FBi Social - Saturday 20th August

Anyone with the slightest interest in independent music in Sydney loves FBi Radio, 94.5FM. It's an institution, run by the people for the people and has helped countless local bands get the break they needed and deserved. Well, not content with filling the city's airwaves with awesomeness, FBi also has a venue, meaning punters can get their fill of live talent too.

Saturday saw four Sydney acts take to the stage. Opening things up were female-fronted four-piece The Glimmer, who offered some country surf with a pop twist and the odd sea shanty thrown in for good measure. Their set boasted some seriously catchy tunes. Next up was the evening's highlight. The beautiful, bespectacled Caitlin Park (pictured, below), along with her drummer from Bobbysix's hometown of Brighton, served up intelligent, experimental lo-fi folk music laced with electronic elements. Despite battling against sound issues, she utilised samples and loops to fine effect. Park's songs were accessible while remaining interesting and nuanced. She is an artist certainly worth checking out.

In contrast to Park's understated delivery, March of the Real Fly's vocalist/drummer Cam Crew stood atop his stool, occasionally wandered around the stage and employed all manner of histrionics with a level of overconfidence that was kind of irritating at times. However, there is no doubting his relentless energy was the driving force behind a fun, American-influenced punk-pop set that had the biggest crowd of the night dancing. Keyboardist/percussionist/vocalist Anita Miles (pictured, top) bopped around twixt sweet indie uber-nerds Daniel Levett and Sam Clayton to create a dynamic so cute that you just wanted to put them in your pocket and take them home.

Whipped Cream Chargers, the night's headliners (above), perfectly dissected rock n roll swagger and cool disinterest. Frontman Sebastian Harrison-Naish was the prime example of this, with his rubber-legged hip-shaking belying a facial expression that suggested he might just doze off at any moment. He didn't though, and nor did the audience, who were treated to a typically excellent barrage of dirty psych-garage-swing-punk that brought proceedings to a suitably impressive close.

Four fine local acts for ten bucks? Nice one FBi.

The Preachers and Whipped Cream Chargers, Oxford Art Factory

Last week, Whipped Cream Chargers (above) showcased some songs from their upcoming debut album at Sydney's Oxford Art Factory. Theirs is a world of rolling tobacco, very late nights, long-necks, fine literature and op shops and, late on this rainy Thursday night, they bashed out tunes that shimmied and shook with a dirty rock 'n' roll groove. As always, we could probably have done without the disrobing of singer Sebastian, whose stage presence sometimes feels a little heavy on the histrionics, but, semi-naked males aside, it was a winning display from a very likable bunch. Their album is something to really look forward to. Read my interview with them here.

Before them, another up-and-coming Sydney band, The Preachers (above), played a fine set of rock 'n' roll country blues, with the duelling vocals of guitarist Gideon Benson and keyboardist Isabella Manfredi contrasting perfectly: the thunderous shudder of Benson and the calming rain of Manfredi. Their sound is like Fleetwood Mac being slapped repeatedly around the face by Tom Waits in some dirty, smoke-filled blues bar. Which is obviously pretty awesome. Learn more about The Preachers from my interview with them.

Getting To Know... Whipped Cream Chargers

In the latest from BobbySix.com's Getting To Know... series, Felix Fernando Gailey from Sydney six-piece Whipped Cream Chargers talks about Zelda, the local scene and fat cats in Japan:

I would describe Whipped Cream Chargers' sound as a cacophony of eager Princes, some more desperate than others, wooing Rapunzel, Zelda and the ghost of Princess Diana down from their share-house/ivory-tower/maxi-pad for spliffs and 2nd base.

We take inspiration from unrequited love (and the subsequent murder that ensues not long after), high/higher states of consciousness, natural tobacco, Iso brand cream cylinders, free meals, free beers and freedom.

It might surprise people to learn that in Japan, it is common folklore that when a cat becomes too fat, it runs the risk of growing an extra tail and transforming into its original being of a Demi-God. Aeons ago, the forces-that-be took the Cat God's power and enormous size and turned it into a pre-evolved critter. Subsequently, this mythos leads to innumerable euthanasia of fat cats all around japan.

Sydney is said to be worse than it actually is. In Sydney, it is necessary for a band to really put in the miles to survive given a lack of council and arts based endorsement. Rather than depending on that support, underground bands are pushed to solicit and promote themselves with the support of nobody else but each other. For example, Ping! is what one may consider a supergroup, consisting of members of Warhorse, Domeyko/Gonzalez, Danimals, Bridezilla, Whipped Cream Chargers, Dead China Doll and Arkestra. Its an absolute honor to associate and be down with these sick puppies (not the terrible band) in a city that I feel I like more than it likes me. There are then promoters who deserve honorable mentions for supporting and more-or-less carrying the weight of live music on their shoulders: the likes of Jasper Clifford-Smith (Chocolate Jesus), James Shirlaw (Double Dragon), Lucas George (Goodbye Sunshine Festival), Mikey Carr (Musicfeeds) and Mark Gerber (Oxford Art Factory). Nothing however, can or will redeem the shitty excuse for public transport in this city.

I wish Whipped Cream Chargers had written The Prophet by Kahil Gibran. Apparently it is used more frequently than any other book to get laid. Even more than The Game.

In five years time we'll all ascend to higher astral levels with the help of aliens, say some pseudo-scientists. If that doesn't eventuate, Sydney will be a bustling scene filled with squids and coral, The Blue Mountains will be a beach destination and the remaining living members of the Whippy C's will all be able to grow beards... hopefully.

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