WAM INTERVIEWS ► RTRFM’s In The Pines acts
A smorgasbord of local artists are playing RTRFM’s In The Pines 2016 at the beautiful surrounds of the UWA Somerville Auditorium on Sunday 24 April from 11am-10pm (playing times here). The festival has become an institution for music lovers of all ages for over two decades. This year is no exception, with 20 acts playing across two stages.WAM’s Lauren Bettridge spoke to a number of the outstanding acts playing on the day, including Peter Bibby, Bucket, Benjamin Witt, Radarmaker, Skullcave and The Pissedcolas spoke about everything from their favourite memories from the festival, who they are “pining” to see on the day, taking Elvis on a picnic and why avoiding being a dick is good for a band’s health.
PETER BIBBY
A brief history:
Played around Perth for a few years in various bands after realising venues generally gave free beer in exchange for live performance. I moved to Melbourne after a few years of doing that and played there for a few years, got signed to Spinning Top Music, toured Australia a fair few times, played overseas a few times, put out an album that was received very nicely (through Spinning Top). A few months ago I moved back to Perth (biggest achievement so far).
Your sound?
Unfiltered Swashbuckle, matured in an old mans belly, garnished with organic parsley fresh from the backyard and served with warm sourdough. Influences include Sleep, Wutang Clan and Bobby Lee Trammell.
What’s your fave/funniest/tree-riffic In the Pines memory?
That would surely be the time I met a dear friend of mine for the first time who had gotten extremely inebriated on some over the counter chemist syrup and needed me to help him cross the road so he could sit by the river. I can’t remember who was playing at the time, but I think it would have been in about 2009 or 2010…
Act you’re most pining to see at In the Pines and why?
HEEBIEJEEBIES. I love both Hayley and Brendan and am yet to witness this collaboration. I also love getting the heebiejeebies so it’s a bit of a win win for me.
If you could have a picnic with any music act (alive or dead) who would they be and what would you feed them?
Emlyn Johnson. I would feed him unfiltered swashbuckle, matured in an old mans belly, garnished with organic parsley fresh from the backyard, served with avjar and boiled eggs.
What words of wisdom would you give to budding acts to help them put down roots in the local music industry?
Fear not the great unknown.
How has RTRFM helped grow your career?
How HASN’T rtr helped grow my career? From over playing my music, to having me as a guest on countless radio shows, to filming me and my friends play for The View From Here, RTRFM has been an unstoppable force behind the Peter Bibby musical career.
What’s happening for you in the near future?
I’m working on a new album which will be released hopefully by the end of the year. Besides that I’m laying low on the music front and focussing on rendering walls and slow cooking fine meats.
BUCKET
A brief history:
Signed four-album deal with USA punk label Radical Records in 1996. We became the first band in the world to sign a recording contract completely online. It was a gimmick the label wanted to run with. They got their publicity with it making news around the world. We only ever ended up recording one album for them which still remains unreleased. Prior to that we signed to Shock Records in Australia. We started Treadmill Records US-expat Kevin Russeth releasing records (apart from bucket) by Flanders, Wormfarm, Bob’s Love Child, Avid Grey, Kinievel, the Jayco Brothers and others. During the life span of the band (1993-97) we opened for international acts such as Fugazi (10th gig), The Lemonheads (17th gig!), Buffalo Tom and Superchunk. We also opened for locals such as Spiderbait (1st gig), Screamfeeder (3rd gig), Godstar, Tumbleweed and the Underground Lovers. Our 25th gig was 1995 Big Day Out.
Your sound?
Very much a Generation X band influenced by 1980/90s giants such as Dinosaur Jr, Sonic Youth, The Pixies, My Bloody Valentine, Husker Du, The Replacements, Pavement. Our genre? “Melodic, indie, slacker rock!” Though in Melbourne they classified us as an ‘indie pop’ band which we always thought was odd!
What’s your fave/funniest/tree-riffic In the Pines memory?
Personally this will be my fifth Pines and its bucket’s second since playing the Festival in 1995. Favourite memory? They’re all good. Playing in the rain and stressing over my guitars. Wondering if a certain member of the band was going to turn up or not. The best thing about the Pines in my experience is that it’s not a cool place to bring your ego if you’re playing or aggro if you’re out there in the audience. The event is able to bring pretty much the entire RTR community together and that is really unique and beautiful thing!
Act you’re most pining to see at In the Pines and why?
