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X-Press – First on the street, Wednesdays
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X-Press – First on the street, Wednesdays
Chemical Brothers, the original Future Twins? The Black Keys
LOCK IT FOR ROCK-IT
Don’t you forget about Rock-It, it’s on like King Kong this Sunday, October 28, at Arena Joondalup and stars The Black Keys, John Butler Trio, Birds Of Tokyo, The Panics, Lanie Lane, Last Dinosaurs, San Cisco, Abbe May, Royal Headache, Graveyard Train, Brothers Grim, The Toot Toot Toots, Kill Devils Hills and Emperors. You want it, well you got it, through heatseeker.com.au. For map and playing times head to page 18 of this week’s issue.
FUTURE TWINS ACTIVATE!
They call it an offer so innovative it must be from the Future. With Future Music Festival now on sale to record demand, Mellen Events are upping the ante with a limited time offer of a Future Twins double pack featuring a Future Music Festival ticket and a Summadayze ticket all for just $230 from Ticketmaster. That’s a saving of $39 off even Early Bird prices. In one purchase you’re sorted to see The Chemical Brothers, The Prodigy, The Stone Roses, M.I.A., Psy, Mark Ronson, Bloc Party, Fedde Le Grand and more. Hurry now to www.ticketmaster.com.au or 136 100.
Sugar Army, Rosie New Year
THE FINAL COUNTDOWN
The Rosie always bring in the new year in true partying style, and this year is no different. The Rosemount Hotel’s New Year’s Eve Fiesta has just been announced, and it’s a cracker with the following lineup: Sugar Army, Emperors, Ruby Boots, Boys Boys Boys!, Rainy Day Women, Timothy Nelson And The Infidels, Dead Owls, and DJ Shannon Fox. Phew, that is just damned beautiful! Last year’s Fiesta sold out fairly early in the night, so we advise getting in quick with pre-sale tickets and not waiting to grab them on the door – particularly with a lineup like this one. It’s happening on the obvious date, Monday, December 31, and tickets are on sale through Heatseeker and Oztix.
THE PINK GIG 2012
Elvis Costello
AN ELVIS ON THE GREEN
A tasty treat has popped up in February with news that Elvis Costello & The Imposters are returning for An Evening On The Green.The Imposters features Costello’s longtime cohorts Steve Nieve [keyboards], Pete Thomas [drums] and Davey Faragher [bass]. Also featuring Australian greats The Sunnyboys, Jo Jo Zep & The Falcons and Stephen Cummings, An Evening On The Green undulates at Kings Park & Botanical Garden on Wednesday, February 6. Tickets go on sale Monday, October 29, from ticketmaster.com.au and 136 100.
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Reactions/ Comp
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Flesh
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Music: Sarah Blasko
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Music: Graveyard Train/ Mike Compton
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Music: Lebisol/ Ash Grunwald
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Music: Rock-It Survival Guide
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Music: Last Dinosaurs/ Tinpan Orange
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New Noise
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Eye4 Cover: The Dreamers
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Eye4 News/ Movies: Judge Dredd/ Argo Frankenweenie/ Benicio Del Toro Interview
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Eye4 Movies: Karl Urban Interview/ Eye2Eye
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Eye4 Art Stories: Mel Buttle/ Bad Girls And Wicked Women/ Eve/ Spontaneous Broadway
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Eye4 Arts Listings
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Eye4 Lifestyle
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Salt Cover Story: Hunter: For The Record
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Salt: Cover Story/ Bart B More/ Sid Pattni/ News
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Salt: Marko Paulo/ Foreign Beggars/ Purple Sneaker DJs
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Salt: Club Manual/ Scenery. Testpad: Zulu Guru/ Sid Pattni
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Scene: Pub Scene/ Pub Blurbs
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Scene: Live
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Scene: Local
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Tour Trails
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Gig Guide
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Volume
Cover: Sarah Blasko’s record I Awake is out this Friday, October 26, through Dew Process Salt Cover: Hunter: For The Record screens at Luna in Leederville on Thursday, November 1, at 7pm www.xpressmag.com.au
Friendly Fires, Club Paradiso
PARADISE ON NEW YEAR’S
New Year’s Day bash Club Paradiso is back for its fifth year. It’s all about partying in the sun overlooking the beach and dancing to some super sick tunes. On the line-up for this next instalment is UK dance-pop act Friendly Fires who will be trading their guitars for a DJ set in the air-conditioned Techno Temple alongside Habitat and Maiko. Kaz James will headline the Big Top Beach Bar alongside DJ Helena, Mr Wilson, The Halo Effect, Zelimir, Kno Agents and Ace Basik. It all kicks off from 2pm on Tuesday, January 1, at Salt On The Beach. Complimentary finger food will be ushered around from 4pm ‘til 7pm and a full menu option will be available too. Tickets are $85 plus booking fee. Hit up Moshtix at once to score yours.
PLUGGIN’ INTO PERTH ARENA
There’s a lot of talk about P!nk’s forthcoming shows, but right now The Pink Gig is where it’s at this Friday, October 26, at Hillarys Yacht Club (Level 2). It’s all part of the National Breast Cancer Foundation’s fight against breast cancer, raising funds to help change the lives of people who have been affected by the disease in WA and assist in finding a cure for breast cancer in the future. MC’d by Curtin FM’s Peter Newman, entertainment comes from The Fit Swimmers and The Twisted Vaudeville Circus as well as live and silent auctions, raffles, prizes, giveaways and an inspirational speech by breast cancer survivor, Rachel Cribbon and a silent auction presented by 6PR Breakfast Show Host Steve ‘Millsy’ Mills. It all happens from 7pm until midnight. Tickets are $55 (plus booking fee) from heatseeker.oztix.com.au, Star Surf, Mills Records, Planet Video and 78s. For more details hit up www.thepinkgig.com.
Pink Gig 2012
Drapht, Plug Into Perth
Perth Arena is just around the corner from opening and you could be one of the first peeps to see it at Plug Into Perth, the venue’s very first show with local acts Drapht, Sugar Army and Split Seconds taking to the stage. Tickets to Plug Into Perth will be available via ballot through the Perth Arena website. If you’d like to attend, register at pertharena.com.au for a chance to win tickets. Tickets also include free Transperth transport to and from the event. Make sure you apply before this Friday, October 26, and keep an eye on Perth Arena’s website for all the deets.
LIGHT UP LEEDERVILLE
Leederville is set to come alive on Saturday, December 8, at the inaugural Light Up Leederville carnival. From 1-8pm this event will take over the Leederville precinct with free entertainment and attractions for all ages, culminating in the ‘lighting up’ of Leederville’s first-ever Christmas lights in the evening. Leederville’s streets will be closed off to traffic during the festival to cater for the 20,000 expected visitors along Oxford St (between Vincent and Leederville Parade) and the main corner area of Newcastle St (up to Duende, including Carr Place). Highlights will include Buskers Ring, Food Theatrics, retro market , Carnival ‘Bus’ Stage, Club Café, the James Squire ‘Orchard Garden’ Festival bar, Central Tafe live band showcase, roving street performers, Leederville Land! Kids corner, Hip Hop Alley, YMCA HQ Skate Park Celebration and more. The full program of activities will be available early November at leedervillecarnival.com.au. 7
with Melissa Erpen... Send your name, address and daytime phone number to win@xpressmag.com.au with the name of the competition in the subject line or enter online at www.xpressmag.com.au. Snail mail entries can be sent to Locked Bag 31, West Perth 6872. Entries close 4pm Monday. By entering you agree to X-Press Magazine’s Terms & Conditions which can be found online. All competition entries will automatically enable you to become an X-Press subscriber! No details will be given to a third party.
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PSY is a total legend. He’s better than Crazy Frog. Remember that song? I can’t wait to see him at Future Music Festival. Even if he does have only that one hit, it’s a total boss of a song and gets everyone pumped on the d-floor. Please can you interview him and put him in the mag, do it! Much love, PSY-cho Dear X-Press,
The Bachelorette 2manydjs
VIP PRIZE PACK TO 2MANYDJS
Those delicious Belgium lads 2manydjs are coming back to town to mix up Eye Of The Tiger with the likes of Kraftwerk, put their very own brilliant spin on tunes from The Beatles, pump out the bass and thumping electro and show you how to get your groove on down on the d-floor. They are serious pros. Boomtick and X-Press are presenting a super sick prize pack which includes: VIP tickets to 2manydjs at Villa Nightclub on Friday, November 30, your own exclusive meet and greet experience at soundcheck before the show, a personally signed block mount, a Boomtick Prize Pack for both you and your friend. To be in the running, all you need to do is take a photo of yourself with “2many” of “something”. For example: you with too many pegs on your face; you with too many tattoos, you with too many festival wristbands. Then, upload the photo to the X-Press Facebook page. Whoever gets the most ‘likes’ on their photo will automatically go into the Top 5 Finalists. The winner will be chosen by X-Press ahead of the show.
THE BACHELORETTE
Want to win a double pass to see the hilarious film The Bachelorette staring Kirsten Dunst, Isla Fisher & Lizzy Caplan? Then enter now as we 10 up for grabs.
ROCKY HORROR HALLOWEEN @ THE BEAT
It will be a night of spooky entertainment with the Rocky Horror Revue Live Show; a zany theatrical tribute to the late ‘70s cult classic The Rocky Horror Picture Show at The Beat Nightclub on Wednesday, October 31. Enter now for your chance to win one of two double passes we have up for grabs and dust off your finest fishnets and sequined waistcoats as it is sure to be one hell of a night.
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Does anyone actually care about late night shopping or Sunday trading? Subiaco is the deadest suburb ever! They’ve recently started doing free-parking and no one even cares. What’s even worse about Sunday trading is that only some of the shops are doing it and some aren’t even bothering. Shops need to get onto it and start participating in what’s normal around everywhere else in Australia. What a joke! Wake up Perth! Via email.
DEF REPPLICA
Australia’s premiere Def Leppard tribute band, Def Repplica hit Perth this week for their debut West Coast tour, checking into The BLVD on Thursday, October 25; The Ravenswood Hotel on Friday, October 26; The Charles on Saturday, October 27; and The Railway Hotel on Sunday, October 28. We have two double passes to each of their shows up for grabs so enter now for your chance to win and don’t forget to mention your preferred night.
Marley The Rockumatary
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Spontaneous Broadway
CAB AUDITED CIRCULATION: 38,000 OCTOBER 2011 – MARCH 2012
SPONTANEOUS BROADWAY
Deadlines EDITORIAL General: Friday 5pm,, Eye4 Arts: Thursday 10am, Comp’ Thing: Monday Noon,, Salt Clubs: Monday 5pm , Local Scene: Monday Noon,, Gig Guide: Monday 5pm ADVERTISING Cancellations: Monday 5pm, Ads to be set: Monday Noon Supplied Bookings / Copy: Tuesday 12 Noon, Classifieds: Monday 4pm Published by: Columbia Press Pty.Ltd. A.C.N. 066 570 803 Registered by Australia Post. Publication No PP600110.00006 Suite 55/102 Railway Street, City West Business Centre, West Perth, WA 6005 Locked Bag 31, West Perth, WA 6872 Phone: (08) 9213 2888 Fax: (08) 9213 2882 Website: http://www.xpressmag.com.au
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Advertisers and/or their agents by lodging an advertisment shall indemnify the publisher, and its agents, against all liability claims or proceedings whatsoever arising from the publication. Advertisers and/or their representatives indemnify the publisher in relation to defamation, slander, breach of copyright, infringement of trademarks of name of publication titles, unfair competition or trade practices, royalties or violation of rights or privacy and warrant that the material complies with revelant laws and regulations and that its publication will not give rise to any rights against or liabilities in the publisher, its servants or agents. Any material supplied to X-Press is at the contributor’s risk.
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Distribution Distribution
After releasing two critically-acclaimed EPs, Auckland four-piece Artisan Guns release debut album Coral, which recently debuted at #1 on the New Zealand Indie Charts. We have three copies of this killer album to giveaway so get your entries in now for your chance to score one.
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Drapht @ Perth Arena
DRAPHT HEADLINES PLUG INTO PERTH
Plug Into Perth is the opportunity for WA’s best music artists to test WA’s newest venue - Perth Arena - on Friday, November 2. The event will be headlined by hip-hop sensation Drapht, whose 2011 album Life Of Riley debuted at #1 on the Aria Album Charts. Drapht will be supported by local faves Sugar Army and Split Seconds. We have a whopping 50 double passes up for grabs to this once in a lifetime event so for you chance to win tickets simply email in with “Drapht @ Perth Arena” in the subject line.
The Spontaneous Broadway show is heading to Perth for six shows only. Direct from Melbourne, every show is completely different. The cast know every song from every musical, that’s never been written! The stakes are high and so is the talent. We have a double pass up the Thursday, November 8 show at Subiaco Arts Centre. Enter now for your chance to win.
MARLEY THE ROCKUMATARY
Marley is a definitive film about one of the true and most loved international icons of the 20th century: Bob Marley. For your chance to win a copy of this newly released DVD, get your entries in now as this is definitely a must see.
HOUSOS VS AUTHORITY
The popular SBS satirical comedy comes to the big screen in Paul Fenech’s outrageous new film Houses Vs Authority. We have awesome prize packs consisting of a double pass to the film, thongs, tattoos, tickets up for grabs. Get in now for your chance to win.
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X-Press – First on the street, Wednesdays
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X-Press – First on the street, Wednesdays
SOARING SYMPHONIES
Legendary composer and musician Yanni is currently on a world tour, and will be bringing it to our shores early next year. On tour with his ever-lauded 15-piece orchestra, Yanni will be playing favourites from his back catalogue as well as newer songs from 2011’s Truth Of Touch. Renowned for his phenomenal, uplifting performances, Yanni is not to be missed. He will be performing at Perth Arena on Sunday, January 27 – tickets are on sale now through Ticketek. `
Spencer P Jones And The Nothing Butts Lisa Mitchell
LISA IT’S YOUR GIGDAY
Australian ingénue Lisa Mitchell has just released new second album, Bless This Mess, reviewed in this week’s issue on page 22. The even better news is that Mitchell performs this Friday, October 26, at the Astor Theatre and on Saturday, October 27, at the Prince Of Wales, Bunbury.
SONIC PUNISHMENT
Holy flipping noise – DEAD and Vaz are coming! Brooklyn-based cult group Vaz will be bringing their brand of sonic face-smashing noise to our shores in December, and along for the ride are the equally eardestroying dudes DEAD. Those in the know will be aware that both bands have a massive underground following, quietly selling out records and shows around the world over the past few years. Don’t miss the chance to become partially deaf in the best way you possibly could – the sonic punishment is happening on Saturday, December 8, at Dada Records (with support from Bamodi and Race To Your Face), and Mojos on Sunday, December 9 (with support from Grief Contest).
NOTHING BUTT THE BEST
We were all a little bit excited when word spread earlier this year of Spencer P Jones And The Nothing Butts – aka a supergroup made up of Spencer P Jones and James Baker from Beasts Of Bourbon plus Fiona Kitschin and Gareth Liddiard from The Drones. And now, we’re even more pumped, because the group are going out on tour – and it’s a one time only dealio! They’ll be touring their new self-titled record, which is out in a few weeks, and are playing one show in Perth. Don’t miss what is likely to be an outstanding show with some of the most talented musicians in the country – head down to The Bakery on Friday, December 7. Tickets are on sale now through nowbaking.com.au.
PUNKIN’ GOOD PARTY
It’s likely that you’ve already heard about the Lagwagon tour that’s a-happening a little later in the year – hells yeah! As well as the freaking awesome Smith Street Band, the US punkers have just announced their local supports in the form of punk larrikins The Decline. Get down to The Rosemount on Thursday, December 6. Tickets through the usual outlets.
SUGAR HIGH
We already brought you the news that legendary Scottish rockers Primal Scream are heading back to our shores next year, armed with all their classics. Well, the band have just announced the supports for their tour – and super-rad local lads Sugar Army have scored the in-demand slot. Woo! Check it all out at The Astor on Tuesday, December 11, and grab tickets through Showticketing.
IT’S THE PITS
Here’s some pretty rad news for all you punk/ska lovers out there – a new festival, aptly entitled Hits And Pits, is coming your way – and the line-up is packed to the eyeballs with killer international and Aussie acts. Feast your eyes on this deliciousness: Mad Caddies, Good Riddance, A Wilhelm Scream, Voodoo Glow Skulls, The Flatliners, Diesel Boy (acoustic set), One Dollar Short (acoustic set), Jamie Hay, Jen Buxton, Totally Unicorn and Paper Arms. It’s all happening next year at Metros Fremantle on Monday, April 1. Presale tickets are a-happening this Friday, October 26, with the remaining tickets on sale Friday, November 2 through hitsandpits.bigcartel.com.
DECLAN KELLY Water, Water Everywhere
You were last here for a solo run through WA some months ago. How was your jaunt? It was a tour supporting my fave crew, OKA. A week of hanging with these boys playing music, travelling in the van together Seeing gorgeous WA, sharing meals and loads of laughs. Yeah, it was alright. You’re a multi-instrumentalist, what instrument do you mostly compose on? I compose most of my songs on guitar and get a rough sketch of a new tune and then sit with it to see how to approach it live and recording also.
MORE TEA?
Do you like tea and scones? How about music? If you answered yes to one or both of those questions, you’d better get down to the Stirling Gardens in a few weekends time for A Garden Affair – an event that includes a high tea and live entertainment from some lovely local bands. Simon And Girlfunkle plus Boom! Bap! Pow! will provide the soundtrack to your afternoon, which will include delicious treats, We Heart Vintage frocks, a craft tent, market stalls, and entertainment for the kiddies. So, why not get on down there? It’s happening from 2pm-6pm in the Stirling Gardens on Sunday, November 10.
Declan Kelly
Shellac
A GOOD SHELLAC-ING
Alternative Chicago heavyweights Shellac don’t get around much anymore, but when they do you really oughta know about it. So let it be known that Steve Albini, Bob Weston and Todd Trainer are making the Rosemount Hotel their own this Thursday, October 25.
IS DONNY IS GOOD
The one and only Donny Benét is returning with his HEAT Tour which will see the sexy, entertaining lad celebrate the release of his latest record, Electric Love. Expect a night of disco funk and fun when he plays the North Perth Bowling & Recreation Club next Wednesday, October 31. Hit up facebook.com/donnybenet for all the deets.
JUZZTIFICATION
Acclaimed US pianist, composer and bandleader Myra Melford is heading to Perth for two shows, bringing her unique brand of percussive composition and piano improvisation to The Bakery stage. Influenced by world and indigenous music, combined with philosophers, Buddhism, poetry and artwork, Melford is eclectic and intriguing in her musical presentation. Joining her for the second show will be Trio M – a jazz ensemble comprised of three visionary jazz musicians, who will complement Melford’s performance. Catch the extraordinary performances on Tuesday, November 6, and Wednesday, November 7 at The Bakery. Tickets are available through nowbaking.com.au or on the door.
You music combines Polynesian melodies, Irish folk and aspects of reggae. What do you feel is the common line running through these diverse types of music?` Both Polynesian and Irish music has a strong sense of rhythm and harmony and both cultures share a great belief in mythology. There is a sense of magic and divinity to many songs from both cultures that breathe another world which is very inspiring to me and my songwriting. Water is often mentioned and its movement evoked in your songs. Discuss... Water is one of the great metaphors for life, travelling and temper. My last album was inspired by the early sea navigators who courageously saw a way out to something better. A calling... What are your plans looking into 2013? I have two albums I am finishing off. One is a tribute to a great Australian rock band done in reggae and dub - it’s all I can say about this for now - and the other my third album. And definitely more touring. See you in the West. Declan Kelly & The Rising Sun play tonight, Wednesday, October 24, at Mojos; Thursday, October 25, at the Prince Of Wales, Bunbury; Friday, October 26, at Settlers Tavern, Margaret River; Saturday, October 27, at the White Star Hotel, Albany, and Sunday, October 28, at the Indi Bar. _BOB GORDON
Thurston Moore
MORE MOORE
Legendary Sonic Youth guitarist/vocalist Thurston Moore is touring Australia in support of his solo album, Demolished Thoughts, produced by none other than Beck. All hail this American Knight at the Rosemount Hotel, Tuesday, October 30.
Roger Hodgson
HO, HO, HANLON
The ever-charming Darren Hanlon is heading back out on the road to bring you a little bit of holiday cheer with his legendary Christmas show. After a year that included running a venue in Melbourne, living in a bread truck in Portland, and of course, touring, Hanlon is heading around the country to perform stripped back versions of fan favourites, as well as showcase songs from his upcoming record. There’ll also be some special guests and a few surprises along the way, so be sure to get on down to Mojos on Wednesday, December 19. www.xpressmag.com.au
IT SEEMS THAT LIFE IS SO WONDERFUL
Roger Hodgson, who you may know as the voice behind the legendary Supertramp, is bringing his pipes and his full band down to Australia for the first time ever. No doubt you remember songs like Give A Little Bit, The Logical Song, School and Take The Long Way Home – all of which Hodgson masterminded. The man himself will be bringing those songs and more to the stage at the Riverside Theatre next year, on Sunday, April 7. Tickets are on sale now through Ticketek.
The Toot Toot Toots
TOOTERS!
Those spaghetti western shimmy shakers The Toot Toot Toots are heading over from Melbourne for their first WA outing. The Toot Toot Toots have developed a solid reputation for their unique country blues sound and their frenetic and hyper-energetic live shows. Along with playing at Rock-It Festival on Sunday, October 28, they’re available this Friday, October 26 at Deville’s Pad (with Cal Peck And The Tramps) and Saturday, October 27, at the Railway Hotel (with The Morning Night and Boom! Bap! Pow!).
Reece Mastin
LIVIN’ A TEENAGE DREAM
X-Factor winner-kid Reece Mastin is all grown up with tattoos and perfect hair and a tendency to make out with random babes in his film clips – oh, and he’s releasing his second record in less than a year – hooray! PLUS (please brace yourselves, fangirls) he’s coming to play at the Perth Arena in a few months – ermahgerd. He’s bringing along those dudes who dance, Justice Crew, as well as The Janoskians, and basically it’s all going to be a teenage dream. The babefest is going down on Saturday, December 1, with tickets on sale now through Ticketek. 11
“I’d just started writing with this ukulele that a friend of mine had leant me. I just felt when I was playing that that there was really something different that I was working with and that’s when I had the feeling that I wanted to make an album that was really about contrasts. I had this really small, fragile instrument and I thought, ‘wouldn’t it be wonderful, at the other end of the scale, to have this massive wall of sound’ and that’s when I had this dream, to have an orchestra.”
SARAH BLASKO
A Whale Of A Time Sarah Blasko releases her fourth album, I Awake, this Friday, October 26, and will appear in concert with the West Australian Symphony Orchestra (WASO) on Saturday, February 23, at Kings Park & Botanic Garden. Never let it be said that Sarah Blasko isn’t up for a challenge. Following a well-received album and tour with Holly Throsby and Sally Seltmann as Seeker Lover Keeper in 2011, Blasko could well have decided to take some time for herself to refuel the tank a little. She did indeed take time for herself, but that was spent in Brighton, UK, writing her new album, I Awake, the follow up to 2009’s As Day Follows Night. From there Blasko went to Stockholm and for the first time acted as producer on her own album, working again with engineer and mixer, Lasse Mårtén. This also included a visit to Sofia, Bulgaria, to record the beautiful track, Here, with the Bulgarian Symphony Orchestra. With I Awake being released this week, Blasko created an ‘Album Installation’ in Sydney’s Oxford St, a space in which the album could be
ASTRIAAL
Beyond The Abyss It is the dawn of a new era for Queensland-based black metal outfit, Astriaal. After more than a year at bay, vocalist Arzarkhel tells how the band’s aggressive streak has only heightened in the downtime. JESSICA WILLOUGHBY reports ahead of their headlining slot at Bastardfest at the Civic Hotel this Saturday, October 27. 12
originally I was going to work with Bjorn [Yttling, of Peter, Bjorn & John] again, with him producing this album, but we just couldn’t make it work time-wise so that’s when I thought, ‘okay, this is my time to do it for myself’. It’s a good place to record; there’s a really beautiful studio there that I love. I love the quality of the studio and Lasse is a great engineer and mixer. It was just nice to go back and live there a bit more.
