Perth Music

Just as they are about to start another national tour, I talked to Dan from Gyroscope about how the little band from Perth has been able to record their new album Are You Involved? with legendary producer Mark Trombino in LA.

“It seemed like it was meant to be. We were getting ready to record in Perth just like we did with our first record but Mark Hoppus liked one of our EP’s and it just went on from there. Mark (Trombino) had a few things that fell through and we were lucky enough to be able to work with him. We sent him some demo’s kind of as a joke, but after he received them he didn’t say yes, but he didn’t say no. It was an awesome experience and his talents, I believe, show on this record.”

Gyroscope have matured into a band that have grown up personally and musically in the last 5 years. Their debut album Sound Shattering Sound was released last year and included rock anthems Doctor, Doctor, Safe Forever, Take This For Granted and Midnight Express. “We wrote 12 songs for that album, we recorded 12 songs for that album and then we released 12 songs for that album. We didn’t really expect anything else, where as for the new record we recorded 24 songs and have 12 for the album and 12 left over.”

Listening to the radio these days it seems like every 2nd song is from a Perth band. I asked Dan if he thought there was a particular Perth sound or if there was a reason why so many Perth bands were getting successful.
“I think Perth has such a close knit community when it comes to the music scene. Most Perth bands are friends with other Perth bands and I’d say we probably challenge and learn from each other. I guess it might be because Perth is so isolated that we influence each other and that can only be a good thing when it comes to the music coming out at the moment.”

Gyroscope have one of the most powerful on-stage presence that Perth has produced and the boys love it. “We love to see the crowd actually back away from the stage. We don’t want to scare the crowd but just to see a reaction is great. If we have the passion for a song then we want that to show and hopefully for the audience to feel what we feel.” It seems that when Gyroscope play a show, they want the audience to be involved and what you should be asking yourself is Are You Involved?

The new album Are You Involved? will be out on September 25th and can you can buy it through FMR and the fist single Fast Girl is on the radio now. More info at http://www.gyroscope.com.au/

Q. There is alot of interest in Perth bands and Perth music at the moment, do you think there is a particular Perth sound and is it very different from bands from the Eastern States?

A. I’m not sure you can say there is a “Perth sound”, so many bands in Perth are doing very different things just like anywhere else. I think people tend to reference the bands that are getting airplay at the moment. In a way you could say Eskimo Joe, Steve Parkin, Little Birdy, End Of Fashion and The Aveunes do have similarities in some way! We’re all close friends, we all like similar music, we all write and play music together and have all recorded at Debaser! It is a rare thing to have such a tight knit group of very talented people in one place. Yet it’s our musical differences that make us, together and individually, strive further and hopefully always better.

Q. What bands have had the greatest influence on you and who are your favourite bands at the moment both from Perth and from elsewhere?

My earliest influences would obviously have been my parent’s records. Cliff Richard, Abba, The Police, U2 and anything else I could get my hands on. My Dad would always play his Dire Straits, Phil Collins and Eric Clapton records, so that’s drummed in somewhere! Since then it’s been more pop based, Beatles, Beach Boys, Nirvana, Radiohead, Supergrass, Blur and so on. Right now I am so into Spoon, great clever songs, incredible production I love it!

Q. You have been touring a lot recently, has it helped the band in writing new songs and perfecting the current ones? Does the touring tire the band at all or does the fact that you are playing shows all over the place keep the blood pumping?

Nothing beats touring for us at the moment, we just get better and better at adapting to any room and any crowd, which we feel is vital to making any good band! We just did a four shows in four states run, driving! Pretty intense, we were up at five every morning to get to the next town, do interviews, straight into the show, a quick pack up then home for 3 hours sleep. At the end we felt we could’ve gone another 3 weeks! When you love playing live it’s awesome!

You definitely change the way you play a song after a year. Even if it is just the little accent here and there, our songs keep feeling better than ever to play.

Writing is a different story. We do that at home, at my house with an acoustic or the jam room, in the room there is always a big effort not to fall into the straight rock format and soft loud thing! We want to see what other beats and crazy things we can put to those 3 chords!

Q. Eagles or Dockers?

Eagles!!!!!!!!!

Q. Has it been difficult with the line-up changes that have happened? Do you feel betrayed that Nick left the band to play drums with End Of Fashion?

Not at all, as I said before we all support each other. Nick is a Rock & Roll Pig! He smashes the drums and has the Dave Grohl thing down to a tee. It’s so good for EOF.. perfect even! He got to go to America and record an album with them and we’re all so proud and happy for him, he’s worked fuckin’ hard!

When he left we were lucky enough (Geez I Love Perth!) to have the likes of Mal (Sleepys), Hobbs (EOF) and Joel (Eskies) filling in on drums till we found the right guy for The Avenues, and that man is Shaun Sibbes. It took us a while to find him but he’s perfect for us. He can play anyway, anyhow, anywhere. Smashing the crap out them to gentle and elegant! We are heading away from the straight rock thing and now we have the drummer to help push us there! He listens to the music, the feel, the lyrics and smarts his fills around it, a great musical ear and one hell of a guy to boot!

Q. What is your favourite live music venue in Perth? Do you prefer small pub shows with a small audience or bigger shows with lots of people cheering you on?

I would have to split that between the Amplifier and The Rosemount! Very different vibes but both great fun! As long as there is some form of connection, I love a big venue show also. I’m always more than happy to sling my guitar around on any stage really!

Q. When playing live shows, is it important to make every show a spectacle or does it just happen naturally. Do you feed off the crowd’s reaction or do you try to create a reaction?

A great crowd reaction makes for an easy show, it just flows, you feel like king of the world, and that’s what you give the crowd back. If the crowds not so good you still give the same, possibly more, but it does feels like you’re working harder to do it!

Q. What is the song writing process for the band? Do you write the lyrics and music together or one first and then the other?

Both, it’s all about the vocal melody! I never used to write my lyrics till last but now I find I am writing them first or if I get a slight melody I will grab a pen and quickly get a few lines out. Cain is great with lyrics. It’s easy for him. The two EP’s have been quick written songs, straight up a spades a spade kinda thing. But now we are constantly seeking other options for strumming, riffs and beats!

Q. The Perth music scene seems to have a very tight knit community. Do you think that is why the bands coming from Perth at the moment are all so good?

I’m Sure it helps, as I said earlier everyone is always involved, socially and musically. Inadvertently pushing each other to write better songs. Perth really is blessed with very talented songwriters and musicians and that stands for itself!

Q. Good luck with your upcoming shows with Motor Ace and I believe The Royal Show. Will we see an Avenues showbag sometime soon?

Thankyou very much we never can wait to be on that stage again. The showbag? Well… I’ll get Cain to organize a random assortment of his pharmaceuticals and we’ll sell it cheaper than a Berty Beatle bag!