Interview: Abe Sada

Cat Hope (Abe Sada)
Interview by Leo Abbs

Abe Sada consists of four bass players. What made you decide to go for this lineup?
Well, I personally am bass crazy. I love bass – bass frequencies, bass beats, subby sounds…all low instruments. I had a two bass group, doing bass noise ambient stuff, called Lux Mammoth – we put out 2 records and went to the USA before calling it a day around 2003. I have my own, solo bass project, and am doing my PhD in infrasonic (inaudible, low sound) sound composition.
So 4 basses are better than 1, or 2. I like the range of sounds available electric bass.

Who are the members of the band and what experience do they have, as far as playiing in bands and musical backgrounds?
The membership is pretty fluid, thought myself and bassta! Pex are the two stable members. We enjoy the loose lineup because it gives us flexibility and the opportunity to change the sound. It is all improv, so different people really bring different sounds. Poeople who have played with us so far include Leemo (from Pahlemik), KFOrd (also Pahlemik, Swapmeat), Katerina Katherine Papas (Lucy was a Decoy, Boobs (Mannequin), Kenta McGrath (Bamodi), Kevin Roberston (Diode), Chris Cobilis (the Tigers), even Ben Franz (the Waifs).

How does the recording sound compared with the live shows?
The recordings are live, so similar in some way, but recording gives you a chance to bring out some nuance and reconstruct the form if need be. There are also some added extra’s – a chainsaw solo and some vocals.
Also, the live shows are often very unconventional – there is a little element of theatre (playing with knives, whips and other gadgets) and we rarely play on a stage like a real band….so we couldn’t rely on the that, its more just about the sound.

Friday’s gig is a cd launch, but also it’s a fundraiser for a Japan tour. Why did you decide to tour there?
We have some label interest there, and Japan really is the mecca for noise music. I have done shows there before doing my bass noise solo stuff. Its not an easy place to play, but a great experience.

You have an unique experimental sound. How has the audience you’ve played to, responded to Abe Sada’s music?
Like all experimental music, some people love it, some people hate it. Some people find it really visual music, and can get lost inside it, others just can’t understand it. Not really dance music. The volume freaks a lot of people out. Bass needs to be quite loud to ‘work’. During one gig at the Hydey, someone came up and systematically unplugged all the amps. A brawl ensured, I think Leemo lost a shoe on the roof of the pub….

Which venues have you played in Perth?
Its tuff for the more experimental bands amongst us, but the Hydey, the Castle (that was our first), PICA, Club Zho, Amplifier…we have also been invited to Liquid Architecture Festival of sound arts in Melbourne in July.

Which have been the favourite gigs?
For me, it was a gig during the Putting On An Act Festival at PICA, where we played under the seating and vibrated the audience with our bassness!

On the cd, I’m told there is a chain saw solo. Why did you decide to do that?
Chainsaw motors, they have a lovely cool bassey hum. Nice colours which vary with speed. Beautiful. Horror theme. There is some screaming to go along with it. We know a great chainsaw artist.

What bands or artists influence Abe Sada?
Sunn O))), John Cage, Bernard Herrmmann, Lightening Bolt, Earth, Toshiya Tsunoda, Vladan Radovanovic, Iannis Xenakis, Radiosonde, Otomo Yoshida, Zbigniew Karkowski
JG Ballard, Paul Virilio, Serio Leone.

Is all the music improvised or is some of it written beforehand?
All improv, all the way

Launch details?
8.30 – 1 Friday 1st June at the Bakery, $15 entry with CD, $10 without, all funds go to fares for the Japan tour.

Line up is:
The Devil Rides Out
Cease
Abe Sada
Fall Electric
Bamodi
Rumbledethump

All bands play with Japanese films. There will be Japanese cocktails and some Japanese snacks!

Visit the Abe Sada on myspace.com at http://www.myspace.com/abesada

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Live Revew: The Nordeens

The Nordeens/ The Order Of The Black Werewolf / The Gary’s / Russian Winters
Hyde Park hotel
Friday 25th May
Review by Leo Abbs

I turned up half way through the Russian Winters’ acoustic set. Featuring two members of Team Jedi, a few people have suggested it’s Team Jedi two. A little off the mark as Kris Dimatroff (better known as Dima) is on lead vocals and guitar, whilst in Jedi he was on drums.

