120 Bitter Belief & Solitary Complete Creed Birch Divine BEAT NIGHTCLUB Paltiva Mantl Buzz Kill Vamps Bad Shannon BELMONT TAVERN

Damage Kings, Friday at Rocket Room

Everlong Acoustic BENNYS Faces BENTLY HOTEL Dove BLACK BETTYS Everlong BLVD TAVERN Lemz Tom Mantle BRASS MONKEY Bernadine BURSWOOD CASINO Hi NRG CAPTAIN STIRLING Bluebottles CARLISLE HOTEL Reload CHASE BAR Chasing Calee CLAREMONT HOTEL Nick Sheppard COMO HOTEL Trevor Jalla CORNERSTONE Easy Company CRAFTSMAN 5th Avenue DEVILLES PAD Special Brew Les Sataniques EAST 150 Chris Gibbs EASTERN HOTEL Matt Milford ELLINGTON JAZZ CLUB The Graham Wood Trio Melody Whittle & Howie Morgan Meg Mac & Astrid EMPIRE Halo FLY BY NIGHT CLUB Solid Gold Soul FUSE BAR Groove Karaoke GREENWOOD Greg Carter HERDSMAN Ali Towers Duo HIGH ROAD HOTEL Damien Cripps Band HYDE PARK HOTEL Waiting For Bliss Patient Little Sister Reid Maul Kate Gilbertson Nathan Gaunt INDI BAR Dallas Frasca INDIAN OCEAN BREW Ben Merito KALAMUNDA HOTEL Andrew Winton KULCHA Ziggi’s Vibes Album Launch Ngewel Kora MARKET CITY TAVERN Just 4 Kix MERRIWA TAVERN Parker Avenue MIGHTY QUINN Kontraband MOJOS BAR (ARVO) Peter Bibby MOJOS BAR (EVE) Charge Group Joe McKee The Long Lost Brothers Runner MUSTANG BAR Harry Deluxe Cheeky Monkeys NEWPORT

Party Rockers NORFOLK BASEMENT Live Pimps Of Sound Rae Ngati Freqshow OXFORD HOTEL Recliners PACE ROAD TAVERN Nasty Dogz PADDO Simon Kelly PADDY HANNANS Gun Shy Romeos PARAMOUNT Flyte PLAYERS BAR Three Corner Jack PRINCIPAL James Wilson ROCKET ROOM Damage Kings Brutus Animal Gombo ROSE & CROWN Tod Woodward ROSEMOUNT Mezzanine The Love Junkies Trigger Jackets Dead Owls Foam ROSEY O’GRADY’S (FREMANTLE) Spyce ROSEY O’GRADY’S (NORTHBRIDGE) Neil Colliss SAIL & ANCHOR Better Days SOUTH ST ALE HOUSE Robbie King Karaoke SPRINGS TAVERN Greg Carter Karaoke STIRLING ARMS Helen Shanahan SWINGING PIG The Mojos Greg Carter THE BIRD Lanark Mulder Mostarsk Rayza THE BOAT The Organ Grinders THE GATE Smoking Section THE SHED Kickstart UNIVERSAL Nightmoves VELVET LOUNGE Hello Colour Red Neutral Native Mourning The Collector Nymph Honey Mat Cammarano VICTORIA PARK HOTEL Ivan Ribic WANNEROO TAVERN Clayton Bolger WOODVALE TAVERN Dr Bogus XWRAY CAFÉ Joel Barker YA YA’S Louis & The HonkyTonk Sidewalk Diamonds Room At The Reservoir

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.

Felicity Groom, Saturday at Amplifier

SATURDAY 23.06 7th AVENUE Karaoke AMPLIFIER Felicity Groom Gum Doctopus The Dianas BAKERY Voltaire Twins Bastian’s Happy Flight Place Of Indigo Leure Rex Monsoon Salut Barbu BALLYS BAR Sophie Jane BALMORAL The Recliners BAILEY BAR Courtney Murphy & Murphy’s Lore BAR 120 Flyte BEAT NIGHTCLUB Runaways The Decline BELGIAN BEER CAFÉ Howie Morgan BLACK BETTY’S J Babies BLVD TAVERN Empire BROOKLANDS TAVERN Hells Bells Reapers Riddle BURSWOOD (PRIZE DRAW STAGE) Switch CIVIC HOTEL Your Civic Duty Macabre Beyond Terror Beyond Grace Chainsaw Hookers Empires Laid Waste Morghl Blunt Force Trauma Nexus Born On The Bayou Cold Fate Befallen This Other Eden Gates Of Perdition Maximum Perversion Meridian Inanimacy Bloodklot Nightmare Effect We Run With Wolves Förstöra Left To Die CLAREMONT HOTEL The Zydecats DEVILLES PAD Italian Stallion Feminen & Her Frisky Felines Farrah Faucet Dancers Galeforce EASTERN HOTEL John Talati ELLINGTON JAZZ CLUB Victoria Newton Trio Libby Hammer Quintet Ladywood FLY BY NIGHT CLUB Bustamento GREENWOOD Tandem HIGH ROAD HOTEL Losing Julia HYDE PARK HOTEL

