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Review: Alyssa Becht
PERTH band, sQuire, who are heavily influenced by the 80's Manchester
music, have only been gigging under the current line-up for about
a year, but thanks to airtime on RTR FM's 'Homegrown' segment,
they nabbed a coveted spot on the line-up for 2004's 'In The Pines'.
"In The Pines is that bit extra-special because we're supporting
RTR, who do so much to support local and original music in Perth,"
said bassist, Paul Jameson, when I had the chance to catch up
with him, recently.
"SQuire certainly want to put up a show-stomping set, just
by way of thanks to RTR," he added.
Members of sQuire have been visible on the band circuit since
the 1990's but all feel they have finally discovered their niche
in sQuire.
"There was never that something that I feel sQuire has got,"
continued Paul.
"It's hard to describe but we're always striving to improve,
experiment and test our musicianship and compositional styles,
while always heading in the same direction and ensuring the music
is entertaining."
Three quarters of the band began playing together over two years
ago, after meeting in a pub, but it was not until Luke Bourne
returned from the UK, and answered a 'drummer wanted' ad, in X-press
magazine, that the band members really fit.
"As soon as we started jamming for the first time, there
was this something that just connected," says Bourne.
The band are determined not to be pigeon-holed. Answers from
band members concerning their sound are as eclectic as the music
itself:
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Trevor Cook, lead and rhythm guitar, said: "Good old fashioned
rock 'n' roll, with a modern twist of originality and soul."
While Jameson added: "Original! Distinctly sQuire."
Michael Smart, on acoustic guitars and vocals, stated: "I'll
second Paul on that one… we all just know when a song has
that sQuire sound."
sQuire recently released their debut self-titled EP, produced
by Dave Parkin, who has worked with various local acts, including
Halogen, The Hampdens and Red Jezebel.
Selection and recording of the EP were both relaxed processes.
"As I recall, we all just sat around and discussed our favourite
songs," explains Smart.
"There were quite a few to choose from, but majority vote
ruled… and we all thought pretty much the same anyway."
"[Parkin] operates in a really relaxed atmosphere, that
just brings out good things and always makes recording fun…
even when it's getting stressful and tiring," adds Cook.
SQuire are a band committed to the maintenance of musical variety
and crave objectivity.
Constantly testing and pushing themselves, it is little wonder
to find that they secured a place in a high-profile festival such
as 'In the Pines', in such a small amount of time.
And they're not short on confidence, either.
Cook says that of all the bands he wished he could see before
he died, he would choose sQuire, as they never get to see themselves
performing live.
As for answering where they would ideally like to see themselves
in one year's time, the answer was equally as modest.
"At the toppermost of the poppermost, as Mr Lennon used
to say!"
Squire's recently released EP is available from local record
stores. Click here for a review...
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