Live Review
Generation Why?
Rosemount Hotel
Thursday 11 September

Kettle Fingers, Crash Rat, Renegade Girl and Sludge Bucket
 

A group of South West bands made the trek to Perth to put on a show in celebration of their new split EP, Generation Why. Rrocklobster of Perth and Chris Webster Photography went to check it out!
 
A miniature crowd gathered at the front, ready for the show to begin with Sludge Bucket. They captured everyone’s attention with their booming thunderous doom-inspiring bass-driven songs and gravelly T-Rex vocals. It was a suitable introduction to the evening’s revelry.
 
After a short drinking break, Renegade Girl drew the audience back inside. Beautiful strong vocals resonated through the room, backed with overwhelming amounts of loud drumming and thunderstorm bass. The hoard of patrons that had gathered cheered and whistled in appreciation and the band was grateful for the positive vibes. “Thanks for coming down and supporting Perth’s live music scene.”
 
Crash Rat took over the venue in a whirlwind of teased hair, bandanas, denim vests and spandex. Did someone say time machine? Crunchy guitars and group vocals kept the audience on edge. Vocalist O.D. Winters was keen for the crowd to sing along with Wasteland. “Everyone in here needs to join in otherwise it’s gonna sound pretty bleak.” A generous portion of the crowd knew the song and band members got the revellers riled up with some overhead clapping. By now a decent crowd had filled the room and people were sufficiently lubricated and amped just in time for the last song, Fiftyonefifty. Everyone was right into it! TAZ gave the drums a good bashing, the audience chanted along with their three-way group vocals, and chainsaw guitar soared over everything. 10/10 would head-bang.

Kettle Fingers appeared on the stage: three girls and a beardy drummer. Echoes of audience members commenting 'ahh they’re so cute,' ricocheted through the room. Vocalist Elle Driver exacerbated the band’s charm with stage banter like “I’m taking off my shoes because shoes are oppressive. Just kidding, I love shoes!” Within seconds the crowd was bopping along to their melodiously bouncy guitars and bass and poppy drums, and the delightful vocal harmonies created by the three girls. Members of the earlier bands had stuck around to enjoy the effervescent tunes and photographers snapped happily into the night. Movers and shakers near the stage proved that they had come to party and that Kettle Fingers had reigned in the evening.

Review by Rrocklobster of Perth. Photos by Chris Webster Photography.

Filthy Apes – Colour Café

Single Review

 


You don’t have to be a lobster to notice that animals are leaving the jungles and forests by the dozen to play in Perth bands. Some of them cleverly disguise themselves as humans, but one band leaves no doubt about the fact that they are apes, with their ape faces and their on-stage banana throwing antics.

Filthy Apes recently spent some time in captivity, recording their single Colour Café. Hang on. Are they really apes? Wait… no … they can’t be. Only humans could play this well!


Two guitars set the scene: one providing a bluesy twang and the other backing it up with flock of fuzziness. It’s a skillful contrast that works spectacularly to capture attention throughout the track.

Grunge fans will appreciate the air-guitar-inducing shredding that kicks in just before the three-minute-mark. It certainly wowed the lobster, who could have listened to just that part again and again all night. All the stunning guitar work is complemented with Grohl-esque vocals, singing lyrics wound tightly in metaphors.

Listen to this track while eating a banana. Be careful not to overdose on potassium and guitar tones.

Review by Rrocklobster of Perth

Breaking Punk Episode II

Live Review
Breaking Punk Episode II
Ya-Ya's Bar Friday 29 August

Scalphunter, Blindspot, 88 to Yesterday, Ascending Fall, House Arrest, Trip Hazard and The Rude Boys

After the success of the first Breaking Punk show back in June, bass player Leigh Stearne gathered up a diverse range of local punk bands to put on Breaking Punk Episode II. Sub-genres included variations of Ska, Pop Punk and Hardcore Punk and the event was well attended by a swarm of punk fans and members of local bands. Scalphunter were major draw cards, pulling in a huge crowd at the end of the night.

Trip Hazard and The Rude Boys entertained the early drinkers with their own brand of heavyweight ska. Their three-way vocal harmonies and bouncy bass were the perfect introduction to the night. Pub-folk were content and there were a few boppers and hip-swingers down the front.

The audience was loving House Arrest’s bright, clean, happy chords and jolly vocal harmonies. Three energetic skankers on the floor turned into a whole hoard by the end of the set. Michelle Claire injected pizzazz into the band, playing earworm horn lines and bopping to the jaunty sounds created by other band members. With his hair tamed in a top-knot, Pat Decline dutifully plucked at the bass. A crowd member commented on how relaxed he looked.
 

An introduction of thunderous drumming caught everyone’s attention just as Ascending Fall launched into full flight. The nostalgic feel of skate-punk-style vocals and lots of tempo changes kept the growing crowd happy. Vocalist Brennan Devellerez’s stage banter included discussions about various bodily fluids, which the lobster won’t repeat.

Peppy pop punks 88 to Yesterday lifted the crowd’s spirits with their fast chord changes and fresh vocals. Vocalist Topher Wilkes, in his trademark French bulldog jumper, got his groove on for Too Far To Fly and the punters fed off his energy, drawing forward to mosh. Stearne, host of the evening and the band’s bass player, bounced around sporting a Smith Street Band beanie.

Blindspot maintained the jovial vibes with their melodious tunes sung in Aussie accents. Catchy choruses with playful lyrics kept the mood light and cheerful. Ska Wars was a clear favourite, sparking the crowd into an irrepressible fervor. Ben Elliott and Pat Decline from House Arrest jumped on stage to help out with the lyrics. Team effort!

Ready to experience something from the heavier end of the punk spectrum, people filled the bar. It was so packed that a bartender had to remove the tables and chairs. Scalphunter was an aural sensation! There was excited passionate screaming and crunchy guitars, and band members thrashed around on the little stage. Guitarist Alex Cotton ran through the crowd and jumped on top of the booth seating at the back, crash landing onto a table and knocking a wall lamp on the way down (oops). He continued to play flawlessly through the botched stunt. Legendary.

Review by Rrocklobster of Perth. Photos by Chris Webster Photography.



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