X-Press Magazine #1212

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CHUGG ENTERTAINMENT, SUN TOURING COMPANY, MTV, FASTERLOUDER & 96FM PRESENT

PLAYING THE ENTIRE ‘LOVE’ ALBUM PLUS THEIR GREATEST HITS

WED 12 MAY METRO CITY (18+) WITH SPECIAL GUESTS

ON SALE NOW

WWW.TICKETEK.COM 132 849, WWW.MOSHTIX.COM.AU 1300 GET TIX

W W W. C H U G G E N T E RTA I N M E N T. C O M W W W. S U N TO U R I N G . C O M / W W W. T H E C U LT. U S

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BURSWOOD DOME

FRIDAY OCTOBER 22 ON SALE THURSDAY MAY 13 TICKETEK.COM.AU OR 132 849 Presented by Michael Coppel, MAX & Channel [V] I www.metallica.com I www.coppel.com.au

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Hittin’ the town since 1985

To launch our new website Thirsty Camel Bottleshops WA division is giving away some funky Apple products to keep you tuned in, in more ways than one. Simply go to the WA Thirsty Camel web site, click on micamel and register for your chance to win Apple Pro-Laptops, Apple iphones and Apple ipod Nanos.

2 x 6pk’s

$

$ 9each8

8

30 UDL’s Premix 6 packs

Jacob’s Creek Sparkling

Specials end 17th May 2010. While stocks last. Pics for illustration purposes only

NORTHERN METRO:

BALCATTA The Seven Mile Inn BELDON Tavern BELLEVUE Darling Range BUTLER Cornerstone Liquor DIANELLA Limited Editions Hotel CLAREMONT Hotel GIRRAWHEEN New Park Tavern HIGH WYCOMBE Liquor Barn JOONDALUP Sovereign Arms Liquor KINGSLEY Tavern LEEDERVILLE Hotel www.xpressmag.com.au

9440 0099 9401 1233 9274 6990 9562 0310 9276 0777 9286 0155 9342 7200 9352 8544 9300 1146 9409 6767 9202 8255

MINDARIE Whale + Ale MORLEY Ale House NEERABUP Ocean View Tavern NORTH PERTH Charles Hotel NORTH PERTH Rosemount Hotel SCARBOROUGH White Sands SWAN VIEW Pig & Whistle WEMBLEY Hotel WOODVALE Tavern

9408 5444 9276 8733 9407 4101 9444 1051 9328 7062 9341 1119 9294 1922 9383 7488 9309 4288

ASCOT Mane Liquor BALDIVIS Liquor Store Settlers Ave

9478 3676 9523 1055

SOUTHERN METRO:

BIBRA LAKE Stock Rd. Market Tav BOUVARD Tavern CARLISLE Hotel EAST FREMANTLE Royal George EAST VIC PARK Franklins Tavern FALCON Cobblers Tavern KARDINYA Tavern LANGFORD Posters Tavern MADDINGTON Liquor Store MANDURAH Boat House Tavern MEDINA Pace Road Tavern RAVENSWOOD Hotel RIVERVALE Hotel

Register @ www.thirstycamel.com.au for all the Camel’s benefi bene ts 9418 6852 9582 1533 9361 1544 9339 2747 9472 1549 9534 2433 9337 6999 9356 1981 9459 5594 9535 1034 9419 2133 9537 6054 9470 3778

STH FREMANTLE Davilak Tavern SOUTH LAKES Fitzy’s Lakeside Tav STH YUNDERUP Sandy Cove Tav WILLETTON Burrendah Tavern

9335 2088 9417 4811 9537 6155 9332 6966

ALBANY Amity Tavern AUSTRALIND Collie Bridge BOULDER The Broken Hill Hotel BUSSELTON Esplanade Hotel CARNARVON Tropicana Tavern DENMARK Tavern DONGARA Priory Hotel ESPERANCE Travellers Inn

9841 4141 9721 2433 9093 1459 9752 1078 9941 1431 9848 1084 9927 1090 9071 1677

COUNTRY :

EXMOUTH Graces Tavern GERALDTON Breakers Tavern JURIEN BAY Hotel KARRATHA International Hotel KUNUNURRA Hotel LANCELIN Beach Hotel MT BARKER Hotel NARROGIN Duke of York PRESTON BEACH Liquor TOODYAY Tavern YORK Castle Hotel WAGIN Palace Hotel WAROONA Drakesbrook Hotel

9949 1000 9921 8924 9652 1022 9187 3333 9168 0400 9655 1005 9851 1477 9881 1008 9739 1444 9574 2250 9641 1007 9861 1003 9733 1566 5

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News Reactions/Comp Thing Flesh X-Press Interview: Uncensored Conversations Music: Silverchair Music: Tegan & Sara Music: Spoon Music: British India Music: Darwin Deez Music: Deftones New Noise

The Neptunes, playing the Music Industry Reunion Night Claire Cutler

(TAS)

OLD ROCK DOGS Metallica, digging holes for WA

Martin Ko

d (ACT)

Shellaine Godbol

HATCHED FEATURING THE WORK OF 39 ARTISTS FROM 20 ART SCHOOLS, HATCHED SHOWCASES THE WORK OF AUSTRALIA’S MOST PROMISING ART SCHOOL GRADUATES

23 24 25 27 28 29 30 32

Eye4 eye4 Cover: Hatched eye4 News eye4 Music: Mark Vincent/Mick Thomas eye4 Movies: Letters To Juliet/Food Inc eye4 Arts Stories: Andrew Varano/ Wil Anderson eye4 Arts Listings/Arts Story: Des Bishop eye2eye: Cut N Paste Issue 9 Launch/ The Laugh Resort eye4 Lifestyle

It’s a sad day for the WA mining industry indeed. Just moments after Big Kev flew into Perth, guns ablaze, to inform the hole-diggin’ overlords that as of 1212 they won’t be able to ship their gazillions off to Swiss vaults without paying a little super tax first, the police announce they’ve seized a sizeable supply of cocaine that will make “a significant dent” in local supply. Talk about being kicked when you’re down! What are the rich mining folk going to spend their hard earned coins on now? There are only so many Ferraris one can own without looking desperate. There, there magnates… we feel your pain. You could always stick one to the man: buy another investment property in Perth and drive the house prices even further! That’ll learn ’em to mess with the metal! Mwuhahaha (that’s meant to be an evil laugh). And, while the metal magnates may be threatening to pack up their spades and flee Australia at the hands of Kev’s super tax, the metal magnets (of the speed variety) have just announced they are heading south to do some blasting themselves. Indeed, Metallica will be sharpening the axe for the Aussie leg of their World Magnetic Tour, playing Perth’s Burswood Dome on Friday, October 22. With more than 100 millions albums sold worldwide, Barnie can rest assured that at least someone sees the value in investing in little ol’ WA. Tickets go on sale at 9am on Thursday, May 13. Secure our future; invest in some metal… _JULIAN TOMPKIN

WA has a rich musical heritage, continually punching above its weight against every other city in Australia. And, as part of the WAMis, the Music Industry Reunion Night returns in 2010 to celebrate past achievements and share old rock tales of way back when, as well as raise money to support the future of WA’s industry. And it all takes place at The Charles Hotel on Sunday, May 23, from 5-10pm (a nice early hour for the aging rockers amongst us). At the event another legend will join the fold, as the next great is inducted into the WAMi Hall Of Fame. Providing the aural delicacies will be none other than The Neptunes, members of Allegiance, Rookies, Company Of Men and the Perth Blues Club Allstars. Tickets are $10 and available at the door – last year’s event welcomed over 1,000 punters so get in early! Proceeds go to Support Act Ltd, MIRC club development and future music industry charity events.

ENCOURAGABLE Once he was DJ Shah – and now is Roger Shah – a stage name wi no twists or connotations – b with super powers greater than standard DJ. Shah tells RZ why thinks trance music is still“groov especially the warm, summer kin Hailing from Köngen Germany, the trance-he is famous worldwide not only for his uniq take on trance (which he terms ‘balearic’) also for his work as co-founder of the Sh imprint with brother Patrick (and now ow of Magic Island Records). Shah too, comes fr a German mother and a father who is fr Pakistan. “That’s why I have that surname,” giggles. Let’s not even get started the copious aliases under which Rog produces. I suggested it might have be five or ten; he interrupts and expla it ’s over 20! He continues with th “Now, I will have no time to contin with all of those projects. In the past t years I worked more as a producer in t background and I did many different proje I think that now is the time to do my o artist thing and push my own name. the future I think that I will have my foc on my DJ Shah solo project and just a f projects on good labels which are work really well, Sunlounger, or Global Experien to name a few.” Yet in all of this, what s Shah apart is his knack for producing various guises and different musical directio “I was always interested in mus he says. “I started playing the keyboard wh I was about ten years old; it was the late ‘ and then into the ‘90s around that time. I tr to do things but not with the skills I have ri now! It’s hard to say at a point in time th thought ‘now I have a career’; it’s someth that either happens or doesn’t happ But it was in my hometown of Stuttga Germany is a techno nation really, so it w great to do some trance there.” That said, reckons proper and professional product duties take him back to the mid ‘9 “I’m around now for about 15 ye and have worked as a full time produ since 1996. There have always been ha moments and I thought sometimes to g up everything and go back to doing a norm job. But all my friends and family always t me that I have to be patient and believe in own talent and that hard work will pay off o day.”

Midlake

HEY, HEY IT’S SATURDAY

Salt 35 36 38 39 40 42 44 46 48 50 51 52 54

Salt Cover: Roger Shah Salt News Salt Music: Roger Shah cont’d Salted: Mobin Master/Russ Dewbury Club Scene: Metro City Salt Test Lab/Salted: Creamfields Club Manual Pub Scene/ Pub Blurbs Live reviews: In The Pines Rock X-Tras Tour Trails: Electric Mary Tour Trails Gig Guide Classifieds

X-Press Cover: Tegan & Sara play at Groovin’ The Moo, on Saturday, May 15, at Hay Park, Bunbury. Tickets through moshtix.com.au or gtm.net.au. Salt Cover: Roger Shah plays Godskitchen on Friday, June 11, at Metro City. Tickets through ticketmaster.com.au.

Napalm Death

NAPALM WALTZ

After 28 years as one of the hardest working, hardest touring (and noisiest) bands on the planet, Napalm Death’s conviction, energy and belief in spontaneous, outspoken yet extreme music is far from being watered down. And Time Waits For No Slave, the band’s 13th studio album, marks no exception. The legends return to noiseloving WA for one show at Amplifier Bar on Wednesday, September 1, with death metal cohorts Dying Fetus. Tickets go on-sale today, Thursday, May 6, from moshtix.com.au and 78 Records.

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STUNNING IN RED, HAND STANDS FOR ANTS, THE LOVE JUNKIES, CIM CIARU MON MAY 10 8PM )UHRV %,**(67 0RQGD\

WIDE OPEN MIC JUSTIN WALSHE 0408 755 233 9RWH IRU XV

MOST POPULAR MUSIC VENUE 2010

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Highly lauded US outfit – a perennial X-Press favourites – Midlake impressed the world with their 2006 album, The Trials of Van Occupanther, and have followed it up with another excellently received missive, The Courage Of Others. There’s even more good news in that Midlake are returning to Australia and will touch down for a gig in Perth on Wednesday, August 4, at Capitol. Tickets are available from handsometours. com, heatseeker.com.au and moshitx.com.au.

The WAMis ain’t complete without the Saturday Spectacular. And we’re pleased to announce the Saturday Spectacular returns on Saturday, May 22, featuring over 40 Western Australian artists. With live performances spread throughout Northbridge during the day, the precinct will be abuzz with free gigs from 12noon-6pm at seven venues, including the Northbridge Piazza, Mustang Bar, Universal Bar, The Court and more. Go for a wander and catch sets from Boom! Bap! Pow!, The Ghost Hotel, Boys Boys Boys and more. RTRFM 92.1 will be broadcasting live from the Saturday Spectacular, so if you can’t make it tune in! Come evening, head over to Capitol and Amplifier Bar for the Saturday Spectacular closing party, featuring WA greats Jebediah, Abbe May, The Scotch Of Saint James, Umpire, Will Stoker And The Embers, Goodnight Tiger, Arts Martial, Emperors, Tomas Ford, The Jackards, French Rockets, King George and more! All closing party tickets include a complimentary copy of Kiss My WAMi 2010, featuring 54 tracks and 26 video clips from top WA acts. They are on sale now for only $22 (+bf ) from moshtix.com.au. The full line up and program is available at wam.asn.au.

Will Stoker And The Embers, play Saturday Spectacular Picture: Michael Wylie

FRI MAY 7 8PM

SAT MAY 8 8PM

FISHERMAN STYLE 4THMISTA BIRTHDAY SAVONA, MC VIDA

THE

TUES MAY 11 8PM

WED MAY 12 8PM

ATLAS MOUNTAINS

WITH PLACE OF INDIGO, GOODNIGHT TIGER AND DAN CROOK

SUNSHYNE, EARTHLINK SOUND, SABATA SOUND, DJ SORTED, SENSI SOUND, DUBHEAP. SIGNIFIGANT BASHMENT

STILLFIRE

THE SURE FIRE MIDNIGHTS, ONE THOUSAND YEARS AND SEAN BROWN AND THE RED LIGHTS

)UHR %OXHV 5RRWV &OXE LEAH MICHE SUITE, CATS BLUE VELVET + MAX WHITE

SUN MAY 9 5PM

THE WITNESS THE SILENTS THE OLD CROAK, DUX & DOWNTOWN COMING SOON PAUL GREENE MAY 13 / BELEZA MAY 15 / LUCKY WONDERS (VIC) MAY 16 / WAMI SHOWCASE MAY 21 FEAT. JOE KINGS / DISGUISE MAY 22 / WAMI CLOSING FEAT. CAPITAL CITY, SCHVENDES / KING BROWN RCDS MAY 27 / CLOUD CONTROL MAY 28 / BLOODSTOCK III MAY 29 / MOJO RISING BAND COMP BEGINS!!! JUN 1 / JUSTIN WALSHE CD LAUNCH JUN 6

MOJOS PIZZAS 5PM EACH DAY

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X-Press is... Publisher/Manager Joe Cipriani

Got a Reaction? Email: editor@xpressmag.com.au

Editorial

THINK WHAT YOU WILL OF THIS Dear X-Press, (Re: Reactions #1209 ‘Too Cool For School’) Back in 2003 I used to be someone on the scene, pulling the lesbian crowd wherever I went, back in the days when the Grosvenor reeked of cigarettes and goon (instead of shitty city burger labourer food), though I admit that in terms of city planning, sprawl is fucked and the only way is up. Just like Yazz. In the end some punk had the place shut down because the loud noise of acoustic guitars kept him up late. He had to get to his job at the bank reasonably early. Before we all became miners. Here’s the thing: these days I have nothing. No man, no baby, no baby grand piano with Julia Roberts coming on top of it. Zilch. But, I learnt one thing last weekend. The band I saw last Saturday night has a very stupid name. When they say to me Think What You Will I say, ‘I think...URGH!’ I think ‘why didn’t you call yourself Suri’s First Time?’ (don’t worry kids, I’m writing the book); ‘Suri’s first time… Going to the Zoo.. Suri’s First Time... Snorting Coke with Shiloh’. Anyway, I (usually) hate electronic music, sometimes I say this to DJs and they just don’t believe me, but it’s true. And the audiences look like they are so goddamn bemused (sedated?) I don’t know which. I’m not on the scene anymore. I have endured lots of stupid electronic music so you can imagine that on Saturday night, when heading to the Velvet Lounge to watch a ‘band’, how determined I was to be drunk before I even got in the taxi.

9213 2888

Even though the guitarist was not as hot as everyone had made out, this was the best live gig I’ve seen in a looong freakin’ time. Note that this is from someone who loathes this sort of music. So - you can ignore this really long, silly letter. I just wanted to say that I loved this gig. Grandmaster Slash (Reactions #1209): they are called Think What You Will...for now. I don’t think they have a website - I did actually bother to Google because I am no luddite - and I don’t know if they will do another gig, but guys - you fucking rock and you better get a BDO slot next year.

Managing Editor

Looweeze de’Ath (Via Email)

Matt Jelonek, Michael Wylie, Amy Vinicombe, David Chong

Julian Tompkin

Local Music Editor David Craddock

Dance Editor

Danielle Marsland

editor@xpressmag.com.au localmusic@xpressmag.com.au danceeditor@xpressmag.com.au

Arts & Fashion Editor Emma Bergmeier

artsfashion@xpressmag.com.au

Online Editor

David Craddock

webmaster@xpressmag.com.au

Special Projects Editor Bob Gordon

bob.gordon@xpressmag.com.au

Photography

Contributing Writers

THE FLY’S STILL FLY

Alfred Gorman, Ash Keogh, Chris Havercroft, Alana Munnee, Grant McCulloch, Robert Penney,Tim Stewart, Drew Turney, Joshua Hayes, George Green, Angela King, Tanya McNaughton, Kate Gilbertson, Josie Smith, Brett Leigh-Dicks, Chris Gibbs, Benjamin Strick, Glen Canning, Glen Hayes, Reuben Adams, Yasmin Sheriff, Ben Watson, Amy Vinicombe, Clint Morris, Eddie Gnanapragasam, Adam Jones, Tilman Robinson, Petro Vouris, Laura Glitsos

EMAIL editor@xpressmag.com.au

Dear X-Press, To dear Susy (Reactions #1211), just to let you know that the Fly By Night club is not boring at all. I was there last month to see Colin Hay And Band, with the Del Roio Bros (ex boy band from Perth) and it was a great night out. OK, so maybe they do have tables and chairs and people sit around…but so what? How about The Burswood, Regal, Challenge… do I need to go on? The night I attended The Fly By, people were dancing. Maybe the night that you were there was a bit flat, but don’t give up on the club, they do some really cool gigs and not everybody likes to dance, some just like to listen....so just relax a little and enjoy yourself. Cheers for now.

Advertising

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Sales and Marketing Manager Chris Coufos

advertising@xpressmag.com.au

Music Services / Bands Brian Newnham

Entertainment Venues / Live Promoters Luke Andrioff

Salt / Movies / Agency / Education Chris Coufos

Arts / Fashion / Lifestyle / Employment

Tool, (Via email)

Jacqui Brown

Classifieds Linage Frances Tuohey

Send your name, address and daytime phone number to win@xpressmag.com.au with the name of the competition in the subject line. Entries close 4pm Monday. X-Press Magazine will not give your details to any third party or send unsolicited

with Frances Tuohey emails. Snail mail entries can be sent to: Locked Bag 31, West Perth 6872.

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Production

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Production Co-ordinator Chantelle O’Connor

production@xpressmag.com.au

Art Direction Steve Makse

artdirector@xpressmag.com.au art@xpressmag.com.au Dwight O’Neil, Vaughn Hockey, Kara Smith

SPOON

Design + Production

Last here in 2008, touring the country for all six Big Day Out appearances, Spoon return to Perth this month to promote their seventh studio album, Transference. We have two double passes to their show at the Astor Theatre on Friday, May 14, up for grabs.

Printing

Rural Press Printing Mandurah

Administration Receptionist

Spoon The Sicilian Girl

reception@xpressmag.com.au accounts@xpressmag.com.au

Distribution

In November 1991, a young Sicilian girl named Rita, visits the anti-Mafia judge Paolo Borsellino to denounce the Mafia system responsible for the murder of her father and brother. From that moment on, Rita’s days were numbered. Inspired by a true story, this is Italian cinema at its finest. We have five copies of The Sicilian Girl on DVD to giveaway, Thanks to Vendetta Films and Warner Home Entertainment.

Distribution

9213 2853 distribution@xpressmag.com.au

CAB AUDITED CIRCULATION

Deadlines EDITORIAL

Spoon

PAUL GREENE

DIRTY BIRD RECORDS

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Accounts

Lillian Buckley

THE SICILIAN GIRL

This year Dirtybird Records’ fifth anniversary and to celebrate one of America’s quirkiest imprints, the dirtybird boys are throwing a series of massive house parties across the country. Taking over Shape this Saturday, May 8 are two of the label’s biggest names, Justin Martin and Worthy. We have three Dirtybird packs to give away, each including a copy of the Dirtybird 5th anniversary triple pack CD and signed by all of the Dirtybird crew, plus a double pass to the Dirtybird Records Tour at Shape on Saturday May 8.

Frances Tuohey

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The Last Five Years

THE LAST FIVE YEARS

The Last Five Years is an emotionally powerful and intimate musical set in New York that chronicles the path of a young couple as they fall in and out of love with each other over a five year period. We have a double pass voucher to see The Last Five Years at His Majesty’s, valid all season from May 18-29.

Paul Greene is currently touring the nation and heading to Perth this next week. Catch him at Mojo’s on Thursday, May 13, to which we have three double passes up for grabs. Paul also plays at Redcliffe On The Murray, Pinjarra on Sunday May 16. His latest album Everywhere is Home is out now!

KILLING RICHARD DAWSON

Killing Richard Dawson is the debut novel for former English teacher Robin Baker. A gripping and poignant black comedy about love, friendship, booze, morality, death, and a generation’s casual dissatisfaction with modern life we have five signed copies of this novel to give away!

General Arts Comp’ Thing Clubber’s Guide X-tras Gig Guide

Friday 5pm Monday 10am Monday Noon Monday 5pm Monday Noon Monday 5pm

ADVERTISING

Cancellations Monday 5pm Bookings / Copy Tuesday 12 Noon Classifieds Tuesday 4pm Published by: Columbia Press Pty.Ltd. A.C.N. 066 570 803 Registered by Australia Post. Publication No PP600110.00006 Suite 73/102 Railway Parade, City West Business Centre, West Perth, WA 6005 Locked Bag 31, West Perth, WA 6872 Phone: (08) 9213 2888 Fax: (08) 9213 2882 Website: http://www.xpressmag.com.au

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

Hittin’ the town since 1985

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WINNING SYMMETRY

Perth local Ryan Webb has taken out the Singer/Songwriter category of the UK’s annual Festival4StarsLive songwriting competition. The win comes after four rounds of judge and public voting, leaving him with a fine cash prize. Webb’s winning track was Midnight Drive from his independent debut album Symphony Of Symmetry. He was the only Australian to make the finals in any category. Catch Webb back home at Amplifier Bar on Friday, May 21, as part of the WAMis and The Charles Hotel on Saturday, May 22. The Lucky Wonders

LUCKY BREAK

Together, singer/songwriters Jessie Vintila and Emma Royle comprise Byron Bay based band The Lucky Wonders, and they’ve recently celebrated the release of their debut album Thirteen O’Clock, recorded last year with ARIA nominated producer Anthony Lycenko. The Lucky Wonders pile into the tour bus to take on a massive tour of Australia across four months. See The Lucky Wonders in action in Perth on Friday, May 14, at UWA, Crawley; Sunday, May 16, at Mojo’s in Fremantle; Friday, May 21 at the Dunsborough Tavern; Saturday, May 22 at Settlers Tavern; Sunday May 23, at Denmark Tavern; Friday, May 28 at Camel Bar, Geraldton; Saturday, May 29 at Clancy’s; and Sunday, May 30 at The Paddo. The Lucky Wonders are also playing a series of shows in northern WA - for full list of dates check Tour Trails.

APRACADABRA

The APRA Music Awards are Australia’s top songwriting accolade, and have been taken out in the past by, among others, Neil and Tim Finn, Powderfinger, Yothu Yindi, Paul Kelly, Nick Cave, Daniel Johns, Savage Garden, Alex Lloyd, Slim Dusty, Missy Higgins and John Butler. And, reflecting the ever-evolving nature of the Australian musical landscape, the APRA Music Awards will now recognise the Rock Work Of The Year. As well as a number of other tweaks, from 2011 the data used to determine the nominees and ultimately, the winners, will include digital and online performance statistics. The winners will be announced at the 2010 APRA Awards, which are to be held at the Sydney Convention Centre on June 21. Hit apra-amcos.com.au for full details.

THE TROY YOU CAN TRUST

Fresh from claiming six individual Golden Guitars at the recent 38th Annual Country Music Awards of Australia, Troy Cassar-Daley is headed our way. Catch him on Thursday, May 27, at Friends Restaurant (bookings, 9221 0885); Friday, Paul Greene May 28, at The Ravenswood Hotel (bookings 9537 60540); Saturday, May 29, at Divers Tavern, Broome (bookings 9193 7888); and Sunday, EVENINGS OF THE May 30, at Pace Rd Tavern, Medina (bookings GREENE 9419 2133). Aussie troubadour Paul Greene is approaching the impressive amount of 50,000 sales around the world. His new album, Everywhere Is Home, CHOP HUEY Huey Lewis & The News Still Working For A has just been released through his own Whirl Living Australian tour has been cancelled, Records label, and Greene is about to head following an initial postponement. Due to out on tour in support of the album. These will conflicting schedules and venue logistics be the last run of dates before he returns to neither AMP or band management have been Canada for the prestigious North By Northwest able to reschedule the shows for the remainder conference taking place in Toronto in June. of this year. All Perth ticket holders should Catch Paul Greene on Thursday, May 13, at contact ticketmaster.com.au or 136 100 for Mojo’s and Sunday, May 16, at Redcliffe on the Murray, Pinjarra. refunds for the Challenge Stadium show.

