HAIL TO THE KING

EMPERORS / Coveleski / Mezzanine / Soul Boner
The Bird
Saturday, November 5, 2011

The humidity and the heat made The Bird a less than comfortable environment for anyone dressed like a sane person, so one can only imagine how opening act Soul Boner felt as he mounted the stage wearing a hooded cloak, looking like a scruffy, electro-pop druid. His off-kilter takes on nightclub perennials, drew an enthusiastic response from the horde of hipsters that comprised the early crowd, but frankly there’s not enough irony in the world to make this kind of thing more than a bemusing curiosity.
Mezzanine lifted the tone of the night considerably with their energetic stylings, although to be fair at that stage of the game anything would have been an improvement. Mezzanine feel like a real rock band, the kind of outfit that knows the value of a well-placed power chord and understands that anything that can’t be summed up in three-odd minutes doesn’t belong in a song, which puts them streets ahead of most of the current crop of Perth bands. With their performance it felt like the night really began.
Coveleski, by contrast, feel more like a classic pub rock band - think Rose Tattoo, The Angels, and the like. Frontman Al Rhoades attacks his lyrics with gusto, and they deliver a tight yet complex does of angry, blues-based rock. If there was problem, it’s that they weren’t a great fit for the venue. The Bird, for all its considerable charms, is a tiny little shoebox of a place, and Coveleski need something a bit bigger to contain both their energy and that of their crowd – a couple of enthusiastic fans, clearly friends of the band, came close to bowling over less outgoing fellow patrons more than once. Still, stick ‘em in a pub with a decent sound system, and they’d kill it.
The crowd, which had waxed and waned over the course of the evening, filled out a bit in the lead-up to the headliners, so that by the time Emperors hit the stage they were facing a full room, and even managed to generate a mini mosh pit at the front of the stage, although let’s face it – in a venue that size, three guys is a pit.
Emperors are kind of a mix of everything good in modern pop rock over the last two decades, all rolled up into one homegrown package. The influence of the ‘90s Seattle sound is obvious, but there’s more than a touch of the better end of Britpop in the mix too, along with a songwriting style that tends towards the anthemic rather than the introspective, while still carrying some emotional weight. Sure the reason for the gig was the launch of the single Plastic Guns from their upcoming debut album, and yes, that’s a top track, but frankly, almost any of their songs is worthy of single status. Emperors are the real deal, and that first album can’t come soon enough.

_TRAVIS JOHNSON

FEELS LIKE HOME
Gimme Shelter, the annual fundraiser for the homeless at Fremantle Arts Centre is on again on this Saturday, February 25, with another amazing line-up including Jill Birt and Alsy Macdonald (The Triffids) together with The Morning Night’s Adrian Hoffman, songstress Felicity Groom, balladeer Dave Mann and The Starlight Hotel Choir. Every cent from ticket sales will go directly to feed and nurture the homeless. Tickets are dirt-cheap at $25 plus booking fee in advance from fac.oztix.com.au, Fremantle Arts Centre and usual outlets (or $35 on the door).

RASTA REVIVAL
By popular demand reggae returns to Freo with the rebirth of the infamous Higher Fyah Reggae Club at Bar Orient every Friday! Higher Fyah became known as Freo’s finest reggae club, launching the careers of The Empressions (Australia’s first ladies of dancehall), who have gone on to promote and perform with iconic Jamaican artists such as Anthony B, Cecile and Gyptian. Higher Fyah launches in 2012 on Friday, February 24. Running from 8pm ‘til 1am, the opening party will feature Australian reggae legend General Justice, The Empressions, Mumma Trees and Sista Che, as well as the highly respected turntable skills of Zimbabwean DJ Gridlox, and up-and-coming Kenyan DJ KevzBlaq. Best of all, entry is 100 per cent free!

NIGHT VISION
After 11 years since its last event the Big Night Out is back to showcase the best in local original music. This extravaganza will be held on Saturday, February 25, over two stages at The Den and The Civic Hotel back room. The line-up includes Meaning Of, Animal, Sleeping Giant, Brutus, The Loved Dead, Ben Merito, Nevsky Prospekt, We Build Pyramids and Ozmonaut. Entry is $12 on the door, from 7pm.

TWIST AND SHOUT

Just five months after their first ever gig, pop-punk trio Twisted Affection is gearing up for their album launch! The band’s highly anticipated debut self-titled album will be released on Friday, February 24, and to celebrate they will be performing tracks at The Rocket Room. Be there or be square.

MANN POWER

The always awesome Dave Mann Collective hit the Indi Bar this Friday, February 24, for their last show before launching their much anticipated fifth album at the Fremantle Arts Centre on Friday, March 9. Support comes from amazing Melbournian singer-songwriter Van Walker, who’ll be showcasing tunes from his latest album Underneath the Radar. Doors open at 8.30pm, entry is $10.

LOVE LOCKDOWN

This Friday, February 24, at Fat Shan’s latest installment of Friday I’m In Love you can catch lofi tunes from the mystical Rabbit Island, some smooth topical hip hop from Mathas, as well as the acoustic stylings of Lee Schneider. Tickets are $10 and available from This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

TO THE MOON AND BACK

This Wednesday, February 22, Going Solo at the Moon late night café presents uber talented outsider tunesmiths in the form of soft-spoken chanteuse Rabbit Island, awesomely talented funkadelic king Nick Allbrook and pop-rock purveyor Ben Witt (The Chemist). Proceedings kick off from 8pm. Entry to the restaurant is always free!

TRASH TALK

Featuring the finest mid-week lineup Perth has seen since Marshall stacks were still cool and bogans drank VB instead of energy drinks, White Trash Heroes Ya Ya’s continues with its fifth show next Friday, February 24. Get down early to catch electro-rock up-and-comers Broken Royale and indie-rock outfits Shimmergloom and Damn Few do their thing live on stage. Doors open at 8pm.

THE BEST THINGS IN LIFE

Catch a very rare free entry (yep you heard us) show at the Rosemount Hotel this Saturday, February 25, featuring the local rock’n’roll trio of Trigger Jackets, the back-in-action The Scotch Of Saint James and newcomers The Vincent Gallows. Action starts from 8pm.

FLOOR PLANS

This Friday, February 24, roll up and roll in to a rock‘n’roll spectacular at Mojo’s Bar! Only just back from circuiting the country with The Kill Devil Hills, rhythm and blues aficionados The Floors will headine the show while sword swallower and knife thrower Matty Blade will be performing his knife throwing act! Eeek! As well as all the punters who love a special rock show High Horse and the Belle Ends are along for the party. Entry for this once in a lifetime crazy show is $15 from 8pm.