I’m going to say Turnstyle given they’re another act on the bill like us that have reformed. We’ve also teamed up to do a show together the night before the Pines. I’ve always been a Turnstyle and Adem K fan. He’s a really unique talent and someone I’ve been lucky enough to know, share a stage with (Showbag/Murry Spawn) and he is someone I hope to get to make music with again one day.
If you could have a picnic with any music act (alive or dead) who would they be and what would you feed them?
Just one? Well, let’s see … Wilco firstly because to me they’re simply the greatest and most interesting band of the last twenty years. Secondly, the Grateful Dead could then keep it going right through into the evening. And finally, Robert Forster of the Go-Betweens, who in my opinion is a national living treasure and is a very interesting man to talk to. What would I feed them? Seeing I’m a hopeless cook I’d ask my Nicaraguan wife, Maribel, to fix a huge feed of Central American “comfort food”…
What words of wisdom would you give to budding acts to help them put down roots in the local music industry?
Don’t give up! If you don’t live, breathe and eat music then you’re not in it for the right reasons. Try and figure out how your musical heroes arrived at their sound. Music didn’t start five years ago. You might be surprised to learn some seriously gifted people existed before you were even a twinkle in your parent’s eye. Become a musicologist! Read books, lots of books. Try and write a song every day! It doesn’t matter if you have eight, boring incomplete songs at the end of the week. The early bird catches the worm! You can’t find the gold unless you’re digging for it every day! If you try and write every day eventually the songs of your life will start to filter out. Try and distance yourself from negative types. Believe in what you do. One day someone will get it. One day someone will believe and be inspired by your passion for what you do. Don’t give up!
How has RTRFM helped grow your career?
My life has taken a few routes and I’ve left the music industry and come back to it and throughout my entire musical life RTR has always been there for me. From my earliest beginnings to the present day. Try and imagine Perth without RTRFM and it looks pretty bleak! Although it might by Triple JJJ that breaks Perth bands nationally, without RTRFM the band wouldn’t have even been able to reach that stage where you can start thinking nationally and beyond. Without RTRFM you really have very little opportunities to build a local following.
What’s happening for you in the near future? (shows, launches etc coming up? – include date, venue etc)
For bucket, we’re open to anything at this stage. I’ve been slowly piecing together an anthology which will include our unreleased album that we cut for Radical Records. We’re in negotiation as we speak. We hope to have that out this year. In the next 18 months we’d also like to reconvene and record an album.
Personally, I’m looking forward to completing a record this year I did with my main act the Jayco Brothers. We started it in Nashville with former Wilco/Uncle Tupelo drummer Ken Coomer.
RADARMAKER
YOUR NAME & ROLE IN ACT: Adam Trainer (songwriter, guitarist, bass player)
A brief history:
Radarmaker formed as a three-piece playing plaintive acoustic pop in 2000, morphed into a four-piece playing jaunty art-rock in 2004, recorded and released an EP in ’05 and an album in ’06, played In the Pines in ’06, supported múm and Explosions in the Sky, and were nominated for a WAMI for best video for ‘Arm vs. Fiery Antenna’. We played our last show in 2009.
Your sound?
Indie-rock, art-rock, post-rock, shoegaze, dreampop
What’s your fave/funniest/tree-riffic In the Pines memory?
Playing in 2006 was a career highlight for us, but my own personal favourite moment was when Cypher cooked pancakes on stage and blew up an amp with a whippersnipper circa around 2000. I think that was the year that they had DJs in Hackett Hall as well, and after the vibrations caused by that one live music was never allowed back in there.
Act you’re most pining to see at In the Pines and why?
Bucket were a band that I sadly missed by a couple of years, but they hold a solid reputation as a classic Perth act, so I’m looking forward to filling in the gaps and ticking another band off my local music bucket-list – pardon the pun!
If you could have a picnic with any music act (alive or dead) who would they be and what would you feed them?
Wine and cheese with Slowdive by a bubbling brook in the English countryside. I think they’d be nice people.
What words of wisdom would you give to budding acts to help them put down roots in the local music industry?
Perth audiences have very good bullshit detectors and they can tell when you’re playing safe or trying to jump on a particular bandwagon. Be true to your creative muse – it might not lead to fame and fortune, but it’ll earn you respect, and that’s worth a lot more in the long run.
How has RTRFM helped grow your career?
I’m very fortunate to have had my music played on RTR, which has put me and the bands I’ve been associated with on the radar of others nationally and internationally, and it also helps to get people along to shows locally. Appearing on RTRFM event line-ups is a taste-making seal of approval that I’m also greatly appreciative of. I’m also very fortunate to have been involved with the station professionally and as a volunteer – there’s just so much they do for local music, it’s ridiculous!
