The return of Everett True | 3. Per Purpose

Just cos I’ve slackened up on writing this series doesn’t mean I’ve stopped listening to music, y’know?

I’m still aware.

My notes here read: that one fucking amazing song from Per Purpose.

I remain under-impressed by them live (Per Purpose are a Brisbane band): most the time I’ve seen them they’ve taken 40 minutes to get going and as their support slots usually last around 35 minutes, well… do the fucking math lamebrain. Do the fucking math. But you know what? It’s fucking nice to see another band who realise that Rowland S. Howard was actually the most vital important component of The Birthday Party. And it’s fucking nice to see a band who care enough to be prepared to fail. Trouble is, they’re always playing to the choir – not their fault – but can’t they get a support at the BEC or to fucking Primal Scream next time they’re in town, not just their mates or bands who did exactly the same thing when they were their age? Serious. Whatever. This one fucking amazing song is amazing and cos of that I’m willing to buy into their arrogance as a positive attribute. For now, anyway. I like the noise implosions and the twists and fucking turns, and scrapings along the gutter. I do seriously think Mr Schenau should stop taking others as his cue and be himself, though – i.e. he’s buying into various tropes in others that signify derangement, not looking dark within. But what the fuck. It doesn’t really matter when a song is this fucking amazing, does it?

Go on. Fuck off and steal some oranges, or do whatever it is you do on Mondays. Hang out smug and secure and second-rate in your smug and secure and second-rate life with your smug and secure and second-rate mates. At least these kids are bleeding from the paper cuts.

Here’s the fucker. It ain’t polite, it ain’t proper, it’s way too rooted in tradition… but Bangs wept. Nice fucking guitar.

P.S. Sometimes they are better than others.

All the while, Brisbane band Per Purpose played, which pleased me… I won’t say greatly, because my state of mind was a little too fragile for that… a fair amount, because they were jagged and anti-funk and seemed to (gasp) hark back to a time BP (Before Pavement) which these days is quite some leap, trust me. It made me want to let them know about this one of my favourite bands from ’81 or thereabouts (about a decade before Per Purpose were even born):

by Everett True

My name is Everett True. I am a music critic. This is what I do. I criticise music. The clue is in my job description – music critic. I do not consider myself a journalist, as I do not research or report hard news. I do not consider myself a commentator as I believe that everyone should be a participant. I criticise people and in return I am not surprised if other people criticise me. It is part of the whole deal of being in the public arena. I am Everett True. Believe in me and I have power like a God. Quit believing in me and I no longer exist.