Issue 1401

INSIDE 33,560 OCTOBER 2012 MARCH 2013 - AUSTRALIA’S HIGHEST CIRCULATING STREET PRESS

WHITE DENIM

COLD CHISEL

THE BASICS

I, SAID THE SPARROW

2

WWW. XP RE SS MAG.COM. AU

3

WWW. XP RE SS MAG.COM. AU

4

WWW. XP RE SS MAG.COM. AU

WWW. XP RE SS MAG.COM. AU

5

6

WWW. XP RE SS MAG.COM. AU

NEWSDESK

LOCAL NEWS

|

GLOBAL NEWS

|

ANNOUNCEMENTS

LEAP YEAR’S EVE MERRY X-MAS From all of us and ours, to all of you and yours, X-Press Magazine wishes you a safe yet rockin’ and beatworthy Christmas. We wish you plenty of snow and mistletoe, plus presents by the tree. Smile at strangers and hug your loved ones, it’s a grand time of the year.

Indie rock quintet, The Leap Year, will be bringing their jangly guitar riffs and droning vocals to the Rosemount Hotel on Saturday, January 4. The band will be launching their second LP, The Narrowing, which has gained rave reviews and been described as “enigmatically heartbreaking” by reviewers, and “fully sick, I was blown away” by a guy with the phone dog meme as a profile picture on Facebook. It will be the first show ahead of their national tour and a dark and definite must-see, featuring O!, Runner and The Tigers. So make sure you go down and check them out. Tickets at the door.

LOUDER PLEASE For lovers of crazy classical compositions, the acclaimed Soft Soft Loud will be featuring the next instalment in its concert series at the Fremantle Arts Centre on Thursday, February 14. The concert will feature original and daring post-classical compositions

by Brooklyn-based composer, and guitarist for The National, Bryce Dessner. Alongside Dessner will be premieres from New York composer, Nico Muhly, and WA composer, James Ledger, who recently toured his piece Converstations With Ghosts alongside Paul Kelly. Tickets are $49 and can be purchased from Oztix.com.au.

The Leap Year

Bryce Dessner, Soft Soft Loud

FRINGE FESTIVAL FUN THE HIDEAWAY GIG Nomadic Texas bluesman, Eugene ‘Hideaway’ Bridges will be playing this New Year’s Eve, Tuesday, December 31, for the Perth Blues Club at the Charles Hotel, supporting his new album, Roots And Vines.

The album, marking Bridges’s 50th birthday, is a retrospective look at his life, from childhood to old age, full of covers and originals.

Supporting the international blues singer will be Len and Jenette Whittle. Tickets are $45 for non-members and are available from Ticketmaster.

NOUGHTY DAVE The new outdoor bar on top of the old Myer building in Fremantle, Dave’s Cans, is set to kick off this Thursday, December 19, with its first art exhibition, Energy 2000.

The exhibition starts at 6pm and features works from local artists Harrison Kennedy and Brodie Kaman. The weekend sees the bar head back through time using the power of R&B, with Nineties To Noughties Vol. 6 on Saturday night, and helping those in need on Sunday, with Typhoon Haiyan fundraiser, Monsoon Vs Typhoon.

With most gigs this week a measly $5, make sure you head down!

Rex Monsoon, Dave’s Cans

Eugene ‘Hideaway’ Bridges

Just like that scene in Terminator 2, where the Terminator reconstitutes itself after the truck explodes and blows it to pieces, the FRINGE WORLD Festival is back next year, bigger, badder and more like Robert Patrick than ever before. Over 450 events all over Perth, including comedy, cabaret, music, and weird people dancing in public, listening to iPods, there’s bound to be something to enjoy – not to mention each act you go to gives you three indie cred points, redeemable at any boutique store or smug social setting.

The FRINGE WORLD Festival runs from Friday, January 24, to Sunday, February 23. Head to fringeworld.com.au for fulsome details.

VEDDER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT Frontman of the international rock band Pearl Jam, and owner of one of the most impersonated vocal styles of all time, Eddie Vedder will be coming to Perth to kick off his national solo tour at the Riverside Theatre on Friday, February 7, running after Pearl Jam’s Big Day Out tour dates. Though rarely seen, Vedder’s solo compositions have provided the score for iconic films such as Dead Man Walking, I Am Sam and, most recently, Into The Wild. Tickets are available through Ticketek.

Eddie Vedder

COMEDIC CAVALCADE The Perth International Comedy Festival will be returning again next year with a cavalcade of comedians, including Tom Gleeson, Frank Woodley and Sammy J & Randy. The event begins on Wednesday, April 30, and features 100 national and international comedians. With its groundbreaking premiere in 2012 and a doubling of attendance this year, there is the possibility that next year will see so many hilarity-hungry punters cramming into the Astor Theatre that the venue will reach critical mass, become a black hole, erasing humanity from the universe. So come down and join the fun! Tickets from perthcomedyfest.com.au and showticketing. com.au.

After a pretty killer 2013, Perth rockers The Love Junkies are aiming to keep it at maximum velocity in 2014, having just announced a national tour that’ll carry them right into the New Year. Catch them at Fremantle’s Fly By Night Musicians Club on Wednesday, December 18; at The Rosemount Hotel’s Not So Silent Night on Saturday, December 21; before they dominate the East.

Head over to lovejunkiesmusic.com for more details.

Tom Gleeson

The Love Junkies

EXPANDING THE JUNKYARD

WWW. XP RE SS MAG.COM. AU

7

WIN

N E W S L E T T E R - S I G N U P AT W W W. X P R E S S M AG . C O M . A U F O R E XC L U S I V E C O M P S

PRINT AND DIGITAL EDITIONS PUBLISHER/MANAGER Joe Cipriani

EDITORIAL - 9213 2888 MANAGING EDITOR Bob Gordon: editor@xpressmag.com.au DANCE MUSIC & FEATURES EDITOR Rachel Davison: danceeditor@xpressmag.com.au LOCAL MUSIC & ARTS EDITOR Travis Johnson: localmusicarts@xpressmag.com.au GIG & EVENT GUIDES CO-ORDINATOR guide@xpressmag.com.au COMPETITIONS win@xpressmag.com.au For band gigs and launches - plugyourgig@xpressmag.com.au PHOTOGRAPHY Rachael Barrett, Stefan Caramia, Guang-Hui Chuan, Daniel Craig, Brandon D’Silva, Max Fairclough, Daniel Grant, Sammy Granville, Matt Jelonek, Emma Mackenzie, Callum Ponton, Denis Radacic, Bohdan Warchomij, Michael Wylie CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Leah Blankendaal, Nina Bertok, Lucas Bowers, Aaron Bryans, Joe Cassidy, Hayley Davis, Chris Gibbs, Alfred Gorman, Shaun Cowe, Predrag Delibasich, Jayde Ferguson, George Green, Alex Griffin, James Hanlon, Chris Havercroft, Joshua Hayes, Brendan Holben, Coral Huckstep, Ellie Hutchinson, Rezo Kezerashvili, Tom Kitson, Clayton Lin, Charlie Lewis, Daisy Lythe, Andrew Nelson, David O’Connell, Shane Pinnegar, Nick Sweepah, Jessica Willoughby

FESTIVAL: ULTIMATE SOUTHBOUND Southbound, Southern Skydivers and X-Press have joined forces to give you the ultimate Southbound experience! Up for grabs is a double pass to the festival featuring everyone from Solange to MGMT, Chet Faker and the Violent Femmes. An upgrade to VIP status, which gives you access to an exclusive shaded area, some complimentary meals and drinks and private restrooms. A ‘Happy Camper’ ticket giving you access to the camping facilities; and last, but not least - a tandem jump from 14,000 feet!

To be in the running to win this prize pack for two people - email: win@xpressmag.com.au - letting us know why you deserve it!

FILM: THE SECRET LIFE OF WALTER MITTY The Secret Life Of Walter Mitty starring Ben Stiller and Kristen Wiig hits cinemas on Boxing Day and it’s a feel good comedy adventure about Walter Mitty - an ordinary, everyday guy who goes on an extraordinary adventure across the globe. Read a review of the film on page 24 and email: win@xpressmag.com.au to be in the running to win one of ten double in-season passes.

Ben Stiller and Kristen Wiig in The Secret Life Of Walter Mitty

ADVERTISING - 9213 2888 SALES MANAGER AGENCY / MOVIES / ARTS / EDUCATION / SPONSORSHIP / ONLINE MARKETING Craig Mauger - advertising@xpressmag.com.au MUSIC SERVICES / MUSICAL EQUIPMENT / BANDS / RECORD LABELS Dez Richardson - musicservices@xpressmag.com.au ENTERTAINMENT VENUES / LIVE AND DANCE MUSIC PROMOTERS Tim Milroy - entertainment@xpressmag.com.au CLASSIFIEDS LINAGE classifieds@xpressmag.com.au

PRODUCTION DEPARTMENT - 9213 2854 CONTENT COORDINATOR Anthony Jackson - production@xpressmag.com.au ART DIRECTOR Dwight O’Neil DESIGN + PRODUCTION Andy Quilty, Anthony Jackson, Kasia Mazurkiewicz

PRINTING Rural Press Printing Mandurah DISTRIBUTION - 9213 2853 - distribution@xpressmag.com.au ADMIN / ACCOUNTS - 9213 2888 Lillian Buckley accounts@xpressmag.com.au

GIG: ROCK’N XMAS ALL STARS The Rocket Room is throwing an Xmas party on Friday, December 20 featuring a whole bunch of Perth’s best tribute acts including Kisstake (aka our trusty editor Bob Gordon as Paul Stanley), plus there’s the Rock’N Xmas All Stars which includes U Tube (U2 tribute) featuring members of Eskimo Joe along with Steve Parkin. Also on the bill is Bohemian Rhapsody featuring Thomas Crane, Proud Mary and a Metallica tribute that includes the Four Horsemen. Get your tickets from rocketroom.com.au, with all money raised going to charity - or to win one of two double passes, email us quick: win@xpressmag.com.au.

Sydney garage-pop four-piece, Sticky Fingers are bringing their antics back to Perth next Tuesday, December 31 for a New Years Eve show at Capitol, following their infamous appearance at Rottofest early in the year.

But shenanigans aside, it’ll be a party with support from local lads Stillwater Giants, NSW’s Lyall Moloney, plus Death Disco DJs and Micah. Get your tickets from Ticketbooth and Oztix or if you’re lucky you might just walk away with one of two double passes by emailing: win@xpressmag.com.au.

Thomas Crane as Freddie Mercury

Sticky Fingers

TOUR: STICKY FINGERS

EDITORIAL DEADLINES General: Friday 5pm, Eye4 Arts: Thursday 10am, WIN: Friday 5pm, Salt Clubs: Monday 5pm , Local Scene: Monday Noon, Gig Guide: Monday 5pm ADVERTISING DEADLINES 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 WARRANTY AND INDEMNITY Advertisers and/or their agents by lodging an advertisment shall indemnify the publisher, and its agents, against all liability claims or proceedings whatsoever arising from the publication. Advertisers and/or their representatives indemnify the publisher in relation to defamation, slander, breach of copyright, infringement of trademarks of name of publication titles, unfair competition or trade practices, royalties or violation of rights or privacy and warrant that the material complies with revelant laws and regulations and that its publication will not give rise to any rights against or liabilities in the publisher, its servants or agents. Any material supplied to X-Press is at the contributor’s risk.

33,560 OCTOBER 2012 MARCH 2013 - AUSTRALIA’S HIGHEST CIRCULATING STREET PRESS

TOUR: MAC DEMARCO Honest to goodness Canadian-based artist, Mac DeMarco is bringing his lovely ‘slack rock’ tunes to The Bakery this week on Thursday, December 19.

He’s had a helluva year, with the release of highly celebrated records, Rock ‘n’ Roll Night Club and 2 on Brooklyn’s Captured Tracks label. He comes to Perth after playing Meredith Music Festival with support from Thee Gold Bloom and HAMJAM. Get your tickets from Now Baking, or to win a double pass to the show, email us quick at: win@xpressmag.com.au.

Mac DeMarco

8

FILM: BAMBOO OUTDOOR CINEMA bamBOO is Perth’s newest outdoor cinema and a teaming up of Luna Palace Cinemas and Luxe Bar. It’s situated just behind Luxe in Highgate and features a tropical, amphitheatre style seating and film’s that are a mix of contemporary favourites, cult classics and some premieres including Her, The Great Beauty and Dallas Buyers Club. You can BYO food (or order from Ace Pizza next door) with doors opening at 6pm and the films starting at 8pm. To win one of five double in-season passes valid until February 2 email: win@xpressmag.com.au.

WWW. XP RE SS MAG.COM. AU

GEAR: YAMAHA PDX B11 Looking for the perfect companion for your music this summer? Whether at the beach or at a BBQ, the PDX-B11 wireless speaker can wirelessly stream your favourite tunes from smart phones, laptops and other Bluetooth compatible devices, so that you can enjoy the freedom of music without wires. It retails at $149, but if you would like this speaker in your hands in time for the summer holidays - enter now by emailing win@xpressmag.com.au. The winner will be notified on December 24.

WWW. XP RE SS MAG.COM. AU

9

10

WWW. XP RE SS MAG.COM. AU

FLESH

NEWS - INTERVIEWS - REVIEWS - CONTENTS

MAC THE KNIFE Mac DeMarco will be crashing into Perth this Thursday, December 19, on the back of his two (count them, two) releases Rock ‘n’ Roll Nightclub and 2. Coming straight from a handful of Asian shows, STARRY STARRY NIGHTS the sleazy American rocker will bring his gracious Catherine Traicos & The Starry Night are entering the presence to The Bakery alongside bearded punk act final days of their national tour, and what better to Thee Gold Blooms and the ever-ballsy Hamjam.

Tickets are $30 from nowbaking.com.au end it than with two Perth shows? The quartet will be playing at the Rosemount Hotel as part of the Not or $35 at the door. All east coast shows sold out, so So Starry Night shindig on Saturday, December 21, make sure to sort your tickets soonest. and at Fremantle Arts Centre for Courtyard Sessions on Sunday, December 22. The band’s recent studio Mac DeMarco album, The Earth, The Sea, The Moon, The Sky, is full of Traicos’ breathy vocals and introspective songwriting, a chance to see the band live is not to be missed.

Catherine Traicos & The Starry Night

The Devil Rides Out

Grim Fandango

A NOT SO SILENT NIGHT

Naughty Stage (floor stage) Health Legend 5.30pm The Shakeys 6.40pm Trigger Jackets 7.50pm Puck 9.00pm FOAM 10.10pm Grim Fandango 11.20pm

The Best Of Times...

If you’re dreaming of a rockin’ Christmas, then you probably already know what to do. The Rosemount Hotel’s annual A Not So Silent Night show happens again this Saturday, December 21. Doors open at 5pm for this frenetic festive event, happening on two stages...

Nice Stage (main) Echo Kid 6.05pm Budweezer 7.15pm Catherine Traicos & the Starry Night 8.25pm Usurper Of Modern Medicine 9.35pm The Devil Rides Out 10.45pm The Love Junkies 11.55pm Tickets are on sale now from rosemounthotel.com. au, oztix.com.au, 78 Records, Planet Video and Mills Records.

ALL THESE AUDREYS The Audreys are heading to Mojos in duo form on Sunday, January 19, as part of their forthcoming national tour. The ARIA Award-winners have promised to play songs from their back-catalogue, as well as enticed fans with the possibility of some covers and numbers from their soon-to-be-released fourth studio album. Supporting the duo’s sweet, melodic vocals and overdriven guitar riffs will be local angel-voiced blues guitarist Nathan Gaunt. Tickets are on sale now on Heatseeker.com.au and Oztix.com.au as well as on the night (if they haven’t sold out!)

The Audreys

SIX FROM SIX60 MOANA LISA Down and dirty indie rock seductress Moana will be playing The Bird this Friday, December 20, in a night of surrendered psyche and carnal pleasure. Playing alongside will be celestial rock group SpaceManAntics, ‘80s-inspired rockers Eerie Serpent and blonde, dreampop temptress Ali Flintoff. Having just finished recording her debut EP, Moana’s mix of ‘60s psychedelic rock and blues grunge is sure to enthral audience members, and with tickets just a measly $5, there’s no excuse not to go. Doors open at 8pm.

New Zealand electronic rockers Six60 are set to release an exclusive, live six-track iTunes session this Friday, December 20. The session will include a never-before-heard track Home for fans, as well as their hit Somebody To Be Around. On the back of this release comes a fresh announcement of an Australian tour which hits Metro City on Thursday, February 27.

Tickets on sale now from Oztix.com.au.

LOVE IS DEAF Black metal San Franciscans, Deafheaven, will be assaulting the sun-dappled shores of Perth on Saturday, January 11, at the Rosemount Hotel. The band will be promoting their experimental new album, Sunbather, described as less black metal and more shoegaze, and their new drummer, Daniel Tracy, described as luscious and brooding. The night will be essential viewing for fans who want to pass the final judgement on the band’s new, expansive sound, or just pick up a beardy, long-haired metal-head for some gentle love squeezin’s. Locals Tangled Thoughts Of Leaving and Drohtnung will open proceedings. Tickets available through Lifeisnoise.com.

Deafheaven

Moana

CRETACEOUS PARK

23

29

34 40

42

44 46

News Win Flesh Music Flux Pavillion / The Gin Club The Basics / August Burns Red White Denim New Noise Eye4 Cover: Gloria (Paulina Garcia) The Secret Life Of Walter Mitty X-Press Flick Picks Arts Listings Salt Cover: DJ Yoda News / Producer’s Cut / Salt Nights Out Featurecast / Guti Club Manual Rewind: Joey Bada$$ / Seriously Sound System What’s On Scene Taylor Swift / Steel Panther Local Scene Tour The John Steel Singers Tour Trails Gig Guide Volume

FRONT COVER: Flux Pavillion joins Wiz Khalifa,

A$AP Rocky and Julio Bashmore for Origin NYE on Tuesday, December 31 at Ozone Reserve.

SALT COVER: DJ Yoda brings his AV set to The

Perth Flying Squadron Yacht Club for Cuban Club on New Year’s Day.

Human Nature

Dinosaur Discovery: Lost Creatures Of The Cretaceous

NATURE’S NATIVITY

CONTENTS 7 8 11 12

Phil Burton described it as a rite of passage, though it was difficult for us to hear him on top of that giant pile of cash. That’s right, Human Nature’s recently released Christmas album, The Christmas Album (yep, that’s actually what it’s called), has reached platinum.

Including Jessica Mauboy and Smokey Robinson, the album takes a host of Christmas classics and spins them off with a Motown feel.

Human Nature’s The Christmas Tour stops

by Perth Zoo this Friday, December 20. Bookings through ticketek.com.au or 132 849.

For those of us for whom Jurassic Park left the permanent outline of a beclawed reptilian footprint upon our lives, the Western Australian Museum will be premiering Dinosaur Discovery: Lost Creatures Of The Cretaceous. The exhibit will feature 20 life-size animatronic models – including the Brachiosaurus and the Spinosaurus – as well as over 1000 plant specimens.

There will also be a section showing Australia’s history during the Cretaceous era – full of bad-ass, rarely-seen dinosaurs. The exhibit will open Friday, April 4, and will be $20 for adults and $12.50 for children. For more details, visit museum.wa.gov. au/whats-on/dinosaur-discovery.

VALE TERRY BARKER X-Press Magazine was saddened to learn of the passing recently of Terry Barker, an important part of the Perth music scene in the 1980s. Terry lost his battle with cancer on Friday, November 29, aged 50.

He was a lead vocalist and energetic frontman with The X-tras, along with early ‘80s beer barn kings The Motors and Formula One. Terry had a brief stint with indie-flavoured rockers Bang Bang as well as new wave exponents, Spiny Norman.

Terry completed a bachelor of Social Work in Sydney in the ‘90s where he met his wife, Leonie.

They returned to his native Darwin where he worked in the mental health field, while continuing to gig in a range of bands in the evening.

Terry is survived by his wife Leonie and sons Arran and Lachlan, who continue the family musical line with their band, Skarlett. Our condolences to all family and friends.

Winner of ‘Best Independent Venue’ at last year’s Fringe World festival, the Noodle Palace will be returning at a new location, just in time for next year’s festival. Noodle Palace will hold 28 acts and 170 shows at four stages, dubbed The Tina Arena, The Ken Dome, The Fifi Box and The Barry Hall. The acts will vary from burlesque to cabaret and comedy and will doubtless to exponentially increase levels of debauchery and madness as the festival goes on and the minds of event staff are slowly addled by pelvic thrusting and vulgar displays of comedy – and that’s just Tomás Ford. It runs from Monday, February 3, to Sunday, February 23.

Terry Barker, RIP

Tomás Ford, Noodle Palace

NOODLIN’ AROUND

WWW. XP RE SS MAG.COM. AU

11

MUSIC

FLUX PAVILION The Happiest Time Of Year Flux Pavillion joins the likes of Wiz Khalifa, A$AP Rocky, Kill The Noise, Julio Bashmore and many others for Origin NYE on Tuesday, December 31, at Ozone Reserve. RK reports.

The first time I heard music by Joshua Steele aka Flux Pavilion – legendary producer from Towcester in the UK - it was a pleasant surprise.

It was dub, but with a twist. It was bouncy and tough but it seemed somehow intelligent, well crafted and unique. Then I learnt he was co-founder of Circus Records and had done great things there.

That he was a drummer in an indie band called Rock Rabitzkin. Then I heard that collaboration he did with Childish Gambino - and was sold.

Having released Blow The Roof and Freeway EPs this year, Steele describes 2013 as somewhat of a watershed – a landmark moment for him.

“Both of them did pretty well,” he professes proudly. “I’m also really looking forward to taking the success of those and touring during the tail end of the 2013 and then into the 2014 season. I’ve spent some time in the UK and the US doing the Freeway tour – that was crazy; but I’ve also got some other projects under way although they’re not exciting enough to talk about just yet!”

Indeed, Steele is particularly proud of his open-minded approach to his studio sessions.

Influenced during his early career by Basement Jaxx and The Prodigy, he takes the driving yet musical nature of their music and twists it – sometimes unsubtly – into his own trademark sounds.

“I guess I’m about keeping things open,” he says. “I want to sit and write music. There are times where I want to write dubstep; then it might not sit with me and there are times where I want to do something else.”

Steele’s more recent collaboration with Steve Aoki, titled Steve French, is a stunning digital composition that harks back to his early influences – it even has a hint of Daft Punk about it. Always the comedian too, he takes the compliment in his stride: “I actually plan on doing a Christmas #1 now too; that’s on my wish list!” Really though, he admits

VIEWS

|

INTERVIEWS

|

STORIES

to not having a care in the world about such things.

“Sometimes I like hip hop. Other times I might be sitting there writing beats and randomly think about approaching someone to see if they are interested in collaborating – that’s it, pretty much.”

In all, Steele is a true beat scientist, a man who is more about penning ideas, experimenting and creating fusions of the styles he appreciates. This means that his output can be arbitrary and haphazard – sometimes even he admits that he doesn’t know what to do with his material – but he is happy to keep pushing boundaries while building up an arsenal.

“I write music that is music,” he explains somewhat confusingly. “It’s not about what is current or whatever. I get excited about all of my projects regardless of whether I put it out. After all of it though, the music has to be timeless; it can’t follow a trend or a fad. None of that is important for me.

When music becomes your life you have to think long term – I’m not into being a follower – I want to be a trendsetter and do cool things. When people follow you, that’s a good feeling.

“To be honest, I’m not even slightly interested in what’s popular, what’s commercial or what’s making money.

I’m about the music and as long as it’s the music that’s concerned, the rest doesn’t matter.”

“To be honest, I’m not even slightly interested in what’s popular, what’s commercial or what’s making money. I’m about the music and as long as it’s the music that’s concerned, the rest doesn’t matter.”

Which creates a natural segue then, into what he is up to in the studio right now. He describes how he is currently working on an EP with a five-piece band – a mob he claims that “do cool music with live elements.” Right up his alley, no doubt.

“They are doing some cool stuff, venturing into the realms of EDM. We’re looking at doing a four-track EP together. I’m also working with the Brown & Gammon guys on something; they were in the dubstep realm but what they’re really good at is writing this kind of ‘80s synthesised music. Now they don’t want to do dubstep and don’t bother – they’ve got this disco pop sound which doesn’t even need to

have those elements or crossover into the dub realm; it’s awesome in its own right and that’s what appeals to me about sound – the capacity to do different things, forward thinking things.”