Boom! Bap! Pow! Picture: Nicole Norelli

BOOM TOWNS

Nominated for three WAMi Awards in 2010 including Most Promising New Act, Best Funk Act and Best Female Vocalist for Novac Bull, Boom! Bap! Pow! have been impressing Perth punters of late with their dynamic live show and sax fuelled tunes! Hot on the heels of supporting Motown stars The Temptations and the Four Tops, these up and coming soul sensations have just released the new single Science from their forthcoming album A Little Bit More. Now’s your chance to catch these starlets when they hit the Gascoyne region as part of the WAMi Festival, on Tuesday, May 11, Ningaloo Reef Resort, Coral Bay; Wednesday, May 12, Graces Tavern, Exmouth; Friday, May 14, The Gascoyne Hotel, Carnarvon; and Saturday, May 15, The Monkey Bar, Shark Bay. All shows are free entry. Head to wam.asn.au for all the details.

HAVE YOU MET MR JONES?

Aled Jones’ uniquely pure treble voice first ignited shock waves of delight and admiration in music lovers everywhere in the mid-‘80s, and since then it’s fair to say he’s become a household name. Jones’ musical journey has been an outstanding one, from roaming through the heritage of Welsh choral singing to a highly-successful career as a magnificent, velvet-voiced baritone. He has a total of 27 albums to his name and will be familiar to audiences as the popular presenter of BBC’s Songs Of Praise. Now he tours Australia this August, making a stop at the Burswood Theatre on Thursday, August 26. Tickets through ticketek.com.au. Jones will be supported by soprano Greta Bradman, one of Australia’s finest young singers. Praise be to Aled.

SUPA FUN

Numbers Radio

LUCKY NUMBER

Brisbane rockers Numbers Radio, whose members have played in bands such as Resin Dogs, Blowhard, Afro Dizzi Act and Hip Pocket, are bringing their You And I tour to WA with shows at Breakers in Geraldton on Thursday, May 6; The Norfolk Basement on Friday, May 7; and the Rocket Room on Saturday, May 8. Speaking to X-Press, guitarist and vocalist David Orr said audience members can expect a live show full of raw energy. “Numbers are a trio that plays like our life depends on it,” he says. “Our music just doesn’t work other wise, we need to sweat it out and bring out the honest energy.” Tickets for the Norfolk and Rocket Room shows available at moshtix.com.au.

Angus & Julia, sitting in a tree…

STONES THROW

It’s been a big year thus far for Angus & Julia Stone, with their #1 album, Down The Way, soon to go platinum, a sold-out national tour and recent appearances in the US, UK and Europe. With a new single, Big Jet Plane, out this week, the brother and sister duo have announced another national tour which will bring them back this way for a show on Saturday, September 18, at Fremantle Arts Centre. Tickets go on sale this Friday, May 7.

RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW

Here and Now www.xpressmag.com.au

Conceived through the arts project Viewfinder: 6000, the photo essay Here And Now depicts, in a sequential order, the phases in coping with adapting to a new environment. Rather than highlighting problems or differences, it relates how comfort and the notion of normality are gained through the seemingly arbitrary events surrounding migrants. Some 18 individuals from 14 different countries are featured, each sharing a current phase in their adjustment to life here in Perth. Here And Now is in the form of an online photo book hosted on the website viewfinder6000.com.au, which also acts as an online platform for future photography projects and other creative initiatives. Selections from Here And Now have been included in an exhibition currently being held at YMCA HQ Gallery until Thursday, May 13.

Every year, Australia’s premier pop-culture expo Supanova brings an array of international pop-culture stars to Australia to meet fans, give behind-the-scenes talks, pose for photos and sign autographs at its family-friendly expos. It’s also an opportunity for fans to collect desirable pop-culture items including comics, DVDs, figurines, accessories and clothing. Supanova heads to Perth in June, and there’s a formidable line-up of talent on the cards. Charisma Carpenter, Daniel Logan and Allan Hyde represent a cross section of classic, recent and current TV and film franchises including Buffy, Angel, Star Wars and True Blood, and together their presentations will make Supanova an unmissable event. Head to The Claremont Showgrounds on Saturday, June 16, and Sunday, June 27, for all the pop culture action you can handle! For the full list of celebrity attractions make your way to supanova.com.au.

GET INKED

One of our oldest and most primal traditions, tattooing has been with us every step of our evolution. Its sophistication and popularity today has led us to a new point in culture where many of our finest works of art are no longer confined to galleries, but are inked into our very skin – living and breathing as we do. And from May 28-30, The Convention Centre will come alive with sight and sensation when it is transformed into the inaugural Perth Tattoo Carnivaal – a celebration of the world’s most unique pieces of art, the artists that created them and the people who wear them proudly. Tickets are $30 per day or $70 for the entire weekend. A full programme plus info on attending artists, entertainment and events can be found on the Perth Tattoo Carnivaal facebook page.

’BOUND FOR GLORY

We can finally announce that the rumours are true – Southbound 2011 will take place from New Year’s Day until January 3. That’s right; the seventh annual Southbound will be kicking off 2011 with a bang - what better way to celebrate the start of a new year than three days of music, beach, camping, fun and frivolity? We can’t think of one. Keep your eyes on these pages for more exciting announcements in the coming months, including early bird ticket registration and artist announcements.

CABINS FEVER

Sydney quartet Cabins have just signed to the esteemed Ivy League label and will issue their debut recording, Bright Victory, on June 11. This mini-album was produced by Woody Annison, who recently manned the desk for Red Riders and Children Collide. In support of Bright Victory Cabins will head off on a national tour with Children Collide next month. Catch the teaming on Thursday, June 10, at the Prince of Wales, Bunbury, and Friday, June 11, at the Rosemount Hotel.

HEY, MASTER CHEF

The 2010 Good Food & Wine Show is shaping up as a thing to do for foodies of all types, from Friday, July 2, until Sunday, July 4, at the Perth Convention Exhibition Centre. A spicy new addition to the event is the Gourmet Garden Cooking School, featuring celebrity chef Dominique Rizzo showing how to whip up quick and easy meals using fresh Gourmet Garden herbs and spices. It’s a learn-cook-anddine experience. For full details about the 2010 Good Food & Wine Show (plus information on the various classes available) head to goodfoodshow.com.au. Tickets are available through Ticketek or from the event website.

The Chemist

HE’S GOT WITT

Lead singer of The Chemist, Ben Witt has already begun to make a name for himself as a singer, a songwriter and phenomenal guitarist at home in Perth. Teaming up with fellow music students, Hamish Rahn, James Ireland and Elliot Smith to create The Chemist while studying at the Con’, they entered the Next Big Thing Competition, won their heat and finished as runners up to the big first prize. A year on, The Chemist have played the likes of Birds Of Tokyo, End Of Fashion and Sugar Army, receiving rave reviews. Now, The Chemist are finally releasing their debut EP The Wolves’ Howls Shatter The Old Glass Moon, to be launched at The Rosemount on Friday, May 21. The Wolves’ Howls Shatter The Old Glass Moon is out tomorrow, Friday, May 7, through Dirt Diamonds/Warner.

GIVING THE FINGER

With seventeen sell outs on the current twenty six date tour, and over 175,000 tickets already sold, Powderfinger have just announced a third and final show for Perth. The first and second previously unannounced shows all sold out in less than 30 minutes, and now WA fans will have a final chance to see the band perform on Wednesday, 22 September. Tickets go on sale at 9am on Monday, May 17. Need we say, get in quick? 11

UNCENSORED CONVERSATIONS Boat People, The F-Bomb And Power

Uncensored Conversations brings together some of Australia’s brightest thinkers to debate topics currently shaping Australian democracy. Taking place at the Museum Of Australian Democracy in Canberra over three days on May 11, May 27 and June 15, each forum will be available for download at moadoph.gov.au. X-Press chats with three of the participants. As Australia heads towards a federal election, there are few hotter issues right now than immigration: namely the subject of ‘boat people’. It’s a subject to which everyone has a strong opinion, including ‘Mr World Game’ himself Les Murray. At 11-years-of-age Murray and his family fled the explosive social upheaval taking place in Hungary in the 1950s, determined to survive persecution and create better lives in the ‘new world’. Although he had to get used to being called a “wog”, Murray remembers fondly the treatment on arrival in Australia. Being a world that had just stepped out of the doom of the Second World War, even far-away Australians could understand that these were people who simply wanted to make better lives for themselves and their families. Fast forward to 2010 and Murray sees a very different Australia – a country where even the sons and daughters of our first refugees join the chorus of suspicion aimed at boat people. People who have fled war and chaos to chance their lives on makeshift boats, in the hope of finding a way out of suffering and into freedom.

The official statistics are equally as disturbing. In the 2008-9 period Australia took 1,828 migrants from war torn Afghanistan and 947 from ravaged Sudan, compared with the 34,266 people who relocated from the UK and Ireland and the 32,362 who decided to make the move from New Zealand and Oceania. In fact, Australia’s largest ‘illegal immigration’ problem is residents of the first world overstaying their visas and working illegally – not the couple of hundred who flee persecution and arrive in our northern waters each year. Murray joins Tim Costello (CEO, World Vision Australia), Stephen Kenny (Guantanamo Bay detainee David Hicks’ original lawyer), three members of hip hop group The Herd, Abdalla Ahmed (Chairperson, Australian Somali Association) and Dr Julianne Schultz (editor of the Griffith Review) in debating topics that traverse the subjects of immigration, censorship and intrusion of government in Uncensored Conversations. What is the future of Australian democracy?

By JULIAN TOMPKIN

So the Australia of 1957 was perhaps more of a tolerant place than the Australia of 2010? There was prejudice and fear of foreigners and we were called ‘wogs’ and told to ‘go back to where you’ve come from’ at school. But in retrospect it wasn’t so vicious and wasn’t intolerable. We were unusual and different, but were largely welcomed. It was the White Australia Policy at the time and the xenophobes were not so fearful of European Christian immigrants like we were, as they are now with brown skinned Muslims. It was different in that way. Every few years the politicking flares up again, that Australia has an illegal immigration problem. What is your opinion on that? (Peter Costello) is targeting the wrong people. There are illegal immigrants, and I am talking about those that come in on false passports that are supplied by immigration racketeers and people who overstay their visas, but are not refugees. Refugees are refugees – and this is what a lot of people don’t understand. They are very different to what is technically an illegal immigrant.

The sad irony is the sons and daughters and grandsons and granddaughters of the post World War Two immigrants are today middle class, comfortable Australians and are perpetuators of this fear mongering. It’s a savage irony isn’t it? And I can go further and tell you that I know many people in the Hungarian community who are xenophobic about the boat people. It’s a massive paradox that they were welcomed as refugees and they will now not welcome others as refugees. I had a stand up argument some time ago with a Hungarian friend of mine and I put it to him ‘You were a refugee 50 Les Murray years ago and you were welcomed, so what’s your Immigration, asylum seekers and refugees: What problem?’ and he said ‘Yeah, but they are not like us’. It’s ultimately racism… it isn’t about immigration is the real impact? at all.

Les Murray

What are your recollections of 1950s Australia? How were you and your family treated when you first arrived from Hungary? We were treated very well. It was the geometric opposite to how the boatpeople are treated now, and viewed as. We were refuges just like they are. We were welcomed with open arms. The country was completely different to now. The immigration boom was only beginning at that time and the migrants ultimately changed the country in terms of its lifestyle. It was a very different place.

In you’re your experience now, of Australia in 2010, are we inherently a racist country or a tolerant country? The political barometer would suggest that we are (racist), as the major political parties are scrambling over each other to diffuse the boat people problem. Immigrants make the place better, richer… they create jobs. It’s quite the opposite of what most people believe and they ought to be more educated about this stuff. We are signatories to the United Nations’ treaty on refugees and we should fulfil our responsibilities and let them in and process them and do the right thing.

Kenny Sabir (Traksewt), The Herd

Freedom of speech and censorship: How free Australians can be accused in being apathetic in the political realm – is the freedom of are we?’ speech we have underused? That’s a tricky one. I feel we are Kenny Sabir (Traksewt), The Herd protesting less than we did 15 years ago. As a If asked whether we have free speech in this whole I agree that we’re not pushing of freedom country most Australians would say yes. What of speech to the edge. One of the benefits of are your thoughts – do we have free speech? having that freedom is it’s something that we I’d say yes as well. When I compare can use when called upon. As long as you have it to other countries in the world we’re well that freedom, it’s the security of knowing that off – we’re very privileged. And I guess, looking our rights are not decaying and we’re being around the world, historically you can see how oppressed. easy freedom of speech can disappear as well. It’s not something to be taken for granted. It’s Within The Herd, you have never shied away always got to be a part of our psyche. Things from speaking your mind on politics and social can slowly change – people might not care as issues. Do you choose to provoke through much about it and not realise they are losing the your freedom of speech, especially with songs freedom and by the time they start caring the to do with racism? That’s the outcome. At the time of freedom is already gone. writing it’s more a translation of how we’re feeling. Freedom of speech also has negative We are historians and our lyrics are Australia how implications, in that it gives people with we see it at this time. extreme views a right to broadcast those views and develop a sympathetic audience. You’ve had to censor your material in the That’s a tricky one and I think it’s past, removing various profanities so your something that needs to be balanced. Australia songs could be played on radio. So, in effect, is a reasonable judge – it does have some are you self-censoring according to a moral censorship laws across the various mediums… barometer? At first it was a moral debate but we’ve it’s a thing that comes down to education. It’s tricky, as we have a mainstream consciousness played the game for a while now and this is how and we all believe what Australia is, so when it works. We are censoring those words, but the these extreme views come up – even though content of the song can still get across. If we only a few people feel that way – it gets were to refuse to get played on that radio station reported in the media, so slowly these ideas because we didn’t want to censor our stuff then we’re actually censoring a lot more. can grow on people. 12

Stephen Kenny

Involvement or intrusion: Where is the line for our Government?

Stephen Kenny Having worked on one of the most famous legal battles in this country’s history, in your opinion where is the line for our government in involvement or intrusion? I think that the line for our government is very clear, that firstly they have a responsibility to all Australian citizens – particularly those who are imprisoned overseas – and that line is to not interfere with the judicial processes of another country. But secondly, to advocate to ensure Australian receive a fair trial in those countries. That was my real concern with (David) Hicks. The role the Australian government played in Hicks’ case is simply beyond what I would call reasonable action from a government – this was a total interference and manipulation of the admittedly defective judicial processes of another country, with the full support of that country’s government. It’s a form of judicial corruption. So this was a flagship case, in terms of showing up blatant government intrusion? It was the flagship case because in no other case have we seen such manipulation of the whole process by the Australian government. The first time they could have manipulated the matter was by insisting that Hicks be sent home, along with (Mamdouh) Habib, because they would not receive a fair trial in Guantanamo Bay. Now, they never did that. And that’s the step the Australian government should have taken – the correct and proper thing to do, to ensure an Australian received a fair trial. What happened with the Hicks case essentially is the government initially demonised Hicks and referred to him as a terrorist, and fully supported what is clearly a very unfair process. They were manipulating the matter to suit their own ends in which they believed the demonisation of a so called terrorist was politically acceptable and profitable for them. That later changed over the years, as we slowly educated people that what was going down here was not acceptable for anybody, no matter how bad they’d been or what they had done. Hittin’ the town since 1985

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13

SILVERCHAIR Musical Chairs Take Six

Midway through recording their sixth album – and follow-up to 2007’s landmark Young Modern – Silverchair are preparing for an epic return. But, as JULIAN TOMPKIN discovers, bassist Chris Joannou isn’t giving too much away just yet. The trio warm up in Bunbury at Groovin’ The Moo on Saturday, May 15.

Silverchair

“It feels good. It feels really good. It definitely still has that feel. It’s all going on at the moment – not consistently, just bits and pieces here and there. I can give you a release date today, but I guarantee it’ll change. There’s a lot of stuff being shoved down the pipe. Any opportunity to catch up for a beer is always a good one!” There would be few nicer blokes in Aussie rock’n’roll than Chris Joannou. And it appears his loyalty matches his temperament, for trying to ply a skerrick of information from the man about the album they’re still calling #6 is like trying to defrost cement. It’s been over two year since Silverchair ended the Young Modern juggernaut and went into their usual between-records hibernation. Then, on June 7 2009, the band posted on their website saying that work had now begun on #6. In December of the same year frontman Daniel Johns made a call into Triple J confirming the album sessions were very much in motion, and that to this point they’d been using very few guitars. And in April of this year Joannou again posted on the band’s website, revealing the band would be debuting two new songs at Groovin’ The Moo: 16 and Machina Collecta. Joannou also wrote: “We are really excited with the sounds emerging from the studio

PAUL WELLER Lean, mean and as uncompromisingly focused as it’s maker, new album Wake Up The Nation brings Paul Weller full circle: twenty-eight years on from The Jam’s split, two tracks feature the former bassist Bruce Foxton. Also includes contributions from My Bloody Valentine’s Kevin Shields, The Move’s Bev Bevan and legendary session drummer Clem Cattini.

WAKE UP THE NATION CD DELUXE & VINYL IN STORES & ONLINE NOW

and everyday is a new surprise. As you may have come to expect from us – the album is moving in a very different direction from anything we’ve recorded previously. The three of us are all really pumped to be back in the studio again making new music together.” Speaking with X-Press Joannou is equally cryptic.“It’s all still constantly evolving from week to week,” he explains of the shaping of the band’s new record, “but it’s safe to say it’s different again, which is something we’ve always tried to achieve. Trying to push ourselves to come up with something different and explore different areas and feelings.” What else would you expect from a band – also including drummer Ben Gillies – that started their career with the high school-grunge fest of Frogstomp in 1995 only to remerge with the arresting virtuosity that was Neon Ballroom in 1998, weave a symphonic masterwork in 2002’s Diorama and finally reinvent themselves neo-rock overlords with 2007’s riveting Young Modern. Silverchair’s career has been built on surprises. Who could have imagined that three kid Nirvana wannabes would go on to become Australia’s greatest musical mavericks, and drag us all along for the ambitious journey? “There’s this whole lot of people who were all the same age when they discovered the band,” Joannou says, of his theory on the band’s longevity. “They were 15 and we were 15 – and we’ve shared a journey through life in growing up. A lot of people have grown up with us and experienced the same things at the same time, in awkward times in life as well.

“THERE’S THIS WHOLE LOT OF PEOPLE WHO WERE ALL THE SAME AGE WHEN THEY DISCOVERED THE BAND. THEY WERE 15 AND WE WERE 15 – AND WE’VE SHARED A JOURNEY THROUGH LIFE IN GROWING UP. A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE GROWN UP WITH US AND EXPERIENCED THE SAME THINGS AT THE SAME TIME, IN AWKWARD TIMES IN LIFE AS WELL.” “We get excited, getting in a room and playing music together. It still has that organic feel to it. That’s what’s enabled us to keep a happy, healthy career going and a positive future – there’s a balance. I can’t exactly pin point it as such, but all the three of us know is that when we get in a room together we just love playing music. “I guess it gets back that feeling the three of us get when we’re playing music together – as long as we keep that feeling we’ll still be able to keep creating and moving forward as a band. The moment we lose that passion and drive and that excitement then we’ve got calls for alarm. But at this stage we can go away and not play together for two years and after an hour mucking a round together, and jamming in a little room, it’s the best feeling in the world.” Well, with #6 out of bounds for the conversation, what else is there to talk about but… beer! In fact, when Joannou is not busying himself with his on-the-side producing work (he produced The Mess Hall’s 2005 ARIA-winning Notes From A Ceiling) he runs his own micro-brewery with legendary Aussie record producer Matt Lovell, called Lovells Lager. And he has a keen eye on Freo’s very own Little Creatures. “The beer company keeps me busy,” he laughs of his extra-band hobby. “We’re working on world domination! Little Creatures has done really well and it’s something we aspire to. Ah, what Aussie bloke doesn’t love beer? C’mon – music and beer!” We certainly aren’t disagreeing!

PAUL WELLER: TOURING NATIONALLY OCTOBER 15 – 26 14

Hittin’ the town since 1985

TEGAN AND SARA Identical Crisis

Tegan and Sara

Identical twin sisters Tegan And Sara have been regular visitors to Australian shores, and continue that tradition in support of the Sainthood album. CHRIS HAVERCROFT spoke to the sprightly Tegan Quin on the eve of the band’s shows at Fremantle Arts Centre on Friday, May 14, and Groovin’ The Moo in Bunbury on Saturday, May 15. Sainthood has been a monumental album for Tegan And Sara – the first album to feature a song that was co-written by the pair. There were plenty more co-writes between the pair that didn’t make it to the album, but Quinn jokes “you don’t want to hear about the song orphanage”. Th e s e i d e n t i c a l t w i n s a re n’t strangers to collaboration. Their most recent work with DJ Tiësto indicates the pair is branching out, having now lent their voices to a number of side projects and also penning songs for other artists. “We have hit the part of our career where we are trying to find balance,” Tegan Quin explains. “It is totally this clichéd thing that you hear all the time: men remain ambitious, eager, hungry and athletic and climb to the top of companies and women hit this certain age where they want to create family and balance. “I don’t think we are quite there yet, but I think that Sara and I are in a place where I would like to go on vacation once a year and spend Christmas at home. I think it is important to create balance. I still feel incredibly ambitious, but in different ways.

I think this is part of how I am going to remain ambitious and this is to write for other people so I don’t have to constantly tour.” The Canadian siblings have been in the public eye since their teenage years, when the band first started to taste some success. As the years have progressed and the profile has grown, Tegan And Sara are often still viewed as those same teenage sisters. Hitting 30-years-of-age, they are often a decade older than many of their fans but have not been able to shake the youthful image that was created in their formative years. “We are always fighting that,” Quin insists, “because women musicians hide their age. They want to stay young and they want people to still be interested in them, but we have to keep telling people that we are older because we don’t want to be written off as teenagers and be discredited for being young. “I can see how we would be perceived that way too, and that is because the media have always focussed on us being twins and on us being young and they focus on us being gay. It is not like I write the articles. Often times we are trying to bring it back to the scope of our music.”

Q. How many comedians does it take to screw in a lightbulb?

A. A FEW LESS THAN IT TAKES TO SCREW IN A HEAVY BULB!

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15

SPOON

A Cutlery Above The Rest Spoon were named artist of the decade by Metacritic and already have started the next era on a high with new album Transference. CHRIS HAVERCROFT spoke to Spoon’s newest member and bass player Rob Pope in preparation for the band’s appearance at The Astor on Friday, May 14, and Groovin’ The Moo in Bunbury on Saturday, May 15. When Spoon were looking for a bass player prior to the recording of Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga, a friend suggested Rob Pope would be a good fit. The former emo rocker from The Get Up Kids had lunch with Britt Daniel in Austin, a rehearsal with the band soon after, and his tenure in the Texan band was secured. “It hasn’t been that big a transition

for me,” Pope offers in a matter of fact fashion. “I think that the style of bass playing in Spoon is what I have been into for quite a long time. We share a lot of common music and we are always trying to turn each other on to new stuff and inspire each other with new bands and old records that others may have not heard yet.” Spoon have a distinctive sound, so when entering the band Pope didn’t want to come in and mess things up too much. His focus has been to approach each song separately and try to make each song “as important and cool as it needs to be”. Pope concedes that when the four of them get in the same room it is going to invariably adhere to the classic spoon sound. “ We are a ver y album oriented band,” Pope insists, of their approach. “We are trying to make the entire record great. I don’t understand those records where there is just one good song on the album. It sounds like it was a fluke. We think of an album as one whole thing and you have to make each piece of it amazing.” The people at metacritic.com agree, having voted Spoon as the top overall artist of the decade. Pope was unaware of the accolade until someone quizzed him about it in an interview. He is somewhat

Spoon

perplexed that someone would take the time to calculate that, but is pleased to have been considered. As long as Spoon are able to challenge themselves and the listeners a little on the way, then Pope is happy.

“WE ARE A VERY ALBUM ORIENTED BAND. WE ARE TRYING TO MAKE THE ENTIRE RECORD GREAT. I DON’T UNDERSTAND THOSE RECORDS WHERE THERE IS JUST ONE GOOD SONG ON THE ALBUM. IT SOUNDS LIKE IT WAS A FLUKE. WE THINK OF AN ALBUM AS ONE WHOLE THING AND YOU HAVE TO MAKE EACH PIECE OF IT AMAZING.” Spoon have been ver y vocal in their support of the Merge record label, who they feel believed in the band when no one else did. With major labels being in a phase where they need to reinvent themselves to remain relevant, Pope couldn’t be happier to be on the independent label whose success is travelling on the same trajectory as Spoon. “We are in a position where this band is doing extremely well and we don’t answer to the label,” he concludes. “Mac (McCaughan, Merge so-founder) is never going to call us and tell us to re-record something or write a single. They trust us completely and let us do exactly what we want. They are artists too and they know that you need to let an artist be an artist or things implode.” can’t be stuffed listening to 100 songs?

