In The Pines

Date: Sunday, 20th Apr 2008
Venue: Somerville Auditorium, UWA
Reviewer: Shichi
Rating:

User Rating:

Jebediah
Bank Holidays
Capital City
Adam Said Galore
New Rules For Boats
Djiva
Bob Evans
Felicity Groom and the Black Black Smoke
The Tigers
Kill Teen Angst
The Homicides
Harlequin League
Slim Pickins
Hooper's Store
Mink Mussel Creek
French Rockets
Cease
Mile End
Will Stoker and the Embers
Captains of King

April 20, 2008 saw one of the largest events on the local music calendar - the 16^th annual RTRFM In The Pines at Somerville Auditorium, on the lovely grounds of UWA. Over a dozen acts played amongst the pines (and a variety of cones) as a large crowd packed picnic rugs, chairs and blankets to watch ten hours of music. The clouds threatened to rain down, but thankfully the weather gods were kind and held back.

 

The chain was dropped at 12pm sharp, and Captains of King started the proceedings. The fresh-faced band played a tight set of mid-paced indie rock, tinged with some electronica. They appeared slightly disconcerted to be playing at the event, and their music sounded somewhat derivative, but they have some promise and it will be interesting to see them develop their sound.

 

The next band were the always-interesting Will Stoker and the Embers, who collectively exploded onto the stage. Opening their set with In The Belly Of The Beast, the band were passionate and energetic as frontman Will Stoker prowled the stage and gave his characteristically-dramatic performance. A band with an exciting future, it will be interesting to watch their progression.

 

 

 

Coming off a successful EP launch two days previously, Mile End still gave a strong performance with their eerie and swampy rockabilly. Their vocals soared over the overcast sky and not even drizzle dampened their enthusiasm. Mile End are definitely a band to watch.

 

Experimental instrumentalists Cease came onto the stage and went straight into their set, playing non-stop for 30 minutes mostly with their back to the audience. While at times interesting with their ideas, their lack of interaction with the crowd and their tendency towards monotonous riffing quickly turned Cease into background music.

 

French Rockets were suitably cool with their brand of largely instrumental electro-pop-meets-rock sound. With a smoke machine giving an air of mystique to the band (which led to a brief speculation that something was burning on stage), French Rockets delivered some good music, but were probably too cool for a festival.

 

The eccentric stylings of Mink Mussel Creek were next and delivered one of the best sets of the day, with their 1970s-influenced funky blues with a touch of psychedelica. Their frontman, Nick, appears to have been learning from Ian Anderson from Jethro Tull, from the ragged clothes right down to playing guitar and flute on one leg. Also, who knew playing coffee-table drums could sound so good? The highlight of the set was a fantastic rendition of Mangled Mannequin, with its eastern-tinged main riff.

 

Three-piece Hooper's Store were the third largely-instrumental band for the day, and graced the stage with their jamming blues. While all very capable musicians, their open-ended jamming became predictable mid-way through their set.

 

Slim Pickins picked up the pace with a scintillating set of scorching, no-frills rock. Jumping on the stage with conviction and a swaggering confidence, the highlight was One For The Road, with its rabble-rousing chorus and soaring guitar harmonies.

 

 

Harlequin League gave their usual dramatic performance, but seemed to be lacking their typical energy. The set quickly became a 'paint-by-numbers' affair and not even the double-percussion attack when guitarist S Astone doubles on drums did not set pulses racing.

 

 

The Homicides were the most entertaining band of the evening, with an exciting, chaotic performance that almost fell apart. Vocalist Donny Rat was apparently on a three-day bender but still managed to sing while spraying beer all over the stage, before collapsing and delivering his lines sprawled on the ground (while always tightly clutching a bottle). "I need an ambulance", said Donny at the end of the set, and few would disagree after watching him run into the microphones.

 

 

In contrast to The Homicides, Kill Teen Angst gave a controlled, if somewhat passionless performance with their melodic, post-punk sensibilities.

Long-time Perth stalwarts The Tigers were next with their atmospheric, avant-garde rock, with a strong rhythm section, great keyboards and interweaving guitars. They had the crowd grooving to their songs and it seemed their set was over all too quickly.

 

Felicity Groom and the Black Black Smoke were the perfect band to start the night, with the twilight being a perfect backdrop for her classy and romantic folk. Featuring Alex Archer from Kill Devil Hills, Andrew Ryan from Adam Said Galore and Fall Electric, and Vanessa Thornton from Jebediah, Felicity Groom (occasionally clutching a harp) quickly weaved her mysterious charm over the crowd.

 

Bob Evans - Jebediah's Kevin Mitchell's alter ego - continued the acoustic vibes with a sharp set, accompanied through most of the set with an accordion. Don't You Think It's Time had the crowd engaged in a singalong. It was a polished and satisfying performance from one of the luminaries of the Perth scene.

 

There was a short break between bands as the crowd was given a Noongar Welcome To Country, before Djiva impressed with their soul-influenced music. Opening with Butterfly, Djiva quickly had the crowd swaying. Showing a good sense of humour in their between-song banter, vocalist and rhythm guitar Jessie Lloyd cheekily dedicated Hard 2 Breathe to Michael Hutchence.

 

 

In The Pines was New Rules For Boats last performance for a while as they take a hiatus, and their country-influenced pop went down well with the crowd. The band thoroughly enjoyed themselves on stage and humorously engaged in some play-wrestling at the end of the set.

 

Veteran band Adam Said Galore made a long-awaited reappearance and immediately showed why they have been held in high regard with a sharp and memorable performance. Featuring bassist Simon Struthers who had returned from Sydney especially for the gig, they left a lasting impression with their largely-instrumental indie-rock musings.

 

Capital City swaggered onto the stage and gave a decent, if bland rock performance. Vocalist/frontman Sam Scherr is obviously the focal centre of the band, as he flails around the stage like a madman and performed all the requisite rock moves, but the music itself seemed lacking in energy.

 

The Bank Holidays reignited the crowd as their beautiful, ethereal songs and three-part harmonies swept across the expanse of the Auditorium. Highlights included Cheating, Cheating with its live strings, Consolation Prize, and a fantastic cover of the Beatle's Helter Skelter.

 

 

 

 

 

Jebediah closed In The Pines with the best performance of the evening, as the band lapped up the adoration and threw themselves around the stage with wild abandon. Kevin Mitchell seemed to be a different person from his casual Bob Evans alter ego as he crashed around the stage, wielding his electric guitar like a weapon. Appearing razor-sharp and reinvigorated, it will be interesting to hear their new album.

 

 

 

-Cissi Tsang

More photos can be viewed on the RTRFM Gallery .