Finally, he adds a few words about his upcoming tour – and his first visit to our great land.

“I’ve never actually been to Australia so I’m really excited about it. My gigs work around a DJ setup at the moment but I am working on a live project,

hopefully for next year. Expect to hear loads of good music – it’s a constantly shifting thing for me.

If someone sends me an awesome tune, I’ll play it that night. I’m about incorporating the latest thing I can into my sets and I can’t think of a better way to celebrate that than somewhere new.

“Australia at the happiest time of year – there’s a reason why I’m getting down there!”

Hear hear. Or should that be ho-ho?

THE GIN CLUB The 9 Tenners Brisbane outfit, The Gin Club, are celebrating their 10th anniversary with a national tour that brings them to Mojos this Saturday, December 21, with help from Medicine Hat Trio, Timothy Nelson & The Infidels and The Reductors.

Ten years is a long time to do anything.

In musical terms, playing in the same band for a decade is equivalent to a lifetime. Brisbane natives The Gin Club have just reached this milestone and to celebrate they’re doing what they do best – performing around the country. Multi-instrumentalist, Brad Pickersgill, was kind enough to take the time to answer a couple of questions and reflect on his band’s journey over the past decade...

By JAMES NICOLI So, 10 years! Did you ever think you would be celebrating your 10th anniversary?

Speaking personally, my original goal for being in a band was to have fun, play some shows around town, and be respected, if not liked. After six months of that, I had to seriously re-evaluate said goals. I think that we’re all a little surprised by how fast it’s flown by, but not surprised that we’re still together. In the end, we are a bunch of best friends all having a lot of fun.

What have been some of the major highlights over the past decade?

I’m sure everyone has their own, but one of the most memorable for us early on was landing a support for Tim Rogers at The Troubadour. The funny thing about that show was that it was a showcase for Tim’s upcoming solo album so he was on first, to let the record industry boffins get to bed early… we were to go on afterwards and keep things chugging. I remember we were all nervous as hell, particularly Ben (Salter) and Scott (Regan) as they grew up idolising Tim. It was one of those nights where everything went right. We knew if we played some Stones covers we might have a chance of getting him to join in, and sure enough the night culminated in Tim joining us on stage for Sweet Virginia and Shine A Light. There have been many other highlights over the years, but to me that night was a turning point for the band.

Do you guys have anything special planned for the tour?

We’ve just this week discussed trying to get some special guests to join us. Ben is currently at the selection table and running the ruler over all the candidates to assess match fitness and availability.

I don’t want to give anything away but we’re really looking forward to re-connecting with all our friends 12

PIC: STEPHEN BOOTH

interstate. With Ben, Adrian (Stoyles) and Gus (Agars) in Melbourne these days, it really is a second home to us now. There will be an obvious emphasis on playing stuff from the first album, plus the usual diatribe.

I understand you’ll also be re-releasing your debut album on vinyl?

I’m a bit of vinyl heathen, but we’ve done it with the last couple of releases, and we’ve been really surprised at how it’s been received. There’s a lot of retrospection in The Gin Club, so re-releasing the first album on vinyl to celebrate seemed to be a natural thing, and a shameless attempt at profiteering, a bit like when Marvel released five variant covers of X-Men No.1 back in 1992. Can’t believe I fell for that one.

With seven permanent members and two part-timers, I’m guessing there’s been some memorable moments over the years?

Touring is great. Basically you get to travel around and do what it is you love. We’re all a little older and more… stable these days, but in the early days, it was full on. Each night would be somebody’s turn to have a meltdown of some description. We have a saying in The Gin Club though, ‘never two in a row’.

And perhaps some trying ones as well?

Dale Peachey playing classical guitar in a sixbunk hostel room at 6.30am the morning after a gig comes to mind. The good thing is, we all know each well enough to know when to let each person have their ‘alone time’. Even if that means forced solitary confinement.

So, I have to ask, do you guys still drink as much gin as you did when you first started out?

No we don’t. It was never a deliberate thing, but at that time we were all going through our own funks, and it just so happened we ended up consuming a lot of the stuff. These days, we’re a much more… diverse and discerning group.

And finally, where do you see the band in another 10 years?

Hopefully still together, still making music and having fun. The best days are ahead!

I, SAID THE SPARROW Hectic Expectations Perth’s own I, Said The Sparrow, are releasing their debut LP, Deathpop, with special guests Sail On! Sail On!, Corpus and Roswell at the Rosemount Hotel this Friday, December 20. AARON BRYANS reports.

Forming in 2010, I, Said The Sparrow - vocalist Sean Hendry, guitarist Jason Shaw, drummer Clint Gatter and bassist Tristan Sturmer - took little time making an impact in Perth’s alternative rock scene, beginning national tours in 2011.

“It’s been amazing,” Hendry reflects.

“We’ve been lucky enough to play a few mini festivals over in Melbourne, and done some club runs playing with mostly metalcore and hardcore bands. I’d like to think we won over fans who usually wouldn’t be exposed to our genre of music.”

Described as a mash-up between rock, industrial, pop, punk and dance music; the quartet seamlessly move between catchy, body-moving rock, to punchy, hard-hitting and foot-tapping punk. Their first single, I’m A Villain And I’m Online, showcases Hendry’s unique and gripping vocals, combining with high-speed, powerful drumming to bring a new vibe of dance-rock.

WWW. XP RE SS MAG.COM. AU

“Jase brought the main verse/intro riff to rehearsals one day and we jammed on it for a few hours. The first recording of that song was actually a bit longer. But after quite a bit of time debating we ended up cutting about 40 seconds off the track.”

Finally after two long years, the growing I, Said The Sparrow fanbase will get their chance to grab the full-length LP; a feat which means the world to the local quartet.

“It’s the culmination of two years of working hard and kicking each other’s asses into gear,” Hendry says. “We have only officially released three songs in the three years that we have been a complete band, so it’s great to finally have a substantial release that truly represents what we are about.”

Deathpop’s artwork, which features a female doused in a gooey-purple liquid, is more then meets the eye. With some subtle hints of what to expect in the LP, Hendry explains its significance.

“Jase and I came up with the artwork concept for the album during some late-night discussion. We wanted something that was pretty, but with an element of something being spoiled or dirtied. We explore some of those themes lyrically on Deathpop.”

Energetic and adrenaline pumping, the boys from Perth are looking to make a name for themselves nationally in the live music scene as one hell of a musical experience and their album launch looks to prove just that.

“If you’ve ever been to a Sparrow show in the past,” Henry posits, “you’ll have a fair idea what to expect. If you haven’t, you can expect hectic.”

WWW. XP RE SS MAG.COM. AU

13

MUSIC

VIEWS

|

INTERVIEWS

|

STORIES

COLD CHISEL Young Flame Tree Cold Chisel have released The Live Tapes- Volume 1, a CD and DVD offering capturing their April, 2012, show at Sydney’s Hordern Pavilion. BOB GORDON checks in with guitarist, Ian Moss.

History shows that on December 12, 1983, Cold Chisel performed the final show of their Last Stand tour, before breaking up ‘for good’.

Yet here we are upon the 30th anniversary of that ‘final show’ with a new Cold Chisel release, The Live Tapes, taken from their last tour to date.

For guitarist, Ian Moss, it’s a whole new and mostly unexpected turn for the band that has soundtracked the lives of so many Australians over that time. Cold Chisel’s second life as a band has gone on far longer and much differently to the first.

“It’s just one of those things,” he ponders.

“We certainly would never have believed it in ‘83, when we were essentially calling it quits. I remember thinking, ‘shit I haven’t got a trade, what am I going to do?’ Then radio just kept playing Cold Chisel on and on and it kept growing through the years.

“We had The Last Wave Of Summer (1998) and Ringside (2003). I thought maybe after Ringside that that might have been it. Some of those early tours, never ended nicely. The vibe within the band and the general mood of the whole thing.”

Moss credits Eleven Management John Watson and John O’Donnell - with creating an environment where the band could function comfortably, worrying only about recording and performing.

“It did turn around when we took on new management in 2009, it just a very professional, slick, focussed - no egos - team. We weren’t sure how it was going to go; we did that V8 Supercars gig in December 2009, still with Steve (Prestwich, the band’s drummer who died in 2011). That was the first gig under new management and it was like, ‘wow this can be actually really good’. You finish a gig and everyone’s just in a great mood and lovin’ each other.

“We just went from there, still not sure how it would go. Then John Watson and John O’Donnell started getting the Light The Nitro (2011) tour together and they said, ‘okay we’ve got all the entertainment centres on hold’. These 10,000 seater venues. We were like, ‘what the hell are you doing?

You should be booking 2,000 seaters and we’ll see how we go’. Then the thing went through the roof and it was just, ‘shit!’

“It was a beautiful surprise. At the end of the shows, we look forward to seeing each other the next time. It’s like a young tree that’s still got some growing to do.”

When Cold Chisel were staring down the barrel of their April 18, 2012, show at the Hordern Pavilion show, Moss had just recovered from a now infamous bit to his finger from the family cat which very nearly put the stops on the entire tour.

“There’s was like 20 doctors, I had to keep telling each of them what had fucking happened,” Moss recalls. “Then this one surgeon comes in and says, ‘we’ll probably be cutting there and there...’ I’m going, ‘fuck, what?’ Then he disappeared and this other guy - who saved my arse - said, ‘you’ve got a show in a week’s time. What are we going to do?’ I looked around and it was this Indian guy who was a great character and a bloody good surgeon. He said, ‘if we cut you open you won’t be playing for three

IAN MOSS AND JIMMY BARNES, LIVE 2012 14

COLD CHISEL, 2013

“... full credit to Don Walker, the principal songwriter, who always had a method. I wouldn’t call him a perfectionist, but the guy agonised over not only the last word, but the last syllable. Trying to be as true as possible to the feeling, or the message he was trying to get across. There was never a compromise at all. He’d sit on a syllable for months (laughs).

months. Here’s the plan and you won’t be leaving this hospital until your antibiotics have kicked in’.

“After three days I had the electric guitar in the hospital bed; just doing scales, testing the finger.

It was lucky the cat didn’t go through a nerve. It was serious, actually it could have been really... fucked.”

As it was Moss was back to match fitness quiet quickly. On the day of the show, however, the rain kept coming down. Soundcheck was constantly delayed; the masses of additional recording equipment were playing up no doubt due to the weather. The crowd entered the Hordern Pavilion with many punters soaked to the skin.

All this for a show that was not only being recorded for eventual CD and DVD release, but being broadcast live to movie theatres all over the country.

No wonder Jimmy Barnes and the audience are so vocal just two songs in.

‘Good evening!’ Barnes screams. ‘How the fuck are ya? I think there’s 150 cinemas where people are watching us tonight. Eating fucking popcorn. Sittin’ in lounge chairs. It’s just not right is it?’

The band launches into No Plans, the title track of the album that had just been released and the rain and the technical problems - and Moss’ finger became but a memory.

“The rain thing was interesting,” Moss says, “it took the edge off it. It was kind of funny, or funnyish - though not for the people stuck in the rain, they came in drenched like cats - but it took the focus off it a little bit. We all had a bit of a laugh at that whole side of it.

“But there was the usual, ‘oh shit this is being recorded’ thing. The old red light recording tensions were there. And in fact I wished we’d recorded the next show in Melbourne at Festival Hall.

Maybe it was because we’d gotten the recording and filming done that we could relax and have a great time. Fuck, that was a good gig. It’s a shame we weren’t able to record both.”

Whether it was that Hordern show, or the Festival Hall one that followed, or even the gig at Sandalford Winery in Perth only weeks prior, what these songs mean to people is very clear. Cold Chisel songs speak to many people of their struggles, sadnesses, victories, friends lost and found and missed. Good times and bad.

“You try not to think about that when you’re playing,” Moss reflects. “I’m always trying to do the best solo I can possibly do sort of thing, but

WWW. XP RE SS MAG.COM. AU

THE LIVE TAPES - VOLUME 1

then you stop and listen for a second and look out and see the crowd completely lost and carried away.

It’s almost like when they’re punching the air they’re punching certain phrases in the lyrics.

“That’s the thing; full credit to Don Walker, the principal songwriter, who always had a method. I wouldn’t call him a perfectionist, but the guy agonised over not only the last word, but the last syllable.

Trying to be as true as possible to the feeling, or the message he was trying to get across. There was never a compromise at all. He’d sit on a syllable for months (laughs).

“We’d be keen to do a song, get some guitar playing on it. ‘Is that one ready yet?’ ‘Nah, I’ve just got this one word... well, half a word’. ‘Fuck! Can’t we just start playing it?’ ‘No, no, no... I want it perfect first’.”

Moving into 2014, the band has its own independent label, Cold Chisel Music, to oversee its back catalogue and release new music through. The plans don’t seem too specific beyond moving forward at the moment, but Moss assures that moving forward is what Cold Chisel will indeed do.

“There’s nothing real concrete,” he notes.

“We want to start talking about how to approach the next phase, if you will. Normally it’s that life-long thing of ‘band gets together; writes songs; goes out performing and polishing them up; goes in the studio and records them; puts the album out; gets the publicity thing going on; get radio; announce the tour; tour the album’.

“We’re not sure we want to do that this time. Not that we did it last time, we did the album after the tour (laughs). But we want to continue the songwriting. We started back in June as a team and individuals will continue to write. We’ll want to try and start writing together including Charley (Drayton, the band’s new drummer, whose wife, Divinyls singer, Chrissy Amphlett, passed away earlier this year) who couldn’t be there in June due to tragic personal circumstances. We’ll start amassing songs and start picking the eyes out of some shows of some kind somewhere.

“Hopefully maybe June or July. 2011 was the Light The Nitro tour, so in 2014-15 you’ll see some action.”

WWW. XP RE SS MAG.COM. AU

15

MUSIC

VIEWS

|

INTERVIEWS

|

STORIES

THE BASICS Now Is Zen The Basics are back with a new live DVD, My Brain’s Off (And I Like It), and are soon to hit the Chevron Festival Gardens on Sunday, February 9, as part of the Perth International Arts Festival. LACHLAN KANONIUK reports.

Over the course of the past 12 or so years, Melbourne trio The Basics have generated a fervent following with their slick rock acumen and charismatic live performances.

The start of 2012 saw the release of the best-of collection, Ingredients and the complementary rarities collection, Leftovers. The releases could well have been a full-stop on the band’s story, with the band seemingly in stasis since 2010. Since that time, guitarist/vocalist, Tim Heath, has enjoyed film work; bassist, Kris Schroeder, set up base in Kenya (replete with a bout of Malaria) and drummer, Wally De Backer, saw immense worldwide success as Gotye. But against the odds and to the rejoice of fans, The Basics are back in full swing in 2013. Ahead of the upcoming national tour, Schroeder muses about the band’s vitalising idiosyncrasies and their longawaited return to the stage.

“It’s been three years. I think the last show was Woodford, 2010,” he gauges. “Obviously it’s better than what the mindset was then, because then we were thinking, ‘Oh let’s give it a rest, let’s just stop’. So now we’re much more relaxed about what we’re doing. I think we’re all much more comfortable in our own space as individuals. Now we’re a bit more open with what we want to do and what we don’t want to do.

We’ve only just embarked on the latest journey, but the vibe is good and we’re talking about doing more recording. We’ve got a bunch of shows to do, so that will test our resolve. I guess we’re just open to what may come.”

Last year, while Kris was residing in Kenya, Wally and Tim performed a set of Basics material at an impromptu Melbourne show. Being oceans away from the stage that night didn’t instigate any Basics FOMO for Kris, however. “Not at all. I just took the time off, I didn’t really do much music stuff. I did some stuff with some local Kenyan bands, some stuff for the Australian high commissioner – who was a fan. Other than that, I just let it go. I was stoked that they got together and did that. Then Tim and I did a similar thing when I was back for a couple weeks in October last year. I didn’t anticipate that it would get to this point. It was more going through the material for the Leftovers thing that sort of led to that for me, going through the old material and thinking, ‘Hey, we’re a pretty good band’. Thinking, maybe we could do this.”

It’s strange to think about, but The Basics are one of the few survivors of the past decade of Australian rock. “I was asked in a previous interview, ‘Who do you think your peers are?’ And I was trying to think of other bands that were comparable in terms of being around as long as us, and I couldn’t really come up with any that are still going,” he assesses. “It’s been around 12 years for us. There are bands like Even, The Fauves that have been going a lot longer. Then you have the other bands that are dead. So the cult, niche thing comes around because of the fact we’re still alive as a band. So when the gig-going public are looking for good gigs, we’re still around. It’s survival of the fittest, maybe. Maybe people have heard the name and haven’t seen us, or maybe people have seen us before but it’s been six, 10 years and they think, ‘Fuck, these guys are still going. Let’s go check ‘em out’.”

Many years ago, it seemed like The Basics’ ascension was hampered by the national youth broadcaster’s aversion to spinning any of

"... we can keep doing what we want.

People have no specific expectations of what that might be. It’s quite freeing in a way. I think that’s one of the things that drew Wally back. He’s trying to do a follow-up Gotye album, and he has lots of musical ideas but might be struggling lyrically, as he said to me. It gives him the freedom to not have to think about it and not have that pressure.” the band’s material. At the time, Schroeder was outspoken about his frustration with triple j’s music director, Richard Kingsmill. Though triple j did end up rotating a few Basics singles down the line, he can reason that the dearth of radio play may have been a blessing in disguise.

“It’s allowed us to be free, where we don’t need to get a song on triple j, or meet a goal that the record company has set us. Thinking about Jet, Little Red, Wolfmother and, to a smaller extent, The Vasco Era, they had their thing and hit it really well. I don’t know what their mindset was, whether they were thinking, ‘This isn’t us, we didn’t enjoy that’. There are so many egos in a band – I don’t mean that in a bad way, I just mean that people want to express themselves.

So we’ve been able to do that because we haven’t got anything to lose and everything to gain, so we can keep doing what we want. People have no specific expectations of what that might be. It’s quite freeing in a way.

“I think that’s one of the things that drew Wally back. He’s trying to do a follow-up Gotye album, and he has lots of musical ideas but might be struggling lyrically, as he said to me. It gives him the freedom to not have to think about it and not have that pressure.”

More so than most of their contemporaries, The Basics stand as champions of the sartorial. Whether onstage or in the press (when they actually do decide to wear clothes, it should be said), the three emanate a classic sense of style. “Ha, well it probably comes from a number of sources. My ex-wife is a fashion designer, so I think I personally gained a lot of appreciation for aesthetics through her, and that was disseminated in the band throughout the years.

“Even Wally said the other day that he’s been a bit of a tragic dresser over the years, and he’s only relatively recently realised that. Suits do look cool, but it’s an attempt to make him look less daggy, to be blatantly honest. I think it worked. It gave a bit of uniformity, people recognise us. We’re known for wearing the suits, whereas bands like You Am I don’t get asked about when they wear the suits, which is quite often.

It’s become a thing we do. I got 12 suits made in Kenya for 40 bucks each, so that’s four new styles each,” Kris reveals.

The runaway global success of Somebody That I Used To Know has no doubt resulted in some collateral newfound attention The Basics’ way. Gotye’s explosive rise into stardom, however, has had little tangible effect on the trio’s already

fervent local fanbase, as Schroeder explains.

“Wally was already pretty famous after Heart’s A Mess in 2006. So it kind of already happened at various times over the years. So the club shows, it’s not so much. But maybe at festivals, people might read the program and think to check us out and see how it measures up to what Wally’s done.

But at the moment, we don’t feel the pressure to live up to anything. Wally, and Tim, wouldn’t want it any other way. We’ll just be The Basics, there won’t be any spotlight on a particular member.”

The band’s return to the stage raises the question as to the prospect of any new Basics material. “We started rehearsing a new song the other day. Wally’s in the middle of Gotye writing, so I don’t want to interrupt his thing too much.

But we’ve got a bunch of songs that we’ve written, and I just want to get the cogs moving.

Maybe some of them will end up on an album, maybe none of them will. Maybe all of them will.

“Tim was mentioning that we should bunker down and write an album together,

which is something we’ve never done before. It’s always been individual songwriters, or Wally and I together. We’ll see how these shows pan out and how much time we have. In terms of making a new album, the biggest question is ‘why?’ I don’t think ‘just because’ is a good enough reason to record new music, I really want a strong notion of why we are doing it so we go in with the right attitude.

When that reason comes around, we might have something that falls together.”

While De Backer’s inevitable Gotye commitments will impose a finite timeframe on the current Basics chapter, Schroeder is calm and confident with the unit’s current headspace.

“I think we’re doing better stuff now than we’ve ever done before. We’re sounding better, we’re looking better, we’re a lot more comfortable with ourselves and who we are as a band. We’ve hit a bit of a zen stage where things are seeming to work without trying too hard. The best is happening now, rather than in the past. The past is cool, but I think we’re in a good spot now.”

I applaud that because there’s a lot of bands that don’t, that are just replicas of other bands, or are nothing new and just sound generic, or they don’t push themselves hard enough.”

The band’s Christian faith doesn’t see them preaching through their music, but their lyrics

are none-the-less full of positive messages. It’s an approach that has won them a lot of respect.

“I don’t think that everyone likes that our music is positive,” Luhrs counters, “but no-one’s saying you have to listen to us, you know? I think the thing is, that we try to write our lyrics in an honest way and in a very relatable way to our fans, so they can cling on to them and go, ‘that’s exactly how I felt’ or ‘this is exactly what I’m going through’, or some sort of positive message.

“If you look at metalcore,” he continues, “there isn’t really a ton of positive messages out there. The kids, yeah they wanna hear something aggressive, but maybe they don’t wanna hear a message full of hate - they wanna hear hope. So having an aggressive message of something positive, I think, is interesting to our listeners.

“We never have lyrics that are extremely negative,” he insists, going on to explain “or if we do, then later in the song we will have something which shows why, in that moment, there was so much anger, so you have to consider that. I’ve never actually heard of our lyrics being something that someone took and used in a negative way, thank God.” Have a look at any photo of Luhrs playing live and he looks like he’s about to pop a blood vessel in his head. He laughs easily at the observation and readily admits that the show takes it out of him a fair bit.

“When I get up on that stage, for me it’s kind of all or nothing,” he says. “It’s a very passionate moment for me that I get to share with our fans. Yeah man - I’m living my dream - I have nothing to scream or be upset about!”

AUGUST BURNS RED Faith So Core With their sixth album, Rescue & Restore, cracking the US Top 10 and a slot on next year’s Soundwave Festival at Claremont Showgrounds (Monday, March 3), singer, Jake Luhrs, tells SHANE PINNEGAR that August Burns Red have finally found their sound.

August Burns Red’s new LP, Rescue & Restore, infuses elements of punk, indie and heads down rock into their metalcore framework, and it’s also probably the band’s heaviest record to date.

“I definitely think that it is a heavy, heavy record,” Luhrs agrees, “I think at first when August Burns Red started out, we figured out what we wanted to play, or what we wanted to sound like, but now I think it’s not so much what we want to sound like, but ‘who are August Burns Red now?’”

It makes a lot of sense - being true to yourselves as people and as artists, and discovering the music you’re meant to be making, as opposed to trying to direct your sound in a certain way. The 16

results, of course, speak for themselves, with a Top 10 album.

“Yeah, and that’s funny because that doesn’t always happen,” he concurs. “There’s a lot of bands out there who stick to who they are and take their music in a direction which is them.

WWW. XP RE SS MAG.COM. AU

WWW. XP RE SS MAG.COM. AU

17

MUSIC

VIEWS

|

INTERVIEWS

|

STORIES

WHITE DENIM Austin’s Texas White Denim will perform at Southbound, happening Friday-Saturday, January 3-4, at Sir Stewart Bovell Park, Busselton.

JODY MACGREGOR reports.

White Denim have an advantage at the all-important South By Southwest festival, what with being Texan locals, and having played there several times. Austin Jenkins, the Southern garage rockers’ guitarist, has a pretty good idea of what it’s like.

The annual festival transforms Austin – the city where it takes place, not the guy we’re talking to – into a frantic flurry of people racing from stage to stage each day, and things can get pretty hectic for the bands as well. Soon after joining White Denim in 2010, Jenkins played 11 shows over the course of three days at that year’s festival. “We played in a giant Doritos vending machine one time,” he casually adds, as if that’s not the most amazing detail.