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Hittin’ the town since 1985

BRITISH INDIA

Riding The Avalanche British India’s recently released third album Avalanche suggests a band as comfortable on big festival stages as they are in the pubs which gave them their start. DAVID CRADDOCK spoke to vocalist Declan Melia ahead of the band’s album launch shows at Amplifier on Thursday, May 13, and Friday, May 14. The band also play Groovin’The Moo on Saturday, May 15; and The Newport on Sunday, May 16. Since demanding national attention with their 2007 breakthrough debut Guillotine, British India have been a hard-touring fixture of the Australian rock scene. Traversing the country to play festivals and corner pubs alike, the quartet of high-school friends, have the tenacity and raucous stage energy that endears fans to everyman indie bands. Their recently released third album Avalanche, however, perfectly charts British India’s trajectory from sticky-floored rock rooms to festival stages. There are big, bold and anthemic Brit-pop moments, but also plenty of the cheeky and grungy scuffs around the edges. “We’ve never really done a chorus like Because Of You or Vanilla before,� frontman Declan Melia tells X-Press. “It is possible that by osmosis, getting used to the festival stages, has crept into the songwriting. But I certainly don’t recall sitting down and saying to everyone ‘right we’re going to write a big chorus album’. “I think we’ve always kind of had it in us to make those kind of songs. But we didn’t have the ability, or the courage or the assuredness to do it before. Maybe it takes two albums for a couple of young kids to be prepared to do that.�

British India

Unlike the band’s first two albums which were recorded in Sydney with legendary Easybeats member and AC/DC producer Harry Vanda, Avalanche was recorded at Sing Sing Studios in Melbourne with Glenn Goldsmith, who was also involved as a co-producer on the first two releases. Melia says that while the band greatly benefited from the Vanda’s focussed recording sessions, their home-town sessions were a looser affair. ‘You’re in Harry ’s studio and as welcome as he makes you feel you’re on his terms,� Melia explains. “And we were in another city and we were staying in a hotel. We were very conscious that we were there for a reason, whereas we’d go down to Sing Sing and have pizza and beers and then you’d be like ‘shit it’s nearly midnight I suppose we should lay down a bass track’. With Sydney it was a ‘don’t put your feet on the coffee table vibe’. Which kind of

worked for us. It was important for us to have that regimentation‌ I don’t think there’s one better way to make records for us – it’s just the vibe on this one.â€? Sonically, tracks like 90 Ways To Leave Your Lover, which includes an audio sample of former American Vice-president Spiro Agnew suggest a band with more time on their hands wanting to experiment. “Someone was sitting at the back of the studio not paying attention watching a Youtube clip with a friend,â€? Melia explains of Antigravity, another track with an evocative introdution. “The sound off the Youtube clip synced up quite well – it was a happy accident.â€? These samples and production quirks that dot the album, added to the big driving guitar moments, are certainly reminiscent of Blur, a band Melia says were one of the band’s earliest influences.

“WE’D GO DOWN TO SING SING [STUDIOS] AND HAVE PIZZA AND BEERS AND THEN YOU’D BE LIKE ‘SHIT IT’S NEARLY MIDNIGHT I SUPPOSE WE SHOULD LAY DOWN A BASS TRACK’.â€? “Blur have been an influence from the startâ€? he says. “Some of the first music we tried to play was Beetlebum and Tender. That greatest hits album‌ I think that came out just as we were in the middle of high school. That was a Rosetta stone for Nic [Wilson, British India’s guitarist] and I - and certainly every other friend we had.â€?

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Blac Blocs - NVDA Brash and Sassy – No Milk For You Injured Ninja – IDDQD Sugar Army – Tongues in Cheeks

Big Day Out (Perth) In the Pines Soundwave (Perth) St Jerome’s Laneway Festival (Perth)

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Department of Culture and the Arts

17

DARWIN DEEZ

Under (Parental) Pressure Just six months ago Darwin Deez was waiting tables at a vegan restaurant by day and making music by night. Wind the clock forward and Deez is now on the road touring the world. EMMA BERGMEIER catches the quirky, curly-haired musician while he’s packing up his hotel room in Glasgow. “I’m good,” Deez says with enthusiasm when asked about how he’s faring. “I’m just checking out of a hotel in Glasgow; I have to make sure I don’t leave anything... meanwhile, our tour manager is sitting in the loading zone and we’re trying to pack the van.” When questioned about how his life has changed in the last six months, Deez is temporarily distracted by the checking out process, but finally manages an answer, “how has life changed? Well, let’s see, I’m much busier, that’s for sure. Oh no, I forgot my toothbrush,” he exclaims. “I am a little more stressed out sometimes and suddenly people seem to know the lyrics to our songs. We got to London last month and did a couple of shows and it was a nice surprise to hear people singing back to us, loudly, for the first time. It doesn’t feel like too much

has changed yet but later in the year maybe it will feel like it has.” Aside from being stressed out, Deez also reveals that his social life has changed dramatically since he started life as a touring musician. “A ritual of mine is just seeking out the cutest girls to flirt with every night,” he laughs. “It’s a fruitless pursuit but I can’t help it. To be fair, I’m 26 and I had acne when I was a teenager so now’s my chance to experience affection from the opposite sex. So I’m going for it.” Deez is a new face on the music scene, with his self titled debut album only released last week, but already he’s attracting world-wide attention for his melodious indie pop that brims with positivity and enthusiasm, despite the fact that not everyone in his life approves of what he’s doing…

Darwin Deez

“Well, I got my first guitar when I was 11, then I got some machines and samplers later on when I was getting into electronic music,” Deez explains. “So I’ve been making music for about 15 years, except for one year which was my first year of college. “It was a washout year – I didn’t make any music, it was the worst year of my life. Music is what makes me happy and I’ve been discovering that over the last five years. The thing is there’s a lot of pressure on me from my parents to finish college and get a regular job; something I can support myself with, you know? “At first I think they were just worried; they were perfectly happy with me doing this. It’s just that they wanted me to graduate first… but I dropped out, I only did two years of college.”

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OPPOSITE SEX. SO I’M GOING FOR IT.” Parental pressure aside, Deez loves making music, and likes nothing more than having a quiet night in on his lonesome with a slew of instruments for company. “I wrote everything for this album, except for a few of the garnishes I wrote it all myself,” he says. “I definitely prefer that, and that’s probably the way it will continue. I’m kinda a control freak when it comes to music so it’s better for me to work alone. The fun thing about art for me is that I can be in control of every minute aspect.”

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18

Hittin’ the town since 1985

DEFTONES Eye For An Eye After more than two decades of jamming, touring and recording together, the past 18 months have been one of the most gruelling periods Deftones have experienced together. Yet, as skinsman Abe Cunningham reveals, the band has emerged out of the ashes with a kick-ass new album in tow. LAURA GLITSOS reports. In late 2008 Deftones bassist Chi Cheng suffered traumatic brain injur y after a serious car accident in California. To this day, Cheng is in a minimally conscious state, nursed at home by his mother and sister. He still cannot walk or talk and is connected to a feeding tube. Cunningham says it’s not as difficult to talk about anymore. In fact, he says it’s good to talk about it. So he did. “I just miss the dude,� Cunningham begins. “Chino (Moreno, frontman) and I visited him just a few weeks ago, before we started this set of rehearsals. He’s living about 45 minutes south of Sacramento in Stockton. Chi’s condition is still having a profound impact on us. It’s been more than a year and I think about that guy all day long. He’s been my best friend for 20plus years and he’s been my partner in the rhythm section just as long.� But Cunningham says there’s a time to stop trying to figure out why things happen the way they do. “Sometimes there are things that you’ll just never get an answer for, simple as that,� he says, “and this is one of those things.� Cunningham is also candid about how revelatory Chi’s accident has been for himself and the band as a whole. “It made us re-evaluate our lives on so many levels,� he continues. “We definitely feel like it’s more precious and another reaffirmation of how quickly things can change. This is life and this can happen to anyone. “We were really wild as we came up through the ranks – we were the wildest you could think of. But now we’re getting older we’re just appreciating life a little more; appreciating our music and what we do. These guys are my family.� This heavy sentiment bears a mark on the new album, Diamond Eyes – released at the earlier date of April 30 after being leaked onto the Net. “It’s a record that’s come out of that process,� Cunningham explains. “The past 18 months are all over it. Honestly the whole record is about (Cheng) without being about him. It can’t help it.�

“WE WERE REALLY WILD AS WE CAME UP THROUGH THE RANKS – WE WERE THE WILDEST YOU COULD THINK OF. BUT NOW WE’RE GETTING OLDER WE’RE JUST APPRECIATING LIFE A LITTLE MORE; APPRECIATING OUR MUSIC AND WHAT WE DO. THESE GUYS ARE MY FAMILY.� Controversy over the album extends beyond Chi’s accident though, after Deftones postponed the release of Eros – an album the band spent months on prior to Diamond Eyes. They still haven’t released it and Cunningham says it hasn’t been “shelved� as the media claim; it’s just “simmering out of respect for Chi�. “We’re hoping to have him join us again,� Cunningham says. “Traumatic brain injury is the craziest thing and each case is so different from the next. We all have the highest hopes – he’s been taken on by a new doctor who’s been treating many soldiers coming back from this war in Iraq, because of all the explosions on the roads. There’s been a huge increase in TBI, so he’s had a high success rate in this area and he

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does think he can do something for Chi.â€? As for now, Deftones are using their art as a form of therapy. “It’s definitely like therapy,â€? Cunningham concurs. “Making music and jamming in a small room together like we all have for 20 years; it’s just what we do. And we needed to do it. “We had no idea we were about to make another record; we were all fried. I don’t know where the hell we pulled this from but it must have been from that reevaluation and Chi. It’s weird, because it was a breeze to make and we didn’t have any idea that we were even going make it. Even the time it took: we wrote it in about two months and then recorded it straight away.â€? And if jamming was a form of therapy Cunningham says touring is a symbol of victory. “Quite frankly, I feel like we still have plenty to prove‌ fuck yeah,â€? he concludes, also hinting at an Australian tour in the near future. “It’s not like a chip on our shoulder, but I just feel like we’re firing on all cylinders. And we’re having the greatest time in a long time. It feels great to be enjoying each other. I’m really stoked and giddy.â€?

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19

THE FALL Your Future Our Clutter

ROLLERBALL Submarine

GOTAN PROJECT Tango 3.0

Plus One Records

XL Recordings/Remote Control

BASEMENT BIRDS Myspace.com/ basementbirdsmusic

Domino/EMI

Brisbane’s now-veterans of rock, Rollerball have never quite been as exciting on record (or live) as they might seem on paper. To criticise the band for not conforming to one reviewer’s expectation of what ‘stoner rock’ should sound like is completely unfair, but to mislead music lovers into believing that Rollerball are anything other than middle-of-the-road is downright immoral. The band’s fourth album Submarine is a refined, well produced affair which boasts some lush artwork and flawless digital production. There’s a little bit of stylistic experimentation too, and it is here where the band are actually at their best. Songs like Your Lullaby (complete with fiddle), the percussive groove of Tame Existence, and the bluesy Never A Rodeo (which clocks in at almost 16 minutes) highlight the skill of the band and their ability to put together some enjoyable, sometimes even zen, sound scapes. Conversely, singer Matt Boland’s often Chris Cornell-esque vocals, and the not-quitefast-enough nature of the ‘rock’ material here, will have those with an allergy to vanilla running to the freakin’ hills. There’s just nothing to grab the listener and keep them hooked in for the _CHRIS HAVERCROFT entirety of the journey, which leaves the album inoffensive, pleasant, and unmemorable.

From day one, The Fall were championed by John Peel (and were indeed his favourite band til the end) and although the band never really dented the charts in any meaningful way, they are undoubtedly the granddaddies of the post-punk scene. Mark E Smith may be the only constant during the history of The Fall, but despite the regular change in personnel many things remain the same. The raw, repetitive and abrasive guitars are still there, as is Smith’s unique Manchester squawk but Your Future Our Clutter may well be their best output for some time. When faced with the first minute and a half of Bury Pts 1 + 3, you would swear that it has been recorded in a toilet bowl before having a sonic overhaul that beats the listener into submission. The less angular Cowboy George has the kind of frenetic freight train shuffle that evokes images of stampedes and desert shoot outs. If you haven’t stumbled across The Fall during that past thirty odd years, and twenty eight albums, then Your Future Our Clutter is as good a place as any to acquaint yourself with them. There wouldn’t be too many bands who could say that.

Te n ye a r s s i n ce t h e release of their debut single Vuelvo Al Sur, Gotan Project are still very much doing the tango. In fact, on this – their third studio recording proper – they have revisited the fabled 2/4 glide’s moniker; Tango 3.0. Gotan Project were pioneers of the Latino-chill-dub-jazz fusion that would saturate the airwaves and nightclubs of the early 2000s. Tossed in with a bit of Gallic verve, this FrenchSwiss-Argentinean alliance struck gold – namely in the landmark debut album of 2001, La Revancha Del Tango. Tango 3.0 is what you’d expect from this trio: tight production, laidback grooves and plenty of sophistication. Does it take us somewhere new? No. Does it signal a reinvention of a tried formula? No. Does it sound good? Yes, although admittedly it lacks the edge of its predecessors! That said, in a world where everyone is expected to reinvent themselves a gazillion times in one lifetime it’s kind of nice to have something constant. And with Gotan Project that constant is the tango. Shall we dance…

BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE Fever

The Scotch Of St James ‘ debut LP has less of the country swagger that characterised their earlier output with Brit-pop, and even Kasabian-esque dance-rock elements, now thrown into the mix. The verses of opener Square Eyes sounds like it was recorded by some scallys in Manchester with its scuzzy, ‘oi geezer’ delivery. The chorus is more straight-up however, bringing to mind Australian beat-rock outfit The Pictures with its theatrical pub-rock anthemia. The song writing on the album is by no means wildly experimental or groundbreaking, but psychedelic breakdowns, quirky bridges and Dave Parkin’s ambitious, whizzing and whirring, production give each track a very distinct character that should give the album longevity. The Happy Peacock is a case in point. A swampy southern bass line pulls you on a strange trip through out-of-tunes psych pianos, a noisy Revolution 9 breakdown, and drops you into a field somewhere at a British festival listening to a Kasabian-esque refrain. And is that a sitar at 1:37? This album is a bit like a pirate radio ship drifting somewhere in the middle of the Atlantic, picking up signals from each side of the pond and broadcasting them back to Australia complete with static, interference and gloriously whacky noise.

Independent

There are many bands who receive acclaim with the help of an army behind them, but We Are The Emergency have carved a solid name for themselves all on their own. The band have taken a more mature step with their debut full-length, substituting most of their juvenile squawks for a more progressive and appealing sound. The new and wiser direction seems to be influenced by guitarist Bailey Black and keyboardist Sophie Rodgers, who provide more input on the album, with Rodgers’ harmonies and Black’s intricate guitar work making WATE not just another screamo band, but an act slowly working themselves out of pigeonholes. Whilst Whispers & Fragments is a vast improvement on the band’s old material, it isn’t faultless. Most of the aforementioned screams have been culled, but why they haven’t been omitted totally is baffling. The over-American emo sounds of the horribly named Ewe-Knee-Verse also show signs of a band who are still writing songs aimed at 15 year old girls. If We Are The Emergency continue to show maturity and progression displayed on Whispers & Fragments they will no doubt continue to impress, but they need to ditch their emo gimmicks and understand that they do not need to rely on them. _GEORGE GREEN 20

Myspace.com/ galaxie500official

Atlantic/Warner

Cutting the fat from of a band’s original sound and dousing it in a little bit of experience and maturity is inevitable on a second album. On Total Life Forever, Foals have stepped back on the reverb and complex rhythms, drawing more influences from early Police, Cure and some of their modern counterparts. Some of the band’s old fans may have been expecting another Antidotes, and although this is not, it is definitely an album that will haunt you and grow on you. Spanish Sahara has a sense of space and cinematics and shares large comparisons with their last release, the b-side Glaciers, but with This Orient, some may be upset, as it’s the bands most rock pop-y song to date. The Maccabees and the current Britpop sound are heard in the lyrics and melody. By now, you know the band are determined to send you to another place far away from the house party dance floor they invited you to with Antidotes. There is also no doubting the band’s playing prowess, with enveloping melodies and cinematic climaxes supporting whole songs instead of starts and stops along the way. If you loved Antidotes there’s a strong chance you’ll like Total Life Forever but not for the _BRENDAN HOLBEN same reasons - like getting back with your ex.

Breakouts of the UK metal scene in 2005 with the release of The Poison, Bullet For My Valentine deliver their third LP Fever, proving the old adage - if it ain’t broke don’t fix it. The only major discernable difference between each ensuing album has been the deepening of Matt Tuck’s vocals. Bullet’s modern thrash-inspired sound retains its intensity but sounds all too familiar - the most obvious comparison would be Trivium who also struggled with an identity problem. Fever starts out promising with the charged The Last Fight, but quickly becomes bogged down in uninspired song-writing. It starts to become clear that Fever is by-the-numbers music, ticking the boxes of record selling techniques. The lyrics are vague and shallow alluding to some generic pain or heartbreak that never feels genuine, not to mention the completely out of place title track about a stripper. It is the sign a band happy to settle and forgo personal and music growth. Fever is a technically sound album that will resonate well with fans but it lacks a soul of its own by playing it safe with worn out lyrics and run-of-the-mill thrash.

Boston trio Galaxie 500 weren’t around for long enough to develop their playing past the rudimentary level, but that didn’t stop them from making three very special albums indeed. Their lo-fi psychedelia would become the blueprint for the slowcore movement. It’s often said to be a cross between The Velvet Underground and Jonathan Richmond, but On Fire is full of tunes far more pretty than that comparison would suggest. Jangly guitars, laconic drumming, a healthy dose of reverb and Dean Wareham’s creaking falsetto await the listener from the languorous Blue Thunder to the melancholy Isn’t It A Pity. In between there is the dream pop of Strange. Galaxie 500 sounded like few other bands of their era yet got nowhere near the recognition that they deserved. With all three of the Galaxie 500 albums having just been reissued by EMI, now is the perfect time to acquaint, or reacquaint, yourself with the band. Key Track: Strange _CHRIS HAVERCROFT

_BOBBY VON BAKER

_DAVID CRADDOCK

WE ARE THE EMERGENCY Whispers & Fragments

_DAVID CRADDOCK

GALAXIE 500 On Fire

FOALS Total Life Forever

Jive Records/Sony

Independent/Shock

Key Track: Waiting For You

_JULIAN TOMPKIN

_BEN WATSON

THE SCOTCH OF SAINT JAMES Vigilante Neck Tie Party

Plenty of songwriters meet in Fremantle living rooms for beers and a friendly jams every day of the week. But when those songwriters are Josh Pyke, Kav Temperly (of Eskimo Joe), Kevin Mitchell (of Jebediah and Bob Evans fame) and Steve Parkin – it’s a slightly bigger deal. The start-studded quartet have been able to keep their project under wraps for quite some time, but with Waiting For You now out of the bag, and more songs set to be gradually released on iTunes, the secret is out. Just like listening to the king of back-to-my-place super groups, The Travelling Willburys, half the fun of Waiting For You is hearing how all of the voices and personalities intermingle. The song is a rather sparkly and sweet affair more akin to an Evans or Pyke ditty that culminates in a lush Harrison-esque chorus. There’s no ‘stands out like dogs balls’ moments like Bob Dylan’s croak on Handle With Care – in fact it’s a very smooth fit.

PRITA New Life

JAMES REYNE TCB

Independent

Liberation

James Reyne was once king of the celebrity tree in Australia, back when Australian Crawl were a big deal and later when his solo career first took off. Since those heady days he’s become a journeyman performer, constantly touring and occasionally teaming up with former Hunters & Collectors frontman Mark Seymour. Album sales don’t pay the bills like they used to (for anyone) so Reyne has done well to maintain a three-decade career. Last year he performed several east coast shows, focussing on the material of Elvis Presley. A few live shows seemed to make some sense, but the news of an album release seemed to stretch the friendship a bit. Still, while it does sound like theguy-from-Australian-Crawl-singing-Elvis-songs, TCB (Elvis’ ole taking care of business acronym) does carry a sense of reverence and taste. The arrangements and production pay heed to the classic nature of what’s being dealt with and while Reyne’s trademark drawl doesn’t suit every track (Kentucky Rain most notably) there’s a good-time/showbiz aspect to versions of Viva Las Vegas, Burning Love and Return To Sender that make for fun listening. _CHRIS HAVERCROFT However, if you’re going to listen to this many Elvis Presley songs in a row, then you’re probably going to want to listen to, well, Elvis Presley. One imagines the majority of this CD’s sales will be at the TCB tour’s merch stand.

Th e n a m e Pr i t a h a s been a staple on the Fremantle folk scene for the past few years, and is no stranger to a festival bill either. So with such exposure behind the artist, it is timely that she releases her debut album New Life. The criticism of many female folk singers is that they can invariably all sound the same. Prita has been able to combat this in the live setting by using a loop pedal and stomp box, but with these tools available to everyone in a recording studio, New Life is in need of some new tricks to distinguish it from its peers. The earthy performer has opted to knock off the rough edges with varied results. Time With Me is tidy and slick, but possibly a little too polite. The loungey Cowboy Song suffers from the same affliction even with its tasteful trumpet. Even when Prita sings of lost love she sounds so unruffled and passive that she would likely offer a meek smile if you trod on her heart and handed it back to her on toast. New Life has its moments and is a pleasant listen from start to finish, it could just do with a little more of the unexpected grit that a new journey invariably throws your way.

_ BOB GORDON

When X-Press spoke to Matt Stone way back in 2004 South Park was already seven years old and Stone said he and Trey Parker were in the midst of figuring out what the show’s future held. Like 1999’s South Park movie, the joke can easily go on too long, and even after the sheer courage of depicting little kids in the politically correct ‘90s as the profane, diabolical creatures they sometimes are, the show had to evolve. Especially in an era of far racier programs like Aqua Teen Hunger Force, Robot Chicken and Frisky Dingo. Somehow, Stone and Parker have done it. There’s nothing they won’t shoot barbs at - Season 9 contains the notorious Scientology episode it’s claimed Tom Cruise and co. got banned from TV in several global territories. At the other end of the ‘kids’ spectrum is The Wombles, as innocent and sweet a TV show as South Park is crude and satirical. If you were born after the ‘70s you missed a childhood institution millions around the world loved, of a race of rat/gnome-like creatures who collected refuse from a London park and turned it into afternoon TV magic.

The French Kissers (Madman) South Park The Complete Ninth Season (Paramount) The Wombles (Magna Pacific) Did You Hear About the Morgans? (Sony) _DREW TURNEY Hittin’ the town since 1985

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HATCHED FEATURING THE WORK OF 39 ARTISTS FROM 20 ART SCHOOLS, HATCHED SHOWCASES THE WORK OF AUSTRALIA’S MOST PROMISING ART SCHOOL GRADUATES

Get a fresh perspective on Year 12 art Discover how the talented young artists of Year 12 see themselves in one of the Gallery’s most popular exhibitions Year 12 Perspectives – A showcase of Year 12 Art and Art & Design 20 February – 31 May 2010 open 10am – 5pm Wednesday – Monday Art Gallery of Western Australia, Perth Cultural Centre artgallery.wa.gov.au For information 9492 6600

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23

STEELE THE ONE

Katy Steele

Though Katy Steele now calls New York home, the Little Birdy frontwoman is a Perth girl at heart, which she’ll demonstrate when she heads back to WA for a special solo show this May. Armed with only her voice, guitar and keys, Steele will take to the ArtBar stage at the Art Gallery Of WA on Thursday, May 27, to share her unique voice and beautiful songs with a home crowd. Previous ArtBar events have sold out in record time, so if you’d like to catch Steele when she’s in town, be sure to purchase tickets ASAP from BOCS. To find out more about ArtBar head to artgallery.wa.gov.au/artbar.

Entry into 2009’s Mad Hatter’s Tea Party Michael Workman (Photo: Simon Pynt)

LOFT LAUGHS

Escape the cold night air next Saturday, May 8, by venturing up the stairs and into the warm surrounds of the Little Creatures Loft, to discover some of Perth’s best stand up comedians doing their thing. Only just returned from the Melbourne International Comedy Festival and The Sydney Comedy Festival, Michael Workman will headline the evening with support from Jimmy James Eaton, Ollie Raison and Ben Hunter. Doors open 8.30pm, laughs start at 9pm. Little Creatures is located on Mews Road in Fremantle.

CAKES AT THE COURT

If you or someone you know has a bit of a sweet tooth, then you won’t want to miss out on the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party, a bake off that will raise funds for Gay and Lesbian Community Services. Taking place at the Court Hotel on Sunday, May 16, from 1.30pm onwards, the bake-off aims to support and promote the important work that GLCS do, which includes counseling for people questioning their sexuality and gender. Individuals, groups and professional are invited to enter the bake off to show their support from GLCS, with prizes awarded for healthy cakes, vegan cakes and the covetable best in show. If you’re not much of baker fear not because all the cakes will be on sale to raise funds; for more info head to sweetbakeoff.com.

Bill Bailey

THE BILL

Is it a troll? Is it a blonde magician? No, it’s Bill Bailey and frankly, he’s offended that you’d think he was a troll/magician. Offensive comments aside, Bailey will make his way to Australia this July to present audiences with Tinselworm, a hilarious show that has already received rave reviews world-wide. Described as a ‘magical, musical mystery tour through human history’, Tinselworm will stop off in Perth at the Riverside Theatre of the Perth Convention Centre on Saturday, July 3. Tickets go on sale at 9am on Monday, May 10, from Ticketmaster.

PAWS FOR ART

If you’re a lover of all creatures great and small, and enjoy creating art, then the folks at Little Creatures want to hear from you. On Tuesday, June 8, Little Creatures will play host to an RSPCA fundraising exhibition but before that can happen, organisers need to find artists interested in showcasing their creations for a good cause. All art sales from the exhibition will go to the RSPCA, supporting the valuable work they do in our community. If you’d like to know more, email Brooke@littlecreatures.com.au or call (08) 9338 8510.

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24

Hittin’ the town since 1985

MARK VINCENT Living The Dream

Not being one to watch much TV, this scribe must admit she didn’t actually know who Mark Vincent was prior to this interview. However, an obsessive YouTube viewer (read: time waster) and a sucker for a sob story, it’s little surprising that after typing ‘Mark Vincent’ into Google yours truly took an immediate liking to the kid who was bullied for being fat, but came through it all to emerge a winner. At 15 years old, Vincent has the sort of vocal power usually reserved for members of The Ten Tenors. His voice hasn’t just blossomed over night though. In fact, he’s worked hard to get to where he is, from the time his grandfather heard him singing at age nine and encouraged him to take it further.

