Jebediah, Rag N Bone & More Share Their Favourite In The Pines Memories

With RTRFM’s In The Pines hitting Somerville Auditorium at the end of the month with a star-studded line-up, we had a handful of local legends reminisce on past events.

Here’s why you don’t want to miss the 2017 event.

Name: Vanessa Thornton

Band/Role: Jebediah, Bass

Favourite In The Pines to date? 1996. It was the first year Jebs played I had never been to one before. We were playing a lot of shows around that time and I don't remember being any more excited than I would have been for any other gig. I was definitely transported to a very wonderful place when I arrived at Somerville Auditorium! A fantastic celebration of everything I loved about the music scene in Perth. I think Jebs played okay.

Best In The Pines memory? It's hard to think of In The Pines in terms of moments. It's even hard to think of In The Pines in a specific year; my memories kind of roll in and out of one year to the next. Wonderful memories! A general highlight though, would have to be the 20th Anniversary in 2013 (I think). I wasn't playing so all I had to do was enjoy the surrounds and watch some awesome bands that had reformed for the occasion. What a treat.

Name: Luke Pollard

Band/Role: Tangled Thoughts Of Leaving, Bass

Favourite In The Pines to date? 2011. The first year we got to play after years of hoping to be asked.

Best In The Pines memory? Hanging with all the bands we don't normally end up on bills with.

Name: Jeremy Holmes

Band/Role: Doctopus, Guitar

 "The magic of the radio."

Favourite In The Pines to date? Last year, didn't go but listened all day on the radio. Was the only person at North Perth Bowls Club when cousin Jacob Diamond's set started. Another cousin of mine showed up out of the blue and we sat outside, listening and talking about how great Jacob is and how much he had grown as a person/musician/artist. Great family hangs and chats continued throughout the day. The magic of the radio. We weren't there but still felt the In The Pines magic.

Name: Will Backler

RTRFM Program: Out To Lunch

Connection to the station: Music Coordinator & Production Coordinator

Favourite In The Pines to date? 2014, as it was my first as a volunteer with RTRFM and seeing the legendary Kill Devil Hills, who I had loved since first seeing them when I was 15.

Best In The Pines memory? A little (or a lot) narcissistic, but getting the chance to present from the Outside Broadcast at In The Pines as a relatively new presenter who wasn’t in a prime-time slot was an absolute thrill that will always be with me. Broadcasting alongside the amazing broadcaster and friend who is Tanya Bunter, coupled with Fait’s dreamy brand of shoegaze playing at the time made it all the more special.

Name: Jeff Strong

Band/Role: Jeff's Dead, Vocals/Guitar

Favourite In The Pines to date? I'm gonna say 2005.

Best In The Pines memory? I remember watching The Fuzz and seeing Doug play guitar and thinking, ‘What is he doing?’ Such an original player. I’m also thinking The Panics closed that night and I was just blown apart. Forever changed. 

Name: Tanaya Harper

Band/Role: Bells Rapids, Vocals

Best In The Pines memory? My favourite moment of In The Pines 2012, my very first year attending, was when I watched my good friends Pete, Ben and Mitch perform a set as Sonpsilo Circus after only being together for the better part of a year. 

The vibe was luscious, the audience were mesmerised and a solid crowd had formed front of stage. For whatever reason, the band mysteriously slipped out of sight shortly after this particular performance, so I hold this memory very close to my heart.

Name: Apple Bagios

Band/ RTRFM Program: Neither currently. Though I did moonlight on the ‘90s program, Siamese Dream, with the ultra-rad Shannon Jenkins for a time.

"Somerville truly is one of the most special spaces in Perth."

Connection to the station: I was RTRFM’s Marketing & Events Coordinator from 2014-15. I have no musical ability to speak of, but I will still gab about the station to anyone who’ll listen!

Favourite In The Pines to date? I’d have to say it was 2015, selfishly, because that was the year I coordinated the event and helped select the line-up. It was quite surreal for me because I think I’ve been to around a dozen ITPs over the years, and I never thought I’d one day be helping put one on.

For years I had the 2002 ITP blockmount on my wall that I’d bought, aged 17, from 78 Records with my allowance. It was a real honour to get to work on such an iconic event – Somerville truly is one of the most special spaces in Perth.

It may have also been the only ITP in which I was totally sober, so I experienced it in a whole new way. Watching bands like Methyl Ethel and Fait in that setting was just amazing.

Best In The Pines memory? Due to said inability to remain 100%, or even remotely, sober at past ITPs, my memories are fond but fuzzy. I remember watching Abbe May and getting drenched in torrential rain. I remember Felicity Groom’s amazing catsuit one year. I remember Tucker B’s playing in their funny little outfits with red lights on their heads. I remember watching The Sabre-Toothed Tigers (or maybe it was just The Tigers?) in the dirt and lovin’ it sick. Long live ITP!

Name: Jamie Gallacher

Band/Role: Rag N Bone, Drummer

Favourite In The Pines to date? Would be tough to not say 2014 as I was lucky enough to play that year alongside some great bands, but am going to go with 2016. Something about watching Peter Bibby performing in the rain to a drenched crowd (neither band or crowd phased by the weather) was pretty special - and who could forget watching Skullcave hypnotize everyone with their epic song Bleak earlier that day, hot damn. Ask me again next year and there's a good chance I'll say 2017 because that line-up is ridiculous!

Name: Ali Flintoff 
Band/Role: Dream Rimmy, Vocals/Guitar
Favourite In The Pines to date? 2012
Best In The Pines memory? Sonpsilo Circus set, one of the last times I saw them. RIP.

Check out theGuide for more info.