Wall of Sound presents: “2018 YEAR IN REVIEW” – By Wall of Sound Writer Rory McDonald

2018 was certainly a busy one. My band Lo-Fire grabbed some studio time, released a video and played more than about three gigs this year (yeah, we’re knackered). Anyway, for this reason I got to see heaps of great Perth acts that are killing it at the moment. Shangrila released their first EP Love and Leaving since they changed musical direction—turns out they can go whichever way they like—proving themselves as versatile musos. Nankasi released another solid single Clutch, in which vocalist Richard Stagg states “Blegh”. Punks Alex the Kid released their EP Straight Outta Luck which instantly found a slot in the Spotto library. Cellophane released ‘Retrospect’ and ‘Leech’, two songs you need to listen to right now. Not to mention Perth’s accomplished Indie-punks Tired Lion casually dropping ‘With or Without’. So apart from the same songs I’ve had on repeat since about 2003, here’s a little insight into what I’ve been listening to this year…

TOP 5 ALBUMS OF 2018?

1. Thrice – Palms
2. Bass Drum of Death – Just Business
3. Shangrila – Love and Leaving
4. Basement –  Beside Myself
5. Alex the Kid – Straight Outta Luck

 

 TOP 5 SONGS OF 2018?

1. Bass Drum of Death – ‘Diamond in the Rough’
2. Thrice – ‘Only Us’ 
3. Nankasi – ‘Clutch’
4. Cellophane – ‘Retrospect’
5. Tired Lion – ‘With or Without’

BEST MUSIC VIDEO OF 2018?

This is ‘Stigmata’ from Basement’s latest album Beside Myself. A blue dude having a bit of a hard time.

BEST GIG YOU’VE SEEN 2018?

My first gig for the year was Gyroscope at the Rosemount on January 19^th (review here). Absolute banger of a show, even for a school night. Funnily enough, I’m looking forward to seeing them at Badlands again for New Year’s Eve—it just seems right. They’ll have FLOSSY and Sly Withers in support as well, two bands I caught this year on separate occasions with super impressive sets.

📷: Kim Anderson @shootthewickedwitch

NEXT BIG BAND TO WATCH IN 2019?

I’m going to take this question literally. You need to grab some tickets and watch Thrice at Amplifier Bar in May. One of my all-time favourite bands at one of my favourite venues. Crossing my fingers ‘The Abolition of Man’ makes it onto the setlist.

 

FAV BAND YOU DISCOVERED IN 2018

‘Snakepit’ by a band called Strange Bones popped up on my ‘discover weekly’ a couple of weeks ago, and I must have played it like a thousand times. It’s like if The Prodigy was fronted by Kurt Cobain, but he was raised by the Peaky Blinders. It’s angry and it’s intense. Another notable track is ‘We the Rats’.

WHAT ARE YOU MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO IN 2019?

I’m really hoping that WAAX release some new stuff, and they restock their black tee’s. Also looking forward to seeing Thrice and Basement and generally just getting to more shows than I did in 2018.

Written by Rory McDonald