“LOOK AT PINK – RIGHT NOW SHE’S AT HER PEAK, BUT SHE WON’T BE ABLE TO DO ACROBATICS LIKE THAT FOREVER.” Vincent was a child soprano who, with the help of his teacher, navigated the potentially hazardous period of puberty – a time when so many male singing careers come undone. It was only fitting then, that his grandfather accompanied him to his first Australia’s Got Talent audition in 2007. As he waited nervously for his name to be called, he asked his grandpa what he thought his chances were: “You’ve got just as much of a chance as everyone else” was the answer. Unfortunately Channel 7 lost his audition tape that year, but determined to push on Vincent returned in 2009 to have another go. His grandfather, sadly, had passed away the year before, leaving him reluctant to perform. But he realised he would have wanted him to keep singing. And sing he did. In fact, he blew the judges away at his audition. Yes his song choices were obvious (This Is The Moment, Hallelujah and Nessun Dorma for those who want to YouTube them later), but he sang them so well and with such feeling that it didn’t matter.

Mark Vincent

Nessun Dorma (which means None Shall Sleep) is an aria from Puccini’s opera Turandot and is one of the best-known tenor arias of all time. In saying that, perhaps something slightly more obscure wouldn’t have gone astray – Paul Potts, Britain’s Got Talent 2007 winner, also performed the song in his audition. If it ain’t broke… Not that it’s done Vincent any harm – he did go on to win. After Vincent was announced as the winner he was sent off on a publicity trail and it was during this that he got his break. During an interview Sunrise’s Kochie asked if he had an album deal, to which he replied he didn’t. “He (Kochie) got right up into the camera,” Vincent explains, “and said ‘someone needs to give this boy a record contract’.” By the time he got home Sony had called. Since then it’s been a whirlwind adventure for the boy from the Sutherland Shire of New South Wales. His debut album My Dream – Mio Visione sold over 100,000 units and

a Platinum-selling album. It debuted at #2 on the ARIA album charts and topped the Australian classical music charts, where it still firmly sits in the Top 5 position. Oh, and did we mentioned he was invited to perform with Whitney Houston? “Back in the day she was a legend,” Vincent says of Houston, “but you can only do it for so long. I mean, look at Pink – right now she’s at her peak, but she won’t be able to do acrobatics like that forever. “(Houston) put her hand on my throat and said, ‘Oh my god, you’ve got the most amazing voice. You’ve got a gift from God.’ I couldn’t believe it.” Still on a high from his success so far, Vincent has just released his second album, Compass, which features classics such as The Music Of The Night (from Phantom Of The Opera), Roy Orbison’s Crying and Somewhere from West Side Story. The title track Compass was written by Dianne Warren, who has written for the likes of

Celine Dion and Cher, and was given to Vincent by the lady herself after hearing him sing in an adjoining studio where he was recording the album in LA. “She overheard me rehearsing,” he explains, “and wondered if it was live music she was hearing, or recorded. Then she wanted to meet me!” Despite all of this, Vincent remains a grounded and all-round nice guy. His grandparents have clearly been a big influence in his life, which shows in his polite manner and positive outlook. He recalls a crazy fan moment, when he was grocery shopping with his grandma. Whilst inside a group of teens girls began to mob him and his grandma began pushing them away with a broom insisting: “You don’t need girls, just focus on your singing.” And that he has. _CAITLIN IRVING

MICK THOMAS The Club

Mick Thomas

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Thomas has long previewed new Mick Thomas performs this Friday, May 7, at The Den (Civic Hotel) and on Sunday, material at his shows, but revealing songs earlier May 9, at the Nor folk Basement. BOB in the process to his fans in this context is quite GORDON finds out about his latest thing. different. “It’s weird in that once something is out In recent times storyteller/balladeer Mick there in an actual recorded form - i.e. one that’s in Thomas has found a way to share even more some way approved by the artist - then it’s had of his work with his fans. an actual release,” he explains. “Which in terms of On his website (www.mickthomas. the way we have grown up thinking about music com) he’s set up what’s known as Mick’s means it has been robbed of some of its novelty. Monthly Music Club, allowing subscribers to “But I reason that the people signing up get an insight into Thomas’s oeuvre and hear to this thing are ones that are really after the nitty both lost gems plus works-in-progress. gritty and this is far more special than everything “I guess there’s a lot of people out there looking for new ways to sell their being considered ‘totally new’. And it’s nice to not music,” Thomas states. “It’s not that I think be too stressed about things having to be perfect CDs are finished as a medium, but just that before they hit the general public.” Mick’s Monthly Music Club also serves as there are other avenues to explore and I know one thing that’s happened with a means to finally unearth some unseen/unheard the decline in CD sales and the general nuggets… “For sure, that’s a big part of it,” Thomas recalcitrance of retail outlets is that anything that seems slightly odd or left-of-centre is says. “In the early years I just got up every day not going to get a look in. B-sides don’t exist and wrote without any thought of where a anymore and I guess over the past 25 years song was headed or where it might end up. And I’ve built up quite a backlog of stuff nobody then in light of having bugger all in the way of has had access to.” superannuation.”

25

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Hittin’ the town since 1985

FOOD INC. The Naked Lunch

LETTERS TO JULIET An Affair to Forget

use the company’s gene-modded seed stock. Directed by Robert Kenner Starring Eric Schlosser, Gary Hirschberg, Tellingly, none of the companies involved agreed to be interviewed, and many of the individuals Michael Pollan who do speak are visibly afraid of the potential Do you know what’s on your fork? That’s the central consequences of doing so. The barrage of damning facts and question in this documentary, which lifts the lid on big agriculture and has a rummage inside. There’s figures can wear the viewer down, but thankfully a lot of people on the planet, each at least hoping director Kenner spends time with food producers to choke down three square meals a day. Food Inc. who are railing against the current status quo, looks at the implications of such large-scale food using sustainable resources and ethical methods production, covering the environmental, economic, to supply the market with organic, free range produce. However, much more time is devoted to political and health issues involved. It’s an angry and outspoken film, the sins of large industry, and you can’t escape the narrated by investigative journalists Schlosser (Fast feeling that these people, though noble, are the Food Nation) and Pollan (The Omnivore’s Dilemma). exception to the rule. If Food Inc. has a failing, it’s that its In attempting to dissect every aspect of the food industry, it presents a litany of sobering ethical attempt to spread its net so wide has led to a shotgun approach, trying to hit as many targets breaches. The cruelty of factory farming is no secret as possible in the limited time afforded. The film now, but the imagery of feedlots stretching to the barely scratches the surface of some subjects, horizon, or thousands of chickens crammed into by necessity moving on to the next story. There’s lightless warehouses, can’t help but disturb the an almost desperate need to show the almost viewer. unimaginable scope of the issues at hand; More upsetting is the human cost that the audience is drenched with information, is laid out for us; which one shocks you more the filmmakers combining talking heads with will depend on your own threshold of outrage. animated sequences, statistical evidence, and flyThere’s the mother who became a food law reform on-the-wall camerawork to present a picture of an advocate after her two year old died from an easily a corrupt industry that is destroying the lives and preventable Ecoli outbreak, or the chicken farmer livelihoods of millions. who lost her corporate contract after speaking out It’s impossible to come out of Food against the terrible conditions. There’s the Hispanic Inc. unaffected. Although it deals mainly with the union organiser who explains how immigration American experience of food production, there are busts are staggered so that deportations don’t many parallels to be found here in Australia. See it disrupt the work at the local slaughterhouse, or before your next burger. the soy farmer’s story of corporate-sponsored _TRAVIS JOHNSON detectives harassing producers who refuse to

Given that their developing relationship is Directed by Gary Winick Starring Amanda Seyfried, Chris Egan, the crux of the film, their lack of chemistry is a major issue. It doesn’t help that the other Vanessa Redgrave, Gael Garcia Bernal romantic male figure, Claire’s old boyfriend There’s a school of critical thought that puts Lorenzo, is played by Franco ‘Django’ Nero, genre at the head of the criteria queue, who has more charisma in one swarthy finger basically saying you need to judge a piece than Egan does in his entire pallid corpus, against what it is trying to be, and not what making his and Redgrave’s arc far more it isn’t. That’s why saying Die Hard is the compelling. There are no surprises to be found greatest action movie of all time is fine, while saying it’s the greatest film of all time makes here, and thus no tension. Even within the constraints of the genre, Letters to Juliet you sound like you spent your formative years headbutting objects a lot harder than follows a path bereft of any real obstacles. you should have. What we have here is a Every barrier to the characters’ happiness is romantic comedy, so let’s try and judge it overcome with the minimum of fuss, and so we’re left with a beautiful looking story about as one. S o p h i e ( S e y f r i e d ) i s a t y p i c a l two people who have a nice time falling in rom-com protagonist, juggling her career love, even though one of them is basically a aspirations and her engagement to self jerk. Even fans of the genre will find this a centred restaurateur Victor (Bernal). While on weak entry, pretty but pointless. a ‘pre-honeymoon’ in Italy, she comes across _TRAVIS JOHNSON the titular letters, notes requesting romantic advice from Shakespeare’s famous femme. Amongst them is a 50 year old missive from Claire (Redgrave), pondering whether to marry an Italian paramour her parents disapprove of. Sophie writes a reply to Claire’s letter, and resolves to help the now-elderly woman track down her long lost love. In tow is Claire’s disapproving grandson Charlie (Egan). It’s a serviceable enough setup, setting aside the questionable wisdom of asking a fictional teen suicide for relationship advice. The quest structure allows the characters to flit across the gorgeous Tuscan landscape, which director Winick shoots in a rich, painterly style. Sophie and Charlie clash immediately upon meeting, so we’re in no doubt that they’ll wind up together, and there’s some gravitas to Claire’s quest to rekindle her lost love in her autumn years. However, while Seyfried brings an easy charm to her role as the winsome heroine, Home & Away alumni Egan is utterly charisma free as the stuffy Charlie. He’s clearly meant to be an early-period Hugh Grant type; officious and hidebound, but charming in a very British way. Egan pulls off the first half but fails at the second, never transitioning into someone Letters To Juliet we can believe deserves Sophie’s affection.

Food Inc.

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27

END (Ice Cold Drinks), by Andrew Varano

END (Ice Cold Drinks), by Andrew Varano

ANDREW VARANO End Game

Hatched is showing until Sunday, June 13, at receiving $20,000 big ones for being the most Perth Institute Of Contemporary Arts, Perth outstanding Hatched exhibitor. This year, the gong went to one of Cultural Centre, Northbridge. PICA is open Perth’s own, Curtin University’s Andrew Varano, Tuesday to Sunday, 11am-6pm. who wowed judges and audiences alike with For 19 years now, the Perth Institute Of his piece END (Ice Cold Drinks), a pine and balsa, Contemporary Arts has curated a mindblowing complex Mousetrap-like creation brought into collection of the best contemporary graduate operation when water (bottles of which are artists in Australia in their annual exhibition, available from an adjacent vending machine) are poured through it, the sound of which is Hatched. A wander around the artworks then amplified through speakers. As you can currently on display at Hatched is like a tell we’re struggling to describe it – your best whirlwind tour through the artists of tomorrow bet is to head down to PICA and witness END’s - potential future leaders in the Australian art marvellousness for yourself! “There’s a certain novelty to them,” scene (previous Hatched artists have gone on to exhibit in the Sydney and Venice Biennales) reflects Varano, in a recent conversation about - not to mention an education in a whole bunch his works. “I find that generally people spend a of new artistic practices being developed lot of time looking at [my works], which is a good by these innovative young minds. As such, sign I guess! With END, I tried to do something Hatched is a pretty big deal. Also a big deal? interesting with movement, and water.” Indeed, the use of pine, electronics, Winning the Dr Harold Schenberg Art Prize, AKA

water, and sometimes projection and DV loops, are common occurrences in Varano’s work: he likes bringing together “a lot of different things”, as he explains. “I’m always happy when I can bring together an idea, yet create something that looks really good as well. I guess that’s why I like art, because it’s a chance to bring together all these disparate interests - things like the mousetrap, the game element, model making – and make them work, through the medium of art.” Varano, who is currently studying his Honours in Art at Curtin University, attributes the mechanical complexity of his installations, such as END, and Storage Unit (a work developed during a studio residency earlier this year at PICA), to a mix of research and trial and error, as he explains: “Everyone can be an amateur at anything these days, with the aide of the internet. [With END] I knew what I wanted to do: I wanted water to go from A to B, and I wanted to amplify the sound. After that, it was just a matter of talking to people, researching on the Internet, and trial and error. If you want to learn how basic mechanics, electronics, you want to learn how to wire pick up speakers…there’s Google. I learn how to do stuff specifically to create a work.” Varano’s studio residency at PICA earlier this year allowed him to spend time applying these skills with the help of PICA’s resources and a mentor. Varano gives some insight into what he dubs “a really great programme”: “It’s a 10 week programme, eight weeks is studio time, two weeks is public time. PICA cover some of your costs, and also they have a workshop there, and a lot of materials

lying around that you can use. So you put together a body of work within the eight weeks, working with a curator at PICA, then in the final two weeks your studio is open to the public. It’s kind of like a practice run for a small solo show. It was a really good opportunity; I got a lot out of it.” To kick off the residency, Varano teamed up (quite literally) with fellow PICA studio resident Jamie Macchiusi to stage an eight-hour long basketball game-comeexhibition, Exhibition/Match, in the PICA gallery. “Jamie and I were playing a lot of basketball over the summer. We were talking about art and the residency while we were playing basketball, and one thing led to another, and we thought it would be a really good idea to do a basketball game in the gallery. Usually our ideas stop there, but the curator at PICA was really encouraging, she forced us to take it to the next level and actually do it. “We weren’t sure whether it was a performance or just a basketball game, but in the end it didn’t really seem that important, it was an interesting and exciting event that could happen. Plus, we’ve got all the footage from that, we can always use it for new video or sculptural works.” Certainly one of the highlights of Exhibition/Match, indeed any of Varano’s work, is his ability to incorporate both art and play into proceedings, and, as Varano shares, “On a really basic level, I just want to make something that’s nice.” _DANIELLE MARSLAND

WIL ANDERSON A Bit Of Wil Power

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Wil Anderson

Wilful Misconduct is showing at Octagon did some guest appearances on Chelsea Lately. Theatre, University of WA from Thursday, May “It was awesome, but while doing the 13 to Saturday, May 15. Bookings are through shows I suddenly realised what it must be like BOCS. for American or UK comedians when they come out and go on Good News Week or something,” Rave reviews for your stand up show during Anderson explains. “You can try and prep and be the Melbourne International Comedy Festival are funny all you want, but there gets to a point where a dream for any comedian. So with a swag of you just don’t know who or what they’re talking those for his new show, Wilful Misconduct, and the about and it’s like they’re speaking a foreign Bulmer’s People’s Choice Award engraved with his language. name, it is little wonder that Aussie favourite Wil “The amazing thing over there is their Anderson is in good spirits. lack of communal nature behind the scenes. Over Add to this his Logie nomination, filming here everyone is in the green room and there’s of the new season of The Gruen Transfer and guest a beer fridge in the corner, and we all hang out appearances on popular US late night comedy together. But in America it’s very separated off talk show Chelsea Lately and you begin to ponder and people have their 15 managers all sitting with whether Anderson has had any time to sleep this them in their dressing room, which is stocked like year. Thankfully for Perth audiences the comedic Willy Wonker’s Chocolate Factory. The amount of force is holding off on any beauty rest and heading West next week for a season of Wilful Misconduct. stuff they provide… I honestly felt like piling it all “The show has been really well received into my bag to reinforce that idea of the Australian which is nice,” Anderson begins. “You never know convict.The dressing room is better than my hotel.” So with Anderson racking up the when you’re writing new material if people are going to like it. But I was nominated for a couple frequent flyer miles, the question is put to him of awards, which doesn’t usually happen, so I must whether he will have a chance to rest at all this have done something right. Someone told me that year? “I wouldn’t mind, but at the moment it was really great that my comedy was still getting better at my age and I said ‘yeah, well either that or I I’m still trying to build up my career overseas,” he concludes. “You kind of have to spend half your just started much more shit than everyone else’. “But it’s always good to have a new time here working as hard as you can so people show to take on the road. Thematically it’s just all don’t forget you and then you go away and try and about letting the morons go really. The world is do a year’s worth of work in six months overseas. over-populated with morons and maybe we’re I mean, I’ve done a fair bit of press over the last doing too much to keep them alive in the gene few days and just doing that and my shows has made me realise that I’ve really done nothing but pool.” Wilful Misconduct comes hot on the sit around and talk about myself, and I feel so run heels of last year’s Wilosophy, which toured down. Imagine if I had a real job where I had to go to packed houses here and in New Zealand, outside and build and lift heavy things!” Montreal, London, Edinburgh and LA. It was while performing in the City Of Angels that Anderson _TANYA MACNAUGHTON Hittin’ the town since 1985

VISUAL ARTS The Clean House, Playhouse Theatre, Pier Street, Perth. Matilde has moved to the United States after her parents – the funniest couple in Brazil – literally died laughing. She is hired as a live-in maid by Lane, a successful doctor who values order in every aspect of her life. But cleaning proves to be a thoroughly depressing occupation for Matilde, who would much rather spend her time concocting jokes in the tradition of her beloved parents. Season opens on Saturday, May 29, and runs ’til Saturday, June 19, Bookings can be made through BOCS. Waiting For Godot, His Majesty’s Theatre, Hay Street, Perth. Starring Ian McKellen, Roger Rees and Matthew Kelly, Samuel Beckett’s Waiting For Godot sees two old friends meet to converse, joke and argue with themselves as they wait through one day and then another for the mysterious Godot... The combination of music hall, poetry and tension redefined what is possible in theatre, so that today Waiting For Godot is accepted as one of the most significant plays of the 20th century. Season opens on Friday, May 28, and runs ’til Thursday, June 3. Bookings can be made through BOCS.

The Rape Of The Sabine Women by Eve Sussman

The Rape Of The Sabine Women, Astor Theatre, 659 Beaufort Street, Mt Lawley. The Rape of the Sabine Women, the internationally and critically acclaimed high definition video by artist Eve Sussman and The Rufus Corporation will be presented at The Astor Theatre later this month, thanks to the folks at PICA. Sussman’s lavish film re-interprets the Roman myth whereby Romulus arranges a festival as a guise to offer up the unmarried Sabine women to the Roman Soldiers, ensuring the growth of the Roman population. Screening takes place on Tuesday, May 18, at 8pm. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased from pica.org.au. Black & Blue, Greenhill Galleries, 6 Gugeri Street, Claremont. Paul Lacey creates works with evocative imagery, engaging a sense of the surreal through his faultless rendering of light and colour, physicality of the stark and haunting landscapes, and his traditionally theatrical settings. Exhibition runs ’til Thursday, May 20. Legacy, Perth Galleries, 92 Stirling Highway, North Fremantle. Portrait/figurative artist Rachel Coad presents her second solo exhibition Legacy, which reflects on human emotion and relationships. Legacy is a twofold exhibition; a series of clusters of large scale soulful paintings of anonymous, every day European people taken from old photographs collected whilst rummaging through antique shops and slightly altered to allow a new identity to emerge. Exhibition opens on Friday, May 7, and runs ’til Sunday, May 30. Make It Happen, Little Creatures, 40 Mews Road, Fremantle. Photographer Alexandre Schoelcher invites Perth to join him on a photographic journey through Ghana, Nepal and the Phillipines in Make It Happen. Featuring images that capture scenes of day to day life, the Make It Happen encourages viewers to hop a plane in search of adventure. Exhibition runs ’til Monday, June 7.

MY DAD WAS NEARLY JAMES BOND The Bishop Of Comedy

Des Bishop performs My Dad Was Nearly James Bond on Friday, May 7, and Saturday, May 8, at 8pm. Bookings can be made through BOCS. Des Bishop’s new comedy show is about the way one’s relationship with one’s parents changes when you confront their mortality. Perhaps this may not strike everyone as ostensible comedy material, but then again, Bishop’s comedy seems to be cut from a cloth rather different to that of most comedians one is likely to see. “The show is called My Dad Was James Bond,” Bishop explains, “It is a show about my dad, inspired by the fact that he’s been ill lately. I’ve got a renewed appreciation I have for him because of that. There is some general stuff about fatherhood, a little bit about illness, but a lot about the way the relationship with your parents change when you ponder their mortality. And about how in that situation, you become the parent of your parents. www.xpressmag.com.au

In Transience, Riseborough Estate Gallery, Lot 21, Mooliabeenie Road, Gingin. West Australian emerging ar tist Stuar t McMillan’s exhibition In Transience, deals with the contemplative experience of being in a world of constant transience. The exhibition showcases a selection of McMillan’s paintings, drawings and prints, plus recent installation work. Exhibition runs ’til Sunday, June 27. Pierre Bismuth, Fremantle Arts Centre, 1 Finnerty Street, Fremantle. Academy Award winning artist Pierre Bismuth is packing up and heading to Fremantle for an exclusive screening of this cult film, an exhibition of his visual arts, and to share the stories he has collected over his expansive career. On Sunday, May 23, Bismuth will introduce a special screening of Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind. The film will be followed by a Q&A with the artist; the man whose idea spawned the storyline that’s become a modern classic. On Wednesday, May 26, Pierre Bismuth opens at Fremantle Arts Centre. An exhibition comprised of two works, Bismuth deploys humour to disorientate the viewers’ understanding of cultural forms like print media and film. Exhibition opens on Wednesday, May 26, and runs ’til Sunday, July 18. “There’s a huge part of the show that deals with my dad before I was born, because he was a model and an actor,” says Bishop regarding the curious title of the show.” He was considered for James Bond that George Lazenby got. I used that as a comparative thing between the heroic ideal of James Bond and the hero of family. As a way to make a broader point about family and the heroism that comes around illness compared to celebrity which is a fickle thing.” The show represents a departure for Bishop, as his earlier work focused on his uncommon childhood. “I grew up in Queens, New York, but I went to boarding school in Ireland when I was 14, and it was meant to be a temporary thing, but college there is free, so I stayed, and that’s how I got into comedy. In the early days this was a huge influence on my work because I talked a lot about the humour of coming from America, and getting to Ireland. At the time Ireland was becoming an economic powerhouse, after years of being quite economically depressed. I witnessed that change from an outsider’s point of view, and so for a long time that was all I talked about. But now I am trying to explore more universal themes.”

PERFORMANCE

When Harry Met Harry, Blue Room Theatre, 53 James Street, Northbridge. Harry is a creature of pedantic ritual. Same routine, same people, same places, same happenings. Above all else, he loathes personal development seminars. Forced into a flurry of team building sessions and effective communication workshops, Harry’s body, mind and soul are publicly dissected - to the comedic delight of audience members. Devised, written and performed by Allan Girod, When Harry Met Harry is the hilarious story of one man’s struggle to come to terms with his existence by confronting his demons. Season opens on Wednesday, May 12, and runs ’til Saturday, May 29. Bookings can be made on (08) 9227 7005 or online at blueroom. org.au. D.N.A., Subiaco Arts Centre, 180 Hammersley Road, Subiaco. From UK playwright Dennis Kelly comes the WA Premiere of DeoxyriboNucleic Acid – D.N.A., an uncomfortable picture of the horrors and mysteries of the adolescent world. Written for the National Theatre Connections Festival in 2007, D.N.A. examines a group of teenagers that do something bad, really bad, then panic and decide to cover the whole thing up. But when they discover that tragedy brings harmony to their otherwise fractious lives, will they be ready to put things right? Season opens on Wednesday, May 12, and runs ’til Saturday, May 22. Bookings can be made BOCS.

Des Bishop

Primal Playground by Rose Skinner

Primal Playground, Mixtape Gallery, 454 William Street, Northbridge. Engorge your senses in Primal Playground, a unique exhibition by local emerging artists; Tiffany Moffat, Seylapaul Som, Korrin Stoney and Rose Skinner. The artists bring a different insight to the table with an eclectic menagerie of mutated creatures and bizarre imagery as they toy, playfully, with core ideas of human/animal primal behaviors. Exhibition opens on Friday, May 7, and runs ’til Sunday, May 16. This desire to explore other issues within comedy is what led Bishop toward writing My Dad Was Nearly James Bond, which stands as an example of Bishop’s current approach to comedy. “I think in the last couple of years I’ve tried to tackle themes that are not as common in comedy perhaps” he says. “I try to be funny about things that are perceived as serious, and so you have to think about that a bit more, and you think about why that would be funny, or the point of these things.” This is not to say that the comedy suffers as a result, “In practice the humour is still quite flippant, but although it sometimes relies on clichés and stereotypes, as a goal or a desired effect there’s an intellectual plan behind it.” As an afterword for the interview, Bishop had some nuggets of wisdom for the people of Perth. “They need to build more bridges over the train track.” he says. “They need to connect Northbridge to the city centre and bring a bit of life back to it. Other than that, come and see the show and enjoy the two days of winter that you get over there.” _JOE LUI 29

PASTE PARTY

MONKEYING AROUND

Cut N Paste Issue 9 Launch The Bird, Northbridge Friday, April 28, 2010

The Laugh Resort The Brass Monkey, Northbridge Friday, April 21, 2010

Local quarterly DVD Cut N Paste launched Issue 9 of their successful publication to a sell out crowd at small bar The Bird on Friday. Street savvy hipsters gathered to get down to the sounds of DJ Rekab, Ta-ku and The Scotch of Saint James. A big party set from The Cut N Paste Soundsystem rounded out the night on a high, before punters went home to watch their free copy of the arts and cultural DVD.