Did undertaking the role of producer weigh upon you or did you just go about it without too much pre-occupation? I found it really liberating on the one hand and then on the other there was quite a bit of pressure. But I think it was a lot of pressure because I decided to do something so grandiose. It would have been much easier if I’d just decided to record it with a couple of people (laughs). You feel that pressure of working on the arrangements with somebody and going to Bulgaria to work with the orchestra, and all of those little things. You know, Bjorn produced the last record and previously, the ones before that, I co-produced with other people. You kind of realise that having that team is your safety net and they’re the people that keep you motivated. Bjorn was a great motivator, he was really encouraging of me as a singer and a writer and everything. I’d gotten used to that way of working, so it was very much about getting used to carrying it for myself, but I think I chose the right people to work on Do you find yourself really getting down to it with me. When you’ve got that confidence in the business with it when you do it like that? Nick people that you’re working with it takes the pressure Cave also lives and writes in Brighton and off. conducts it in a 9-5 manner... Yeah I like to. I like to see it as you know, a What was your experience of recording Here? It project like anything else and I found that this time sounds like it could be the lost song from The the songs that made the most sense in the end to Wizard Of Oz. That just started out as a really simple go together on the album were mostly songs that I had written in a really concentrated period of time. song on ukulele, but I think that I’d always heard it I write better when I’m working during the day and being like a modern take on a song from a musical. I’ll often go to the library and read a whole lot of I wanted to conjure something that was kind of like stuff. It’s just inspiring yourself and coffee and a lot an Edith Piaf song, something that had that old world of walking (laughs). charm but had something steely about it as well. We In that sense I’m quite business-like, totally just ended up deciding to go for the absolute although business is the antithesis of it (laughs). I Hollywood ending, which I kind of really love. do like to really get into it as a project rather than It was just crazy recording that, because just write things here and there. I had total free rein that was the one that we did that I sang live with at this place because I was living by myself and had the orchestra in Bulgaria. So it was really moving and this piano and got really immersed in my own head really overwhelming. I mean, I’d never sung with an Sarah Blasko at points where you feel like you’re losing a bit of orchestra before... it’s so hard to describe the way that touch with reality and things start to take on a bit of it feels. The sounds kind of moves, like some of kind experienced prior to its release with screenings of a a heightened feeling. It’s quite wonderful to be able of monster (laughs). It was really amazing. short film inspired by the work of director Mike Daly to do that. and performances by Blasko herself. I worked for a time at WASO and was occasionally Fe b r u a r y l o o m s w i t h s y m p h o n i c When you’re in the album-then-tour cycle you’re in the rehearsal room with the orchestra. I used to performances by Blasko of an album that was born out in front of audiences every night, you’re doing equate the sensation of the music as what it must promo and making appearances at radio or TV, so to be orchestrally maneuvered. you’re very visible. Yet for an artist the creative be like to be swimming in the ocean and having a process is a very solitary thing. Does it take a whale swim by you... By BOB GORDON Yes. Yes, totally! That is exactly how it feels. while, within the solitude, to become comfortable When you did the score for Hamlet in 2008 it with yourself again? It definitely does. For me there’s that totally It’s beautiful and so powerful. partly prefaced and was partly simultaneous in It’s crazy! the writing of As Day Follows Night. This album restless period where you think that you’re hitting comes after Seeker Lover Keeper; do you find that your head against a brick wall and you can’t relax peripheral projects will bring something to your into it and you find that there’s this point where you I’m interested in the song God Fearing. Are you get on a roll. For me it’s often been there’s this one alluding to the Sign Of The Cross in the chorus? own work or are they markedly different? Well I could be if you want me to be I think everything you do does in some song, where you think to yourself, ‘a-ha, I’ve found (laughs). I’m always interested to hear how people way changes your perspective on writing and the something that I want to follow for this album’. interpret things. way you do things. For sure. But it felt quite separate this time, between the Seeker Lover Keeper thing and The flagship? Talk to me about it... Yeah, something that just guides you and writing this. It wasn’t really as much of a simultaneous thing as much as Hamlet was for As Day Follows Night you realise a little bit of the direction you want to The words, ‘Set them up, knock them down, cast because we’d recorded Seeker Lover Keeper quite go in. There this song called Bury This on the album; them left, cast them right...’, as a former Catholic far in advance of writing this record. But I think the I’d just started writing with this ukulele that a friend schoolboy, reminds me of doing the Sign Of The different approaches rub off on what you’re doing or of mine had leant me. I just felt when I was playing Cross ad infinitum... that that there was really something different that I release you to do something new. Yeah, yeah. That song’s all about people I think in some ways what was most was working with and that’s when I had the feeling who take something beautiful and make it into influential on this album was really just being in that I wanted to make an album that was really about something tainted. I feel that that song is about a a new place and coming to terms with what and contrasts. I had this really small, fragile instrument and few different areas there is religious wording in that the isolation. Those sort of things were a pretty big I thought, ‘wouldn’t it be wonderful, at the other end of influencing factor because I spent quite a bit of time the scale, to have this massive wall of sound’ and that’s song. when I had this dream, to have an orchestra. by myself in writing this album. How much of the album will you feature when you Was the writing mostly done in a set period of time Other than Lasse Mårtén living and working go out on tour? I’m just doing a couple band warm-ups while you were away, or drawn out over various from there, what’s the connection for you with Stockholm? In what way do you become part of and supports before we go out early next year. periods? It’s going to be done pretty similar to the album, It was mostly done while I was away, living it when you’re there? I just really enjoyed working there last time basically. We’ll be doing it in a way that really captures in Brighton, in England. I was living on my own there in this house by the water. It was kind of day-in/day-out for on When Day Follows Night. Some of the people who the sound and feel of the album. It’s going to be quite a while there then I finished things up a little bit later in played on my last record kept playing in my band, so a big deal as you’d imagine (laughs). There’ll definitely the year, in between the touring for Seeker Lover Keeper. it just kind of made sense to go back there. Actually, be that whale experience. “I feel the Australian black metal movement will have very strong proclamations in the future,” Astriaal vocalist, Arzarkhel, tells X-Press. Australia is not predominantly well known for black metal. But, in isolation, a small and select group of talent has risen over time to claim rights to the genre in their own way. From the all-encompassing Nazxul to Drowning the Light, Pestilential Shadows and, in more recent times, Portal – each band has stamped their own roots over the abrasive style. Now in their 14th year, Queensland outfit Astriaal are hoping to add their name to this growing list. A path they feel they already tread, according to frontman Arzarkhel. “Australian black metal went through a lull in the early-to- mid 2000’s but has seen somewhat of a renaissance in the past few years with many old and new bands coming to the fore once more,” he says. “It is only on the rise. But trust me it is not an easy path as Astriaal has had several instances of being on the verge of collapse and disbanding. “It is only through perseverance and commitment that a higher class of art can be achieved. We collectively felt that we had not said
all that needed to be said and to have ended it then would have been premature and a great waste. Over the years we have achieved many great things as a band, and individually of course, that have rewards beyond their initial moment. A legacy and memories in life one could say. We didn’t want to let this go.” To say the last two years have been a time of change for Astriaal would be an understatement. Following the release of Anatomy Of The Infinite in 2010, their first album in seven years, a line-up change saw a new intensity rise in the five-piece. Dan Marsden, aka Daeimos, formerly of Psychrist and current Infinitum bassist joined their ranks most recently with David Slepcev [Svarogg] stepping in on rhythm guitar since the departure of Helthor last year. Arzarkhel points to the new line-up adding a darker dimension to the band’s new material. “The new direction of material is heading in much more intense with a violent sense of urgency within the chaotic and blasting rhythm sections, “ he explains. “The songs still contain moments of more epic expansions but these now serve different roles within the songs compared to previous compositions. Some of the new songs thus
Astriaal far I feel will perhaps become some of our most memorable for our listeners. “Lyrically the Abyss will always play its fundamental role, as will the decomposition of indoctrinated religious philosophy. But I still hope to display a different approach in lyrical concept via more distorted dream state like scenarios, analogies and metaphors. All the darker dimensions.” X-Press – First on the street, Wednesdays
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GRAVEYARD TRAIN Dancing With Death
Touring in support of their third album, Hollows, Graveyard Train perform as part of the Rock-It lineup this Sunday, October 28, at Arena Joondalup, as well as their own shows at the Indi Bar on Monday, October 29, Mojos on Tuesday, October 30, and Devilles on Wednesday, October 31, with their friends Brothers Grim and Blue Murders. KRISSI WEISS reports. The Graveyard Train. Chicken or egg? “The concept of the band came before the band itself,” singer Nick Finch says when asked whether his infamous horror/country/chain-gang collective
Graveyard Train have become more concept-focused than intended. “The idea was to have a country/horror band with a whole bunch of guys making a whole bunch of noise on stage and singing songs about death and stuff. It has really developed a lot since then; we were a lot more country in the early days, but we are not really now.” Graveyard Train appear to take their lyrical content and on-stage personas to the level of caricature, and Finch is aware that they are often swerving between humour and outright despair. “It’s always a bit of a fine line,” he laughs – and, in fact, he laughs a lot, which is surprising given the topics we discuss. “This album is about death and the horror of the human condition, if you wanna be highbrow about it. On our last record, the themes have always been serious but with comedic overtones – kind of schlocky things. On this album we haven’t really done that. I like to write about dark things, but I don’t want people killing themselves while listening to the record.” Finch admits that the inevitability of death is a constant burden of thought for him.“I’m quite a happy man and I have a really great life, but I love the sound of songs in minor chords,” he explains. “But yes, I am concerned with death. It’s a genuinely horrible concern that bugs me. The songs that I write are about the fact that we’re going to die, this is all going to go and everyone who has ever known you or thought about you will be gone as well, and your life will round off to never having happened.” Is music, then, some way of creating immortality? “Maybe that’s why I write music, so I can stick around,” he laughs. As we discuss his concern
Graveyard Train for the human race in general, I suggest that if the destruction of our species occurs, no amount of cultural notoriety will matter without anyone here to remember it… “Yeah, you’re right, it’ll be all gone,” he says, growing distant for a brief moment before returning with another laugh. “I think we’re working on my next album right now!” If the concept of Graveyard Train is more than just character work for Finch, is the process of writing about his existential concerns cathartic in any way? “It’s fun telling people that they’re all going to die and that they have no soul,” he says. “It’s not cathartic, but it’s fun – and if we’re all going to die we might as well have fun.” As we finish up, I’m compelled to ask Finch whether he truly believes we have no souls.“I do, yeah,” he says with resignation.“As much as my Catholic mum would shudder to think. It would be really nice if we did – I want to be proved wrong… But at least we have soul music.”
Mike Compton
MIKE COMPTON O Cousin Where Art Thou?
The man behind the music of the Cohen brothers’ film, O Brother Where Art Thou?, is returning to Perth for the bluegrass celebration, In Constant Sorrow. CHRIS HAVERCROFT speaks to mandolin maestro, Mike Compton, who will be joined by Melbourne folk duo Ruth Hazleton and Kate Burke and an ensemble cast of WA’s best bluegrass musicians at the State Theatre this Sunday, October 28. When looking to express yourself through music it isn’t likely that the instrument of choice would be the mandolin. Mike Compton was no different to others in that regard as he dabbled in trombone, piano and guitar before he found a mandolin in his hand. With the Mississippi native having a family history of playing acoustic music, there was no chance that Compton would deny his birthright. “I picked up the mandolin when I was about 15,” he reflects. “At that point in my life I was starting to get interested in my elder relatives like my great grandfather and my great uncles, and one of them was a fiddle player. My cousin started to play the fiddle and also around that time I got big enough and had a bit of muscle on me so we started to work hauling hay bales and the guys we worked with played in a band. Around that time I picked up the mandolin because it was similar to the fiddle.” It was from this point on that Compton became enchanted with traditional music and apart from a brief stint at art school in his youth, he has never looked back. Compton speaks of his cousin who all those years ago took up the fiddle and is a ‘natural musician’ who prefers a simple life. While the cousin he refers to as being ‘more talented’ sits at home, Compton is travelling the world sharing bluegrass music with those who will listen. “I am fortunate that from the crazy idea of playing music I have been able to play a bunch of tunes that hardly anybody knew and somehow made a living out of it.” He is a highly sought after session musician who is seen as a master of his instrument, but Compton is also a solo artist in his own right. While he loves the time in the studio with others, he says there is no comparison with playing his own songs for a room full of people. His latest album, Rotten Tater, is a relatively stripped down affair that was recorded here in Perth. It’s a decision that is somewhat out of left field for a man who you would expect would have his pick of the whole musical community of Nashville at his fingertips, but local luthier Paul Duff was insistent. “I had some time off when I was last in Perth and Paul insisted that I came down to the studio and make a record,” Compton recalls. “I had some songs together but I certainly wasn’t planning on making a record at that time. I knew the songs I wanted to do, but didn’t have the arrangements sorted so when it was just me it forced my hand a little. It was all pretty relaxed and unexpected. Seeing as I had the opportunity it would have been foolish not to do it.” 14
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ASH GRUNWALD Trouble’s Brewing
Blues and roots exponent Ash Grunwald showcases his new album, Trouble’s Door, with seven shows from October 25 ‘til November 2 (see Tour Trails for full dates). TRAVIS JOHNSON has a word.
Leb i Sol
LEB I SOL Slavs To The Rhythm Legendary Macedonian band Leb I Sol are touring Australia for the first time, hitting the Charles Hotel this Friday, October 26. PREDRAG DELIBASIC speaks with bass player, Bodan Arsovski. Leb i Sol formed in 1976 in Skopje, Macedonia, and immediately attracted a lot of attention with their blend of jazz-rock/local traditional music fusion. Back in the former Yugoslavia at the time rock music was still developing and, like elsewhere, hard rock was the main thing. Then Leb i Sol stepped on the scene and basically kicked everybody’s ass with complex, yet melodic instrumental structures, unusual beats and above all amazing playing. Kokan [Dimusevski, keyboards] and me have been in Leb i Sol since its beginnings in the mid-’70s,” says bassist, Bodan Arsovski. “We grew up on rock music, but it was the jazz-rock that made us start the band. Not many bands played the same music back home and we spiced it up with a heavy dose of traditional Macedonian folk music influences.” Leb i Sol’s first three albums are regarded as true masterpieces and hot items among record collectors worldwide. The band later turned more towards pop-rock, but the great musicianship was still there. “In the early ‘90s we decided to take a break,” Arsovski recalls. “Everyone wanted to pursue other musical avenues, either doing solo stuff or
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collaborating with other musicians. 2006 marked 30 years since we started as a band, so we did a big tour and played to large numbers of people. It was then I realised we still have a lot to say musically and decided to continue with the band.” Thirty years ago a fusion of ‘world’ and rock music was not so common, but these days it’s everywhere and it only made sense for Leb i Sol to take where they left off with early albums. The result is a great comeback album titled I Taka Nataka (And So On). “After our 30th anniversary tour the line up changed,” Arsovski says. “We got some well-needed fresh blood in the band and started working on new material. Being a mainly instrumental band we had some guest vocalists on the album. Recently we performed with a symphony orchestra and it went so well. Kokan went to a great length of work to arrange everything for a 40-piece orchestra and we are now thinking to incorporate some classical elements in our music.” Some 36 years and thousands of shows later the Macedonian virtuosos are bringing their live show to Australia for the first time. “We went to the States for the first time in 1982,” Arsovski notes. “Since then we toured Europe many times and went back to the States and Canada in 1990. Everywhere we played outside of former Yugoslavia people were stunned by unusual beats and melodies,” says Bodan. “Somehow Australia was always too far away. There was nobody willing to promote our shows until now. Australia is a big country, but without big population. There are many immigrants from Macedonia and former Yugoslavia, but we were never sure our kind of music can be ‘sold’ to them. “But now the time seems to be right. We look forward to our first tour of Down Under and we hope that our music transfers well to the Australian audience.”
“It was almost the most natural evolution ever that I’ve had,” he says. “There’s always been baby steps in that direction. I know I would have been saying that after Hot Mama Vibes as well - ever since I did Fish Out Of Water it’s been a constant project of mine. So it wasn’t even really thought about that much, once it came down to it. It was just letting artistic nature take its course, and I think I’ve probably come up with more varied albums the less I think. The thinking is the bit that stops me, and I go, ‘Oh no, people ain’t gonna like it - it’s not like the last album!’ I’m a bit over that after six albums. I’m just doing the music that pleases me and that I think is cool, and I think things are working out pretty well.” He will, however, admit that not everyone is happy with the change. “I know that, at the start of my tour, there were some old fans who were quite disgusted to see a computer involved,” he says, “but there’s not a lot I can do about that, really.” Still, Grunwald maintains that there’s no jarring jump between the new album and his older, more familiar, work. “I think the material slots in quite nicely,” he tells us. “ Because I’ve been playing solo on this tour, as time’s gone on it’s been really interesting for me. I’m at the 10 year point in my career, so as I’ve been playing the shows, I’ve been looking back and remembering the things that used to work really effectively when I was playing solo shows - because I haven’t over the last four years - and bringing them back. I feel like I’m playing lot better than I was playing at the start of the tour right now, just because I wasn’t used to having nobody on stage. I’m just absolutely loving it now - that freedom is a very cool thing.” This tour has also seen Grunwald add a slew of regional dates to his already crowded schedule, something he delights in doing. Ash Grunwald “ With the regional gigs often the environment is a bit more rough and ready, a pub Over the course of his career, Ash Grunwald has environment or whatever. But for me, that’s how I been steadily shifting his sound away from its started out playing live music, and doing a lot of blues and roots foundations and drawing on more touring. So it’s not like I’m extending myself out there; hip hop and modern dance influences. it’s just an assumption that I will go to those places. His latest album, Trouble’s Door, continues But you get busier, though, and you start that trend, and Grunwald insists that this is a case of missing them on more and more tours, so it’s going natural artistic growth. to be good to pick up those extra shows.”
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LAST DINOSAURS
TINPAN ORANGE
Hard To Explain
Still riding high with their debut LP, In A Million Years, Lost Dinosaurs feature at Rock-It this Sunday, October 28, at Arena Joondalup. KRISSI WEISS reports.
The Band That Rocks The Cradle Touring in support of their new album, Over The Sun, Tinpan Orange perform on Thursday, October 25, at The Bakery and Friday, October 26, at the Fly By Night Club. BOB GORDON chats with vocalist, Emily Lubitz. It’s been several months since the release of Tinpan Orange’s fourth album, Over The Sun. It’s a release that represents growth for the band in more ways than one and Emily Lubitz has been loving the shows they played so far in support of it. “The tour has been fantastic,” she enthuses. “We just did the Sunshine Coast and I’m walking on the streets of Brisbane right now. It’s been great shows, beautiful crowds. I’m loving the live thing we’ve got with the new record. I’m loving playing with my band.” For Over The Sun, Tinpan Orange evolved from a trio into a quintet, allowing the band to expand their sound and songwriting dynamics. Lubitz and husband, Harry James Angus [Cat Empire/Jackson Jackson] in this time also gave birth to a son, Louis, who soon accompanied them on the road. “He’s 18 months old now and we started touring with him when he was three months old,” Lubitz says. “Louis has been around the country and Europe and Canada, he’s a real road warrior baby (laughs). “It’s always interesting to be on the road with the baby. He’s amazing; he’s a good traveller.” Growing a family and growing the band seemed to happen at the same time for Lubitz and Tinpan Orange, but the singer says it was all coincidental. Sort of... “I think it was a bit coincidental and a bit about having a baby and becoming a little bit
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Tinpan Orange grown up and domesticated and maybe fighting against that in a way,” Lubitz considers. “With the new music I jump around onstage a whole lot more frantically than I ever did. It’s kind of my process against getting older, that I want to fling my hair around. I think it’s mostly coincidence, but the whole album is a reflection on a time that’s kind of pre-baby, really; the housewife looking back on her un-domesticated life.” Like many, Lubitz heard the old ‘everything will be different once you have the baby’ line and, like many, it is and it isn’t. “Well we certainly haven’t done the traditional nuclear family thing,” she says. “Though in some ways we do; we have this sort of dichotomist life where sometimes we have a house in the suburbs of Melbourne and Harry goes off to the studio every day and I stay home with Louis. I’m a full-time mother and housewife; I’ve even started baking, for god’s sake. I’m terrible at it, but I do it (laughs). “And then we go on the road. And we go on the road a lot. And we find ourselves in hotel rooms in Montreal, or carparks in Saskatoon. In that sense it’s a very untraditional family life. But we’re together and we love it. So far it’s worked; who knows what’s to come?” The beauty of it seems to be that Lubitz and Tinpan Orange are living life as it happens, rather than applying a black and white plan that inevitably proves inflexible. “I’m not saying I have all the answers,”Lubitz says.“Sometimes I feel like a terrible mother, taking this precious little being into airports and waiting around streets and grubby backstage areas. “But what I know is that he’ll have a very good immune system. Hopefully it’ll give him a bit of edge, we all need a bit of that. We all need something to say to our parents, ‘oh my God you fucked me up!’, because who are we? We need character. We need something to write songs about!”
Lost Dinosaurs There’s nothing quite like a Triple J Unearthed win to help a band set sail – but even then, sustained success isn’t certain. Brisbane’s indie-pop four-piece, Last Dinosaurs, have managed to ensure some semblance of longevity through the old-fashioned word of mouth that comes simply from playing good music. The band’s latest tour is quietly selling out across the country, and will follow their second tour of Europe and the US – and their debut album, In A Million Years, entered the charts in the Top 10 earlier this year. Singer/guitarist, Sean Caskey, is getting excited for their upcoming European tour, reminiscing on some of the pivotal moments of their last trip. “When we played in Paris, there was this stereotypical Parisian attitude,” he begins. “They enjoyed us and they would clap a lot after the songs, but during the songs I was looking at girls rolling their eyes and I was like, ‘What the fuck is going on?’ …but then they’d clap heaps. I was genuinely confused. Amsterdam was nuts though, we had no idea what to expect. We played at this day festival in this building, and everyone was off their faces and it was just the best. I really wanna go back there again this time, for obvious reasons.” Coming from the enthusiastic and dedicated – yet extremely cliquey – Brisbane scene, Europe was a sort of reassurance to the band that they were on the right track. “It’s interesting,” Caskey says. “In Brisbane, and even throughout Australia, playing is extremely fun, we just try to make it as fun as possible, whereas in Europe we’re trying to win over a crowd. They don’t know the songs at all. It’s refreshing to play to an
unknown crowd and win them over. When we play in another country and people come to see just us, it makes us realise we’re actually doing something right.” When Triple J hit Last Dinosaurs with the news of their Unearthed win, Caskey had been concentrating his efforts in another successful Brisbane band, The Cairos, and using Dinos as a side project. The win came as a complete surprise – and, more importantly, the support from the youth network has continued. “They don’t have to do what they’re doing, but they are,” he says, with genuine gratitude. “When they called us up for the Unearthed feature, Dinos was just the band I practiced in once a month. There was no reason they needed to call us up for that, and it was just crazy, it started so many things for us. “They’ve really kicked us off and they keep us going. It feels like they’re our parents or something. Just in the way they’ve done so many, well, not favours, but they have the power to guide you and it’s an honour that they picked us.” The support that the band has enjoyed now stretches far beyond the triple j network; festival spots, rave reviews and opening slots for Foals, Matt & Kim and Foster The People all add to the industry enthusiasm. “It’s awesome. Like, Russell [Lissack] from Bloc Party saying nice things about us – that’s insane, it’s weird,” he says, referring to Lissack’s infamous Tweet earlier this year: ‘Can’t stop listening to @lastdinosaurs album’. “There are all these things that we can’t believe. It’s hard to explain.”
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LISA MITCHELL Bless This Mess
MGK Lace Up
Warner
Universal
It’s hard to imagine Lisa Mitchell going bigger than she did on her surprise-hit 2009 debut, Wonder, which saw her place #7 in the triple j Hottest 100 (for Coin Laundry) and take out the 2009 Australian Music Prize. Yet the 22-year-old Melbourne-based singer’s follow-up, Bless This Mess, manages to be even more aggressively effusive, which should cement the affections of fans who respond to her hyper-twee folk/pop aesthetic and further annoy those who find her shtick utterly cloying. Credit is due to Mitchell for sticking to her guns and penning an album that is bigger, brighter and braver than anything she has written thus far. One of the few recent pop LPs that works both as a collection of individual songs and as a true album, Mitchell manages to strike the right balance and flow to keep the record captivating, from surging opener, Providence, to the simplistic acoustic closer, I Know You’re Somewhere. More musically varied than Wonder, Bless This Mess finds Mitchell embracing new instruments and textures, most immediately recognisable on the sitar-sprinkled The Present which sees fellow chanteuse Clare Bowditch and regular collaborator Jordan Wilson [Georgia Fair] joining her for the chanted mantra chorus: ‘We just want to be happy, happy in the present’. An accomplished pop record infused with intelligence and imagination, Bless This Mess is that rarest of musical creatures – a sophomore effort equally as compelling as what came before. _JENNIFER PETERSON-WARD
Let’s get this sorted up front; white American rappers will always be compared to Eminem. This is largely unfair as he is arguably the greatest rapper ever, blending a venomous tongue, intricate storytelling and a sardonic wit. In 22 year-old Machine Gun Kelly we may have his nearest contemporary. Earning his name for his rapid fire delivery, MGK comes from a poor and broken family, was a father by his late teens and won various rap battles as a youth before signing to a major label. Sound familiar? On Lace Up Kelly tells tales of his brief but brutal life, from cleaning floors in takeaway food stores, moving to Kuwait with his dad and living in basements to a big label deal and widespread popularity. See My Tears and Invincible are standouts with masterful pop choruses breaking up his personal rhymes. Despite many well crafted personal songs, the album’s best moments come in the brash, chestthumping tracks where Kelly can be an arrogant kid over heavy, ignorant beats. Wild Boy has him cockily claiming, ‘Cobain’s back, got them crazy white boys yellin’ Cobain’s back’ while guest Waka Flocka drops lines like ‘Suck my dragon balls bitch, call me Goku’. On Lace Up Lil John does his usual background growling shtick and even though you know it’s terrible, it’s still some of the most fun hip hop around right now. While his wordplay isn’t always mindblowing, Kelly is talented and believable, and certainly an artist to keep an eye on.
