Live Review: RTRFM Radiothon Party

Every August, RTRFM hosts its Radiothon subscription drive in the hopes of topping up its coffers for the upcoming year, and every year they throw a blow-out of a party across multiple venues in Northbridge. This year shows were held across five different venues with DJs and bands playing for the stations subscribers and the general public at large. Three venues hosted bands ranging in styles from psych-rock, indie, country to folk among others, while the remaining two hosted DJs from popular RTRFM radio shows and local DJ collectives.

Connections, currently sporting a "sideshow" theme, acted as an intimate lounge. Staff were sporting costumes ranging from clowns to fortune tellers while local favourites Andrew Sinclair and Rok Riley spun house and disco to warm up for the first guests. Over at Jimmy's Den, the shoebox venue was home to hard-hitting rock'n'roll. Despite featuring some of Perth's best rock bands, a strange, timid atmosphere hung in the air, with very little movement from fans. The Surf Rabbits played the small crowd with no boundaries as they jumped and crashed through their set. Smashing through their short, surf punk songs like there was no tomorrow, the band didn't miss a beat, with drummer Angie Boyce playing with perfect precision. The Surf Rabbits showcased such high levels of energy, with guitarist Dave Owen dropping to his knees multiple times to play around with the sound coming from his guitar, and expressing their gratitude to RTR FM for letting them open the party.

For those who wanted a more casual evening, the State Theatre Lounge was offering tasty cocktails in jars, comfortable couches and relaxing tunes. Woodstock Rock DJs played a collection of classic '60s rock while over at The Bird, an already swirling capacity crowd was experiencing Mugwump in all their glory. The five-piece kicked back and forth with a shifting sound of swampy psychedelic and upbeat surf rock, covered in both instrumental and vocal tracks. While still relatively fresh to a majority of the room, it was hard to spot a punter not immersed in the wild synth-pedal effects or railing guitar lines, and as Pond and King Gizzard are still the most tip of the tongue touring acts for wild garage psychedelic, Mugwump's party on stage had them speeding up fast. A swift serving of the pulsing beats of Lazy Bones mopped up the remaining few who hadn't yet succumbed to the blues-come-acid trip sounds for a perfect start to the night.

As the Connections decks were manned by the Splash Bros. who moved in a decidedly hypnotic tech direction (unfortunately still to a small crowd more interested in their beer than having a dance), the Lounge was playing everything from German krautrock to folktronica, courtesy of the Golden Apples DJs. With unashamed accents and tracks written of local tales, Verge Collection delivered a steady stream of jangly garage pop-rock. While they aren't massively energetic or particularly inspiring on stage, the group still pieced together a nice string of tracks with Sell Yourself To Me, Goin' Steady and Too Much About You getting the feet on the floor shuffling at The Bird.

Before PUCK had even begun their set, drummer and singer Liam Young had already chugged a beer out of a hat on the Jimmy's stage, because when you've won a West Australian Music award for best heavy metal act you can do just about anything. As the stoner doom band sauntered into opening track, Places To Go, the still relatively small crowd edged closer, heads banging along. With a sludgy bass line and a deep, buzzing guitar, PUCK were about as tight and refined as a stoner band can get. As Young drummed and sang at the same time — a task that can't be easy — energy came in bursts when he was free to hit the skins to his heart's content. But the laid-back vibe suited PUCK perfectly, with people slowly swaying along to their melodic tunes. As the trio played tracks from their split EP with FOAM, among them Eye Of The Day and Built On Guilt, Young's monotone voice was hypnotising, slow and dragged out, grabbing hold of you and forcing you to listen.

Downstairs in the State Theatre Studio Underground was where the live action was taking place. A small, raised platform acted as stage while a selection of Perth's best new and established acts entertained an ever-growing crowd. Up first was brother-sister act Heathcote Blue. Mixing acoustic guitar, violins and vocal harmonies, plus some strange instrument that looked like the bastard child of a recorder and a bassoon, this duo played a style of melancholic folk that enthralled all present. Songs about sticks and stones and telephones blended with musical renditions of William Blake poetry. It was delicate music with great heart.

Catlips was finally able to get the Connections dance floor going, with an impromptu fashion show breaking out as a group of girls vogued and strutted up and down the catwalk-like stage to 808 snare rushes and bubbling acid synths. Meanwhile, The Spunloves delivered sharply with fill-in Mt. Mountain skinsman Thomas Cahill back at The Bird. The duel vocal delivery of David Vulin and Jordan Zupanovich dripped in a '90s lo-fi garage pop vibe that instantly pleased the room with a contagious shimmy beat. Playing largely from their recently launched EP, they banged through Chlorine Eyes, She Is You and Tall Tale Blues in three-minute bombs of energy, peppering their timeslot with some fresh cuts in a slightly more frantic Brit-pop style, highlighted by the sprightly Satellite Susan.

