THE JOE KINGS

Self-Titled

Session Records

MGM

You can tell from their debut EP that local duo The Joe Kings have spent a hell of a lot of time listening to, and playing, the blues. Every spare second of this release is filled in with a crunchy lick, soaring bend or squealing dive bomb.

The duo’s influences are clear all over the EP, but that’s the wonderfully liberating thing about the genre, it’s built on borrowing, adapting and paying homage to the legends of the past whilst shaping a sound of your own.

Opening track Calls In The Night has a chugging acoustic drive somewhere between Ben Harper and the ’Stones which floats along on a croon-y vocal melody reminiscent of Hendrix’s The Wind Cries Mary. The synths in the middle-eight feel a bit out of place but it’d be a great pub rocker live.

Into The Light starts with an absolutely gorgeous Gasoline Alley-esque acoustic intro as vocalist Jack Stirling embarks on almost six minutes of smooth, soulful vocals. With a restrained, roomy solo from Phill Leggett this track is a highlight of the EP purely because the band resists the temptation to squeeze in all of their favourite tricks and fastest licks, which tends to happen a bit on Gamblin Line.

With Stirling’s classic voice and Leggett’s blistering chops already sorted, The Joe Kings can now pull back on their next release and let their incredible natural talent shine.

Pull back chaps! There’ll be plenty of recording time to come.

_DAVID CRADOCK

X-Press Radio by X-Press Magazine

NEWS

X-PRESSIONS

And just when you thought things couldn’t get any more warped! If the fact that Australia’s ‘infallible’ political convention has well and truly shat itself wasn’t oddball enough, the madcap Axl Rose has gone and announced he’s bringing his post-millennium incarnation of Guns N’ Roses to Perth.

KEEP MOVING

The folks at One Movement For Music have finally lifted the lid on who is going to share their expertise at this year’s Musexpo Asia Pacific conference, and the line-up reads as a who’s who of the music industry. Hailing from various overseas locations, individuals such as Simon Renshaw, Henning Ahrens, Wu Jun, Jakomi Matthews, Jimmy Steal, Scott Schorr, Benji Rogers, Crispin Parry, Rob Graham, Mark Smutz Smith, Seven Webster, Neill Dixon, Rob Zifarelli, Monte Malone, and Ande MacPherson, will share their knowledge at Musexpo. On the home front, experts such as Molly Meldrum, Michael Chugg, Peter Hebbes, Ian James, Harvey Lister, Paul Piticco, Michael Harrison, Damien Slevinson, Dan Medland, Nick O’Byrne, Jaddan Commerford, Keith Welsh, Russell Thomas and Shayne Locke will share their thoughts on the music industry. To learn more about these fine speakers and all things One Movement, head to onemovementmusic.com.

WET AND SLIPPERY

Eighties rock legends Bon Jovi are set to invade Australia in December as part of their Circle World Tour.

TURNING JAPANESE

Mega successful local lads Birds Of Tokyo are back home at the beginning of October for their self-titled album tour.

[MORE NEWS]

CD REVIEWS

ZOLA JESUS

Stridulum EP

Sacred Bone Records/Midheaven

For an artist that has admittedly struggled with the limelight, Stridulum is a document that leaves Nika Roza Danilova – otherwise known as Zola Jesus– naked.

[MORE CD REVIEWS]

FASHION

AVATAR

West Australian based student designer Jeromy Lim will pack his bags for an overseas adventure next month to participate in the finals of a prestigious international fashion competition hosted by the Paris American Academy and the International Textile and Apparel Association. A student of Curtin University by day and Polytechnic West Institute by night, Lim is an extremely talented designer who isn’t afraid of hard work.