STARS The North _ RYAN BUTLER
Shock Records
Stars first full-length album since the woeful The Five Ghosts in 2010, feels closer in spirit to their lauded early albums Heart [2003] and Set Yourself On Fire [2004] yet The North is rarely exciting or thrilling, and never revolutionary. Opener, The Theory Of Relativity, is indicative of the package Stars delivers: a high level of technical proficiency, wonderful musicianship, compelling narrative lyrics, Amy Milan and Torquil Campbell’s ever endearing boy-girl vocals, and a series of lukewarm songs. With the exception of the new wave-y Hold On When You Get Love And Let Go When You Give It, every tune here swings with a sluggish beat, and it’s this sleepiness (more suitable to a cocktail lounge than a rock stage) that separates The North from the passionate display found on their most successful album In Our Bedroom After The War [2007]. Milan, in particular, has a gorgeous voice, and it deserves attention, but there’s simply not enough for her to work with. For short stretches, she succeeds – most notably on Do You Want To Die Together? – but even her smokey tones aren’t enough to carry the album. In the end, The North is by no means a bad album, but with a palpable lack of energy and insistence this collection of soft pop tunes blurs together to create one unmemorable whole.
The magic of this recording is due to the long-standing musical relationship between two extraordinary Australian musicians, vocalist/composer, Gian Slater and saxophonist/composer, Jamie Oehlers. From the first track, The Differences, you can hear that comfortable connection, a haunting melody intertwined between tasteful accompaniment and mesmerising lyrics that come together as one. When is an achingly musical ode to the frustrations of being in love, with voice and tenor saxophone counter balancing both musically and emotionally, particularly when Oehlers’ soaring solo flies off, only to return to that universal question, ‘when will I feel it in my heart?’. There are three insightful interpretations - Johnny Mandel’s The Shadow Of Your Smile [from the film, The Sandpiper, Never Let Me Go, by Joe Scot] and Boy In The Bubble, a song written by Paul Simon in 1987 and whose lyrics, tragically, still resonate in today’s cockeyed world. Pinning it altogether is an incomparable trio - Paul Grabowsky on piano, Ben Robertson on bass and on drums, Dave Beck. Is this an important Australian recording? You betcha.
_ JENNIFER PETERSON-WARD
_ HELEN MATTHEWS
Independent
PAUL KELLY Spring And Fall
P!nk The Truth About Love
Gawd Aggle Records/ Universal
Sony
P!nk shot to fame in the early 2000’s because there was no one else like her in the industry – she was edgy, crass and a bit of a brat – plus, her lyricism and vocals weren’t too shabby. Fast-forward a decade to sixth studio album, The Truth About Love, and it’s a completely different story. The pop genre is currently flushed with petulant, yet fairly unique female artists with the ability to create (or at least, have someone else create) songs that appeal to a wider audience. P!nk has a fight on her hands, and this record doesn’t quite provide the knockout round she needs. First single, Blow Me (One Last Kiss), does okay, and slower tunes such as Beam Me Up are where P!nk truly shines. Slut Like You is supposed to be a ‘fuck you’ to slut-shaming which, though a great plan, doesn’t quite translate and could end up having the opposite effect. True Love is, lyrically, fairly brilliant (‘You’re an asshole but I love you’) but musically is fairly mediocre – which seems to be the formula for a fair few tracks on the record. With help from collaborators such as Lily Allen, Fun.’s Nate Reuss and Eminem, not to mention the likes of producer Greg Kurstin [Ke$ha, Sia] this should be an excellent record – but there’s something missing. It’s difficult to decide whether to love or hate this album, but the bottom line is that, compared to previous P!nk records, this is nothing to write home about.
_ CHLOE PAPAS 22
GIAN SLATER & JAMIE OEHLERS The Differences
Self-professed ‘mongrel’ memoirist and bona fide national treasure, Paul Kelly is a troubadour so prolific that he’s become part of the Australian psyche. With his latest record, Spring And Fall, he sought to “take a stand on behalf of the album,” and the result is a chronicle that encompasses love found and lost, memory, and aging. He collaborates again with nephew Dan Kelly, with J. Walker [C.W. Stoneking, The Whitlams] on production duties. Although each song is strong enough to stand alone, the album is most rewarding when listened to in its entirety. The songs blossom when they flow on from one another, with lushly layered instruments adorning the arrangements, from harmonica and dobro to violin. For The Ages is a typically irreverent yet bang-on example of Kelly lyricism: ‘You walked into the ball dressed by St Vincent DePaul, with that shy, serious smile’. But don’t worry, he’s not all dappled sunlight and love. Mournful melody and gentle harmonies are woven together on Time And Tide and None Of Your Business Now is a heartbroken rendering of a break-up. Rounding out the album is Little Aches And Pains, a song about being “old and creaky”, and even as he leaves us, Kelly is still wryly observing, ‘Disabled we’re born and disabled we die. Is that a cliché? I’ll make it one’. Spring And Fall is probably the closest thing you’ll get to a concept album from Kelly, who again speaks of maturity and experience. He wears it well.
_ NATALIE AMAT X-Press – First on the street, Wednesdays
THE SMITH STREET BAND Sunshine and Technology Poison City Records
M elbourne’s The Smith Street Band have been quietly climbing their way up the ranks of Australia’s punk scene over the past few years, and recent LP, Sunshine And Technology, has given them a hefty boost – because it’s motherflipping awesome. Wil Wagner’s lyrics, performed with an excellent ocker accent, are painfully relatable in their honesty; poetic punk tales of everything from being so drunk/high that you can’t feel your face, to rejection, friendship and love. This is one of those records (or perhaps, one of those bands) where you inevitably become utterly immersed in the music – Wagner’s lows and highs become yours, and you embody it whenever anything emotional happens to you, ever – you become that cliché. Young Drunk is the unequivocal standout on Sunshine and Technology, a song that somehow manages to be sad, angsty and a total love-attack all at the same time. What’s Changed? comes a close second – anyone who doesn’t have a whole lotta feels when Wagner screams: “What the fuck has changed?” is obviously a little too well adjusted. Though (in this humble reviewer’s opinion) this record doesn’t quite live up to last year’s No One Gets Lost Anymore, it’s still a massive step up for The Smith Street Band, and has gained them some of the recognition that they deserve as one of the best punk bands in the country. Go buy it.
_ CHLOE PAPAS
Greenthief
THE DOMNICKS Super Real Citadel
Boasting an impressive pedigree in Dom Mariani [The DM3, The Stems], Nick Sheppard [Cortinas, The Clash], Howard Shawcross [The Elks, Dave Warner] and Marz Frisina [Calhoons, The Chevelles] The DomNicks’ debut album is a glorious homage to rock’n’roll’s early days with a purity and simplicity that’s rarely heard nowadays. There’s Shepherd’s summery pop’n’ roll doo-langs of first single, Cool Runnings and a take on Robert Parker’s Let’s Go Baby (Where The Action Is) channelled directly from The High Numbers in all their R&B glory, side by side with Mariani’s early Faces/ Stones pastiche Reconcile and instantly accessible guitar pop, I Wonder What You’re Doing Now. Throw in Too Late’s grungey blues and Winter’s laid back sitar, Super Real’s boogie chug and jammy hook and the Shawcross sung I Wouldn’t Treat A Dog full of soulful Stonesy swagger, before Miracle closes things out in high-powered Faces style. Super Real is an album with heart and soul that beats with the sheer love of strutting early rock n’ roll, soul and grooving R&B sides and is, quite simply, the feel good hit of the year.
GREENTHIEF Canyonero
With their single, Messiah, doing the rounds, Greenthief perform this Friday, October 26, at the Rocket Room; Saturday, October 27, at The Brighton in Mandurah and on Sunday, October 28, at the Newport Hotel. Frontman Julian Schweitzer speaks to RYAN BUTLER about bringing the groove to their upcoming debut album.
Brisbane trio Greenthief is a band proud to wear its influences right up front on its sleeve. Recent single Messiah is a clear example, a barnstorming track with grooves as deep as the Grand Canyon, taking influence from Rage Against The Machine as well as Led Zeppelin. Frontman Julian Schweitzer, however, believes that’s only one part of the band’s sound. _ SHANE PINNEGAR “Greenthief has always been a band that has been influenced from many styles of music including the heavier variety,” he says. “I XZIBIT think Messiah highlights the heavier influences. Napalm One thing we have tried to incorporate in our Open Bar Entertainment/Universal debut album is a lot of different shades within Music the songwriting. You will find a lot of heavier On his first album since riffs as well as ballads appearing on the album.” 2 0 0 6 ’s d i s a p p o i n t i n g With a planned release in mid-2013, Full Circle – and his wellSchweitzer says recording for the album was a publicised financial and label fluid, but pacey process. “We tracked the bass troubles – Los Angeles hip hop veteran Xzibit tries and drums for the album a few months back to reclaim his mojo on Napalm, with limited success. in a small town called Mullumbimby. We really Although his gruff voice still grabs enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere but in saying attention, his gangsta raps lack the fire they possessed this we tracked the album very fast. Being an a decade ago. When combined with beats that try too independent band we don’t enjoy the luxury of hard to recapture the magic of 2000’s Restless – as taking our time when it comes to recording.” on Napalm’s first four tracks – the results are decent While they aren’t afraid to show their but forgettable. The beats on Gangsta Gangsta and influences - citing The Mars Volta, Pink Floyd Spread It Out are tone-deaf, while the title track, the and Radiohead as inspiration among others rap-metal hybrid Napalm, is a debacle. Greenthief set themselves apart, carving out However, a few standout songs save their own sound. A huge part of this is the the album. On 1983 he touches on his tax evasion distinct vocals of Schweitzer. charges, custody battles, alcoholism and management “Technically I wouldn’t say singing has disputes over sombre piano keys and strings, while come naturally to me,” he says. “It is something I Meaning Of Life is a thoughtful track lent gravitas by have consistently worked on over the years. I am a spoken word feature from a soldier seriously injured always trying to improve my singing ability, but in Iraq. would say my sound has always come naturally Xzibit sounds energised when he steps to me. You’re born with your vocal sound so into other artists’ comfort zones, as he does on there is not much you can do about it. I think Forever A G (featuring Wiz Khalifa and an ambient this is what makes singing so special.” beat that would have sounded at home on Kush and Before the album is released the trio Orange Juice) or the hyphey Up Out The Way with still have a national tour to wrap up before E-40. Finally, a series of enjoyable – if not essential – another East Coast tour to close out the year. collaborations close the album, including the Dr. Dre The live arena is crucial to the band according to produced, Liks and King T posse cut Louis XII. Schweitzer. “Most of our pride as a band comes Napalm will satisfy fans who have been from our live show,” he says. waiting over half a decade to hear from Xzibit, but I t a l s o h o l d s o n e o f t h e g re a te s t won’t be likely to turn around a music career that fantasies for the band. “I definitely think playing has become a series of diminishing returns. alongside Rage Against the Machine would be a dream come true for ever yone in the band. In saying that, I imagine it would be a very _ JOSHUA HAYES humbling experience, so maybe not.” www.xpressmag.com.au
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X-Press – First on the street, Wednesdays
The Fremantle Fashion Collective, Perth Fashion Festival and the Fremantle Festival present The Dreamers on Sunday, November 4, at the Moores Building in Fremantle. Doors open at 6pm and the event is open to the public, however, RSVP is essential via rsvp@alloftheabovecreative.com.
www.xpressmag.com.au
The jewel in the crown of this year’s Fremantle Festival, which is now in its 107th year, The Dreamers will unite seven of Fremantle’s most dynamic designers in a showcase which promises to inspire and captivate. A celebration of unbridled creativity and imaginative design, the immersive event will boast work by a diverse group of Fremantle based garment and jewellery designers, including Sheree Dornan, Megan Salmon, Cocoon Textiles, Days Of Yore, Siam Lady, Velvet Sushi and Pekho.
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INDIGENOUS ART AWARDS
Nominations are now open for the 2013 WA Indigenous Art Awards. Open to all adult Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists currently living in Australia, working in any theme or media, the awards are comprised of a group exhibition and three non-acquisitive awards sharing in more than $60,000 worth of prize money. Nominations close on Monday, January 14, and should be submitted via artgallerywa.gov.au.
KARL URBAN
Here Comes The Judge
New Zealand actor, Karl Urban, has never been one to shy away from an iconic role. From playing the hero, Eomer, in Lord Of The Rings, to Bones McCoy in the most recent Star Trek film reboot. His latest work has him donning the uniform of The Bureau Of Ideas is hosting a discussion at the Art futuristic, ultra-cop Judge Dredd in Dredd 3D. Gallery Of WA, titled Moma’s Modernism, with guest Running in British science fiction comic speakers Darren Jorgensen, Assoc/Prof School Of anthology 2000 AD since 1977, Judge Dredd is a Architecture, Landscape and Visual Arts, University Of The Fourth Dimension series that takes place in a dystopian future where a Western Australia, and Christopher Crouch, Professor body of law enforcement officers, known as Judges, of Design and Art, Curtin University. Jorgensen will discuss Alfred Barr and the origins of Modern Art police a violent city and combine the powers of Pop Up Cinema Perth is an irregular live cinema while Crouch will discern how MoMA keeps its finger police, judge, jury and executioner. One Dredd in event which appears when the film is good and the on the pulse of aesthetic innovation. Tickets are $20 particular is infamous over all others; the eponymous timing is just right. It is based on a belief that cinema ($16 concession) which includes entry to Picasso To Judge Dredd. “I didn’t read many comics as a kid, but one is best celebrated socially, outside of the traditional Warhol: 14 Modern Masters. that I did read was Judge Dredd,” says Karl Urban, darkened room, with live music, tasty food and a explaining his memories of the comic. “I was drawn cheeky drink or two. Partnering with VICE Magazine, to the tough, enigmatic lawman. I always enjoyed the PUCP will screen The Fourth Dimension where four humour in the comic, the science fiction vision of the directors, (Harmony Korine, Alexey Fedorchenko, Jan world and the stories. Kwiecinski and Eddy Moretti) each spend 30 minutes “I never would have thought that over 20 exploring the concept of the fourth dimension years later I’d get the opportunity to have a crack at in whatever way they see fit. PUCP appears at being part of the film adaptation of the character!” Bamboo on Beaufort St on Friday, November 2, and One of the most iconic things about Saturday, November 3. Pre-sale tickets are $15 from Judge Dredd is his helmet. A great whopping thing popupcinemaperth.com. that covers his whole face and eyes, leaving only his mouth exposed. For Dredd to be a real adaptation, Karl was going to have to leave the helmet on the Cherished by the contemporary dance community, whole time. Paris-based Australian artists Rosalind Crisp and Andrew “It meant that I had to figure out what Morrish are returning to Perth as special guests of other tools I had available,” explains Urban. “It wasn’t STRUT Dance to present a mid-length solo performance just an exercise of acting with the mouth; you’re using Mala Noche each for one night only. Morrish’s performance of your voice, your whole body, your physicality.” Welcome To The Philobatterie and Crisp’s performance That physicality comes through on the of D A N S E will be followed by a talk with Perth based screen, as Urban moves effectively through the urban dance-maker and writer Jo Pollitt, and will take place battlefield, almost like Robocop. That stiff, military at the Kings Street Arts Centre on Friday, November 2. In the lead-up to the annual Pride Parade, Rooftop movement was also helped by the fact that the heavy Tickets are $20 ($15 concession) from trybooking.com. will screen the PrideFest FilmFest, which will includes costume was extremely uncomfortable. a rare screenings of Gus Van Sant’s first film Mala “Definitely the uniform itself wasn’t Noche on Thursday, October 25, and John Waters’ comfortable to wear and that certainly lent a lot to cult comedy classic Pink Flamingos on Friday, the movement of the character,” Urban explains. “But Local comedy prodigy Joel Creasey will be returning October 26. If horror films are more your forte don’t we trained with some British ex-military types for a home from his Melbourne base to perform his miss the Halloween Horror Classics mini festival, few weeks, and they taught us all the sort of tactical highly-acclaimed show Naked, which explores his which will see The Last House On The Left, Strippers movement and put us in as real a fire-fight as I’d want phobias, including snakes, heights, Tony Abbott and Vs Werewolves, The Omen and Halloween screening to be in.” more. Tickets to Creasey’s 8pm show at Lazy Susan’s S t a r r i n g i n d i f fe re n t co m i c b o o k from Sunday, October 28, ‘til Wednesday, October Comedy Den on Sunday, November 4, have already adaptations and genre movies, from RED to Priest, 31. The week culminates in the Re:Vamped Vampire sold out, but because he’s such a lovely chap he’s one might be mistaken into thinking Karl is a big old Ball on Saturday, November 3.Hit up rooftopmovies. added a second show earlier in the night at 6.30pm. geek. Not so... com.au for sessions details and tickets. Pre-sale tickets are $20+BF from Moshtix.
MOMA’S MODERNISM
THE FOURTH DIMENSION
MORRISH / CRISP
ROOFTOP MOVIES FILMFESTS
NAKED JOEL CREASEY
Bryan Cranston and Ben Affleck in Argo
ARGO
Film Is Freedom Directed by Ben Affleck Starring Ben Affleck, John Goodman, Bryan Cranston, Alan Arkin, Tate Donovan, Rory Cochrane, Scoot McNairy Somewhere along the line, Ben “Gigli” Affleck became one of the most astute and interesting directors working in modern Hollywood. Sure, The Town wasn’t as good as Gone Baby Gone, but then, very few films are. One movie that not only meets but exceeds the standard set by Affleck’s first effort, though, is Argo - quite simply, it’s one of the best films of the year. Based on a true story - one that was only declassified in 1997, in point of fact - Argo details the efforts of CIA exfiltration expert Tony Mendez (Affleck, pulling double duty) to rescue six American embassy workers from Tehran following the 1979 Iranian Revolution. The plan he hits upon is ludicrous, but it’s the best of a bad bunch; create a fake science fiction film project - the eponymous Argo - and smuggle the six out of Iran while posing as a film crew on location. With the approval of his cynical and harried boss (the ubiquitous Bryan Cranston), Mendez recruits Oscar-winning makeup artist John Chambers (John Goodman) and veteran producer Lester Siegel (Alan Arkin) to his cause, and begins to build buzz around a movie that doesn’t exist, in the hopes that their cover story will fool the fanatical Revolutionary Guards who are hunting the escapees. 26
What impresses the most about Argo is how assured it is. Affleck is only three films into his directorial career, but his confident staging and steady hand on the tiller speaks of someone with the sensibilities of a veteran studio filmmaker. Indeed, Argo is kind of a throwback the ‘70s heyday of political thrillers, with Affleck aping not just the fashions and design aesthetics, but the film techniques as well. Hell, even the Warner Brothers logo that prefaces the film is the same one used in 1979. But the film is not just an exercise in cinematic nostalgia; it’s an incredibly taut thriller, grounded in reality but leavened with the humour inherent in the bizarre rescue plan. It’s impossible not to laugh at the strange scenarios that play out when the covert world intersects with Hollywood chutzpah - the table reading of the Argo script, with actors wearing costumes from Star Wars, Buck Rogers and the like is hilarious - but the film never lets us forget that there are real stakes involved, and real lives on the line. It’s that intersection of the serious and the silly that gives Argo its drive. Come awards season, Argo is going to clean up. It’s exactly the kind of film that gets statues thrown at it, yet it doesn’t feel cynical or calculated. It’s a tense, classically constructed thriller that assumes an adult audience, and we get precious few of those these days. The fact that Affleck has made such films his stock in trade means he’s a director worth keeping an eye on, and Argo is evidence that, right now, he’s operating at the height of his considerable powers. Don’t miss it. _TRAVIS JOHNSON
Karl Urban as Judge Dredd in Dredd 3D “I don’t pick my role by genre, or by source material,” he says. “When I read a script, I start to respond to the characters and look at the creative elements involved, that’s usually where I decide whether I become involved.” “For Dredd, there was a lot of positive elements, from Alex Garland, the writer of The Beach and 28 Days Later. Anthony Dod Mantle, the Oscarwinning Director of Photography from Slumdog Millionaire. The sum of the elements involved insured a certain quality in execution.” Screenwriter Alex Garland has expressed interest in a trilogy, ultimately imagining it that way in his head. Fan response to this take on Dredd has been strong and may just be a possibility for the future. “I’m not quite as ambitious as Alex in that regard,” replies Urban, chuckling. ”I’m a bit more realistic about it. This movie was basically conceived as a standalone, day in the life of Judge Dredd. If we get to make more, fantastic. But if we don’t, it’s an instant cult classic.” _ TOM VARIAN
Frankenweenie
FRANKENWEENIE Burton’s Back
Directed by Tim Burton Starring Charlie Tahan, Winona Ryder, Martin Landau, Martin Short, Catherine O’Hara It’s been a long time since Tim Burton directed anything worthwhile. You have to go back almost 10 years, to 2003’s Big Fish, to find a film of his that isn’t trite, self-indulgent, and filled with entirely too much Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter. He seemed to be an artist out of ideas, and the news that he was reworking his own early experiment, the 1984 live action short Frankenweenie, as a stop-motion animated feature, only served as further evidence. Sometimes it ’s nice to be proven wrong, though, and although this new version of Frankenweenie doesn’t match the inventiveness and heart of Burton’s best work, such as Edward Scissorhands or Ed Wood, it still represents a marked return to form. In the kooky, small town of New Holland, young Victor Frankenstein [Charlie Tahan] spends most of his time with his beloved dog, Sparky. When Sparky is killed by a car, Victor takes inspiration from his science teacher, Mr Rzykruski [Martin Landau], and harnesses the power of electricity to resurrect his four-legged friend. Everything’s fine - well, as fine as the presence of a resurrected dog will allow - until Victor’s classmates, a motley collection of mad scientist caricatures, decide they want the secret of Sparky’s revival for their own purposes. Frankenweenie contains many of the
tropes and stylistic flourishes that are synonymous with Burton, but there’s a freshness here that we haven’t seen in a long time. It feels like Burton is actually making a movie for himself, and not simply parroting the house style of the ‘Tim Burton Brand’. The animation is gorgeous, simultaneously precise and delightfully handcrafted in appearance, and shot in rich, vibrant black and white. The voice talent is on target, with both Martin Short and Catherine O’Hara filling multiple roles, while Burton veteran Winona Ryder gives a warm turn as Elsa Van Helsing, Victor’s quasi-love interest. What really pops, however, is the way in which Burton wears his genre influences on his sleeve. The obvious touchstone here is James Whale’s 1931 Frankenstein, which is playfully and repeatedly lampooned, but the whole sweep of Universal’s ‘30s horror movies get a look-in, as does the ‘50s and ‘60s output of Britain’s Hammer Films. Japanese kaiju films - think Godzilla, Mothra, Gamera - also get a look in. The film is drenched in the ephemera of yesteryear’s horror, and genre fans will have fun trying to pick out every nod and wink. The film’s biggest strength is also its chief failing, commercially speaking. It’s hard to imagine Frankenweenie - a black and white paean to Burton’s childhood obsessions, including more than a few moments that might be a touch too scary for the very young - playing too well to an audience of modern children. Still, if that’s the price we have to pay to see Burton firing on more than one cylinder again, then so be it. This is a definite step in the right direction, and lapsed Burton fans should feel relieved. _ TRAVIS JOHNSON X-Press – First on the street, Wednesdays
Blake Lively and Benicio Del Toro in Savages
BENICIO DEL TORO
Toothing The Savage Beast You wouldn’t normally think of gravelly-voiced screen villain Benicio Del Toro as the type of guy that would idolise Hollywood’s most famous modern-day singsong dancing man. But as cinema’s go-to guy (“I’m one of them, anyway”) for gangster parts he’s been in awe of John Travolta - or the “king of cool”, as the Oscar-nominated actor calls him - for the better part of his life. “I’ve been a fan for a long time, perhaps even more than I recognised. I was one of those kids who went to see Grease like 10 times”, Del Toro, 45, says of his Savages co-star. “I was walking around in the hallways of my junior high school, doing the John Travolta walk - that classic walk - before I even knew I wanted to be in the movies. It wasn’t until I met the guy, and I think about how much influence he has had on me, that I realise how much of a fan of his I am.” In Savages, Del Toro plays the kind of character he’s become best known for - a shady gangster type. This time, he’s Lado, the right-hand man of Drug Cartel mama Elena [Salma Hayek], who is assigned the task of evening the scores with some very successful tyro dealers, played by Aaron Johnson, Taylor Kitsch and Blake Lively. Lado - no doubt as cocky and confident as a 13-year-old Del Toro strutting down the high school corridor was - is a chap that’s determined to become ‘number one’ by pushing aside his boss. “A lot of humour comes from that,” explains Del Toro, “and it’s that tinge of humour that really attracted me to this movie.”
