Ponder this … you’re a member of a young independent band that formed in 2009. Two years on you’ve performed at music festivals across Australia, and won a string of awards. Now you’ve been invited to play at Fashionably Loud in Brookfield Place, a new initiative by the Perth Fashion Festival. How do you see the gig going?
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Last month Fremantle based indie-poppers San Cisco, were that band.
To recap their single Awkward reached number 7 in the Triple J top 100.
If you can’t place the song, take a listen here, I’m sure you’ll remember. video Awkward
They’ve picked up eight WAMI awards including Pop Act of the Year, Most Popular Group, Breakthrough Act, and Drummer/Percussionist of the Year.
Anyway on to their gig at Fashionably Loud, which began unfashionably wet …
Arriving a little early it was interesting watching the stage being set up. A nondescript white van pulled up next to the beautiful heritage church on St George’s Terrace.
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In between rain showers Jordi Davieson (guitar, lead vocals) emerged carrying the keyboards.
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Closely followed by Scarlett Stevens (drummer, vocals) bringing in her drum stool and other parts of her kit.
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Then along with Nick Garner (bass) and Josh Biondiollo (guitar, vocals) they set about getting the set up right. Despite the rain they were smiling and joking the whole time.
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Consequently my brain was invaded by the collective pondering power of mothers everywhere … mothers demanding to know the secret … what does it take to motivate a 18-20 year old?
No doubt for Stevens it was inspiration by osmosis, as she tagged along with her father to various gigs (he manages John Butler Trio and The Waifs). Otherwise I’d wager that it has a lot to do with the fact that, when you’re living your passion, hard work and even torrential rain is no hardship.
The result …
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The combination of live music and fashion was great (more on the fashion later), no one drowned or got electrocuted, and I can report that San Cisco were last seen posing outside Abbey Road Studios, while in London to do three shows. What’s more as I finish this post I’ve just read that they’ve received ARIA nominations for Best Independent Release, Best Pop Release, and Breakthrough Artist!!!
Watching them left me pondering …
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When did bands become so young? In my uni days I used to hang out at The Cat & Fiddle (now the Scotsman) in Mt Lawley, and I sure don’t remember the bands being that young.
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Once again I ponder about my years post-school. We aspired to get tickets to our favourite band, not take on the music world ourselves … San Cisco is yet another inspirational example of what can happen if you follow your passion, and as they say … ‘practice, practise, practise’.
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Clearly even eight time WAMI award winners have to set up their own stage.
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Brookfield Place looks like it’s going to be a great inner city venue for summer events.