As SxSW attracts more and bigger corporate sponsors, the stages get more outlandish.

Doritos’ Jacked stage was over 17 metres high and had the band playing in the bottom section of a vending machine – the bit where your chips comes out – with three levels above that where packets of Doritos bigger than people hung from pegs, as if you could buy one for $3.50 and then live like a king. “It’s almost like a Vegas kind of spectacle,” says Jenkins.

Cramming in almost a dozen shows like that over three days isn’t easy, but fortunately the showcase sets tend to be a bit shorter. “Sometimes they’re so short that they’re over before you realise they really happened,” Jenkins says. “Yeah, I’d say pacing yourself is a good thing. Usually it’s hot as all hell when SxSW hits as well. You’ve got to make sure that you have a healthy mix of water as well as beer, and then I think the adrenaline’s pumping so hard that it just rolls you through it.”

Those gigs earned White Denim a reputation for no-frills rocking out. Wasting no time, they’d barrel through their songs one after the other, with plenty of energy. “It’s not like GG Allin-crazy or anything like that,” Jenkins says of their live show, “but we used to not stop playing at all. We would just play continuously for however long the amount of time was, so if there was 45 minutes we would play 45 straight.”

18

“I don’t know if I’ve had much of an influence at all. I think I’m just catching up! These guys were such a heavy and intense trio, one of my favourite groups to see in Austin. I think I saw them the first day I moved to Austin and they just blew my mind. I think of it like learning a language; they had their own language developed and I’ve just gotten to get inside of it and learn it from there.

They’ve learned to slow down a little in the last few years, however. “Now we’re putting more pauses into the set just to give us a rest. It could be pretty assaulting at times I guess.”

The new outlook is helped along by the mellower songs on their latest album, Corsicana Lemonade. In the past they tended towards blues rock blasts with diversions into surprisingly complicated math-rock fiddliness, and while the new album is still

upbeat, it’s also more classically structured, drawing on influences that have them sounding, to Australian ears at least, surprisingly like Powderfinger at times.

“You can be mellow in those tunes even though they’re upbeat, I agree with that for sure,” says Jenkins. “They’ve lent themselves a little bit more to some space. Lately we’ve been interested in putting together medleys of songs; we were going, like, ‘Let’s put four songs in a row from four different albums’. We’ve been trying to have some fun like that, mixing that into it. It’s just, the more material you have the more you get to paint with.”

Two of the songs on Corsicana Lemonade were recorded with Jeff Tweedy of Wilco after White Denim supported them on tour. They travelled to Chicago to work in the Loft, Wilco’s studio, and recorded A Place To Start and Distant Relative Salute, which laid the foundations for how they’d work on the rest of the album.

“If someone wanted to do an overdub, Tweedy would say, ‘Picture this person onstage playing this, is this someone that’s in the band actually playing the part or is this filler?’ It showed the need to think about overdubs in a more limited kind of sense, then also to really hone down what was integral to each track. I wouldn’t say he’s a minimalist or anything like that but he’s really got a refined sense of purpose for

WWW. XP RE SS MAG.COM. AU

each instrument and each voice on a song.”

After that they travelled back to Texas and built their own studio in a house overlooking a cliff.

Inspired by the open floor plan of Wilco’s they created something similar, although with a vital Southern touch. “Barbecue,” Jenkins says. “We barbecued a lot of meat out there on the patio. That was pretty essential.”

Having been in White Denim for three years now, Jenkins has become an integral part of the band, but he modestly downplays his own contribution to the group’s direction.

“Oh shoot, I don’t know if I’ve had much of an influence at all. I think I’m just catching up! These guys were such a heavy and intense trio, one of my favourite groups to see in Austin. I think I saw them the first day I moved to Austin and they just blew my mind. I think of it like learning a language; they had their own language developed and I’ve just gotten to get inside of it and learn it from there.

“I don’t know if I’ve influenced them in any way – they’ve definitely influenced me. I get to come in and do some guitar work and free James (Petralli, frontman) up to do his thing a little bit more as well, which is exciting. I get a really fun role, I get to play in the rhythm section and then dance on top of it a little bit as well. It’s a sweet gig.”

19

WWW. XP RE SS MAG.COM. AU

NEW NOISE

For more album reviews head to xpressmag.com.au

4.5

3

OUT OF 5

3

OUT OF 5

THE VOLCANICS

AVRIL LAVIGNE Avril Lavigne Epic/Sony

Live At KCRW Bad Seed Ltd

The Volcanics couldn’t have chosen a more apt producer than Rob Younger for their long-awaited second full-length album, and the man who helped create a uniquely Australian breed of garage rock with Radio Birdman and The New Christs perfectly captures the Perth band in all their ragged glory.

The band have finessed their own sound over the last half a dozen years of playing around Perth and further afield, equally referencing The Stooges and The MC5 Detroit garage sounds as much as AC/DC’s hard edged pub rock, whilst keeping a very 1950’s rock’n’roll mindset and focussing on songwriting and performance to the exclusion of all other bullshit.

One could list tracks and cite reference points, but that would be boring, and nothing about The Volcanics is boring.

All you need to know is that Get A Move On is 11 original and engaging songs and one cover of a great Paul McCarthy tune (I’m Not A Gun), that boasts a musical triumvirate tighter than a rusted nut, with Tommy Hopkins’ guitars dancing around the propulsive rhythm section of Pete Acklin and Alex Megaw, and the ever-hypnotic Johnny Phatouros on the mic.

Canadian rocker, Avril Lavigne, has had nearly as many marriages as she has had albums of late. Latest husband Chad Kroeger has clearly had some creative input during Lavigne’s fifth studio album with the eponymous release at times showing the same lack of flair and creativity that has been the trademark of his outfit, Nickelback.

Lavigne was adamant that she would make a more up tempo record after 2011’s Goodbye Lullaby with this self-titled effort focussed on her pop smarts.

There are times when she gets it right and Lavigne hits them out of the park as good as anyone. Here’s To Never Growing Up is the melodic earworm that she is known for and stands up against her other chart toppers.

There is a stronger reliance on technology and electronics on the more throwaway moments like Sippin’ On Sunshine and 17, which work due to Lavigne not taking herself too seriously. Let Me Go is a duet with Kroeger and is the most turgid thing that the pocket rocket has put her name to. The pairing with Marilyn Manson works slightly better on Bad Girl, although is immediately followed by the forgettable Hello Kitty.

Avril Lavigne was a long time coming and as such is an album that is too broad in trying to fit too many ideas into the one space. Lavigne is at her best when sticking to the formula that has served her so well to date.

After the release of this year’s Push The Sky Away an anomalous record in many ways, with its smoky atmospherics and Nick Cave’s predominantly hushed tones - Live From KCRW is an accessible release that is about as close to ‘easy-listening’ as the group’s music will ever get.

Recorded this year in the interval between the Bad Seeds’ two Coachella Festival appearances, the band are in a casual and good-natured form playing in front of a small audience at Santa Monica studios.

Lead single from Push The Sky Away, Higgs Boson Blues kicks things off with the crowd loving its grandiose critique of modern society – the Miley Cyrus reference in the song is eerily on point with twerkgate. The live recordings see the group stripping back the sound, as the group morph from mesmerising melancholia, Far From Me, which features Conway Savage’s elegaic organ section to demonic aggression, Jack The Ripper. Perennial contender for the group’s best song, The Mercy Seat, once again steals the show with the piano-driven interpretation giving the song the theatrical edge that Cave has made his own.

As anyone who has seen the band will vouch for, there is no experience like seeing Nick Cave, Warren Ellis et al play live. Volatile, perverse and always dramatic, the record captures how the group have found their own comfort zone. Live At KCRW is testament to that, and will invariably please the group’s fanbase but beyond that there’s nothing here to generate strong interest.

3

OUT OF 5

NICK CAVE & THE BAD SEEDS

Get A Move On Citadel Records

SHANE PINNEGAR

4.5

OUT OF 5

CHRIS HAVERCROFT

DAN WATT

LARRY LAI

OUT OF 5

DEATH GRIPS Government Plates Third Worlds

The first single released from this avant-garde-protopunk-electro outfit’s new album, Government Plates, is You Might Think He Loves You For Your Money But I Know What He Really Loves You For It’s Your Brand New Leopard Skin Pillbox Hat, a Bob Dylan lyric which has now become an unintended tribute to Miranda Kerr and James Packer’s tryst.

It opens the third LP for the Sacramento three-piece – Stefan Burnett (vocals), Zach Hill (drums) and Andy Morin (samples). The alternative mainstream’s embrace has resulted in Death Grips taking no prisoners on Government Plates. The album swings from bassheavy punk to up-tempo dubstep, heavy electro and even phases of late ’90s dance cheese.

The aforementioned first single from the album begins with Burnett crying, “Get some fucking dog in here’ then a mind-slaying compressed bass synth drops in – it will leave you out of breath.

There is something distinctly ’90s about this album, but with a tweens atomic digital redux. Death Grips seem similar to Atari Teenage Riot (apparently they’re still around but the German duo’s heyday was around 1999), and other digital hardcore acts like Fuck Buttons and The Liars are also fair likenesses. But, really, there are no acts around like Death Grips – so get into them now before this aberration becomes a myth or rumour spoken about in hushed voices.

4.5

3.5

OUT OF 5

3.5

OUT OF 5

OUT OF 5

MIDLAKE Antiphon Bella Union / [PIAS]

BLOOD ORANGE

The departure of a lead vocalist always marks an interesting turning point for a group, but it’s rare that the change is a positive one. In the event this happens and the band pushes on with a new vocalist, there is the option of putting the emphasis squarely on the band’s core sound or taking the opportunity to change things up with a fresh new direction.

Antiphon is the first release from Midlake since the departure of singer Tim Smith. Guitarist, Eric Pulido, has stepped forward for lead vocalist duties and is a solid replacement for Smith. The music is a backtracking to the amiable folk-rock of the band’s earlier work and, whilst there’s no Roscoe, it’s an improvement on 2010’s meandering The Courage Of Others.

In re-recording a set of compositions from the original sessions with Smith, Midlake Mark II have opted to stay true to their sound, so there’s little that surprises or engages on Antiphon. The Old And The Young nudges you along with its sing-along dadrock chorus and songs like the title track and Aurora Gone attempt to play with dynamics in their gradual build-ups. But, tellingly, the best song is the arousing instrumental, Vale.

With a new line-up now established, the band should give themselves some space to evolve and develop in their own right. Pulido’s vocal fits right in with the Midlake sound, but it’s a sound that’s in danger of becoming stale.

CHRIS GIRDLER

SPIDERBAIT

Cupid Deluxe Domino The evolution of Dev Hynes hits a heady peak on the new Blood Orange release, Cupid Deluxe. After the punk rock implosion of Test Icicles and a couple of earnest indie rock recordings under the Lightspeed Champion moniker, Hynes adopted a more danceoriented, new wave sound for 2011’s underrated Blood Orange debut, Coastal Grooves.

Hynes’ dabbling with an accessible pop sound has had a big influence on Cupid Deluxe, which confidently combines all that he has learnt into one big, bubbling funk-pop-dance cauldron. The mix of melancholy subject matter and upbeat pop instrumentation that made Coastal Grooves so alluring is potently realised on this follow-up.

As the album progresses, the guest musicians become more prominent. It’s unusual that Hynes’ most definitive work is also his most guest-heavy, though perhaps this is a sign that collaborating is where his strength lies. Dirty Projectors’ David Longstreth delivers a star turn in the Clams Casino-infused No Right Thing, while girlfriend and Friends vocalist Samantha Urbani duets on the delicate, soothing It Is What It Is.

It’s soft, emotive and seductive; close to one of the best albums of 2013. Just ignore any reviews calling it ‘chillwave’. Let’s agree to never use that word again, shall we?

CHRIS GIRDLER

3

PATRICK EMERY

If You Have Ghost EP Spinefarm/Universal Swedish Satanists GHOST team up with Dave Grohl for this five-track EP which sees them evil up an eclectic selection of songs that give some surprising insight into their own influences.

Face-painted and swathed in the robes of a Black Cardinal, frontman Papa Emeritus II holds court masterfully, his band of Nameless Ghouls producing a sound more akin to ‘70s Blue Oyster Cult than the blood-soaked extreme metal that their countenance might have you bracing yourself for.

Army Of Lovers’ Crucified is the standout track here, as sinister, malicious and nightmarish as any of Alice Cooper’s seminal mid-’70s work. Emeritus’s voice chills during this number and the song bears next to no resemblance to the 1991 electro dance original.

The title track is courtesy of The Thirteenth Floor Elevators, and summons a suitably creepy vibe, while ABBA’s I’m A Marionette sticks a little closer to the original’s puppet theatre theme, but they stamp their own identity on each song effortlessly.

The icing on the cake is a live version of their recent single, Secular Haze, capturing the restrained force of the band on stage and putting Australia on warning that their Big Day Out performances in 2014 are not to be missed.

SHANE PINNEGAR

3.5

2

OUT OF 5

GHOST

Spiderbait Universal

Age is the natural enemy of rock’n’roll. All too often, however, rock’n’roll’s institutionalised resistance to the ageing process has confused chronological progression with cognitive devolution: it’s possible to age while not falling into the trap of beige middle-age fatigue.

And while it might contradict the dominant rock’n’roll discourse, there’s more to artistic vibrancy than consuming vast quantities of alcohol and narcotics.

And now there’s a new Spiderbait album. And it’s very, very good. Kram’s breakneck drumming kicks the album into action on Straight Through The Sun. It’s a throwback to Spiderbait’s heavy metallic origins: fast, furious and laced with the attitude of yore. Then, the counterpoint: Janet English’s lilting tones bring us It’s Beautiful, and everything is, well, absolutely fucking beautiful in a way the average suburban evangelical church hopes and pretends will one day exist.

What You Get does for speed rock what Henry Ford did for industrial efficiency. Glam rock meets garage pop meets reflective whimsy on Crazy Pants (Rockstar For A Night) and winds up dancing on the table at 4am with mad abandon; Mars is the morning after.

The album ends with Goodbye. ‘I’m sure we’ll meet again’, promises the final vocal refrain. Lets sincerely hope we do.

OUT OF 5

4.5

OUT OF 5

OUT OF 5

BALANCE AND COMPOSURE

DAY RAVIES

TO KILL A KING

The Things We Think We’re Missing No Sleep Records

Cannibals With Cutlery Xtra Mile Records

Literally screaming emotion and imposing self-reflection, Balance And Composure’s second LP is a lot to take in. It’s honest, engaging and terrifyingly relatable, accomplishing a feat of romantic rock that steers away from ‘emo’ and ‘whingy’ labels.

A clump of alternative rock that flows with ease, the album begins with Parachutes and Lost Your Name. Both tracks are in-your-face and heavily reliant on Jon Simmons vocal growls; a style which can be a little off-putting at first listen. However, after a full listen of The Things We Think We’re Missing you’ll be running back to these tracks, bathing in appreciation and understanding.

Tiny Raindrop is one of the best songs of the year. Singing about being infatuated with someone but knowing you’ll eventually let them down; it’s painfully gentle, crammed of metaphors and accessible. Enemy is another solid track, with simple instrumentals; it finishes the album with an exposing and beautiful vibe.

Balance And Composure have seemingly done it again, releasing another solid LP built on heavy, Nirvana-like rhythm guitar, eerie atmospheric lead guitar and incredible lyrical content.

A deluxe edition, re-release of their February album; To Kill A King provide a sound that epitomises the idea of avoiding judging a book by its cover. They’re not metal.

They’re not even punk. Cannibals With Cutlery is a mix of numerous indie-rock sounds, ranging from the piano-driven opener, I Work Nights You Work Days, to the groovy, electric guitar that opens Funeral.

The band screams Mumford & Sons, but manage to delve deeper into uniqueness, with strings, horns and basically any instrument they could find. To Kill A King are extremely easy to listen to, and while some tracks feel a little uneventful and boring; the British band are sure to please followers of their genre.

Cold Skin is the highlight of the album, featuring mellow and atmospheric echoes, predominant bass riffs and Ralph Pelleymounter’s rich, yet casual voice.

To Kill A King are doing their best to figuratively kill the kings of indie-rock and stamp their name on top of the tower; and while some of the tracks show the talent and promise of the British band, the 70-minute LP lacks strength throughout and seems convoluted with ideas.

AARON BRYANS 20

AARON BRYANS

Tussle Pop Frenzy

If you were to pick up and listen to Tussle without previously having heard Day Ravies’ fuzzy demos, you would probably never figure out that it’s a debut album. Tussle has a sense of maturity about it that some first-timers fail to grasp in their formative years and it shows through fervently, all the while dreamily drifting from ’90s pop to shoegaze and back again. Opening with Leaky Tin, the soft tones of Caroline de Dear nudge you in to the Tussle experience, just before feedbacking into a slow, melodic drag accentuated by guitarist Sam Wilkinson taking the vocal lead.

Tussle is a solid repeater record for the summer, providing the soundtrack to lazy hot afternoons or going on a long drive out of town. While it may be following hot on the tail of the likes of Dick Diver and Twerps, Day Ravies is a band that stands up proudly on its own, with sounds that are dazed and dreamy but with a big enough melody to get you to stop nodding along and start moving.

There need to be more debuts like Tussle.

This quartet simultaneously stumbles out into the unknown while having a firm idea of where it wants to go. With pleasant surprises around each corner, it’s not an album to grow tired of easily.

KIRSTIE SEQUITIN

WWW. XP RE SS MAG.COM. AU

YOUNG LIONS Burn Shock Records 2013 has been an incredible year for Australian music; but Queensland’s own Young Lions just couldn’t let the year end without providing some more magic. With gripping choruses, fierce lyrical content and atmospheric verses; you’ll find it hard to believe that Burn is Young Lion’s debut album.

The LP flows smoothly between hard-hitting and punchy tracks like The Runner And The Fighter and Sleepless Rest; and slower, emotive ballads such as Blood And Water. Throughout the album, vocalist Zachary Britt maintains an incredibly powerful voice, supported by haunting backing echoes, pumping drum fills and high-octane lead guitar.

Non-Believer is the highlight of the album; with a strong build from a mellow, simplistic verse, into an energetic and mighty chorus; Britt really lets himself go, and belts out one hell of a catchy track.

It’s hard to put your finger on what makes Burn so damn irresistible. It’s dynamic and compelling; catchy and moving; and it’s easily one of the best debut albums of 2013. It’s alternative rock at its finest, and a must-buy for supporters of Australian music.

AARON BRYANS

WWW. XP RE SS MAG.COM. AU

21

22

WWW. XP RE SS MAG.COM. AU

A R T S & C U LT U R E

|

FILM

|

NEWS

|

EVENTS

PA U L I N A G A R C I A With Gloria opening at the Somerville this week, we caught up with Chilean actress Paulina Garcia to talk about the role that won her a Silver Bear for Best Actress at this year’s Berlin International Film Festival.

explains Garcia. “The title character of the movie, is a character that is always saying to their sons, or to their daughters, not to forget their jacket. She is that kind of mummy. It was interesting for me to do a character that was not in the front line. She is the second line, or the third line, and then she arrives to the front line because of the story. They eventually wrote it like that. It is a common process. In theatre it is done like that.

Maybe sometimes you play it before it’s written. You play a very important part even though you write nothing for the character.

Involved in this character driven film from early on, You understand it.”

Garcia was in part able to help with the creative process. “It was With a character so central to the movie that she is funny to be part of the project, not knowing what I am going not merely the title character but in every scene - almost every to do. I didn’t know which kind of character it was. I knew that frame - of the film, building a trust between the actor and Sebastian (Leio - the director) wanted to write something, a director was obviously of utmost importance. “We spent two woman that was behind the covers not in front of the covers.” months before the shooting. I guess the most interesting thing

WWW. XP RE SS MAG.COM. AU

is we sat together every day, two months before beginning, and just talked about everything ...and trying to build a rapport, build a mood. Because we knew it was important to build a bridge between each other and a confidence. Because we were not friends before, I hadn’t worked with him. In this kind of movie it is very important to have a deep relationship. So that is what we did. We did a lot of stuff. We had dinner together, we went together walking, we had parties together, we gave each other books and poetry... and everything.”

There is no doubt that this trust building exercise paid off and is quite visible on the screen. Garcia allows her vulnerability to be seen, in a character full of contradictions and ripe for interpretation by the audience. “Gloria is a character that is very contemporary, a very modern character. She has a kind of freedom

23

A R T S & C U LT U R E

|

FILM

|

NEWS

|

EVENTS

SUICIDE SOLUTION Alt-pinup phenomenon SuicideGirls are making their way back to Perth! Originally a website specialising in goth, punk and alternative glamour models, SuicideGirls is now a legitimate multimedia empire, including books, comics, movies and live burlesque shows. Their new show, Blackheart Burlesque, strikes at the heart of pop culture, parodying Star Wars, The Avengers, Game Of Thrones, Pulp Fiction and more.

Catch them at The Astor Theatre on Wednesday, March 19, 2014. Tickets are available through metropolistouring.com.au from Friday, December 20.

I’VE BEEN TO BALI TOO Gloria. Continued from cover inside herself. Also she is struggling with her feelings... to be really modern, to be in the moment, is really cool... and she is not cool. She is a mummy. She is a woman from her home. She is not a crying woman.

She is not after her kids to bother them. She loves them. She gives them the freedom to do whatever they want.

“To shoot a character, and to stay in every frame, it’s really challenging. Eleven hours a day, six days a week, that’s really challenging. And most of the time I was alone! Being alone is really tough, as you have to keep something young inside of you, and to keep calm, to stay still and not to do more than what Sebastian was asking me to do. And, as always, such things are so difficult, but I thank my partner (Sergio Hernandez). He adored those scenes, and gave me the truth and the confidence to play them as needed.”

Yet even for a veteran actress of stage and screen, such a commitment to a role can take a toll.

“What happened to me was unusual, because when I finish work, I just return home and take a relaxed bathe, or whatever. But this time it was like when you go away and have holidays in another country, another continent, and then you come back and look at your home. It was like that. It was like coming back from a long trip, where you had to speak another

language. It took me a moment to return to my life.”

Garcia’s first chance to actually see her completed work was at the Berlinale. Quite an unusual place to see your work, but exciting for the actress because of another first.” I was excited as I was doing red carpet for the first time in my life. When I finally sat down in that theatre and the movie starts, I can’t remember what happened to me, cause I was not really there. So I can remember some moments, like you do in dreams. You remember some moments... and others you just invent them, because you need something to link them. And that’s my memory of that moment. I was really excited. In one moment people were laughing, in another moment they were clapping and I was going, ‘Come on! We are not even in a Latin American country!’”

Perhaps the biggest surprise of the Berlinale for Garcia, was actually winning the Best Actress award. Kept in the dark by her director until the actual announcement, she was genuinely shocked, but described it as a wonderful feeling. With Gloria being the Chilean entrant for Best Foreign Film in this year’s Academy Awards, perhaps this is only the beginning.

DAVID O’CONNELL

Get up close and personal with Australia’s relationship with our northern neighbours in Bali: Return Economy, an upcoming exhibition at the Fremantle Arts Centre.

The show looks beyond the kitsch and the clichéd to get to the heart of our dynamic with Indonesia in general and Bali in particular and features video art, political cartoons, ancient traditional works and bleeding-edge modern Indonesian and Australian art.

Elements of the exhibition are drawn from some of the largest private collections of Indonesian art in the world, including the holdings of Chris and Mary Hill, the Bernadt family, John Johnson and the City Of Fremantle Art Collection and the Edith Cowan University Collection. Featured artists include Teja Astawa, Lucinda crimson, Seniman Industries, John Teschendorff, Paul Trinidad, Wayan Upadana, Toni Wilinson and more. It runs from Saturday, February 1, until Thursday, May 21. Go to fac.org.au for more.

BACK IN BLACK If you’re stuck for a Christmas present for your mother this year - a state of affairs we are entirely sympathetic with - you might want to take a look at Black Label, the new and definitive collection of works by Aussie rock icon, Jon English. This six disc package spans English’s entire career, including all his solo hits, musical cast recordings and a DVD packed with rare concert footage. It’s out now through Fanfare classic - your mum will love it.