In fact, though the jokes played a part, it was the involvement of filmmaker Oliver Stone (Platoon, JFK) that drew Del Toro to Savages initially. “I just wanted to mainly do it because Oliver Stone was directing”, the actor, who has worked with the likes of Bryan Singer, Guy Ritchie, Robert Rodriguez and Terry Gilliam, says.“Oliver was the instigator. Oliver reached out to me, and then I read the story and I loved it - it was this interesting sort of film noir that, instead of say people fighting over a diamond, as they would’ve back in the old days, it’s now marijuana. “And what I also liked about the script, when I read it, was that my character, and Salma Hayek’s character, and maybe even John Travolta’s character too, was that there was a tinge of humour. That made it an interesting challenge to play a vicious character and make them kind of funny, too. Even though it’s violent, it’s also funny - at least I hope it’s funny.” The movie, like Don Winslow’s book of the same name, is a serious yarn embossed in some black humour. Del Toro ponders whether it would work as well without the laughs. “I think the movie itself benefits from that because those elements of quirkiness, or whatever you want to call it, helps the audience navigate through the violence. “ Del Toro has played his fair share of threatening-looking criminals now, and looks forward to playing more, but he fortunately doesn’t scare too often in public. The actor says he’s happy to say nobody runs or gets out of the way when they see him approaching, “But I will keep an eye on that,” he laughs, adding “And see if that starts happening. That could be funny, man.” _ CLINT MORRIS
SCOOTERS 4 HOOTERS Lead by a pink ‘59 Cadillac, a procession of scooters made their way through the CBD on Sunday afternoon for the second annual Scooters 4 Hooters charity ride to raise money for the National Breast Cancer Foundation. To find out how you can get involved in Australia’s largest scooter ride click over to scooters4hooters.com.au.
Kathlene, Karron, Mark
Photos by Dan Grant
Anne, Gary, Rod, Shazzi
Rachel, Christine
Ross, Claire
Noelene, Felicia
Junior, JJ, Steve Leigh, Jo
Dana, Jackie Bill
Danny, Bethany, Hayley www.xpressmag.com.au
Scooters For Hooters 27
BAD GIRLS AND WICKED WOMEN Fatal Femmes
Femme fatales will tempt, tease and titillate audiences at the Fly By Night Musician’s Club in Fremantle when Sugar Blue Burlesque presents Bad Girls And Wicked Women on Saturday, November 10, as part of the 2012 Fremantle Festival. Tickets are available from flybynight.org or by calling (08) 9430 5976.
MEL BUTTLE Golden Girl Best known for her regular ‘Mel’s Strongly Worded Letters’ radio spot on Triple J, Mel Buttle is heading our way to perform alongside some of our nations funniest females when The Girls Stand-Up hits Fremantle Hall on Saturday, October 27, as part of the 2012 Fremantle Festival. Tickets are on sale now through Ticketek. Being a woman in comedy isn’t especially easy. There is an opinion at large out there that women aren’t funny. Or that women are only funny rarely, and certainly less often than men. Mel Buttle does not believe men are funnier, but neither does she believe that women are. Laughter is to comedians what money is to bankers: you either make it or you don’t, and only the unfunny need excuses. “Being funny is hard for everyone, it’s not related to gender,” Mel says. “There’s plenty of female centered comedy shows and radio programs out there, 30 Rock, Parks And Recreation, Meshel, Tim And Marty on Nova and of course The Golden Girls.” After a cracking year coming third in Pedestrian TV’s Bachelorette Of The Year and selling out a live podcast recording of The Minutes With Mel And Patience (produced with The Grates’ Patience Hodgson) at the Sydney Fringe, Mel is banding together with some of Australia’s favourite funny girls – including Bev Killick (Busting Out, Kath & Kim) Anne Howe (better known as “the chick with the pearls”), and WA’s own Andrea Gibbs and Janelle Koenig – for The Girls Stand-Up. A self-professed ‘girly girl’ (“Does owning 27 My Little Ponies count? Then if so, guilty,” she says), Mel says her autobiographical routine will be “about as up close and personal as a crazy person on a bus”. After only a few short years of performing stand up Mel’s unique talent has the Australian comedy industry abuzz. Since her nomination for Best Newcomer at the 2010 Melbourne International Comedy Festival, the talented young comic has toured extensively throughout Australia and cites Mt Isa as her favourite destination thus far. “Hot brown rocks, chips for three meals a day, bliss,” she explains, adding that one of the major perks of her growing celebrity has been the complimentary cuisine: “My highlight was getting a free dinner at the Rooty Hill RSL, roast pork, potatoes, gravy the works mate, that’s why I got into show biz in the first place.”
Mel Buttle As a result of her well-received stand-up routines, the past 12 months have seen Mel score her own ‘Mel’s Strongly Worded Letters’ segment on Breakfast With Tom And Alex on Triple J, land a regular column in Triple J Magazine, pen sketches for ABC3’s You’re Skitting Me, and invited to appear at the Homebake, Harvest and Woodford Folk festivals later this year. However, despite her considerable accomplishments, the talented comedienne admits she still suffers from a certain degree of performance anxiety. “I find preparing for standup the most nerve wracking, it’s live and you’re alone on stage, there’s nowhere to hide,” she explains. While in a column for the Brisbane Courier Mail Mel described her recent trip to WA for Rottofest as “somewhat of a disaster” (“I’m vegetarian, but last night I was forced to eat calamari. Not like a fratboy prank - I was on Rottnest Island and there was nothing else available,” she wrote), she says the bad experience won’t taint her view of our fine state. “Not at all,” she concludes. “I used to live in Perth, right near the Wellington Street Bus station, ah good times.” _JENNIFER PETERSON-WARD
SPONTANEOUS BROADWAY & RANDOM MUSICAL Expect The Unexpected
Embracing the old adage that “well-behaved women don’t make history”, Sugar Blue Burlesque’s highly anticipated show Bad Girls And Wicked Women celebrates the lives of some of the most fearless, brash and scandalous women of all time. From infamous historical figures, including legendary Depression-era bank robber Bonnie Parker, to the wicked witches who struck fear into the hearts of Disney-watching children, the colourful characters in this burlesque extravaganza serve to prove that there is no shortage of women in history who have been anything but law-abiding. “The way the show is pieced together is that the host of the show is going to be taking on the role of a prison warden and the stage kittens are going to be cell mates,” explains show director Lia Parravicini (aka Sapphire Demure). “Basically, it’s all about girls who end up behind bars – so there might be a fire act, and that’s related to arson, or a woman who shoots her husband. It’s all tied together at the end when the host re-introduces all the performers and sentences them for their crimes.” In addition to the usual Sugar Blue cohort, Bad Girls And Wicked Women will feature the talents of a selection of students from their Burlesque Academy, as well as Miss Burlesque NSW Danica Lee, Miss Burlesque Victoria 2010/2012 Strawberry Siren and Clara Cupcakes, who returns to the stage after spending the past year travelling and performing overseas. “All our shows feature at least one guest performer – either an international performer or someone from the other side of the country,’ says Parravicini. “We thought [these performers] would be great draw cards.” Having already delighted audiences throughout the year with a series of different sellout performances, Parravicini partially attributes Sugar Blue’s unwavering popularity to their nondiscriminatory ethos. “What I think is really important about burlesque is the fact that it doesn’t discriminate between any colour, shape or size. The girls might not be of a ‘magazine model’ standard but they are encouraged to get up on stage and they are applauded for it. I really think it increases that
Miss Burlesque NSW Danica Lee will be flying over as a special guest of Sugar Blue Burlesque camaraderie between women,” she says. “Our audience-inclusive mentality creates a welcoming environment in which everyone can have fun and leave with a warm feeling.” While the Sugar Blue performances traditionally draw big crowds from their considerable fanbase, Parravicini says Bad Girls And Wicked Women is the perfect show for curious newcomers. “There are different burlesque styles all around the world but our Sugar Blue shows are pretty burlesque-virgin friendly,” she concludes. “It’s not too in-your-face – there’s strip tease and peeka-boo but there’s also amazing dance talent, quirky storylines and a real comedic aspect to what we do. It’s a real feast for the senses.” _JENNIFER PETERSON-WARD
EVE
The Write Kind Of Woman Fresh from their hit Brisbane season, The Nest Ensemble bring the critically-acclaimed Eve to The Blue Room Theatre from Tuesday, October 23, ‘til Saturday, November 10. Tickets are available from theblueroom.org.au or by calling (08) 9227 7005.
Scott Brennan in Random Musical Improv is an art form – not everybody can do it, and those that do it well are usually naturals. Great improv leaves you in a little bit of pain from too much laughter – and that’s what Scott Brennan and the cast of Spontaneous Broadway and Random Musical plan to achieve when they bring the show to Perth. Catch the laughs at the Subiaco Arts Centre from Thursday, November 8, ‘til Saturday, November 17. Tickets are available through Ticketek. With an impressive list of credentials in television (Skithouse, Comedy Inc), on stage (Lorraine’s Hair, Life – Get It Up Ya), as a solo comedian, and even as a voiceover go-to guy, Scott Brennan is one of the country’s most respected comedians – not to mention, a really nice chap. When X-Press gets Brennan on the phone, he’s “feeling a little fragile,” having just returned from a wedding in the UK, with a bucks and hens night in Ibiza to top it off. But, no matter how fragile he’s feeling, Brennan perks up when chatting about Spontaneous Broadway. “If I had to do one show for the rest of my life, I would happily do Spontaneous Broadway forever. It’s so much fun, and it’s always different - we walk on stage not knowing what’s going to happen, and I find that really exciting. I know that every show that we do is something original and will never be seen again. It never gets boring,” he enthuses. Originating in New York in the ‘90s, Spontaneous Broadway is a show based around musical improvisation – or, as Brennan puts it: “In a sentence, we improvise an entire Broadway musical.” 28
When the audience arrives at the venue, they write down a made-up song title. That song title goes into the ‘bucket of dreams,’ and the performers each pick a title and improvise a song based around it, which they then pitch as part of a musical. The audience then chooses which musical they want to hear, and the cast creates it as they go along. Brennan loves the fast-paced nature of the show: “There’s lots of juggling involved, a lot of mind games going on, but it’s a really, really fun show.” As well as Spontaneous Broadway, the cast – hosted by Russell Fletcher, and featuring Musical Director John Thorne – will be performing Random Musical, a version of the show aimed at children. “Random Musical is hilarious fun, because kids are great to perform for – they get really excited. There’s really no safety nets when performing for kids, if they don’t like it they’ll let you know! So you just have to keep going and make it entertaining, and we always have a great time – we always throw in lots of stuff for the adults as well.” A show like this can only run smoothly when the cast work well together, and Brennan attests that one of the best things about the show is the people he gets to work with. “We’ll all challenge each other and push each other. We’ll always say ‘Oh, why don’t you sing about that?’ You know, we’ll always try to set traps for each other, but we all also support each other – so if you’re struggling someone will jump in and take over. We all subscribe to the view that if you’re going to fail at something, and if something is going to die, then make it the most entertaining you can possibly make it. We commit to everything – the successes and the failures equally.” _CHLOE PAPAS
One of the biggest problems feminism has faced in the last 20 years is the girl that says “I believe in equal rights for women, but I’m not a feminist”. I admit that at one stage, this was me. I believed that I deserved to be treated the same as any man, however this word ‘feminism’, this ugly word associated with short-haired (gasp) angry ball bashing women (do these women even exist? If so I’d like to shake their hands) wasn’t something that I wanted a part of. I liked my hair long, my gender politics undiscussed, and my feminists stereotyped. Enter Eve. Margi Brown Ash’s story of Eve Langley, described by the artist as ‘Australia’s Virginia Wolfe’, tells the true story of a woman who lived and suffered for her desire to be treated as an equal (perhaps she better get back in the kitchen and make me a sandwich, am I right?!) to her male counterparts in the art world, (How many feminists does it take to screw in a lightbulb? One to change it and one to explain how they don’t need a man to change it!) and who was locked away in an institution for reacting against the stereotypical feminine role of the day (she wouldn’t be saying that with my cock in her mouth, AM I RIGHT?). Brown Ash describes Eve as an adventurer, who longed for a world where she as could achieve the potential she saw herself capable of. “[Eve] fell in love with Gippsland, and she and her sister dressed up as men and went down and did pea picking. Her first book was called The Pea Pickers… she wrote a lot about that golden age of being young and free and being able to wander the country as a man. “Because of the pressures of family and children Eve couldn’t achieve the potential that she saw herself capable of, and with these pressures and with having to survive from hand to mouth she eventually was committed for seven years by her husband, and seven years later she came out and she was a changed person.” Eve was a feminist, and a believer in setting out to achieve all that you yourself know you are capable of. “In the true meaning of feminism, I think she’s definitely a feminist, she really believed in equality and being able to
Margi Brown Ash in Eve achieve your true potential,” Brown Ash says. “In the culture at the time, that actually wasn’t the case and so she dreamed of being a man, so that she could live the life of the adventurer.” Certainly this is a story about a woman that lived 90 years ago. As a society we have moved past many of the issues Eve faced and it’s a reasonable bet that if she lived in today’s world she would not have been locked away at the height of her career. However Eve’s story of love, sacrifice, and ultimate demise in the name of equality is a reminder of how far we have come, and really, how far we have to go before we are not only considered equal, but treated equally. Go see this play whether you are old, young, male, female, a ‘feminist’ or just someone who believes in equal rights for women. Go see this play and reawaken the fire in your belly that says ‘you know what? Everyone does deserve to be treated equally and believing this doesn’t make me a psycho’. It makes you a feminist. _LEAH BLANKENDAAL X-Press – First on the street, Wednesdays
Spirit Of The Sea: Elements Art Gallery, Dalkeith Lidija Dombrovska Larsen’s new works refer to the unique plants and creatures of the deep. Her works aspire to capture the beauty that requires love and persistent protection. Runs ‘til Nov 11.
2012 Photographic Commissions Exhibition: Council House Foyer, Perth Professionally renowned photographers Toni Wilkinson and Juha Tolonen’s photographs capture the essence of our city at a particular moment in time. Runs ‘til Nov 30.
Metallic: Spectrum Project Space, Mt Lawley Metallic presents a group of artists from across Australia who share a preoccupation with the nature and purposes of materials and a concern for questions of transference and attachment. Runs ‘til Nov 17.
Light Locker Art Space: Grand Lane, Perth Featuring new works by emerging artists Rhiannon Birch, Teelah George, Patrick Miller, Kate Mullen and Kelly Patchett, this youth exhibition space is located within Grand Lane, off Murray Street Mall and is accessible 24/7. Be sure to stop by when the lights turn on at twilight. Runs ’til Dec 3.
Fleeting Embrace: Perth Centre For Photography, Perth Melbourne based photographer, Jeremy Blincoe’s photographic series is a reflection of the artists concerns for the planet’s declining environmental health and its effects on future generations. Runs ‘til Nov 18. Bloodsport: Buratti Fine Art, North Fremantle The grit, the bravado, the violence. Bloodsport, the latest series from Johnny Romeo sees the acclaimed artist jump into the ring and deliver a knockout exploration of the world of boxing in all its savage, bombastic glory. Runs ‘til Nov 28.
Picasso To Warhol: 14 Modern Masters: Art Gallery Of WA, Northbridge Picasso To Warhol: 14 Modern Masters features over 120 works by 14 of modern art’s most iconic artists including Matisse, Picasso, Pollock and Warhol. Runs ’til Dec 3. Luminous World: Art Gallery Of WA, Northbridge An exhibition from Wesfarmer’s significant corporate art collection, featuring more than 60 paintings, photographs and sculptures by 50 contemporary artists, including Susan Norrie, Rosemary Laing, Howard Taylor, Dale Frank, Bill Henson, Brian Blanchflower, Brook Andrew, Timothy Cook and Barrupu Yunupingu. Runs ’til Feb 11.
A Good Place To Start by Jason Cordero The Unspoken: Mossenson Galleries, Subiaco Remote, vast, and at times unforgiving, painter Jason Cordero places us amongst the wilderness of the Australian landscape, although one can never find an exact point of reference. Runs ‘til Nov 3. Big Winners: Fremantle Arts Centre, Fremantle Big Winners includes large format and multiple Not The Way Home: Buratti Fine Art, North sheet artworks that track the progress of the FAC Print Award and the expansion of digital media and Fremantle A group exhibition featuring the works of 13 of emerging technologies involved in printmaking in Australia’s best contemporary artists who travelled Australia. Runs ‘til Nov 8. together into the Australian desert and created artworks in response to the arid environment and Performprint: Fremantle Arts Centre, Fremantle Developed through a residency at FAC, Melbournedesert landscape around them. Runs ’til Oct 25. based artists Joel Gailer and Michael Meneghetti work with aspects of masculinity, ego and signifiers Ng Sz Kiat: A Natural History: Kulcha, Fremantle Ng Sze Kiat is a Singaporean artist, musician, writer of social communication presenting print and multiand illustrator. He also likes gardening and believes media installations. Runs ‘til Nov 8. that plants will save the world. A Natural History is a series that explores the macro and microcosms of the Urbanise: Linton And Kay Galleries, Perth natural world, and seeks to uncover the connectivity How often do we take the time to really observe our between them. Runs ‘til Oct 31. urban surroundings? For one reason or another we filter, augment and reproduce happenings leaving In My Cupboard: Emerge Art Space, Mt Lawley only a fraction of what we witness to memory. Paul A still-life series that is part of artist Anne Walmsley’s Stojanovic, Ross Wallace and Rebecca Anne Lee take on-going investigations into the ordinary, domestic an observant role in their own unique way. With a ‘everyday’. Runs ‘til Nov 2. focus on street and landscape photography, they capture global urban surroundings through the lens Luminosity: Emerge Art Space, Mt Lawley The subtle nuances of light shifts diffused through of a camera. Runs ‘til Nov 8. the snow filled clouds of the Canadian sky and the crisp clear light of Western Australia, Luminosity Mine Own Executioner: Mundaring Arts Centre, explores the diverse atmospheric effects between the Mundaring Southern and Northern Hemispheres. Runs ‘til Nov 2. Mundaring Arts Centre’s annual exhibition of contemporary WA self portraiture. Features work Edge Of Centre: Through The Wall: Heathcoate by Thea Costantino, Anna Dunnill, Sarah Elson, Kate Jarman and more. Runs ‘til Nov 11. Museum & Gallery In their joint exhibition Anne Duff and Jane King have explored the past life of a small corner shop Surfacing: Midland Junction Arts Centre, Midland on the city fringe. They peered through the keyhole A collaborative painting exhibition by 2012 Cossack to another time; when the world was bigger and Art Award category winner Melanie Diss and 2011 slower, when old social networks were localised, like Cliftons Art Prize recipient Ben Mitchell exploring single, fragile spider webs stretching delicately out random marks and imagery associated with everyday toward each other, connecting thinly, at random. painting processes like wall painting and graffiti. Runs Runs ‘til Nov 4. ‘til Nov 11.
VISUAL ARTS
FAC Print Award: Fremantle Arts Centre, Fremantle Regarded as Australia’s most prominent national award for prints and artists’ books, this year’s Fremantle Arts Centre Print Award showcases the best and latest in Australian printmaking. Runs ‘til Nov 8.
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Real And Surreal: The Kimberley And Beyond: Elements Art Gallery, Dalkeith Established WA artists Kale Miller and Bill Hawthorn’s exhibition reveals some of the breadth and versatility of their explorations of the landscape. Runs ‘til Nov 11.
SCRAMBLE: Perth Galleries, Perth In Rachel Coad’ s third solo exhibition, SCRAMBLE, she addresses the fight, flightand drive of the human spirit. Her skillfully painted figures are taut and tense imitating aspects of military training pushed to the extreme and might be mistaken for that of contemporary dance or performance. Runs ‘til Nov 4.
Scramble No. 3 by Rachel Coad
Room Theatre, fast paced satire I (Honestly) Love You explores what happens when two people, who share the extremely rare psychological condition of only being able to tell the truth Barefaced Battle: The Bird, Northbridge at all times, fall deeply and madly in love. This Armed only with true life tales told straight from free event presented by the City of Stirling will the heart, storytellers will face off to claim the title feature at the newly built, state-of-the-art venue, of Perth’s best raconteur. Don’t miss the Grand Final the Churchlands Concert Hall. Runs for two next Tuesday, October 30. nights only on Nov 2 and Nov 3.
THEATRE/DANCE/ PERFORMANCE
Nikhil Chopra: Fremantle Arts Centre, Fremantle After spending time as an artist-in-residence in Sydney and Melbourne, Mumbai-based artist Nikhil Chopra will undertake a performance lecture at FAC on Tuesday, October 30. Largely improvised, his performances encompasses live art, theatre, painting, photography, sculpture and installation and revolve around issues including identity, the process of transformation and everyday life.
Art In Action: Art Gallery Of WA, Northbridge See the art of the Picasso To Warhol: 14 Modern Masters exhibition brought to life through drama, comedy, music and movement. Season runs Oct 10-Nov 7.
A Fairytale Of Sorts: Midland Junction Arts Centre, Midland Partly inspired by the films A Knight’s Tale and Monty Python And The Holy Grail, Fairytale Of Sorts Open All Hours: Old Mill Theatre, South Perth is a madcap play which will remind you of the Based on the popular BBC sitcom of the same name, bedtime stories you were forced to endure by Open All Hours is set in the 1970s and revolves well-meaning, but rather silly parents. Season runs around a small grocer’s store in South Yorkshire. Oct 18-28. Audiences will be taken into the world of the many regular (and somewhat irregular) customers as they Eve: Blue Room Theatre, Northbridge attempt to outwit the wily owner Arkwright, and Fresh from a hit season in Brisbane, this escape the store without being fleeced by the crafty c o n t e m p o r a r y w o r k i s i n s p i r e d b y t h e shopkeeper. Runs ‘til Nov 3. experiences of mid-twentieth century Australian writer Eve Langley, chronicling her life as I (Honestly) Love You: Churchlands Concert Hall, an artist whose journey and creative works challenged gender stereotypes of the day. Churchlands Straight from a successful sell out run at The Blue Season runs Oct 23-Nov 10.
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THE DREAMERS Fremantle Fashions One of the newer ‘kids’ on the Freo block, Buffy Murray of Pekho hopes The Dreamers will open Perth’s eyes to the Port City’s flourishing fashion community. “I hope people will leave The Dreamers with the sense that Fremantle based fashion is not just for hippy alternates. We are a collective of serious designers, with a long back catalogue of experience who produce not only beautiful clothes but beautiful clothes that women want and do buy. “The collection [I’ll be showcasing at The Dreamers] is inspired by the women who buy my clothes. Pekho has a strong aesthetic: non fussy detailing, simple shapes, natural fibres. The look is ‘urban traveller’.” In similar form to some of her fellow Fremantle Fashion Collective designers, Murray covets beautiful textiles, natural fibres and home wares with an eclectic edge, a passion which is evident in her Wray Avenue store. “My vision for Pekho was to create a space which reflects the authentic ethos of the clothing line and my passion for interior design. Pekho pieces are clean lined, simple oversized shapes in natural fibres. The emporium combines a range of beautiful rustic furniture made from recycled timbers, an eclectic collection of homewares ranging from thrown French pottery to hand rolled soap balls and bunches of fresh flowers we buy directly from the growers. The combination is a concept I have thought about for many years, now I’m in a position to be able to do it.” Since establishing Love In Tokyo in 2003, Sheree Dornan has become synonymous with Fremantle fashion, and nine years on from opening the doors to her boutique, she’s just as passionate (if not more) about the local industry as she was on day one. “I love the fact that we each have our own unique aesthetic,” Dornan explains of why she enjoys being a member of the Fremantle Fashion Collective.“I really enjoy catching up with the other designers, discussing business and supporting each other.” As for The Dreamers, Dornan plans to showcase a new collection featuring hand embellishing and jewellery entitled Layering The Ornament. “The starting point [for the collection] was with a range of textile prints I designed that were derived from images I took with an
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“I hope people will leave The Dreamers with the sense that Fremantle based fashion is not just for hippy alternates. We are a collective of serious designers, with a long back catalogue of experience who produce not only beautiful clothes but beautiful clothes that women want and do buy.”