What’s happening for you in the near future?
Whilst the Radarmaker reformation is as-yet just a one off, we haven’t ruled out some more reformation shows, though it’s doubtful we’ll write any new material as 50% of the band is making new sounds in Original Past Life. The other 50% is making films and raising the next generation of mischief-makers.
BENJAMIN WITT
Your sound? (genres covered, influences etc)
Last year I put out the “audio-illogical backyard dog” lp which was a lo-fi record inspired by Daniel Johnston & Beck’s “Stereo Pathetic Soul Manure” & “One Foot in the Grave”. The very soon to be released “Future Reset” lp is experimental blues / pop inspired by the music from West Africa.
What’s your fave/funniest/tree-riffic In the Pines memory?
An old lady asked me to retrieve her hand bag that was left beneath a bee hive. When I went to retrieve it, she drop punted a Sherrin into the hive & I had to leave the festival after receiving multiple stings.
Act you’re most pining to see at In the Pines and why?
Grace Barbe’, Peter Bibby, PissedColas.
If you could have a picnic with any music act (alive or dead) who would they be and what would you feed them?
The last meal Hendrix ate was a tuna sandwich. Michael Jackson had a spinach salad with chicken. Elvis had four scoops of ice cream & six cookies. I think I’d prefer to dine with Elvis.
What words of wisdom would you give to budding acts to help them put down roots in the local music industry?
Just work on your dam music, listen to heaps of records. Everything else is bullshit.
How has RTRFM helped grow your career?
They’ve played all the recorded music I’ve made & booked me to play several of their events. They foster a community that encourages and nurtures musicians efforts.
What’s happening for you in the near future? (shows, launches etc coming up? – include date, venue etc)
This month I’m supporting Methyl Ethel on their Aus tour, supporting Deradoorian (ex-Dirty Projectors) in Sydney, and supporting the Drones in Perth. Pretty sure I’m going to release the Future Reset lp this month also.
SKULLCAVE
YOUR NAME & ROLE IN ACT: Liam Young, Drums and vocals.
A brief history: (biggest achievements, awards, how and when started, releases etc)
We started playing shows nearly a couple of years ago now but we’ve been playing together for nearly 10 years. We released two EPs last year and recently supported our heroes High on Fire.
Your sound? (genres covered, influences etc)
We’re heavily influenced all kinds of metal. Everything from doom, stoner and post metal and more.
What’s your fave/funniest/tree-riffic In the Pines memory?
I went to watch Mink Mussel Creek, I had just joined on drums and took notes for Kev’s last show. I also saw Cease for the first and last time.
Act you’re most pining to see at In the Pines and why?
The Pissedcolas because riffs.
If you could have a picnic with any music act (alive or dead) who would they be and what would you feed them?
GG Allin, shit.
What words of wisdom would you give to budding acts to help them put down roots in the local music industry?
Go to gigs, meet people. Probably should rehearse too.
How has RTRFM helped grow your career?
RTR have been nothing short of amazing with their support of Skullcave. It’s hard starting again in Perth sometimes but it really feels good to be acknowledged by such an influential part of Perth music.
What’s happening for you in the near future? (shows, launches etc coming up? – include date, venue etc)
We’re playing In The Pines! We’re also writing an album…
THE PISSEDCOLAS
YOUR NAME & ROLE IN ACT:
Alex Patching-Drums, Fabian Rojas- Guitar/Vocals, Meagan Bates- Bass, Cameron George-Synth.
A brief history:
We started playing in February 2014 and since then we have released Demo Suzuki on cassette and Glue Gun on vinyl. We played with Boris at the rosie last time they were in Perth. We recorded with Tom Cahill.
Your sound?
Psych punk Quartet. Hawkwind X Yajaira. Hey man, hey bro chill out.
What’s your fave/funniest/tree-riffic In the Pines memory?
Frozen Ocean wearing dresses and make up
Act you’re most pining to see at In the Pines and why?
Skullcave, Verge Collection.
If you could have a picnic with any music act (alive or dead) who would they be and what would you feed them?
Electric Toad-Chips and dips.
What words of wisdom would you give to budding acts to help them put down roots in the local music industry?
Play gigs, make music and don’t be a dick.
How has RTRFM helped grow your career?
RTR has been playing our music since we sent our song Storm to the station, they also invited us to play Distant Murmurs at the good and old now 459 stage.
What’s happening for you in the near future?
We are recording our next release called Scorched Earth in mid May with Brod. Brod is a fucking legend.
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