Sean, Kate-Anne

Pics by Matt Jelonek

This May, Perth’s longest-running comedy club, The Laugh Resort, becomes the Festival Club for the Wild West Comedy Festival. See local and visiting Festival comedians in the up-late showcase, starting with Tim Ferguson and friends on Thursday, May 20. Check laughresort. com.au for line-ups. Two Festival edition gala-length shows will take place Monday, May 24, and Tuesday, May 25, in lieu of The Laugh Resort’s regular gig; every Wednesday upstairs at The Brass Monkey from 8:30pm.

Comedian Robert Grayson

Pics by Matt Jelonek

Nelly, Amanda

Finley, Lucy

Rebecca, Nicole

Main act - Comedia John Robertson Mel, Paul

Lizzy, Jerico

Lauren. Lily, Anna

Jodi, Vicky Emma, Holly

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recently sat down with X-Press to answer a few quick questions about his latest collection. What was it that inspired you to create a menswear label? I was bored in my job working at a psychiatric hospital and was wondering what I could do that would be fun, involve hanging out with models and looking sharp. I thought starting a fashion label would tick all the boxes. Did you study fashion or are you self taught? I have never sewn or sketched or studied fashion. I used to go to the tailors a lot to have second hand Pierre Cardin suits and YSL shirts I bought at Savers taken in. What was the inspiration for your latest collection? My inspiration was taken from the movie The Lost Boys: “sleep all day, party all night, never die. It’s fun to be a vampire.” Describe the customer you have in your imagination when designing… They wear better fitting and more stylish jackets and give everyone else something to aspire to. What have been some of the challenges you’ve had to overcome to get to where you are today? The biggest challenge has been getting into the clubs and parties and then making it to work when hung-over after a big night out. What do you envisage the next five or so years hold for Jack London? More parties, more girls and more Established back in 2008, Jack London is stores. arguably one of Australia’s most stylish menswear labels – offering lads chic suits, To view the latest Jack London collection cool casuals and covetable accessories. make your way to their standalone in the Tak ing sar torial cues from The Rolling Enex 100 complex in the Hay Street mall, Stones, the Jack London aesthetic can be or saunter in to David Jones Perth city, described as a modern take on 1960s style, or Atlas clothing at 121 Oxford Street in with skinny ties, fitted suit jackets and Leederville. perfectly tailored pants. Jack London designer Karl Bartl _EMMA BERGMEIER

JACK THE LAD

Jack London

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Hittin’ the town since 1985

COUNTER CULTURE

Robin Baker

ROBIN BAKER

Killing Richard Dawson Perth author Robin Baker’s debut novel, Killing Richard Dawson, is out this week through Pantera Press. Few generations have fascinated the media quite so much as ‘Generation Y’. Austere, haunted by a world at war, sophisticated, sensitive and chaste – as we steamroll into the second decade of the 21st Century, the clichés of Gen Y are now firmly entrenched in the popular consciousness. Robin Baker is planted firmly in the demographics of that generation (born between 1982-95). He remembers well when popular culture first began to espouse his kind in television series such as the virtuous Dawson’s Creek. It was a representation that didn’t sit well with him. In fact, most people he associated with from the same generation were socially dysfunctional, morally dubious and – firmly at odds with the favourite Gen Y cliché – looking for a good ol’ shag! He decided to set the record straight, and so was born Killing Richard Dawson. “I remember at the time, when I started (the novel), there were all these things like American Pie and Dawson’s Creek, and all those really clean, stripped down version of being a teenager,” Baker begins. “And I remember thinking at the time ‘this is not what me or my friends are experiencing’. I wanted to focus on the dark sides of things.” Killing Richard Dawson introduces us to a small clique of friends who defy the clichés of Gen Y. Our lead protagonist and narrator is an insufferable young 20-something who has

lived through the death of his father, the suicide of his mother and lives with a grandmother who is getting more senile by the page. He has a curious relationship with his social worker, is socially inept and longs for sexual contact. And he has an unusual fascination with death – a theme that underwrites much of this peculiar tale of suburban Australia. Written during his undergraduate years studying creative writing at Murdoch University, Baker had finished the manuscript by 2004 and began shipping it out to prospective publishers and agents, only to get the recurring rebuttal of “interesting… but a little too weird”. The work was filed away and forgotten, and Baker went on to become an English teacher – but soon found his true calling in death, as a funeral director. In 2008 curiosity got the better of him and he retrieved his old manuscript, and liked what he read. A few weeks later he saw an advertisement from publishing start-up Pantera Press, searching for ‘Australia’s next Tim Wintons and Kate Grenvilles’ and shipped off his novel. Pantera gave him a call and his fate was sealed – Killing Richard Dawson would become Pantera Press’ very first release. “The driving idea behind it was to write something from the perspective of someone who was quite unlikeable,” Baker concludes of Killing Richard Dawson. “The challenge for me was to try and get the readers to care about someone who doesn’t care about anything. When things are normal and straightforward that bores me. Not all of us are perfect social fits. Most of us, I dare say, are awkward socially and don’t feel as though we fit in.” _JULIAN TOMPKIN

For more info please visit: www.laughingstock.com.au

www.xpressmag.com.au

33

QHTLZ aHIPLSH

LOCAL SUPPORT: PROGRESS INN, DARREN J & TOM BUDDEN 187 Stirling Street. 9pm til late. Tickets $30+bf. Available from Planet Video, Mills, 78s and Moshtix Outlets (1300 GET TIX) and online from the Boomtick SHOP, moshtix.com.au and inthemix.com.au. Limited VIP Tickets available from the Boomtick SHOP for $35! Check out www.boomtick.com.au for more info! events@boomtick.com.au RaveLizards.com

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34

Hittin’ the town since 1985

Once he was DJ Shah – and now he is Roger Shah – a stage name with no twists or connotations – but with super powers greater than a standard DJ. Shah tells RZ why he thinks trance music is still“groovy”, especially the warm, summer kind. Hailing from Köngen Germany, the trance-head is famous worldwide not only for his unique take on trance (which he terms ‘balearic’) but also for his work as co-founder of the Shah imprint with brother Patrick (and now owner of Magic Island Records). Shah too, comes from a German mother and a father who is from Pakistan. “That’s why I have that surname,” he giggles. Let ’s not even get star ted on the copious aliases under which Roger produces. I suggested it might have been five or ten; he interrupts and explains i t ’s ove r 2 0 ! H e co n ti n u e s w i t h t h i s : “Now, I will have no time to continue with all of those projects. In the past ten years I worked more as a producer in the background and I did many different projects; I think that now is the time to do my own artist thing and push my own name. For the future I think that I will have my focus on my DJ Shah solo project and just a few projects on good labels which are working really well, Sunlounger, or Global Experience, to name a few.” Yet in all of this, what sets Shah apart is his knack for producing in various guises and different musical directions. “I was always interested in music,” he says. “I started playing the keyboard when I was about ten years old; it was the late ‘80s and then into the ‘90s around that time. I tried to do things but not with the skills I have right now! It’s hard to say at a point in time that I thought ‘now I have a career’; it’s something that either happens or doesn’t happen. But it was in my hometown of Stuttgart; Germany is a techno nation really, so it was great to do some trance there.” That said, he reckons proper and professional production duties take him back to the mid ‘90s. “I’m around now for about 15 years and have worked as a full time producer since 1996. There have always been hard moments and I thought sometimes to give up everything and go back to doing a normal job. But all my friends and family always told me that I have to be patient and believe in my own talent and that hard work will pay off one day.”

www.xpressmag.com.au

35



SALTLIST 10

OPERATION OPIUO

top

New Zealand badman Opiuo is ready to tear it up at The Cube this weekend, bringing his infectious brand of funky, glitchy goodness to the West Coast of WA for the first time ever. Opiuo concocts precisely blended mixes of tight irresistible grooves, chunk fueled bouncy beats, luscious brooding soundscapes, and a bowl of scrumptious glitch. Support from Rregula, Killafoe, Narkotic, Arien and J.Nitrous. Bear and Rtillery on MC duties. Friday, May 7, at Shape, East Perth. $15 entry, and only $10 for a pizza and pint downstairs from 8pm-11pm.

ALBUMS PUSHING OUR WRITERS’ BUTTONS THIS WEEK… Autechre

AUTECHRE ACTION Chris Baio

CAPE CODDER CUTS IT UP

Opiuo

Vampire Weekend bassist Chris Baio will be performing one of his infamous DJ sets at a Shape sideshow when he hits WA for his band’s performance at Groovin’ The Moo. His DJ sets are mind-bogglingly eclectic, covering anything from Afrobeat to indie rock, nu-wave to cuttingedge pop. Don’t miss your chance to get up close and personal with one of the Vampire Weekend crew! Sunday, May 16, at Shape, East Perth. Doors open 9pm. $10 presales from shapebar.com.au or $15 on the door.

Alongside fellow Warp Records stalwarts Aphex Twin, Squarepusher and Boards Of Canada, Autechre have established themselves as creative force and were instrumental in the invention of IDM in the 1990s. After more than 20 years of trailblazing sounds, Autechre still make the music of tomorrow. Don’t miss this rare opportunity to witness Autechre in Australia again for the first time in over 15 years, as they come to Perth to play on Thursday, May 27, at Capitol. Tickets on sale from civilsociety. com.au and the venue.

TROXLER LOVES SOUNDS Arriving in Perth on the Foundation Day Long Weekend, We Love Sounds 2010 is the biggest winter festival in Australia. And this just in: Seth Troxler has been added to the line up! Fresh from mixing the Boogybytes 05 compilation on Bpitch Control, this will be Troxler’s second visit to Australia. Tickets for We Love Sounds are available for an early bird fee of $89 plus booking fee ($109 plus booking fee thereafter) from www.moshtix.com.au. The event is 18+, so don’t forget your ID! Sunday, June 6, Supreme Court Gardens, 2pm. For more information hit up welovesounds.com.au.

Seth Troxler

Diger Rokwell

DIGGING DEEP

DJ Premier

PREMIER EVENT Infinitely prominent American hip hop producer DJ Premier is one half of the instrumental duo Gang Starr, together with MC Guru. Originally from Houston, Premier has lived in Brooklyn, New York virtually his entire professional career, and is hailed as an architect of hardcore East Coast hip-hop. The Source magazine has even named Premier one of the Five Greatest Producers In Hip Hop History. Quite the accolade! Premier hits Shape for an intimate club set on Friday, June 18. Support from Taku, Tracksmith and Headayke. Tickets (early bird) $35 plus booking fee from shapebar.com.au, Highs and Lows stores, Planet or Mills Records.

Utilising inspiration gained from the golden age of Cambodian popular music, local artist Diger Rokwell plans to release a series of “beat tourism” beat tapes; the first of which, Digerbodia, features seven tracks built on samples unearthed on a journey in Cambodia. Set to be released through The Community Records and Paper Chain (with half of the proceeds made from the EP to be donated to organizations assisting Cambodian landmine victims), Digerbodia will be launched at The Bird in Northbridge, on Saturday, May 22. Support from Mathas, Sibalance, Ill 66 and Ben M {move}. $15 entry includes Digerbodia beat tape. Diger’s new line of tees will also be on sale.

DJ Frisky

KINK IN HER STEP

Basschild

BIG BOOTY Head on down to Ambar for a booty bumping bonanza as the Bootleg Brothers bring their massive party Bootleg swinging back into full effect. Bootlegs, mash ups and remixes‘til the break of dawn, with the tunes you know in the styles you love.This edition fires off with Basschild bringing the funky vibes, as well as Tom Drummond with his first Bootleg set.The dynamic duo of Mama Says Yes! bring their infectious live funk show which in the past has wowed audiences at the Big Day Out, Parklife, Southbound and Good Vibrations. The Bootleg Brothers and Bulk China round out a top notch line up. Friday, May 21. $12 on the door from 10pm.

KISSES FROM BOBBY An institution in his home town of Leeds for near on a decade now, Kiss Da Funk has been throwing some of the greatest parties ever held in the UK. Kiss Da Funk,AKA Bobby Tee,is currently in demand for his huge house collaboration with Juan Kidd, Come One, which took the world’s summer dance floors by storm, raced up the Beatport charts, and was championed by everyone from Tiesto to Carl Cox. Always using three decks and throwing in more accapellas than you can shake a stick at, every Bobby Tee performance is unique. Joined by Australia’s own The Stafford Brothers. Friday, May 7, at Limelite, Metropolis Fremantle. $15 on the door. For more information check out limelite.com.au.

SO YOU THINK YOU CAN MIX?

36

VARIOUS Renaissance Masters Series 13: Mixed By Hernan Cattaneo LCD SOUNDSYSTEM This Is Happening! SLEIGH BELLS Treats GARY NUMAN The Pleasure Principle VAROIUS Hospital Records - Sick Music 2 MANTRA Power Of The Spoken VARIOUS Mista Savona: Warn The Nation VARIOUS Toolroom Knights: Fedde Le Grand PLAN B The Defamation of Strickland Banks UNKLE Where Did The Night Fall

This Friday, there’s a very special event happening at Dusk Bar, so pay attention! Dusk Lounge and X-Press Magazine are in search for Perth’s best up and coming DJs for a massive competition, So You Think You Can Mix! There’s a grand prize of a guest DJ set at the famous Sky Garden Lounge in Bali, plus $200 spending money, not to mention a $1000 voucher for DJ Factory. Phwoar! Heats will take place during the entire month of May, with the first heat kicking off this Friday, May 7, at 9.30pm at Dusk. Six DJs will compete per heat, with 20 minutes to impress the judges from the DJ Factory. The best two DJs in each heat will go through to the Grand Final on Friday, May 28. Interested applicants (not resident DJs in any Perth clubs) should get together a biography, a photo of themselves, a short DJ mix or a link to a mix you’ve done to dusk@kumbaya.com.au. All entries are due by Saturday, May 8. For more details, visit dusklounge.com.au.

Having won Best DJ at The Hard Dance Awards two years in a row, DJ Proteus is infamous for being the most electrifying performer on Planet Hard Dance. Proteus regularly breaks bones jumping from speaking stacks and takes a similarly no holds barred approach to his 160bpm tune selection. Meanwhile, Frisky is also making waves in the hard dance arena. Her oft jawdropping sets at Bionic and Frantic Frisky have heralded Frisky an essential Main Room player for any hard dance event. Join Proteus and Frisky, AKA The Master and The Servant, for a hard dance spectacular at Rise on Friday, May 14. Door sales only from 9.30pm. Rise members $5 before 11pm $10 thereafter. Non-members $10 before 11pm $20 thereafter.

SPANK RECORDS REMIX COMP It must be the month for DJ competitions, because Spank Records is also holding a remix competition. Australian DJ Ajax’s label, Sweat It Out!, are on board for this one. Sweat It Out! have released tracks from some of Australia’s best underground talent including Gameboy Gamegirl, Act Yo Age, KillaQueenz, and more. This year’s Spank Records competition track is collaboration between Sweat It Out! artists D-CUP and Yolanda Be Cool, entitled We No Speak Americano. Full details on how to enter, the remix parts, as well as the list of prizes up for grabs, are available now at spankrecords.com.au/sweat-it-out-comp/.

IN BRIEF... The first heat of the annual Habitat DJ competition kicks off on Saturday, May 22, at Shape. To enter, drop your minimum 30min CD mix of house, tech, progressive, minimal or techno with your name and contact info into Habitat, Shape Bar, DJ Factory or Mills before Sunday, May 16. One half of the legendary tribal house duo Peace Division, Clive Henry, will appear at Geisha on Friday, May 14, with support from Robbie Smith, Stefan Gooch and James Francis. Tickets $20 through Moshtix. A top shelf collection of local DJs come together for Life Is Noise, to bid adieu to RTRFM’s Dave Cutbush. Head to The Rosemount on Friday, May 7, to catch Diger Rokwell, Ben Taaffe, Sardi, Rok Riley and Massiv Trav spinning plates. $10 entry from 8pm. Kingston, Jamaica’s Lukie D brings his dose of reggae to Impact Bar for So Fine Fridays, as part of his Australian tour, supported by General Justice, The Empressions, Trooper and TAT. Tickets $45 on the door or $40 presales at Impact Bar every Friday. Hittin’ the town since 1985

www.xpressmag.com.au

37

ROGER SHAH BALEARIC WHAT?

Friday 07-05-10

FEATURING: HYPER INFORMATION: Doors Open 10pm. 104 Murray Street Perth.

Door Sales: $20Get your presale from the Boomtick SHOP! For more info check out www.boomtick.com.au www.djhyper.com, www.myspace.com/hyperuk

Indeed, payday came when some of the A&R people from EMI came to a club where he was playing and as simple as that – he basically came into the music industry. “It was the first beginning where I could see a point where I could make a name for myself” Roger says. Today, his shows feature a considerable level of interaction – partly why he changed his name from DJ to Roger. In fact, check out some of the streams available on astateoftrance.com or myspace to see how he incorporates the live keyboard element into his performances. “I’ve been doing the live keyboard stuff for a few years now – and thanks to the development of the internet and various other media possibilities, people from all over the world can watch it and realize that I’m more of a performer and not just a DJ. This is why I changed my name!” “And that’s what I like about trance. There is always space to do whatever you want. I do trance but it’s different to the trance I do. It’s more groovy and house and my tempo is even a bit slower. It’s more like 130bpm. The difficulty of trance is that it’s hard to confirm the influences. In the end, I don’t mind about sounds; that’s why I created my own sub genre of trance. It’s called Balearic! It’s like a summer and warm atmospheric sound. When I stay there I always make ten tracks and whenever I compose it’s great.”

Roger Shah Finally, Perth trance fans will have their prayers answered, when Roger plays at Metro City on June 11 as part of his Australia-wide tour. He reveals a little of what to expect of the shows. “My sets aren’t just like a mix album; I did a lot of collaborations myself. Even artists on my label, I give them directions and encourage them to do things differently to fit in. I’m doing another Sunlounger album and that will come out in this year too. With the label, I always have a signing period - which is like where three months before, I start to compile an album. The tracks are like exclusives for the compilations and then we release them as singles by the end of the year; sometimes even people send a nice track and I have to say it’s nice but now isn’t the signing period! Some artists won’t wait, others will. If they want to go the way I want to say that’s fine, though it is also great when they wait and end up doing really well.” So that is the power and the pull of the brand that is Roger Shah – a humble, down to earth bloke who is on his A-Game right now. Make no mistake – if you are even remotely interested in a solid boogie, don’t mind a bit of trance and are open to a stage performance and presence more than one provided by a mixer of CDs, then Roger is your man. Is that right, Rog? “Well yes - on the tour, I will play a mixture of my greatest hits records as well as a few other surprises I have in store; I always receive emails from people in Australia asking me to come out and to play certain tracks. To all my fans: I always love coming there and I want to incorporate new tracks and some old classics and some other nice things. I will see you all really, really soon!” ROGER SHAH FRIDAY, JUNE 11 @ GODSKITCHEN, METRO CITY

38

Hittin’ the town since 1985

MOBIN MASTER SHOW HIM LOVE

Mobin Master is a major player and international name in the dance music scene. Prior to his Australian tour, RZ caught up with the dance music producer and record label owner to speak about life in the aftermath of Mobin’s massive ’08 hit, Show Me Love. Mobin Master is widely regarded as one of Australia’s foremost producers. And making his decision to enter the music world wasn’t a difficult one: “I was actually brought up on music,” he says.“My father is Iranian and he wasn’t allowed to get into music – things like singing and dancing were frowned upon in that political regime – but we won’t go into that side of things! But he encouraged us to get into music and enjoy piano lessons but I got booted out of that! “So that’s where it all started; a long time ago my father bought me a $1000 keyboard, which was great – I was well into that. Then I bought a synth and got really into that and taught myself guitar - and then played bass in a band and did some singing and things like that. I only got into dance music later on.” Indeed, he got into it proper. For his signature track Show Me Love spent a record 52 weeks in the ARIA charts. To which he adds, “you don’t really expect to be successful; you don’t expect to achieve anything really. What I do which is different to a lot of producers out there, is that I ask friends and musicians to check out what I’m doing and if that isn’t happening I’ll go back to the drawing board. It’s also important to check things in the clubs, - I still love going out! And Show Me Love – I mean that was just amazing. I still go into clubs now and I hear it playing. Of course I didn’t

expect it to be this popular, but the fact it was and still is, is great.” Today, he is all about getting exposure. “Basically I want my music to be heard,” chimes Mobin.“My ambition is actually to work on newer stuff that has more meaning on the lyrical side, something that might move people. I want to tell a story in my music. I’ll be working on that in the second album I hope. It will be a tribute to the 1990s; like the first one, I’ll have vocals and instruments and try and do it from a musician’s point of view. It’s got hooks and elements of dance in there; and some of the other tracks have a whole bunch of jazz musicians that I directed. I have a great deal of respect for musicians; muso’s are amazing at what they do. I even had a guy who played one of my tracks – he has a master’s degree in music so he’s great!” Now that the Get Lucky debut album is out, Mobin is already thinking about his next work. “In terms of what is coming up, I think the basic premise for the first album is that it’s a stepping stone; people have shown me love and it will consolidate how people know me. The second album will be in a dance vein but it will have somewhere between 10-12 full vocal tracks in there; we might be working with Jan Johnston who has worked with Paul van Dyk and John Digweed. She has a really angelic kind of voice and

Mobin Master

I think she will be great.” “I’ve got another friend who has been under my nose for years who is just a genius. I’m not good at lyrics, but once we sat down in the studio and he came up with this great idea in about 15 minutes. It was a song about a girl who was in love with this guy; now we’ve written something like 15-20 tracks and we have to work out what’s coming out on the new album. The key is to have lyrics which can relate to dance music and give some meaning – guys like Armin are really good at doing that.” As for the tour, Mobin says that basically, it will be a DJ set with Karina singing some verses. “We will do three tracks live off the album as well as a lot of new tunes and remixes with newer versions that we will roll out in the next couple of months. We look forward to seeing all of our friends and fans around the country!” MOBIN MASTER FRIDAY, JULY 23 @ LIMELITE, METRO FREO

TALKIN’ ALL THAT JAZZ

THURSDAY

Pasha’s Kitchen

THE BIG MAN COOKING UP MEATY BEATS

FRIDAY

Time Tunnel

BRINGS YOU CHAMPION TUNES FROM ROK RILEY, JOE 19 AND GUESTS

SATURDAY

TRANSMISSION

Perth’s essential pre club night for discerning music lovers bringing you indie, electro, rock, punk & club classics with Andrei Mazz 8pm Free Entry

SUNDAY

$10 Pizza & Pint special with Nathan J, Chris Wright and The Nisbit.

WEDNESDAY

UNI-QUE

RUSS DEWBURY / Askari Afrobeat Orchestra / Charlie Bucket / Paul Gamblin Deville’s Pad Sunday, April 25, 2010 Iconic UK DJ Russ Newbury brought his Night at the Jazz Rooms club night back to Perth for the first time this year, making the move from The Manor, which hosted three Jazz Rooms last year, to Deville’s Pad. Dewbury, who moved to Sydney a few years back with a Distinguished Talent Visa (one of only 200 awarded each year by the Federal Government) pioneered A Night at the Jazz Rooms in the UK 23 years ago, making it the world’s longest running club night. And in Deville’s Pad he found an ideal setting for his Jazz Rooms. Designed to resemble a cavern in hell, Deville’s Pad comes complete with stalactites hanging from the roof, a volcano in the middle of the dance floor (which doubles as a smoke machine) and buxom she-devil statues on the walls – making it one of Perth’s funkiest venues. A diverse crowd made it to the Jazz Rooms, consisting of music lovers of all ages and stripes. Charlie Bucket warmed up the steadily growing audience with a mix of soul, funk, Afrobeat and Latin music. Russ Dewbury soon took over the decks, announcing “Let’s get the dance floor started right now” before dropping a funk tune with an infectious drum break. It didn’t take long for punters to find their way onto the floor, where they remained to move to a swinging cover of James Brown’s Sex Machine. The Askari Afrobeat Orchestra soon

MAINROOM

$10 jugs kicks off at 8.30 with DJs Dazz K & Jamie Mac

took the stage to perform. Their impressive 11-piece line up (consisting of members of Odette Mercy and Her Soul Atomics, the Funk Club House Band and Grace Barbe and her band) kept the dance floor going with a set of Afrobeat covers and originals.

Russ Dewbury (pic: Tracy Frawley)

Some of the covers were particularly well received, including Ghanaian musical icon Ebo Taylor’s Heaven, and the hypnotic Ethiopian funk of The Wallias Band’s Muziqaqi Silt, which closed the set. Russ Dewbury took the mic to ask the crowd if they wanted more, and the Orchestra quickly returned for a slightly chaotic yet highly entertaining performance of Afrobeat classic Zombie, with Jon Fernandes doing his best Fela Kuti impersonation. D ewbur y took over the dance floor once again, switching the focus to electronic music. The dance floor was a little less crowded but more energetic than ever, thanks to his upbeat house selections. He soon switched to drum ‘n’ bass and the dance floor filled again. Dewbury started wrapping things up at quarter to midnight with a Latin jazz number and a funky breaks reworking of Sex Machine, which was made memorable by one male punter jumping into one of the unoccupied go-go dancer cages to the side of the stage to show off his dance moves. By the time the show ended at midnight (being the Anzac Day public holiday) it seemed Russ Dewbury – and most punters – were just getting warmed up. JOSHUA HAYES

DEFECTORS (UP-STAIRS)

THURSDAY

Latin rhythms with DJ Moogy

FRIDAY

The Beat Suite with Micah, Sharif Galal and Guests. 9pm Free Entry

SATURDAY

Bad Love

Discocentric jams from across the galaxy featuring Ben Taffe, Lightseed & Fuking Midas. Free Entry

SUNDAY

“Back to Mono”

Perth’s essential Free”N”Funky Sunday Sesh. Rare Groove, Ska, Rocksteady, Dub, Funk, Soul, Reggae, Afro Beat. With Dj’s Gareth Richardson, Ted Schlechte & Death Disco’s Anton Mazz. 5pm Free Entry

WEDNESDAY

Beat Route records presents

TWIST

featuring Agent 85 plus special guest DJs spinning vintage vinyl. Garage, Indi, Powerpop, Ska, Surf, Psych, Rhythm & Soul. Free Entry.

