"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.

Rrocklobster's Interview with 
Last Week's Heroes

After eight months in-and-out of the studio, Last Week’s Heroes have pooled their talents and are ready to release their debut EP Recycled Romance. Rrocklobster of Perth and Chris Webster Photography met the guys at the end of last year and had a chat while they set up for their regular jam.

Simon Vermooten was leaning casually against an amp perfecting some bass lines while Brennan Pagels set up his drums and Alex Towler (guitar, vocals) cracked open a beer. Alex Gibson (guitar) explained how they originally found each other. “I was in a cover band with Simon, but I wanted to play originals.” He and Vermooten posted an ad on Gumtree, seeking a drummer and a vocalist. It worked! On the same night, says Alex Towler, “I was drunk and missed being in a band,” and saw their ad. 

Last Week’s Heroes were the first band to record in Karl McCabe’s home studio, and say they liked the flexibility that enabled them to complete the project over an unrestricted period of time and make changes. Friends visited the studio to perform guest vocals and piano. Recycled Romance will contain four tracks, and if you’ve been following these Perth boys for the past year, all the songs will be familiar to you and encompass a range of what you're used to hearing them play live. Gibson explains that they felt they needed to have something people could listen to that was more representative of their sound. “We only had Maps recorded and it was one of our quieter songs.”

All four members learned instruments from a young age and had a music-rich childhood, especially Pagels who grew up watching his dad’s band from the age of 6. Music is still a huge part of their lives today, and they get right into the local scene. Gibson worked at Ya-Ya’s right up until its recent closure. “I saw four bands a night for three years”. He also says the Last Week's Heroes has had “a really great response from people,” over the last year.

With that in mind, things are looking positive for their launch at the end of this week at the Rosemount Hotel. Last Week’s Heroes are excited to have Lights Of Berlin, Tarp On The Shed Floor, Ready To Fire, Send the Ships and Karl McCabe on the line-up. They will also be bringing their guest vocalists and pianist with them. Gibson reveals, “We’re going to get them up on stage with us for the launch. It’ll be fun to be a 7-piece-band for the night.”

Sounds like it’s the place to be!




Article by Rrocklobster of Perth. 
Photographs by Chris Webster Photography.

Live Review
Game of Tones
YaYas Bar
Saturday 25 October

Them Sharks, Latch Key Kids, House Arrest, At The Space Jam, Trip Hazard and the rude boys, Frigid Digits.







Rrocklobster went to check out the last Ska gig ever at YaYas Bar, which is closing down in just a few days' time. With such a great line-up of bands, contrasted with the melancholy of a beloved local venue shutting down, it was bitter-sweet.

The bar was already packed with eager music fans who were treated to a heavier-than-usual opening act, Frigid Digits. Emm Oll’s strong vocals were backed with the band’s raw sound that gives a nod to the punk roots with a subtle ska twist.

At The Space Jam vocalist Andre Georges wanted everyone to come a little closer to the stage. “We’ve only got 20 minutes, let’s make it a good 20 minutes, alright!” he said, trying to amp up the crowd. It worked! Relentlessly lively, with carnival-party-synthesiser and classic ska vocals, they had everyone flailing their limbs in a flurry of musical excitement. As the band oscillated between fast-paced ska and slow, smooth reggae beats; members of the other ska bands were dancing from foot to foot. It was impossible not to smile.   

With just three members and no brass instruments, you’d think it would be difficult to play ska but Trip Hazard and the rude boys are savvy and well-practised. The lack of brass is more than made up for with vigorous upstrokes and lots of ‘heeeey’s and ‘hup-hup-hup-hup’ing. Playing for already energized crowd, they worked hard to maintain the pace. Their fast songs (so fast you might think they’re Russian) and galloping drums ensured that the vigorously dancing revelers got a good workout.

Having played all but one of their shows at YaYas, House Arrest probably felt right at home. Their home venue was completely packed and bassist Pat Decline was rocking out to Michelle Claire’s groovy trumpet. Andy Storey and Ben Elliott were strumming their guitars in perfect synchronization and Sam Reed was giving the drum kit a good bashing (as if perhaps it had been misbehaving). They all seemed completely stoked to be on stage, and the crowd loved them too; half the room was dancing and their slowly growing fan base were singing along. Storey got a little too excited during ‘MFH’ and broke a guitar string. Luckily, friendly and reliable Latch Key Kids came to the rescue, lending him a guitar to finish off the set.