Stylist: Hannah McGrath Photographer: Caitlin Worthington Videographer: Cameron Etchells Model: Rebecca Arnold (Scene) Make-up: Samantha Enticknap “I think The Dreamers will be a most memorable experience; a fashion show with a difference in the beautiful Moores Gallery that showcase the creativity and diversity of Fremantle fashion.” Now in its second year, jewellery label Days Of Yore will take centre stage alongside more established names at The Dreamers, and designer Melissa Gordon hopes the event will show outsiders that “hand work and craft is something that should ornamentation theme, printed onto silk georgette be enjoyed and not forgotten.” and silk/cotton, and images of some of my archive Drawing sartorial inspiration from exotic pieces. I have created the form as I go working on cultures for her intricate and incredibly beautiful these garments; each piece is unique - draped on collections, Gordon is a champion of handcrafting the mannequin, tucked and joined together from techniques that have lasted the tests of time. rectangle or square pieces of fabric governed by the “For my first collection i was heavily print placement on each design. inspired by southern Indian ceremonial jewellery. It
has a very modernist look to it, a lot of strong shapes and lines. This season is a continuation of my last collection’s ideas but I have stripped it back; it’s less detailed, less ornamental but richer in colour and the use of natural gemstones. “A lot of the pieces are put together in my home studio in Fremantle. For some of the pieces I work with an amazing handcraft Indian jeweller. He is over 70 and has incredible skill when it comes to the old techniques, and a lot of patience!” From handmade jewellery inspired by ancient cultures to delicate textile prints and nofuss fashions for the modern nomad, The Dreamers has it all, and is an event style aficionados can’t afford to miss. _EMMA BERGMEIER
X-Press – First on the street, Wednesdays
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X-Press – First on the street, Wednesdays
On the first anniversary of his passing, a whole new audience may be about to discover local hip hop legend Robert Hunter with the premiere of a documentary about his final years. JOSHUA HAYES speaks with the crew behind Hunter: For The Record ahead of the film’s Perth premiere. Hunter’s reputation within the Australian hip hop scene was secure long before he passed away a year ago. The Yokine-raised MC released one of the genre’s early classics in 2001’s DoneDL –a collaboration with Downsyde’s Dazastah – rocked crowds nationwide and helped mentor and support countless young rappers throughout the country. But, as much as he lived and breathed Australian hip hop, Hunter was a family man dedicated to his young son Marley. When he was diagnosed with terminal cancer, he spent his remaining time focused on both of his loves. Hunter: For The Record is the latest opportunity for his lifetime of effort to be recognised outside the rapidly expanding Australian hip hop community, following his posthumous induction into the WAMi Hall Of Fame in May.` Upon hearing about the diagnosis, Hunter: For The Record Executive Producer, Kai McGuiness, Producer, Alice Ross, and Director, Sam Field, began working on a documentary about the rapper’s battle with cancer. The film combines footage of Hunter’s live shows, family camping trips and hospital visits with interviews of his family, friends and fellow hip hop artists. It also includes a lot of footage Hunter filmed of himself.
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While the success of the crowd-funding efforts shows strong support for the documentary within the Australian hip hop community, the crew is confident it will also find an audience outside Hunter’s fan base. “Hunter was so charismatic and raw that he is really intriguing to watch,” Ross says.“Obviously hip hop is a major element [of the documentary], but there are many other themes in there that would appeal to a wider audience; passion, redemption, courage in the face of adversity, just to name a few.” Hunter’s regard within the Australian hip hop community was on show over the weekend, as dozens of friends and fans made their way over to Melbourne to watch or play in the inaugural Robert Hunter Cup footy match, held to commemorate the first anniversary of his passing and raise money for the Make A Wish Foundation. The home side – the Eastside Kings – pipped the visiting Westside Warriors by four points, 50 to 46, with former Triple J personality Scott Dooley named man of the match. Fans also packed out Melbourne’s iconic Corner Hotel to watch tribute sets from the SBX crew, The Funkoars, Brad Strut, Koolism and more acts from around the country. Closer to home, the first screening of Hunter: For The Record in Perth is already sold out Hunter – and it will be the only opportunity to catch the documentary for a little while, as the crew focuses “I guess he knew he wouldn’t be around on the national and international film festival circuit. much longer and wanted to capture as much of his Ross adds that the documentary will be released on life on camera as possible,” Ross says.“In some of the DVD sometime next year. footage he is speaking directly to his son Marley and “We’ve had a lot of people asking us other times he uses the camera as an outlet to just to do more screenings in Perth and in the other get his thoughts out.” states. Obviously we would love to be able to show The crew initially had difficulty securing everyone the finished product as soon as possible, funding for the project, and the budget – provided however this would seriously affect our chances of by a private investor – ran out by the time the crew getting into some of the bigger film festivals as they reached post-production. “After Hunter passed are always looking for exclusivity. So we will have to away, we realised that we could not just give up ask people to be patient and understanding of our even though we had no money to edit and post situation,” she says. produce the documentary, because the fans were “Throughout this journey of filming the so passionate about Robert’s story being made,” documentary, I really got to know Hunter a lot Field says. better,” McGuiness says. “[We were] humbled by To overcome their funding issues, the the way people came together to support a good Hunter: For The Record crew sourced donations via friend. It has been an incredible journey of which I crowd funding website Pozible, which helped get have learnt a lot- about friendship, life and the will the project over the line. “Crowd-funding turned out to live. The final product Hunter: For The Record is to be the perfect solution. We knew we had a great an incredibly moving and powerful film which I’m story and we knew there was a big community of proud to be a part of.” people out there who wanted to see this film made,” Ross says. “The money came flooding in and we surpassed our initial target by $5000. We were totally » HUNTER: FOR THE RECORD amazed and it reassured us that we had an audience » THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 1 @ LUNA, LEEDERVILLE and that this story meant a lot to people.”
Kendrick Lamar
KENDRICK COMING
Dr. Dre has said he “has the potential to do some really incredible great things” and M Phazes has said he’s “one of, if not, the best rapper out right now”. He is the one and only LA MC Kendrick Lamar and he’s coming to town on his debut Australian tour. Signed to Top Dawg, Dr.Dre’s Aftermath and Interscope/ Universal, Lamar has worked with the Game, Drake, Rick Ross, Talib Kweli, Busta Rhymes, Warren G, Lil Wayne, Lady Gaga and Dre himself. His debut studio album is to be released this week. He plays Capitol on Sunday, December 16. Tickets go on sale this Friday, October 26, from amplifiercapitol.com.au. Get on it.
KLUB KIDS KICKIN’ IT KENOBI STYLE
It’s been almost a year since Kid Kenobi released his Bass Music EP but that’s not to say he’s been laying low. He’s been busy running his label Klub Kids as well as writing hits with his brother Hugga Thugg as part of Too Fresh. But, change is in the air and with new label management looming, Kid Kenobi is back to solidly focusing on his own music. He’s heading back over west to celebrate the release of his latest EP Musik For Klub Kids. Catch him busting out tunes from behind the decks on Saturday, December 1, at Ambar and Monday, December 3, at The Deen. Stay tuned for ticketing deets.
INTO THE HALL OF FAME
The Perth Dance Music Awards are just around the corner and voting is once again open until Wednesday, November 7, for all you punters and industry folk to vote for your favourite musical memory from this year – was it the individual DJ, promoter, venue or even the artwork on the flyer which caught your attention? Head to perthdancemusicawards.org to cast your votes. The Hall Of Fame is once again returning and this year, Simon Barwood (AIR Nightclub) and Colin F Bridges (RTR FM) will be inducted into the Hall Of Fame. For all the info, stay tuned to the PDMA website and Facebook.com/PerthDanceMusicAwards. Get voting!
BART B MORE
SID PATTNI
Bart van der Meer is typically Dutch – polite, affable and completely down to earth. His attention for music and the arts captured at a very young age, it was house music that dragged him into the scene years ago - and he hasn’t looked back since. RK chats with the lad who is ready to return to our shores with his latest bag of tricks.
Sid Pattni has come out of nowhere. The Perth-based producer started making beats roughly two months ago and went on to be crowned runner up at The Bird’s annual Beat Down competition merely two weeks after he started fiddling around with beats. He’s now put out his debut EP Le Vidé and it’s taking over airwaves and blogs around the world. ANNABEL MACLEAN chats with the young gun about growing up in Kenya, breaking wrists and being a boss.
SUPER SECURE
“I’ve finally been able to spend more time in the studio in the last couple of weeks,” chimes the excited Dutchman. “I’m also getting to work on my debut album which is very exciting but very exhausting. I want to use it as an opportunity to experiment a little bit as well. I’ve always liked to do a bit of that with my music.” Indeed, having collaborated and remixed artists from all sorts of genres, van de Meer continues to refine his sound, all the while conscious of not being pigeonholed into a particular genre. In turn, this is driving his next project – his full length LP. “It is really hard to explain the sound that you want to achieve with an album,” he says.“I do know that it will be dance-floor minded and directed with that style in mind. There will be a lot of club tracks but I’m also trying to go into a few different directions on a few tracks so I’m really looking forward to being able to finish it.” No doubt, the LP will appear on his Secure Recordings imprint which continues to move onwards and upwards.“We’ve been doing some great stuff on the label lately; we’ve got some cool guys from Holland doing the electro-techno crossover thing; another very talented producer from Germany and some cool stuff from Belgium coming out later in the year,” he reveals. “There is a good scene going on in Europe right now and that on its own, its inspirational. It has been great for music and the label.” Moreover, he admits he is enjoying rolling with the changes in the scene or “the punches” as he terms it. “I really feel like there has been a lot happening in dance music recently,” he says. “For example, there are all these new scenes, new styles, movements - we have dubstep which came out of nowhere a couple of years ago. That inspired other 34
Nina Las Vegas
ALMOST SUMMERY BEATS
Triple J house party lass and DJ Nina Las Vegas is heading back to WA on her Almost Summer Tour. Now, if anyone got down to the sell out national House Party tour then you’ll know these two badass shows are most likely to sell out. The House Party and Mix Up host will get behind the decks on Friday, November 16, at Frat House Fridays at Metro Freo as part of Metro Freo’s 20th anniversary celebrations, and at Amplifier the following evening on Saturday, November 17. Ticket are on sale now through Oztix. Get on it.
GETTING’ LOCAL WITH STEREO
Stereosonic has just announced its local line-up and boy is it a cracker. Aarin Fraser, Ace Basik, Aexn, Backyard Project DJs, Black & Blunt, Chiari, Court Hotel DJs, Death Disco DJs, Dorcia DJs, Electonic DJs, F.T.W, Fellis, Flawless DJs, Flex, Genga, GeRmAn, Get More, Gold Bar DJs, Habitat DJs, Halo Effect, Hykus, Illuminor, Inhibit Crew, Into The Limelite DJ Competition Winner, Kenny L, Killafoe, Kno Agents, Lost Society DJs, Maiko DJS, Mind Electric, Phetsta and a bunch more will be repping Perth at Stereosonic on Sunday, November 25, at Claremont Showground (TBC).
OUT OF THE BLUE
Bart B More styles that people have followed too. And there are new genres popping up every month. For me, it’s about trying to stay true to my sound and finding influence in the right places. But, I’m not trying to copy anyone or anything. Influence should be just that; an inspiration to try and do something without going exactly the same way.” Excited to be returning down under for Stereosonic, van de Meer jokes that he’ll be playing “a ballads only set”. “No really, I recently played an amazing gig in New York at Electric Zoo and I put my DJ set online, so you can have a listen to what I’m playing at the moment. Right now, I’m really trying to play a lot of my own music as well as a lot of the new stuff from the album. I would say it’s cool, weird and fun electronic music.”
» BART B MORE » STEREOSONIC » SUNDAY, NOVERMBER 25 @ CLAREMONT SHOWGROUNDS (TBC)
“We had to come over because it was getting too unsafe,” a friendly Sid Pattni says down the phone, speaking of Kenya where he grew up for the first 12 years of his life.“Dad had a lot of that stuff playing in the house - we had a lot of African and Indian stuff going on in the house. Our family owned a bank in Kenya so we were one of those families who had the armed escort cars and the range-rover with the bullet proof stuff. We got held at gun point quite a few times. It got really bad so we had to move. Then we come over here and people are leaving their cars unlocked in the road and we’re like ‘what are they doing? It’s going to get robbed any second!’ (laughs).” With his North-Indian heritage and Kenyan background, a rich array of influences can be heard throughout his debut EP Le Vidé which fuses soul, hip hop and future beats into a tightly knit, brilliant bundle of tunes. The big question of everyone’s lips is: where did Sid Pattni come from? “Everyone keeps saying that to me,” he says, chuffed. “Like ‘what’s happening? Where have you come from?’ seems to be the common question going on. I’m not too sure where I’ve come from. I just sort of put it [the EP] out and everyone’s like ‘wow, this is really cool’ and it’s just taken off.” Having taught himself piano as a means of physical therapy after he broke his wrist a few years ago, Pattni had previously played drums for 10 years.“I did a gig and the stage was pretty dodgy and the stage was three metres above the ground
Sid Pattni and I just fell really badly on my wrist and totally shattered it,” he recalls. With doctors predicting 10 per cent mobility in his wrist, he began playing piano, auditioned for WAAPA the following year, got in, and as he says,“the rest is history”. Pattni went down to watch The Bird’s annual Beat Down competition, ended up entering at the last minute and came runner up. “These guys have been doing this for five or six years and I’d been doing it for a couple of weeks and they were like ‘who are you? Where have you come from?’. I started doing it [producing] more and more and I had enough tracks to make an EP and I thought ‘score, I’ll just put out an EP and see what happens’ and then it’s been ridiculous in terms of what’s been happening since then.” Indeed, local heavyweight Ta-Ku has even remixed Pattni’s track Got To Learn Sometimes which appears on the EP. “I put my first track out on Soundcloud and emailed out a bunch of producers that I really liked to see what they thought of it and not expecting any replies and he [Ta-Ku] replied back and was like ‘man, this track is amazing, I want to work on it with you’ so I wasn’t going to say no to him. I was surprised he replied… people dream about working with that guy and I got him on my first EP, it’s ridiculous.” Although Pattni didn’t have an official launch for Le Vidé because he “didn’t really expect it to get this much attention”, life for the fresh beat-maker isn’t quietening down any time soon. “Yesterday I got signed to some record label so I’ve got to put a release out through them now,” he says. “I want to get more airplay and the sample thing could kill me copyright wise [so] I’m getting a lot of guys who I dig around Perth to do vocals on it now and actually do it that way… It’s going to be so good.”
» SID PATTNI » LE VIDÉ [BANDCAMP] » OUT NOW X-Press – First on the street, Wednesdays
PURPLE SNEAKERS DJS
MARKO PAULO GOING SWIMMINGLY
DON’T STOP TO SMELL THE ROSES
Local DJ duo Marko Paulo – Mark Trowbridge and Paul Sawyer – have been residents at Ambar for roughly three-four months. It all started when the lads threw a big warehouse party in Midvale back in 2010. ANNABEL MACLEAN chats with Trowbridge about all of the above and soccer.
Purveyors of partying, the Purple Sneaker DJs, started one of the biggest indie club nights in Sydney back in 2005. Now, throwing parties around Australia and having hosted the likes of Kele, Gigamesh, MNDR, Odd Future (DJ set), Star Slinger and more, they’re launching their own singles label and debut original track. ANNABEL MACLEAN chats with brainchild Martin Novosel, aka PhDJ.
Marko Paulo have never actually played marco polo. But, the lads play soccer and Trowbridge says his partner-in-crime is a bit of a boss at that. “Paul’s great at soccer - not sure about the hand-eye coordination,” he says, chuckling. “We played indoor soccer last night and he seemed a bit unfit but I know that he’s planning on changing that.” Having met through a mutual friend in 2009, the lads moved in together in Wembley and, as Trowbridge says, “it kicked off from there”. “We had the opportunity to have a warehouse out in Midvale back in 2010 and Paul had been DJing for a bit longer than me, but we were still both pretty fresh and we obviously weren’t going to get booked for any gig. So we thought the best way to play to people was to run our own gigs. So we thought it was perfect timing to use this warehouse, so we tried to organise a big underground rave except not really with typical rave music, it was more breakselectro, the kind of sounds you’d find at Ambar. “We managed to get around 500 people out to Midvale in this warehouse that we’d decked out. We got way too excited and decked it out with all this crazy, metal work stuff from the junkyard next door and we had a rave cave of sorts and we had this massive, massive sound-system which was way too much for the space but it was amazing and we had this seriously enthusiastic lighting guy whose hobby was just to collect lights and lasers… we had a couple of the Boomtick residents at the time DJ there and they even said when they came ‘oh we weren’t really expecting much’… but they ended up having an amazing night and that got us our first gig.” Playing mostly breaks and heavy electro as a duo, the lads also DJ individually - Mark as Meet Mark and Paul as Easy P – and Trowbridge says their
Marko Paulo individual sets are vastly becoming more different than their Marko Paulo beats. “We’ve got our own kind of tastes; I’m moving more towards some solid electro and going down to a bit of 110bpm stuff whereas Paul is getting really keen on really deep house, bass stuff and the trap movement that’s happening at the moment,” he says. Trowbridge has also been “fiddling” around with production but, for the moment, the primary focus for the lads is DJing.“I’ve been fiddling around with it for a while but I wouldn’t call myself a producer,” he says. “That’s obviously the main goal on the hobby sort of side of things - to be able to produce our own tracks and play them out would be fantastic. It’s not like a career objective or anything. It’s just purely – if I could make a track that people enjoy dancing to, that would be the ultimate goal.” Aside from DJing at Ambar, the lads have been doing a regular fortnightly slot with The Backyard Project which is going well and they recently played their first flagship festival at Parklife and are now preparing for an epic Halloween celebration. “I’m going to try do a Halloween mix,” he offers. And, there may even be costumes in the works. “I’ve got this one that is absolutely epic, it’s one of the best Halloween costumes ever but it’s so much effort and it’s so painful by the end of the night that I just don’t know if I can be bothered wearing it again.”
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MARKO PAULO CHALLENGER READY: HALLOWEEN DRESS UP PARTY SATURDAY, OCTOBER 27 @ AMBAR DISTRICT FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 2 @ AMBAR
Purples Sneakers DJs – Martin Novosel and Randall Stagg – have supported the likes of Miike Snow, Sleigh Bells, Bloc Party and The Rapture and warmed up dancefloors at Big Day Out, Parklife, Field Day and Splendour In The Grass. Having released the popular We Mix You Dance series of compilations, the lads have now turned to original production, releasing their debut original track Last One Standing featuring the vocals of Amy Pes from Sydney indie outfit Tokyo Denmark Sweden on New York dance label Plant Music and their very own Purple Sneakers singles label. “Making music is something that we did anyway in our own time,” Novosel says down the line from Sydney. “Randall became the other half of Purple Sneakers DJs and then one day we were like ‘what we’re doing is alright’. “We started playing it out and we were like ‘well why don’t we release it?’. Everything we do has a pretty organic process. I think the modus operandi for my whole life is just do what you like. If you love it, do what you love. If you love it, you’ll do it over and over and over again and hopefully you’ll become ok at it… I would do all of this stuff even if I wasn’t getting paid for it.” Novosel also has a background in A&R and artist management, having managed the likes of Sparkadia, Philadelphia Grand Jury, Clubfeet and more. He says it was a logical step to launch a singles label. “We’ve had clubs for the last five or six years – so we put on bands and DJs and producers… when you’re doing that, a lot of these times these acts are playing their first show or one of their first shows and I see that as A&Ring in a sense anyway. “We’re getting these acts way before they’re popular so I reckon we’re the A&Rs here. We’re already doing that in a live capacity and in a club capacity so I
Purple Sneakers DJs don’t really see the difference in picking up an act and going ‘hey we like that song, let’s dig that band up and put them out through our channels’’.” The lads are in the midst of starting a new, 100 capacity club, in Sydney called Discovery which will focus on new music which will see the likes of Tokyo Denmark Sweden, Pigeon, Bastian’s Happy Flight, Carl Fox playing. Purple Sneakers DJs will be residents alongside Emo from What So Not, Spenda C and Lancelot. “Because it’s small, we don’t have massive fees to pay acts and stuff so it’s always going to be new bands,” he says.“The bookings are ridiculous. People dug the vision that we came up with.” Purple Sneakers DJs played Groovin’ The Moo earlier this year (Novosel even bought along his dad to the festival:“I don’t think he’d ever seen crowds like that and he’d also never seen me in party mode either… He got to meet all the bands and stuff – he had no idea who the bands were – like there were the Hilltop Hoods and he was like ‘I don’t know who they are’.”), and South African festival OppiKoppi. In fact, Novosel says they’re hoping to tour with South African bass-hip hop crew P.H.Fat next year. “They’re fucking awesome,” he says. “They’re just these bass rap guys who are just fun party dudes and they have the best live show. The idea is – hopefully this’ll happen – we’ll bring them out and they’ll tour with us on our next tour so probably around next March or April.”
» PURPLE SNEAKERS DJS » LAST ONE STANDING [PLANT MUSIC/PURPLE SNEAKERS] » OUT NOW
FOREIGN BEGGARS RISE UP
London hip hop and grime act Foreign Beggars are bringing their acclaimed and highly energetic live show to Stereosonic to promote their new album The Uprising – an album they describe as their first “fully rap slash electronic” offering. JOSHUA HAYES discussed the new release with rapper Orifice Vulgatron.
The Uprising is Foreign Beggars’ first full length album not to feature collaborations with other rappers – something Vulgatron attributes to the group working with so many different producers, including Alix Perez, kidkanevil, former 16bit member Eddie Jeffrys, Bare Noize, Starkey and Knife Party, who produced their latest single Apex. “I think we wanted to solidify who we are; to get a unified perspective of the band,” Vulgatron says. “There’s a real variety of producers on there, and I think it’s something that we wanted to see if we could do ourselves. We’ve never actually done that before; released an album where us two are the only MCs.” Musically, it’s also a step into new territory for the group.“It’s the first time we’ve done a full album which has incorporated all the different styles of music that we’re into. All the albums that we’ve released up til this point have been very hip hop specific while touching on these elements,” he says. “I think [this is] our first fully rap slash electronic music offering.” Since forming a decade ago in London, the group – Vulfatron is joined by fellow rapper Metropolis, producer Dag Nabbit and DJ Nonames – has always walked a fine line between genres, managing to earn the equal respect of hip hop heads and rave kids. The group’s background is even more diverse, with Vulgatron and Dag Nabbit first meeting almost 20 years ago in Dubai, where they played together in metal bands. The Uprising has been released on deadmau5’s mau5trap imprint. Vulgatron says the freedom provided by the label enabled Foreign Beggars to turn in the album they wanted to make, without interference. “They’ve understood who we were from the start,” he says. “Quite a few members of the team have known our music since the very first releases that we put out and they’ve been fans since then, so working with them has been really amazing. They haven’t tried to change us, they haven’t dictated any direction; all they’ve done is open doors for us.” It was a breath of fresh air for a group that plays over a hundred shows a year and is highly in demand for collaborations. “For the amount of work www.xpressmag.com.au
Foreign Beggars that we’re doing nowadays in terms of the touring and writing; for us to deal with the record release side and the financial side [would be] crazy, so [mau5trap have] been really supportive and pretty much given us free reign to do whatever we want to do.” In the meantime, he says there’s “a bag of stuff happening”, with the group currently working on, or have recently finished, collaborations with kidkanevil, TeeBee & Calyx, Dillon Francis and Tommy Lee & DJ Aero – not to mention a few tracks for Alix Perez’s upcoming album. Finally, they’re continuing work on a collaboration album with Noisia, which Vulgatron describes as “a labour of love over the last few years”. With their upcoming Stereosonic run, Foreign Beggars’ extensive live experience means their set promises to be one of the festival standouts.“We’re not genre-specific, so there’s the underground rap stuff, there’s a lot of freestyle and interaction, underground rap beats, big rap beats, then a little bit of dirty house music, and there’s also a grime element, there’s a metal element, there’s a dubstep element. It’s a high energy showcase and it’s much more interactive than just a DJ playing,” Vulgatron says about the group’s live set. “It’s not like your average rap show [either] because the beats are much more electronic and energetic and there’s a lot more variety. We try and bring elements, when we do our Foreign Beggars shows there’s elements of a drum’n’bass rave, there’s elements of a dubstep rave, house music, rap music; also there’s a metal energy, if you really want to take it that far.”