Graphic Fiction Heroes Nymph Honey Bashamm Ezereve INDIAN OCEAN BREW CO The Mojos INDI BAR Deep River Collective The Floors KULCHA The Pepperjacks LAKERS TAVERN The Organ Grinders LEOPOLD HOTEL Steve Hepple LOBBY LOUNGE (BURSWOOD) John & Shaun Sandosham LYNWOOD ARMS Mustangs MERRIWA TAVERN Celebrations Karaoke MIGHTY QUINN Kontraband MOON & SIXPENCE Blaze M ON THE POINT Rhythm 22 MOJOS BAR Sunshine Brothers Earthlink Sound MUSTANG The Continentals Milhouse NEWPORT Kizzy Gravity NORFOLK BASEMENT The Autumn Isles Archer & Light Spoonful Of Sugar Lucas Jones NORTHWOOD TAVERN Keith Karaoke OSBORNE PARK HOTEL Nathan Gaunt PADDY HANNAN’S Decoy PARAMOUNT Felix QUARIE BAR Electrophobia RAILWAY HOTEL Empty Pocket The Southwicks Living Dying Glenn Bowman ROCKET ROOM Kickstart ROSEMOUNT From The Dunes Further Earth Dave Monument ROSIE O’GRADY’S (FREMANTLE) Hit Factory ROSIE O’GRADY’S (NORTHBRIDGE) Blue Gene SAIL & ANCHOR Kickstart SEAVIEW Open Mic Night SOUTH ST ALEHOUSE Shawne & Luc STEVE’S BAR Dave Sofield SWINGING PIG Greg Carter THE BIRD Tim Gordon The Big Old Bears The Flower Drums

www.xpressmag.com.au

Friday Friday TravisCaudle Caudle Paltiva, Travis FlyBy ByNight Night Friday at Beat Nightclub Fly

Empires Laid Waste, Saturday at Civic Hotel

NEWPORT Tim Nelson Dexter Jones The Spitfires The Insatiables OCEAN VIEW TAVERN Chris Murphy PADDY MAGUIRES Kristen Arnott PINK DUCK Neil Colliss PRINCIPAL Dove ROSEY O’GRADY’S (NORTHBRIDGE) Jonathan Dempsey SAIL & ANCHOR Shawne & Luc SOUTH ST ALE HOUSE Christian Thompson SOVEREIGN ARMS Ivan Ribic SPRINGS TAVERN Sophie Jane BASEMENT SUNDAY 24.06 SWAN Roxatus 7TH AVENUE Needles Douglas Reckless Kelly Wrath Of Federer AMPLIFIER Juan Dark & the Ocean Buried In Verona SWINGING PIG The Plot In You Adam James Silent Screams Pat Nicholson Mandalay Victory THE BIRD BAKERY The Colour Of Indigo The Winter Carnivale Branches Of Berlin BALLY’S BAR Robo-Ant Greg Carter Mirror Mirror BALMORAL THE GATE Cranky Better Days BAR ORIENT Chris Gibbs Trio Matt Milford THE SAINT BLVD TAVERN Howie Morgan Project Unearthed Live Showcase THE SHED Annabelle Harvey The Healy’s Jane Baker Duo Blue Hornet Stealth TWO ROCKS TAVERN Different Kind Of Blue Everlong Acoustic Blatjang UNIVERSAL Violent Scene Retriofit BROKEN HILL HOTEL VICTORIA PARK Switchback HOTEL CAPTAIN STIRLING Damien Cripps Karin Page WOODVALE TAVERN CHASE BAR Good Karma James Wilson YMCA HQ CLAREMONT HOTEL Sunday Driver COMO HOTEL David Fyffe EAST 150 BAR Ali Towers ELLINGTON JAZZ CLUB The Gavin Kerr Quartet Featuring Mel Crothers EMPIRE CB3 HIGH WYCOMBE HOTEL The Organ Grinders HIGH RD Ryan Dillon INDIAN OCEAN BREW CO Retriofit INDI BAR The Sunshine Brothers LAKERS TAVERN Jamie Powers M ON THE POINT Electrophobia MOJOS BAR Dallas Frasca MT HELENA TAVERN Kontraband MUSTANG BAR Peter Busher & The Lone Rangers Patient Little Sister THE BOAT Deuce THE GATE Dirty Scoundrels THE SHED Huge THE WHALE & ALE Mod Squad TWO ROCKS TAVERN Keith McDonald UNIVERSAL Soul Corporation WANNEROO TAVERN Greg Carter WOODVALE TAVERN Renegade YA YA’S Scalphunter Burning Fiction Ex-Nuns Suburban Coke

