"What do you like about Pheromones?"

Rrocklobster asked a few fans what they think of the new Hard Aches album. Here's what they had to say.

Pat Decline (The Decline and House Arrest)

“Things I like about the new Hard Aches record? I like Ben David, I like Upto, I like Mackey Whaleboy, I like Pheromones, I like St Helen’s, I like Braver Than I Am and You’re and Alarm Clock and Old Man Hands.”

Andy Storey (Being Beta and House Arrest)

Andy: “Put a less than symbol and then a three <3.”

Pat: “So, like a heart?”

Andy: “Yeah!”

Ben Elliott (The Decline, House Arrest, Ben Elliott and the Travelling Mulberries)

“I like The Hard Aches and they’re my friends. Just put that in there! Words of wisdom from Ben.”

 Bailey Lions (Lionizer)

“My favourite thing is hearing St Helen’s done with the full band. Ever since going on tour with Lionizer and The Hard Aches that track was just so cool to see live, and it’s really great to have that now. I can listen to it whenever I want. I think so many of their other great live tracks like Old Man Hands and Pheromones and I Get Like This just come out so strongly and so well. I think Ben’s voice is really kicking and really powerful and I dig the way that they’ve kept their sound, they haven’t beefed up and tried to be another Smith Street Band. They’ve kept that more jangly stripped-back tone and I think it really works for them.”

Shannon Lively (Illustrator at Shlives, Radio Host at RTR FM) and Ed

“It was like the heavenly harps of god playing straight into my brain. The drums and the guitars absolutely beautiful and top notch, the lyrics even more perfection. I can’t imagine a better album. A million out of a million stars.”

Oakly and Sam (Local music fans).

They haven't listened to the new album yet, but I'll make sure they do.

Photos by Rrocklobster of Perth.

Interviews and photographs took place outside The Good Shepherd in Leederville, before House Arrest played a show.

Rrocklobster of Perth Adelaide

The Hard Aches, Pheromones

(Anchorhead, May 2015)

The Hard Aches have built an army of friends and acquaintances who are always eager for them to tour. The growing success of the Adelaide band is a result of their everyone’s-invited party spirit, and the emotional connection that Ben David creates with audiences through the delivery of lyrics that tug at the heartstrings of hyper-emotional skate-punk kids who are surprised to find themselves in their mid-twenties.

The arrival of album Pheromones was warmly received by their community of fans and there’s no doubt that fans would have spent much of the last week diligently studying the album ready for the mid-year examination (the album tour, which starts in Sydney tonight). Punchy tracks that we’ve come to expect from the Adelaide duo are sure to be audience favourites, including Old Man Hands and I Get Like This which has been building momentum ever since Rachael Barrett filmed that acoustic video in the backyard of The Bird last year.

Pheromones builds on the foundation that EP Organs and Airports laid, and proves that Ben David and Alex Upton are a well-synchronised pair that are obviously under each other’s skin. Perth fans are already discussing Ben David’s vocals, which have evolved into something much stronger and smoother than before. Opening track, This Year, starts with just Ben and his guitar. It’s a full minute until drums kick in to remind us that this is The Hard Aches and not another solo operation.

Upton’s drumming is well paced and matches the energy of each new moment on the album. A band can do well with less than a handful of instruments only if the music is well written and played and skilfully, two targets which The Hard Aches hit right in the bulls-eye. Projects this can’t happen without the collaboration of good friends*, and the pairs’ work is supported with a bassist throughout. Group vocals on We All Do are sure to be replicated by crowds on tour.

In typical Ben David fashion, songs are always sung to a mystery ‘you,’ and feature familiar themes like the struggle with adulthood, broken hearts and airports. Always airports. A vocal harmony appears on a few tracks including Old Souls, where she sings just a beat behind Ben and appears to finish his sentences. She disappears for a while and comes back just when you’re about to lose any hope you had of her return – symbolic or just a well-crafted song?

Thorough testing by the lobster proves this album is suitable for all scenarios, including but not limited to driving, cooking, sitting, standing and waiting. It’s great for early in the morning, and late at night. It’s predicted that the songs will become party favourites too.

Press the loop button and leave it on repeat all night.

Article by Rrocklobster of Perth Adelaide Radelaide Perth

*Names of collaborating musicians have not been included with the digital release.

Alex The Kid   

Unbearable Kid 
Single Release

Sharing time and members between Geraldton and Perth hasn’t stopped Western Australian five-piece punk band Alex The Kid from touring, recording new tracks, and partying with mates like they always have. They are set to release their latest single, Unbearable Kid, later this afternoon.

The single was recorded in Perth the same day The Bennies played at Amplifier Bar earlier in the year, and Geraldton compatriot Ken McCartney was stoked! The Rrocklobster had a chat with Ken in the Amps underground band room, but the free-flowing beer and raucous Melbournites proved far too distracting and no useful material could be salvaged. Later, the Rrocklobster clawed up some questions on the keyboard and members of Alex The Kid were eager to provide details.