R&B SUPERSTAR Metro City Friday, May 28, 2010

THURSDAY

Metro City has launched its brand new clubbing night R&B Superstar, and things were full throttle on Friday as a throng of glamourous clubbers flocked to Metros to hear hit after hit of sexy R&B tunes.

OPEN DECKS SESSIONS

Feat: Roman A, PH3ON1X, Mike D &BrKen Love. Register your interest at www.opendeckssessions.com.au

FRIDAY The Final Deuce all star Line up

Pics by David Chong

Hellen, Villa

Jane, Tammy

featuring Turbine 37, James DXU, MC Shana, Lo Key Fu, DJ Sumo, Yarkhob, SK Mode, Akidnamedjohn, VJ Lambency & shoesandsocks

SATURDAY

Lucid Dreaming presents

a night of house/ Deep House/ Disco/ Tech House featuring James Francis, La Gooch, Luke Reti & Flex. It’s Free Entry and all kicks off at 9pm.

Brett Costello www.xpressmag.com.au

Winda, Mei

Larisa, Shelby 39

VARIOUS ARTISTS BoogyBytes Vol.05: Seth Troxler

ARMIN VAN BUUREN A State Of Trance 2010

[BPitch Control/Stomp]

[Armada/405 Recordings]

In the last few years Seth Troxler has created quite an infamous reputation for himself; blazing a path across the scene with his unique sound and style, a sound born of classic US house and techno, with a forward thinking, European edge. An absolute fusion of glitchy beats, techy treats and deep house grooves. The US ex-pat, now residing in Berlin, has the honour of becoming the first DJ/Producer not on Ellen Allien’s highly regading BPitch label to do a BoogyBytes mix. Troxler’s outing in the series, follows on from great mixes from ModeSelektor and Allien herself. With the bar set high, Troxler submits a solid and individual voyage through myriad sounds. After a cool remix of The Royal We’s Party Guilt, follows the sublime sounds of N/A featuring Rosina - Fables and Fairytales [Deniz Kurtel remix], its haunting vocal floating over creepy synths and bouncy beats. These more accessible sounds are contrasted with the more twisted, trippy sounds of Richie Hawtin’s Uncontrolled Edit of Freakbox. At times the minimalistic mayhem is unsettling, with the repetitive, lurching beat of Molar One by Alexi Delano and Jabberjaw’s Connie Shake. Under his Thrill Cosby moniker, Troxler’s own mix of Signs by Heartthrob is an epic electro workout and his reinvention of Fever Ray’s Seven produces intriguing results; while Craig Smith’s The Soul Pt.2 and the rolling piano groove of Cinema Obscura by Kiki are also highlights. An imaginative mix from a unique talent.

For the past six years, April has been a highly anticipated month for trance fans with the annual instalment of A State Of Trance and as an added bonus, this years release is also timed to mark ASOT’s 450th episode. Keeping the party theme in mind, Armin has split the album into two distinct flavours with On The Beach opening proceedings and as the name suggests, it’s a collection of very light, melodic trance tracks designed to get the party gently rolling along. Whilst no single track outshines the other, this fits comfortably with this CD’s perceived purpose. It’s not until In The Club begins that one recognises the unique feel that ASOT instils upon the listener aptly assisted with tracks like the entrancing melodies of Roger Shah & Signum’s Ancient World and the emphatic symphonies of Ferry Tayle’s Trapeze. Each track is expertly woven into a hypnotic fabric of sheer trance pleasure, culminating in Max Graham’s uplifting epic Sun In The Winter. Yet another quality release from Armin: with 27 million listeners tuning into ASOT each week, the man sure knows what he’s doing!

ALFRED GORMAN 3/5

GLEN CANNING 4.5/5

CROOKERS Tons Of Friends

LCD SOUNDSYSTEM This Is Happening

After a prolonged wait, Crookers have finally released an album which is “more of an album to listen to and less of an album to dance to”, according to Bot, one half of this Milanese electro duo. Tons Of Friends is not what you anticipate from these grinding electro producers, Tons comprises 20 tracks of high profile collaborations erring towards the hip-hop end of the musical spectrum. No Security, featuring Kelis, incorporates some heavy dubstep flavours, while tracks with Pitbull, Will.i.am and Rye Rye seem like paint-by numbers hip-hop bangers. Things get more interesting around the half way mark with Remedy featuring Miike Snow, a somewhat sparse tune characterised by catchy piano lines, deep bass lines and Snow’s fragile vocals. A definite standout, catchy to the point of annoyance. Crookers throw another curve ball soon after. Lone White Wolf, featuring Tim Burgess (of The Charlatans fame) takes incongruous to a whole new level, a bluesy guitar driven number which highlights the hoarse vocal of Burgess. Whilst the varied vocal talents are the definite centrepiece of each tune, Tons Of Friends doesn’t make the mistake of emphasizing big collaborations over the music itself. Most importantly, this is an album which is listenable and danceable, with many tracks already developing into d-floor juggernauts. An admirable effort, but there is a nagging feeling that this assortment of tracks is a little too diverse for its own good. REUBEN ADAMS 3.5/5

After three years LCD Soundsystem have returned with their third, and possibly last, album.This Is Happening finds LCD head honcho James Murphy following a similar pattern to previous albums, with these nine tracks playing like the perfect distillation of LCD ’s first two albums. His sound palette gets a slight tweak on Happening, but Murphy and crew have an exceptional knack for interesting beats and appealing textures. Yet again however, its Murphy’s singing which is the big surprise. For a guy that started out singspeaking every song, he has developed a vocal style that can var y from flatly spoken monologues to pained yelps and heartbreaking falsetto. Anyone who fails to be moved by I Can Change has never been in love. Nearly all tracks are highlights; the soulful I Can Change, the manic Pow Pow, the agitated album standout, Home. However, occasionally tracks can stretch on a tad too long and Somebody’s Calling Me could have been excised without the album losing any potency. Fans will squabble over which LCD album is their best, but truth be told Murphy has lost none of the edge of his early career and has refined his songwriting to create a body of work that is equal to all those he listed on his debut single.

[Southern Fried Records/Sony]

[DFA/EMI]

GLEN PARKS 5/5

CREAMFIELDS PLAYERS WITH PUNCH BLOODY BEETROOTS / FERRY CORSTEN / MARCO V / DAVE CLARKE / MSTRKRFT / LMFAO / JORIS VOORN / FILO & PERI / many more Claremont Showgrounds Sunday, April 30, 2010

With celebrated clubs in both Ibiza and the UK, Cream expanded into festival tours, giving birth to the iconic Creamfields name. Fresh from winning Best UK Festival for 2009, Creamfields descended upon Australia for the first time, with hordes of eager punters welcomed into the Showgrounds by the shining sun. Spread across two pavilions and one outdoor stage, a rather large proportion of the crowd seemed to be content lounging around outside, which left Italian house heavy Riva Starr playing to a small but vocal and appreciative horde on the Cream stage. Peering studiously at his decks for much of the set, Starr managed a cheeky smile as he held back the drop to a Prodigy remix, before unleashing a devastating straight beat assault. Techno stalwart Green Velvet played a strong set at Outrage, but the smallish crowd (and fluctuating sound) seemed to create an echo chamber effect: a lot of his hefty drops never hit the mark. Outside, though, was a different story, as Perth’s own Mind Electric tore up the minuscule Limelite stage with an impressive number of punters bouncing away to his catchy mix of electro and techno beats. With Steve Angello pulling out, there were bound to be some set changes: however, these were not advertised well, with punters being handed times with his name still on them. More disappointing was the unannounced change that saw Filo & Peri playing one hour earlier, resulting in scores of punters missing their set altogether, the consolation prize a live set from Lifelike which never really left the station. As the afternoon progressed, Australia’s Dirty South took to the Outrage stage, laying down an infectious collection of house tracks, including a remix of the Prodigy’s Smack My Bitch Up and Coldplay’s Clocks, both receiving huge roars from the large crowd as DS emphatically punched the air in approval. The beer drinking, ciggie-smoking boys from MSTRKRFT looked nice and cosy on stage, working so close together it looked uncomfortable. Kicking off with Queens’ Don’t Stop Me Now, they definitely looked like they were 40

‘havin’ a good time’, their set characterised by deep and punchy bass lines with assorted tunes teased in and out at regular intervals. With the crowd beginning to tire, the lads dropped Bounce which seemed to give everyone fresh dancing legs and sent JFK into a head banging frenzy. Concluding with The Bloody Beetroots’ Warp was a bit of a DJ etiquette faux pas (with the Beetroots due to play later that eve), but then MSTRKRFT aren’t known for their tact. Great stuff. As expected, Dutch genius Joris Voorn played flawlessly to a smallish crowd, but there was something intangible missing from his performance that made it feel a little flat at times. What’s more, he had to compete with MSTRKRFT and Ferry for punters’ attention - no easy task. Fortunately Ferry Corsten’s set time was changed from one to two hours and although his bags did not arrive with him in Perth, he still had his tunes. For those that could tolerate the drunken idiocy of some of the people in the pavilion, Corsten unleashed an awesome array of tracks that electrified the dance floor. He moved between the uplifting melodies of tracks (Pulse’s Once and AF Project’s Something Wrong) to the thumping remixes of his own Brainbox and the crowd pleasing Radio Crash. The only blemish was a dodgy CD that ended his set fifteen minutes early, skipping and cutting out midway through the immensely popular Rock Your Body Rock. The ‘Baron of Techno’ Dave Clarke was utterly awe-inspiring. Drawing what appeared to be a large UK contingent to the Cream stage, it was a set of pure methodical annihilation, and with room to move the crowd thrashed out like it was the last set of the night. Deep, driving techno with a smattering of glitched out beats, epic builds and teased out drops had the smiling punters in raptures. Insanely brilliant. Dutch legend Marco V had the closing honours in the Cream pavilion and he didn’t disappoint the enthusiastic crowd, throwing down his trademark driving rhythms resulting in some serious wear and tear to many a shoe as the dance floor went ballistic with his own Red, Blue, Purple and Unprepared. His energy behind the decks was contagious but alas it was over all too soon, his choice of closing track was the breathtaking Heatbeat remix of John O’Callaghan’s Find Yourself, which sent the dance floor into orbit, leaving the crowd screaming for more and earning himself the highlight of the day alongside Ferry Corsten.

MSTRKRFT

Filo & Peri

Riva Starr The biggest drawcard of the night was always going to be the Bloody Beetroots live show, particularly after their tent-destroying effort at Stereosonic last year. Unlike last year, however, they included some uplifting interludes between tunes, which made for a diverse set. If you disregarded the modicum of drunken idiots this was a great way to end the night. The live sound was flawless, punchy and energetic as they moved through their catalogue, along with a great rendition of New Noise which had all the punk lovers hollering. As everyone wobbled out the front gate (the sprinklers were a nice touch), it’s fair to say that Creamfields was a win for most. The venue worked out surprisingly well, with the centrally placed chill out area and the lack of sound issues between stages. While crowd numbers seemed to be down, there were no issues associated with a capacity gig, which kept the angst to a minimum. Let’s hope that Creamfields becomes a regular fixture on the festival calendar! REUBEN ADAMS & GLEN CANNING

Ferry Corsten Pics: Daniel Arrigoni (Copyright Totem Onelove) Hittin’ the town since 1985

www.xpressmag.com.au

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▶ THURSDAY 06/05 Broken Hill Hotel – Fixed - 2 Dj’s Many Styles Civic Hotel (The Den) – DJ Messy Clancy’s (Canning Bridge) DJ Wrighteous Club Bayview – DJ Ryan Club Marakesh – DJ Simon Eve –DJ Tony Allen Flying Scotsman (Main Room) - Pasha’s Kitchen – The Big Man Flying Scotsman (Velvet Lounge) – Open Decks Session - Roman A/ PH3ON1X/ Mike D/ BrKen Love Flying Scotsman (Defectors) – Latin Styles – DJ Moogy Foundry - DJ Ricky Liquid Nightclub – DJ Buda Mustang – DJ Giles Newport – DJ Shannon Fox Niche - Johnni P/ Rob Blandford Onyx - Avicii Paddy Hannans - Crazy Craig Players Bar – Neon Lights - DJ Samuel Spencer Swinging Pig – DJ Simon The Clink – DJ Jinx The Deen – DJ Flex/ DJ Nano/ DJ Serge/ DJ Don Migi The East End - DJ Midfield The Queens – Weekend Warm-up The Whistling Kite - DJ Gareth The Shed – DJ Andyy Woodvale Tavern – DJ Melvin

▶ FRIDAY 07/05 MOJOS FISHERMAN’S STYLE 4TH BIRTHDAY - MISTA SANOVA Legendar y local reggae night, Fisherman’s Style, celebrate its four th b i r t h d ay to n i g h t, a n d i s having a hell of a par t y. Earthlink Sound will be joined by Australian reggae master Mista Sanova, who flies over from Melbourne to perform tracks from his new album, Warn The Nation. Joining M ista Savona on stage will be sensational vocalist/MC, Vida Sunshyne. Ramping up the local vibes w i l l b e fo r m e r E a r t h l i n k

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members SimmoT and Prince Isis and their new outfit Sabata Sound, Fisherman regular and all round geezer DJ Sorted, Perth’s best female crew Sensi Sound alongside the Kiwi link DJ Dubheap. With plenty of giveaways and Appleton Rum Cocktail specials, this will be a night not to miss. Doors open at 8pm for $10. V E LV E T LO U N G E DEUCE FINALE After bringing you the best in Perth’s live, local, electronic beats, fashion and visuals monthly at the Velvet Lounge for almost three years, the Deuce crew is taking a break. They ’re inviting all DJs, VJs, models, dancers, drinkers and any other form of loyal or interested punters to come down and join in the fun, so pack your m u s i c . D e u ce f a v o u r i t e s Lo-key Fu, Turbine 37 feat. MC Skahna, James DXU, Yarhkob, SK MODE, DJ Sumo and akidnamedjohn will all give the decks a burl, whilst residenst VJs Lambency and shoesandsocks be providing the visuals. 8pm ‘til late, free entry. Head down and bid the Deuce kids adieu! Amplifier – DJ Shannon Fox/ DJ Jamie Ambar – DJ Hyper/ Dead Easy/ Micah/ Wish/ Danny Bar 138 – Uptown Rankin - Dj Chio/ Ricky Trooper/ Ricky Trooper Bar Open (Downstairs) – Control – Scott D Basement On Broadway – Friday Therapy – DJ Urban Tiger Broken Hill Tavern – DJ Nick Alexander Capitol – Capitol Fridays Retro Mash Clancy’s (Canning Bridge) DJ Boogie Como Hotel – DJ Gazz Double Lucky –Full Circle – Adam Kelly/ Cee/ Troy Dusk - So You Think You Can Mix DJ Competition Eve – Suga N Spice – Don

Migi/ Skooby/ Dannyboi Flying Scotsman (Main Room) – Time Tunnel - DJ Rok Riley/ Joe 19 Flying Scotsman (Defectors) - The Beat Suite – Micah/ Sharif Galal Flying Scotsman (Velvet Lounge) – Deuce Residency Finale – Lo-key Fu/ Turbine 37/ MC Skahna/ James DXU/ Yarhkob/ SK MODE/ DJ Sumo Akidnamedjohn/ VJ Lambency/ Shoesandsocks Geisha Bar – Mezzanine – Lara Hyams/ Frankie Button/ Miss Tokyo High Wycombe – Fill In Da Gap Hipe Club - DJ E-Funk Impact Bar – So Fine Fridays Tribute To Bob Marley – General Justice/The Empressions/Busha Dee/ Zyphon Zim Llama Bar - DJ Morris/DJ Reuben Library – DJ AZT/ DJ Fiveo Liquid Nightclub - DJ Matty / Ricky Lakers Tavern – Fresh Fridays - DJ Dooey Manhattans - Stratosfunk Metropolis Fremantle – Limelite - Stafford Brothers/ Bobby Tee/ Zelimir Merrina Tavern – DJ Terry Mint – Club Retro – Chris McPhee Mojos – Fisherman Style 4th Birthday - Earthlink Sound/ MIsta Savona/ MC Vida Sunshyne/ SimmoT/ Prince Isis/ Sabata Sound/ DJ Sorted/ Sensi Sound/ DJ Dubheap Mustang- James MacArthur/ DJ Swing Norma Jeans – DJ Phil Onyx Bar – Slick/ Adroc Oxford Hotel – DJ Sequeria Paddy Hannans - Crazy Craig Paramount – Mexican Fiesta DJ Morgan / Jordan Principal Micro Brewery – DJ Simon Queens Tav – DJ Rueben Rise – Global Sound System – tyDi/ Ashley Wallbridge/ Avesta/ Simon Barwood/ Steven Tranzor Rocket Room – DJ Adam Round/ MC Tomas Ford

Rosemount Hotel - Massive Trav/ Rok Riley/ Sardi/ Diger Rokwell/ Ben Taaffe Rubix – Gene Bourne/ Kenny L Sail & Anchor - DJ Anaru Sapphire Bar – SuperFly Shape – Opiuo/ Killafoe/ J.Nitrous/ Rregula/ Narkotic/ Arien/ MC Bear/ Rtillery South St Ale House – DJ Jay Stamford Arms - DJ Janic The Clink – DJ Jinx The Deen – DJ Birdie/ DJ Nano/ DJ Serge The Eastern – DJ Midfield The Manor – Norman Jay The Queens – DJ Rueben The Republic – Pin Up! Francesco Pilling/ Cluedo Pierres/ Amnesia/ Muv & Larry The Shed – DJ Andyy Tiger Lils – Paul Malone/ Joby / Alex K Toucan Club – DJ Armee Windsor – Dj Riki and Ray Victoria Park Hotel – DJ Melvin

▶ SATURDAY 08/05 SHAPE DIRTYBIRD RECORDS TOUR – JUSTIN MARTIN/ WORTHY Claude VonStroke’s famous Dirtybird label has always been synonymous with sweaty bass-lines, quirky ideas, and bumpin’ funk. This year is the label’s fifth anniversary, and to celebrate one of America’s quirkiest imprints, the Dirtybird boys are throwing a series of massive house parties across the countr y. Tak ing over Shape Bar tonight are two of the label’s biggest names, Justin Martin and Worthy. Support on the night comes from Richard Lee, Terry Waites and Flex. Tickets are $25 and available from www. shapebar.com.au. Plus every ticket holder will receive a free Dirtybird CD upon entry! VILLA BASS KLEPH With one foot planted firmly in the underground, Bass Kleph’s edgy take on jackin’ tech/ electro and house has a pop sensibilit y ever yone can

connect with. 2009 threw commercial and club success Bass Kleph’s way – Spend My Money had him playing the international roulette wheel and Keyboard Cat jumped to #2 on the electro Beatport chart. Bass Kleph’s record label Vacation Records goes from strength to strength, releasing artists like Micky Slim, Hook n Sling, Stupid Fresh, Twocker, Mowgli and more. Catch Bass Kleph at Villa fresh from his appearance at the Miami Winter Music Conference. Support from Oli, Kastel and Prizzy. $20 on the door, or $15 presales from Boomtick.com.au. Doors open 10pm. Ambar – Japan 4 – Fdel/ Tee El/ Ben Mac/ Mono Lisa/ Micah Amplifier – Pure Pop – DJ Eddie Electric Bar Open (Downstairs) – Open House – Acebasik/ Chumba/ Arrigold/ dMo/ Kill Dyl Bar Open (Upstairs) – Filthy Gorgeous – Sketchism/ Jackness/ Nathan Francis/ Jay Vincente/ Paul Scott/ Benny T & Luca/ Aaron Richards/ Travis Lebrun/ Marko La Kucha Basement On Broadway – DJ Ricky Black Bettys- DJ Trubble/ DJ Jinx Black Tom’s – Revival - DJ Trevor Hutchison Broken Hill Tavern – DJ Nick Alexander Capitol (Downstairs) –Death Disco – Death Disco DJs Capitol (Upstairs) – 80s Classics – DJ Ryan Captain Stirling - DJ Dano Clink- DJ Cheese Civic Hotel (Backroom) – DJ Red Club Bay View – VIP Saturdays – DJ Ryan Connections – Michy T / JJ / Brian Devilles Pad – Disco Mama Joey Valdez/ Mama Cass Double Lucky – Tim Brown Dusk – Flashback – DJ Benny c/ DJ Josh

Eurobar – Roger Smart/ DJ Raci Eve – DJ Don Migi/ Skooby/ Tony Allen Flying Scotsman (Defectors) – Lucid Dreaming - James Francis/ La Gooch/Luke Reti/ Flex Flying Scotsman (Main Room) – Transmission – Andrei Mazz Flying Scotsman (Velvet Lounge) – Bad Love – Ben Taffe/ Lightseed/ Fuking Midas Geisha –Joie – DJ Tizer/ T-Box/ Johnathon Livingston High Wycombe – DJ Matt Hipe Club - DJ E-Funk Impact Bar – DJ Abstar Leederville - DJ Loco Ren Library - DJ AZT/ DJ Fiveo/ DJ Jimmy Phatz/ DJ Zeke/ DJ L Street Liquid Nightclub - DJ Matty / Ricky Llama Bar – VJ Zoo/ DJ Rueben/ DJ Tony Lopez Manhattans – Rhythm Train – JO19 Mint – Pop Life - Darren Briais Mullaloo Beach Hotel – DJ Danny Mustang – DJ Rockabilly/ DJ James MacArthur Niche – DJ Manda Power/ Cee/ Adam/ Kelly/Josh D Norma Jeans – DJ Dwayne Onyx - DJ Kayper Oxford Hotel – DJ Sequeria Paramount – DJ Meezy / Jordan Queens Tav – DJ Gear Rocket Room – DJ Brett Rowe Rise – Revolution - Steven Tranzor/ Simon Barwood/ Greg Packer/ Xsessiv/ Rousa Rubix – Kenny L/ DJ Delaney Sail & Anchor – DJ Shannon James Sapphire Bar – Filthy Gorgeous Shape – Dirty Birds Record Tour 2010 – Justin Martin/ Worthy South St Ale House – DJ Jay Stamford Arms - DJ Anaru/ DJ Janic

Hittin’ the town since 1985

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Tiger Lil’s –Ben Sebastian/ Charlie Bucket The Brighton - Philly Blunt/ Creek/ eSQue/ Kill Dyl/ Mad Dogs The Deen - DJ Birdie/ DJ JJ/ DJ Tony Allen The Saint – DJ Anaru The Shed – DJ Andy The Victoria Park Hotel – DJ Melvin The Whistling Kite - DJ Craig Toucan Club – Samuel Spencer/ Mr President Victoria Park Hotel – DJ Melvin Villa – Bass Kleph/ Oli/ Kastel/ Prizzy Windsor – DJ Ray / Jinx

High Road Hotel - DJ Matty J High Wycombe - DJ Ricky Hipe Club – DJ Roger Smart The Cott (Upstairs) – Maxwell/ DJ Jus Haus/ Damian John The Paddo - DJ DPad Victoria Park Hotel - DJ Melvin

Ù WEDNESDAY 12/05

Basement On Broadway – Damien John/Angry Buda/ Maxwell/Headayke Captain Stirling – DJ Ricky Connections - DJ’s Joby / JJ / Rueben Dusk – Blackbelt/ Aswon Double Lucky – Dirty Elegance Ù SUNDAY 09/05 Eurobar – Wild Wednesdays DJ iPod/Ben Pettit Captain Stirling – DJ Matty J Eve – Déjà Vu – DJ Don Migi/ Clink – DJ Tony Allen Skooby Club Bayview – DJ Pete Flying Scotsman Euro Bar – DJ Flex Eve – Industry – DJ Birdie/ MC (Downstairs) – Uni-Que – DJs Dazz K/ Jamie Mac Jex Flying Scotsman (Defectors) Flying Scotsman (Defectors) – Back To Mono –Gareth R/Ted – Twist - Agent 85 Geisha – Wet N Wild – Schlecte/Anton Mazz Blackbelt/ Slick/ Kevo/ Aswon Flying Scotsman (Downstairs) - Nathan J/ Chris Gold – Slick/ Adroc Hipe Club – DJ Roger Smart Wright/ The Nisbit Impact Bar – Soul Night Out – Manhattans – Massiv Trav Mustang – DJ Giles Nick Alexander Newport Hotel – DJ Tony Kulcha – DJ Aswon Allen Mullaloo Beach Hotel – DJ Niche - DJ Frankie Button Kenny L Paddo - Ben Merito Mustang - DJ Rockin Rhys Paddy Hannans – DJ Craig Paddo - DJ PDS Rosemount – DJ Shannon Fox Players Bar - DJ-Udas The Clink – Spin FX Queens Tav- DJ Rhys Worth Railway Hotel - DJ Mellatron The Deen- DJ Zelimer / DJ Viper & DJ Benny T– Zone 1 Rosemount Hotel – Sundae The Eastern – DJ Jinx Session The Queens – Wriggle on The Cott - Cott Sessions The Saint - DJ Anaru The Shed – DJ Andy The Wembley – Deckeclectic