I couldn’t actually see the band, or for the matter, hear much bar a bit of vocals. They played without a drums, so perhaps it’s best I save judgement for when I get to see the full band play.

‘You guys suck!’ called a guy in the audience early in the next band, The Gary’s set..
‘hi Wayne!’ The lead singer said of The Gary’s into his mic.
‘I said, you guys SUCK!’ said Wayne
‘We may suck, but you paid 5 bucks, so you suck more!’ replied the vocalist.

Tonight was apparently The Gary’s first show. Also featuring members of a pervious Perth ban (the guitarist and bassist from Punk band White Trash, who were around about ten years ago) The Garys impressed this reviewer. They were hilarious, and had some catchy rock songs with at least four of the tunes mentioning Gary. Who’s Gary? Anyway, a band to check out.

Beside being known as a cunt of a reviewer for Xpress, Mike Wafer used to play in a popular punk band Love Camp 7. Best known for piss funny songs, they broke up when Wafer moved to Melbourne. When he came back to Perth 2 years later, he formed Whitechapel, who never reached the popularity of LC7 and dissolved in 2006. Tonight was the second performance of his new band, The Order of the Black Werewolf.

While both previous bands dabbled in surf guitar, The Werewolf have got a more full on surf rock sound. With long instrumental passages, they sounded interesting, until vocalist Wafer opened his mouth. His vocals sounded terrible tonight. It would be easy to write this whole band off on hearing him sing, but we’ll go easy on the fact that tonight’s gig was only their second. However, bassist (also of Love Camp and Whitechapel) Anthony is still one of the funniest men I’ve ever seen play in a band.

Glenn Musto is one of the best pop songwriters around town, and has been concentrating on his acoustic act, College Fall in recent times. Tonight it was a reunion of sorts for his other band, The Nordeens. It’s been a while since they’ve played, as drummer Ant is now living in Bendigo.

When it comes to comparing Musto’s two bands, then College Fall would be his day job, while The Nordeens would be like going to the pub with his mates. A 3 piece that is on the heavier side of pop, they’re angsty at times with out being dreadfully emo. The Nordeens are perfect for Friday night at the Hydey.

Their set that ran through their ‘How To Forget (you)’ EP, with the catchy Alison Ashley opening proceedings plus other live favourites such as ‘Caroline, I don’t deserve you’. It felt like it was 2004.

Finishing with their last single ‘So Long’ and not playing one of those predictable encores that bands so often do, they left us wanting more, but it’s better to wait for the next gig. Hopefully the wait is shorter than two years.

Interview: Fear Of Comedy

Leith Tierney from Fear of Comedy

Interview by Leo Abbs

1. The CD you are releasing is ‘murder is sexy’. Why did you go with that name?
Well, murder IS sexy. Think about it.

2. Where did you record and how did the process go for the band?
if we told you that, we’d have to kill you. as you can imagine, we’re tempted to tell you. but lets just say, the process was lengthy but rewarding. It has taken us quite a while to get this recording out, and we are pleased with the results. We are drunk on the juice made from the fruits of our labour.

3. What is your favourite lyrics on ‘Murder Made Sexy’?
“There’s no exceptions child, we all have our mistakes, as we get deeper down, we see the mess we’ve made, and we reap what we’ve sown, on judgement day. – March of the Blood

“then Johnny burns Betty with his – cigarette” – Good Luck, Johnny.

“come on, lets get creepy” – Murder made Sexy

4 Leith, you previously played in Life Of Mars and A Means To An End how does Fear Of Comedy compare to those bands?
Absolutely nothing beats being a frontman. But..If those bands didn’t exist, i wouldn’t have came to where i am now musically.. AMTAE was my first band, a band of best friends and those were the first songs i ever wrote. I did enjoy being the chief song writer and playing with a group of guys who were EXACTLY on the same page as me, I’ve found a fear of comedy to be a similar experience.