Read what they had to say below, keep an eye out for their single release later this afternoon, and join the Rrocklobster at their single launch show on June 19* at Jimmy’s Den, with The Decline, The Hard Aches, The Bob Gordons and Blackwitch.

Where did you record?

Ken - "The drums were put down at Electric City Studio by local legend Harold Stuart Decline. The rest of the tracking was done with Rohan Martin (Window to the World and Jedi Sounds Studio). It was really cool. We did all our guitars/bass/vocals and sneaky organ in the comfort of his living room. Rohan let us do it all in spare time on weekends for nothing more than coca-cola, (he's an absolute legend), so it took us a while, sort of. We have shipped it off to Jay Maas and Daniel Florez, best known for their work with Defeater, for mixing and mastering."


What’s Unbearable Kid about?

Trent - "The lyrics for this song went through a few changes before the final recording. Ken and myself originally worked on the lyrics together, the final lyrics I suppose are about pushing through when times seem rough and that some changes are for the better."

Ken - "We're really proud of this track because all of us got our creative two cents in the music. Trent wrote the majority of the lyrics, while James and I contributed some. I wrote the line 'until the heavens open up and we're drinking beer in the pouring rain,' which is a bit dorky. To me, the song has a general theme of shitty monotonous days, but when everything pulls through it's pretty great. Specifically, my line was inspired by a photo of my brother who just finished seeding (wheat) and is sitting in the dirt drinking a swan draught with some clouds rolling in behind him. I thought it was pretty cool. I'll attach it so you can have a laugh. He will give me shit for it I'm sure."

Do you have plans to record more tracks this year?

Ken - "We do but it's super secret and if we tell you, Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones will come to your house and wipe your memory. We'll make an announcement soon though :)"

Will there be a single launch show?

Ken - "Originally I was planning a bowling and pizza party at AMF: free copy of the single for anyone who wants to beat us in bowling. But now we've got something in the works. It'll be a huge show for many reasons. If the album launch show with THE DECLINE, and HARD ACHES are is announced by the time this hits the stands, include this paragraph, if not, just black out the words THE DECLINE and HARD ACHES ;)"

Ken is back in Geraldton now. 
How has this changed the way the band works?

James - "Ken's moving has affected jamming but that's about the extent of it. We don't mind the travel for shows and Ken living in Geraldton gives us a place to party and crash."

Trent - "Ken moving back wont affect the song writing too much; we always have ways of recording song ideas and sending them through the inter webs and the rest of the band can always get together for jams to keep from getting rusty and share ideas. Recording won’t be too hard to do either. We usually spend a few days on the drums then track one by one so Ken only really needs a weekend in Perth to put down his bits. The shows now seem more special as we are playing here and there as [compared] to once when we were almost playing every weekend, so they seem a bit more exciting at the moment which is great."

Ken - "There's so much less to do here in Geraldton which makes guitar time more easy! Plus with my boyfriend Trent being long distance, it will give my lyrics more emotion and longing. "I miss you Trent baby baby" will be the name of the album. Did I say album? I meant not album. I think it's going to make way for exciting fast paced on-the-fly writing."


You guys had a national tour last November. 
What are your favourite memories?

Ken - "Canberra was wild. Melbourne was wild. So was Brisbane. And Sydney and Adelaide. And of course Perth. My favourite part was "tour manager" Steve who did nothing but drink red wine with James each morning, talk to girls on Tinder and wake us up wrestling James on the hostel floor of Byron Bay. Oh and he booked us one hotel room. He was a walking party machine."

James - "Tour was insane! So much fun, Trent and I nearly didn't make it due to arriving at the wrong terminal for our flight from Perth to Adelaide!"

Trent - "Tour was awesome, even though I got a bit sick I still had a lot of fun. I'd say meeting new friends and catching up with old ones was the best, plus all the partying. Tinder was also great - I know you’re out there my Tinderella....."


How important has the local band scene been for you?

Trent - "The local scene has helped Alex The Kid so much along the way. Perth has so much talent and there were always a bunch of local bands that I really wanted to play with because they were amazing and seemed like genuine people with the same musical tastes as ourselves. Which has led to making many great friends in Perth just by playing shows and finding out we have similar interests and have things in common, so its pretty awesome."

Ken - "One of our first goals as a band was to play with our local favourites Grim Fandango. Super stoked to have done that, and gutted that they're breaking up."


What’s the best thing about being in Alex The Kid?

Ken - "Writing fun music with great friends."

James - "Getting free drinks sometimes, and being able to play music with friends."

Trent - "Being able to write fun music and do it all with mates. We all have quite similar interests in the band so we get along pretty well, which is awesome. Also free beer, I like free beer."


What’s motivating you to keep your band going?

Trent - "I think our songs are developing as we go along, so I’m always so keen to find out what our next songs are going to be like. Also just seeing the band progress keeps me motivated and hopefully it can lead to some exciting and fun times ahead, which I'm already looking forward to!"

Ken - "Writing fun music with great friends. Plus I'm nearly married, I need a good excuse to keep running off on party trips!"

 

*June 19 show is also The Decline Album Launch Show

Interview and article by Rrocklobster of Perth.
All photos provided by Alex The Kid.