If there is anyone out there who can describe themself as a bigger loser than I last Friday night then I’d like to hear about it.

On the otherside of Australia, travelling all by my lonesome, I was feeling a little vulnerable and very cautious on my way to The Scare and Jack Ladder gig in North Fremantle. Vulnerable and cautious for good reason might I add -this place is dodgy as all hell- full of strange westerners and outback jacks who, I’m sure, have not seen a young female in God knows how many years. Taking all precautions, I left my hostel ridiculously early so not to be travelling in the dark, topped up on Optus credit along the way, even pre-booking a taxi for 12.30, all with the knowledge of having a trusty kitchen knife packed in my pocket. So there you are, I admit it –I am a loser of the worst kind.

Before the gig, whilst devouring a Freo Flipside fabulous fuck off burger, (heaven itself), I spotted the best thing one could ask for in this situation. It was crossing the road in front of me, wearing John Lennon sunnies in the pitch black dark, it was (in my books) the best bassist in the world, the most eccentric dresser in the industry, Kirin J Callinan of Mercy Arms. My night just got a whole lot better.

Waltzing in to Mojo’s bar about an hour later I was welcomed with the unfamiliar sound of a very scratchy but very beautifully original sound of support band Black Milk. I’ve never heard these guys before but I am now totally consumed by them. They play true rock with rawness, intensity and a hint of ‘60s psychedelia/electronica. Whilst musical stuntman Todd Pickett head bangs his keyboard and performs an aerobic workout, frontman James Sherry sings us stories of truth and depth. Sherry is an amazing songwriter, his lyrics leave clichés behind and are on to something interesting and new.

Next on the line up was Jack Ladder and… drumroll… Kirin J Callinan, the world’s best bassist (according to me). Now this performance (and a Flipside burger) was certainly worth my $500. This pair are a strange, yet very successful combination. At 198cm tall, Jack Ladder towers from the stage looking kooky and somewhat awkward in drainpipe jeans and an‘80s style do. But then he sings. What a voice! His appearance is no longer on my mind, all I can take in is his smoky, elvis-style voice. Despite a little awkward, nervous banter, I loved the guy. Kirin Callinan, with his John Lennon specs, high waisted pants and leather jacket cropped over his shoulders like your nanna once did, played his bass with more charisma than Freddie Mercury. Producing hypnotic sounds and psychedelic beats with a ‘70s Ace tone TR6 drum, this music was truly unique. Performing songs of Jack Ladder’s ‘Love is Gone’ record these social misfits truly blew me away.

The crowd was now ready as ever for the onslaught of The Scare. And shit they put on a show. Enigmatic frontman Kiss Reid was, hrmmmm how do I say it without sounding horrible? Incredibly intoxicated or ridiculously inebriated I think may be the terms. He kicked off the deranged show with ‘She Cant Say No’ with Reid laying on the floor amongst the crowd. I’m not sure if this was by choice or by the allied forces of inebriation and gravity, but it sure was a sight to see. It took him two songs to get on his feet and when he did he continued to dance, yell, scream (and sometimes sing) down amongst the crowd on the dancefloor. What an intimate gig this was, with fans invited to get up close and personal with lunatic Reid. He asked the crowd to touch him all over before announcing that he was “very aroused”, and “may infact have an erection.” With songs like ‘No Money’ and ‘Could Be Bad’ but more importantly antics like this, The Scare are one of the few bands that will go down in history as the epitome of rock’n’roll.

What a night, Fremantle: I love you.

-Sophie Robinson.