SUBLIME WITH ROME

Mat McHugh

Metropolis Fremantle

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Without trying to sound too exclusivist here, Sublime have always been a band this writer has associated with punk rock, so the fact that the opening act was Mat McHugh from The Beautiful Girls came as a bit of a surprise.

Admittedly this was a failure in thinking on my behalf that ignored the wide fan base that Sublime actually has, and was naïve about the direction and reality of the evening. Indeed, McHugh certainly touched a chord with many in the packed-out Metro Freo and there was a big base of people who were singing every word. You can’t argue with that!

But for the overwhelming majority of punters the focus was squarely on Sublime With Rome. This was a chance of a lifetime really, for although nothing can replace long-deceased singer Brad Nowell, neither will anything again likely come this close.

Thankfully, Brad’s replacement Rome Ramirez was perfectly adequate for the task, and things were made easier for him (and us) by the show’s production, especially the dark lighting which emphasised the experience of the masses over illumination of the individuals on the stage.

It also helps that Sublime With Rome are a damn good band who did the songs plenty of justice. And the songs were reason numero uno to be part of this show – and that’s what the audience was, a part of the show.

While there seems to be popular respect among fans for the band’s new material (written without Nowell and released last year), the opportunity to be in a room with a sanctioned band singing those wonderful songs that have been such a part of our lives for so long was well worth the price of admission.

Sublime With Rome lifted the absolute roof off the club, and they did so with the blessing of Sublime’s own fanbase. It would have been an absolute mistake to have dismissed this evening out of hand based on the fact that the only original member on stage was Eric Wilson. If anyone did do that, then know this: you missed out.

_BEN WATSON

BALLS OF STEEL

Hair metal throwbacks Steel Panther are “more infectious than a bad case of herpes” and they’re set to bring the love back to Perth this year. After rocking the main stage of Soundwave back in March, the LA rockers will hit the stage of Metro City on Wednesday, October 10.

RIDE WITH ME

Do you remember what you were doing in 1992? Well, Mark Gardener does: he had just released the masterpiece Going Blank Again with his British alt-rock group Ride. To celebrate that momentous year, Gardener is heading to Australia on an acoustic tour where he will revisit some of that shoegaze classic as well as other hits from across his career.

BAKED SALMON

With his name synonymous with The Scientists, The Surrealists, Beasts Of Bourbon, and oh so many more, Kim Salmon is one of the most influential musicians ever to have cut their teeth Perth. He promises to “guitarfuck” Perth when he drops by The Bakery on Saturday, July 28.

SKY’S THE LIMIT

Combined their talents on full length album Songs Of The Southern Skies, Katie Noonan and Karin Schaupp are now joining forces for an Australian tour. The album features contributions from the likes of artists Iva Davies, Gurrumul, The Living End’s Chris Cheney and heaps more.

GROWING UP

You may have seen them on the Rage couch over the weekend, but you will have to wait until August until you see them again. They are Melbourne rockers Children Collide and they’ve just released their third album Monuments.

SKULL CANDY

Fresh from the announcement that On The Bright Side is taking a year off, we get one more Splendour In The Grass sideshow announcement. UK trio Band Of Skulls are returning to our shores for their Sweetening Up Winter tour and they will step into The Bakery on Monday, July 23,

SMILING POLITELY

It’s official: there is not going to be an On The Bright Side festival in Perth this year, but we can tell you that at least one of the Splendour In The Grass headliners is making their way to Perth in 2012! The Smashing Pumpkins are true survivors of the ‘90s grunge movement.

WAKE ME UP

After pulling the pin on his proposed stop in WA earlier this year due to a stirring bout of pneumonia, George Michael has announced dates to make up for it, including a stop in WA which will go down in history.