Latch Key Kids, after having their guitar warmed up, started out a little bit calmer and crowd members who were manic just moments ago had settled down. By their second song they were well into the swing of things and the high-energy good-times ska feelings were back! While the ska party raged on at the front, people up the back were getting a bit tipsy. Latch Key Kids were the perfect soundtrack for innocent antics and good times with friends.

Them Sharks gathered up all the positive ska and reggae vibes in the room and shone as brightly as ever with Joel Woolerson’s raspy voice and twingy, scratchy guitar tones. Two friends of the band were in the audience dressed as a shark and a crocodile, and brought the band refreshing beers as they filled the bar with their euphoric sounds. Energy hit a peak during the last two songs. The whole room grooving, and members of Scalphunter and Blindspot grabbed the mic to help out with the chorus of ‘The Bunnies’. The evening’s spirit culminated in ‘The Bob Gordons’ – fans of the band, including the shark, the crocodile and the entire complement of At The Space Jam joined the band on stage to party it out. It was, after all, the last ska song to ever be played at YaYas.

Review by Rrocklobster of Perth.

Live Review

Radfest

Rosemount Hotel

Wednesday 24 September

One Last Thing, Priority One, Burning Fiction, At The Space Jam, Being Beta, Ben Elliott, Blonde Spit Acoustic Duo.

Review by Kimberly Greygoose

Last Wednesday night the Rosemount Hotel and Breaking Punk played host to Radfest. It was a great night with several of Perth’s best punk bands coming together to put on a show for the crowd.

Members of Blindspot had stepped in at a few days’ notice to replace the opening act who had fallen ill. Under the name ‘Blonde Spit’ they entertained the crowd side-by-side with acoustic guitars, capturing the playful spirit and high energy that their full band usually brings to the stage.

Punters streamed in from the cold to watch folk-punk dude Ben Elliott take to the stage. Armed with his guitar and a set list of songs filled with down-to-earth, honest lyrics, proved that he was just what the crowd at the Rosemount needed to warm up for the night.

Young bloods, At The Space Jam, definitely got the party started. The energy on stage proved to be contagious as lead singer Andre Georges beckoned the crowd forward and they willingly obliged. It was proof that the fast paced combination of Ska and Punk was infectious as punters were either bopping along or shaking their hips. Not a band to turn away from involving the crowd, they made a request for a fifth member. After pulling their new member to the stage, they armed her with a triangle, positioned her at a microphone and began to play What Are You Doing It For? The crowd relished in the reggae vibes pumping through the speakers and seemed almost upset when their set ended.

Taking a break from supporting Lionizer on their tour, Being Beta were next on the line up. One month on following the release of their second EP Drink Tea, they played through their repertoire of songs, including usual crowd favourites Hoarding My Thoughts, Highs and Lows and Reading In A Rib House. With the perpetually enthusiastic Andy Storey switching between his guitar and synth,and bopping around the stage like the energizer bunny, it’s easy to see why these guys have become favourites in the Perth punk scene.

With many more years of experience under their belt than their fellow Radfest bands, Burning Fiction put on a good show for what was now a very pumped up crowd. The audience bopped and head-banged along, and those who have been fans of the band for a few years sang along to their bouncy progressive-rock-tinged punk tunes.

Returning to the stage for the second time after taking some time off to record some new demos, Priority One are a tidal wave of punch-drunk guitars, pumping bass and striking drumming. Despite having taken advantage of the Rosemount’s $12 steak and $10 jugs, they managed to hold it together and play an engaging set. Taking a break from playing their own tunes during the set to cover an old Gyroscope song, Confidence In Confidentiality, much to the pleasure of many punters in the crowd. Priority One ended their set with the track Zombie, fittingly named as the song would not have been out of place if used for the closing credits of a badass horror film.

Concluding the night for those who stuck it out late on were headliners One Last Thing. Still relatively new to the Perth music, the five piece band are already making a name for themselves, and it’s easy to see why. Playing tracks from their recent debut EP Back Stories, a lovely assembly of get-up-and-go pop punk, One Last Thing proved that it was worth sticking it out late, as the set was fun, lively and the perfect end to the night.