GiggySound

By Tegan Read

May 25th 2010

The 2010 WAMi Awards were held at Perth’s Capitol Thursday night as part of the annual WAMi Festival. RTRFM’s Peter Barr and Triple J’s The Doctor (Lindsay MacDougall) co- hosted the event relaxing into their roles as the night progressed.

Crowd pleasing performances by WA’s own The Brow Horn Orchestra, Hayley Beth, Black Poet, Will Stoker and the Embers, along with Sugar Army (who were up for eight awards), entertained the audience between WAMington announcements.

Karnivool took out Most Popular Live Act and Most Popular Album for ‘Sound Awake’ beating hopeful contenders Eskimo Joe, John Butler Trio and Sugar Army. Most Popular Act was awarded to Birds of Tokyo with The French Rockets/ Injured Ninja Split 12” + DVD winning Most Popular Single/EP.

After receiving the industry voted award for Best Funk Act The Brow Horn Orchestra got the crowd grooving with a high energy set and attention grabbing stage presence. The megaphone, violin and trombone have never been so trendy with the members demonstrating their musical skills by swapping instruments and managing to navigate the overcrowded stage without missing a beat.

Tomás Ford relished his time on stage after winning Best Electronic Act asking the crowd to help fulfil his exit plan by stage diving from the microphone. Not to be outdone the onstage antics of Will Stoker and the Embers during their set saw guitars thrown, a drum kit climbed and a foray into the crowd by lead singer Will Stoker.

Perth’s Amplifier Bar scored Most Popular Music Venue over Mojos Bar, the Rosemount Hotel and the Rocket Room. Contribution to the WA music industry was also acknowledged with co-host Peter Barr receiving the Golden WAMi Award for the third time.

Not everyone was celebrating with Sugar Army once again leaving cake-less despite being up for eight awards. However this didn’t affect their performance wrapping the night up in ‘sweet’ rock style. Their track “No Need for Lovers” was the perfect closing for the event with the band dedicating the song to those who weren’t lucky enough to score a 2010 WAMi.

X-PRESSIONS

For a nation with more outlandish laws that you can poke a sanitised, regulation length, fully licensed stick at… we love a good ol’ maverick. Water-rat Jessica Watson is the latest ‘reckless soul’ who has won the heart of the nation by doing something many (at least at the conservative end of town) initially slammed as foolish. Now, after being welcomed home by Rebel Rudd, she’s an instant national treasure and a household name, up there with John Ibrahim of Underbelly: The Golden Mile fame.
So kids, want to get famous? Do something crazy or join a violent gang – it’s the surest way to get your mug on the plasma. And to the rest of you, you know the drill: no alcohol on your Sunday picnic, no parking on the footpath, no food on buses, keep your dog on the leash at all times, remove that Magic Tree air freshener from your rear-view mirror, swim between the flags, trim that overhanging hedge, turn the music down and don’t forget your bike helmet.
In celebration of all things maverick, former Screaming Trees vocalist, Mark Lanegan will return to Australia for his first visit since 2004. Of A-Grade maverick stock (we’ll let you Wikipedia his escapades), Lanegan has also been a member of Queens Of The Stone Age and kept up an impressive solo career, with his newest effort, Bubblegum, reaching #39 on Billboard’s Top Independent Album chart. The rebel-rouser himself plays Sunday, July 11, at the Fly By Night Club. Tickets on sale from Friday, May 21, through ticketek.com.au. Let’s get naughty!

_JULIAN TOMPKIN

HERE COME THE KARNIS

It seems Australia can’t get enough of WA’s champions of heavy rock, Karnivool. After a rapid sell out of their New Day tour the band has now announced a bunch of extra dates to cope with demand; and they haven’t forgotten their local fans! A second and final show has been announced for Thursday, July 22, at Capitol, with support from MM9 and The Siren Tower. Tickets go on-sale from Thursday, May 27, from heatseeker.com.au, Mills, Planet, Star Perth and moshtix.com.au.
In other exciting news for one of our biggest heavy music exports, Karnivool have been invited to appear at The Sonisphere Festival in the UK on Sunday, August 1. This is a landmark international performance for the local lads, who will be performing alongside such monstrous heavyweights as Iron Maiden, Rammstein, Alice Cooper, Pendulum, Placebo, the iconic Iggy And The Stooges, Motley Crue, Slayer and more!

