Big Day Fourplay

 For most Australian music lovers, Big Day Out is an initiation ceremony into the sweat, sunscreen, sunburn, vicarious drug trips, and (of course) the sound of a live music festival. Big Day Out can be a sensory overload not only for first-time attendees, but for first-time performers. Drum caught up with four of Perth's most promising live acts, and put together a brief cheat-sheet on WA's contribution to what is probably this country's most established live music phenomenon.

The Chemist have been long-time favourites of local music fans for years, and their down-to-earth approach to music making is a big part of that appeal. They play at 4.15pm on the Red Stage. Frontman Ben Witt suggested we listen to Star Wars backwards.

Give us a brief history of The Chemist.

We've been jamming for around four years, playing jams across this island studying nocturnal behaviour. We've relocated and returned, and are still impatiently waiting for the release of a record.

Your new single is called Spray Paint Or Praise. Can you tell us a bit more what it's about?

A desensitised man trying to inspire an emotional murmur via the ultra-loose handbook.

Who put together your video for the single? Where'd you get the writhing Bond girl silhouettes?

This one was DIY with a webcam for the most part. A zero-budget joint. My friend Mal helped me project the clip twice onto a carpark wall, one with the light being obstructed by dancing and one without. Then we combined those two pieces of footage. I met the girl at the water slides.

What album should we be listening to in preparation for Big Day Out?

Star Wars soundtrack in reverse.

What's the weirdest Big Day Out experience you've ever had?

I met a man with garbage-can hands.

What advice would you give to someone who's going to Big Day Out for the first time?

Shave your face with some mace in the dark, try the veal and don't question emails requiring your bank details.

Big Day Art

Congratulations to Blair Sayer for winning Street Press Australia's 2013 Big Day Art cover competition with his kaleidascopic rendition of the Red Hot Chili Peppers. You can grab a look at the rest of Blair's work on his blog, http://sketchyoldblair.blogspot.com/

Hailing from the foothills of Perth, The Love Junkies have honed their originally garage-based jam sound into a direct rock assault in the style of psych and stoner bands of yore. They're playing at 11.50am on the Red Stage. We caught up with bassist Robbie Rumble.

Where'd you get the name The Love Junkies?

The name came from hanging out with Mitch's dad. I think Mitch and Lewis were having some lady troubles, like everyone does when they are 19. He called us a bunch of love junkies.

What projects have you guys got on the boil at the moment?

We're in the final stages of finishing our album, which will be released in the next few months. We're all super excited! Apart from that we're all just writing our own songs and having a good time. 

What should people look out for in your setlist?

We're just starting to play a bunch of new songs from the album, which is definitely a good experience. Playing the same songs over and over can sometimes get a little bit tiresome, so we've been jamming a heap of new stuff that we're very ready to play!

What was your best Big Day Out experience?

My best Big Day Out experience would have to be seeing Grinderman. They're a bunch of geniuses. I am looking forward to seeing Every Time I Die and Band Of Horses this year! It's gonna be awesome.

In your opinion, what was Big Day Out's best year in the past?

The best Big Day Out would have to have been 2011. Grinderman, Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros, Die Antwoord, The Jim Jones Revue and, of course, Iggy! 1992, with Nirvana and Violent Femmes would've been rad! Shame we were only two years old.

What advice would you give to someone who's going to Big Day Out for the first time?

Wear sunscreen, keep the fluids up and know your limits!

Besides The Love Junkies, who is your favourite act on the Big Day Out 2013 line-up?

JEFF the Brotherhood! Super excited to see them. Their CD got stolen from my car a little while back. I was devastated.

Last year, Rainy Day Women's breezy alt-rock picked up WAMi nominations for '2012 Breakthrough Act' and 'Most Promising New Act'. Guitarist/vocalist Dylan Ollivierre confessed to us that he actually stole The Flaming Lips' giant prosthetic hands at Southbound. Check out Rainy Day Women's tightly constructed sound at 12:15pm on the Red Stage.

You guys are about to drop an EP, Friends. What's with the name?

The EP is out on February 21 but the title track is getting a good run on the radio at the moment. Friends seemed to sum up the last year for us; it was kind of the lasting theme after some really awesome times and some internal turmoil. We also liked the sentiment of thinking about each song as a friend.

Tell us a little bit more about what went into the EP.

I tend to write songs very quickly, so it was a process of smashing out as many ideas as I could on my computer at home and then over time working out the best songs and arrangements. We wanted the EP to sound a bit more gritty and textured so we used lots of minimalistic recording techniques and lots of distortion and stuff to make things sound 'worse'.

Besides BDO, you guys just performed at Southbound. How'd that go? What'd you guys get up to offstage?

Awesome! We played early on the first day so once we had played everyone just went off and did their thing. Some highlights were coordinating synchronised dancing to Hilltop Hoods and getting tonsillitis.

Is it true you stole The Flaming Lips' prosthetic hands?

Yes. But don't tell anyone.

What album should we be listening to in preparation for Big Day Out?

Umm, Californication by the Chilis? Although I doubt they'll play much of it. I'm just starting to get into Animal Collective.

What advice would you give to someone who's going to Big Day Out for the first time?

I've only been once so perhaps I'm not the best person to ask. Get down early to watch us and be prepared for the majority of girls to be in denim underwear.

Besides Rainy Day Women, who is your favourite act on the Big Day Out 2013 line-up?

The Chili Peppers were a big part in why most of us wanted to start playing music so that's pretty special that they are playing. Probably Alabama Shakes are my favourite these days.

Emperors

Emperors are a grungy Perth four-piece for everyone who's been awaiting the inevitable resurrection of reverb-soaked '90s rock. They're playing on the Red Stage at 5:15pm, and we had a brief chat with guitarist Greg Sanders.

Who is your favourite emperor?

Hmmmm, I'm not really a history buff. I don't know enough about any emperors to choose one over the other. So I'll just say Steve Waugh.

Tell us a little more about your band. When did you guys come together?

We were all born at various times during the '80s.

Your sound is clearly informed by a '90s rock sensibility. Who are your major influences?

We all collectively like Weezer, Nirvana, etc. – the usual suspects from the '90s. But our influences are pretty varied. You can probably tell from watching us live that our drummer likes metal.

What should people know about your debut album, Stay Frosty?

You can buy it on iTunes for less than a six pack of imported beer. It'll last the rest if your life and will cause you to make fewer bad life choices than the beer.

If you were hosting a barbecue before Big Day Out, what album would you play?

I usually like to listen to Hot Snakes before I go out. Suicide Invoice or Audit In Progress.

What are the best live performances you've caught at Big Day Out?

The Flaming Lips, Wilco, Spoon, Ash, Battles, NOFX... Usually I've found the best band tucked away on the third stage around midday or the early evening. This year JEFF The Brotherhood and OFF! will probably fight it out for band of the day.

Claremont Council forced Big Day Out to close early this year. Any thoughts about that?

It seemed like a strange move. It's an event that pumps a lot of money into the town of Claremont, so there'd have to be something pretty massive going on behind the scenes for them to want to not be involved.

What was the first Big Day Out you ever went to, and who did you see?

1999 when Marilyn Manson headlined and got a bunch of shit thrown at him. I don't remember much other than that except for seeing Ash at the end of the night and it being amazing!

What advice would you give to someone who's going to Big Day Out for the first time?

Stay away from the main stages unless there's someone you really want to see. The gold is always on the smaller stages, and there are way less dickheads around.