Next up was Pat Chow, their bouncy, indie rock hooking the Den crowd in from the get-go. They're another trio that produce an insane amount of noise, with twisting riffs and bass lines that alternate between light and bright to thick and heavy, creating an amazing set full of variety. Pat Chow slowed things down on Outta Words, the track exhibiting a more laid-back and relaxed vibe, a nice break between their quick and punchy songs. The trio picked the pace up for Bad Thoughts, with frontman Ben Protasiewicz unleashing his hair so he could head-bang properly. Sporting a mint-green guitar, Protasiewicz demanded your attention, looking around the room during I Won't Go, a smooth, pretty song that captured the hearts of the crowd. This was a much tamer set than Pat Chow fans are used to; perhaps the band were still recovering from their monster show with Tired Lion last week, where Protasiewicz repeatedly smashed his guitar into the stage. Despite the lack of destruction, Pat Chow's set was polished and mesmerising.

Playing on the back of a recently released 7", The Leap Year are a band with an interesting sound for the underground crowd. Elements of shoegaze and indie rock weave into a distinctly Aussie pub rock sensibility. With intense vocal delivery and confessional-style lyrics, it was reminiscent of early Placebo, but with more flannel and less PVC and leather. Finally The Monarchy DJs took over as the Connections party was in full swing, keeping the party going as regulars filed in for the first of the evening's drag performances, while the {MOVE} DJs provided a selection of house and classic soul that they're renowned for to send off the night's festivities at The Lounge. J

immy's Den was still roaring however with punk band Scalphunter crashing onto the stage and instantly launching into Bleeding Out, with heavy chest reverberation being felt throughout. After only a few minutes on stage, singer Steve Knoth threw himself into the crowd in an attempt to get people involved. Fans' eyes lit up as Steve grabbed them around the shoulders, pulling them in tight and dishing out high fives. Those that had never seen Scalphunter before were caught unaware, a little intimidated by his abruptness. Knoth's attempts eventually paid off, with the smallest mosh pit forming in the centre of the floor. Scalphunter screamed through tracks from their numerous EPs, including Ceramic Souls and Keepers Of The Night, with crashing cymbals and erratic riffs. They dedicated their latest single, Best Of Me, to RTR FM, saying how much it meant to them that they get to play at the fundraising party.

The next act for the Underground, a long-standing Perth favourite, probably owe RTR FM more than most for their success by fostering the kind of bands WA is famous for. Red Jezebel has been a part of the local music scene for nearly two decades, and with the release for their first new album in nearly eight years, a look around the room saw faces that undoubtedly would have watched them in the back room of the Grosvenor, the Hydey front room or even upstairs at 78's. Now the elder statesmen and no longer the young upstarts, The Jez can nonetheless still rock — hard. Playing tracks off their new LP, Coup De Grace, as well as classics from their back catalogue, this is a band you can tell live for the music, as the joy they projected washed over the crowd.

Jimmy's Den was still remarkably empty as The Love Junkies came on stage, despite the trio selling out shows around Perth. With a throbbing, chunky bass line and squealing guitar, The Love Junkies ripped through their set, playing much-loved songs Television, Oxymoron and more. Despite their aggressive sound usually starting violent mosh pits, tonight's crowd remained relatively calm, jumping around with minimal shoving. Even as bassist Robbie Rumble teased the start of their shortest and heaviest song, When I'm Lookin' In The Mirror…, only a small group attempted to start a circle pit. The Love Junkies proved they've come a long way, with technical hiccups brushed aside. Drummer Lewis Walsh, who went absolutely insane during Baby Come Home, dropped numerous drumsticks but seamlessly picked up the next without dropping a beat. Somehow Mitch McDonald's guitar became unplugged halfway through the bouncy Black Sheep Blues, but instead of freaking out McDonald laughed it off, singing the verse sans-guitar and scatting as people attempted to plug him back in. The Love Junkies have harnessed a loyal group of fans over the years and tonight the crowd sang along during Maybelene, leaving a big grin on McDonald's face.

Finally it was time for the The Kill Devil Hills to take the Underground stage as the night's final act. The band now expanded to a six-piece, the tiny stage was crammed with equipment and swagger. Here for easily one of Perth's most popular acts, there seemed to be people constantly swarming down the stairs as the band sound-checked. Clad in boots, plaid and cowboy hats, the band present the image and sound of the American west. Alt-country, blues and rock'n'roll were all on the menu, but with the Hills' own original spin. The crowd really responded, especially to their more popular tracks, Heathen Song and Changin' The Weather among them — we patiently await their fourth full-length, due some time in 2016. With five venues, over 20 bands and DJs, and probably enough booze to float a battleship, RTR FM have put on a hell of a show as well as filling our airwaves with local tunes in one way or another for over 30 years, so dig deep and show some appreciation to help keep local music strong.