Life on Mars were great to have played with, all amazing people, looking back the songs were great and played exceptionally well, just a little too commercial for my tastes. I have many underground or cult music influences and so the music I make tends to be more of that nature.

5. What is the writing process of Fear of Comedy?
usually, either Jimmy Nightmare, Nathan the Knife or myself, will come up with the basic idea and riff of the song and pitch it to the rest of the band. if it fits in with the rest of our songs and at the same time as progresses our sound, then its a winner. we like to push our own envelopes. at the same time as refining our musical identity. nothing is sacred, we’re not confined to any particular genre, but we are concerned with keeping with what you’ve come to expect from Fear of Comedy. we’re only a few songs away from DEATH JAZZ, INDUSTRIALBILLY, GOTHIC MOTWON or a MEXICAN OPERA. we’re only happy if your head hurts.

6. What is the best part and worst part about being in Fear Of Comedy?
The best part is having an outlet for your daily frustrations.
The worst part is the band being a source of daily frustrations.

7. What do you like about Perth music, and what do you dislike?
There are plenty of great things going on in the Perth music scene. One thing i strongly believe is that Perth’s next big exports should come from our Punk, Psychobilly, Goth, Rockabilly, Metal and left of center bands, with a bit of support behind them they could reach a much larger market, regardless of whatever niche they are in. These bands ARE Perth music.

The pop, indie and soft rock scene in Perth and the world in general, just doesn’t interest me, hopefully I’m not alone there. I’m sure those bands are very talented and good at what they do, but i can only imagine how many other bands are jostling for positions in charts, all equally subliminally catchy, hooky, and jam packed with pop sensibility. That sort of music has had its time in the sun. as soon as its played in elevators, its time to try give something else a go.

We’ve already had U2, Coldplay and The Police..lets move on shall we? Its time for the underground to surface once and for all.

Also,here’s an idea, how about successful Perth bands “sponsor” a new up and coming band. to give them the support and the push they need to get somewhere themselves. you see it in the entertainment industry, directors giving new actors lead roles and having well known actors as supporting cast. its a vote of confidence, and whats the harm? are successful bands just greedy for fans? we’ll play anywhere, anytime, with anyone. so remember that.

8. Where did the band name come from?
Liam the Bloody first read the term ‘fear of comedy’ from an interview Michael Palin (of Monty Python) was giving on the nature of their show’s success. He used the term in reference to society’s apprehension to confront taboos and controversial subjects. The term rattled around in his head for a couple of years and when it came time to come up with a band name, Liam suggested Fear of Comedy and it stuck.

9. Favourite Perth bands?
Mile End should have been selling out shows years ago, so its only only a matter of time.

Tomas Ford will be a household name, and when he is, i can’t wait to see the shit he’ll pull on us.

Trash Madonna should and will be worshipped in the underground.

The list goes on to include Project Mayhem, Zxspecky, Suprise Sex Attack, Mongrel Country, Silkie Krusher & the Sex, Macarburettors, Capital City, Jacknives, New Husseins, Sex Panther and Sure Fire Midnights.

Oi! all you bands, give us more gigs or you’re in big trouble!

10. Myspace has become a massive networking website for bands. What do you think of it?
Myspace has been perfect for Fear Of Comedy, i mean we’ve got a friends list of 1038 users, and it grows every day. all your have to do is a leave a comment on somebody else’s myspace, have all their friends see it and then they end up adding you..if they like your sound that is. Myspace.com has helped us get fans around the world and with any luck that audience will continue to expand.

Since the mastered/final version of our tracks have been up we’ve had a total of 10454 plays. it’s also filled a gap for bands that can’t afford a .com, its now got to the point where we will be having fearofcomedy.com, but we’ll definitely be keeping the myspace site around.

Myspace has also helped me keep track of my favourite Perth bands. so its great. but not where business should be conducted. use the phone!

11. Launch Details?
Saturday 26th May at The Bakery, James Street Northbridge, from 8pm to 2am.

Joining Fear of Comedy on stage will be Tomas Ford, Mile End, The Macarburettors, Capital City and the Fear of DJ’s.

Tickets are $11 through Planet Video, Exotic Body Piercing and Red Stripe Clothing or $12 at the door.

Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/fearofcomedy