Steady Eye

...the careful insights of one Tahlia Palmer.

Drug addicts are not a nice bunch. We’ve all had to deal with them in some way, and it’s very rarely pleasant. In Perth, meth seems to be the hard-core drug of choice. In Melbourne however, it is heroin. Heroin was everywhere here in the 80’s. You can hear it in the music from that period. It was a big part of youth (goth) culture- I’ve seen many a haggard old goth in Collingwood and Fitzroy, and it’s lingered on 20 years later. The difference between the two types of addicts I have come into contact with is very noticeable. Addicts in Perth are most often aggressive and scary. They get off on intimidating everyone; making their presence known on public transport and around shopping centers. As is the nature of the drug. Born and bred in Perth, somewhat naïve in respect to drug usage, I assumed that junkies everywhere were over the top, loud mouth bogans with no teeth. But after living here for three months, I’ve come to realize that’s not true.

My first experience with Melbourne junkies was on Brunswick Street. These guys were amazing. One looked like a burnt out hippy, dressed all in brown, with long matted hair sticking out from under a woolen beanie. The other looked like he had come back in time from that period after the apocalypse where people make clothing out of anything they can find in the wreckage: wet suit material over tight jeans, a leather vest, more wet suit material arm guards, silver cyclist’s sunglass, industrial jewelry and severe bleach-blonde crew cut. I first saw them in the middle of the road, tip toeing over the tram tracks. They continued across to my side of the street, walking like they were trying their hardest to be stealth, stalking something unseen. They both had their hands held tightly in front of their belly buttons, wringing them over and over as the time traveler entered the café, and the hippy kept watch.
 

It was obvious they were furious drug fiends, and had been for some time, but they kept to themselves. They took turns going into the café for free water as the other stood outside, neither of them imposing on anyone. I have never seen anything like it in my life.
 

I’ve had some less pleasant encounters with heroin addicts though. One guy in his twenties haunts the town centre near my house, pleading in a high pitched whining voice if you can “sssspare some chaaange?” The first time he asked me, I gave him the 50 cents I had in my pocket after buying a roll, and he was not impressed. He started to yell, calling me terrible names and describing unmentionable acts he has apparently performed with my mother. I ran down the street, expecting him to chase and stab me with a needle full of air. I got home, nearly in tears, and told my housemates.

It was pointed out that there is no way he would have had the energy to chase me after yelling so loudly. A fair point. Heroin addicts find it hard enough to move at the best of times. Needless to say though, I haven’t helped him out again. Three months in a city isn’t very long. Maybe it’s only a matter of time before I’m accosted by a junkie on the train over here, loudly proclaiming he’s just got out of prison as he leers at me, while the rest of the carriage stares hard in a different direction. But I highly doubt it. In that respect, I am enjoying Melbourne a lot more than my birth city.

Lyndon Blue recounts a night of doom..

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CEASE & FRIENDS @ THE HYDE PARK HOTEL FRONT ROOM, FRIDAY JULY 10

Millennia ago, in the hazy expanse of time before homo erectus, unicycles, and internet banking, the Earth was in its infancy. A lonely, silent pebble drifting through the deathly vacuum of space. This, good people, is where our story begins - in that primal hour of darkness and destiny.

Having nothing better to do, I leaned over the primordial soup, gazing into its wondrous and auspicious depths as it bubbled like hot tar. It was at that moment that, without warning, there rose to the swampy surface three primordial croutons in the form of SONNY ROOFS; they were the curliest-haired band I’d ever laid eyes upon, and under the macaroni tresses stood three beastly gentlemen armed with drums, fuzzed-out flange-bass, synth, a guitar and some truly monstrous amplifiers. Their wholly improvised onslaught consisted of approximately two grooves, a celestial mesh of meandering krautrock jams and bone-crushing doom; they were a gargantuan brachiosaur which had overindulged in a hemp forest, and was now wandering the plains in search of its spirit guide.

I watched in awe as those krautons morphed into a GIANT TORTOISE: a band composed, like Sonny Roofs and Cease, of exponents of Perth’s ever-incestuous pool (or rather, Pond) of psychedelia. The reptilian powertrio honoured the tradition of rendering Sabbathy riffs in extreme slow motion, á la Kyuss, Sleep and Electric Wizard – and while in these early days Jay ‘Gumby’ Watson (a.k.a. skinsman for those Impala lads) seemed a touch awkward in the role of sole frontman and vocalist, there’s no reason why in time Giant Tortoise couldn’t be Perth’s answer to the aforementioned groups. In the words of Gumby himself – this is what would happen if dinosaurs made music.