Buried In Verona The Plot In You Silent Screams Anchored Aveira Skies

MONDAY 25.06 BRASS MONKEY The Organ Grinders ELLINGTON JAZZ CLUB Chamber Jam LOBBY LOUNGE (BURSWOOD) Courtney Murphy MOJOS BAR Wide Open Mic Night MUSTANG BAR Marco & The Alley Cats THE DEEN Plastic Max & The Token Gesture

TUESDAY 26.06 CHARLES HOTEL Trevor Jalla Sextet ELLINGTON JAZZ CLUB WAAPA Contemporary Music Showcase LOBBY LOUNGE (BURSWOOD) John Sandosham LUCKY SHAG Leighton Keepa MOJOS BAR Matt McHugh Ben Witt PADDO Simon Kelly PRINCE OF WALES Open Mic Night SETTLERS TAVERN Open Mic Night TWO ROCKS TAVERN Jump For Joy Karaoke X-WRAY CAFE Open Piano Night YA YA’S Emma Chitty Jane Azzopardi Nymph Honey

Mezzanine

MEZZANINE

THE LOVE JUNKIES TRIGGER JACKETS DEAD OWLS FOAM

FRIDAY,JUNE 22 ROSEMOUNT HOTEL

Classiﬁeds and Music Services Hotline: 9213 2888 Display ads: musicservices@xpressmag.com.au Deadline: 4pm Monday Credit cards welcome

MUSOS WANTED BASS & KEYBOARD PLAYERS WANTED For a US hiphop artist band, 20-27yrs. Email danielraysound@hotmail.com DJ WANTED For experienced, original rapper. Influences- Ice T, MC Lyte, MC Hammer, NWA. Contact Chad 0433 328 777. DRUMMER NEEDED Drummer required for Metal Band. Thirty 3 Victims. Songs up on Facebook & Myspace. Call Nick: 0417 187 447. GUITARIST MALE WANTED 30+ for original band. Influences Melvins, God Speed You Black Emperor, Asghan Whigs. Call Will (Drummer) 0417 900 876. M/F BASS PL AYER & KEYBOARDS Required for PROFESSIONAL COVERS PROJECT. 20-35 yrs. Ph: Dave 0407 151 407 or Gemima 0405 316 405. OPEN MIC NIGHT every Thursday night at Indi Bar. Just call Tash on 0458 095 364. OPEN MIC NIGHT Every Tuesday night at the Craigie Tavern 8-11pm. Call Corey for bookings 0431 448 235 OPEN MIC NIGHT Northwood Alehouse Mirrabooka. Call Damien 0411 367 783. VOCALIST WANTED For Retro electronic project. Email info/demo to redkerbkiss@ hotmail.com WANTED BASS PLAYER & GUITARIST Fo r R o d S t u a r t t r i b u t e s h o w b y internationally acclaimed Rod tribute John Crane. Gigs awaiting. Professionals need only apply. Contact Luee on 0404 230 270. WANTED: FUNK/ SOUL/ RNB FEMALE SINGER For est. coverband. Must have prof attitude. Long term commitment & exp preferred. 18-35 yrs. Inf. Whitney, Chaka etc. Gigs booked. Grant 0423 429 363. PHOTOGRAPHY P R O J E C T P H OT O G R A P H Y P r o m o photography, studio, live, location. Mike Wylie 0417 975 964 www.projectphotography.com 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 MATRIX PRODUCTIONS AUSTRALIA Lighting, staging, sound systems, smoke machines, night club FX, intelligent lighting, strobes & mirror balls, crowd barriers, video projectors. 9371 1551 MEGA VISION SOUND & LIGHTING Suppliers of the best quality hire equipment - Speakers, DJ and IPod Packages. FX Lighting, Smoke Machines, Mirrorballs, Plasma, LCDís & loads more! Come see us at 25 Gordon Rd West, Osborne Park or Ph us on 9444 6556. PA HIRE Vox P.A’s and Funktion-One concert systems. Beat any quote. 9307 8594/ mob 0404 410 020. perthconcertsound.com.au. PA HIRE, PRO SYSTEM, FULL FOLD BACK Experienced operator. Optional light show. Fidelity sound on 0404 331 320. RECORDING STUDIOS ALAN DAWSON’s WITZEND RECORDING STUDIO Prof quality albums or demos, large live room, experienced engineer, analog to digital transfers, mastering.. Alan 0407 989 128 or Jeremy 0430638178 www.witzendstudios.com 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

