HUSSY

What babes (yes Mark, you too). What attitude. I didn’t catch HUSSY at In The Pines this year, but from what I’ve heard they just get better and better every time, and so this set I take it was the cream of the crop. The room filled out really quickly once they started. Front woman Shinead knows how to grab people’s attention. She displays a strange hybrid of Hip Hop stage moves and persona whilst giving her ruthless two cents worth in the most brutal, punk manner. I’d really love to have the lyric booklet. Can you publish one, please? Marcia (bass and vocals) also has real strong stage presence and a beautiful voice. It appears that she really embodies the general attitude and message of each song, a fortuitous force that won’t be pushed around.

Blair (lead guitar) looked like she was having a bloody good time, smiling cheekily most of the time. She has some really nice lead guitar note choices. Her style subtly suggests she's somewhat influenced by the guitar work of Joey Santiago of The Pixies. Perhaps we'll be seeing a little bit more of that in the future. Cassie (rhythm guitar) took the humble and unassuming stance left of stage providing sound support for the entirety of the set. Mark (drummer) did a wicked job for his second gig with the band. He looked a little nervous but you’d never know these songs are relatively new to him. I imagine it must have felt pretty amazing thrashing away with these ladies. All the songs were very catchy and super badass, but I particularly liked the song about ‘the partner’s ex’. I think we can all relate. Marcia lead in the song with the stone cold comment ‘fuck that bullshit’. Yeah, damn right.

SHIT NARNIA

I adore Shit Narnia. They get me in the feels every time. In a perfect contrast to HUSSY, who are clearly a little pissed off about something, responding in a stick it to em’ way, Shit Narnia’s sound displays a certain fragility. There’s immense vulnerability and pain in their response to whatever/whoever they’re addressing in each song. It’s beautiful stuff; emo-punk ballads, if you will. There wasn’t the usual mosh that tends to follow these guys around (come on Perth, it’s only winter, you’ll live!). They performed wonderfully all the same. Hugh (vocals) explored every inch of the stage as usual. This adds a real element of theatre in the sense that it seems the emotion behind the song is still just as raw now as it was when he wrote it, pulling you in and evoking an equally cathartic response relevant to whatever may be going on for you in life at the time. It’s real and it’s honest. He responded with ‘don’t fucking tell me what to do’ when told to take off his shirt. Sam’s playing (guitar) was gracious as usual, complimented by Wills (bass) which was solid and equally as lush. Albi (drummer) plays in a rather unconventional way in this band. The songs demand a lot of attention from him as there’s so many different components and dynamics. He does well to avoid repetitiveness, and treats each moment as one unique to the next.

RAG N’ BONE

Well, well, well; we meet again. Rags were just as great as last time, that is all.

THEE LOOSE HOUNDS

Conceived as a group, Thee Loose Hounds deliver what I guess you’d call twisted rockabilly garage anthems, or according to trusty FB, they deem themselves as ‘Avant Garage/Male Doom/Drum and Treble’. Either way, these guys know how to write a really catchy, fast paced, adrenaline filled tune. They fit so much into such a short space of time, structuring their songs in an intelligent manner, and that’s where their blatantly obvious song writing skill and talent lies. They performed pieces about going to the beach, pain killers and other matters I wish I knew a little more about, but Reuben Unkovich (guitar, keys and vocals) turned down having a little chat with me assuring me that I’d ‘get it’ just by watching. Thanks Ruben. Ha-ha nah buddy, you’re alright. His voice is flawless, his pitch impeccable and annunciation crystal. He fervently switches from keys to guitar to keys to guitar, all a while fitting in short, sharp phrases and chorus howls in between. Matty (guitar) locks in and harmonises with Reuben proficiently whilst Jozef (drummer, filling in for Graeme) nailed it, holding the fort with absolute precision. The crowd absolutely loved them and danced for the entirety of the set. The band and everybody else looked like they were having a great time, shooting smiles at each other across the stage. The band left to tour the eastern states the next morning. I’m sure they’ll do a fab job and have a wild time.