DROWNING HORSE sounded the way a band called Drowning Horse ought to sound. They were a hellish black stallion with a belly full of lead, sinking into a vat of thick, molten, death... and they were very fucking loud. Bowel-splitting doom drones shook the young earth’s crust, Thor-like drumming set avalanches tumbling and aggrieved vocal growls seemed to summon storm clouds overhead; needless to say, Drowning Horse aren’t for the faint of heart, but they should make any aficionado of heaviness giddy with glee. Drowning Horse will bruise you all over. And you will enjoy it.

At last three hirsute figures emerged from the quagmire and there was no mistaking those infamous sludgemongers CEASE. After a slightly shaky start involving much uncertainly in the bass department, they were in their element – which is probably Ununoctium, atomic number 118, the heaviest element of all. Like Cease, it’s highly volatile and unpredictable, but heaviness is guaranteed, and tonight the band reaffirmed yet again their status as stoner doom overlords – no-one plays this long, this low, this loud - though with Drowning Horse giddying up they may have some tough competition.

OK, I lied. As cool as it would have been, I never traveled back in time to the dawn of life on earth. But I can say this in complete honesty: fans of prehistoric rock may rest assured, for the dark, bestial and ancient sounds you so adore are far from extinct in our sunny seaside town.
 

RTRFM Jazz in July

Jazz in July
Saturday 18 July 2009
7pm - 3am
The Ellington, Beaufort St, Perth

Take me directly to the RTRFM website!

Jazz in July 2009 presented by The Ellington and Perth’s home of Jazz, RTRFM 92.1
 

Hidden Shoal release Tarcutta debut

Ahead of the release and launch of their debut masterpiece, Melbourne three piece Tarcutta will be gracing the airwaves via an interview on RRR ’s wonderful Delivery program this Sunday (19th July). Listen in between 2 and 4 pm to hear what makes these sonic magicians tick as well as soak in some tunes from the new album.

And of course the album will be launched and officially released on CD at Melbourne’s East Brunswick Club on 23rd July with support from the wonderful Radiant City and a guest appearance from Teeth & Tongue . You’d be soft in the head to miss this gig if you are anywhere near Melbourne next week. Tarcutta are a force to be reckoned with live, and anyone who has heard the new album knows that they have the musical magic to back it up. Add Radiant City to the night and the story writes itself. Be sure to get down early as the night will mostly likely sell out.

For those who just can’t wait for the official CD release, you can grab the album digitally via the HSR Store or the usual third party digital stores (iTunes, eMusic, Amazon, etc).

Soundstorm July 18 @ Mojos Bar

Saturday, July 18, Tyranocorp presents Soundstorm. Waging war on winter! 4pm – 1am at Mojos Bar. This amazing enourmous show features Sure Fire Midnights, the Bible bashers, the Devil Rides Out, Cal Peck and the Tramps, Mile End, Tomas Ford, Injured Ninja, Raw Nerve, the Proletariate plus DJs Laith Tyranny and Scotty. This massive festival show will feature Tatoo, Piercing and drinks giveaways!! Entry is $15 from 4pm.

Slackjaw

In a Hip-Hop scene that has given birth to many polished artists, Slackjaw, (also known as Fremantle’s Finest) has remained undefinably raw in his talent and musical approach.

Making waves in the freestyle and battle circuits as early as 2001, a staple diet of live microphones has now been traded in for his locally famed mixtape series, “Eat A Rat”.

Starting out as a demo and catalyst for Slackjaw’s hunger for recognition in the vocal booth, these mixtapes have in turn become the staple diet of many Hip Hop fans in Western Australia.

The third instalment, “Fine Dining” has had his listeners hungrily salivating with the preview tracks featured on his Myspace clocking up over 1000 plays in the first month before its release.

With stores in Perth stocked up and free downloads available online, the table has been set for July 26th @ Mojos Bar Nth Fremantle, featuring Fremantle counterparts Back Yard Productions and Community benefactor Diger Rockwell, the serving suggestions have just been increased.