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FOREIGN BEGGARS THE UPRISING [MAU5TRAP] OUT NOW STEREOSONIC SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 25 @ CLAREMONT SHOWGROUND (TBC) 35
AMPLIFIER
WEDNESDAY 24/10 BLVD Tavern – Wub Wub Captain Stirling – Lokie Shaw 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 Flying Scotsman (Defectors) – Beaufort Bop ft DJ Anton Maz Gold Bar – DJ Adroc Hipe Club – DJ Roger Smart Leederville Hotel – We Love Wednesdays ft DJ Slick Llama Bar – Jo 19 Matches Bar – Pussymittens Metro Freo – Rapture Mustang – DJ Giles Newport – Red Bull Silent Disco Shape – Blank Sovereign Arms – Jordan Scott The Deen – DJ Zelimer/ DJ Viper/ DJ Benny/ T– Zone 1 The Queens – Wriggle on YaYa’s – DJ Paul Burgess
THURSDAY 25/10 BLVD Tavern – Def Repplica C l a n c y ’s ( Ca n n i n g B r i d g e ) – D J Wrighteous Claremont Hotel – DJ Fiveo/ Jimmy Thorne
THE COURT
Club Marakesh – DJ Simon Cottesloe Hotel – DJ Shots/ DJ Andy M Empire Bar – Halo/ DJ Bojan/ DJ Ben Sebastian Eve Nightclub – Jay Sean Flying Scotsman – Cowboys & Indie Kids DJs Leopold Hotel – DJ Riki/ Roger Smart Library – Dorcia Llama Bar – Danni Boi/ Charlie Bucket Mint Nightclub – DJ Simon Barwood Mt Henry Tavern – DJ Matty J Mullaloo Beach Hotel – DJ John Paul/ DJ Slick Mustang – DJ James Newport – Culture Clash 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 – Jaymie Franchina 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 Whale & Ale – Josh Tilley The Whistling Kite – DJ Gareth Tiger Lils – Paul Malone/ Adam Kelly Woodvale Tavern – DJ Melvin
Jay Sean
36
FRIDAY 26/10 Ambar – Douster/ Lightsteed/ Oli/ Audageous Amplifier – DJ Jamie Mac Bar 459 – DJ Smurf Bar Orient – The Reggae Club ft Gridlox/ Ed Case/ General Justice/ Calvin/ KevinH-Mut/ Sista Che/ The Empressions/ Mumma Trees Blvd Tavern – DJ Andy Boab Tavern – Gavyn Mytchel Boheme Bar – DJ Majiika Boulevard Tavern – DJ Andyy Broken Hill Hotel – DJ Nick Alexander Brooklands Tavern – DJ Misschief Mel Capitol – Retro Mash Capitol (Upstairs) – I Love ‘90s Carine Tavern – Greg Packer/ MC Assassin Clancy’s (Canning Bridge) – DJ Boogie Claremont Hotel – Jon Ee Club Bayview – Amnesia ft Fendi/ Axon/ Fellis Como Hotel – DJ Gazz Eastern Hotel – DJ Munch Empire Bar – Lokie Shaw Eve Nightclub – DJ Don Migi/ Dannyboi/ Francesco 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 Honey Lounge – DJ Curlee/ Drew Green Lakers Tavern – Fresh Fridays - DJ Dooey Left Bank – DJ Frankie Button Library – DJ Sneaky Little Creatures Loft – Marine Beats Llama Bar – Jim Pearson/ Jehan/ Ben Edit/ DJ Cee Matches Bar – Fredrick Anderson Merriwa Tavern – DJ Real McCoy Metro City – Nadia Ali/ Jason Creek/ DJ Kenny L Metro City (Solace Bar) – DJ Slick Metro Freo – Frat House Fridays Mint Nightclub – Club Retro ft Chris McPhee Mullaloo Beach Hotel – John Moss Mustang – Swing DJ/ DJ James MacArthur Norma Jean’s – DJ Waz Paddy Hannans – Crazy Craig Paramount – DJ Johnny Boi/ DJ Jordan Players Bar – Miss Football Queens Tav – DJ Rueben Rocket Room – Extreme Aggression ft DJ Cain Sail & Anchor – Balcony Beatz/ DJ J-MAC Shape – Homegrown FreQs 2012 – National Drum’n’bass Mixing Competition, Perth Final Sovereign Arms – Lokie Shaw The Avenue – Amanda Power The Carine – Mind Electric/ Little Nicky/ Az-T The Causeway – Jus Haus? The East End Bar – Az-T The Generous Squire – DJ Anaru
FRAT HOUSE FRIDAYS
METRO FREO
The Queens – DJ Rueben The Saint - DJ Emmanuel The Shed – DJ Glenn 20 The Whale & Ale – Josh Tilley Tiger Lils – Paul Malone/ Adam Kelly The Vic - DJ Giles The Wembley Hotel – Abstar Windsor – DJ Riki and Ray Victoria Park Hotel – DJ Giles Ya-Ya’s – Hero DJs ft Pup
SATURDAY 27/10 Ambar – Challenger Ready: Halloween Dress-Up Party ft FTW v Benny P/ Blend v DNGRFLD/ Marty McFly v Tee EL/ Black & Blunt/ Marko Paulo v Oli 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 (Upstairs) – Cream Of The ‘80s ft DJ Ryan Capitol – Death Disco Clancy’s (Canning Bridge) – DJ Dood Claremont Hotel – Fiveo/ J.V.R Club Bay View – Fiveo Eastern Hotel – DJ Munch Empire Bar – DJ James Ess Eurobar – Roger Smart/ DJ Raci Eve Nightclub – Eve’s Halloween Costume Party ft DJ Crazy Craig Flying Scotsman – Under The Influence DJs Flying Scotsman (Defectors) – Fore DJs Flying Scotsman (Velvet Lounge) – Open Decks (DnB) Sessions! High Road Hotel – DJ Simon High Wycombe – DJ Matt Hipe Club – DJ E-Funk Honey Lounge – DJ Saxon/ Sardi Library – MKT ft DJ Riki/ DJ Vicktor and more Little Creatures Loft – Marine Beats Liquid Nightclub – DJ Klar55/ DJ Stevie M Llama Bar – DJ Reuben/ DJ Melvin Malt Super Club – Fiveo Matches Bar – Jstokes/ Valerio Metro City – DJ Matty S/ DJ Makka/ DJ Angry Buda/ DJ Kenny L Metro City (Climax) – DJ Francesco/ DJ Don Migi/ DJ Slick Metro City (R&B Lounge) – DJ Soso/ DJ Ruthless/ DJ Brett Costello Metro Freo – Roger Smart/ Ben Carter/ 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 Phat Daz Oxford Hotel – DJ Sequeria Paramount – DJ Cornflake / DJ Jordan/ DJ Johnny Boi Queens Tav – Gareth Richardson Rocket Room – DJ Perry Shape – Big Ape Halloween
J Rocc South St Ale House – DJ Jay Sovereign Arms – Rockwell The Avenue – Jon Ee The Bakery – Madlib Medicine Show ft Madlib/ J Rocc/ Egon The Boheme – DJ Sneakee The Brighton (Upstairs) – Micah/ Kill Dyl/ eSQue The Causeway – Rhys Johnson The Clink –Az-T The Cornerstone – Dylan Hammond The Craftsman – DJ Shortz The Deen – DJ Birdie/ DJ JJ/ DJ Tony Allen The East End Bar - Fiveo The Generous Squire – On Tap ft James Nutley The Saint – DJ Anaru The Shed – DJ Andyy The Wembley – Lokie Shaw The Whistling Kite – Gavyn Mytchel The Velvet Lounge – Bunz/ DJ Palaver/ Iller Instinct/ Jayvee/ Revhead The Vic – DJ Kristian Tiger Lils – DJ Bojan/ DJ Ben Sebastian Toucan – DJ Hages Victoria Park Hotel – DJ Melvin Villa – Into The Limelight DJ Competition Windsor – DJ Ray Woodvale Tavern – DJ Real McCoy
Flying Scotsman – Nathan J/ Nizbet/ Pasha/ Chris Flying Scotsman (Defectors) – Eclectic Picnic Mint – Chris McPhee Mullaloo Beach Hotel – John Moss Mustang – DJ Rockin Rhys Paramount – Glo/ DJ Slick/ DJ Benny C/ DJ Matty S Players Bar – Lucky Charm Rocket Room – Coyote Ugly Sovereign Arms – Dylan Hammond The Avenue – Az-T The Causeway – Lukas Wimmler The Cott – Cott Sessions The Kiosk – DJ Cinder The Saint – DJ Anaru The Shed – DJ Tony Dee
MONDAY 29/10 Bar Orient – DJ White Label Broken Hill Tavern - DJ Mario Tavelli The Deen – Plastic Max/ The Token Gesture The Den (Civic Hotel) – MC Lars The Paddo – DJ John Paul The Shed – DJ Andyy
TUESDAY 30/10
SUNDAY 21/10 Captain Stirling – DJ Jay Claremont Hotel – DJ Double Dee Clink – DJ Tony Allen Empire Bar – CB3/ DJ Riki/ DJ Vicktor Euro Bar – DJ Flex Eve Nightclub – DJ Angry Buda/ DJ Slick
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
X-Press – First on the street, Wednesdays
FLAWLESS
STACHE
THE SWITCH
SHAPE
CAPITOL
IN THE THIS WEEK Jay Sean Thursday, October 25 @ Eve Nightclub Douster Friday, October 26 @ Ambar Homegrown FreQs 2012 – National Drum’n’bass Mixing Competition, Perth Final Friday, October 26 @ Shape Madlib Medicine Show f t Madlib/ J Rocc/ Egon Saturday, October 27 @ The Bakery Into The Limelight DJ Competition Saturday, October 27 @ Villa Challenger Ready: Halloween Dress-Up Party ft FTW v Benny P/ Blend v DNGRFLD/ Marty McFly v Tee EL/ Black & Blunt/ Marko Paulo v Oli Saturday, October 27 @ Ambar Eve’s Halloween Costume Party ft DJ Crazy Craig Saturday, October 27 @ Eve Nightclub
COMING UP Halloween ft Swanky Tunes Wednesday, October 31 @ Villa Heavyweight Sounds ft London Elektricity/ Dynamite MC/ Xilent and more Friday, November 2 @ Metro City District: Krunked Up ft GET MORE/ Donald Krunk/ Angry Buda/ Philly Blunt/ Meet Mark/ Easy P Friday, November 2 @ Ambar Gavyn Mytchel Friday, November 2 @ Capitol ‘90s Party ft Snap! Saturday, November 3 @ Villa The Court Street Party ft Wynter Gordon/ Kitty Glitter/ Nino Brown/ Skarlett Saramore/ Dan Murphy Saturday, November 3 @ The Court
Madlib
MADLIB MEDICINE SHOW SATURDAY, OCTOBER 28 @ THE BAKERY
www.xpressmag.com.au
Outbreak ft Child’s Play/ Freqshow/ DJ Scorpius/ MC Gamma Thursday, November 8 @ The Newport Hotel Outbreak ft Lilt/ Freqshow/ DJ Sani/ MC LZ Friday, November 9 @ The Hyde Park Hotel Smoke DZA/ LV/ Jesse Boykins III/ Shigeto/ Melo X/ Raaghe/ Savior/ Zeke/ Rok Riley Friday, November 9 @ The Bakery Get Weirder ft Moullinex Friday, November 9 @ Ambar Bass Agenda Friday, November 9 @ Villa Nina Las Vegas Friday, November 16 @ Metro Freo Nina Las Vegas Saturday, November 17 @ Amplifier Ben Sims Friday, November 16 @ Ambar Prefuse 73/ Teebs Saturday, November 17 @ The Bakery Launch Block Party ft Def Wish Cast Sunday, November 18 @ The Aberdeen Floating Points/ Fatima/ Alexander Nut Thursday, November 22 @ Ambar An Eglo Records Takeover Thursday, November 22 @ Ambar Stereosonic ft Tiësto/ Avicii/ Calvin Harris/ Example/ Carl Cox/ Major Lazer/ Laidback Luke/ Martin Solveig/ Dash Berlin/ Markus Schulz/ Diplo/ Sander van Doorn/ Infected Mushroom/ Chuckie/ Flux Pavilion/ Mr Oizo/ Porter Robinson/ Loco Dice/ Bassnectar/ JFK MSTRKRFT/ Excision/ Adam Beyer/ Aly & Fila/ Caspa/ Datsik/ Joris Voorn/ Bingo Players/ Tommy Trash/ Simon Patterson/ Gesaffelstein/ Ørjan Nilsen/ D i l l o n Fr a n c i s / Fo r e i g n Beggars/ Zedd/ Brodinski/ Krewella/ Nina Kraviz/ Van She/ Strange Talk/ Alvin Risk/ Destructo/ MaRLo/ Treasure Fingers/ Bart B More and more S u n d a y, N o v e m b e r 2 5 @ Claremont Showground (TBC) Trus’me Wednesday, November 28 @ The Bird
2manydjs Friday, November 30 @ Villa Kid Kenobi Saturday, December 1 @ Ambar The Potbelleez Saturday, December 1 @ Metro Freo Deadweight!2 nd Birthday Bender ft Eprom/ Saxon & Boy Prince/ Nebula & Modo and more TBC Saturday, December 1 @ The Bakery Sets On The Beach ft Mark Farina/ Miami Horror DJs/ The Knocks/ Todd Terje S u n d a y, D e c e m b e r 2 @ Scarborough Beach Amphitheatre Perth Dance Music Awards Sunday, December 2 @ The Court Kid Kenobi Monday, December 3 @ The Deen Mr Grevis Wednesday, December 12 @ Mojos Kendrick Lamar Sunday, December 16 @ Capitol Breakfest ft Krafty Kuts/ A.Skillz/ DJ Yoda/ Lady Wa k s / Th e N ex t m e n / Jaguar Skills/ Specimen A/ Pyramid/ Marten Hørger/ High Contrast/ Spy/ Camo & Krooked/ MC Wrec Wednesday, December 26 @ Belvoir Amphitheatre Origin NYE ft Chase & Status (DJ Set)/ Knife Party/ Gaslamp Killer/ ShockOne/ Pearson Sound/ DMZ (Coki & Mala)/ Goldie/ Brookes Brothers/ Ed Rush/ Wilkinson/ Dillinja/ Marky & Stamina/ Sigma/ Delta Heavy/ Metrik/ DC Breaks/ Skism/ Gemini/ Inspector Dubplate/ Jakes/ Mensah/ Dodge & Fuski/ Bar9/ Distance/ Dark Sky/ Ben Ufo/ New York Transit Authority/ Pariah/ XXXY/ Om Unit/ Friction/ Bare Noize/ Flying Lotus/ Benga/ Youngman/ Doctor Werewolf Sunday, December 30 & Monday, December 31 @ Fairbridge Village, Pinjara Cuban Club ft Cuban Brothers/ Yacht Club DJs/ Russ Dewbury/ Death Disco DJs and more Tuesday, January 1 @ The Flying Squadron Yacht Club, Dalkeith
Club Paradiso ft Friendly Fires (DJ set)/ Kaz James/ Helena/ Mr Wilson/ Zelimir/ The Halo Effect/ Habitat DJs/ Maiko DJs/ Acebasik/ Kno Agents Tuesday, January 1 @ Salt On The Beach Summadayze ft Chemical Brothers (DJ Set)/ M.I.A/ Fedde Le Grand/ Mark Ronson (DJ Set)/ Kimbra/ Booka Shade (live)/ Eddie Halliwell/ AN21 & Max Vangeli/ Carl Craig 69 (live)/ Maya Jane Coles/ Disclosure Live/ Adrian Lux/ Erol Alkan/ Breakbot (live)/ Fake Blood/ Hudson Mohawke/ Araabmusik/ Icona Pop/ Scuba/ Aeroplane/ Jesse Rose/ Danny Daze/ AC Slater/ Stafford Brothers & Timmy Trumpet/ Bombs Away and more TBC Sunday, January 6 @ Patersons Stadium Sets On The Beach ft lineup TBC S u n d a y, J a n u a r y 1 3 @ Scarborough Beach Amphitheatre ESG Sunday, January 20 @ The Bakery Riva Starr Saturday, January 26 @ Salt On The Beach Big Day Out ft The Bloody Beetroots/ Crystal Castles/ Kaskade/ Prett y Lights/ Nicky Romero/ Morgan Page/ Sampology and more M o n d a y, J a n u a r y 2 8 @ Claremont Showground Above & Beyond Friday, February 1 @ Metro City Future Music Festival ft The Prodigy/ The Stone Roses/ PSY/ Dizzee Rascal/ Bloc Party/ Azealia Banks/ Rita Ora/ Boys Noize (live)/ Hardwell/ The Temper Trap/ Fun./ Madeon/ Rudimental/ Ellie Goulding/ Steve Aoki/ Alesso/ Gypsy & The Cat/ A-Trak (live)/ Feed Me (live)/ Zeds Dead/ Kill The Noise/ DJ Fresh (live)/ Nervo/ Zane Lowe/ Borgore/ Sven Vath/ Richie Hawtin/ Ricardo Villalobos/ Seth Troxler/ Magda/ Cosmic Gate ft Emma Hewitt/ W&W/ tyDi/ Andy Moor/ Super8 & Tab/ Ben Gold/ The Stafford Brothers/ Timmy Trumpet/ Tenzin/ Bombs Away Sunday, March 3 @ Arena Joondalup Sets On The Beach ft lineup TBC S u n d ay, M a r c h 1 7 @ Scarborough Beach Amphitheatre
SID PATTNI
JESSE BOYKINS III AND MELO-X
Local electronic, hip hop and soul producer Sid Pattni has just released his debut record Le Vidé. Having virtually smashed onto the scene out of the blue, the young lad has delivered an absolute gem. Golden, shimmering, chilled-out electronic beats are infused with various soul vocal samples, echoing wub wub beats, loungey-lullaby inducing production and hip hop stylings. Kicking off with some super scratching and brilliant, strong, soul sampled vocals similar to the likes of British soul-singer John Newman and a higher-pitched Erykah Badu, Back In 03’ is a delightful, tinkering start to what is a beautifully produced collection of tunes. Stay With Me has a deliciously soft ‘wub wub’ beat which penetrates the tightly woven, down-tempo tune which is littered with melancholic, Marvin Gaye-esque vocals. The piano twinkles on the romantic beat-ballad Dillatude, a short, sleepinducing interlude, the kind of tune you’d hear in the background during a romantic dinner movie scene. John The Revelator (Common v Hazel) brings out some mighty fine hip hop beats and the soaring, sensual vocal samples in Got To Learn Sometimes take this EP to the next level. There’s even a remix by local heavyweight Ta-Ku of the track too. If you’re into Hermitude, Flume, Chet Faker or Ta-Ku, give this a listen, it’ll seduce your ears and blow your mind.
R&B has seen radical change lately from clean, chart topping singles into the darker drug and sex-fuelled worlds of artists like The Weeknd and Frank Ocean. With Zulu Guru, the collaborative effort of Jesse Boykins III and MeLo-X, we get another fresh take on the genre. Searching Her Ways enchants with entrancing synths over a fluid, driving rhythm, dancehall drums and the outstanding vocals of Boykins, marking himself as a talent to rival the best the genre has to offer. Tribe Of Stafa, a minute and a half burst of tribal hip hop, and pulsing electronic album closer Schwaza Culture showcase the range and quality of sound the duet can produce. All the elements are there. The production is crisp yet warm and hazy, Boykins’ vocals litter the album with class, and lyrical themes of love shared, unrequited and lost are classic R&B fodder, but despite all this there is something missing. Most of Zulu Guru feels anonymous, hidden behind its varying styles and while Boykins and MeLo-X are right up front in most tracks, the many guest appearances work to strip away the identity of the entire project. Thankfully the duet can keep refining and defining their character as on Schwaza Culture we’re told, “This is only chapter one,” and there is plenty here to make this a project to keep your eye on. Zulu Guru.
LE VIDÉ BANDCAMP
ZULU GURU NINJA TUNE
» ANNABEL MACLEAN 4.5/5
» RYAN BUTLER 3/5
THIS WEEK DEADMAU5 ALBUM TITLE GOES HERE
The one and only Deadmau5 has released his latest record which includes tracks Professional, Griefers, Telemiscommunication and Failbait. Imogen Heap and Cypress Hill feature as well as Wolfgang Gartner, Chris James and more.
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X-Press – First on the street, Wednesdays
OKTOBERFESTIN’ IT The Paddington Alehouse Saturday, October 20, 2012 Oktoberfest lovers were in fine form last weekend down at The Paddo where party starters DJ Riki, Roger Smart and James Ess were inciting dancefloor madness as everyone indulged in their very own slice of the German festival. Photos by Matt Jelonek
Leah, Rob, Alana
Kieran, Debby, Dave
Michael, Tui
Gemma, Simon Laura, Sarah
Daniel, Tamisha, Mario
MUSTANG BAR
Catch Tanya-Lee Davies this Sunday, October 28, with Peter Busher & the Lone Rangers, TanyaLee Davies fell in-love with black American music when she was about 16. She learned about Ray Charles from listening to British band The Animals and when she discovered the R&B, country/gospel girl singers, she was floored and a band had to be formed to explore these crazy unkempt sounds.
Kristy, Andrea
RAILWAY HOTEL
This Saturday, October 27, catch a killer show in the beer garden featuring Perth favourites Boom! Bap! Pow! along with Melbourne rockers The Toot Toot Toots (in town to play Rock-It the next day) and local popsters The Morning Night. Doors 8pm, $10 entry.
THE PADDO
Tonight, Wednesday, October 24, Paddo POW brings to you Dove, Helen Shanahan and Dean Amato from 8pm. As always entry for the night is free of charge.
ROSEMOUNT HOTEL
This Friday, October 26, local rockers Hostile Little Face play their 100th show and throw a party to celebrate it! Special guests are Tracksuit, The Silence In-Between and The Midnight Mules. Doors open at 8pm and entry is $10. To win a double pass to this show email win@rosemounthotel.com.au with ‘Win’ in the subject line.
HYDE PARK HOTEL
Declan Kelly
INDI BAR
Sunday, October 28, catch Bondi reggae roots soul act Declan Kelly & The Rising Sun tour WA for the first time. Joining them on the night is Simon Kelly in trio mode. Monday, October 29, sees Rock-It act Graveyard Train and Brothers Grim playing a very special sideshow with special guests Ruby Boots.
MOJOS BAR
Friday, October 26, Blue Shaddy play Mojos Bar. These guys give across relaxed, loving, surf, cool blues rock vibes with the greatest of ease. Tickets are $20 from 8pm. Saturday, October 27, ParmeZan play their debut show. Featuring members of The Automasters and other legendary Freo based rock musicians – these guys have really taken a new tack. Awesome support comes from Amani Consort, Rooster Police, DJ’s Demolition Beats and J-Kash. Entry is $12 OR $8 for those that dress up UFO style! www.xpressmag.com.au
This Friday, October 26, come down to the Hyde Park Hotel where acoustic act Ricky Green will get you in the mood for the weekend in the afternoon followed by Dam Few, The Shakeys, Vida Cain and The Disintegrates at 8pm. Saturday October 27, weekly band Meg Mac And The Squeeze perform live on stage from 9pm..
YA YA’S
This Thursday, October 25, unplugged acts Eloise Ashton, Jon Madd, Asby Ranson and Edie Green entertain for just $5! Saturday, October 27, Sugarpuss headline with supports from The New Pollution, Hayley Beth and DJ Rex Monsoon. Email adam@ ya-yas.com.au with ‘Sugarpuss’ in the subject line for a double pass!