HIS SULTANIC MAJESTY REQUESTS The sixth season of Artbar at the Art Gallery Of Western Australia will be inaugurated by none other than acclaimed country-rock exponent, Dan Sultan. The perennially popular music series, which sees an eclectic selection of musical talent play intimate shows in the Art Gallery, kicks off in 2014 on Thursday, March 6. Tickets also include entry to the current exhibition. Go to artgallery.wa.gov.au for further information.

A MONTH IN MIDLAND From January 17 until February 9, Midland is being transformed into Midlandia, a land of excitement, adventure and cultural enrichment. Midlandia Locale is a celebration of the unique flavour of the Midland/ City Of Swan area. It’s a pop-up venue which will feature night markets, live music, local retailers, fresh food and wine and more! Midlandia Fringe, on the other hand, is part of the 2014 Fringe World Festival and will serve to showcase the best the festival has to offer from across the nation and around the world.

For the full schedule, head to midlandia.com.au.

X-PRESS FLICK PICKS Dodge this oppressive heat by ducking into your local fleapit and taking in one of the current crop of films each personally guaranteed by our crack team of critics.

THOR: THE DARK WORLD AMERICAN HUSTLE “Everyone’s having a blast portraying the film’s gallery of self-deluded grotesques, with Bale in particular seeming much more comfortable now he’s shed the action hero straitjacket.”

HOW I LIVE NOW “Eschewing the recent plethora of youth-targeted media (you’ll note the lack of magical creatures and hoary ‘Chosen One’ tropes), the film harkens back to an earlier, harder and quintessentially British species of children’s novel, where the aim was essentially to educate the young in the harsh ways of the world.

Think The Machine Gunners or even The Tripods and you’re on the right track.”

24

THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE “...this is compelling, engaging stuff. The Hunger Games series is far and away the best young adult film series since Harry Potter hung up his wand, and arguably more politically astute. Jennifer Lawrence is flat-out brilliant as Everdeen, delivering a heroine worthy of the title.”

BLACKFISH “The film moves like a thriller, almost a whodunnit - apt when you consider that Brancheau’s was not the first death that Tilikum had a flipper in, the big mammal having previously involved in two other fatalities...”

20 FEET FROM STARDOM

THE SPECTACULAR NOW

“A fantastic glimpse into a world few of us have even thought about, with enough star power to sell out a festival and even more talent, 20 Feet From Stardom is a wondrous documentary that, like a great tune, will stay in your head for days afterwards.”

“What could have been a rote “opposites attract” scenario ensues, but the familiarity of the plot is outweighed by sensitive performances, subdued direction, and a tight, clever script that takes would-be clichés and extends them in surprising yet organic ways.”

WWW. XP RE SS MAG.COM. AU

“It’s a hugely enjoyable film, deftly directed by television veteran Alan Taylor, who brings a truly impressive sense of grandeur to the proceedings.

Tonally, the film is a triumph, making light of the more fantastical elements while playing its emotional throughline with an admirably straight face.”

CAPTAIN PHILLIPS “It’s difficult to single out specific elements for praise in what is an across-the-board great film. Greengrass, who also directed United 93 and the good Jason Bourne films, puts his background in journalism and documentary filmmaking to good use, bringing a palpable air of authenticity and workaday realism to the proceedings while at the same being deft enough to sketch such details quickly and clearly.”

For full reviews, interviews, competitions and more, head to xpressmag.com.au.

FILM

THE SECRET LIFE OF WALTER MITTY Daydream Believer Directed by Ben Stiller Starring Ben Stiller, Kirsten Wiig, Adam Scott Ben Stiller brings us a vast sprawling ode to the gen-x manchild in this latest adaptation of The Secret Life Of Walter Mitty.

This is the second time James Thurber’s short story has made it to the big screen and this version follows the 1947 Danny Kaye film in taking little from that story other than the title and a character that escapes to his daydreams due to his dissatisfaction with reality.

Walter Mitty (Ben Stiller) is a negative assets manager (he deals with photographic negatives) at Life magazine. Unsatisfied with the direction of his life, Mitty escapes into flights of fantasy, often involving his workplace crush, Cheryl (Kirsten Wiig). With the final issue of Life looming on the horizon, an important negative of the cover photo goes missing. Mitty must put aside his daydreams and embark on an adventure to find the globe-hopping photographer, Sean O’Connell (Sean Penn) and retrieve the photo.

Although the message of this film is pure Oprah 101 - stop daydreaming and actually pursue your dreams - there is something genuinely inspiring and uplifting about it. This is broad strokes story telling, with little in the way of subtlety, but for all that it’s quite engaging if you allow it to be.

Stiller does double duty here, both as lead actor and director. He manages to bring us wonderful fantasy sequences with a lot of tongue in cheek humour and stunning visuals (the Wachowski siblings- inspired Stretch Armstrong fight and the soaring Space Oddity sequence being highlights). As Walter’s real life adventures become more intense there is a fine line walked between Walter’s reality and daydreams, often producing a comic pay-off from playing on the uncertainty.

Although not nebbish enough to do Mitty justice (even with a buttoned up short sleeve shirt he’s far more Zoolander than IT Crowd), Stiller brings life to a man that has sacrificed personal dreams for the financial security of his family; as his back story is fleshed out, there is little wonder why he has retreated into daydreams. Kirsten Wiig brings a certain flare to a character that easily be just the romantic lead / object of desire, while Adam Scott is pretty much the mirror universe evil doppelganger of his Parks And Recreation character, Ben. Sean Penn is obviously having a lot of fun as Sean O’Connell, action photographer and dispenser of Zen wisdom; Shirley MacLaine is Walter’s understanding mother, in a break from previous portrayals of Mitty’s family and Patton Oswalt acts as a sounding board for the progress of Walter’s life by voicing an online dating constant.

Visually beautiful, warmly funny, and genuinely charming, The Secret Life Of Walter Mitty has much more heart and sentiment than it’s rather generic “follow your dreams” philosophy would have you believe.

DAVID O’CONNELL

FILM

GLORIA In Excelsior Directed by Sebastian Lelio Starring Paulina Garcia, Sergio Hernandez The manic pixie dream girl has grown up, married, had kids, got divorced and has left her empty nest for a night on the town. Gloria is strong, character driven piece that gives the audience a multifaceted interpretation of a woman whose life might not quite be spinning out of control, but it’s definitely lurching a little to the left.

The lonely 58-year-old divorcee Gloria hits the dance floors of Santiago looking for a connection. There she meets the recently divorced Rodolfo, and as they start to pursue a relationship the pressures of family start to threaten to break it apart.

From this relatively simple plot Sebastian Lelio crafts a picture that is as complex as the audience wants it to be. So much is reliant on interpretation of meaning and character. Gloria’s life is told almost in a series of vignettes, sometimes unlinked, sometimes explained, sometimes metaphysical, sometimes merely demonstrative of the breakdown of her life (both physical and social).

There is a huge amount of subtlety on offer here as the film navigates this life, often giving elusive clues to deeper meaning. Gloria’s soulful meditation on mortality when confronted by a busker with a dancing skeleton (leading her to a disastrous reconciliation with Rodolfo) is perhaps the most obvious, but this work is littered with many more.

Undoubtedly though, the best thing about this film is Paulina Garcia’s performance. That is not to take anything way from the movie, but rather a comment on just how strong a performance it truly is. It is measured, passionate, warm, vulnerable, and at times uplifting. From her initial portrayal of a mother feeling isolated from her grown children to the confident dance floor gyrating finale, she inhabits the character from behind Coke-bottle lenses. Phenomenally, Garcia is in every scene of the movie, almost in every single frame. For a character that has been described both by the director and the actress as a background character, to not just hold the audience’s attention but to readily draw them in, is a testament to the power of Garcia’s presence. It is little wonder that she won the Silver Bear for Best Actress at this year’s Berlinale.

Sergio Hernandez’s performance as the acquiescent Rodolfo, is also worthy of note. He gives some charm and passion to a rather flawed character.

It is rare to see such a romance portrayed at later stages of life, rarer still to see such passion displayed openly and quite graphically on the screen. Yet the two seem comfortable enough with each other both on the dance floor and in the bedroom to deliver a believable chemistry. Indeed this may be the only time in the history of cinema where we see a male girdle seductively torn off.

Gloria is an intriguing piece of cinema. Often oblique in its meanings, the audience is guided through this movie by Garcia’s amazing performance. Strangely compelling viewing.

DAVID O’CONNELL

Gloria screens as part of the Lotterywest Festival Films Season at Somerville from December 23 - 29 and Joondalup Pines December 31 - January 5. For more details, head to perthfestival.com.au.

WWW. XP RE SS MAG.COM. AU

25

A R T S & C U LT U R E

|

FILM

|

NEWS

|

EVENTS

BAMBOO OUTDOOR CINEMA OPENING NIGHT

FILM

bamBOO Wednesday, December 11, 2013 Perth’s newest outdoor cinema was inaugurated with a screening of the frothy and romantic short film, Tango Underpants, complete with a special appearance by the film’s star, Emma Booth. Much Ace Pizza was consumed, many Aperol cocktails were downed, and a grand time was had by all.

Photos by Daniel Grant

PHILOMENA

Chris, Emma, Nana

O Mother, Where Art Thou?

Directed by Stephen Frears Starring Judi Dench, Steve Coogan, MareWinningham, Barbara Jefford, Peter Hermann, Sean Mahon Adapted from Michael Sixsmith’s book, The Lost Child Of Philomena, by Jeff Pope and Steve Coogan - who also plays Sixsmith in the film - this latest film by Stephen Frears (High Fidelity, Dirty Pretty Things) tackles the topics of forced adoption and enduring love with warmth, humanity and a kind of clear-eyed indignation that never descends into anger or hatred.

After losing his government job, Michael Sixsmith reluctantly eases himself back into the workd of freelance journalism and begins casting about for a story idea he might finesse into a commission. He balks at the notion of pursuing a human interest story, but is intrigued by Philomena Lee (Judi Dench), an Irish woman who was forced by the Catholic church to give up her illegitimate son when she was a young girl and has spent the last 50 years trying to find him again. His pursuit of the story - and Philomena’s search for her lost son - takes them across the Atlantic in hopes of finding answers, or at least the end of the story, which Sixsmith’s editor cautions him must be “...really, really happy or really, really sad.”

Philomena isn’t a thriller, per se, and the revelations that occur as the plot unfolds aren’t exactly twists, but they are worth discovering while watching the film as opposed to reading about them.

Tia, Mark Caroline, Maddy, Sian

Andrew, Ian

Ian, Anna, Gavin

Frears uses a naturalistic, almost invisible directorial style here, content to let the characters do their thing within the world of the film without resorting to heavy-handed cinematic manipulation, and the film is much the better for it.

Indeed, this is an actors’ film, one that lives or dies on the performances of its two leads.

Coogan is excellent as Sixsmith, slowly moving from a somewhat prickly and standoffish point of view character to someone who is deeply invested in Philomena and her quest. It’s far from a showy turn, but it is a solid and nuanced one, with both Coogan the actor and Coogan the writer content to let Dench take centre stage.

It’s easy to forget the incredible range that Judi Dench possess after having spent years seeing her mostly as 007’s steely commanding officer, but her incredible performance here should leave viewers in no doubt. Dench’s Philomena is an indelible character: somewhat naive and sheltered, but possessed of both an incredible inner strength and an incredible capacity to forgive.

It’s that last which may give some audience members pause. Although the nuns who forced Philomena to adopt out her son are positioned as the chief antagonists here, the film is not a damning indictment of Catholic doctrine but rather a mediation on the power of unconditional love and reconciliation.

Although Sixmith gets to give voice to outrage, those expecting a full-bore condemnation will be left wanting. Perhaps that’s for the best, though; anger and outrage are simple and easy emotions, and it’s clear that Frears, Coogan and Dench have something both more complex and more purposeful in mind here.

TRAVIS JOHNSON

Being Eurasian: Fremantle Arts Centre Abdul Abdullah and Dr Leslie Morgan examine identity, history and ancestry in contemporary Australia. Abdullah’s paintings explore the ways in which people of mixed Asian and European heritage define themselves, while Morgan’s work looks at the entry of Anglo-Indians into the country in the time of the White Australia Policy. The exhibition runs until January 19. Go to fac.org.au for more details.

140 ART: 140 Nationally recognised artists and local emerging talent both contribute to this temporary gallery project that runs until January 31. Andy Quilty, Phibs, Amok, Anya Brock, Pip McManus and more will use shopfronts and walls along Wellington, William and Murray Street as a canvas for an ambitious urban art project. Head to 140.com.au for further information.

Printmakers Landscape: Heathcote Museum & Gallery An investigation into landscape and environment through the medium of print from Robyn Collins, Emily Douglas, Kay Gibson, Jane Hardy and MaryLynne Stratton. The exhibition runs until December 22. Head over to melville.wa.gov.au for further info.

Little Cats B, C And A - Dr Suess

VISUAL ARTS Dr Suess: Pop Up Venue, Hay Street An exhibition of work by the great Theodor Suess Geisel, better known as children’s writer and illustrator, Dr. Suess. All works are for sale, ranging from early pieces through to iconic illustrations. Presented by Linton and Kaye Galleries, the pop up venue is located on Hay Street in the Perth CBD, opposite His Majesty’s Theatre, and is open until December 24.

David Bromley - Paintings, Sculptures And Jewellery: Gullotti Galleries An eclectic collection of works from renowned artist, David Bromley, curated by Bromley and gallery owner, Paul Gullotti. The centrepiece of the exhibition is a newly completed portrait of Perth-born 2011 Miss Universe Australia winner, Scherri-Lee Biggs. It runs until December 24. Go to gullottigalleries.com.au for more info.

Glass Eclectica: The York Mill Boiler Room Gallery A free exhibition of glass pieces in all shapes, sizes and colours from leading Perth glass sculptor, Greg Ash. On display until December 29. Head to theyorkmill. com.au for further information.

26

The Problems Of Explaining A Thunk: Fremantle Arts Centre Set in an installation reminiscent of 2001: A Space Odyssey, Steven Dickie’s newest work explores the limits of conventional knowledge through a series of video and installation works that look at our inability to express and explain thoughts. It runs until January 19. Go to fac.org.au for more.

2013 Bankwest Art Prize: Bankwest Place The exhibition of all the finalist pieces for this prestigious annual award, including works by Rachel Coad, Penny Bovell, Susanna Castleden, Thea Constantino, Penny Coss, Jo Darbyshire and more, runs until March 3. Go to bankwest.com.au for more.

Against The Grain: Alcoa Mandurah Art Gallery An exhibition encompassing the four decade career of Australian multimedia artist and provocateur Tim Burns. It includes over 350 images and a number of video installations. It runs until January 11. Go to manpac.com.au for more information.

The Langue Verte - Art Of Transformation: Buratti Fine Art This exhibition draws together a range of Australian and international contemporary artists who reinterpret the concept of transformation across the media of film, sound, painting, drawing, printmaking and installation. Features works from Barry William Hale, Harvey Bialy, Masonik, Harry Smith and more. Head to buratti.com.au for further details.

Susanna Castleden Camping Continuum (Indian Ocean Drive WA) - The Bankwest Art Prize

A Private View - Modern Masters From The Kerry Stokes Collection: The Art Galley Of Western Australia 26 paintings drawn from one of the most significant private art collections in Australia, representing the major art movements of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It runs until March 3. Go to artgallery. wa.gov.au for further information.

Within These Walls: Wanneroo Library And Cultural Centre Gallery A free combined exhibition collated by the Wanneroo Museum and Art Collections, this innovative and quirky exhibition will showcase rarely seen artefacts from the Museum’s collection, juxtaposed and harmonised with art works from the city’s art collection. It runs until February 2. Visit wanneroo. wa.gov.au for more.

2016: Linton and Kay Galleries, Perth The upcoming 400th anniversary of Dutch explorer Dirk Hartog’s WA landfall has inspired this exhibition by the collaborative photography group Ninety Degrees Five. The culmination of a three year endeavour to capture the sea and landscape, it runs from December 19 - 31. Head to lintonandkay.com. au for more info.

WWW. XP RE SS MAG.COM. AU

THEATRE/DANCE/ PERFORMANCE Cavalia: The White Big Top This magnificent equestrian event combines spectacle and acrobatic skill reminiscent of Cirque Du Soleil with jaw-dropping displays of horsemanship and derring-do.

Until January 5. Head for cavalia.net for more.

FESTIVALS Fringeworld More than 450 shows across over 60 venues, encompassing traditional entertainment forms and the most outré, avant-garde live acts. It runs from January 24 until February 23. Go to fringeworld.com. au for the full programme and ticketing.

Perth International Arts Festival Perth’s biggest celebration of art, film, music, theatre, dance and culture runs from February 7 - March 1.

Head to 2014.perthfestival.com.au for the full program.

To have your performance, exhibition or cultural event listed, get in touch via

localmusicarts@xpressmag.com.au

WWW. XP RE SS MAG.COM. AU

27

28

WWW. XP RE SS MAG.COM. AU

B E AT S

|

NEWS

|

INTERVIEWS

|

REVIEWS

|

EVENTS

London turntablist Duncan Beiny aka DJ Yoda will help Perth punters bring in 2014 with one of his trademark audio-visual sets at The Perth Flying Squadron Yacht Club for Cuban Club on New Year’s Day. He speaks with JOSHUA HAYES about the show and a new project that will keep him Down Under for the first quarter of 2014.

Beiny is a regular visitor to Australia having last brought his AV show to WA for Southbound in 2012. His latest visit will be a little different though - for starters, he has his first New Year’s Eve off in over ten years. “I’ve got some friends out there (in Australia), so we’re going to be hanging out in Sydney, I believe. I’m looking forward to that,” he laughs.

Also notable is that his Australian tour is the start of an extended Down Under stay to work on his third solo album following 2006’s The Amazing Adventures Of DJ Yoda and 2012’s Chop Suey. “Part of my plan for Australia actually, is to use the down time in my tour to try and get together this new album that I have a concept for. It’s a good time for me to work when I’m in Australia because during the days, I don’t get disturbed by phone calls and emails from the UK; I tend to get left alone,” Beiny says, noting that he recorded his latest mixtape, How To Cut & Paste: The Asian Edition during down time on his last Australian tour.

Ideally, Beiny would like to have the album finished by the time he returns to the UK, which would enable him to release it in 2014. “If all goes according to plan, I should be there for three months this time,” he says.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 30

WWW. XP RE SS MAG.COM. AU

29

B E AT S

|

NEWS

|

INTERVIEWS

DJ Yoda. Continued from cover.

Beiny is coy about how he is approaching the album, although he does note that “the concept for this new album is something a bit different from just working with a different established artist on (almost) every track” as he did on his first two albums. The Amazing Adventures Of DJ Yoda and Chop Suey saw Beiny collaborate with a range of artists, from legendary rappers like Biz Markie and Greg Nice, to contemporary acts like Action Bronson and Roots Manuva. “I’m really lucky because when I put together both of my artist albums, I sat down and made a list of people I would ideally like to work with, and in both instances I managed to tick off virtually everyone on that list,” he says.

Chop Suey had been a long time in the making, but it was worth the time Beiny committed to it. “In one sense when you’re making an album - well, for me anyway - I try and make it for me first. If it makes me happy, then that’s more than half the battle done,” he says. “It took me a long time to make that album but, by the time it was finished with it, I really loved it. That way if it hadn’t hit with people I wouldn’t have even been that bothered, but the fact that it has had some really nice reviews and a lot of my peers have liked it, is a bonus.”

In 2002, long before he began dabbling in AV sets, Beiny had already been named one of the ‘50 Bands You Must See Before You Die’ by Q Magazine for his ability to deliver sets that combined turntable wizardry, crowd pleasing tunes and a good dose of humour and since then, he has continued to

push himself in new creative directions.

In between a busy schedule touring, Beiny has explored a range of musical genres with his How To Cut & Paste series (The Asian Edition was preceded by Country & Western and The Thirties editions) collaborated with a classical composer on a Concerto For Turntables and shared the stage with magicians, acapella groups and a 14-piece brass band.

“The whole idea with all these different projects I work on, is that I just want every year to be different for me, and I don’t ever want to tread water and do the same thing, just so that I keep things moving and try new things and try different things,” he says. “I’m totally into this idea of taking DJing and turntablism outside of the typical scenario that you might normally expect it to be in.”

In the same way, Beiny was an early adopter of audio-visual DJ technology, which enables him to scratch and blend videos as a DJ does songs. “It’s a real mix of bits from YouTube and movies and TV shows, anything that I think is cool as well as music videos,” he says of his AV sets.

He has since become one of the world’s most prominent AV DJs for the same reasons that he was honoured by Q Magazine a decade ago - skill, humour and a constant creative drive. “I try and make an effort to make sure that the show changes week in, week out,” he says. “So anyone that has seen an AV show by me before in Perth, or wherever, by the time I come back the whole thing should be completely different to what you saw last time.”

SERIOUSLY SOUND SYSTEM

|

REVIEWS

|

EVENTS

BAGS OF WAX

FAR FROM LAIDBACK

Beat and rhythm addict, DVS1 out of Minneapolis is heading to Perth for a show at The Court on Sunday, February 9. One of the most prominent figures in dance music in the Midwest, USA - he’s been dropping beats since the ‘90s from his vinyl collection of over 10,000 records. Championed by all the techno heavyweights, expect a one-of-a-kind set spanning techno, house, deep and minimal to hard-hitting, when this man hits town. Ticket details to be released soon.

Dutch maestro, Laidback Luke will be blasting around Australia next month, arriving in Perth on the Australia Day weekend for a high energy show on Sunday, January 26 at Salt On The Beach. In the last few years, the Dutchman and owner of Mixmash Records has been spending a lot of time in the USA, his 2012 bus tour Speak Up was followed up by Musically Driven this year, along with a residency at Hakkasan in Las Vegas. Expect some chaotic beats when he mixes electro, techno and bass for the upmost merriment. Keep your eyes peeled for ticket details.

DVS1

Laidback Luke

FORCE FIELDS

The next Mobilee Session is happening on the Australia Day long weekend on Monday, January 27 at the Next Generation Kings Park Rooftop. Featuring Berlin’s, Pan-Pot aka Tassilo Ippenberger and Thomas Benedix - the duo have been dominating international electronic charts with their twist on techno and house. Party-goers get full access to the pool and bar and they’ll also be sets from James A, Aarin Fraser, Saul Bliss and Curlee. Tickets on sale via Moshtix.

Felguk

Pan-Pot

PRODUCER’S CUT

SPECTREM

The Bakery Saturday, December 14, 2013

30

pull out my phone and hum or sing into it.

Most exciting moment on stage? I think the most exciting moment was during my EP launch at Shape Bar. It was the first time I had the opportunity to play my own tunes out and see the crowds response.

There is no better feeling than seeing the crowd go mental to your own tunes.

Lost In Transition

Originally set as an all ages dance party held in the heart of the Perth Cultural Centre and featuring an all local lineup, Seriously Sound System was gearing up to be one of RTRFM’s must attend shows for anyone looking for a night of thumping music to dance to.

But a venue/timeslot change, a reduction in the number of bands and age restrictions, left the final show a shadow of its potential glory.

Opening early the barren venue filled with sounds from Artificial Intelligence DJs. Falling on absent ears though the guys clearly didn’t want to be there. Oliver Laing went some ways to alleviate this, spinning a chilled, experimental set that became quite dark and hypnotising.

Omega Is The Alpha filled the oftunderused Black Box with a mix of atmospheric beats and classical instrumentation that combined into a more worldly music style, but Boys Boys Boys!’ high energy pop was the main crowd puller. Performing a set that largely consisted of material from their recent album, We Are Excited About Everything, they started a little off note, but quickly pulled it together by the second song. The crowd grew but stuck to viewing the band from afar while the menagerie of photographers rushed to the front.

Afterwards the night took a more turntable presence. Untitled Sound Alliance was a notable addition with an ethereal ambient set full of instrumental harmonies, but the other acts melded into each other. The Likes Of You had a nice bass heavy disco feel, but didn’t change it up much.

District and Habitat played very similar sets with not much to distinguish them apart. Throwing their hands in the air to get the crowd amped up with the energy of an overworked parent didn’t help much either. By this stage the courtyard was full of attendees, but talking to punters a number of people didn’t even know there was a second stage.

Dead Weight! managed to claw back some of the high energy vibes with a set that changed things up around every corner, mixing hip hop, glitch pop and junglist tunes to round it out.

