The Volcanics @ The RosemountHotel, Perth (21/10/10)

Mon 25th Oct, 2010 in Gig Reviews

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If you were one of the special few who managed to escape the clutching claws of your couch and find yourself entering North Perth’s Rosemount Hotel this Thursday you would have found yourself well rewarded.

The Volcanics were waiting and ready to rock with a wall of sound created by: John Phatouros (vocals), Tommy Hopkins (guitar), Pete Acklin (bass), Pete Lake (guitar), and (Knoxy) Dave Knox (drums)

Entering the venue, whose roof is plastered and collaged with aged gig posters of events come and gone, a true lover of music and rock may have been curious at the moderately sized crowd, but it soon became clear that tonight was a night for quality not quantity.

Three bands full of Perth’s most talented new and old musos were about to spread their audible spell upon the Thursday night crowd’s eager ears. Local band The Wishers opened the night with Two Sisters In the Cellar from their recent debut E.P. Hold Your Course. Their self-coined genre of ‘Australamericana’ is a hard sound to describe but these guys are a band to keep your eyes and ears wide open for.

Next were the Painkillers, also part of Triple JJJ’s Unearthed Competition – comprised of rock/punk/folk musicians James Baker and Joe Bludge. Rock/Punk veteran Baker (who has been in several influential Australian bands including The Scientists, Hoodoo Gurus, Beasts of Bourbon, The Victims and The Dubrovniks) stomped out his rockin’ and thrashing military drum beat whilst talented legend Joe Bludge performed vocal duties.

Fans of more moody and quirky folk/rock/punk styles and bands such as the Velvet Underground will be drawn to the music of this powerful duo. It was instantly clear why Baker has been such an enormous influence on the style of the night’s headliners. and The Volcanics vocalist John Phatouros gave much thanks and attributed much influence to Baker himself.

The Volcanics kicked off their set with a powerful blast with 3:45, and continued to rev up the room with their exploding mesh of Australian Rock/Punk. High energy and intense, it was easy to hear the band’s influences throughout, a sense of Detroit and New York Rock fused with Australian Rock/Punk. And artists such as The Stooges, The Saints, Radio Birdman, MC5,The Victims and The Scientists. These guys rock it out with a raw style that takes you and shakes you. If you like your rock raw, real, rollin’ and loud, this is a band you’ve got to see.

After the gig, Phatouros revealed the exciting news that the band is currently recording a five-track EP release for February or March next year. In the meantime, all you die hard lovers of punk infused oz rock – make sure you get your arse out of your couch for The Volcanics next upcoming gig with The Painkillers at The Bird on the 5th November. You wont regret it.

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