THE BEAT
Alt Rockers Coveleski are lighting up the Beat Nightclub this Friday, October 27, with the launch of their self-titled EP. Sharing the stage in support will be Grim Fandango, The Leap Year and Dead Owls. Kicks off 8pm, $10 on the door. Come back Saturday, October 28, for Runaways featuring a live floor show from Aveira Skies. 39
CLARE BOWDITCH
The Royal Jelly Dixieland Band The Astor Theatre Saturday, October 20, 2012 It was a night of old-fashioned fun when Clare Bowditch performed at The Astor Theatre with The Royal Jelly Dixieland Band last Saturday evening. Bowditch was in town to promote her latest album, The Winter I Chose Happiness, released last month. The Royal Jelly Dixieland Band ensured there was a 1920s speakeasy vibe to the evening, which was enhanced by the turquoise surrounds of the Art Deco theatre. As their name suggests, the band plays Dixieland, the vintage jazz style made popular in the early 20th century. The seven-piece jazz swingers, all dressed in smart suits and braces, looked like they had walked off the set of Boardwalk Empire. Their music was largely instrumental but lead vocalist Raphael Hammond, who also played the trumpet, had a chocolaty voice and sung alluringly, especially in The Royal Jelly Romp: “We are the gin in your Singapore sling, we are the tip of your dominatrix whip, we are the slip of your soft mucus kiss”. The band’s cover of Beyonce’s Single Ladies was a delight, and their passion for entertaining was evident, especially when Glen Impey played his double bass while standing on it. The band recorded with Bowditch on her latest album, and four members joined the singer later in the night to provide a brassy twist to Bowditch’s otherwise stripped-back set. Claire Bowditch started just after 9pm, joined by her husband Marty Brown on drums, Warren Bloomer on bass, and Tim Harvey on guitar. The foursome has played together throughout Bowditch’s seven-album career, dating back to 1999, when they performed as Red Raku, and later as The Feeding Set. When you watch Bowditch in concert, you get an evening with her. It’s akin to a dinner party with an old friend. From early on, the audience was laughing along to her jokes and silly dance moves, calling out questions, and whooping when she spilt water down her dress. The music happened between storytelling, and as Bowditch’s material is so fused
Clare Bowditch (Photo: Guang-Hui Chuan) with her everyday musings, the evening became an intimate sharing of anecdotes. At the beginning of the show, Bowditch explained how a recent back injury of two slipped discs spurred her to embark on happiness. It’s a poignant subject for Bowditch to pursue, especially in comparison to her previous material, which was fed with introspective musings and anxieties about herself and the world. Bowditch’s back injury also inspired her to finish Amazing Life, a song she began at aged 19, and which she lead the set with. It epitomises the feel of the album, with the lyrics, “You don’t have to be just one thing, but you have to start with something,” echoing the remedial theme. Coincidentally, while Bowditch was bed-ridden from her injury, a kind friend in Perth named Emma had sent her bulk DVDs, which Bowditch duly passed back to Emma via the audience during the show. Bowditch’s set was soulful, robust, and flirtatious. She played on a slightly crooked out of tune guitar (admitting it was an old friend – “so who cares”), and a tiny Casio keyboard, which she bought off eBay and delighted in playing the reggae sound effects. The theatre was seated but after an hour of awkward wriggling in chairs, Bowditch encouraged the audience to get up and dance during the old favourite You Look So Good. While there were some slower Joni Mitchellesque numbers, the majority of the set was upbeat. The jaunty Thin Skin, where the seven boys from The Royal Jelly sung the chorus, was a highlight. The set ended with two encore songs including You Make Me Happy, which Bowditch sung as her character Rosanna from the hit TV show Offspring. What was most apparent through Bowditch’s show was her ability to make singing look so unrestrained. She sang as easily as she talked, and she did both a lot. _CORAL HUCKSTEP
The Growl’s Cam Avery & Felicity Groom (Photo: Dan Grant)
THE GROWL Felicity Groom / Maurice Flavel And His Intensive Care / Fucking Teeth Villa Friday, October 19, 2012 Villa, Villa, Villa; this wasn’t the best place. The blues, to my knowledge, have never mixed well with smoke machines or subwoofers, but Villa, if your walls could talk they wouldn’t have been listening. It’s either freezing or warm in here and they don’t do beer on tap, so I spent an :/ amount of $ on bottles of cider (when doing alconomics on the train home I realise there was a $5 premium on each of those contra retail da fuq). Away from my wallet, Fucking Teeth opened the evening with characteristic gusto, swiftly motivating a growing crowd into hollering and moving. Part of me wishes they’d lay off the goofier stuff (Dead Dog Dick etc) and play their songs, but hey; if I ever get sick of Medicine I’ll let you know (I won’t.) Maurice Flavel And His Intensive Care were a behemoth, replete with back-up singers, a brilliant guitarist and Fucking Teeth’s rhythm section. Led by Flavel in full mic-stand straddling glory (equal parts Tex Perkins and Fat Elvis), they were mostly excellent and usually surging like an erection in an elevator. MF gets that repetition can push a song beyond the boredom zone and into something mantric; after all, imperatives like The Ocean Wants To Kill You are far more fearsome after six minutes of heavy breathing than three. It’s unsurprising how
good it was, though- the man has spent more time sleeping than I’ve spent breathing. Next was Felicity Groom, whose set saw some prodigious instrument-swapping and the satisfying level of professional folk-dervishing we’ve come to expect. Eventually she brought Mr. main attraction Cam Avery up on stage (toting acoustic guitar) for a brief set of torchsinging etc. about which I only have this to say: I guess I do not believe you can do Chelsea Hotel #2 as a duet - space prohibits me somewhat in terms of enumerating the reasons so call me to find out but I’m beginning to feel that Leonard Cohen is somehow the most revered but least respected songwriter ever, and reverence without respect is just toadying, isn’t it. That was probably the cider though. Anyway, as The Growl took to their blues explosions, that same feeling of a chair missing, warranted or not, stuck with me. Avery and co. imply grit, swagger and sex constantly, but it never feels vitally present - it’s more like a picture on a tarot card than anything else. Though the tunes are good enough, and the band is raw and firm like they need to be, it feels like Avery is removed from the whole spectacle. Not in a detrimental fashion, mind, but if the doe-eyed charm-crooning of the set with Groom proved anything, it’s that Avery hasn’t decided which hat he likes best yet, and ‘til then it’s a bit of a grab bag. And why the heck not, hey; when you’re young and talented and people are excited about what you’ve started doing, things can snowball - all of a sudden stuff is happening and though your hands are on the reins the landscape is flashing past you at a clip. He’s there, but I don’t think he’s completely into what THE GROWL are at the moment. Or not. Ball is in your court, man! _ALEX GRIFFIN
THEESatisfaction (Photo: Dan Grant)
THEESATISFACTION
Savoir / Raaghe / DJ Claude Mono The Bakery Saturday, October 20, 2012
Lauded by critics as the “hottest thing in psychedelicfeminist-R&B-funk-rap” following the release of their superb debut LP awE naturalE earlier this year, there’s little doubt that THEESatisfaction are packing heat. But few would have thought that their inaugural show in WA would have sweat dripping from the ceiling a mere few minutes into their set. Of course, some of the palpable electricity coursing through the venue should also be partially attributed to local electrofunk producer Raaghe who bought the energy level up early in the evening with dancefloor-ready rhythms, while DJ Claude Mono kept things flowing between acts. Likewise, Savoir (a ‘90s-influenced neosoul/hip hop live act featuring a veritable ‘who’s who’ of the local indie scene in Mei Saraswati, James Ireland and Andrew Sinclair) were a vortex of charisma – sucking the energy from the audience and rolling it back out. In what can only be described as an astounding exhibition of raw talent, they’re almost unfairly talented with their combined flair making for one of the tightest and most thrilling live sets you’ll see on the local scene at the moment. Nestling into a unique gray area between neo-soul, psych-funk, and R&B, it’s obvious the ladies of THEESatisfaction aren’t afraid to push the envelope. Their live show, like the sensational awE naturalE, is focused, lean, muscular, progressive and interminably absorbing. 40
Despite performing to a backing track, the Seattle-based duo somehow brought an even larger degree of vim and vigor to the material without compromising its über-polished atmosphere. Vocalist Cat Harris-White sounded absolutely incredible, hitting any note she pleased with the utmost of ease even during body-pops and bootyshakes. Meanwhile rapper Stasia Irons stormed through complex turns of phrase with a wonky bravado which was inhuman and infectious. Entering and leaving the stage with choreographed stage moves, every aspect of their show was clearly planned down to a painstaking tee. Yet despite the fact that their set was clearly pre-arranged, it still managed to retain an illusion of spontaneity and a whole heap of energy. Unfortunately the short nature of THEESatisfaction’s songs ensured their set felt like it was over before it had truly begun, with tunes including Queens, Deeper and Earthseed raced through by default. Likewise, there was no time for banter apart from a short utterance of thanks from Irons on conclusion of their set. In fact, for all their refusal to conform to the expectations generally placed on female musicians, it was almost surprising to see the pair so calm and controlled at all times. Yet it is these aspects that sum up the THEESatisfaction live experience: carefully scripted, but no less thrilling for it. Saturday evening’s performance was an intriguing glimpse into the psyche of a pair of performers who are crusading away from convention and taking hip hop in a thrilling new direction. Believe the hype. _JENNIFER PETERSON-WARD X-Press – First on the street, Wednesdays
COVELESKI Hit And Run
Perth punks Coveleski are swinging for the fences with the release of a self titled EP. RYAN BUTLER caught up with Dan Feist ahead of their EP launch this Friday, October 27, at Beat Nightclub. “Harry Coveleski was an American baseball player in the 1900s who pitched out the New York Giants three times in a row and earned himself the nickname ‘The Giant Killer’. Such was his legacy that he was referenced in a graphic comic, I Kill Giants, the main character wielding a hammer named ‘Coveleski’,” explains bassist Dan Feist of the inspiration behind band name Coveleski. Like their namesake the band knew it was time to strike. With a set of live material under their belt they set out to make something tangible. “We had the initial band chat about recording either EP or album as our first release and who to record with. Given we already had seven record-worthy tracks written, we felt it was more about releasing something now rather than later so the EP was the logical choice,” Feist says.“Around this time I had recently joined a new punk/hardcore band Forstora, which local producer Adam Round was also playing drums in. We started talking about recording, he was keen to get involved and before we knew it we were tracking killer drum sounds.”
Coveleski Keeping the ball rolling the band hit the studio totally prepared. “The writing process centres around Adrian (Codrington, guitar) or myself bringing in a riff or completed song to the band and then jamming out the ideas and trimming the fat. The seven tracks that we recorded for the EP were already part of our live set so we had a clear direction on how we wanted them to sound. Not wanting to waste anytime in the studio we studied hard and did our homework before going in to record and it definitely paid off,” Feist explains. EP lead single Pocket Tyranny mirrors the momentum Coveleski are creating, a rollicking two minute punk blast, garnering a five out of five rating from Triple J’s Richard Kingsmill. “Pocket Tyranny is the shortest track on the EP and I guess does stand out for its immediacy and punch,” says Feist. “There are still a couple of sub three minute tracks such as Suspicious Lovers but stylistically they are completely different. During songwriting, we don’t overthink the process - if a song is two minutes and all the hooks are in there, it’s done. I think It Was All Of Us in particular is one of our finer moments as it captures all the right elements that define us as a band.” Feist says Covelski will tour in December, describing it as a “hit and run, taking in Sydney and Melbourne and then heading back home to play a couple of shows”.
Trigger Jackets
Kill Teen Angst Trigger Jackets and Kill Teen Angst will join forces on Saturday, October 27, at The Rosemount Hotel to launch their respective new singles.
KILL TEEN ANGST This is your first recording since your 2011 debut album - why the wait? We have done some other recordings since then, but we have been busy twisting and turning with the road we are following. We have emerged from the situations real-life has thrown at us and are now moving forward with our dream. I understand you’ve had a line-up change, has the dynamic of the band changed? Yes, we have mainly created music as a group in the past so it’s important to us that we have the right members who not only listen to the ‘right’ music but also know how to make it. Some of us even look good doing it! We are all working towards the same goals now and having a great time doing it.
TRIGGER JACKETS I understand you’re launching the first track from your debut album - did you have a particular vision for how you wanted the track to sound? It was the first time we decided to go into the studio with a basic acoustic track and work with [Dave Parkin] to add layers and come out at the end with a complete song. Working that way really lets you show your influences and try a lot of different things. It’s exciting to go in and your not really sure what the end result will be. In this case we are really happy with the result. The track was recorded with Dave Parkin - how did you find it working with him? We loved working with Parko, not only did we get an album we are really happy with, we also made a mate in the process. He has made Blackbird a really inviting, comfortable place to be.
What can people expect from your dual single launch with Kill Teen Angst? It’s going to be a massive night. We’re going to be previewing a lot of new material from our album that’s coming out next year and What can people expect from your dual single launch with Trigger the supports are awesome. Order Of The Black Werewolf are coming out Jackets? People can expect a great night of indie/punk/rock music that of hibernation and there are some really exciting new bands playing you can feel as loudly as you can hear. Also expect to feel impressed too – Love Junkies and Puck. that you went to a local show and had a great time. What’s your favourite thing about Kill Teen Angst? We’ve done a lot What’s your favourite thing about Trigger Jackets? They know how of shows with KTA and the main thing that sticks out is there passion. If to play a killer track live while letting you know that they’re having fun there’s a full room or three people there they are always on and going doing it. You can’t ask for much more than that! as hard as they can.
Sir Thomas
SLIP AND SLIDE
Make Believe Me
MAKE BELIEF EMERGENCY
What happens when eclectic six piece We Are The Emergency and full-throttle septet Make Believe Me get together for the biggest alt-rock line-up of the year? Hell, what doesn’t happen? Also featuring support from Black Birds and Here Come The Cavalry, this mind-melting night of mayhem and music at C5 (above Metropolis Fremantle) on Friday, October 26, promises to be an insane start to the weekend. Tickets are $15 on the door from 8pm.
NEW TRICKS
Gombo have been carving their name out in the WA scene with an electrifying live show that that is at home among heavy bands as it is among rock and punk bands. Before touring the east coast in November to promote their second EP, Next Trick, the band will be doing a run of local shows to get warmed up, including a show at the Newport Hotel on Sunday, October 28.
SMOOTH STYLINGS
This Saturday, October 27, will see Ya Ya’s dishing up a smorgasbord for the soul. Let your hair down and boogie with some of Perth’s best, including psych-rockers Sugarpuss, pocket rocket wunderkids The New Pollution, the always excellent Hayley Beth and mister sexy pants himself Rex Monsoon. Music starts around 7.30pm and goes till late. Entry is $10 on the door. www.xpressmag.com.au
After a rather quiet 2012 thus far, local pop/rock outfit Sir Thomas are readying themselves to bound back onto the scene. Never a band to be boxed in by convention, the guitar-less quartet have been impressing local audiences for five years and are set to launch their long-awaited debut album Lantern Slides at The Bakery this Friday, October 26, with good friends Beside Lights, Lilt and Vive! Pre-sale tickets are $25 from nowbaking.com.au, sirthomas.com.au or jumpclimb.com. All ticket purchases will include a copy of the album which you will be able to collect from the box office on the night.
PAWSITIVELY PURRFECT
Despite being new to the scene, a spot on the 2012 Southbound lineup and a gig headlining the sold out Hairy Fiesta in Margaret River has ensured New Soundland have already established a healthy fan base. Following the digital release of their EP Eyes Of A Cat the boys embark on their first tour as a band, playing 28 shows in 36 days from Margaret River to Kununurra. Equiped with a film crew documenting their tour experience and shooting various music vidieos, there will be plenty to see on and off the stage for these guys. Don’t miss their shows at the Indi Bar (with Ben Merito) on Friday, October 26, at Clancy’s on Saturday, October 27 (with Zarn).
THE WALKING DEAD
Before zombies take over the world, Tangled Thoughts Of Leaving will be swinging around the nation for a string of shows in October. If the band survive both the tour and the impending zombie apocalypse, they’ll enter Studio Sleepwalkers Dread later in the year to record album number two. So consider this your last chance to see them for a while! Await the apocalypse this Saturday, October 27, at Amplifier. Foxes, Förstöra and Antelope will be on hand to fend off the flesh-eaters. 41
Lisa Mitchell, October 26, Astor Theatre & October 27, Prince Of Wales
John Butler Trio, October 28, Rock-It
Thurston Moore, October 30, The Rosemount
JORDIE LANE REECE MASTIN/ JUSTICE James, Helena, Mr Wilson, Ware, Julia Holter, CREW/ THE JANOSKIANS Zelimir, The Halo Effect, Kings Of Convenience, 4 YaYa’s 1 Perth Arena THE LIVING END Habitat DJ’s, Maiko DJ’s, The Men, Ms Mr, The NATURAL NEW ZEALAND Acebasik and 1-7 Rosemount Hotel Neighbourhood, Nicolas MUSIC FESTIVAL ( EMMYLOU HARRIS Kno Agents) Jaar, Nite Jewel, Of TINPAN ORANGE Shapeshifter, Kora, Ladi6, 1 Salt On the Beach 6 Perth Concert Hall Monsters & Men, Perfume 25 Bakery Trinity Roots, David MYRA MELFORD SOUTHBOUND (The Genius, Polica, Pond, 26 Fly By Night Dallas, P-Money & More) Flaming Lips, SBTRKT, 6 The Bakery Real Estate, The Rubens, 1 Red Hill Auditorium TRIO M Best Coast, Beach House, Shlohmo, Snakadaktal, ASH GRUNWALD RUSSELL BRAND 7 The Bakery Boy & Bear, Coolio, Twerps, Yeasayer ) 25 Settlers Tavern, 2 Perth Arena JOE LONGTHORNE / The Vaccines, Bombay 9 Venue TBC 26 Prince Of Wales, MELISSA MANCHESTER THE KNOCKS Bicycle Club, First Aid Kit, GIN BLOSSOMS Bunbury 2 Venue TBA 7 Regal Theatre Hilltop Hoods, Hot Chip, 10 Capitol 27 Premier Hotel, Albany TOUCHE AMORE/ MAKE SIMPLE MINDS / DEVO / Maximo Park, Millions, AMANDA PALMER 28 Redcliffe On The Murray DO AND MEND THE CHURCH / MODELS Totally Enormous Extinct 14 Astor Theatre 31 Indi Bar 4 Kings Park & Botanical 7 YMCA HQ Dinosaurs, Angus Stone, CELTIC THUNDER Garden 8 Amplifier Ball Park Music, Cosmo 16 Perth Arena CHARLES JENKINS REEL BIG FISH/ JOSH PYKE Jarvis, Django Django, DAVID HASSLEHOFF 25 Norfolk Basement GOLDFINGER/ 8 Artbar The Hives, Jinjo Safari, 17 Capitol 26 The Velvet Lounge CHARLIE MUSSELWHITE ZEBRAHEAD Lisa Mitchell, Matt Corby, ED SHEERAN/ 5 Metro City BAND Sharon Van Etten, Two PASSENGER PAUL KELLY KASEY CHAMBERS/ 8 Fly By Night Door Cinema Club, Bertie 23 Challenge Stadium 26 Fremantle Arts Centre TRIPOD SHANE NICHOLSON Blackman, DJ Nu-Mark (sold out) CLIFF RICHARDS 5 Albany Entertainment 9 & 10 Quarry Toy Set, The Jungle 23 Sandalford Estate Centre Amphitheatre Giants, Loon Lake, Oh LEB I SOL 6 Civic Centre Esperance Mercy, Rodrigo Gabriela, GLENN FREY REFUSED 24 Kings Park & Botanical 26 Charles Hotel 7 Goldfields Arts Centre 9 Metropolis Fremantle San Cisco & more TBA) Garden 8 Mundaring Weir Hotel JOHN WAITE 4 & 5 Sir Stewart Bovell NORAH JONES SUZANNAH ESPIE JLO (POSTPONED) Park Busselton 26 The Velvet Lounge 24 Riverside Theatre 6 Perth Arena 9 Metro City 65 DAYS OF STATIC BLEEDING KNEES CLUB LAGWAGON/ THE SMITH 5 The Bakery MARCH STREET BAND 9 Metro Freo LISA MITCHELL SUMMADAYZE (M.I.A, FUTURE MUSIC FESTIVAL 26 Astor Theatre 5 Prince Of Wales 10 Amplifier Fedde Le Grand, Mark 2013 (The Prodigy, 27 Prince Of Wales 6 The Rosemount SARITAH Ronson DJ Set, Kimbra, SPENCER P JONES/ THE Booka Shade Live, Eddie The Stone Roses, PSY, 9 Fly By Nightclub Dizzee Rascal, Bloc Party, NOTHING BUTTS BASTARDFEST (Astriaal, 10 Settlers Tavern Halliwell, AN21 & Max Azealia Banks, Rita Ora, 7 The Bakery Fuck I’m Dead, Desecrator, ELTON JOHN Vangeli, Carl Craig, 69 Boys Noize, Hardwell, and more) THE BLACKEYED SUSANS Live, Maya Jane Coles, 10 & 12 Perth Arena 27 Civic Hotel 7 The Rosemount The Temper Trap, FUN, PROGFEST (Ne Disclosure Live, Erol 8 Mojos Bar Madeon, Rudimental, Obliviscaris, and more Alkan, Fake Blood, MISSY HIGGINS Ellie Goulding, Steve THE LIGHTHOUSE TRIO TBA) Adrian Lux, Breakbot 8 Fremantle Arts Centre 27 & 28 The Ellington 10 Civic Hotel Live, Hudson Mohawke, Aoki, Alesso, Gypsy & NICKI MINAJ / TYGA DAN SULTAN / LEAH Araabmuzik, Icona Pop, The Cat, A-Trak, Feed Me, 8 Perth Arena FLANAGAN SMASH MOUTH Scuba, Aeroplane, Jesse Zeds Dead, Kill The Noise, SHANE NICHOLSON 10 The Bakery DJ Fresh, Nervo, Zane (POSTPONED) Danny Daze, AC 10 Fremantle Arts Centre Rose, 11 Fly By Night 27 & 28 Metropolis Slater, Stafford Brothers Lowe, Borgore, Cocoon PRIMAL SCREAM Fremantle MATCHBOX TWENTY/ & Timmy Trumpet, Bombs Heroes ft Sven Väth, 11 Astor Theatre INXS/ EVERMORE Richie Hawtin, Ricardo Away & More) HUSKY 11 Perth Arena Villalobos, Seth Troxler, SOMETHING FOR KATE 6 Patersons Stadium 12 Mojos Bar SWAMP THING 27 & 28 Fly By Night Magda, Wake Your Mind Subiaco 11 Fremantle Arts Centre 13 The Bakery ft Cosmic Gate & Emma SANDI THOM TAME IMPALA DEXYS Hewitt, W&W, tyDi, Andy GREENTHIEF 10 Fly By Night 15 Fremantle Arts Centre 12 Astor Theatre Moor, Super8 & Tab, 27 Rocket Room NIGHTWISH PARKWAY DRIVE SIGUR ROS 28 Prince Of Wales 20 Metropolis Fremantle Ben Gold, The Stafford 13 Belvoir Amphitheatre 19 Challenge Stadium 29 Newport Hotel Brothers, Timmy Trumpet, ESG SILVERSUN