DOUBLE DRAGON
by Shayne Charlesworth
After releasing their EP Scars Of Fire in 2006, local metal heroes Double Dragon have had a bumper couple of years. The band has spread its profile in the eastern states and also chalked up support slots with the likes of Arch Enemy, Mastodon and a national tour with Sweden’s Soilwork.
The band has just unleashed their first full-length album in Devastator, so Rip It Up caught up with guitarist Matthew ‘Roady’ Johnston to discuss the album and some of the highlights of the last 18 months, which includes the 2007 Big Day Out and a show with metal legends Slayer.
“The build-up and anticipation up to the Big Day Out was a great feeling and it’d all petered out about an hour after we’d played but that set was one of the best experiences we’ve had,” Johnston begins. “A lot of people would’ve seen us for the first time and it was the biggest show we’ve ever played too - we definitely played to a lot of people that wouldn’t normally come to local shows here. We felt really appreciative to be playing with Slayer and I remember having a smoke with the guy from Mastodon standing a couple of feet away from Kerry King while he’s playing - they’re the kind of moments you really take in.”
After a slew of touring the band settled down to write and record Devastator, although it sounds as if things came down to the wire in terms of writing the songs before recording their opus at both Adelaide Uni’s studio and a set-up at Johnston’s home with producer Ian Miller. The guitarist describes Devastator as a ‘loose’ concept album.
“Since Scars Of Fire had come out we’d only really had one song and then we’d spend most of the last two years touring, so the process started off pretty slowly and we really finalised all the tracks in the last few weeks,” said Johnston. “Dan [Murtagh, ex Enemy Of] had access to the recording suite at Adelaide Uni and recorded the drums there and most of the rest of the stuff was recorded at my house, basically in my spare room. The thing we did was borrow the best equipment from our friends to create the sounds that we did with Ian [Miller].
“It wasn’t intended as a concept album but it’s come together as this evil guy who is the devastator, he’s kinda like the bad guy in all of us put together and he’s from Adelaide,” explains Johnston with a laugh. “The lyrics in the Devastator track at the start is all about what it’s like being in a band and about the hedonistic lifestyle that sometimes can happen and runs through other stuff like suicide, relationships and drugs, but the songs all tell different stories that all trace back to this evil character.
“Basically the concept of it was to make a heavy metal album that honours the genre and all the great things about traditional heavy metal. That was the concept really, to make a classic metal album in the vein of Iron Maiden, Judas Priest and Pantera that really honours these bands.”
Double Dragon play with A Red Dawn on Fri Jul 25 at Enigma Bar. Devastator is available now through Truth Inc Records.

COOPERS ALIVE
by Robert Dunstan

AUSMUSIC SA and MusicSA, in conjunction with Coopers, are about to present Coopers Aive as original live music showcases to be held over two nights. The showcases will highlight a dozen diverse local acts (The Shiny Brights, Mad Shapes, Former Child Stars, Lumonics, BrotherSister, Mr Wednesday, Shadows, Social Change, A Devil Amongst The Tailors (pictured), Cookie Baker, The Fiddle Chicks and Huckleberry Swedes) at four local live music venues (Jive, Jade Monkey, Crown & Sceptre and Wheatsheaf).
We speak over the telephone to Gordon Anderson, Industry Development Officer with MusicSA, and ask how the event has come about.
“I guess it’s been in the planning stages for close to a year, but has really come together over the last few months,” he says. “We officially launched it a couple of months back but, in terms of pulling together the sponsors, venues, bands and all the different aspects, it’s been a while in the making.”
How were the acts chosen?
“This is a pilot – the first one - so that was done by MusicSA and AUSMUSIC SA although I did consult with PJ Murton [manager of Hilltop Hoods] and Carclew Youth Arts to get some feedback. And we also consulted the venues [Jive, Jade Monkey, Crown & Sceptre and Wheatsheaf] that we wanted to work with to get bands to suit those venues so that we could pretty much assure we had four sold out shows. So once we’d chosen the four headline acts, we kind of worked backwards to pick bands that would all work well together.
“And there were so many good line-ups in so many different genres that this year we didn’t have an opportunity to touch on the blues and roots scene or the various metal scenes or even the straight-ahead rock acts,” Gordon adds.
Coopers Brewery are committed to the event for the next three years and Gordon is optimistic that Coopers Alive will become bigger and better.
“Out aim is to introduce local acts to bigger and bigger audiences and I wouldn’t be surprised if Coopers Alive grows to the point where we can consider using larger venues or even having an outdoor event with multiple stages.”
MusicSA’s Industry Development Officer concludes by saying that the event is bookended by workshops.
“We wanted to give all the acts the biggest marketing push we could so we had a marketing workshop – publicity and all that - and after the event we’ll hold an evaluation workshop where we can take in all the feedback from the bands to see if it worked for them. They can have a say about what worked and what didn’t and how it can be done better.”
Coopers Alive happens on Fri Jul 25 at Jive with Former Child Stars (11pm), Mad Shapes (10pm) and The Shiny Brights (9pm) and Jade Monkey with Lumonics (9.30pm), BrotherSister (10.30pm) and Mr Wednesday (11.30pm) and on Sat Jul 26 at the Wheatsheaf with Cookie Baker (9pm), The Fiddle Chicks (9.55pm) and Huckleberry Swedes (10.50pm) and Crown & Sceptre with The Shadows (10.15pm) Social Change (11.30pm) and A Devil Amongst The Tailors (12.45pm). Entry to each venue is $10.

