Who: The High Learys
What: Perth psych-rock four piece outfit
When: September 4, 9pm
Where: Settlers Tavern
How much: Free
VISIONS of mod rockers and go-go dancers flood the mind when listening to psychedelic rock four piece The High Learys, but under no circumstance do they want to be pigeon holed by their sixties inspired sound.
Their latest release, Letters to Alice, combats their Beatles-esque destiny to create an emotional psychedelic love affair to lure the listener into the identity of ‘Alice’.
They will launch this single in the South West when they pay a visit to test the waters of their new sound and new band mate.
In a head nod to the adventures down the rabbit hole, Turner said it wasn’t really the intention but the song is now somewhat to do with hallucinogenic drugs.
“Alice is almost an analogy for whatever that substance may be,” he said.
Turner said Letters to Alice acted as the first balanced song writing collaboration the group has undertaken.
“Mike (Nutt) came to me with this cool little riff, it had a real Dandy Warhols vibe,” Turner said.
With no lyrics, Jamie picked up the tune and said “I’ll see what I can do”.
“It’s good that it works like that,” he said.
“Lyrics are the sore thumb in the writing process… finding the right lyrics/phrasing is quite hard.”
Turner said it was important to pay tribute to the friends and family who were a part of the creative project along the way, with one friend who passed away before he could take his place in the band also finding the way to the cover.
Keep an eye out for homage to Turners’s nan on the single’s cover work, hand painted and created by his girlfriend.
It was the surreal moments when their tunes received radio play that Jamie was unprepared for.
“You day dream about it always, but when it happens, you get sheepish about it,” he said.
“We just want to make as much music as possible.”
With a sound attributable to the era of bowl cuts and British mods, Jamie believed they are more than their influences, their sound touching upon that of Cream and Hendrix
Within their first album, Here Come The High Learys, the London beat is evident, but with the introduction of a new drummer a new sound has followed
From pen to paper and chord to guitar, music is the first thing to come into existence for the group, with riffs defining lyrics.
With past trips to the South West leaving fond memories, The High Learys’ front man said they couldn’t wait to return and meet new people and create new music.
They plan to head straight back into the studio upon their return to Perth.
With free downloads of the new tunes available from the boys, Turner welcomed everyone to come say hi after the set and take ample advantage of their generosity.