Kučka (duo) broke things up, drawing a large crowd early. Laura Jane Lowther’s vocals were truly haunting, the whole crowd captivated even

POOL PARTY

Long term UK visitor to Perth, Elite Force and Brazil’s Felguk are heading to Parker for double headline show on Friday, January 17. Simon Shackleton aka Elite Force is a DJ, producer and owner of the labels, U&A Recordings and StereoPhoenix; while Felguk aka Felipe Lozinsky and Gustavo Rozenthal are the only Brazilian’s to rank in DJ Mag’s Top 100 DJ poll for two consecutive years in both 2011 and 2012. Get your tickets on the door for this evening of eclectic danceable beats.

What kind of music do you make? Drum’n’bass.

Latest release? A four track EP titled Supernova out on Technique Recordings. All four tracks are drum’n’bass, ranging from melodic and soulful to hard-hitting dancefloor with the stand out track being Supernova. Two of the tracks were collaborations, one with another Perth producer by the name of Spillage and the other with a Perth MC named Beckon.

Tools of your trade? Playing out I stick to the CDJs I’ve never been much of a vinyl person. In the studio I use Ableton Live, two KRK Rokit 6’s, an M-Audio Fast Track Pro and an Akai MPK 49 MIDI keyboard.

When are you at your most creative? I find I’m most creative when I have a day off to concentrate on production or when I hear a particular tune which sparks an idea in my head. On numerous occasions, I have found myself at work in the car when I come up with a new melody or idea, only to immediately

Producers and DJs you’re digging? At the moment I’m really digging the new albums from Etherwood and Hybrid Minds, along with new stuff from Sub Focus, Kove and Calyx and TeeBee. On the other side of the musical spectrum, I’m really enjoying another Perth producer by the name of Hypercall.

He is bringing a new wave of catchy ‘80s influenced tunes and I just can’t get enough!

What’s coming up? I’m preparing the next release right now. I have a variety of tracks ranging from neurofunk to dancefloor; can’t wait to show them to the world.

Where can people get hold of your tracks? You can find my music on Beatport, Spotify or iTunes or at soundcloud.com/spectrem Anything else you’d like to tell us? I’m a tall redhead which enjoys the odd game of Quidditch. Shout outs to Hermione.

Spectrem is playing Inhibit Presents Drum & Bass (UK) on Friday, December 20 @ Shape Bar (both levels).

Kucka. Photo by Michael Caves

though technical difficulties prevented them from sounding as good of a live act as they usually are.

The highlight for the night however was The Community Sound System. Diger Rokwell, Ylem and Bob White opened with a slow ghostly groove that lured the crowd in before Mathas, Odette Mercy and The Empty Cup joined them onstage. A reworking of Mathas’ song Skyhawks stood out, featuring a fresh high energy.

While the event wasn’t a disaster, it’s a shame a lot of things were lost in the transition to the new venue. The extra bands initially promoted to play (Boom! Bap! Pow! and Bastian’s Happy Flight) could have helped break the monotony of the DJ acts better, while the centralised location would have likely lured the crowds in sooner and boosted spirits. Ultimately though, good on RTRFM for taking an event that hit a road block and salvaging what they could.

JOHN ALIAGA

SALT NIGHTS OUT

Ethos: A celebration of ‘90s and 2000s R&B music with guaranteed dancefloor action.

Expect to hear: All the bangers that you grew up listening to as well as the lesser known R&B tunes of the era.

Next lineup: Andrew Sinclair, Jack Doepel, James Ireland and Willy Slade.

James Ireland

NINETIES TO NOUGHTIES

Cool stuff: There will be some seriously fierce dancers on stage in ‘90s get up, to get you in the mood.

Answered by: Rebecca Sneddon

Attend if...: You want to party on a rooftop and dance a hot balmy night away to the tunes that you secretly (or not so secretly) love.

When: Saturday December 21 at Dave’s Cans on the roof of the old Myer building, Fremantle. $5 from 8pm until midnight.

Nineties To Noughties Vol.6 is happening this Saturday, December 21 @ Myre Rooftop, Fremantle.

WWW. XP RE SS MAG.COM. AU

GUTI Poster Child While it’s not uncommon for today’s artists to steer away from their musical roots as they’re exposed to life’s adventures, the story doesn’t typically read, ‘self-taught five-year-old piano prodigy turned jazz virtuoso turned South American ‘Rock God’ turned techno DJ’. SIMONE HARLE chats to the Argentinean-born producer/DJ Guti ahead of his appearance at The Collective at Malt this Thursday, December 19.

Guti takes musicality to a whole new level, waiving the diversity flag in the face of accomplished musicians and producers twice his age, with experience spanning several genres and delivery methods.

Born into an exceptionally musical and culturally diverse family, Guti’s chances of missing out on the music gene was zero to none - he was surrounded by orchestral directors, sax players and pianists, setting controls to autopilot for a life in the arts. But listening wasn’t enough for five-year-old Guti. “I remember my cousins and my sisters playing the piano and I was trying to look at what they were doing too and to copy it. Those were good times.”

Guti agreed there aren’t many parents in the world that would encourage a kid to make a life in the music industry, but his knew it was what he wanted. “The musician’s life is really hard; I wouldn’t wish it on anyone,” he says. “But if you really love it and you are willing to give your life to it, then it’s a gift and it is beautiful”.

The gift according to Guti is that music keeps on giving, is the opportunity to travel and be engulfed in the EDM revolution, playing the world’s mega festivals to tens of thousands of people. His advice to anyone trying to decipher the difference between listening to and loving music or making a life of it, is worth pondering.

“Again - it’s a really hard life. Most probably you will never make it, but if you love music and give it everything, music will love you back. My advice would be sit and think really deeply about what you love in life and do that”.

Many artists move to music industry hubs around the world to expand on their opportunities.

Not to leave a creative stone unturned, Guti’s recent move to Dusseldorf, Germany, was inspired

by Desolat label mate, Loco Dice in an effort to find security in techno and learn from his friend.

On his move away from Argentina - “it has helped everything. It’s changed my life and made me a man.

I’ve grown as a person and as a musician and it’s a step you have to do”.

Intriguingly Guti isn’t familiar with the Australian music scene, when asked if there was anything he wanted to do while here, his response was not uncommon for a tourist listening to urban yarns of Australia’s most deadly. “I do not want to get bitten by a shark, I want to stay away form sharks and avoid anything to do with sharks”. That might be hard Mr Guti considering the industry you have chosen for your life.

If you want to get inside Guti’s head right now, listen to Oscar Peterson’s Trail Of Dreams: A Canadian Suite. And for a preview of what you might get from a Guti set, hit up soundcloud.com/medellinstyle/ guti-live-ade-desolat-mixmag.

FEATURECASTBoxing Beats Making his way to our shores for the longstanding Boxing Day event, Breakfest, happening at Belvoir Amphitheatre on Thursday, December 26, Southampton producer Featurecast took a moment to chat with TOM KITSON about his big, fat, party beats.

Discovered through online media since uploading his first mixes and now on the cusp of his first official Australian tour, Featurecast aka Lee Mintram brings a producer’s skills and creativity to the DJ set format.

Committing to a mix in the same way many artists would only approach their own tracks, gives Mintram’s sets a certain quality - designed to be listened to more than just the once.

“I don’t really plan my sets,” he states.

“I’ll sort of chuck everything into one folder and see what it’s like on the day. What I do work on is my own production and remixes, which I can throw in the mix so I’ve got a more exclusive set.”

Benefiting from the tight knit family of breaks artists worldwide, Mintram has made a name for himself and been able to give back to other aspiring producers and DJs. “There is a strong community feeling among breakbeat artists, like in most genres,” he says. “We’re all willing to help each other out and give support. There’s no negativity, especially in places like Canada where everyone knows everyone.”

The genres he focuses on vary from breakbeat to drum’n’bass to hip hop, stemming from his keen interest in creating sets and tracks that offer something extra. “Hopefully that focus on putting my own edits, tracks and various genres into my mixes sets me apart from other DJs,” he says. “If other DJs are playing a track for example, I might put the tune into Logic on my computer and mess around with it to make something new and different for my set.”

After stumbling across the world of dance music, he’s never looked back, maintaining a stubborn determination to stick at it.

“I got into making music through my neighbour who was a DJ,” he says. “He showed me a few things in the hip hop and dance music areas and I went out and bought a cheap pair of decks to get started with.

“Once I discovered my love for it, I refused to do anything else and I’ve been really fortunate that people have listened to my music.”

As music technology and production methods continue to evolve, Mintram says he is always keen to try something new and learn from other producers, all to achieve one important goal.

“My studio set up is really simple now, I used to have a lot of analogue equipment but currently just have a Mac, speakers, Logic and Ableton software and a number of plug-ins,” he explains.

“Some people like the idea behind using analogue equipment to get that warmer sound, but I think as long as the music is making people dance it doesn’t matter so much how the sound was created.”

WWW. XP RE SS MAG.COM. AU

31

B E AT S

|

NEWS

AMPLIFIER/ CAPITOL Harlem Wednesdays THE BIRD TW!ST DJ Holly Doll Seventh Son CLUB RED SEA Cheek GOLD BAR 6th Annual Gold Rush Christmas Party THE GRAND Anthony Grier GROOVE BAR (CROWN) DJ Crazy Craig LEEDERVILLE HOTEL Xmas Party DJ Reuben THE LLAMA BAR Akuna Club ft.

Anna Lunoe METRO FREO NEXT GEN MUSTANG BAR DJ James MacArthur NEWPORT HOTEL Peking Duk SOVEREIGN ARMS Jordan Scott VELVET LOUNGE STICKYtapes vol.IV VILLA Looptroop Rockers, Sage Francis THE VILLAGE BAR Village People Wednesdays

EVE NIGHTCLUB Retro Thursdays ft.

EVE DJ Team FLYRITE Gunfever Christmas Party Dead Owls, Kill Teen Angst, The Community Chest, Pat Chow, Race To Your Face GROOVE BAR (CROWN) DJ Ray KALAMUNDA Grizzly LEISURE INN DJ Peta MALT Collective ft. Guti NEWPORT HOTEL Tiki Bar Open Mic Night FRIDAY 20/12

AIR NIGHTCLUB VIP Platinum Fridays AMBAR Botnek AMPLIFIER Fridays Are Back THE AVIARY Paradise Paul, NDORSE, Baron Gutter THE AVENUE DJ Lokie Shaw THE BAKERY Midland THE BAYSWATER Mario Zuji THE BEAT (DOWNSTAIRS) PLAY

Chet Faker - Jan 4-5 @ Southbound, Sir Stewart Bovell Park, Busselton

THE BIRD Moana Spaceman Antics Eerie Serpent Ali Flintoff THE BRASS MONKEY Vicktor & James Ess THE BRIGHTON DJ Peta CAPITOL Capitol Fridays ft.

DJ Roger Smart CAPITOL (UPSTAIRS) I Love 80’s & 90’s THE CAUSEWAY Acoustic Sundowner THE COMO Funky Bottoms THE CRAFTSMAN Britty DAILY PLANET Sundowner Sessions THE DEEN Student Night

THURSDAY 19/12

THE BIRD ICSSC ft Clunk THE CAUSEWAY Xport Thursdays CLUB RED SEA Candyshop CONNECTIONS Bingay Hanna Conda THE CRAFTSMAN FiveO DAVE’S CANS ENERGY 2000 Josh McAullife Willy Suede & Jack Doepel Manimal DAn D. Lyons

32

INTERVIEWS

|

REVIEWS

|

EVENTS

HALCYON

THE COURT

METRO FREO

WEDNESDAY 18/12

|

Peking Duk - Wed, Dec 18 @ The Newport

EMPIRE BAR Howie Morgan, DJ Wasteland, Jordan EVE NIGHTCLUB Recharge Fridays FLAWLESS Monarch Fridays GEISHA Foreign Exchange Darren Bouthier, Nuphoria, Tom Love vs JK Robot THE GENEROUS SQUIRE Anaru GINGER NIGHTCLUB Mondos “Feel Good” Dance Party GOLD BAR Friday Vanity THE GRAND Jay Mackay GROOVE BAR (CROWN) DJ Crazy Craig THE HIGHWAY HOTEL Crackers

LAKERS TAVERN Grizzly LIBRARY Sneaky MUSTANG BAR Swing DJ/ Cheeky Monkeys/ DJ James MacArthur METRO FREO Frat House Fridays ft. Death Disco MY PLACE Karaoke NEWPORT HOTEL Jay from Geordie Shore PARKER Stafford Brothers PLAYERS BAR Hooch THE QUEENS Reuben ROCKET ROOM Howlers ft. DJ Frank N Bean SHAPE BAR Inhibit’s Drum N’ Bass Rregula Spectrem VLTRN Greg Packer SOVEREIGN ARMS Ang3l TIGER LIL’S Charlie Bucket, Adam Kelly, Alex K THE WHALE & ALE DJ Spinback YAYA’S ACE ft DJ Pup SATURDAY 21/12

AMBAR Japan 4 Micah, Oli, Wish, Tee EL, MR.eD AMPLIFIER Pure Pop ft. Eddie Electric THE AVIARY Troy Division, Paradise Paul, NDORSE THE BALMORAL Back To The 80’s BAR 120 Little Nicky THE BAKERY Deer Santa Rainy Day Women Bastians Happy Flight Kucka Sam Perry Lacey

Botnek - Fri, Dec 20 @ Ambar

Frighteners Braves Rag n’ Bone Morrie Beth BEAT NIGHTCLUB (UPSTAIRS) CANVAS BEAT NIGHTCLUB (DOWNSTAIRS) Big Kidz THE BIRD The High Learys Vinyl Disk Jocks Vivian Marlowe BRASS MONKEY DJ Peta & Jordan Scott THE BRIGHTON Misschief C5 METRO FREO I Love 80s & 90s ft. Darren Tucker / Dr Wazz CAPITOL Death Disco ft.

Death Disco DJs CAPITOL (UPSTAIRS) Cream of the 80s ft. DJ Roger Smart CLUB RED SEA Fresh Saturdays THE CAUSEWAY House Party THE COMO Anaru EAST END BAR Home EMPIRE BAR DJ James Shipstone, Miggy

WWW.XPRESSMAG.COM.AU

FLAWLESS LQ Saturdays GEISHA BAR PIERO GOLD BAR Saturday Pure Gold THE GOOD SHEPHERD Chocolate Jesus THE GRAND Jay Mackay GROOVE BAR (CROWN) DJ Dan LEEDERVILLE HOTEL (DOWNSTAIRS) Under The Arena Party THE LIBRARY DJ Victor / DJ Riki LOST SOCIETY Chalk METRO FREO Metropolis Saturdays ft.

Darren Tucker / Dr Wazz / Ben Carter / Shane Hewson NEWPORT HOTEL Gravity Tahli Jade PARKER Christmas with Parker ACEBASIK, Axen, Jackness, Kastel, Paul Scott

Ekko & Sidetrack

Inhibit’s Drum & Bass FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20 @ SHAPE BAR (BOTH LEVELS) PARAMOUNT Felix/ DJ John/ Jordan PLAYERS BAR LUXE THE QUEENS Kenny L THE SAINT Crackers SHAPE BAR Big Ape THE SHED Huge / DJ Andy SOVEREIGN ARMS River Milnes TIGER LIL’S Wordsmif, Alex K VILLA Funhouse Full Moon Party Philly Blunt France China Acebasik Solo THE WHALE & ALE DJ Spinback THE WEMBLEY HOTEL Lokie Shaw

YAYA’S Arcadia All Nighter SUNDAY 22/12

THE AVIARY Rooftop Sessions Paradise Paul, Troy Division, NDORSE BOB’S BAR Robosonic (sold out) THE BIRD Sunday Sound Selections THE BRIGHTON Squinty THE CAPTAIN STIRLING Lokie Shaw EMPIRE BAR DJ Victor, Riki GROOVE BAR (CROWN) DJ Ray LAKERS TAVERN River Milnes MUSTANG BAR DJ Rockin’ Rhys NEWPORT DJ Tom Drummond

THE PEEL ALE HOUSE Hages ROSEMOUNT HOTEL The Get Down THE SAINT DJ Jon Ee & Az-T THE QUEENS Fiveo & Sam Spencer MONDAY 23/12

MUSTANG BAR Triple Shots THE ROSEMOUNT HOTEL Bada Bingo!

VILLA Metric Xmas Party Clubfeet DJs TUESDAY 24/12

MUSTANG BAR Danza Loca Salsa Night THE GOOD SHEPHERD Tropical Christmas

Deadline Monday 5pm. The Club Manual is a service to advertisers listing all DJs & Dance Music. All inclusions are at the discretion of X-Press. Email guide@xpressmag.com.au

MUSTANG

MY PLACE

THIS WEEK GOLD BAR’S 6TH ANNUAL GOLD RUSH CHRISTMAS PARTY 18 Gold Bar LOOPTROOP ROCKETS, SAGE FRANCIS 18 Villa PEKING DUK 18 Newport

BEDROOM TO BIG HOUSE DJ COMP ft.

Yolanda Be Cool 27 Metropolis Fremantle

LIBRARIANS & BARBARIANS NYE PARTY 31 The Library

BENI 10 Metropolis Fremantle 11 Amplifier

100 MILLION NIGHTS 11 Chevron Festival Gardens

AUDIOJACK 28 Geisha

NEW YEARS EVE MASQUERADE PARTY 31 The Breakwater

EGO & LUKE MILLION 11 Amplifier

LADI6 & HOME BREW 13 Chevron Festival Gardens

ELITE FORCE & FELGUK 17 Parker

MIAMI HORROR 15 Amplifier

I WAS THERE ft. tyDi 31 Villa

WAKA FLOCKA FLAME (cancelled) 19 Metropolis Fremantle

GONG ON (THE ROOF) NYE 2013 ft. Wooshie, Diger Rokwell & more 31 Dave’s Cans, Myre Rooftop

GUTI 19 Malt

MARTEN HØRGER 31 Ambar

STAFFORD BROTHERS 20 Parker

SALT ON THE BEACH ft. De La Soul 31 North Fremantle Beach

MIDLAND 20 The Bakery BOTNEK 20 Ambar SAMPOLOGY & DJ BUTCHER 20 Ginger Nightclub INHIBIT’S DRUM & BASS ft. Rregula, Spectrem, VLTRN, Greg Packer & more 20 Shape Bar (both levels) HEDKANDI PRESENTS PIERO 21 Geisha ROBOSONIC 22 Bob’s Bar (sold out)

STICKY FINGERS NYE ft. Stillwater Giants, Lyall Moloney, Death Disco DJs & Micah 31 Capitol ORIGIN ft. Wiz Khalifa/ A$AP Rocky & more 31 Ozone Reserve SOUL CLAP & WOLF + LAMB 31 The Bakery PARKERS NEW YEARS EVE 31 Parker DJ T 31 Geisha

METRIC XMAS PARTY ft. Clubfeet DJs 23 Villa

NEW YEARS EVE 2014 DJ Adam Kelly, Cee, Kid Deep 31 Tiger Lil’s

DECEMBER BREAKFEST ft. Stanton Warriors/ LTJ Bukem/ Plump DJs & more 26 Belvoir Amphitheatre

METRO CITY NEW YEARS EVE Ummet Ozcan, MaRLo and Organ Donors 31 Metro City

BREAKFEST AFTER PARTY 26 Ambar BOXING DAY FOAM PARTY ft.

Shapeshifters (UK) 26 The Court CAKE ft. Wordlife / Genga / Drifter / Get More / Beyond Tha Noize 27 Parker

A NYE TRIP Akouo, Leon Osborn, KLA, Eddie Electric, Cowboys and indie kids 31 Amplifier NYE BEACH PARTY DJ Reuben 31 Leederville Hotel NEW YEAR’S EVE PARTY 31 The Deen

GARDEN OF EDEN NYE 31 Lost Society A PROHIBITION NEW YEARS EVE Brow Horn Orchestra, DJ Stacie Todd, DJ Rex and DJ Zel 31 Print Hall TROPICAL NYE PARTY LDRU, Yahtzel, TKST, Sable 31 The Causeway THE GATHERING NYE: THE END IS THE BEGINNING IS THE END 31 The Hellenic Club LEE FIELDS & THE EXPRESSIONS 31 Rooftop Movies NEW YEARS EVE UV PAINT PARTY 31 Metro Freo

JANUARY CUBAN CLUB ft. De La Soul/ DJ Yoda 1 The Flying Squadron Yacht Club CLUB PARADISO ft. Bag Raiders & Yacht Club DJs 1 Salt On The Beach WONDERLAND ft. Sampology, Indian Summer, The Kite String Tangle & more 1 Myre Rooftop IAN CAREY 3 Parker EPROM & CHAOS IN THE CBD 3 The Bakery SOUTHBOUND ft. Bonobo, Horrorshow, Solange, MGMT, Anna Lunoe & more 4-5 Sir Stewart Bovell Park, Busselton CYRIL HAHN 4 The Bakery

SUNDOWN SESSIONS ft. Fat Freddy’s Drop 18 Scarborough Beach PHETSA FAREWELL 18 Villa JUAN ATKINS 19 The Court DANNY DAZE 23 The Collective @ Malt HEAVYWEIGHT SOUNDZ ft. London Elektricity, Memtrix, MC Wrec 24 Metro City MAX VANGELI 24 Villa MARK KNIGHT 25 The Deen LAIDBACK LUKE 26 Salt On The Beach MOBILEE SESSION ft.

Pan-Pot 27 Next Generation Kings Park Rooftop AVICII 27 Perth Arena HANNAH WANTS 31 Parker

FEBRUARY ALICE RUSSELL February 6 & 7 Chevron Festival Gardens ST JEROME’S LANEWAY FESTIVAL ft. Cashmere Cat/ Earl Sweatshirt/ Four Tet/ Jamie XX 8 Esplanade Park & West End, Fremantle #TOGETHER ft.

Ta-ku, Zeke, Kit Pop, Cosmo Gets, Sable 8 Chevron Festival Gardens DVS1 9 The Court

AMPLIFIER

DJ SHADOW 15 Chevron Festival Gardens EBONY BONES 16 Chevron Festival Gardens AUSTRA 17 Chevron Festival Gardens DJ FOOD, DJ CHEEBA, DJ MONEYSHOT 18 Chevron Festival Gardens THE ASTON SHUFFLE 23 Secret Show ROBERT GLASPER EXPERIMENT ft. Roy Ayers 27 Chevron Festival Gardens PUBLIC ENEMY 28 Chevron Festival Gardens

MARCH

KERSER w/ DJ Dazastah, Bitter Belief, Complete & Omac 1 Metro City FUTURE MUSIC FESTIVAL ft. Deadmau5/ Macklemore & Ryan Lewis/ Phoenix/ Hardwell & more 2 Arena Joondalup GOOD LIFE ft. Deadmau5/ Macklemore & Ryan Lewis/ Hardwell & more 3 Arena Joondalup ILLY 21 Capitol BATHS 23 The Bakery JURASSIC 5 28 Metro City

Joey Bada$$. Photo by Daniel Craig

JOEY BADA$$ Great Summer Knight The Underachievers / REMi Capitol Wednesday, December 11, 2013 Capitol hosted two of New York’s most promising young hip hop acts on Wednesday night, with Joey Bada$$ and The Underachievers performing to a nearfull house at a pivotal point in their respective careers.

Both acts have generated plenty of critical acclaim and blog buzz through free mixtapes and fresh off their Smoker’s Club national US tour, visited Australia ahead of a year that will likely see both releasing their official debut albums.

After an early set from upcoming Melbourne rapper REMi, Brooklyn hip hop duo and recent signees to Flying Lotus’ Brainfeeder label – The Underachievers performed a set drawing from their acclaimed 2013 mixtapes, Indigoism and Lords Of Flatbush. The crowd responded well to Gold Soul Theory, recent single The Proclamation, and the bouncy Lex Luger production on Flexin. Although AK and Issa Gold both did a great job hyping the audience, their performance was still a little rough, with their enthusiasm to rap each other’s lyrics sometimes rendering them unintelligible.

After The Underachievers finished with Midnight Augusto, DJ and producer Statik Selektah took the stage to further warm up the crowd ahead of Joey Bada$$. Self described as ‘Statik Selektah the Showoff’, he proceeded to show how he earned that moniker by

WWW.XPRESSMAG.COM.AU

cutting and beat juggling the Incredible Bongo Band’s Apache, before slowing it down to create a live version of the beat from Nas’ Apache-sampling hit Made You Look.