LOCAL HYPE

TRANSMISSION LIVE
Rock up to The Edinburgh Castle on Fri Jul 25 from 10pm where the indie kids and the band scene come together for one cranking party! Come see the next wave of upcoming Adelaide bands as selected for you by Transmission LIVE! There will be sets from Kytes Of Omar, It’s Warsaw! and Mayday Fair, with tunes to keep the party moving until late supplied by Transmission DJs. Over the last four months a lot of Adelaide’s best bands have played at Transmission LIVE! And this month they are giving away copies of Transmission LIVE! Volume 1 CDs featuring material from the all the bands. Everyone’s welcome at the Transmission Party!

THE IRRESPONSIBLES
The stage is set, the lights are lit and the wait is finally over as The Irresponsibles launch their debut EP. Beginnings. at Live On Light Square (formally Night Train) on Sat Jul 26. The party kicks off at 8.30pm with groovers Dexter Jones, followed by an extended set by The Irresponsibles including some brand new song. Good friends Tall Order will be capping off the evening with some fist-pumpin’ rock. Entry is just $8, or $15 with an exclusively signed copy of Beginnings included and there will be a few special prizes on the night too! The best news is the EP will be available from Big Star after the launch for those who can’t make it. See you there!

JIVE’S TURNING FIVE!
Sat Aug 2 - it’s the place to be as Jive celebrates five years of live original music. The Cat Empire, Eskimo Joe, Missy Higgins, The Grates, Xavier Rudd and Josh Pyke are just some of the acts who’ve graced Jive’s stage over the last five years and, to celebrate its birthday, Jive’s throwing a huge party with hot local bands Special Patrol, The Trafalgars, The Beards and John Woods, plus Mildura’s rockin’ two-piece Jackson Firebird. That’s five bands for just five bucks! But wait! There’s more! Foreshore will also take to the stage to launch their rebirth as Galleon, and your host J-Wah will be giving away loads of door prizes. Jive is also unveiling its new line of merchandise with T-shirts and stubby holders up for grabs. It all kicks off from 8pm so get there early to avoid disappointment.

POETIKOOL JUSTICE AND TZU
After a well received tour of Melbourne, Poetikool Justice are back in town to support TZU at Electric Light Hotel for two shows on Sat Jul 26 and Sun Jul 27. Wowing the nation with the recent release, Ground Level, heard on Nova and Community Radio stations across Australia and N.Z. Poetikool Justice have been mixing it up with the likes of Good Buddha, Peter Combe, Nicky Bomba and Direct Influence. TZU are touring the nation with their new album, Computer Love, heard all over Triple J and the Melbourne outfit are stoked to have the South Aussie funk and hip hoppers, PJ, warming up the stage. Check out <myspace.com/wearetzu> for more details.

FORESHORE = GALLEON
From the ashes of a certain South Australian based band, namely Foreshore, has emerged a new outfit known as Galleon. This fresh-faced quartet produce an eclectic sound of melodic indie rock and are set to represent South Australia as part of the Jack Daniel’s JD Set among bands from around Australia. Voting commences Mon Jul 21, so vote for Galleon to represent Adelaide on a national tour in September! By voting you enter the competition to win tickets and backstage passes, too! Check out <thejdset.com.au>.

UNI BAR
After getting some stage time under their belts with a brand new line-up, local rockers Fear In Dakota are turning the heat up for August with a Friday night headline show at the Adelaide Uni Bar on the Fri Aug 1. With long time guitarist Barry Elliot recently stepping up to lead vocals for the first time, and newcomer Greg McNamara adding some fresh fire to the mix, the band have taken a fresh look at their set list and are getting ready to hit the studio to deliver what will be a landmark EP for the Fear. Supporting the lads are young guns Raw Ether and Your Motive For. Doors will open at 5pm with a DJ spinning discs to get the party started, and the bands will kick off at 8.30pm, so make your way to the Uni Bar and support local music!

THE SHINY BRIGHTS
Well it seems that Adelaide indie kids The Shiny Brights are on a roll. After recently announcing that they’ll be jetting off to the US for some industry showcases in October, they now have news that they’ve been offered the support slots for both of The Wombats shows at The Governor Hindmarsh Hotel on Wed Jul 30 and Thu Aug 7. The Shiny Brights are becoming quite familiar with The Gov’s stage as they’ve also chosen the iconic Adelaide venue to launch their debut EP Let’s Not And Say We Did on Sat Aug 30. Head along and support our local talent before they head off to the US!

FRAUD MILLIONAIRES AND WATUSSI
Get on down to Live on Light Square on Fri Jul 25 to catch up with Watussi and Fraud Millionaires. Fresh from the release of their second studio album Speak Easy, Fraud Millionaires have exploded onto Triple J and Nova with their singles Westside Love and Catfish, which blend elements of reggae, ska and rock. After playing to 8,000 people at this year’s WOMADelaide, Watussi have taken the mantle of one of Australia’s leading world music acts. Combine the two bands on the same bill and you’ll be in for one hell of a night of dancing and good times. Doors open at 8.30pm and the cost is only $18. Be early as this will no doubt sell out!

DOUBLE MONKEY ACTION
If you’re keen to discover some new local, South Australian talent, then make sure that you get to Jade Monkey on Thu Jul 24. Monkey Puzzle Tree are an instrumental group who infuse classical music with a contemporary blend of jazz, blues and tango primarily through world music influences, and who will be showcasing their stuff. Head along and support our musical talent. Also scrub up on your knowledge of the outfit by checking out <myspace.com/monkeypuzzletreeadelaide>.