Red Engine Caves
Perth, Western Australia, Australia | Established. Jan 01, 2012
Music
Press
Saturday 17th of August, 2013 – Review by Jessica Tucker
Indie-rock come in many shapes and forms and the RTRFM’s Radiothon was just the place a showcase of the genre’s diversity. From down-to-earth gentleness to fire-ball rock, PICA Bar’s punters sure got their money’s worth. PAT CHOW opened the night with a solid and enjoyable performance. Yet, despite their technical ability and songwriting finesse, they are missing that allusive x-factor and their stage presence was slightly short of being captivating. There’s certainly potential, but it doesn’t yet translate on stage. Keep an eye out for their next release in October as their music is better interpreted on a record.
Long hair? Check. Hobo/rock god fashion? Check. Sick as riffs? Double check. High voltage thrills overtook the space as the undeniable stage presence of RED ENGINE CAVES welcomed us with their high-spirited sound. Hearing went, as did the space in the room, and the edgy ambience made the show feel like they were crooks on the run and this was their villainous 70's underground gig. The first rows of patrons danced and head banged as the music flowed through every vein, sending electric pulses through their spasmodic bodies. Poor PICA bars’ wooden floor boards copped a beating from the stamping feet, as the insane energy these pure rock sensations produce pounded through the audience. With guitar virtuosity and exceptional drumming, they finished on the ultimate high with ‘Black Mary’ and its kaleidoscope of cosmic riffs.
Keyboards made their first appearance for the night when THE DISAPPOINTED took to the stage, as the group’s HAIM T-shirt clad singer Mark Neal chatted awkwardly with the crowd. Stand-up comedy shtick notwithstanding, their commitment to the art is unmistakable, with bass player Matt Berghuis still rockin’ out even after his wife giving birth that morning. The band fell a little short of captivating, though ‘Every Made Up Eye In The City’, brought their performance to a reasonable close.
The problem with Radiothon is there are too damn many good bands playing on the one night, cannibalizing the audience from more low-key venues like PICA Bar in favour of the main event at The Bakery, leaving headliner MEZZANINE playing to a near-empty room. Perhaps it was the lacklustre crowd size, but this was not their usual standard, manufacturing a pretty monotone gig, their bassist barely facing the front as the room gave way to chatter. Their switch between lead singers was a nice contrast and they’re decent songwriters, but the few people that remained were left a little underwhelmed. Although the night had its ups and downs the acts were respectable, it was clear The Red Engine Caves’ wild and unashamed madness was worth the price of admission.
- Spaceship News
Discography
Still working on that hot first release.
Photos
Bio
Red Engine Caves are a three piece Rock ‘n’ Roll band from Fremantle, Western Australia formed in 2012. New in Perth and starting at the bottom, the band quickly climbed the live music hierarchy, gaining a loyal following and proved that their stage presence and huge signature sound can not be imitated or beaten by anyone. Influenced from early Chicago Blues guitarists through to harder 70’s rock, Red Engine Caves have defined their own unique guitar and bass sounds which are created through Frankenstein amp and pedal setups which are driven by thunderous yet metronomic drums.
In 2013, Red Engine Caves embarked on their first national tour which consisted of shows in Melbourne and Sydney, playing with Lime Cordiale and The Floors. Later in the year saw the release of their debut album “Black Mary” recorded, mixed and mastered by Rob Grant at Poon’s Head Studio (Kevin Parker, Miley Cyrus, Lenny Kravitz) which received mass airtime on local and community radio and supported Eskimo Joe at The Astor Theatre. They received praise for the album from industry heads such as the Green Day members, Pat Magnarella (Green Day manager, co-owner of “Adeline”), Mark Hudson (Ringo Starr, Ozzy Osbourne, Aerosmith, The Scorpions and Cher) and European record label and store Kozmik Artifactz which sold out both shipments of records. In early 2014 they went on tour again supported by international surf brand Rusty, for a string of dates in Sydney, which was hugely successful and well received by east coast audiences. The first date of the tour was a headline show, which the band later learned on the drive to the venue that they were in fact opening for Green Day’s secret side show of their Soundwave headline tour. Green Day liked them so much that the following day Red Engine Caves received a record deal offer on Billie Joe’s label “Adeline” which was later declined. Professional skateboarder Tony Hawk was presented with a copy of the “Black Mary” vinyl during a Beach Burrito TV interview and the band was featured in RUSSH magazine. Red Engine Caves have supported national acts such as The Delta Riggs, Green Day, King Gizzard And The Lizard Wizard, Eskimo Joe and The Babe Rainbow, Lime Cordiale and have received supports from John Butler, JORDI (San Cisco) and most of the Perth club bands.
2015 has been their best year yet with a powerful lineup change; acquiring young drummer Callum Kramer from Australian Blues act “Blue Shaddy” and playing to capacity venues across Perth including Jack Rabbit Slim’s, Mojo’s, The Odd Fellow and the new Soggybones warehouse. After three iconic Perth music venues closed their doors, the band took initiative to host their own show in an alternative space at the Whipper Snapper Distillery warehouse. Despite extremely unnecessary actions by Perth City Council, almost forcing to cancel the event, they continued to sell it out in the early hours of the evening. Rod Yates of Rolling Stone Magazine attended a show in June and expressed great interest in the band’s power and performance and is looking to interview them on the release of the second album. Red Engine Caves will be headlining the 2015 Norfolk Lanes Festival.
Pre-production of the second album has begun with Rob Grant of Poons Head, with the idea of finishing the album at various different studios and portable recording equipment in alternate spaces.
"The space throbbed with the energy a crowd who were totally enthralled in mind and body. With the backdrop of bright intricate art smeared across all four walls, the whole room was transformed by the band who embraced the audience, drawing them into a vortex of sound and movement."
-Rachel Inglis, theMusic.com
“Pickup screaming with a speakerphone while hanging the guitar strap on the window above and soloing on the top of tall amps at the front of the stage. Red Engine Caves are a rare kind of band in Perth’s scene, while their sound and styling hark back to the classic rock of days past, their persona and energy show that they are not just excellent musicians, they’re living very much in the moment.”
-Rotunda Media
"High voltage thrills overtook the space as the undeniable stage presence of Red Engine Caves welcomed us with their high-spirited sound. Hearing went, as did the space in the room, and the edgy ambiance made the show feel like they were crooks on the run and this was their villainous 70's underground gig. Poor PICA bar's wooden floor boards copped a beating from the stamping feet, as the insane energy these pure rock sensations produce pounded through the audience."
- Spaceship News
Watch the Black Mary film clip here: https://vimeo.com/70019846
Band Members
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