A HARD EARNED THIRSTY

Those rattly old troubadours, Thirsty Merc are back with a brand new single and album, and they’re taking it on the road for the Mousetrap Heart Tour. The multi-platinum selling, ARIA and APRA nominated Sydney group are back on the road after sold-out preview shows earlier in the year, returning with a new sound, a new guitarist, a new single (out Friday, May 21) and an exciting new album, Mousetrap Heart, to be released in June. The Merc come to Bunbury’s Prince Of Wales on Wednesday, July 21, and then The Fly By Night Club on Thursday, July 22. Tickets for the shows go on sale today, Thursday, May 20, through heatseeker.com and ozitx.com.au.

LUKIE HERE

This Friday, May 21, at Impact Bar – as part of So Fine Fridays – highly respected Jamaican reggae dancehall singer Lukie D performs one show only. Lukie D has worked with dancehall icons such as Beenie Man, Bounty killer, Vybz Cartel and Elephant Man. Catch Lukie D and Sydney DJ Nick Toth this Friday with local support from The Empressions, General Justice, Ricky Trooper and DJ Tat. Tickets are $40 available through The Empressions or $45 at the door.

A BIT RUSTY

After an invitation they could not refuse, Rusty And The Dragstrip Trio have reformed and will be heading back to the US of A for their third trip! The guy’s have been a headline act not once but twice at the Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekender. And they now return to the US to play TheInk & Iron Festival in Longbeach California. It is one of the biggest Custom Culture shows in the US and host to the biggest tattoo convention in the World as well as the custom car show, bands and music from rockabilly, punk, ska and metal. Head down and bid the guys farewell when they play The Mustang Bar on Saturday, May 22.

COLD ART

Don’t let the cold get you down, for the very warming City Of Perth Winter Arts Season is about to kick off, running from June 1-August 31 and showcasing the best in WA arts. June highlights include: Harmonic Sands – A Tibetan Buddhist Mandala at Gallery Central from June 1-12, where Buddhist Monks will transform the gallery into a shrine with morning meditations and the creation of a sand mandala over a ten day period. Coming to the Blue Room Theatre from June 9-26 is the world premiere production of The Myth Of Julian Rose, combining elements of the surreal and macabre. This Mondo Di Corpo production is a collaboration between emerging playwright Daniel Kershaw and Equity nominated director Marisa Garreffa.

Also catch Honey Spot at Yirra Yaakin from June 17-July 16, Bell Shakespeare’s production of King Lear at His Majesty’s Theatre from June 18-26, Patricia Piccinini’s Relativity at The Art Gallery Of Western Australia until August 22 and much, much more. Head to perthwinterarts.com.au for full details of the program across theatre, dance, film, music and visual arts. Get snug with art this winter!

HOW THE

VEST WAS WON

Clarke’s Gray Vest is one of Perth’s best-loved bands, performing the blues, rags, originals and jazz classics that may yet make cellist Peter Grayling, guitarist Rod Vervest and their friend Dave Clarke as famous as they deserve. Expect some scintillating cello, virtuosic guitar, humble mandolin, violin, harmonica and astute vocals at Kulcha this Saturday, May 22, from 8pm. Tickets are $13 and $10 (Kulcha members) or $15 at the door. Hit up kulcha.com.au for more multi-musical delights.

GOD IS IN THE KITCHEN

With early bird tickets to Godskitchen’s Special Winter Edition now officially sold out, final release tickets to the biggest club show of 2010 are now on sale and set for a full house. And to add fire to the pyre, event organised have just announced the Rouge Room – situated in the Solace Bar upstairs at Metro City. And if you ain’t got the dough enter the Godskitchen Facebook Competition, with 20 double passes being given away over four weeks. Head to mellenevents.com for all the details, including the full list of final additions to the line-up and the playing times. Final release tickets are available now from ticketmaster.com.au, inthemix.com.au, 78 Records, Live Clothing, Mills Records and Planet Video. Door open 10pm and the event is strictly 18+.

CREDIT BUBLÉ

If you’re extra keen to secure your piece of Michael Bublé’s Aussie tour then get your credit cards ready, for pre-tickets to the Crazy Love tour go one sale exclusively through Visa Entertainment from 9am Monday, May 24 until 5pm, Wednesday, May 26. American Express and MasterCard holders need not apply (you must be the bearer of a Visa Card to access the special offer). That’s business for ya! Anyhow, Visa Card holders can croon their way to visaentertainment.com.au to take up the exclusive offer. Catch Michael Bublé on March 4 at Sandalford Estate in the Swan Valley and March 6 at Sandalford Estate Margaret River. Tickets for the general public go on-sale through Ticketek at 9am on Friday, May 28. AMEX and MasterCard holders take heed… there’s always Engelbert Humperdinck.