Selektah then introduced Joey Bada$$ who launched into Summer Knights, the opening track from his acclaimed 2012 mixtape 1999, from which most of his set was drawn. The front end was heavy with crowd favourites including the playful World Domination, his verse from A$AP Rocky’s posse cut 1 Train and FromDaTomb, which Statik Selektah mixed in with Naughty By Nature’s Hip Hop Hooray beat.

Bada$$’ set barely drew from his more recent - and less well-reviewed - mixtape, 2013’s Summer Knights, although the songs that were performed including the anthemic 95 Til Infinity, were appreciated. Two of Bada$$’ high profile collaborations with legendary producers were also highlights -Two Lips, a recent track Bada$$ did over an unreleased J Dilla beat, and the DJ Premier collaboration Unorthodox.

Towards the end of the set, Bada$$ was joined onstage by CJ Fly from his Pro Era collective, who helped perform their collaborations Hardknock (a highlight, as CJ Fly beatboxed while Bada$$ rapped the third verse) and Don’t Front, as well as his own recently released solo track Still The Motto. They then paid tribute to their late friend Capital STEEZ who died of a suspected suicide a year ago, with the collaboration Like Water and set closer Survival Tactics. Both songs featured STEEZ and his recorded verses were played as Bada$$ and CJ Fly hyped the crowd.

Like The Underachievers, Joey Bada$$’ set left a little room for improvement - a more commanding stage presence is needed to make an exciting live show out of his laidback, mid-’90s-influenced sound although the 18-year-old still has plenty of time to grow as a performer.

JOSHUA HAYES

33

YO U R G U I D E TO W H AT ’ S O N T H I S D E C E M B E R

GADDA DA VIDA Haven’t decided on a New Year’s Eve party yet? The Lost Society Bar’s Garden Of Eden Party on Tuesday, December 31, might be just the sin you’re looking to commit. The theme is “epically biblical”, with the chic bar transformed for the night into a garden paradise, with forbidden fruit cocktails and Adam and Eve dress up. DJ Mishtee will be dropping the beats for the night, so come down and give yourself over to temptation. Tickets available from Ticketbooth.

The Lost Society Bar’s Garden Of Eden Party

MONKEYING AROUND

LOSING YOUR MOJO For those Fremantle-faring fustilarians, Mojos Bar is holding a New Year’s Eve party featuring 10 of Perth’s finest musical acts across two stages, including FOAM, Red Engine Caves and Hideous Sun Demon. So if the idea of the cool sea breeze on a warm summer’s night and some ridiculously good burgers appeal to you, head on down. The show starts at 7pm, tickets available through Oztix.com.au, or at the door for $20.

FOAM, Mojo’s NYE

For those not prepared to face the prospect of Christmas Day lunches without a rollicking good time the night before, The Brass Monkey will be holding their Christmas Eve party on Tuesday, December 24, with student-priced drinks, $19 Christmas turkey and live bands from 8pm. It’s free entry, so celebrate the festive season the way Santa would have wanted it – dancing to rock music with a stomach full of booze and a turkey drumstick in hand.

Brass Monkey, Christmas Eve

HAPPY BLUES YEAR

DEER IN THE HEADLIGHTS Markets by day, live music by night; this superherolike combination will be happening at The Bakery on Saturday, December 21, for Deer Santa. Starting from midday, the markets will feature a selection of art and fashion to the sweetly melodic sounds of several solo artists, including Husband, Tim Gordon and Ruby May. For the night owls the bands kick off at 7pm, featuring Rainy Day Women, Bastian’s Happy Flight, Kučka and Sam Perry. Presale tickets available now from The Bakery website, or from the door for $20.

DJ DEATH DUEL

WTF NEWPORT?

Want to see some cool DJs before they get too popular to admit liking? Metropolis Fremantle is holding Bedroom To Bighouse, with some of Perth’s finest up-and-coming DJs competing for a residency and $3000 worth of DJ gear. Entries are still open until Friday, December 20, so if you’re a bedroom beat dropper make sure you hit them up. The first heat begins on Friday, December 27, featuring Yolanda Be Cool. Tickets available at the door.

The Newport Hotel will be holding WTF? NYE Party on Tuesday, December 31. Starting at 7pm, it will be a night dedicated to the weird and wacky, so come in a costume that makes people go: ‘WTF?’ Rock cover band Gravity will be providing entertainment, alongside the Newport Hotel house DJs. Tickets are available at the Newport Bottle Shop or at the door for $10, and come with a complimentary cocktail.

Holiday season getting you down? The Charles Hotel’s Blues Club is holding a very special performance by itinerant Texas bluesman, Eugene ‘Hideaway’ Bridges on New Years Eve, Tuesday, December 31. The night kicks off with a performance by Len and Janette Whittle from 6.30pm. For $100 you can get a dinner and show ticket, including a three-course dinner, or, for the more frugal blues fans, a show ticket for $45, with entry at 9pm. Tickets available from Ticketmaster.com.au.

WTF? NYE Party

Eugene ‘Hideaway’ Bridges

Yolanda Be Cool, Bedroom To Bighouse

Rainy Day Women, Deer Santa

REVENGE OF THE NERDS Head down to The Sail & Anchor on Tuesday, December 31, for the Geeks vs Nerds NYE party. With free entry it’s the perfect opportunity to bring out your inner geek and dress up as your favourite sci-fi, video game or anime character for a chance to win an Xbox One. There’ll be music by Child’s Play and The Better Days, as well as a console tournament and free arcade machines, it’s the perfect chance to get messier than the moral implications of Luke and Leia making out. Doors open 11am.

Geeks vs Nerds NYE 34

YOUR PLACE OR MINE? For those who want to spend New Year’s a little bit fancy, My Place Bar & Restaurant are holding a New Year’s Eve party on Tuesday, December 31. Featuring finger-food, four hours of free drinks served from 9pm and a three-course dinner for only an extra $40, including an antipasto entrée, a choice of chicken parma, steak or fish for main and a chocolatehazelnut mousse for dessert. Tickets are available through my-place.com.au.

Looking for a badass Christmas party you can’t bring home to meet the parents? The Rocket Room and Support Act are hosting Rock’n’ Xmas All Stars on Friday, December 20. Featuring a host of rock tribute acts, including U-Tube, Proud Mary and Bohemian Rhapsody, the night will be a celebration of the birth of our lord and saviour, the God Of Rock, and a chance to raise funds for career musicians suffering hardship.

Tickets are available from rocketroom.com.au or at the door, which opens at 8pm.

My Place Bar & Restaurant

Proud Mary, Rock’n’ Xmas All Stars

SEX, DRUGS AND JINGLE BELLS

WWW. XP RE SS MAG.COM. AU

WWW. XP RE SS MAG.COM. AU

35

YO U R G U I D E TO W H AT ’ S O N T H I S D E C E M B E R

TOBY Serendipity In Seattle After a year spent travelling the world, Toby is headed back from recording a new album with producer Ryan Hadlock (The Lumineers) in Seattle for her last show of 2013 this Saturday, December 21, at the Indi Bar. TRAVIS JOHNSON catches her in transit.

Where are you now, still in the US or back in Aus? Right now I am in Sea Cliff in Long Island New York. I just did my first show ever in New York, opening for a band called Antigone Rising at the Rockwood Music Hall.

We play in Philadelphia, and then play my own headline show in Salt Lake City - first show here ever and we have sold out... 300 people, which I am super excited about.

How was your recording experience in Seattle?

This was amazing. I was really enjoying the sound of The Lumineers album and looked into where it was recorded and who with. I contacted Ryan Hadlock (producer) and he agreed to recording this next album. Ryan just recorded Vance Joy’s new album as well. This week we finished four tracks and in late January we will record the rest of the album.

It’s been such an interesting week.

Bear Creek Studio is so beautiful. Set right in the woods. Several different rooms, very cabin like, very warm atmosphere. I worked with an awesome drummer Joe Plummer - he’s from Modest Mouse/ Cold War Kids/The Shins. The bass player, Adam Trachsel, and violinist, Lauren Jacobson, were both on the Lumineers album and were both so easy to work with. Plus there Kimo Muraki on guitar/banjo. We all slept and ate at the studio - which gave it an instant family type of feel.

This turned out really well, as you don’t have any distractions. You are there to focus on the recording only. I’m feeling really good about the first four tracks - they just came together really nicely.

Working with such a creative team was wonderful.

Now I just have to write a bunch of songs in the next month before heading back.

How did you find US audiences compared to local crowds?

I have only done the one show on this trip.

KRISTIE SMITH Hell Hath No Fury Kristie Smith launches her debut LP, Bunny Boiler, at The Fly Trap on Friday, December 20, supported by Young And The Beast and Dean James Oliver.

AARON BRYANS reports.

Built on life experiences and painful memories, Kristie Smith is holding nothing back on her debut LP, Bunny Boiler, a brutally honest record.

“I commenced writing songs two-and-ahalf years ago when I was at the absolute end of my tether with life,” she explains. “With tears streaming down my face I picked up a pen to write some stuff down because it seemed like there was nothing else I could do. Lo and behold, the words turned into a song. Lo and behold, one song turned into many songs. Writing songs became a coping mechanism with every curveball that life threw at me.

“It is easy to put your feelings into words when the feelings are so strong. You know exactly what it is that you need to say, and the point that you’re making is spewing out the end of your pen tip.”

Drawing on influences such as AC/DC, Dolly Parton, Fleetwood Mac, Missy Higgins and Suzi Quatro, Smith utilises music in a way many of us wish we could - to convey our deepest feelings and overcome obstacles that have held us down for far too long. For Smith, her creative inspiration has been inspired by male stupidity and insolence.

“Given that songwriting is so much easier when you are feeling strongly about something, it just 36

seemed kind of natural that most of them evolved when someone pissed me off. Although, most of the songs are written about one person in particular.

I guess that is where the title of the album stemmed from; I wanted to call myself the Bunny Boiler, before ‘he’ had an opportunity to do so.”

Before you jump to conclusions and assume Smith is another mediocre mainstream artist whining about juvenile love dramas, you’ll need to sit back and listen to any of her available tracks.

“First-time listeners will be a bit shocked, I don’t hold back. Most of the songs contain explicit lyrics. All of them tell a story. I think the female listeners will have a laugh and will identify with the lyrics. We’ve all been in places where we’ve allowed ourselves to be mistreated, put down and allowed our kindness to be taken advantage of.

“I have always had trouble speaking up when someone has been rude or nasty to me. It is always after that I find myself saying ‘I should have said this’ or ‘I should have said that’. Most of the songs on Bunny Boiler are me having my chance to say what I wish I’d said at the time.”

If Smith’s in-your-face and to-the-point style is exactly what you’ve been looking for then she’s got the perfect night planned for you. Her LP launch at The Fly Trap looks set to be a solid night of musicianship and entertainment.

“I’ve got a few surprises up my sleeve,” she says. “From flying bunnies to special guest star appearances from Australia’s best blues guitarist, Dave Brewer. The quality of musicians onstage alone should be enough though really; Pete Grandison on guitar, Carrie Leotta-Pereira of WAAPA on vocals, Phil Bailey on bass and Murray Campbell on drums.

“The support act is Young And The Beast, who are going to open up with some sweet and innocent songs of love; their sound is captivating.

Another surprise; all the way from Melbourne, will be Australia’s answer to Neil Young, Dean James Oliver who will be taking the night out with some tunes. It is going to be amazing night!”

PARKER AVENUE Stepping Out Founder, Peter Ashton, explains to AARON BRYANS the growth of Parker Avenue from a cover band to a heavy rock quartet who are launching their second EP, It Isn’t Dead, at The Rosemount tonight, Wednesday, December 18 with special guests Tracksuit and Ragdoll.

As every musician will know; the introductory stages of a developing band will often involve playing covers in a bid to develop and understand a common sound.

For Parker Avenue, playing covers was more then just a jam session. Following his move to Perth in 2007, Peter Ashton formed the band Parker Avenue named after the street he lived on when he first came over.

“Playing covers, for me, was one of the best ways to really learn songwriting from some of the greats we’ve had over the past few decades whilst providing great performance experience,” says Ashton. “Not to mention being influenced by immersing yourself in the playing styles of some of the best rock/pop instrumentalists.”

This style proved effective, as the band not only began to develop a following in Perth, but they also began to find their own, unique sound.

Described as “heavy, rock-based riffage placed on top of hard, groove-based, Taylor Hawkins/ Steve Judd influenced drumming,” Parker Avenue see themselves as a combination of “enchanting

WWW. XP RE SS MAG.COM. AU

I haven’t performed a lot in the States - I mainly focus on Canada and Europe. As for US shows I have only ever performed at a couple of shows and festivals in Milwaukee and Utah of all places. The crowds are generally pretty responsive. I really don’t understand why, but they do seem to love the Australians. So this works in my favour straight up. It’s funny, you can really feel the difference in audiences in different countries. I love this. I come home to Australia and we do rocky pub type of shows, whereas in Europe we do more theatre/intimate style shows. Canadians love the whole singer/songwriter thing. And the US I am slowly trying to work out!

What was your favourite experience while in the States?

Can’t really choose one. I think the show in Salt Lake is going to be super special. We have some hardcore fans there from a festival I have played for the past few years. Womens’ Red Rock Festival is about five hours from SLC, and when I played there in August this year the audience did a surprise flash mob to my song, Don’t Go. It was so awesome to be on stage and watch 600 people doing these dance moves - they had planned it for months, it was the best surprise ever.

Another great experience was meeting Brandi Carlisle in the studio and then go to her show.

She was doing a secret show in a small venue with only 300 people. It was an incredible show - such high energy, such a tight band. She’s one of my favourite artists, so this was pretty special for me.

What does 2014 hold in store for you?

2014 so far looks big. Finishing the album in Seattle, a bunch of WA shows, a tour over east, and four months of touring in Europe. We have some festivals booked in Holland, Germany, Denmark and a bunch of shows around Europe. I’m really looking forward to being back there.

musical and lyrical themes” and “powerful rock based guitaring, uniquely distorted violin and emotionally aggressive vocals.”

Following the 2012 release of their debut EP, New Missions, Ashton, Manoli Vouyoucalos (bass) and Salv Di Criscito (drums) felt that they needed another edge to their sound and began the search for a fourth member. They found was violinist, Andie White.

“Andie has brought another dimension to our sound,” Ashton says. “We’ve been figuring out ways to best use the violin in these tunes. There’s been a lot of trial and error recording her parts onto our demos through Pro-Tools and trying heaps of different effects to enhance the placing of this extra instrument into a rock band without over doing it. We thought it’d be a bit much to have the clean sound of the violin everywhere all the time. Overall it’s an ongoing experiment, a work in progress like any band trying to push boundaries, but we think we’ve made a pretty good start with the songs on this new EP.” With a stronger sound and forward ambitions, Parker Avenue found Vass Shevtsov, drummer for Hailmary, and owner of Vasectomy Studios; heading up to Perth Hills to begin recording their next set of edgy and melodic tracks.

“Vass is an absolute champion. I sincerely doubt we could’ve had a better person to engineer the recording of these new tunes. Not to mention his studio is out in the Perth hills so it was an absolute pleasure just being there. You have to be so very patient, skilful and open minded as the process, especially when you’re trying new things, can be very long and frustrating. Vass was everything we needed and more.”

From home recordings, to studio-quality tracks, Parker Avenue’s second EP, It Isn’t Dead, looks to be a leap ahead in terms of sound and production.

However this isn’t all we’ll be seeing of Parker Avenue; the quartet are looking to release a third EP in the coming months with the goal of combining all three into a full release album.

WWW. XP RE SS MAG.COM. AU

37

38

WWW. XP RE SS MAG.COM. AU

LOCAL NEWS

|

INTERVIEWS

|

REVIEWS

|

Q & A

TAYLOR SWIFT NIB Stadium Wednesday December 11, 2013

Pond - Photo by Rachael Barrett

POND Doctopus/Leure Metropolis Fremantle Thursday, December 12, 2013 Opening the night for business were the curious and creative sounds of Leure, aka Ash Hendriks. Her stunning vocals and airy yet crisp synthetic textures were a mellow introduction to the event. The use of heavily processed white noise and ambient sounds were a wonderful example of thoughtful electronic production that translated well into a live performance.

A distinct change of pace came next in the form of Doctopus. There is something hugely affable about the presence, style and music of these three awesome lads. A lo-fi yet generally up tempo affair, from above the fuzzed out low end and vocal section the lead guitar cut through the mix with a delicious precision that had the crowd wobbling to and fro.

Fro m t h e m u r k y d e p t h s ros e t h e powerhouse of international acclaim that is Pond.

The music of Pond is fantastically entertaining, but the ground on which they stand has been well covered over time. Their music takes broad strokes

from some the finest psychedelic music of human history: Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin and Jethro Tull to name a few. Parallels aside, Pond appear able to fashion perfection from amongst chaos. The minimal synthetic sounds and well considered tones merge and interpolate with a smoothness that moves both body and mind. Energy was built and increased with orgasmic intensity in a subtle series of inclines and plateau’s that would come crashing back down to earth just as climax was reached. The wailing vocals and ever-present shape pulling from frontman Nick Allbrook was an apt embodiment of the bands style and vibe, but borrowed Robert Plant vocal routines were sometimes a little too obvious for a generation that demands newness.

Whether due to a drought of the required substances, or perhaps just due to it being a Thursday night, the pulsating and powerful experience created by Pond just didn’t seem to make the crowd surge how it should. The combined intake of Pond is likely to make Keith Richards seem sober in comparison, but this only seems to add to the ‘kings of the party’ mystique and musical awareness that had the venue packed to the brim with hippies and rockers alike. With a sound and a fanbase that will continue to grow and gain numbers the world over, Pond seem to have no intention of getting off the wave. Just follow the ripples.

There was little doubt as to the album that Taylor Swift would be pulling most of her material from for the evening with the massive red curtain draped over the stage awaiting her arrival. The half hour before the show had the large screens showing footage of Swift and her band as the stadium filled with a sea of flashing lights and hand crafted signs.

It was in the opening seconds as the curtains fell to reveal Swift that it was clear that she is a long way from the simple country artist that was featured on her debut record. State Of Grace announced that she is a bona fide stadium pop act with only the slightest notion of any twang left in her tunes. While working through tunes from Red, Swift was as comfortable working the large screens to great effect as she is strutting her stuff down the catwalk.

No detail was left to chance with Swift’s band garnering red instruments, a sea of dancers surrounded her on stage, others waved large flags and luminous drums were rolled out before drummers flew around the stage. Video montages would play regularly to hail another costume change for the Nashville native that would undoubtedly involve a new pair of hot pants that would show off the longest legs in pop music.

Swift makes impeccable and flawless records, so there is something about seeing that she is not quite as fluid in her movement as her dancers and that her immensely likeable voice will show signs of fault in the live area, yet there is no effort to hide these in a show where the performer never appears to be dialling it in.

The stadium staples were all there as

Taylor Swift - Photo by Bohdan Warchomij

Swift was escorted through the crowd during 22 to a smaller stage half way through the stadium that would see her perform a short acoustic set. These stripped back moments of You Belong With Me and Begin Again are testament to the strength of the songwriting of pops brightest star.

Things again arced up for the finale that saw layers of costumes being ripped off, an overblown version of I Knew You Were Trouble, Swift behind the piano for All Too Well, mechanical platforms lifting the singer over the crowd and a firework and confetti augmented version of uber-hit We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together to end things on a high note.

Taylor Swift is meticulous, professional and, armed with a swag of killer tunes, is one hell of a performer.

CHRIS HAVERCROFT

JAMES HANLON

CHAINSAW HOOKERS The Decline/Ben David/ Medicine Steel Panther - Photo by Michael Wylie

YaYa’s Saturday, December 14, 2013 Perth horror-rockers Chainsaw Hookers have had a hell of a good year, with a number of high profile gigs, Blood Rock Fest going from strength to strength and a well-deserved WAM Award win cementing their place in the upper firmament of the local heavy scene, but even they struggled to draw much of a crowd for the launch of their new 7 inch, The Split. Not that it was their fault - Saturday night’s oppressive heat was more to blame than anyone else.

That meant few people saw the energetic Medicine warm up the early crowd, with lead singer Mic refusing to confine himself to the stage, lunging into the audience and at one point leaping onto the bar. They’re a fun, frenetic band and if they can maybe drop the standard issue cookie monster growl vocals they have a good chance of stranding out from the genre crowd.

Ben David has no trouble doing that, his punk-acoustic aesthetic drawing favourable comparisons to some legendary acts - he’s a little bit early Tom Waits, a little bit The Pogues without the brogue. The Adelaide singer/songwriter - formerly of Ben David And The Banned, currently doing non-solo stuff under the moniker The Hard Aches - does a fine line in bluesy, broken-hearted tales of heartache, loss and drunkenness, and is well worth checking out when next he comes our way.

The Decline delivered a typically fast and furious set, determined that this, their last gig of the year, would be an exclamation point on a killer 12 months, demonstrating their enviable ability to fuse

PASSENGER Stu Larsen Riverside Theatre Friday, December 13, 2013 It’s been a hell of a year for UK-born singer-songwriter Michael Rosenberg, AKA Passenger, and Perth has been happy to be a part of it, judging by the sellout 2000+ crowd that came to see his final show for 2013.

Proceedings were kicked off by his longtime travelling companion and friend Stu Larsen, who was greeted with such warmth and familiarity it was clear there were more than a few repeat customers in the audience.

Larsen’s original material might suffer from being a little formulaic, but his cover of Coldplay’s Fix

STEEL PANTHER Buckcherry/Fozzy Metro City Thursday, December 12, 2013

Chainsaw Hookers - photo by Matt Jelonek

classic, four on the floor punk rock with impressively polished musicianship. Finally, Chainsaw Hookers tore it up.

Thematically, the Hookers are not what you’d call a complex band; they are, however, an extremely good one, offering up their paeans to ‘80s horror, cheap booze and good times with a striking combination of earnestness and skill. Although not the highlight of their year - surely that was their turn at Blood Rock Fest - their show on Saturday proved one thing beyond a shadow of a doubt: they’re gonna keep doing what they do and they’re not going to slow down for anyone.

TRAVIS JOHNSON

You demonstrated his love of a good melody stripped of pomp. When he hits his stride, he may be one to watch in his own right.

Passenger, on the other hand, is well and truly there already. Whereas Larsen clearly loves folk tradition, Passenger marries the form to contemporary sub/urban life to make something that speaks directly to his audience. Plus, he’s clever and charming, which helps some.

After opening with Fairytales And Firesides, Passenger thanked the audience for its attentiveness, joking, “I don’t want you to think you’re not allowed to move... just because I’m playing depressing folk songs... and you’re in a seated theatre.”

Perhaps it’s the years of busking, but he sure knows how to work a crowd - a stomped up version of Life’s For The Living riled them up before he made them pin-drop quiet as he went unplugged and un-mic’d for Blind Love.

A classic bit of folk storytelling prepared the audience for a brand new song, Riding To New

Steel Panther made a triumphant return to Metros after little more than a year, bringing some new tunes, a big video screen and all the un-PC hair metal revivalism that the good folks of Perth could handle.

First up though, a muscular set from the very metal Fozzy. Fresh from touring the States with Saxon and fronted by ex-pro wrestler Chris Jericho, they went down a treat and warmed up the sold-out crowd.

Buckcherry burst on stage full of vim and vigour, revelling in their finest sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll anthems – Lit Up, So Far, All Night Long and Everything all getting the sleaze-rock loving crowd sweaty. And then… a souped up cover of Icona Pop’s synthpop I Love It polarised the audience despite being re-christened Say Fuck It, followed by energy-sapping sloppy snippets of AC/DC’s Big Balls and The Stones’ Miss You, before regaining the upper hand with the irrepressible anthem, Crazy Bitch.

Steel Panther’s comedy routines are as important to their show as their cock rockin’ tunes, and the headliners’ set started with a video of them playing ‘Strip Battleships’ backstage with some

*ahem* classy young ladies. It’s all high camp, tonguein-your-choice-of-cheek, politically incorrect fun, and Metros lapped it up.

With a minimalist set that made good use of the big video screens and with the two international support bands in place, Panther have also attracted a larger crowd this time round, so it’s a shame they seem a little wearier. Even if the tour and the heat have taken their toll, they are still full of spunk and make sure the night is a riot.