BASE CAMP KUTZ Recording Rehearsing Graphics All Media Any Genre. Located in Yangebup 24/7 Ph: 9434 5889. GOLDDUSTCONSTRUCTION.COM Produc tion, 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 MOB-HANDED RECORDING & MUSIC PRODUCTION Professional multi-track recording for singer/songwriter, electro, hip hop, metal, pop, groove, all styles catered for. Services also offered: Audio editing, mastering, voice over recording etc. PLUS: Unique & original orchestral string arrangements written and recorded for your songs. Ph: 0468 363 380 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 R E CO R D I N G M I X I N G M A S T E R I N G 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

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 LION MACHINE REHEARSAL STUDIO Professional rehearsal space. Wanneroo area. Air-conditioned. Semi-rural setting. Mob: 0417 900 876. PLATINUM SOUND ROOMS 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*** The Guitar Specialist. Beg-adv, all styles and levels including bass. Cliff Lynton Guitar Institute. Mt Lawley 9342 3484 / www.clifflynton.com BASS LESSONS Rock, funk & jazz.Tony Gibbs 9470 6131 DJ TUITION Specialises in scratching & cutting. Over 15 yrs experience. Beg-Adv welcome. Potential gigs waiting. Ph DJ Munch: 0412 334 510. DRUM LESSONS All styles, WAAPA prep. Modern techniques, rudiments, soloing, favourite songs. Beg-Adv. Ph: Pascal 0413 172 817. Available 7 days & all holidays. GUITAR LESSONS For beginner students. Learn how to start from the beginning, play your favourite songs, chords, solos and more. 6 years teaching experience. Guitars and Amps available for hire. Lessons in Duncraig, call Luke on 0400021560. 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.

METAL FOR THE MASSES

Picking The Right Metal Guitar What makes an electric guitar good for heavy metal? Is it just hot pickups, thin necks, and weird body shapes? This week Volume investigates some models which can help you become a metal guitar hero. To the untrained ear, playing metal guitar might sound like a bunch of noise over drums. For an enthusiastic guitarist, the complexity, technical wonder, speed, and precision is a challenge awaiting to be conquered. But before you even get started, it’s of utmost importance that you take the time to investigate what equipment you’ll need to get the sound you want. Although it is simple to walk into the first music shop you see and pick out a guitar at random, you will probably be unsatisfied with the results of this method. If you take a couple of minutes to figure out what you are shopping for, you will be able to make a purchase that you will enjoy for years to come. The options of guitar models are limitless, but there are a few products out there at the moment which have been favoured by musicians worldwide for the solid metal tones they produce. Dean Guitars are well known to metal lovers for their extreme look and tone. They’ve been the axe of choice for many a serious shredder, not least of which was the late, great Dimebag Darrell himself. Darrell was best known as a founding 46

Dark Karma’s Corey Hodgetts with his Dethtone Claw

member of heavy metal bands Pantera and Damageplan. Why not honor the tradition of the late great Dimebag Darrell with a Dean ML guitar with wicked flame graphics? The mahogany body and top delivers a warm, full tone with plenty of punch and sustain, while Dual Dimebucker/DMT design pickups give you all the high-output crunch you need whether you’re hammering the distortion or hammering even more distortion. Plus, deluxe flame graphics give this guitar its killer unique look that will help you stand out from the crowd. Dethtone guitars are a much newer brand but they are still outstanding value, particularly if you’re on a budget. The Dethtone Monster Fang features a HSH pick-up configuration for tonal versatility. Alternate model the Dethtone Claw rocks hard with a HH pickup combination. Both models come as part of a package with a 15w amp, bag, cable, strap, picks and an electronic tuner. The most recent Dethtone convert is local muso Corey Hodgetts from Dark Karma, who wields a Dethtone Claw with much ferocity. The hard rockin’ crew at Kosmic Sound is sacrificing a heap of metal-flavoured guitars as part of their end of financial year sale. Hit up kosmic. com.au to check out their full range of products, or head in store (94 Hector Street, Osborne Park) to bag yourself a bargain! X-Press – First on the street, Wednesdays

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X-Press â&#x20AC;&#x201C; First on the street, Wednesdays