The Slew (Kid Koala) Ù THIS WEEK Friday, May 14 @ Rosemount Hotel Julio Voltio Thursday, May 6 @ Fly By Night Ajax/ Bag Raiders/ Killaqueenz Club Friday, May 14 @ Villa Dam_Funk Afrodisia’s First Birthday Friday, May 7 @ The Manor Friday, May 14 @ Leederville Hotel tyDi/ Ashley Wallbridge Friday, May 7 @ Rise Master & Servant Friday, May 14 @ Rise DJ Hyper NEW Friday, May 7 @ Ambar Peace Division Friday, May 14 @ Geisha Stafford Brothers/Bobby Tee/ Kissdafunk Friday, May 7 @ Metro Freo Kutz Saturday, May 15 @ Shape Opiuo Friday, May 7 @ Shape Groovin’ The Moo feat. Empire Of The Sun, Miami Horror, Bag So You Think You Can Mix? Raiders, The Slew, Muph & Friday, May 7 @ Dusk Plutonic, Funkoars, Illy, Ajax, Dirtybird Records Tour - Justin Yacht Club DJs, Killaqueenz, Martin /Worthy Space Invadas + more Saturday, May 8 @ Shape Saturday, May 15 @ Hay Park, Bunbury Bass Kleph Saturday, May 8 @ Villa Mampi Swift Saturday, May 15 @ Villa

Ù UPCOMING

NEW

DJ Zinc Friday, May 14 @ Ambar

The Thrill Seekers Saturday, May 15 @ Rise

Katalyst (DJ set) Friday, May 14 @ Manor

Baio DJ Set Sunday, May 16 @ Shape

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Illy/ Bentman & Sipn/ MC Thomas James Zabiela Ford/ DJ Brett Rowe Thursday, May 20 @ Villa Friday, May 14 @ Rocket Room Miami Horror Friday, May 14 @ East End Bar

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Lukie D Friday, May 21 @ Impact Bar

Bootleg - The Bootleg Brothers/ NEW Vandalism Mama Says Yes!/ Tom Drummond Saturday, May 29 @ EXIT Bass Child Friday, May 21 @ Ambar London Elektricity/MC AD Friday, June 4 @ Metro City Direct Influence Friday, May 21 @ Settlers Tavern; 2010 Habitat DJ Competition Saturday, May 22 @ Indi Bar; Heat 2 Sunday, May 23 @ Fly By Night Saturday, June 5 @ Shape We Love Sounds – Underworld/ Crookers/ Steve Aoki/ Tiga/ Felix Da Housecat/ Laidback Luke/ 2010 Habitat DJ Competition Joachim Garraud/ Proxy/ Zombie Nation/ Felix Cartel/ Thomas Von/ Heat 1 Seth Troxler + more Saturday, May 22 @ Shape Sunday, June 6 @ Supreme Court Gardens NEW Diger Rokwell NEW Saturday, May 22 @ The Bird Birds Of Tokyo Thursday, June 10 @ Metro City Autechre Godskitchen - Markus Schulz/ Thursday, May 27 @ Capitol Gareth Emery/ Roger Shah Friday, June 11 @ Metro City Oxia Friday, May 28 @ Geisha Shapeshifter Saturday, June 12 @ Villa Sampology Friday, May 28 @ The Manor Operator Please Friday, June 18 @ Astor Theatre DJ Lord Friday, May 28 @ Shape DJ Premier Friday, June 18 @ Shape Amon Vision 2010 Habitat DJ Competition Friday, May 28 @ Bar Open Heat 3 Saturday, June 19 @ Shape Naboo (Mighty Boosh) Havana Brown Saturday, May 22 @ Metro City

Saturday, May 29 (Sold Out); NEW Total Science Sunday, May 30 @ Shape Friday, June 25 @ Shape Aston Shuffle Saturday, May 29 @ Villa

Cassette Kids Saturday, June 26 @ Amplifier

Ù MONDAY 10/05 Eastern Hotel – Adam Morris The Deen – DJ Birdie The Paddo - DJ John Paul The Shed – DJ Andyy

Ù TUESDAY 11/05

MINT

Bar Orient - DJ Lyndon Eastern Hotel – Jon Edwards

WEDNESDAY

Circus with DJ Giles

STUDENT & BACKPACKER NIGHT

SUNDAY

$5 BBQ & drink deal from 6pm

Peter Busher & The Lone Rangers with DJ Rockin Rhys

THURSDAY

WiKid & DJ Giles FRIDAY

Adam Hall & The Velvet Playboys with Swing DJ. Cheeky Monkeys with DJ James MacArthur

SATURDAY

The Rusty Pinto Combo with Rockabilly DJ. The Damien Cripps Band & DJ James MacArthur www.xpressmag.com.au

MONDAY

Marco & The Rhythm Kings

Rockabilly Dance Lessons from 7pm $12 per lesson TUESDAY

Danza Loca Salsa night

DJ and live percussionists 43

GOOD SPORTS

INDI BAR

On Thursday, May 6, Open Mic Night is hosted by the delightful Bex. Regular rockers Vdelli play on Friday, May 7, and on Saturday, May 8, there’s a huge line up with the United Tour featuring Matt Gresham, Chris Pickering, Cookie Baker and Nicole Brophy. Sunday is jam packed night of rock ‘n’ roll from Stillfire, while Wednesday, May 5, features a very special but very secret guest.

The Paddo Sunday, May 2 Th e Pa d d o ( w i n n e r o f A H A’s Best Live Entertainment award 2009) is the place to be to catch all your live sport this winter. A massive crowd gathered beneath the Paddo’s roof last Sunday to witness the Mayweather v Mosely fight, and the atmosphere was amazing. Head to the Paddo this Friday night, May 7, to catch the Australia v New Zealand League match, which will be shown on the big screen at 5:30pm. Plus the State of Origin starts on Wednesday, May 26. Head to www.paddo.com.au for all your live sport times.

Debbie, Claire

MUSTANG BAR

Get your dancing shoes on and bust on down to The Mustang Bar this Monday, May 10, for their weekly dance lessons from 7pm, $12 per lesson. It’s a fun and flexible dance studio that provides structured and professional dance coaching for a variety of 1930s to 1960s ‘nostalgia’ dance styles. Then catch Marco & The Rhythm Kings with their swingin’ hillbilly jazz on stage from 8pm.

Pics by David Chong

Duesh, Craig, James

FLY BY NIGHT

This Thursday, May 6, get ready for a night of salsa and reggaeton with Puerto Rican superstar Julio Voltio. On Friday, May 7, the killer surf guitar instrumentalists Day Of The Dead are back to launch Damned If You Do. On Saturday, May 8, Double Entendre blast their original brand of gyprock throughout the Fly. Then on Sunday, May 9, get hit by the bright lights of Viva Lust Vegas with Sugar Blue Burlesque.

THE CIVIC HOTEL

Tegan, Lucy

Josh, Matt, Frank

This Friday The Den will be filled with the acoustic sounds of Mick Thomas and Michael Barclay, and Adrian Hoffman from 8pm. Then on Saturday, May 8, the Civic Backroom will explode when Electric Mary hit the stage supported by Emerald City, Battlecat and Fools of April.

AMPLIFIER

This Saturday, get ready for one of the best gigs of 2010 when local punk-rockers We Are The Emergency launch their new album Whispers And Fragments. Melbourne’s Stealing O’Neal are coming all the way across the continent to join the fun, and locals Here We Ghost and Only Hope round out the bill. Door sales only from 8pm.

DEFECTORS (UPSTAIRS AT THE SCOTTO)

Back to Mono is Perth’s essential free ‘n’ funky Sunday Sesh featuring rare groove, ska, rocksteady, dub, funk, soul, reggae and Afro beat. DJs Gareth Richardson, Ted Schlechte, and Death Disco’s Anton Mazz are on board. Free entry from 5pm.

CAPITOL

Get ready to walk around on broken legs when Bluejuice roll into Capitol on Saturday, May 8. The five cheekiest lads of Aussie rock are back to celebrate the release of their latest single Ain’t Telling The Truth. They’ll be joined by The Holidays and our very own Boys! Boys! Boys!. Limited tickets are still available from Moshtix.

RAILWAY HOTEL

The Railway Hotel hosts some great Aussie pub rock this Friday, May 7, when Melbourne’s Electric Mary (fresh from supporting Deep Purple) hit the stage along with local guests Gasoline Inc, Hailmary and Homebrewe. Doors 8pm, entry $15.

THE INGLEWOOD HOTEL

The Inglewood Hotel will be hosting an acoustic night with Ella & Scott Bourne from Wednesday, May 12. Ella & Scott have been in the music/pub scene for nearly 10 years and they cover a wide range of songs from the ‘60s to current. It will also be The Inglewood’s first Facebook event where all members will receive invitations to all their special events.

Adam Said Galore

ROSEMOUNT HOTEL

Five of Perth’s best get together for a fantastic night of local tunes. The night is also to say goodbye to long-serving RTR FM Music Director Dave Cutbush. Catch Adam Said Galore, Capital City, The Tigers, Apricot Rail and Felicity Groom in the main room with DJs Massiv Trav, Rok Riley, Sardi, Diger Rokwell, Ben Taaffe in the beer garden. Doors 8pm, entry $10.

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FRUITS OF THE FORREST

Apricot Rail

In The Pines Somerville Auditorium, University Of Western Australia Sunday, May 2, 2010 It’s easy to get carried away when describing In The Pines, but there really is a certain mini-festival utopia which seems to be regularly achieved at RTR FM’s annual local music love-in. Sure, the event doesn’t have to deal with anywhere near the crowds of a major festival, but the laidback musical picnic vibe is admirably retained. It all starts at the entrance when two or three security guards, and a couple of ticketing volunteers, actually smile at you on the way in. You read right – smiling security guards and ticketing people! Good heavens. Once you’re inside there’s no army of neon clad behemoths herding you around like musical sheep at every turn – just a couple of uni students selling raffle tickets. You’ll even encounter an innovative system which allows you to quickly exchange cash for beer – not a token in site. How quaint. Like a village fete but with rock bands instead of doilies. If you don’t fall asleep on your picnic rugs there’s also twenty WA bands to enjoy, like Stereoflower, who despite being second cabs of the rank this year, gave the growing crowd a big jolt of folk ‘n’ roll goodness. Lead singer Alex Elbery’s cutting and abrasive wail doesn’t come across as well live as it does on the band’s

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impressive debut It’s Alright. It’s Ok. Satellite Commander, sometimes it’s a bit too paintstripping for this scribe, but what they lack in subtlety or poise they make up for in theatricality and energy. Erasers’ set provided the first of many post-rock tinged forays into musical experimentalist, with the band sending eerie, droning soundscapes out into the trees. Given RTR FM’s eclectic programming, having bands like Erasers on the bill made a lot of sense. This bourgeois meat ’n’ potatoes hack hadn’t seen them before and, prior to the event, might have affectionately filed them under ‘a bit wank-y’, but in the evocative surrounds the band’s melodicaled melodies were seductive and beautiful. Wind Waker’s dirty surf guitars and wailing punk-y vocals demanded attention – while smRts dual drum attack and gypsy stylings were engaging for the eyes and ears. Both bands showed the depth of Perth’s vibrant fringe. An act that could certainly crack the national mainstream, however, are Arts Martial who delivered a slick and super-tight rock show. Decked out in full oriental martial arts regalia, the band delivered anthemic indie rock numbers Supernatural and Dreams like consummate pros. The Next Big Thing competition has a reputation as a bit of a fame factory, and given that Arts Martial clearly have the right radio songs, they may well live up to the competition’s title.

smRts (photos: Lisa Businovski)

Sean Pollard’s new band Split Seconds were another act that showed immense promise and talent. With The Bank Holiday’s Nat Carson helping out on guitars and sweet, sweet, harmonies, Pollard and his group hit their straps with What A Week with it’s off-beat ‘oom pa pa’ rhythm reminiscent of some fantastical Wonka-esque steamdriven production line. This track in particular seemed to have the hipster-heavy crowd putting down their Lomos and joining in a rapturous clap.

As t h e s u n s e t, Apricot R ail appropriately took advantage of the best natural lighting of the evening, as they gently pushed their delicate melodies into the balmy air. One of the most hotly anticipated sets of the day, the band didn’t disappoint in delivering the instrumental dreaminess that endears people to their recordings. Apricot Rail’s set may have been a nice lullaby to send the handfull of toddlers scattered around the venue to bed. Perhaps they were the band’s or the fans’, but the toddlers at this year’s

Hittin’ the town since 1985

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The Wednesday Society

Felicity Groom

Arts Martial

Pines reflected the more establish, long-serving and iconic Perth bands which dominated the top of the bill. Mukaizake and The Tucker B’s provided their own unique brands of genre bending, experimental indie/post rock, with the latter band continuing their tradition of outrageous stage wear. Wearing transparent raincoats (and little else) and head-torches, The Tucker B’s looked like they’d arrived from an erotic caving expedition. Musically, the band seemed to have some sound issues early, but settled in for a whacky, and never-boring session of swelling indie rock which included a particularly memorable and comedic over-thetop guitar solo. On a line-up which, for many, may have leaned a little too heavily towards the avant garde, experimental and indulged (compared with recent years), bands like Capital City, The Bank Holidays and Felicity Groom And The Black Black Smoke provided some crowd engagement and hooks. Capital City kicking off with the no-frills, scuzzy growl of Cazza Sizza Deathray Blues was a pointed contrast to the The Wednesday Society’s meandering search for grooves. With his hip shaking, dirty mo, and throaty yelps, Capital City front man Sam Scherr added some much needed rock ‘n’ roll grit to the evening. Similarly, Felicity Groom (who donned a leopard print cat-suit for the occasion) danced

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and gestured her way through a short and sharp set of her most memorable tunes. 39 Ways To Kill Your Lover was a predictable highlight with her well-versed band locking in to coax every last haunting squeal and whirr out of the song. Schvendes were similarly spooky and downright brilliant. Closing the event, pop darlings The Bank Holidays took the unexpected step of playing quite a bit of new material from their unreleased new album, before pleasing the crowd with familiar favourites like Oh Daylight. Twee, pitch-perfect and catchy as always, the band didn’t disappoint a slightly depleted but dedicated crowd who had stuck around to watch them on a school night. With many on-stage tributes delivered to RTR FM’s departing Music Director Dave Cutbush, this years In The Pines was a testament to the continuing health of Perth diverse independent music scene. Another job well done. _DAVID CRADDOCK

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Edited by David Craddock Email your news and pics by 12 noon, Monday to: localmusic@xpressmag.com.au

DAY OF THE DEAD

SHE SELL SEYCHELLES

Damned Straight

Raw Nerve

Seychelles-via-Perth singer Grace Barbé, who has been nominated for a Best World Act WAMi (after winning the title last year), is playing at the Cottesloe Beach Hotel on Saturday, May 8. Barbé has recently completed an East coast tour including a performance at the East Coast Blues And Roots Festival as the only WA act on the bill other than John Butler. Barbé’s afro, Kreol and reggae tinged sounds can be enjoyed from 7.30pm, entry free.

CENSOR THIS!

An army of hard hitting punk and rock bands will convene at the Swan Hotel and Swan Basement on Saturday, May 8 for a threestage anti-censorship concert aimed at raising money for Electronic Frontiers Australia, a nonprofit organisation representing internet users concerned about their online freedom. The event features performances from The Bible Bashers, Raw Nerve, The Lungs, Blazin’ Entrails, AAAGH Bats, The Reptilians and Montage Of Jesus as well as Burlesque performances from Roxy Monoxide, Iskra Valentine, Madame Hex, Soxie Liqueur’e, Cosmic Pilot, Lou Lou D’Lish, Dutchess Silk and Penny Dreadful. Tickets $15, with entertainment from 6:30 ‘til 1am.

Grace Barbe Day Of The Dead

Day Of The Dead have produced their finest foray into surf, spy,and spaghetti western instrumental music on their latest EP Damned If You Do. Virtuoso guitarist Ben Frichot spoke to DAVID CRADDOCK ahead of the band’s EP launch at the Fly By Night on Friday, May 7. Ben Frichot lets his guitar do the talking. Throughout his fifteen year career in instrumental guitar bands such as Day Of The Dead and Storytime, the guitarist has stoically refused to let a singer get in the way of his evocative spaghetti wester twang or spooky, spy-soundtrack, rumble. “I’ve never ever once gone ‘fuck you know what I really want to get a singer’. he says. “In my career I’ve been under enormous pressure from all directions to get a singer because obviously [not having one] completely restricts our mainstream access. I just honestly don’t give a fuck. I just love playing instrumental stuff.” Day Of The Dead’s third and latest release Damned If You Do (set to be followed by a companion EP Damned If You Don’t), perfectly captures the balmy and mysterious western vibe that pervades the band’s live show. The record’s weird and wonderful array of guitar sounds were recorded in Melbourne with Shihad member Tom Larkin looking after the production – an ingredient that Frichot says was vital to the recording. “That was a really significant part of getting the guitar results that we got on this record,” he explains of Larkin’s input. “I reckon there are some really interesting guitar tones that came out on this one that are a leap forward to the other stuff we’ve done previously. “The tricky part is actually more in the tone than the guitar technique. I’ve become a tone nerd. I reckon I would tick the boxes on the nerd front in so many corners. There’s no two ways about it… It’s experience really at the end of the day. Over time you play through more and more instruments and through more and more amps and you just get better at drawing the qualities that you want out of the equipment. A musician is a craftsman – there’s no doubt about it. If you’re a cabinet maker or some sort of sculptor you’re going to be better at it after 15 years. I feel the exact same way about guitar playing. I’m playing some of the best guitar of my life right now.” Given Day Of The Dead’s south of the border influences, the band’s recent support slot with mariachi tinged American rock act Calexico was a match made in heaven (or perhaps - given the spooky Damned If You Do cover art which was designed by Frichot - hell). “I was so excited when we got the opportunity to do that,” the guitarist explains. “I love Calexico so much, as soon as I heard they were coming I ran out and got tickets – and then we got the call asking would we like to play!... By the time we finished [playing] I came off stage and all the Calexico guys were standing waiting for us. They ended up introducing themselves and we ended up having quite a big spiel. They were into it.” The Calexico shows were also a good opportunity to try out the impressive cinematic projections that were developed by friend of the band Ben Gartrell to accompany the band’s live show. Like the rest of the band’s imagery, the projections have become an important and evocative accompaniment the band’s music – and will be a feature of their launch shows. “I just think it’s something that ties in very appropriately with the genre of music,” Frichot says of the band’s name, and choice of dark, rockabilly and Latin American inspired imagery.“We wanted to do the instrumental spaghetti western/surf guitar thing and we were looking to explore more of the darker feel of that style of music. So I think a lot of the spooky aspects of Westerns are in that name and style. “I’m an illustrator and a total comic book geek guy – so rockabilly, surf guitar and all that kind of stuff has always [appealed to me] for some reason. I think if you’re a cinema or a comic book geek there’s an interest in that kind of subculture. I’ve been playing it since I was a little tacker.”

PEAK PERFORMANCE

Dr Charlie

DR CHARLIE

Local blues act Dr Charlie is set to release his debut album Prodigal Son at The Perth Blues Club at the Charles Hotel on Tuesday, May 11. Dr Charlie is fronted by Kevin ‘Charlie’ Scott, a UK ex-pat who toured for over a decade opening for acts like Fleetwood Mac, Peter Frampton and Joe Cocker. Whilst playing in London in the ‘60s Scott was managed by Don Arden the man behind acts like the Small Faces and The Animals. With the Dr Charlie line-up also including some respected Australia musos – this gig is sure to showcase quality playing and be the kind of performance that only roadhardened experience brings.

The Lazy Railway will chug into Kulcha on Friday, May 7, for a two set performance. This young band’s old-timey, bluegrass, and blues tinged style has won them a legion of admirers in the local scene. Appropriately twangy support comes from The Fancy Brothers. Doors 8pm. Tickets $15 on the door, $13 presale or $10 for members.

Lifeisnoise a new events and touring company set up by soon-to-depart RTR FM Music Director Dave Cutbush will kick off with a launch party at The Rosemount on Friday, May 7. Adam Said Galore headline a bill which also features, Capital City, The Tigers and Felicity Groom (solo). Diger Rokwell, Ben Taaffe, Sardi, Rok Riler and Massiv Trav keep the party happening in the beer garden. Entry $10 from 8pm.

48

FISHERMAN’S BASKET

On Friday, May 7, Perth’s favourite reggae night Fisherman Style will celebrate it’s fourth birthday at Mojo’s. Earthlink Sound, Mista Savona, vocalist and MC Vida Sunshyne, Sabata Sound, DJ Sorted, Sensi Sound and DJ Dubheap will all be on hand to provide the rhythm. Doors 8pm, tickets $10.

The Lazy Railway

YOU SAY GOODBYE, I SAY HELLO

Atlas Mountains

Benedict Moleta is following up from his recent album launch with a show at Kurb Art Gallery (214 William St, Northbridge), on Saturday, May 8. Craig McElhinney will play at 7pm, with Moleta and band jumping on stage at an early 7:30pm to avoid the Northbridge racket.

Local lads The Scotch Of St James, Project Mayhem and The Love Junkies join touring Brisbane rockers Numbers Radio on the Perth leg of their You & 1 tour at the Rocket Room on Saturday, May 8. With Project Mayhem nicely warmed up from an Australian tour, and the Scotch’s new album still fresh off the press (see this week’s New Noise for a review) - there’s plenty of reasons to check out this fine line up. Show runs 8-11:30pm, tickets through moshtix. com.au. The Scotch Of St James

TICKETS PLEASE

Thanks to some hard-gigging and a tight live show, The Atlas Mountains stocks have been steadily rising, with the band’s crowd numbers particularly impressive for a local act. Their efforts have paid off with the band playing a coveted Saturday night headline slot at Mojo’s on Saturday, May 8. Joining The Atlas Mountains as they create an alt-country, folk and indie melding cacophony are Place Of Indigo, Goodnight Tiger, and Dan Crook. Entry $10 from 8pm.

GET OFF THE KURB

POWER IN NUMBERS

Capital City

REVERSE ENGINE EAR Demonstrations It’s rare that we review a demo around these parts, but Michael Tyrie’s (AKA Reverse Engine Ear) little sampler that found its way into our mail sack was so damn impressive we thought you should know about it. Educated Guesses has a dramatic and militaristic snare introduction that reminds of These New Puritans’ latest album, before Tyrie’s Thom Yorke-meets-Rufus Wainwright slow and smooth drawl is smothered all over the track. Reverb-y and piano driven, the song was self recorded and mastered by Simon Struthers (of Muikazake and Umpire fame). At Least You’re Not A Sleaze Bag is a more electronic affair, with a blip-y drum machine giving the track a fidgety anxiety while slow and eerie synths and a falsetto wail smooth things out. The dreamy ‘singing under the ocean’ collage of Reciprocal brings to mind Bjork or Sigur Ròs. It’s dripping with cinematic atmosphere. Extremely impressive. Can Mr Tyrie please send an album? _DAVID CRADDOCK Hittin’ the town since 1985

X-PRESSIONS OF INTEREST

Pond Tracksuit

Ampfest, one of WA’s most important emerging band competitions is on again, with 15 acts set to play across three heats throughout May. Heat one (featuring Chasing the Ninth, Danni Stefanetti, Mark Lebcheucher, Goodnight Tiger and The Modern Mystery) takes place at the Claremont Town hall on Friday May 7; heat two takes place at Central TAFE Leederville on Friday May 14; and heat three is at Memorial Hall in Mosman Park on Friday, May 21. The final showcase, headlined by The Novocaines, happens at Subiaco Church Hall on Friday, May 28. With a tonne of interesting new acts set to showcase their wares, we asked a few of the contenders: What can the audience and judges expect from your Ampfest show? “It’s good time rock ‘n’ roll with energy. There’s dancin’, shakin’ and shimmying. We pride ourselves on a good tight live show – basically what I try and do is go out and try and emulate someone I’d like to see,” Steve Hensby, Tracksuit. “Minute 36 provide just the right amount of melancholy mixed with luscious melody, discordant minimalism and something magnetic; which draws you in and leaves your spine tingling with anticipation,” Kris Nelson, Minute 36. “In two words we describe our sounds as quirk folk. We do an eclectic mixture of reggae, indie rock, a bit of folk, and we swap around and play different instruments. I play drums but I get up and play ukulele. Rachael is the main singer and she’ll play keyboard, guitar and melodica.” Wim Leaf, Rachel & Henry Climb A Hill. Full line-up details and show times are available at ampfest.com.au.

EAST COAST OF THE POND

The NME recently described Tame Impala as “Australia’s answer to the West Coast psych rock scene”. If that’s the case, then POND, another fixture of this intermingling and membersharing experimental rock movement, are sure to be our next export. The band has announced that they’ll be heading to the East coast for three shows from May 12 ‘til May 23 to spread the word on their new record Frond. The album is set for a mid-year release through Sydney label Hole In The Sky.

DEVIL RIDES FURTHER

2009 WAMi Best Hard Rock Act The Devil Rides Out has announced a national tour in support of their debut album The Heart & The Crown. The band will kick off the tour at Amplifier on Saturday, June 12, before heading off to conquer Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland with their gritty, swagger-y brand of hard rock. The Heart & The Crown is released through Impedance Records (distributed by Stomp) on June 4.

