Music

Picture Perfect reluctantly postponed the EP launch of Paint it Whack last month as singer Gavin Bowles was struck with a nasty case of man-flu, but this weekend the whack is back!

Picture Perfect are three former Mountains boys with rock in their pockets and numerous EPs under their belts. They toured the new EP in August and had a blast, and now at last will bring it on home to Station Bar Katoomba. The date also coincides with Gavin’s birthday along with Oktoberfest and Halloween so she's destined to be a sensational evening!

Willem, Mark, Jess and Elissa from Haze grilled Gavin about the bizarre EP title recently, with Gavin explaining: “We recorded this EP over a year, then we sat down at a pub, had dinner and said ‘what are we going to call this thing?’. We came up with some silly names and puns, then our bass player Cam said let’s call it Paint it Whack!”

“This time it was about being honest about the fact that we’re in this to have fun. Probably more than ever it’s been about the three of us being together, having fun rather than trying to get somewhere in the industry,” says Gavin. “I think the way these songs have come about, they are not as hard and fast, there’s a bit of air and space in the set. It’s interesting the chilled out songs are getting the crowd more into the spirit of things.”

It feels like the band have all grown up on this release, with Simon studying, Gavin working pretty much full time, and the production sounding world-class. The opening track though gives an insight into the boys' minds. “With this release it was about celebrating us still being together. The title track came together as a celebration, as well as an in-joke. If you listen closely you can hear the sound of a piano leg being bashed against half a piano that we found in an alleyway.”

The growth of the band is evident to Gavin as he considers some of the younger bands they now play with. "There’s a couple of bands I am enjoying, we just played with a band called Jack’s Band, we brought them along to the EP launch. Watching them live was reminiscent of when we were the same age, less confident but really getting into it on stage. We did our launch at Hideaway bar. All they have is pinball machines, bar taps and a stage, I recommend checking it out!”

Now living scattered from inner to outer West, and Jess asks how Picture Perfect originally broke into the city, coming from the Mountains.

“The transition from Mountains to City band, we cut our teeth doing Gearin band comps and that sort of thing. Once you find the venues that you feel comfortable in it becomes easier. I encourage bands from up this way to go into the city and find the venues. Regardless of lock-out laws and that sort of thing, there are plenty of venues doing the right thing,” says Gavin.

“We have a lot more friends in the city now, it’s more a busy atmosphere down there but generally I find a good crowd up the Mountains can get a good party vibe atmosphere,” Gavin explains with a grin.

Supporting them at the Katoomba launch is local Jonathan Davis with his band. He's another musician who also chefs around town to support his creative tendencies.

“This is our first headline show in nearly four years in the Mountains. We supported the Rumjacks last year, but we’re very, very keen to perform Paint it Whack live in Katoomba,” Gavin finishes.

See Picture Perfect at Station Bar - Oct 28

Visit www.pictureperfectband.com.au for music, videos and upcoming event details.

Pic by Hayden Nixon