Whether they’re singing about Asian Hookers, chicks for whom you must Turn Out The Lights, or suggesting that Eatin’ Ain’t Cheatin’, you know they embody the party spirit of the late eighties, and top it off with ridiculous comedic moments that leave no self-deprecating or Spinal Tap-ish clichéd stone unturned.

Yeah, it’s all juvenile teenage swear bear humour delivered by four guys in their ‘40s, three of which are wearing over the top wigs, so by now you know whether you would have loved or hated it.

Steel Panther don’t care – they love ‘80s heavy metal, confetti guns, teased hair and tastefully torn spandex, and they’re playing specifically for the sellout crowd who do, too.

The Hollywood hellraisers finished off their main set with Death To All But Metal, before an encore of the Motley Crue-spoofing Community Property, a throng of gyrating chicks pulled up from the audience and all the sexism one can handle, the more-Bon-Jovi-than-Bon-Jovi (playing on the other side of the tracks this very night) Fuck All Night And Party All Day, and the ever-classy 17 Girls In A Row – all without causing offence to a single soul.

SHANE PINNEGAR

York, which can’t be done justice in review. But when Passenger takes you low, he does it gently and with heart.

After that, the crowd just ate it all up -rising from their chairs whenever they were asked; clapping when they were asked; eventually singing on and in demand. In a way, the atmosphere was almost revival-style, with Passenger sharing the love of his craft with his people.

If that’s a pretty naive way of looking at things, that’s his gift. For all Passenger’s cleverness and occasionally cynical wordplay, he is still a young man full of wonder at the world and his own life, proud of what he does yet obviously humbled that people appreciate it. While he describes his songs as miserable, there’s a lot of celebration in there too.

There are far worse things people could be listening to than Passenger -- such as whatever the hell Coldplay is these days. Hell, he even does a more than passable cover of Daft Punk’s Get Lucky. Dawwww.

SABIAN WILDE

WWW. XP RE SS MAG.COM. AU

Passenger - Photo by Jarrad Seng 39

LOCAL NEWS

|

INTERVIEWS

|

LIVE REVIEWS

|

Q & A

Kill Devil Hills - photo by Rachael Barrett

THE KILL DEVIL HILLS The Disintegrates/The Floors Mojos Sunday, December 15, 2013 It’s appropriate that December 15 was the hottest day of the year so far. The first adjective that springs to mind when Brendon Humphries unleashes his livedin rasp is ‘weathered’. Whether a whimper or a howl, The Kill Devil Hills’ music comes from a place that is undeniably sun battered.

In the early hours of this balmy evening, the early swelter came courtesy of The Disintegrates, guitar music boiled down to its thick, gunky essence.

They had long conversations with one another, but barely any banter with the audience, save the bemused observation that ‘You look up after 10 minutes and suddenly there’s 20 fucking people here’.

The melody follows the guitar, the bass follows the melody and the drums clatter everything together into a pleasingly raw mess. They close with Get Off Your Arse, a minute and a half or so of adrenaline that wouldn’t disgrace The Stooges.

Next, The Floors slunk onto the stage.

Singer Luke Dux half crooned, half howled ‘Had me a girl…’ and the template was effectively set. The Floors plied their libidinous, fuzzed-out Hendrix swagger on the verses, explosive release on each chorus. They rarely introduced songs – in fact, when asked by an audience member the name of the new number dedicated to KDH lead guitarist Steve Joines’ habit of drinking Worcestershire sauce, the reply came: ‘I have

no fucking idea what that song is called.’ As the sinister walking blues of the closer dissolved inevitably into chaos and then stopped dead, the name didn’t much matter – the content did the talking.

The favourite Freo sons of the headline treated us, appropriately enough, to an overview of their catalogue, promoting Past And Future Ghosts, a live album doing just that. The stuck mainly to the dark and expansive side of their sound, from the echoing drums and moody sway of The Bends, to rapturously received fan favourite Gunslinger. The centre piece of their set was the breathtaking slow burn ghost story The Nets, a new number so spooked out, cinematic and evocative you can practically taste the sea air. At their best, they make their six members a kind of skeletal orchestra, such as on I Wonder If She’s Thinking Of Me Now, where the ghostly violins and spider web guitars build under the seething, sinister desire of the vocals. For those of us who are particularly partial to the cowboy lullaby side of the band’s sound, even better was to come. They closed with the as yet unreleased gem I Don’t Believe It Anymore, an anthemic soulful ballad, before returning (as a duo, just Humphries and drummer Todd Pickett on backing vocals) for an encore - the La petit mort of the moving, sexy ballad, Lucy-On-All-Fours. Balmy, earthy and deliciously profane, it was the evening in miniature.

CHARLIE LEWIS

THE BEAT NIGHTCLUB Perth favourites The Novocaines headline Clockwork’s Christmas Party this Friday, December 20, with support from Scalphunter, Amberdown and The Black Leaves. Head down and gather around the Clockwork Christmas Tree and get a little somethin’ somethin’.

Runaways Christmas Party this Saturday will be huge with In League, Statues, The Produsers debut show and Lowlight. Don’t miss out. Doors open at 9pm!

The Novocaines

ROSEMOUNT HOTEL This Wednesday catch local rockers Parker Avenue launching their debut EP with special guests Ragdoll and Tracksuit. Thursday night it’s the annual Xmas Charity Rock Fest featuring AstroPig, Branson Tramps, Aztech Suns and Coronal Sky, with proceeds going to the Salvation Army. Friday night I, Said The Sparrow launch their debut album with support from Sydney rockers Corpus and locals Sail On! Sail On! and newcomers Roswell, and Saturday it’s the Rosemount’s annual A Not So Silent Night Christmas party starring The Love Junkies, The Devil Rides Out, Usurper Of Modern Medicine, Grim Fandango, Foam, Catherine Traicos And The Starry Night, Puck, Trigger Jackets, Budweezer, The Shakeys, Echo Kid and Health Legend paying over two stages.

Doors open 5pm. Head to rosemounthotel.com.au for ticket info.

YAYA’S It’s time for a few massive shows to finish off the year!

On Thursday, December 19, it’s Them Sharks, while Friday sees French Rockets, Uvees and Reptiluminati.

On Monday Big Tommo’s Open Mic gets festive with a very special Christmas party featuring veterans of the Open Mic and a rare acoustic performance by The Midnight Mules. Finally, celebrate Christmas Eve the right way from 4pm, with performances from Being Beta, AstroPig, The De Niros, Cavalier, Lifespan and many more!

40

WWW. XP RE SS MAG.COM. AU

INDI BAR Nathan Kaye will be playing The Indi Bar this Wednesday night with support from Danny Ross who was a finalist on this year’s mega popular TV show, The Voice, as well as WAM Award winner Jordan McRobbie. This is an all-star line up!

Nathan Kaye

OCEAN ONE BAR This Sunday, December 22 it’s the Miss Ocean One Calendar Girl 2014 Launch Party. There will be a bikini parade and calender presentation plus DJ from 3pm, and live music from Tahnee from 6pm. Head down and meet the 12 calendar girls and get your 2014 calendar signed - available for just $10.

MOJOS Friday, Dec 20, The Whistling Dogs will launch the long awaited first album in a festival style super concert with the help of good friends Mr Justin Walshe as MC, The King Of The Travellers, Jeff Strong, Rachel Charles and Numbats. A fancy/ novelty hat dress code will be applied and policed so don your best! Food is catered by Manna Whole Foods’ very own Michelin Chef Kenny Austin (The Aunts), it’s sure to be a winner, so jot it down in your diary! Doors from 7pm, music from 8pm. Entry is $15 on the door.

MUSTANG BAR Pop the boot and pull out the grill, Northbridge’s finest brings you the all new Tailgate Sundays. From 5pm every Sunday and running ‘til late, ice cold beers and tasty burgers will be accompanied by WA’s best bands and DJs playing rockabilly, surf rock, soul, garage, rhythm ‘n’ blues, ska and everything in between. Entry is free. This week we welcome The Volcanics, Rockin Hendy, The Disintegrates and DJ Holly Doll.

Put the word to the herd about upcoming album, EP, single or video releases by dropping us a line at plugyourgig@xpressmag.com.au

LIKE JUNK Genre-hopping darkwave weirdos, Like Junk launch their new single, Dolly, Dolly, and it’s accompanying video this Friday, December 20, at The Astor, with help from The Painkillers, Hayley Beth and The Choke. We put a few questions to frontman Scott White.

Tell us about Dolly, Dolly.

It’s a funny one because it’s quite a lot older than any of the other songs we currently do. It was actually the first song I wrote specifically for Like Junk back in 2007 and has been played by every lineup of the band. But earlier versions of the song don’t compare in any way to what we do with the song now.

Who did you record with and where?

We recorded the single with Mister Max Ducker at Cellar Sessions in both Perth and Melbourne. The core of the song was recorded by the three of us along with guest cellist Allie Rose Clarke, with some of the mixing done here in Perth right before Cellar Sessions relocated to Melbourne. A little while later Max and I did cello arrangements and the majority of the mixing at the new Cellar Sessions in Melbourne.

Tell us about the video.

The video was written and directed by Melinda Tupling, and it’s a ghost story set in the conservative ‘50s about a rebellious girl, Dolly, who decides to pursue her dreams to be a musician. The struggle between what’s expected of her by society and what she wants is the catalyst for what unfolds in the video

Like Junk

FEVER DOGS Gun Fever’s free Christmas show is happening at Flyrite this Thursday, December 19, with performances from Dead Owls, Kill Teen Angst, The Community Chest, Pat Chow, Race to Your face, Adam Livingstone of emperors, plus DJs. Kick off is at 8pm.

Dead Owls

ROCK’N XMAS Support Your Local Muso This Friday, December 20, at The Rocket Room, catch local tribute bands Poor Stanley, U Tube, Bohemian Rhapsody and more for a rocking and raucous yuletide, with all proceeds going to Support Act. We caught up Support Act National Welfare Coordinator and former Go-Betweens drummer Lindy Morrison to get the lowdown on the music industry charity.

“Support Act provides grants and the payment of bills to people who have worked in the music industry who get ill and, as a result of that illness, their expenses are now more than their income.

“There’s enough evidence that show that most people working in the arts earn less than $20,000 a year. That puts them in a situation where they are often unable to afford houses, they are always paying rent and that becomes incredibly difficult when they go onto the aged or disability pension as they get older and ill. And there is no superannuation for musicians or roadies for that matter, so they have no fallback position when they get older.”

This Sunday, December 22, Joondalup’s BLVD Tavern plays host to a greatly lineup of local talent, including Animal, Jake And The Cowboys, September Sun, Amberdown, The MDC, Tahlia Beeson and Mitchell Friend. Entry is $5 from 5pm.

Lindy Morrison of Support Act

Animal

ANIMAL MAGNETISM

LO C A L & L AU NC H I NG 18/12 20/12 20/12 20/12 20/12 26/12 28/12 28/12 09/01 10/01 17/01

PARKER AVENUE Self Titled EP Launch @ The Rosemount I, SAID THE SPARROW Deathpop Album Launch @ The Rosemount KRISTIE SMITH The Bunny Boiler Album Launch @ The Fly Trap LIKE JUNK Dolly, Dolly Single/Video Launch @ The Astor THE WHISTLING DOGS Self Titled EP Launch @ Mojos APACHE Creature Video Launch @ Mojos BUZZ KILL VAMPS Isolation Sickness EP Launch @ YaYa’s THE WEAPON IS SOUND The Direct Dub EP Launch @ The Bakery LIONIZER The Same Way Single Launch @ Mustang Bar THE DISAPPOINTED I Disagree With Myself Single Launch @ Amplifier THE DEVIL RIDES OUT Empty Sky Video Launch @ The Rosemount WWW. XP RE SS MAG.COM. AU

41

TOUR TRAILS

THE NERVE, DECEMBER 19

THIS WEEK THE NERVE 19 Mojos Bar WAKA FLOCKA FLAME 19 Metro Freo CANCELLED SAN CISCO 19 Studio 146, Albany 20 Settlers Tavern, Margaret River 21 Prince Of Wales, Bunbury HUMAN NATURE 20 Perth Zoo CATHERINE TRAICOS 21 Rosemount Hotel 22 Fremantle Arts Centre THE GIN CLUB 21 Mojos Bar SMOKE MY TOUR FlipTrix, Dirty Dike, Jam Baxter, Ed Scissortongue and DJ Sammy B-Side 24 Metro Freo

DECEMBER BREAKFEST 2013 26 Belvoir Amphitheatre EARTHLESS & THE SHRINE 28 Rosemount Hotel 29 Mojos Bar DE LA SOUL 31 Salt On The Beach EUGENE BRIDGES 31Charles Hotel NEW YEARS EVE FIESTA Abbe May, The Kill Devil Hills, Split Seconds, Simone and Girlfunkle, Huge Magnet, The Floors, Patient Little Sister & DJ Shannon Fox 31 Rosemount Hotel JEBEDIAH 31 Dunsborough Tavern STICKY FINGERS 31 Capitol

JANUARY DE LA SOUL/DJ YODA 1 Cuban Club (Flying Squadron Yacht Club, The Esplanade, Dalkeith) SOUTHBOUND !!!, Bonobo, Crystal Fighters, Grizzly Bear, Horrorshow, Johnny Marr, London Grammar, MGMT, Neil Finn, The Roots, Vampire Weekend and more!

3-4 Sir Stewart Bovell Park, Busselton, WA WATAIN 9 Amplifier Bar BONJAH 9 Prince Of Wales, Bunbury 10 Redcliffe On The Murray 11 Mojos Bar 12 Indi Bar EGO & LUKE MILLION 10 Metro Freo 11 Amplifier Bar DEAFHEAVEN 11 Rosemount Hotel I DECLARE WAR 12 YMCA HQ 15 Amplifier Bar

42

WWW. XP RE SS MAG.COM. AU

TOURS LIVE

DE LA SOUL, DECEMBER 31

DAUGHTERS 14 Amplifier Bar THE CRIMSON PROJEKCT 14 Fly By Night EYEHATEGOD 16 Rosemount Hotel PARAMORE 16 Perth Arena HALF MOON RUN 16 Fly By Night Club SUNDOWN SESSIONS Fat Freddy's Drop Mat Mchugh 18 Scarborough Beach Amphitheatre BOYS OF SUMMER TOUR BlessThisFall, Like Moths To Flames 18 Amplifier Bar 19 YMCA HQ MISFITS 19 Amplifier Bar SETS ON THE BEACH 19 Scarborough Beach THE AUDREYS 19 Mojos COLIN STETSON 20 Mojos Bar 21 Hellenic Club KARNIVOOL & DEAD LETTER CIRCUS 23 Red Hill Auditorium CELTIC WOMAN 24 Riverside Theatre GREY GHOST 24 Amplifier Bar 25 Prince Of Wales, Bunbury 26 Mojos Bar PETE MURRAY 25 Leeuwin Estate Winery ESKIMO JOE 25 Wintersun Hotel BORN OF OSIRIS & AFTER THE BURIAL 25 Rosemount Hotel 26 YMCA HQ WE ARE SCIENTISTS 26 Amplifier Bar AVICII 27 Perth Arena LEMURIA 29 Rosemount Hotel

FEBRUARY SELENA GOMEZ 1 Perth Arena SUN CITY 1 Amplifier BIG DAY OUT Pearl Jam, Arcade Fire, Blur, Snoop Lion, Major Lazer, Tame Impala, Flume & more!

2 Claremont Showgrounds CAT POWER 4 Fly By Night Club BRUCE STRINGSTEEN & THE E STREET BAND 5,7,8 Perth Arena ASH GRUNWALD 5 Indi Bar 6 Prince Of Wales, Bunbury 7 Settlers Taver, Margaret River 8 Fly By Night 9 Ravenswood Hotel, ED KOWALCZYK 5 Metro City ALICE RUSSELL & BOOKER T JONES 6 & 7 Chevron Festival Gardens EDDIE VEDDER 7 Riverside Theatre #TOGETHER ft. Ta-Ku,

Zeke, Kit Pop, Cosmo Gets, Sable 8 Chevron Festival Gardens D at Sea 8 Amplifer Bar 9 YMCA HQ LANEWAY FESTIVAL 8 Fremantle THE BASICS 9 Chevron Festival Gardens THE LOCUST 10 Amplifier Bar JULIA HOLTER 10 Chevron Festival Gardens 100 MILLION NIGHTS 11 Chevron Festival Gardens BOYUP BROOK COUNTRY MUSIC FESTIVAL Sara Storer, McAlister Kemp, Mike Carr, Buddy Goode, The Borderers, Graham Roger, Rohan Powell, Rob Black & the Kelly Gang, Eric Erdman, Courtney Conway, Connie Kis Andersen 12 – 16 Boyup Brook Country Music Club IALARU 12 Chevron Festival Gardens LADI6 & HOME BREW 13 Chevron Festival Gardens SOFT SOFT LOUD 13 Fremantle Art Centre Courtyard HUSKY 14 Chevron Festival Gardens DJ SHADOW 15 Chevron Festival Gardens THE NATIONAL 14 Belvoir Amphitheatre MIAMI HORROR 15 Amplifier Bar PETE MURRAY 16 Astor Theatre EBONY BONES 16 Chevron Festival Gardens AUSTRA 17 Chevron Festival Gardens DJ FOOD, DJ CHEEBA, DJ MONEYSHOT 18 Chevron Festival Gardens OKKERVIL RIVER 19 Chevron Festival Gardens OLAFUR ARNALDS & KEATON HENSON 20 Chevron Festival Gardens STU LARSEN 20 Mojos Bar DON WALKER 21 Clancy’s Fremantle 22 Civic Hotel 23 Fremantle Arts Centre DAUGHN GIBSON & OWL EYES 21 Chevron Festival Gardens POND, AAA AARDVARK GETDOWN SERVICES, FELICITY GROOM, THE SILENTS, DJ LADY CARLA 22 Chevron Festival Gardens ALTAN

DEAFHEAVEN, JANUARY 11 23 Chevron Festival Gardens WIRE 24 Chevron Festival Gardens SETS ON THE BEACH 23 Scarborough Beach CHARLES BRADLEY 25 Chevron Festival Gardens MADELEINE PEYROUX 26 Chevron Festival Gardens ROBERT GLASPER EXPERIMENT 27 Chevron Festival Gardens DOLLY PARTON 27 Perth Arena NEKO CASE 27 Fly By Night Club PUBLIC ENEMY 28 Chevron Festival Gardens BRUNO MARS 28 Perth Arena

MARCH MIKHAEL PASKALEV 1 Chevron Festival Gardens KERSER 1 Metro City FUTURE MUSIC Deadmau5, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Phoenix, Hardwell, Knife Party, Eric Prydz, Rudimental, Tinie Tempah, Chase & Status 2 Arena Joondalup LIONEL RICHIE & JOHN FARNHAM 2 Sandalford Winery Swan Valley THE WONDER STUFF 2 Rosemount Hotel SOUNDWAVE Green Day, Stone Temple Pilots, Alice In Chains, Rob Zombie, Megadeth, Placebo and more!

3 Claremont Showgrounds GOODLIFE FESTIVAL Deadmau5, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Hardwell, Rudimental, Knife Party, Kaskade, Porter Robinson 3 Arena Joondalup DAN SULTAN 6 Art Bar BRIAN MCKNIGHT 7 Riverside Theatre GURRUMUL 8 Kings Park BILLY BRAGG 8 Perth Concert Hall GOLD PANDA 9 The Bakery QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE & NINE INCH NAILS 11 Perth Arena JOSH PYKE 12 Quarry Amphitheatre THE ANGELS, DIESEL & MI-SEX 14 Graham Bricknell Music Shell, Bunbury SONGS IN THE KEY OF MOTOWN 14 Astor Theatre NEIL FINN 16 Perth Concert Hall THE ROLLING STONES

19 Perth Arena ABSU & PORTAL 20 Amplifier Bar THE SMITH STREET BAND & THE MENZINGERS 20 YMCA HQ 21 Rosemount Hotel ILLY 21 Capitol KATE MILLER-HEIDKE 21 - 22 Quarry Amphitheatre SEBADOH 25 Rosemount Hotel DARK TRANQUILLITY & ORPHEUS OMEGA 25 Capitol 30 SECONDS TO MARS 25 Challenge Stadium JOHN BUTLER TRIO 27 Fremantle Arts Centre 28 Belvoir Amphitheatre 29 Old Broadwater Farm, Busselton JURASSIC 5 28 Metro City HUNTER & COLLECTORS 29 (sold-out) & 30 Kings Park & Botanical Garden KRIS KRISTOFFERSON 30 Red Hill Auditorium

APRIL PACOPENA 2 Perth Concert Hall SUZANNE VEGA 11 Astor Theatre WEST COAST BLUES N ROOTS Matt Corby, Michael Franti, John Mayer, Dave Matthews Band, Doobie Brothers, Boy & Bear 13 Fremantle Park BOZ SCAGGS 14 Crown Theatre 3 INCHES OF BLOOD 16 Amplifier Bar TOXIC HOLOCAUST & SKELETONWITCH 20 Rosemount Hotel SKID ROW & UGLY KID JOE 23 Metro Fremantle MICHAEL BUBLE 26 & 27 Perth Arena

MAY LEE KERNAGHAN 9 Crown Theatre JASON DERULO 10 Perth Arena ARCTIC MONKEYS 13 Perth Arena PETULA CLARK 17 Perth Concert Hall SEPTICFLESH & FLESHGOD APOCALYPSE 18 Amplifier Bar THE ENGLISH BEAT 23 Rosemount Hotel ELLIE GOULDING 28 Challenge Stadium

JUNE YO GABBA GABBA! LIVE! 7 Riverside Theatre JAMES BLUNT 13 Riverside Theatre BASTILLE 18 Challenge Stadium KEITH URBAN 29 Perth Arena

TO U R TA L E S

THE JOHN STEEL SINGERS Right Said Thread The John Steel Singers are all set for Southbound, happening Friday-Saturday, January 3-4, at Sir Stewart Bovell Park, Busselton. DAVID JAMES YOUNG reports.

Between waltzing the wife of a widower and throwing bricks from the overpass, The John Steel Singers brought the sunshine, the wonder and the romance back to Brisbane’s indie pop scene.

Their 2010 debut, Tangalooma, won over listeners, critics and musicians alike, scoring the adulation of heroes like Custard’s Dave McCormack and The Go-Betweens’ Robert Forster, who produced the album. After a much-deserved break, the quintet regrouped and headed for the West Coast of America to begin work on album number two – only to find their California dreaming would soon turn nightmarish.

“We worked with a producer in LA, who was this really awesome dude who was on the same level as us,” says Tim Morrissey, the band’s lead vocalist, guitarist and primary lyricist. “Once we got into the studio, though, you’re on the clock trying to pull the sound together – and it wasn’t quite working for us. We kept thinking that we were running out of time, always trying to move on to the next thing as quickly as possible. Unfortunately, we’re the kind of band that takes a lot of time with our stuff – and, eventually, if you keep doing that with every different part of a song, it just doesn’t work out the way that you want it to. When we got back from the States, we just decided to give it a go ourselves.”

It was with this that the band assigned itself to the idea that if you want something done right, you’ve got to do it yourself. They headed back through LAX and across to the starkly different surrounds of the Sunshine Coast, where they set up in the home of lead guitarist Luke McDonald’s parents.

From there, JSS took their fresh new ideas and ran with them, basking in the kind of freedom that Los Angeles simply could not have offered. Making a departure from their brisk, sunny pop-rock, they leapt down the proverbial rabbit hole to see what they could find. Early in the process, they stumbled across

one of the strangest tracks they’ve ever written – the album’s title track, Everything’s A Thread; its name ascribed by the aforementioned Forster.

“That song is really confusing,” Morrissey says of the unexpectedly popular tune. “I still don’t get that song or its structure – and I wrote it! There were a few times that we were thinking of cutting the song entirely from the album, and then the final mixes came back from Nicolas (Vernhes) in New York. Once we sent the songs to our label, they pointed to it as a song that could be a single. We were like, ‘What?!’ It has a crazy structure to begin with, but Nick made it even more crazy with his production, putting delays on the vocals and things like that. It was definitely strange that it was picked as a single, but there you are.”

The fearless freakiness continues throughout the album, as JSS match lush vocals with squiggly guitar lines and thumping drums. Perhaps the greatest musical departure, however, comes in the form of MJ’s On Fire Again, a shimmering rollerdisco that’s equal parts Dancing Queen and Dappled Cities. Morrissey points to it as his favourite song on the album, but also the one that has proven the most difficult to play live.