IT’S FRENCH FOR ROCK

French Rockets, one of Perth’s most visually engaging live bands, thanks to their penchant for whizzing lights, are set to close the Amplifier stage of the WAMi Saturday Spectacular closing party on the amplifier stage on Saturday, May 22. The band have been nominated (with Injured Ninja) for Most Popular Single Or EP for the 12” split release of 1 X 1 (2010 Redux). The band have joked that their lighting rig for the gig may very well have been designed by NASA. Tickets to the WAMi Saturday Spectacular are available through Moshtix.com.au for $22 (plus booking fee). Jebediah, Abbe May, Umpire, The Scotch Of St James and Will Stoker And The Embers and plenty more local acts will also appear on the night.

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49

ELECTRIC MARY Dig Deep

No frills rock act Electric Mary, who recently supported Deep Purple nationally, will perform their first WA headline shows at The Prince Of Wales on Thursday, May 6; The Railway Hotel on Friday, May 7, and at The Civic Backroom on Saturday, May 8. DAVID CRADDOCK spoke to vocalist Rusty Brown. Touring with Whitesnake and Alice Cooper in the same year is a huge achievement for a rock act of any vintage – let alone an emerging band out of Melbourne. But this was the story in 2009 for Electric Mary, a hard-hitting classic rock band, who despite forming in 2003, have hit their straps as a touring entity over the last couple years. Last year the band collaborated on a live EP with Jason Corsaro, a highly respected, Grammy award wining American engineer with Soundgarden, Iggy Pop and Ozzy Osbourne credits to his name. With the band heading back to the USA in July to finish working with Corsaro, the songs will get a staggered release throughout Australia, Europe and America. “It was a great time for us, Jason has a wealth of history behind him,” vocalist Rusty Brown explains. “I must admit we did get caught up in [his] stories a little too much.” Given their prestigious support slots, the members of Electric Mary have certainly had the opportunity to let the experience of rock gods rub off on them. Brown says the band’s most recent jaunt with Deep Purple has been a particular buzz, but is tight lipped when asked to share any debauched tour stories. “What happens on the road stays on the road,” he jokes. “Wait for the book.” When quizzed on the no-bull, footto-the-floor rock sound that has endeared a legion of new fans to Electric Mary, the singer is far less reserved. “The whole world has gone soft,” he says of modern rock bands. “‘Don’t do this, don’t do that, be careful what you say, be careful where you stand, watch what you eat’.

Electric Mary

The world needs to put on their favorite pair of jeans, a rock’n’roll tee-shirt and enjoy itself again. There are some great bands out there but they are starting to melt into one. Where is the next Deep Purple? Queen? Or Tom Petty? The people with the power are working off the A, B, C plan and when someone turns up who is D,E or F they run because they don’t know what to do with them.” With two albums Down To The Bone and Four Hands High already under their belt, and another set to be released later this year, chances are hard rock fans will be seeing a lot more of Electric Mary. “We don’t mess around - we want people to be smacked in the face with a wall of sound,” Brown says of the band’s live show. “We want people to go away gob smacked.” With song titles like Gasoline And Guns and Right Down To The Bone it’s no surprise this band tag their classic sound as ‘rock ‘n’ roll the way it used to taste’.’ “I love the way rock melds the energy of an angry ocean of melody, with speed, soul and subtlety,” Brown says. “At the volume of an erupting volcano.”

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THIS WEEK

COMING UP

EVERGREEN TERRACE May 13 BRITISH INDIA May 13-16 TEGAN & SARA May 14 THE JEZABELS May 14 THE SLEW May 14 NUMBERS RADIO SPOON May 14-15 May 6 Breakers Bar, Geraldton THE LUCKY WONDERS May 7 Norfolk Basement May 14-30 May 8 Rocket Room GTM (Silverchair, Vampire Weekend, Empire Of The UNITED MAY 2010 (Chris Sun, Grinspoon, Tegan & Pickering, Cookie Baker, Sara, Spoon, British India, Lisa Mitchell, Miami Horror, Matt Gresham and Nicole Kisschasy, Bag Raiders and Brophy) more) May 15 May 6 The Den VAMPIRE WEEKEND May 16 May 7 Swan Lounge LISA MITCHELL May 16 May 8 Indi Bar MAYLENE & THE SONS OF DISASTER / DILLINGER & THE DAM-FUNK ESCAPE PLAN May 16 May 7 The Manor MICHAEL BOLTON May 19 PATRIZIO BUANNE ELECTRIC MARY May 19-20 May 6 Prince Of Wales RICKY PETERSON & THE Bunbury PETERSON BROTHERS / May 7 Railway Hotel May 8 Civic Hotel (Backroom) SHEILA E May 22 RESIST THE THOUGHT May 22-23 MICK THOMAS RICKIE LEE JONES May 26 May 7 Civic Hotel (The Den) TAME IMPALA May 27 May 9 Norfolk Hotel CLOUD CONTROL May 27-29 WHITLEY DAN SULTAN / GIN WIGMORE May 27-29 May 12 Fly By Night

BLUEJUICE / THE HOLIDAYS May 6 Newport Hotel May 7 Prince Of Wales, Bunbury May 8 Capitol

TROY CASSAR-DALEY May 27-30 FIVE STAR PRISON CELL May 28-29 MOUTHGARD May 28-30 CLOSURE IN MOSCOW May 29-30 LIZ STINGER June 3-6 DAN KELLY June 4 STRUNG OUT & THE LOVED ONES June 4-5 EXTORTION June 4-6 GYROSCOPE June 5-6 HARRY MANX June 5-6 HOLLY MIRANDA June 8 BIRDS OF TOKYO June 10 YUSUF June 10 CHILDREN COLLIDE / CABINS June 10-11 DEAD LETTER CIRCUS June 11-12 THE I’D RATHER BE GIGGIN’ TOUR 2010 (Miles Away, Break Even, Hopeless, The Broderick) June 11-13 SHAPESHIFTER June 12 KATIE NOONAN & THE CAPTAINS June 12-13 ALESTORM June 17 STORY OF THE YEAR / SAOSIN / BLESSTHEFALL June 17 DAPPLED CITIES June 17-19 OPERATOR PLEASE June 18 THE VIBRATORS June 20

BERMUDA / SILENT SCREAMS / BURIED IN VERONA June 26 CASSETTE KIDS June 26 HOPE SANDOVAL & THE WARM INVENTIONS June 28 THE BEAUTIFUL GIRLS June 30-July 2 STRIKE ANYWHERE July 14 KARNIVOOL July 21 THE TEMPER TRAP July 22 THIRTY SECONDS TO MARS July 24 KASABIAN July 30 BLACK REBEL MOTORCYCLE CLUB August 3 MIDLAKE August 4 SENSES FAIL August 19 ALED JONES August 26 NAPALM DEATH / DYING FETUS September 1 THE CAT EMPIRE September 2 ANGUS & JULIA STONE September 18 POWDERFINGER September 23-24 PAUL WELLER October 15

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single launch with felicity groom and the black black smoke the wednesday society and minute 36 doors 8pm $12 entry

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the tigers

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Mick Thomas, playing at The Den on Friday, May 7; and the Norfolk Hotel on Sunday, May 9.

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METALLICA October 22 SARAH BLASKO November 5-6 PAUL WELLER October 15

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Charles Hotel

509 Charles Street, North Perth, WA 6006 Ph: 9444 1051 Email: enquiries@charleshotel.com.au

WINNER OF AHA BEST LIVE ENTERTAINMENT VENUE OF 2009 THUR 6TH MAY THE COMEDY LOUNGE

PERTH’S NUMBER 1 STAND-UP COMEDY FEATURING THE VERY BEST LOCAL, NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL ACTS. COME IN FOR DINNER BEFORE OR DURING THE SHOW

SUNDAY 9TH MAY

MOTHER’S DAY LUNCH OR DINNER / 3 COURSE MEAL $45 CALL 9444 1051 TO BOOK A TABLE

MONDAY 10TH MAY

PERTH JAZZ SOCIETY

FREDDY GRIGSON QUARTET

ONE OF AUSTRALIA’S FINEST GUITARISTS, FREDDIE GRIGSON WILL BE PERFORMING WITH A TRIO OF YOUNG TITANS THIS EVENING: SEAN PHILLIPS (DRUMMER), KARL FLORISSON (BASSIST) AND ON PIANO, TAL COHEN.

TUESDAY 11th MAY

DR CHARLIE CD LAUNCH

ADAM HOLE & MARJI CURRAN BAND, THE VIBROLATORS DOORS OPEN 7.30PM DINNER AVAILABLE IN RESTAURANT FROM 6PM

WEDNESDAYS

FUNKY BUNCH TRIVIA WITH $12 CHICKEN PARMIGIANA

COMING SOON - SUNDAY 21ST MAY

WAMI INDIGENOUS AWARDS NIGHT TOO SOLID INDIGENOUS MUSIC CD LAUNCH

Adam Said Galore, Friday at The Rosemount

THURSDAY 06.05 BELGIAN BEER CAFÉ Ben Pettit BENNY’S Howie Morgan BOTANICA Karin Page Duo BROOKLANDS TAVERN Celebrations Karaoke CIVIC HOTEL (The Den) Matt Gresham Chris Pickering Cookie Baker Nicole Brophy COMO HOTEL Clayton Bolger DIVERS TAVERN Nathan Gaunt DOUBLE LUCKY Ben & Ewan ELEPHANT & WHEELBARROW Gun Shy Romeos ELLINGTON JAZZ CLUB Music Rocks Australia Bloozology FENIANS Pearce Ward FLY BY NIGHT Julio Voltio FOUNDRY SideFX HIGH ROAD HOTEL Robbie King Karaoke INDI BAR Bex Open Mic IMPACT BAR Vdelli J.B. O’RIELLY’S Rhys Wood & Nigel Healy KINGSLEY TAVERN Chris Murphy LEFT BANK Minky G LEGENDS BAR Bill Chidgzey LUCKY SHAG James Wilson MANHATTANS Rick Bryant Leah Grant MARKET CITY TAVERN Donna Iverson Abandon Valley Road The Strobes MARRI PARK TAVERN Open Mic Night MOJO’S Stunning In Red Hand Stands For Ants The Love Junkies Cim Ciaru MUSTANG Wikid NEWPORT Bluejuice The Holidays Boom! Bap! Pow! NORFOLK BASEMENT Atlas Mountains Adrian Wilson James Teague PADDO Ben Merito PADDY HANNANS Dr Bogus ROSEMOUNT Sounds Like Bears Mattersville Coronal Sky Writhe ROSIE O’GRADY’S (Northbridge) Fenton Wilde SETTLERS TAVERN Noah Shilkin SPICE LOUNGE Courtney Murphy

SWAN LOUNGE Feldspa Aargh! Bats! Sanduettes Limping Dave Foley & SLF THE DEEN Latin Quater UNIVERSAL BAR Off The Record WANEROO TAVERN Keith McDonald

FRIDAY 07.05 AMPLIFIER Eleventh He Reaches London Suffer Drowning Horse Ibex BALLY’S BAR Free Radicals BELMONT TAVERN Groovetime BENNYS Faces BRASS MONKEY Chris Murphy BREAKERS BAR (Geraldton) Frisky Business BROKEN HILL HOTEL Ben Pettit CAPITOL Lady Penelope CAPTAIN STIRLING Howie Morgan CARLISE HOTEL Toy Box CASTLE (York) Audacity CIVIC HOTEL (Backroom) Veronica’s Assassin Foul Play Stella’s Kitchen The Lathams CIVIC HOTEL (The Den) Mick Thomas Michael Barclay Adrian Hoffman COTTESLOE BEACH HOTEL Kristy Keogh’s Open Mic CRAIGIE TAVERN Double Trouble DEVILLES PAD Those Little White Lies DIVERS TAVERN Nathan Gaunt DUSK Redstar EAST END BAR Supanova ELLINGTON JAZZ CLUB Graham Wood Trio Michelle Nicole Quartet Jeremy Gregory FENIANS The Clan FLY BY NIGHT Day Of The Dead CD Launch FITZGERALDS (Bunbury) Spritzer FOUNDRY Crave Adrian Wilson FUNK CLUB Accumulated Gestures CD Launch GREENWOOD HOTEL Riddum Shak IMPACT BAR Skinny Lane

We Are The Emergency, Saturday at Amplifier INDI BAR Vdelli INDIAN OCEAN BREWING COMPANY Shawne + Luc JB O’REILLYS The Healy’s KALAMUNDA TAVERN Ryan Carbray LEFT BANK Mocha Trio Bumpy Johnson MANHATTAN’S Stratosfunk MARKET CITY TAVERN Mike Anderson In Motion Hide The Pig MERRIWA TAVERN 11:11 MOONDYNE JOES Dave Gillam Trio MOUNT HENRY TAVERN Full Circle MUSTANG Cheeky Monkeys Adam Hall & The Velvet Playboys NEWPORT Felix NORFOLK BASEMENT Numbers Radio CD Launch The Scotch of Saint James The Spitfires OLD BAILEY TAVERN Darren Reid & The Soul City Groove PADDO Gun Shy Romeos PADDY HANNAN’S Blue Gene PADDY MAGUIRES 43 Cambridge PARAMOUNT Flyte PLAYERS BAR (Mandurah) Blaze PRINCIPAL MICRO BREWERY Chris Murphy Duo RAILWAY HOTEL Electric Mary Gasoline Inc Hailmary Homebrew RAVENSWOOD HOTEL Dave Crosby ROCKET ROOM Creptter Children Aaagh Bats! Juwana 26 Parallel Smoking Aces Arkarion ROSEMOUNT Adam Said Galore Capital City The Tigers Apricot Rail Felicity Groom ROSIE O’GRADY’S (Fremantle) Timeout RIVERVALE HOTEL Benjamin Glynn SAIL & ANCHOR Switchback SETTLERS TAVERN (Margaret River) The Joe Kings The Black Seeds SEVENTH AVE BAR Midnight Rambler SOUTH BEACH HOTEL Open Mic With Jasmin

Bullet Holes, Sunday at The Newport

SOUTH ST ALEHOUSE Robbie King Karaoke STIRLING ARMS Awesome Lindsay Wells Band SWAN BASEMENT Pocket Of Resistance Know Your Knot Copious Paltiva SWAN LOUNGE Matt Gresham Chris Pickering Cookie Baker Nicole Brophy Siobhan Cooke SWINGING PIG Damien Cripps Grand Theft Audio THE BOAT Mod Squad THE BURRENDAH Keith McDonald THE DEEN Spanish Fly THE GATE Mike Nayar THE SAINT The Bluebottles THE SHED Kick Start Threeplay THE VIC (Subiaco) Nat Ripepi Julius Lutero UNIVERSAL Funksta VIC PARK HOTEL Ivan Ribic WATERFORD TAVERN Bogan Bingo WHITFORDS TAVERN Ian Kenny WOODVALE TAVERN Proof

Death Grenade Oskorei Hatecharge Happy Families COMO HOTEL James Wilson COTTESLOE BEACH HOTEL Grace Barbe & Band CRANKED COFFEE BAR Julius Lutero DOUBLE LUCKY Tim Brown ELEPHANT & WHEELBARROW Timeout ELLIOT ST BAR Death Dependant Silver Liz ELLINGTON JAZZ CLUB Mark Sholtez Jeremy Gregory FENIANS Shanks Pony FOUNDRY Three & A Half Men FLY BY NIGHT Double Entrenre GREENWOOD HOTEL Hotplate Heaven INDI BAR Matt Gresham Chris Pickering Cookie Baker Nicole Brophy INDIAN OCEAN BREWING COMPANY The Other Guys JB O’REILLY’S Blue Umbrella KINGSLEY TAVERN Lush LEFT BANK Raggi Man MANHATTANS JO19 METROPOLIS (Fremantle) Lady Penelope SATURDAY 08.05 MOJOS AMPLIFIER The Atlas Mountains We Are The Place Of Indigo Emergency CD Goodnight Tiger Launch Dan Crook Stealing O’Neal MOON & SIXPENCE Here We Ghost Blaze Only Hope MOUNT HENRY BALMORAL Aaron Woolley The Recliners MUSTANG BAR 120 Rusty Pinto Combo Flyte The Damien Cripps BELGIAN BEER CAFÉ Band Chris Murphy NEWPORT BENNYS Gravity Housequake NORFOLK BLACK BETTY’S BASEMENT Red Star Laced Affair BREAKERS BAR Black Milk (Geraldton) The Blackboard Frisky Business PADDO BROOKLANDS Cheeky Monkeys TAVERN PADDY HANNANS Fit Swimmers Decoy BROKEN HILL PARAMOUNT HOTEL Felix Howie Morgan PLAYERS BAR Project (Mandurah) BURSWOOD 3 Corner Jack CASINO PRINCIPAL MICRO Dr Bogus BREWERY CAPITOL Danni Stefanetti Bluejuice RAILWAY HOTEL The Holidays Stereoflower Boys! Boys! Boys! Like Junk CIVIC HOTEL Seams (Backroom) Dave Electric Mary RAVENSWOOD Emerald City HOTEL Battlecat Parker Avenue Fools Of April ROCKET ROOM CIVIC HOTEL (The Numbers Radio Den) The Scotch Of Saint Suffer James Apathetix Project Mayhem

FEATURING AN INDIGENOUS SHOW CASE - WARANGKA BAND, BARTLETT BROTHERS, GINA WILLIAMS, WAYNE BARKER, KERRI ANNE COX, LORAE COFFIN, CANDICE LORAE, THE YABU BAND, RICHARD WALLEY, WITH SPECIAL GUEST PERFORMANCE FROM NEIL MURRAY

SATURDAY 22ND MAY

SUNDAY 23RD MAY - MUSIC INDUSTRY REUNION NIGHT WAMI HALL OF FAME

NEW INDUCTEE * NEPTUNES * MEMBERS OF ALLEGIANCE ROOKIES * COMPANY OF MEN * PERTH BLUES CLUB ALLSTARS

www.charleshotel.com.au

52

Hittin’ the town since 1985

Listing deadline is Monday 5pm. The Gig-Guide is a service to advertisers listing bands. All inclusions are at the discretion of X-Press Magazine. Email reception@xpressmag.com.au or fax 9213 2882.

Mattersville, Wednesday at The Paddo The Love Junkies Kickstart ROSEMOUNT Schvendes CD Launch Felicity Groom and The Black Black Smoke The Wednesday Society Minute 36 ROSIE O’GRADY’S (Northbridge) Blue Gene ROUNDHOUSE Anita Downes SAIL & ANCHOR The Bluebottles SETTLERS TAVERN (Margaret River) Empire Blues SUBIACO HOTEL Off The Record SWAN BASEMENT/ LOUNGE The Bible Bashers Raw Nerve The Lungs Blazin Entrails Aaagh Bats The Reptilians Montage of Jesus Roxy Monoxide Iskra Valentine Madame Hex Soxie Liqueur’s Cosmic Pilot Duchess Silk Lou Lou D’lish Penny Dreadful SWINGING PIG Zenburger THE BOAT Cherry Acoustic THE GATE Benjamin Glynn Duo THE SHED Huge THE WANNEROO Mod Squad Stella Donnelly UNIVERSAL Nightmoves UWA OTT Chicago Swing WHITFORDS TAVERN Jimmy James WOODVALE TAVERN Tall Stories

SUNDAY 09.05 BALMORAL Cranky BALLYS BAR Courtney Murphy (Early) Steve Hepple David Fyffe (Late) BELMONT HOTEL Damien Cripps BOTANICA Sweetest Taboo BROKEN HILL Midnight Sun BROOKLANDS TAVERN Chris Gibbs COMO HOTEL Chris Murphy COTTESLOE BEACH HOTEL Tourist ELLINGTON JAZZ CLUB Johannes Luebbers Dectet Stuart James ESS BAR Aaron Woolley FLY BY NIGHT Viva Lust Vegas GOSNELLS HOTEL Ryan Dillon

The Love Junkies, Tonight (Thurs) at Mojo’s, Saturday at Rocket Room

HIGH ROAD HOTEL James Wilson INDI BAR Stillfire INDIAN OCEAN BREWING COMPANY Retrofit KALAMUNDA HOTEL Benjamin Glynn LAKERS TAVERN Jamie Powers MANHATTANS Jack Doepel Quintet MERRIWA TAVERN Clayton Bolger MOJO’S The Witness The Silents The Old Croak Dux & Downtown MOON & SIXPENCE Acoustic Inc MUSTANG Peter Busher & The Lone Rangers NEWPORT Era The Bullet Hotels Spitfires Indian NORFOLK BASEMENT Mick Thomas Micheal Barclay PADDO John Read Band PADDY HANNANS Flyte PRINCIPAL MICRO BREWERY Courtney Murphy PUBLICAN BAR Open Mic RAILWAY HOTEL Minky G and The Effects The Whistling Dogs Scott & Gabrielle RAVENSWOOD HOTEL Piranhas Duo SAIL & ANCHOR The Recliners SETTLERS TAVERN (Margaret River) Strumbone SEVENTH AVE BAR Mia & Good Company SOUTH ST ALEHOUSE Blackhart + Strangelove SOVEREIGN ARMS Ivan Ribic STAMFORD ARMS Kevin Conway SWAN BASEMENT Head Full Of Steam The Frighteners The Atlantic Scouts Van Houten SWAN LOUNGE Fiachra Judge Danni Haley David Cefai Dave Sonntag John Madd SWINGING PIG Nat Ripepi 2 Tenors THE COURT Supanova THE EASTERN MIDLAND Vdelli THE GATE The Other Guys THE SAINT Howie Morgan Project THE SHED The Healys Renegade THE WANNEROO Bill Chidgzey

UNIVERSAL Retrofit VICTORIA PARK HOTEL Glen Davies WHITFORD TAVERN Jimmy James WOODVALE TAVERN Cherry Acoustic Free Radicals Cherry Acoustic

MONDAY 10.05 BAR ORIENT James Wilson CHARLES HOTEL (Perth Jazz Society) Freddy Grigson Quartet ELLINGTON JAZZ CLUB Mad Monday IMPACT BAR Groove Karaoke MOJO’S Open Mic MUSTANG Marco & The Rhythm Kings

TUESDAY 11.05 COTTESLOE BEACH HOTEL The Mad Agents CHARLES HOTEL (Perth Blues Club) Geoff Achison House Band ELLINGTON JAZZ CLUB Carl Makcey Quartet

Emerald City, Saturday at The Civic (Backroom)

FENIANS James Wilson IMPACT BAR Open Mic Night LLAMA BAR Karin Page MOJO’S Stillfire The Sure-Fire Midnights One Thousand Years Sean Brown & The Red Lights PERTH BLUES CLUB Dr. Charlie CD Launch The Adam Hole & Marji Curran Band The Vibrolators MUSTANG Danza Loca Salsa SAIL & ANCHOR Open Mic Night

WEDNESDAY 12.05 BALLYS BAR Courtney Murphy BAR 120 Felix BENTLEY HOTEL Switchback BLACK BETTY’S SideFX BENNY’S Howie Morgan ELLINGTON JAZZ CLUB Noah Preminger FENIANS Cranky FOUNDRY Vdelli

INDI BAR Matt Gresham LEFT BANK Benjamin Glynn LLAMA BAR Sweetest Taboo LUCKY SHAG Howie Morgan MOJOS Miche Suite Cats Blue Velvet Max White MOUNT HELENA TAVERN Open Mic Night MUSTANG Circus NORFOLK These Shipwrecks Seams SonPsilo Circus PADDO Hostile Little Face Mattersville Sam Carmody Jay &Trav PADDY HANNANS Airbag PUBLICAN BAR Open Mic Night Tunesmiths SAIL & ANCHOR Adrian Wilson SETTLERS TAVERN Open Mic Night SPICE LOUNGE Skye Fitzgerald THE MOON CAFÉ Louis Inglis Kim MacDonald Steve Ryen UNIVERSAL Strutt

Day Of The Dead, Fly By Night, Saturday

DAY OF THE DEAD

THURSDAY

BEX’S OPEN MIC FRIDAY

CD LAUNCH

VDELLI

SATURDAY, MAY 9

SATURDAY

THE FLY BY NIGHT FREMANTLE

UNITED TOUR MATT GRESHAM CHRIS PICKERING, COOKIE BAKER, NICOLE BROPHY SUNDAY

STILLFIRE WEDNESDAY 6th MAY

SWAMP - featuring the amazing Atlas Mountains with guests Adrian Wilson and James Teague. Doors 8pm.

7th MAY

ON TOUR - Numbers Radio ‘You and I’ single launch with special guests The Scotch of Saint James & The Spitfires. Doors 8pm.

8th MAY

TRIPLE TREAT: Laced Affair with guests Black Milk and The Blackboard Minds. Doors 8pm. BE EARLY.

9th MAY

AUSTRALIA’S FINEST: Mick Thomas and Micheal Barclay LIVE with special guests. Doors open 6pm.

12th MAY

MINT WIND featuring These Shipwrecks, Seams and Sonpsilo Circus. Doors 8pm.

www.xpressmag.com.au

SECRET SHOW COMING SOON MAY 12 SECRET GIG!! MAY 15TH VOLCANICS + THE FLOORS MAY 21ST TOBY MAY 22ND DIRECT INFLUENCE

MAY 26TH JEZ MEAD MAY 27TH MIHIRANGI SUNDAYS IN JUNE: SUNSHINE BROTHERS!

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ClassiďŹ eds and Music Services

Hotline: 9213 2888 Display ads: musicservices@xpressmag.com.au Deadline: 4pm Tuesday Credit cards welcome

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Hittin’ the town since 1985

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