SE BON KI RA
by Michael Wickham

“As a band we tend to think about things a bit more,” Se Bon Ki Ra drummer Sven Hentschel explains. “We’re not just about decapitated bodies and strewn body parts or a Norse demi-god with a trident on the cover. We’re definitely more thoughtful and try to get a bit of intelligence out there.”
This is a very true statement; it is rare to find a band – let alone a local independent band – that has the same sense of spirituality that these local metallers do.
The name itself [Se Bon Ki Ra] is a Haitian phrase that means ‘Good is Scarce’.
“I think it is a very poignant phrase and very true in today’s world,” Sven muses. “You don’t find a lot of goodness or kindness in people around you but if you take the time to stop and take in your surroundings I think you can find it. I think it is the same with music as well, especially the Adelaide metal scene. A lot of people write the scene off and if people just stop they can find the goodness in the scene.”
It doesn’t take much of a look to find the good in Se Bon Ki Ra and their new EP will hopefully showcase that.
“Recording was a long process; we tracked the drums and didn’t do anything for four months and then recorded the guitars and didn’t do anything for three months. So while it was 10 months of recording we really did it in the last two months. So we just kinda went, ‘Hey - we need to set a date’ and kinda pushed ourselves. We learnt a lot as well – pre-production is a really important thing that we’ll focus on for next time.”
The launch of the EP, 1000 Ways To Be, falls on Sat Jul 4 – American Independence Day.
“We didn’t choose it for Independence Day but you know; independent release on Independence Day and we’re going to party like we are going to lose our independence, it’s all there,” Hentschel laughs. “The title track is actually my favourite song to play live at the moment. It has this great progression, with the acoustic intro and then the metal riff. The singing doesn’t come in till about two-and-a-half minutes in. I like that sort of progression in music where you can feel it build – it’s kinda like foreplay.”
It wouldn’t be the first time that Se Bon Ki Ra have had a great time at a performance. At the Big Day Out in 2006 the boys enjoyed themselves throughout the day.
“It was a good turn out, we really enjoyed it. We were the only band so pretty much we were drunk before midday and drank everyone else’s rider,” Sven brags. “It was awesome.”
Se Bon Ki Ra launch 1000 Ways To Be at Adelaide Uni Bar on Sat Jul 4 with Double Dragon and Isaw.

ABLACKWELL
by Robert Dunstan

ABlackwell (cartooned here by Sean Kemp with Kirsten Glover on the right) is a new project for Kemp who plays drums with Booster and acoustic guitar alongside brother Dru in The Kemp Brothers. He’s about to launch a single, Blame, as ABlackwell which, time permitting, will be followed by an album later in the year.
“Blackwell is my mother’s maiden name. It’s our Cornish family name and the ‘A’ is for Angove which is on my mum’s mum’s side of the family. I just put the two together.
“And I’m using a pseudonym because everyone does it and Blame is also very different to what I do with Booster or with The Kemp Brothers. It was Craig [Lewis] who encouraged me to do it but it partly came about from when I was playing drums one night for Your Motive For and the support act didn’t turn up so I got up and did a solo spot on acoustic guitar. It was the first time I realised I could actually do it on my own. I knew I could sit in my lounge and do it but I didn’t know if I could pull it off in front of an audience.”
Seanfeatures alongside Kirsten Glover on Blame.
“I figured out early on that my voice sounds better when it’s accompanied by someone else,” Sean says. “Kirsten has been a long-term friend and had just parted ways with her own band, Colorblind, so she jumped at the chance to come and record with me and play live as well.”
Blame is a very dreamy kind of offering.
“Isn’t it?” Sean readily agrees. “I’ve been saying to everyone that it’s ‘dreamy’ and most of the songs I write are coming out that way. Someone said they are a bit hypnotic because I have that rhythmic side of my brain which comes from my drumming but I marry it up with my dreamy songs. I’m not influenced by that kind of music at all but that’s how it comes out for ABlackwell.
“And I guess, in a way, I’ve always been a bit of a daydreamer. Only at appropriate times of course.”
Sean, who suggests he spends more time on music than he does on seeking a prospective life-partner, says guitarist and producer Craig Lewis has been a great help.
“He’s really helped me to realise what I can do. Craig taught me how to do everything on Blame, apart from Kirsten and my brother who adds a Spanish guitar part. And recording has now become second nature to me. It doesn’t always work but I can easily flick a switch and click the mouse and I’ve got something. And because I can play five or six instruments, I can imagine how each instrument should sound. The only thing I can’t do is play lead guitar.”
The musician says he already has two albums worth of ABlackwell material.
“It’s just a matter of finding time to record them properly. We’re talking about doing another Booster album soon and Dru and I are taking The Kemp Brothers interstate in July for a tour.
“So ABlackwell will be an on and off thing, but it serves as another musical outlet for me,” Sean concludes.
ABlackwell will launch Blame at the Grace Emily on Thu Jul 2 with help from Kirsten Glover, Dru Kemp and Bluejay Belles (an acoustic duo featuring Hana of Ricochet Pete and Elly Kennedy).