“It’s got a chorus that requires some high notes,” he explains, “and if you don’t hit them then you’re going to end up sounding like those yelling goats on YouTube. In the studio, things like that are fine – you can always do one more if you don’t get it right the first time around. Live, though, you’re only going to get one shot at it. It’s in quite a difficult vocal spot for a lot of us, and we had to try what seemed like hundreds of ways to work out how to actually sing it live. Everyone tried one another’s parts until we got it right – it was the first time we actually looked up singing lessons online in order to try and achieve the way that we wanted to sing. Hopefully, it’s paid off.”

In September, the band undertook a brisk east coast run of club dates to not only promote thencurrent single, State Of Unrest, but to reintroduce themselves to Australian audiences after an extended time away from playing live. The way these shows went, it was almost as if they’d never left. Naturally, they are anticipating bringing a full range of fresh material to fans both old and new as they undertake a proper national run of dates.

“Those shows were really good,” says Morrissey, reflecting on the State Of Unrest tour.

“They were our first shows ‘back’, so to speak. I was actually kind of petrified that no-one was going to be there, so it was very nice to see a lot of faces out there. It was super pleasant to be playing live again.

The difference this time around was the fact that we had to learn how to play all those new songs, as they hadn’t been played live before. It took a while, but I think we finally got there after a few months of intense practising. We’re looking forward to sharing these songs on a much more comprehensive tour.”

WWW. XP RE SS MAG.COM. AU

43

GIG GUIDE

MOANA/THE BIRD/ FRIDAY 20 WEDNESDAY 18/12 AMPLIFIER Academy Iconoclast Anchored I Shall Devour Aveira Skies This Existence Mourning Lilith BAR 120 Felix BAR ORIENT Karaoke THE BIRD TW!ST DJ Holly Doll Seventh Son BRASS MONKEY Sugar Blue Burlesque CARINE Open Mic Night Chris Gibbs THE CAUSEWAY BAR David Dallas CLAREMONT HOTEL Acoustica GREENWOOD Bernardine ELLINGTON JAZZ CLUB Paul Gioia & Friends Night Cap Sessions GROOVE BAR (CROWN) 5 Shots INDI BAR Nathan Kaye Danny Ross LOBBY LOUNGE (CROWN) Decoy Duo MOJOS BAR Simon Kelly & The Big Bamboos Childs Play Mudlark Tash Shanks THE MOON CAFE Going Solo Rabbit Island Sean Dowsett Laurel Fixation MUSTANG BAR Almost Famous DJ James MacArthur NEWPORT HOTEL Peking Duk OCEAN ONE BAR OverGrown Kizzy Tane Tarrant Stumbledoor Bodegas ROSEMOUNT Parker Avenue Ragdoll Tracksuit

DOWNLOAD OUR FREE EVENTS GUIDE APP

DIGITAL ORDER/SWAN HOTEL/ FRIDAY 20 SWALLOW BAR Nick Sheppard SWINGING PIG Open Mic Night Greg Carter UNIVERSAL Retriofit THE VIC Travis Caudle VILLAGE BAR Village People - Open Mic YAYA’S Giggidy

THURSDAY 19/12 AMANI WINE BAR Live Jazz Night THE BAKERY Mac Demarco Thee Gold Blooms Hamjam BALMORAL Howie Morgan BAR ORIENT Open Mic Night THE BIRD ICSSC Clunk BRASS MONKEY Rhythm Bound Karaoke BRIGHTON Open Mic Night Rob Walker THE BOAT Jen De Ness THE BROOK Open Mic Night Chris Gibbs BROOKLANDS TAVERN Celebrations Karaoke THE CAUSEWAY BAR Xport Thursdays DAVE’S CANS ENERGY 2000 Josh McAullife Willy Suede Jack Doepel Manimal Dan D. Lyons DEVILLES PAD Rock n’ Roll Karaoke DUNSBOROUGH TAVERN Open Mic Night Pat Nicholson ELEPHANT AND WHEELBARROW Wax Lyrical Open Mic Night ELLINGTON JAZZ CLUB Tal Cohen Quartet The Russell Holmes Trio

LOCAL GIG

CLAIM THE THRONE

CLAIM THE THRONE Silent Knight, Red Descending Suffer In Rot Friday, December 20 Amplifer Bar

44

WWW. XP RE SS MAG.COM. AU

EXCHANGE HOTEL KALGOORLIE Ragdoll FLYRITE Gunfever Christmas Party Dead Owls Kill Teen Angst The Community Chest Pat Chow Race To Your Face Adam Livingston THE FLY TRAP (FLY BY NIGHT) The Differentials THE GATE Greg Carter GROOVE BAR (CROWN) Decoy INDI BAR Bex Open Mic Night LANEWAY LOUNGE Adam Hall & The Velvet Playboys LUCKY SHAG James Wilson MOJOS BAR The Nerve Sleeping Giant Opia MUSTANG BAR Antelope We Move Walls Eloise Ashton DJ James MacArthur NEWPORT HOTEL Easy Tigers PRINCE OF WALES Abbe May Mathas ROSEMOUNT HOTEL Xmas Charity Festival AstroPig Branson Tramps Aztec Suns The Coronal Sky SETTLERS TAVERN Acoustic Open Mic Night Claire Warnock THE SHED The Mystery Men STUDIO 146 ALBANY San Cisco SWALLOW BAR Shotdown From Sugartown UNIVERSAL Off The Record THE VIC Harry Moore YAYA’S Them Sharks At The Space Jam Trip Hazard & The Rude Boys

FRIDAY 20/12 THE ALBION Jen De Ness Trio AMPLIFIER Claim The Throne Silent Knight Red Descending Suffer In Rot ASTOR LOUNGE Like Junk The Painkillers Hayley Beth The Choke LoMax VJ Miss Mayhem BALMORAL Mike Nayar Acoustic Aly BEAT NIGHTCLUB (UPSTAIRS) The Novocaines Scalphunter Amberdown The Black Leaves The Black Fridays

THE AMANI CONSORT/ THE ODD FELLOW/SATURDAY 21

BEAT NIGHTCLUB (DOWNSTAIRS) PLAY BELGIAN BEER CAFÉ Feisty Burlesque BELMONT TAVERN Electrophobia BEST DROP TAVERN Cargo Beat THE BIRD Moana Spaceman Antics Eerie Serpent Ali Flintoff THE BLVD Blue Jene Band BRASS MONKEY Jamie Powers THE BROOKLANDS TAVERN Cheek2Cheek THE CARINE Velvet CITRO BAR Jean Proude CIVIC BACKROOM Them Sharks The Kuillotines The Lungs Cal Peck & The Tramps Black Swan CLANCYS FREMANTLE Johnny Law & The Pistol Packin’ Daddies COMO HOTEL Fiona Lawe Davies CURRAMBINE BAR & BISTRO Grant Hart CRUISING YACHT CLUB Frank G DAVE’S CANS The Flower Drums Cow Parade Cow Methyl Ethel DEVILLES PAD Ska Xmas The Isolites Special Brew DJ Razor Jack EAST 150 BAR Justin Cortorillo ELLINGTON JAZZ CLUB Victoria Newton Howie Morgannd James Sandon EMPIRE BAR Howie Morgan EXCHANGE HOTEL KALGOORLIE Ragdoll THE FLY BY NIGHT Kristie Smith THE GATE Dirty Scoundrels GOSNELLS HOTEL Chris Gibbs Trio THE GREENWOOD Greg Carter GROOVE BAR (CROWN) Tod Johnston & Peace Love HYDE PARK HOTEL Joppy Justin Burford INDI BAR Vdelli INDIAN OCEAN BREWING COMPANY Ben Merito KALAMUNDA HOTEL Vendetta LANEWAY LOUNGE Dean Anderson Jade Crompton Trio MAHOGANY INN Jonny Dempsey

MOJOS BAR The Whistling Dogs The King Of Travellers Jeff Strong Rachel Charles Numbats MUSTANG Oz Big Band Swing DJ Cheeky Monkeys DJ James MacArthur OCEAN ONE BAR Mad Agents PADDO Easy Tigers PADDY MAGUIRES Madam Montage PERTH ZOO Human Nature PLAYERS BAR Three Corner Jack PORT KENNEDY TAVERN One Trick Phonies PRINCE OF WALES The Nerve THE PRINCIPAL The Mojos REDCLIFFE ON THE MURRAY The Warning Birds ROCKET ROOM Rock n’ Xmas All Stars U Tube Proud Mary Kosmic All Star Band The Four Horsemen The Wire Birds Motley Crue Tribute Poor Stanley Right Now Thomas Crane DJ Perry ROSIE O’GRADYS FREMANTLE Felix ROSEMOUNT HOTEL I, Said The Sparrow Corpus Sail On! Sail On! Roswell SAIL AND ANCHOR Light Street SETTLERS TAVERN San Cisco SOUTH ST ALEHOUSE Robbie King Karaoke SPRINGS TAVERN Die Hard Karaoke SWAN HOTEL (LOUNGE) Modern Nash SWAN HOTEL (BASEMENT) Digital Order Pony Tooth Rupert Thomas UNIVERSAL Nightmoves THE VIC Nathan Gaunt WINSTERSUN HOTEL Kane Lemin THE WOODVALE Flava YAYA’S UVEES French Rockets Reptiluminati

SATURDAY 21/12 ASTOR LOUNGE Cal Peck & The Tramps The Caballeros Man The Clouds Potent Remedies THE BALMORAL Trevor Jalla Trio

Deadline Monday 5pm. The Gig-Guide is a service to advertisers listing all LIVE MUSIC. All inclusions are at the discretion of X-Press. Email guide@xpressmag.com.au

MATTYTWALL/NEWPORT HOTEL/ SUNDAY 2 BEAT NIGHTCLUB (UPSTAIRS) CANVAS BEAT NIGHTCLUB (DOWNSTAIRS) Runaways Iconoclast I Shall Devour BELGIAN BEER CAFE Mike Nayar BIRD The High Learys Vinyl Disk Jocks Vivian Marlowe BENTLEY HOTEL In The Groove THE BLVD Afterglow Box Party Rob Hinton THE BRIGHTON Ben Merito THE CIVIC BACKROOM DFC One Of None Facegrinder In Orbit Goat THE CLAREMONT HOTEL ANTICS The Golden Triangle Municipal Funk Band Hamjam Tired Lion DJ Douche Unit CRAFTSMAN GrooVe DEVILLES PAD Rock N Roll Xmas Jerry Lee Lewis Show EAST 150 BAR Jean Proude ELLINGTON JAZZ CLUB Jazz For Kids Christmas Cushion Concerts Ali Bodycoat Quintet Quinteto São Paulo EXCHANGE HOTEL KALGOORLIE Ragdoll FLY BY NIGHT Summer Solstice Earthdance Saritah Village Vibes Beleza Tribe Junkadelic THE GATE Dirty Scoundrels GREENWOOD Greg Carter GROOVE BAR (CROWN) Hi-NRG INDI BAR Toby INDIAN OCEAN BREWING CO Shawne & Luc LAKERS TAVERN Celebrations Karaoke MOJOS BAR The Gin Club Medicine Hat Trio Timothy Nelson and The Infidels The Reductors MERRIWA TAVERN Celebrations Karaoke M ON THE POINT Rhythm 22 MUSTANG Peta Lee & The Deacons DJ Holly Doll Milhouse DJ James MacArthur NEWPORT HOTEL Gravity Tahli Jade

RILEY PIERCE/INDI BAR/ SUNDAY 22

THE ODD FELLOW (NORFOLK BASEMENT) The Amani Consort Shameem Seasta Chani PADDO Cheeky Monkeys PARAMOUNT NIGHTCLUB Felix PEEL ALE HOUSE Michael Battersby PRINCE OF WALES BUNBURY San Cisco OCEAN ONE BAR Desert Bells PORT KENNEDY TAVERN Josh Johnstone QUARIE BAR & BISTRO One Trick Phonies ROSEMOUNT HOTEL A Not So Silent Night The Love Junkies The Devil Rides Out Usurper Of Modern Medicine Grim Fandango FOAM Catherine Traicos & The Starry Night Puck Trigger Jackets Budweezer The Shakeys Echo Kid Health Legend ROSIE O’GRADY’S FREMANTLE Flava SAIL & ANCHOR Better Days SETTLERS TAVERN Ben Merito THE SHED Huge SOUTH ST ALE HOUSE Robbie King Karaoke SWALLOW BAR DJ T King SWAN HOTEL (LOUNGE) Castlerock SWAN HOTEL (BASEMENT) Masquerade #19 Highway Breakdown The Arthur Dent Project Maniac Radio SWINGING PIG Frenzy UNIVERSAL Soul Corporation WHALE & ALE Fleetwood Mac Tribute Band YAYA’S DJ Cookie

SUNDAY 22/12 BALMORAL Andrew Winton Adrian Wilson BELGIAN BEER CAFÉ The Crux BELMONT TAVERN Dove BIRD Sunday Sound Selections THE BLVD Super Sunday Xmas Session Animal Jake & The Cowboys September Sun Amberdown The MDC

Mitchell Friend Tahlia Beeson The Mondays THE BRIGHTON John Read BROOKLANDS TAVERN Gerry Azor THE CAUSEWAY Accoustic Sunday THE CARINE Acoustic Aly CIVIC HOTEL Frank G COMO HOTEL Ansell & Fretall CLANCY’S FREMANTLE The Zydecats DUNSBOROUGH TAVERN Kris Buckle ELLINGTON JAZZ CLUB The Graham Wood Trio with special guests Djuna Lee THE FLY TRAP (FLY BY NIGHT) Stage Fright Open Mic Night FREMANTLE ARTS CENTRE Catherine Tracios & The Starry Night THE GATE Ryan Webb HYDE PARK HOTEL Bernardine INDI BAR Tom Fisher & The Layabouts Blue Rogers Riley Pearce INDIAN OCEAN BREW CO Retriofit KALAMUNDA HOTEL Kizzy LAKERS TAVERN Wesley Goodlet Jamboree Scouts LANGFORD ALE HOUSE Matt Williams LAST DROP TAVERN Rick Twine M ON THE POINT Velvet MOJOS BAR Blue Lucy Our Man In Berlin Crawjaw Edie Green band MULLALOO BEACH HOTEL Sunday Cider Sessions Justin Burford MUSTANG Tailgate Sundays The Volcanics Rockin Hendy The Disintegrates DJ Holly Doll NEWPORT HOTEL MattyTWall Andy Newman OCEAN ONE BAR Tahnee RAILWAY HOTEL Ill Starred Captain Chris Matthews Shannon Haapenen Jean Proude QUARIE BAR & BISTRO Damien Gibbs THE SAINT Howie Morgan Project SEAVIEW TAVERN Jean Proude SETTLERS TAVERN Ben Merito SOUTH ST ALEHOUSE Jonny Dempsey

BLUE LUCY/MOJOS BAR/ SUNDAY 22 SWALLOW BAR Limelights Jazz Trio SWINGING PIG The Hitman Matt Angell UNIVERSAL Retrofit WANNEROO TAVERN Adam James WHISTLING KITE James Wilson THE WOODVALE Jim Moore YAYA’S Closed

MONDAY 23/12 THE BIRD Barefaced Stories - Music Edition 3.0 Odette Mercy & The Soul Atomics Brent Hill Eduardo Cossio BRASS MONKEY Wire Birds XBOX Mondays ELLINGTON JAZZ CLUB Libby Hammer Christmas show MOJOS BAR Wide Open Mic MUSTANG BAR Triple Shots THE SAINT Celebration Karaoke YAYA’S Big Tommo’s Open Mic Night

TUESDAY 24/12 THE ALBION Retriofit THE BALMORAL Mike Nayar Velvet BELGIAN BEER CAFE Trevor Jalla BEST DROP TAVERN Pretty Fly BRASS MONKEY Jukebox Bandits BROOKLANDS TAVERN The Hitman THE CARINE Chris Gibbs THE CHARLES HOTEL Red, White & Blues Band THE COURT Open Mic Night ELLINGTON JAZZ CLUB Libby Hammer Christmas Show

THE GATE Greg Carter GOSNELLS HOTEL Carbon Taxi GREENWOOD Jetpack GROOVE BAR (CROWN) Jack & Jill HIGHWAY HOTEL Third Gear KALAMUNDA HOTEL Astrobat LAKERS TAVERN Frenzy Third Gear LOBBY LOUNGE (CROWN) Thierryno LUCKY SHAG Ben Merito MERIDIAN ROOM (CROWN) Howie Morgan MERRIWA TAVERN Celebrations Karaoke METRO FREO Smoke My Tour FlipTrix Dirty Bike Jam Baxter Ed Scissortongue DJ B-Side MOJOS BAR Going Duo Dave Robertson Duo Merle Fishwyke & Claire Hollingsworth Dear Hella Kim McDonald Duo Marie O’Dwyer Duo MUSTANG BAR Danza Loca Salsa Night PRIORY HOTEL Panelvan ROYAL PALMS RESORT Kris Buckle THE SAINT Easy Tigers SWINGING PIG Big Steve Spouse Band THE VIC Nathan Gaunt WANEROO TAVERN Almost Famous YAYA’S Being Beta AstroPig The De Niros Cavalier Lifespan Black Swan Kate Ferguson Ben Elliot Ginger Rabbit

LOCAL GIG

ASTROPIG

ASTROPIG Branson Tramps, Aztec Suns The Coronal Sky Thursday, December 19 @ The Rosemount Hotel

WWW. XP RE SS MAG.COM. AU

45

MUSIC GEAR & TECHNOLOGY

FOR SALE HEADPHONES all brands & styles. 23 Harrogate Street, West Leederville. Contact Headphonic 08 93886333 headphones. com.au MUSOS WANTED EXP SINGER WANTED for established local original rock band. Gigs booked, recording waiting. Text or call 0448 426 491 LEAD GUITARIST WANTED 18-24 yrs old for Vida Cain. Backing vox essential.

Trav 0404 556 312 OPEN MIC NIGHT every Thursday night at Indi Bar. Just call Bex on 0404 917 632.

OPEN MIC NIGHT @ THE CRAIGIE TAVERN Tuesdays from 8pm. Solos, Duos, Trios, Originals and Covers.

Contact Paula or Ceelay 0420375670 or openmiccraigie@hotmail.com PHOTOGRAPHY PROJECT PHOTOGRAPHY P ro m o p h o t o g r a p hy, s t u d i o, l i ve , location. Mike Wylie 0417 975 964 w w w. p ro j e c t p h o to g r a p hy.co m When its time to ice the cake...

PRODUCTION SERVICES CD & DVD MANUFACTURE Check out our latest CD & DVD specials online at www.procopy.com.au 9375 3902 D I S K BA N K Pe r t h ’s p re m i e r C D & DV D m a n u f a c t u r e r, w i t h o p t i o n s fo r a l l b u d g e t s . ( 0 8 ) 9 3 8 8 0 8 0 0 . www.diskbank.com.au/specials.

MATRIX PRODUCTIONS AUSTRALIA Lighting, staging, sound systems, smoke machines, night club FX, intelligent lighting, strobes & mirror balls, crowd barriers, video projectors. 9371 1551 RECORDING STUDIOS ALAN DAWSON’s WITZEND RECORDING STUDIO Prof quality albums or demos, large live room, experienced engineer, analog to digital transfers, mastering..

Alan 0407 989 128 or Jeremy 0430638178 www.witzendstudios.com ANDY’S STUDIO International multi award winning songwriter / producer. No band required. Broadcast quality. A songwriter’s paradise. Ph 9364 3178 FREMANTLE RECORDING STUDIOS now offering FREE consultations. Mention this ad to get 1/2 priced recording session.

Call 0415 738 155 GOLDDUST Production Mixing, recording a n d co m p o s i t i o n . Le e d e r v i l l e $ 8 0 p/h. 0408 097 407 POONS HEAD MASTERING Analog Master.

TAPE, TUBES & TRANSFORMERS. Clients include: Melody’s Echo Chamber, Pond, Gossling, Knife Party, Felicity Groom, The Floors, Jeff Martin & The Panics. World class facility. World class results. www.poonshead. com 9339 4791 R E CO R D I N G M I X I N G M A S T E R I N G PRODUCING Fremantle location. Call Pete Kitchen Cooked Records. Ph 0407 363 764 / 9336 3764

46

REVOLVER SOUND STUDIO Ph 9272 7505. www.revolverstudio.com.au S AT E L L I T E R E C O R D I N G S T U D I O www.satelliterecording.com 0419 908 766 - NEW ProTools HDX System.

17 Years exp SONGWRITERS AND BANDS! - 30TH ANNIVERSARY DISCOUNTS! UNLOCK YO U R S O N G ’ S P OT E N T I A L ! F R E E APPRAISALS. UK Producer, 40,000+ hours studio experience, 20 yrs in London. 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 ST R E A M ST U D I O ’ S 8 9 S t i r l i n g S t , Perth. Mobile: 0403 152 009 info@ streamrehearsal.com.au VISION REHEARSAL Perth’s premier rehearsal facilities. Visit www.visionstudios. com.au for all info. East Vic Park. Email re h e a r s a l @ v i s i o n s t u d i o s .co m . au o r call 0432 034 122 TUITION ***GUITAR LESSONS - XMAS VOUCHERS AVAIL Give the gift of music. Beg to adv, all styles. Catering to WAAPA and AMEB standards. All tutors have WWC clearance.

Cliff Lynton Guitar Institute. Mt Lawley 9342 3484 / www.clifflynton.com BASS GUITAR LESSONS AVAILABLE by WAAPA tutor. A practicle approach to learning. .All styles.Years of experience.

Tony Gibbs 9470 6131

CLASSIFIEDS

|

CLASSIFIEDS

BIG GUNNS Gunn Audio have launched an Indiegogo campaign to fund their upcoming SX speaker range. Unlike pretty much every other portable speaker on the market, the SX series will require no external device to stream music - an in-built Android operating system and touchscreen interface means you can just connect to your home WiFi network and stream tunes from your favourite site or app. It’s an elegant idea, and the Indiegogo rewards structure means that early backers can access some deep discounts once the product is launched (projected RRP starts at $799). The final range will comprise five models. Head over to indiegogo.com/ projects/speakers-that-stream to check it out.

PARTY IN MY PANTS How long has the world waited for Drumpants? We didn’t even know we needed them until we heard of them and now they’re all we can think about.

Created by entrepreneur and inventor, Tyler Freeman, Drumpants are a wearable electronic musical suite that allows the user to replicate the sounds of a full drum kit by hitting various areas of their pants. Really, the name Drumpants is a cute but reductive bit of marketing spiel - the instrument consists of six removable and programmable pads, which means you can tweak the system to be whatever you need it to be. Xylophone jacket? Banjo hat? Why not - the sky’s the limit. Freeman and his team currently have a Kickstarter campaign up and running to get initial production up and running, so shoot over to drumpants.com to see the possibilities.

Looking for a cheap but quality stocking stuffer for the audiophile in your life? Look no further - Audiofly’s AF33 canalphones are just the ticket. Available in a range of colours, they’re a solid all-round performer with a sweet RRP of $29. They’re also available as a smartphone headset - the same product with an added inline microphone and single button remote - for $39. Head to headphones.com.au to check them out.

Drumpants

Audiofly AF33m

YAMAHA PDX-B11 PORTABLE BLUETOOTH SPEAKER Yamaha have decided that bigger is better with this entry into the portable speaker market, eschewing compactness for a big, chunky design that puts out a big, chunky sound. While it’s not something you can throw in a handbag or satchel on the off chance you’re gonna need it, it’s pretty much perfect as a semi-permanent backyard barbecue speaker. It’s compatible with iOS and Android devices and can connect via Bluetooth and 3.5mm mini jack. If there’s one glaring issue, it’s that it’s not rechargeable - if you can’t plug it in to a wall socket, you’re relying on six AA batteries to keep the party going, which could prove expensive in the long run unless you invest in some rechargeables. The eight hour playing time is impressive enough, but the notion of either plugging in fresh batteries or rolling the dice with every use is questionable. Still, with a RRP of $149, it’s definitely worth investigating.

Yamaha PBX-B11

WWW. XP RE SS MAG.COM. AU

PRETTY FLY

WWW. XP RE SS MAG.COM. AU

47

48

WWW. XP RE SS MAG.COM. AU