The Aints! opened the first of their three shows in WA, with a fast paced set at The Rosemont, which mixed tracks from their new album entitled “The Church of Simultaneous Existence”, as well as songs from the back catalogue of frontman Ed Kuepper’s time with The Saints.
The evening opened with a young Fremantle 4-piece band, The Psychotic Reactions, who describe themselves as a 60’s inspired garage pop-rock band with vocalist & guitarist Hannah Smillie leading the line with her haunting vocals and strong, clean guitar work. Backed by Jacob McAneny (bass), Nick Ireland (keys) & Rory Lowe-McLoughlin (drums) the band put in a great set with a variety of songs to warm the crowd up to the second support act of the night.
Another Fremantle based band, DM3 were next up, with the experienced trio, who formed back in 1992 playing a tight, well-constructed set of 6-songs. Frontman and ex-Stems guitarist/vocalist Dom Mariani lead from the front, with great vocals and by the sound of the cheers of support from the crowd, were greatly received. Toni Italiano (bass) and Pascal Bartolone (drums) made up the rest of DM3 and I for one would have happily watched them crank out another 4 or 5 tracks such was the strength of their material on show tonight.
And so on to the main act for the evening, The Aints!, who arrived on stage en masse, with seven band members in all. Led by the relaxed & extremely cool Ed Kuepper, the band roared into a 15-song set list. The set opened with ‘Swing for the Crime’ from The Saints 1978 album ‘Prehistoric Sounds’ before launching into four of the new tracks from ‘The Church of Simultaneous Existence’ in the form of the title track, ‘You’ll Always Walk Alone’, ‘You Got The Answer’ & ‘Country Song in G’. One thing with Kuepper is that his audience dialogue can sometimes seem detached and uninterested but as the night goes on you realise this is a man who has an exceedingly dry sense of humour and at times teases the crowd to get reactions. On more than one occasion Ed refers to playing on a ‘Wednesday night In Perth’ when in fact it’s a Friday night – is he hinting the crowd need to be more vocal as we have in fact reached the weekend?
But those who know Kuepper (not personally) are here to hear his musical biography of old & new. The Saints ‘Brisbane (Security City)’, ‘This Is Our Summer’, ‘SOS ’75’ & ‘Red Aces’ were next to be unleashed as the band backed Kuepper with energy and precision. Bass player Peter Oxley, drummer Paul Larsen Loughhead & jazz pianist Alister Spence are joined by a 3-piece horn section led by trumpeter & brass arranger Eamon Dilworth and these musicians give this set a huge sound – there is something about horns and electric garage rock music that just works.
‘Memories Are Made of This’, again takes us back to the late 70s with more Saints music and the things that works so well tonight is that most of the material from the new Aints! album was written back at the time The Saints & Laughing Clowns were in full swing – so even though its ‘new music’, it’s still ‘old music’. ‘Goodnight Ladies (I hear a Sound Without) is the last of this ‘new music’ we hear for the night as Kuepper and his band launch into a final melee of Saints material with ‘Messin’ With The Kid’ & ‘This Perfect Day’, before Ed is called back on stage for encores of ‘Know Your Product’ and finally ‘Nights of Venice’.
I can’t lie and say I knew all of the songs on the set list tonight (I have to admit of knowing only really the newer material from listening to it of late), but music has an amazing quality by where if you want to be educated by it you can go back and find what you want to hear. From the gig The Aints! put on tonight I will certainly delve back into The Saints & Ed Kuepper’s back catalogue and listen to more, as I thoroughly enjoyed this show tonight.
DM3 Set List:
Before You Go, Can’t get What You Want, Foolish, Blue Thing, Everything That You Told Me, On Time Two Times Devastated
The Aints! Set List:
Swing For The Crime, The Church of Silaltaneous Existance, You’ll Always Walk Alone, You Got The Answer, Country Song In G, Brisbane (Security City), This Is Our Summer, SOS ’75, Red Aces, Memories Are Made Of This, Goodnight Ladies (I Hear A Sound Without), Messin’ With The Kid, This Perfect Day, Know Your Product, Nights in Venice
PHOTO GALLERY
Photos by Linda Dunjey Photography