PICKUPS/ THE DARREN HANLON Tenzin, Bombs Away & 20 The Bakery 19 Mojos Bar More TBA) ROCK IT (The Black Keys, DANDY WARHOLS WEEZER John Butler Trio, Birds Of 13 Fremantle Arts Centre SUICIDAL TENDENCIES/ 23 Perth Arena 3 Arena Joondalup UNWRITTEN LAW/ THE Tokyo, The Panics, Lanie BEN FOLDS FIVE SOUNDWAVE 2013 WOODS 14 Fremantle Arts Centre DUDESONS Lane, Last Dinosaurs, (Metallica, Linkin Park, 23 The Bakery 19 Metro Freo SANTIGOLD/ CRAZY P Royal Headache, JEFF THE BROTHERHOOD Blink-182, A Perfect REGINA SPEKTOR Graveyard Train, Brothers 14 Metro City Circle, The Offspring, 27 Mojos Grim, The Toot Toot Toots, THE BEARDS / THE 19 Belvoir Amphitheatre Paramore, Garbage, YANNI and more) JEFF MARTIN SNOWDROPPERS Slayer, Cypress Hill, Bullet 28 Arena Joondalup 20 Fremantle Arts Centre 27 Perth Arena 15 Prince Of Wales For My Valentine, and 21 Clancy’s Dunsborough BIG DAY OUT (Red 16 Settlers Tavern more) Hot Chili Peppers, The 22 Mojos Bar HARRY JAMES ANGUS 17 Rosemount Hotel 4 Claremont Showgrounds Killers, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, 28 Fremantle Arts Centre 18 Indi Bar 23 Indi Bar GLENN SHORROCK/ Courtyard EVAN DANDO / JULIANA Vampire Weekend, Band WENDY MATTHEWS/ WASHINGTON Of Horses, Kaskade, HATFIELD 16 & 17 Quarry DOUG PARKINSON Animal Collective, 22 The Rosemount GRAVEYARD TRAIN / Amphitheatre Against Me!, 360, Foals, 14 & 15 Quarry BROTHERS GRIM / BLUE NICKELBACK / JACKSON ORIGIN NYE (Chase & Amphitheatre B.O.B, Sleigh Bells, Jeff MURDERS Status (DJ Set), Knife FIREBIRD THE CIVIL WARS The Brotherhood, Off!, 29 Indi Bar Party, Gaslamp Killer, 17 Perth Arena 15 St Joseph’s Subiaco Grinspoon, Jagwar Ma, 30 Mojos Bar ShockOne, Pearson PREFUSE 73 & TEEBS Delta Spirit, Everytime I WILLIAM ELLIOT 31 Devilles Pad Sound, DMZ (Coki & 17 Bakery WHITMORE Die, House Vs Hurricane, Mala), Goldie, Brookes ANGUS STONE 23 Mojos Bar Alabama Shakes, and THURSTON MOORE Brothers, Ed Rush, 17 Perth Zoo Wilkinson, Dillinja, Marky more) 30 Rosemount Hotel JEFF MARTIN APRIL 28 Claremont & Stamina, Sigma, Delta 22 Friends Restaurant HITS & PITS 2013 (Mad NOVEMBER Heavy, Metrik, DC Breaks, Showgrounds DEEP SEA ARCADE Caddies, Good Riddance, RICHARD HAWLEY ASH GRUNWALD Skism, Gemini, Inspector 23 The Rosemount A Wilhelm Scream, 1 Karratha Tavern Dubplate, Jakes, Mensah, 31 Astor Theatre OMAR RODRIGUEZ Voodoo Glow Skulls, The 2 Fly By Night Club Dodge & Fuski, Bar9, LOPEZ Flatliners, Diesel Boy, FEBRUARY HOT CHELLE RAE / CHER 24 The Rosemount Distance, Dark Sky, Ben One Dollar Short, Jamie LLOYD ELVIS COSTELLO & Ufo, New York Transit STEREOSONIC (Tiësto, Hay, Jen Buxton, Totally 1 Astor Theatre Authority, Pariah, XXXY, THE IMPOSTERS/ Avicii, Calvin Harris, KARMA COUNTY Example, Carl Cox, Major Om Unit and more TBC) SUNNYBOYS/JO JO ZEP Unicorn & Paper Arms) 1 Clancy’s Fish Pub 1 Metro Freo &THE FALCONS/ STEPHEN 30 & 31 Fairbridge Village, Lazer, and more Fremantle THE SCRIPT CUMMINGS Pinjara 25 Claremont GYPSY & THE CAT 3 Perth Arena 6 Kings Park Botanic Showgrounds 2 Capitol ROGER HODGSON JANUARY 2013 Gardens JOHN WILLIAMSON BILLY BRAGG ST. JEROME’S LANEWAY 7 Riverside Theatre 30 Quarry Amphitheatre CUBAN CLUB (Cuban 2 & 3 Astor Theatre FESTIVAL 2013 (Alpine, Brothers, Yacht Club DJs, THE SAINTS CARUS THOMPSON JUNE Russ Dewbury, Still Water Alt-J, Bat For Lashes, Chet 30 Fly By Nightclub 2 Indi Bar PINK Giants, Death Disco DJs & Faker, Cloud Nothings, 3 Norfolk Basement Divine Fits, El-P, Flume, 25, 26 & 28 Perth Arena DECEMBER El Ginger Mojito) AT THE GATES Henry Wagons & The 1 The Flying Squadron JOHN WILLIAMSON 3 Capitol SEPTEMBER Unwelcome Company, Yacht Club, Dalkeith 1 Quarry Amphitheatre ARRESTED High Highs, Holy Other, ONE DIRECTION CLUB PARADISO 2013 JUSTINE CLARKE DEVELOPMENT Japandroids, Jessie 3 Metro City (Friendly Fires, Kaz 1 Astor Theatre 28 & 29 Perth Arena
THIS WEEK
SHELLAC 25 Rosemount Hotel
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X-Press – First on the street, Wednesdays
www.xpressmag.com.au
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Dead Owls, Friday at Beat Nightclub
New Soundland, Friday at Indi Bar & Saturday at Clancy’s Fremantle
WEDNESDAY 24.10
THURSDAY 25.10
BAR 120 Felix BRASS MONKEY Sugar Blue Burlesque CLANCY’S CANNING BRIDGE Luke Kordyl Jesse Woodward CLANCY’S FREMANTLE Chet Leonard’s Bingotheque CLAREMONT HOTEL Open Mic Night ELLINGTON JAZZ CLUB Tal Cohen Quartet GREENWOOD Bernardine GROOVE BAR (CROWN CASINO) 5 Shots HALE ROAD TAVERN Fenton Wilde INDI BAR Rob Walker Solo LUCKY SHAG Nathan Gaunt MOJOS BAR Declan Kelly & The Rising Sun Simon Kelly Trio Ellie Schoen MUSTANG Aftershock PADDO Dove Helen Shanahan Dean Amato ROSEMOUNT Oak Tree Suite Saysky The Black Jackets Scarlet Therapy ROSIE O’GRADY’S (NORTHBRIDGE) David Fyffe THE BIRD Cam Avery THE BROWN FOX Courtney Murphy THE MOON Higher Education Leure Leigh Craft UNIVERSAL Strutt YAYA’S The Wine Dark Sea 10 Bit Tonsil Band Rabbit Island
BAKERY Tinpan Orange BELGIAN BEER CAFÉ Chasing Calee BRASS MONKEY Rhythm Bound Karaoke BRIGHTON Open Mic Night BROOKLANDS TAVERN Celebrations Karaoke CLANCY’S CANNING BRIDGE Belleville Gypsy Jazz CLANCY’S DUNSBOROUGH Local Talent Pool CLANCY’S FREMANTLE Waiting For Andy COMO HOTEL Courtney Murphy DEVILLES PAD Rock ‘N’ Roll Karaoke DUNSBOROUGH TAVERN Open Mic Night ELEPHANT & WHEELBARROW Dr Bogus ELLINGTON JAZZ CLUB Carl Mackey Quintet FLY TRAP The New Beast GROOVE BAR (CROWN) Switch HIGH WYCOMBE HOTEL Chris Murphy INDI BAR Bex’s Open Mic Night LEEDERVILLE HOTEL Leederville Lounge room LUCKY SHAG James Wilson MARKET CITY TAVERN Lauren O’Hara Emily J Greys & Blues Nick McPherson Sam Cribb African Circles MERRIWA TAVERN Overload MOJOS BAR Old Blood The Gypsie Howls Ellie Schoen Palatial Digs
We Are The Emergency
WE ARE THE EMERGENCY
MAKE BELIEVE ME BLACK BIRDS HERE COME THE CAVALRY FRIDAY, OCTOBER 26 C5
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MUSTANG BAR Louis & The Honkeytonk Patient Little Sister NORFOLK BASEMENT Mister & Sunbird Charles Jenkins Nevada Pilot OXFORD HOTEL Johnny Taylor PADDY HANNAN’S Hi NRG PRINCE OF WALES Declan Kelly & The Rising Sun ROSEMOUNT Shellac SMRTS ROSIE O’GRADY’S (FREMANTLE) Clayton Bolger ROSIE O’GRADY’S (NORTHBRIDGE) Neil Colliss SOVEREIGN ARMS David Fyffe 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 Eloise Ashton Jon Madd Ashby Ranson Edie Green
FRIDAY 26.10 7th AVENUE Free Radicals ADMIRAL Steve Hepple AMPLIFIER The Arsonist BAILEY BAR Mod Squad BAKERY Sir Thomas Beside Lights Lilt Vive BALLYS BAR Bernardine BALMORAL Mike Nayar BAR ORIENT The Reggae Club Gridlox Ed Case General Justice Calvin Kevin-H-Mut Sista Che The Empressions Mumma Trees BASSENDEAN HOTEL Overload BEAT NIGHTCLUB Coveleski Grim Fandango Dead Owls The Leap Year BELMONT TAVERN Electrophobia BENTLEY HOTEL Ryan Dillon BLACK BETTYS Everlong BRASS MONKEY Jamie Powers BROKEN HILL HOTEL Matt Milford BROOKLANDS TAVERN The Bluebottles C5 (METRO FREO) We Are The Emergency Make Believe Me Black Birds Here Come The Cavalry
Sensory Amusia, Saturday at Bastardfest, Civic Hotel
CAPTAIN STIRLING Double Take CARINE Pop Candy CARLISLE HOTEL Reload CHASE BAR Chasing Calee CIVIC HOTEL The History Of Sons Of Saviour Victory! Risk Danny Beau CIVIC HOTEL (THE DEN) Fear Of Comedy Lanark Sprawl Spilt Cities CLANCY’S CITY BEACH Shiny & The Big Boy CLANCY’S DUNSBOROUGH Michelle Spriggs Trio CLANCY’S FREMANTLE Justin Walshe Folk Machine COMO HOTEL Trevor Jalla CORNERSTONE Nicki Rose Trio CRAFTSMAN 5th Avenue DEVILLES PAD Toot Toot Toots Cal Peck & The Tramps Les Sataniques DUSK LOUNGE Aftershock EAST 150 Ali Towers ELEPHANT & WHEELBARROW Daren Reid & The Soul City Groove ELLINGTON JAZZ CLUB The Russell Holmes Trio Mark Wilkinson Dd Soul EMPIRE Adam James FLY BY NIGHT Tinpan Orange GREENWOOD Cargo Beat HALE ROAD TAVERN One Trick Phonies HERDSMAN Velvet & Stone HIGH ROAD HOTEL Clayton Bolger The Damien Cripps Band HIGH WYCOMBE HOTEL Dr Bogus HYDE PARK HOTEL Dam Few The Shakeys Vida Cain The Disintegrates INDI BAR New Soundland Ben Merito INDIAN OCEAN BREW Adrian Wilson KALAMUNDA HOTEL Dirty Scoundrels KULCHA Grace Barbe LAKERS Polka Dots M ON THE POINT James Wilson MARKET CITY TAVERN Matt Burke Ricky Morris MOJOS BAR (ARVO) Captn K Simmo T MOJOS BAR (EVE) Blue Shaddy MOON & SIXPENCE Soul Corporation
MUSTANG BAR Oz Big Band Cheeky Monkeys NEWPORT Party Rockers NORFOLK BASEMENT This Is Halloween One Thousand Years Palatial Digs Cult Of Addiction NORTH FREMANTLE BOWLING CLUB The John Thursdays St Jude’s Hostel I and the Village The Idle Front PADDO Simon Kelly PADDY HANNAN’S J Babies PARAMOUNT Flyte PEEL ALEHOUSE Acoustic License PERTH TOWN HALL Grassroots Groove PRINCESS ROAD TAVERN Local Heroes ROCKET ROOM Greenthief Copious Serial Killer Smile This Other Eden ROSE & CROWN Christian Thompson ROSEMOUNT Hostile Little Face Tracksuit The Silence In-between The Midnight Mules ROSIE O’GRADY’S (FREMANTLE) Spyce ROSIE O’GRADY’S (NORTHBRIDGE) Neil Colliss SAIL & ANCHOR B.O.B SETTLERS TAVERN Declan Kelly & The Rising Sun SOUTH ST ALE HOUSE Robbie King Karaoke SPRINGS TAVERN Greg Carter Karaoke STEVES BAR Honey SWINGING PIG Better Days Greg Carter THE BIRD Rhythmatism THE BOAT The Organ Grinders THE GATE Smoking Section THE SAINT Huge THE SHED Kickstart THE VIC Jen De Ness TIGER LILS Paul Malone Adam Kelly Alex Koresis UNIVERSAL Nightmoves VELVET LOUNGE Suzannah Espie Charles Jenkins VICTORIA PARK HOTEL Ivan Ribic WOODVALE TAVERN Lush
X-Press – First on the street, Wednesdays
Listing deadline is Monday 5pm. GO TO www.xpressmag.com.au /PLUG YOUR GIG and plug away! The X-Press Guide is a Perth metropolitan service for advertisers listing tours, live, dance and arts events. All inclusions are at the discretion of X-Press Magazine. The one entry system will update our print edition, website and App
Ensemble Formidable, Saturday at Kulcha
SATURDAY 27.10 ADMIRAL James Wilson AMPLIFIER Tangled Thoughts Of Leaving BALLYS BAR Dove BALMORAL Greg Carter BAILEY BAR Slim Jim & The Phatts BAR 120 Flyte BELGIAN BEER CAFÉ Mike Nayar BLACK BETTY’S J Babies BLVD TAVERN Half Step Down Hart Duo Renzullo Project BRIGHTON Greenthief Copious This Other Eden Hyte CLANCY’S CANNING BRIDGE Minky G Roscoe CLANCY’S CITY BEACH Zukhuta CLANCY’S FREMANTLE New Soundland Zarm CROWN CASINO (PRIZE DRAW STAGE) Switch CIVIC HOTEL (BACK ROOM & THE DEN) Bastardfest Astriaal Fuck…I’m Dead Alurum Desecrator Sensory Amusia Psychonaut Enforce Chainsaw Hookers Empires Laid Waste Advent Sorrow Paradise In Exile DFC Mhorgl Animistic Death Dependant Cold Fate Emerald City Silent Knight COMO HOTEL Ricky Green DEVILLES PAD King Cornelius & His Silverbacks Monkey La Minge Les Sataniques GoGo Gorilla ELLINGTON JAZZ CLUB James Flynn Trio The Lighthouse Trio Danielle O’Sullivan EMPIRE James Ess FLY BY NIGHT Something For Kate GROOVE BAR (CROWN CASINO) Dr Bogus HIGH ROAD HOTEL Losing Julia HYDE PARK HOTEL Meg Mac & The Squeeze INDIAN OCEAN BREW CO Chasing Calee INDI BAR Blue Shaddy JOONDALUP COUNTRY CLUB Gary Fowlie
KALAMUNDA HOTEL Andrew Winton KULCHA Ensemble Formidable LAKERS Overload LANGFORD ALEHOUSE Die Hard Karaoke LEOPOLD HOTEL Steve Hepple LOBBY LOUNGE (CROWN CASINO) Pop Candy LYNWOOD ARMS Mustangs M ON THE POINT Rhythm 22 MOJOS BAR ParmeZan Amani Consort Rooster Police MOON & SIXPENCE Damien Cripps Band MUSTANG The Continentals Milhouse NEWPORT Kizzy Gravity NORFOLK BASEMENT Basement Party Joe Macc Lady C Sparklehaus Cooker PADDY HANNANS Decoy PADDY MAGUIRES Madam Montage PARAMOUNT Felix PEEL ALEHOUSE Time Delegates QUARIE BAR Electrophobia RAILWAY HOTEL The Toot Toot Toots Boom! Bap! Pow! The Morning Night ROCKET ROOM Kickstart ROSEMOUNT Trigger Jackets Kill Teen Angst The Love Junkies The Order Of The Black Werewolf Puck ROSIE O’GRADY’S (FREMANTLE) Hit Factory ROSIE O’GRADY’S (NORTHBRIDGE) Blue Gene SAIL & ANCHOR The Kickstarts Childs Play SEAVIEW HOTEL Open Mic Night STEVES BAR Ezereve SWINGING PIG Greg Carter Tandem THE BIRD Don’t Sleep THE BOAT Infiniti THE GATE Dirty Scoundrels THE SAINT Retrofit THE SHED Huge UNIVERSAL Soul Corporation WHALE & ALE 5th Avenue WHITE STAR Declan Kelly & The Rising Sun
www.xpressmag.com.au
Friday Friday Travis Caudle Rex Monsoon, Travis Caudle FlyBy By Night Saturday at Night Ya Ya’s Fly
Gombo, Sunday at Newport
NORTH FREMANTLE BOWLING CLUB Afrotonic Sing Australia Band Of Angels Richard Lane NORTHLANDS TAVERN Chris Gibbs PADDY MALONE’S SUNDAY 28.10 Gary Fowlie 7TH AVENUE PEEL ALEHOUSE Reckless Kelly Scott Nelson BALMORAL PIG & WHISTLE Chasing Calee One Trick Phonies BLVD TAVERN PINK DUCK LOUNGE Annabelle Harvey BAR Cassie Luxton Jonathan Dempsey BREAKERS BAR QUARIE BAR Helen Shanahan Double Take BRIGHTON QUEENS TAVERN Mooditj Bros Big Bamboo BROKEN HILL HOTEL RAILWAY HOTEL Switchback Reign BROOKLANDS TAVERN Branches Of Berlin Aaron Banks Colour Of Indigo CAPTAIN STIRLING Miranda and Gordo Jamie Powers Andrea Tal CARINE Def Replica Wesley Goodlet ROSIE O’GRADY’S Jamboree Scouts (NORTHBRIDGE) CLANCY’S Neil Colliss DUNSBOROUGH SAIL & ANCHOR New Soundland Mike Nayar CLANCY’S FREMANTLE SOUTH ST ALE HOUSE The Zydecats Anthony Nieves CLAREMONT HOTEL SOVEREIGN ARMS Sunday Driver Ivan Ribic COMO HOTEL SPRINGS TAVERN Matt Angel Dove ELEPHANT & STIRLING ARMS WHEELBARROW Stu McKay SWINGING PIG Daren Reid & The Soul Adam James City Groove ELLINGTON JAZZ CLUB Pat Nicholson THE GATE The Brilliance Of Benny Better Days Goodman Greg Carter The Lighthouse Trio THE SAINT EMPIRE Threeplay CB3 THE SHED FLY BY NIGHT James Wilson Something For Kate UNIVERSAL GEISHA BAR Retriofit Fucking Teeth VICTORIA PARK HOTEL Doctopus Damien Cripps These Shipwrecks WANNEROO TAVERN Hamjam Eddie McMellow HIGH ROAD HOTEL WOODVALE TAVERN Nat Ripepi HIGH WYCOMBE HOTEL Good Karma XWRAY CAFÉ The Organ Grinders The Charisma Brothers INDI BAR Declan Kelly & The Rising YA YA’S Midnight Boulevard Sun The Lunettes INDIAN OCEAN BREW Caleb Entrails CO Stuart Nevsky Retrofit KALAMUNDA HOTEL Bernardine LAKERS TAVERN Polka Dots LANGFORD ALEHOUSE Kirk LAST DROP Barry Gee M ON THE POINT Insideout MOJOS BAR The Empty Cup Simmo T Rae Ol Wright DNGRFLD Philly Blunt Prez Juan MUSTANG BAR Tanya-Lee Davis Peter Busher & The Lone Rangers NEWPORT Tim Nelson Greenthief Copious Gombo Ray Finkle WOODVALE TAVERN Modsquad YAYA’S Sugarpuss DJ Rex Monsoon The New Pollution Hayley Beth
MONDAY 29.10 BRASS MONKEY James Wilson ELLINGTON JAZZ CLUB Chamber Jam GROOVE BAR (CROWN CASINO) Pop Candy INDIAN OCEAN BREW Graveyard Train Brothers Grim Ruby Boots MOJOS BAR Wide Open Mic Night MUSTANG BAR Marco & The Alley Cats THE DEEN Plastic Max & The Token Gesture WOODVALE TAVERN Damien Cripps YA YA’S Open Mic Night
TUESDAY 30.10 ELLINGTON JAZZ CLUB WAAPA Jazz Graduation Recital Talya Valenti Nick Di Gregorio Laura Corney Jeremy Thomson LUCKY SHAG Ben Merito MERRIWA TAVERN Celebrations Karaoke MOJOS BAR Graveyard Train Brothers Grim Ruby Boots MUSTANG BAR Danza Loca PADDO Simon Kelly PRINCE OF WALES Open Mic Night ROSEMOUNT Thurston Moore SETTLERS TAVERN Open Mic Night THE BIRD Fat Shan’s Open Mic THE BROOK Greg Carter Karaoke TWO ROCKS TAVERN Jump For Joy Karaoke YAYA’S The Crooked Cats Wrongtown Misty Mountain The Dark Rooms
Beside Lights
SIR THOMAS BESIDE LIGHTS LILT VIVE FRIDAY, OCTOBER 26 THE BAKERY
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MUSIC GEAR & TECHNOLOGY GUIDE
MUSICIANS AVAILABLE I AM A FEMALE VOCALIST Looking for original/ cover Rock band. Preferably between ages 25-40. Versatile voice & broad taste in music. Also write songs lyrically. For more info txt/call Dee on 0438 836 959. No time wasters please. PRO BASS GUITAR/VOC funk blues pro gear. Enq Steve 0430 274 728 ausmuso@ virginbroadband.com.au MUSOS WANTED DRUMMER NEEDED The Crooked Cats. Established gigging/touring band. CDs released. Contact via FB/ 0448 436 491. OPEN MIC NIGHT every Thursday night at Indi Bar. Just call Bex on 0404 917 632. OPEN MIC NIGHT Every Tuesday night at the Craigie Tavern 8-11pm. Call Corey for bookings 0431 448 235 ROCK SINGER WANTED Influences Queens Of Stone Age. Must have transport & jam weekly. Call or Txt 0434 556 579. SINGER WANTED For Rock/Blues band. Must be reliable, gig pending. No time wasters. Auditions SOR. Call Herb or Cassi 0410 088 596 or 0423 252 970. VOCALIST WANTED For work ing cabaret band. Must be familiar with 70s & 80s dance hits. Focus Promotions, Mon-Fri 9-5pm. 9272 4144. WANT YOUR RECORDINGS HEARD? Total Hits & M enu M agazine are seeking artists to be featured on their 2nd compilation CD to be distributed to popular cafes & restaurants all over WA. Each artist will get 50 personal copies of the CD and be featured in
Menu Magazine, www.westcoastcafes. com.au and www.totalhits.com.au. Call 9430 6007 or e-mail info@eyersrocket. com.au for details and costs. PHOTOGRAPHY PROJECT PHOTOGRAPHY Promo photography, studio, live, location. Mike Wylie 0417 975 964 www.projec tphotography. c o m W h e n i t s time to ice the cake PRODUCTION SERVICES * LIGHTING * AUDIO* STAGING * www.nightstarlightingaudio.com. au www.nightstarlightingaudio.com. au www.instandt.com.au www. instandt.com.au 9381 2363/ 9444 6651 CD & DVD MANUFACTURE Check out our latest CD & DVD specials online at www.procopy.com.au 9375 3902 MATRIX PRODUCTIONS AUSTRALIA Lighting, staging, sound systems, s m o k e m a c h i n e s, n i g h t c l u b F X , intelligent lighting, strobes & mirror balls, crowd barriers, video projectors. 9371 1551 PA HIRE, PRO SYSTEM, FULL FOLD BACK Experienced operator. Optional light show. Fidelity sound on 0404 331 320. RECORDING STUDIOS ALAN DAWSON’sWITZEND RECORDING STUDIO Prof quality albums or demos, large live room, experienced engineer, analog to digital transfers, mastering.. Alan 0407 989 128 or Jeremy 0430638178 www.witzendstudios.com
ANDY’S STUDIO International multi award winning songwriter / producer. No band required. Broadcast quality. A songwriter’s paradise. Ph 9364 3178 AVALON STUDIOS BIBRA LAKE One of Perths best equipped studio. Record to analog tape or digital, Avalon pre amps, Neumann mics,the latest and best universal audio, plug in’s for digital recordings. All styles of music, $55 per hour call Tony 0411 118304 email - avalonstudios@bigpond. com GOLDDUSTCONSTRUCTION.COM Production, mixing, recording and composition for your music. Unique award winning skills to take songs from ideas to finished mixes or to fulfill the potential in existing ones. Located in Subiaco. $60 p/h. Andrew 0408 097 407 POONS HEAD MASTERING Analog mastering at its best. Clients include Mink Mussel Creek, Jeff Martin, The Panics, Pond + The Floors.World class facility.World class results. www.poonshead.com 9339 47 91 RECORDING MIXING MASTERING PRODUCING Fremantle location. Call Pete Kitchen Cooked Records. Ph 0407 363 764 / 9336 3764 REVOLVER SOUND STUDIO Ph 9272 7505. www.revolverstudio.com.au SONGWRITERS! - UNLOCK YOUR SONGS’ POTENTIAL +FREE BAND APPRAISALS. UK Producer, 40,000+ hours studio experience. 20 yrs in London with bands and songwriters. Kicking arrangements, great studio and the ability to really listen will give your material the edge you need. Call Jerry on 0405 653 338 or visit www. jerichomusic.com.au
REHEARSAL STUDIOS AAA VHS REHEARSAL ROOMS Great facilities, great vibe & great price!!! Unit 5 /16 Peel Road, O’Connor. Phone 9418 5815 or 0413 732 885 BIGBEAT SOUND STUDIO Clean rooms, all new PA systems, air-con and good parking . Willetton Ph: 0425 698 117. PLATINUM SOUND ROOMS Professional rehearsal rooms, airconditioned, quality PAs mob 0418 944 722 TUITION ***GUITAR LESSONS*** The Guitar Specialist. Beg-adv, all styles and levels including bass. Cliff Lynton Guitar Institute. Mt Lawley 9342 3484 / www. clifflynton.com BASS LESSONS Rock, funk & jazz. Tony Gibbs 9470 6131 DRUM LESSONS All styles, all ages. WAAPA prep. Modern techniques & rudiments, Beginner to advanced. Ph: 0413 172 817. GUITAR TUITION I have over 30 yrs exp in performing & teaching. No reading required. Hr lessons only. Limited spots avail. Blues/Rock specialist. Ph 9403 3212. PROFESSIONAL SINGING COACH (Find Your True Voice) All levels, All styles. 0407 260 762. 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. MUSIC GEAR & TECHNOLOGY GUIDE
THE COBURN SOUND EXHUMED BY 720
In September, 720 ABC Perth launched Exhumed and put the call out for u n p ro fe s s i o n a l , u n re p re s e n te d a n d undiscovered bands – a last chance band competition for the never weres. Eight finalists from a large field were exhumed and thrust onto stage to perform in front of a full house. Competing against seven other Exhumed finalists at the Fly By Night Musician’s Club on Wednesday, October 17, The Coburn Sound got the nod from the panel of esteemed judges including Anna Gare and John McGlue. In addition to being named the Exhumed champion band, the trio also won a day of recording in ABC Perth’s music studio. Runners up trophies were awarded to The Lost Pilot Effect of Fremantle and The Silent Minute of Stoneville. All finalists can be heard during a special broadcast of the Exhumed Grand Finale on 720 ABC Perth tonight, Wednesday October 24, at 7pm.
REAL TO REEL
After successful runs in 2009 and 2011, the Real To Reel Recording Studio returns in 2012 at a new location in Trinity Arcade from Wednesday, December 19, ‘til Friday, December 21. This time, the studio will span two vacant shop fronts – Shop 106 will be a place to hang out and watch sets from local musicians as they are recorded by a professional sound engineer. Next door, a newly commissioned installation will serve as a backdrop for a post-recording photo shoot. Local bands and musicians are invited to apply to record via foodchainperth.com. All participating musicians will receive copies of their recordings, video and photo documentation of the set, a $200 performance fee and a professional band photoshoot. If you’ve got any queries don’t hesitate to contact City of Perth Youth Projects Officer Katie Lenanton on (08) 9461 3181. 46
ALLANS, BILLY HYDE STORES WILL CLOSE WITHIN WEEKS Despite the fact that former CEO John Helme had previously expressed hope that a buyer would be found, it was announced last week that Australian Music Group Holdings, the owners of Allans Billy Hyde, will be shut down and all arms of the music retail outlets will be closed within weeks. Brendan Richards from liquidators Ferrier Hodgson announced the news in a statement, confirming that 513 staff from AMG businesses would be losing their jobs. “The loss of jobs is disappointing, but we exhausted all avenues and there is no other way forward for this business,” he said. “These people have served music lovers and been a key part of the Australian music industry for generations. It is a sad day for live music in this country.” Four franchise stores also existed alongside the 25 company owned stores; those four stores will continue to operate as per normal. Chet Faker playing The Bakery earlier this year (Photo: Callum Ponton)
INDEPENDENT MUSIC WINNERS ANNOUNCED
The seventh annual Jagermeister Independent Music Awards were held in Melbourne last Tuesday, October 16, with indie electronic troubadour Chet Faker emerging the big winner by taking out the Breakthrough Independent Artist and Best Independent Single/EP awards for his debut EP Thinking In Textures. Other winners on the night included much-loved rapper 360, who took home the Best Independent Hip Hop/ Urban Album for Falling & Flying, The Jezabels, who accepted their Best Independent Artist award in a pre-recorded speech from on tour in San Francisco, and DZ Deathrays, who took home Best Independent/Hard Rock Album for Bloodstreams. To check out the full list of winners hit up air.org.au. X-Press – First on the street, Wednesdays
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X-Press – First on the street, Wednesdays