LOCAL HYPE

THE THREE OF US AND THE LITTLE STEVIES
What do you get when you cross Adelaide’s The Three Of Us with Melbourne’s The Little Stevies? A night of delightful harmonies, sweet songs and smiles – that’s what. To find out if this equation really is true (which, it is...) head along to the Wheatsheaf on Fri Jul 3. Bring your mum and your mates (or both). Doors at 8pm. Chec k out <myspace.com/xxthethreeofusxx> or <myspace.com/thelittlestevies>.

LIFE LIKE AT THE PROMETHEAN
If you’re not up to much and want to introduce the start of your weekend to a night full of Adelaide’s finest rock then be sure to join Life Like as they rock out The Promethean, 116 Grote St, on Fri Jul 3. Doors at 8pm with a $7 entry. They will be supported acoustically by Tulsa (The Borderland) and Luke (Day On Fire). Check out their tunes at <myspace.com/lifelikemusic>.

MATT REINER & THE AUNT SALLYS 
Having recently sold all of their CDs at PVH Records, Matt Reiner & The Aunt Sallys have shipped a second consignment of their debut demo Two Songs to the indie Melbourne label for people to buy! Head to <pvhrecords.com> to get yourself a copy! Be sure to also dash to the Rhino Room on Fri Jul 3 to catch the Aunt Sallys along with Jay Walker & The Pedestrians. Music starts after 10.30pm once the Friday night comedy acts finish. Heaps good.

HILLS & TRAINS
If you like a Tom Petty versus Ryan Adams sound you'll be quite happy that new Adelaide outfit Hills & Trains have spent the past few months refining their three singer songwriter mess down to such a sound. Hills & Trains are a new outfit featuring Jess Atkinson (The Project, The Pod and White Montana), Curtis McKay (She Said You and Rustflower), Travis Dragani (Maeder, The Saucermen, The Project and Six Hours) along with Charlie Carroll. Check out their debut at the Grace Emily on Fri Jul 3.

NIKAI SUPPORTED BY PETE WILSON
Local three-piece folk pop outfit Nikai created quite a bit of interest with when they performed their sweet folk tunes to a large and appreciative crowd at Scorcherfest at Higher Ground in April. Nikai are Sophie Mckay (guitar and vocals), Brittany (bass and vocals) and Dusty Stephenson (drums) and they will return to the stage on Sat Jul 4 July to perform at Gilbert St’s Brunswick Hotel. Supporting Nikai will be Pete Wilson who has just started work on his debut CD which he hopes will see the light of day later in 2009. The music kicks off from around 8pm and it’ll all be wrapped up by around 11pm.

DIRTY SUITE
Young, energetic rock band from Dirty Suite are going from strength to strength with the recent addition of Tyson Bradock on vocals, combined with hard rock-influenced guitar, and hard-hitting bass and drums, the quartet are in their finest form yet. Recently recording their unbelievable three track demo at Northern Sound System, Dirty Suite have demonstrated that their music is and will continue to be world class. Be at Crown & Anchor on Sun Jul 26 from 5pm for an all-ages gig to see the boys unleash their three-song demo with support from Burn Collect, May Queen and Refuge From Reno.

TAFE SONGWRITING STUDENTS
TAFE Noarlunga songwriting students have been working with singer songwriter Robyn Habel this semester and have penned some top songs. From pop and rock through to jazz, blues and cabaret, this is a diverse and fabulous group of tunes and performers. Eight TAFE students, along with Robyn, will be performing for SCALA at The Joiners Arms, 9 Manton St, Hindmarsh, from 9pm on Sat Jul 4. See tomorrow’s best now!

HILLTOP HOODS
Congratulations to Adelaide hip hop trio Hilltop Hoods on reaching gold record sales and debuting at number one on the ARIA Album Charts for their new masterpiece State Of The Art. The album is the highest selling Australian album of 2009 to date.

4aM AND DAVE EVANS
Adelaide rock outfit 4aM have been chosen to support Dave Evans, the original voice of AC/DC, , for the South Australian leg of his upcoming tour. 4aM released their debut EP in 2000 and have been regulars on the SA circuit for 17 years. If a night of rock is what you’re after head to Old Clarendon Inn on Fri Jul 24, Cavern Club on Sat Jul 25 or Governor Hindmarsh on Sun Aug 30.

CHARACTER JAM’S SHEILA POWER
Witness Adelaide’s most hilarious female characters in action at Higher Ground on Thu Jul 2 as Character Jam brings you Sheila Power. Hosted by the outrageously funny Granny Flaps and featuring a mix of stand-up, puppetry and demented cabaret with such acts as Liza Truth, Cervixavier Smear and Rhonda Hangover you are bound to be in fits of laughter.

LAURA HILL AND CAL WILLIAMS JR
Laura Hill and Cal Williams Jr and their bands will play at the prestigious Trinity Sessions on Fri Jul 10. The artists have played all sorts of venues around town but this gig will be the opportunity to hear music from both of their recent, and well received, CDs in concert mode, where the focus is on the artists and their music. Laura Hill and her band the Tuesday Bandits are three times winners of The South Australian Songwriter Of The Year award and Cal Williams Jr has recently completed his album Morning Star to exceptional reviews. Don’t miss this amazing night of local music.