Perth power-pop group, The Stanleys are heading back to their home town for a rare live performance at WAMFest.
After coming together in 2010 and making their debut in LA in 2011, The Stanleys released their self-titled debut LP in 2017 which went onto make US music journalist John Borack's upcoming piece entitled 'The Greatest Power Pop Albums Of All Time'.
The Stanleys will return to their home town for three shows in late October and early November. We chat with band member Mark Di Renzo.
What's the speed-dating version of the band's history?
Two Western Australians and one Norwegian began writing power-pop tunes over the internet in 2010.
The Stanleys made their live debut at the International Pop Overthrow Festival in Los Angeles in July 2011, played their second ever gig at LA's iconic Viper Room and have played a couple of hundred shows at clubs, festivals and frat parties in North America, Europe, Asia and Australia over the last seven years.
How excited are you guys to be playing WAMFest?
We're very excited to play WAMFest! It's our first time playing the festival. I've been listening to the festival's Spotify playlist this week and there are some awesome acts playing WAMFest.
I love the concept of having 116 West Aussie bands playing around various venues in Northbridge all in one afternoon and night with people trekking around discovering new music. I feel it's an opportunity for local acts to play to audiences who might not generally see a lot of local original music.
How did you initially get involved with the festival?
WAM (the Western Australian Music Industry Association) emailed us inviting us to play. We were delighted to be asked and can't wait to play.
As you guys originally hail from Perth, has WAMFest been on your radar to perform/ showcase?
To be honest, power-pop hasn't been the most fashionable genre of music in Australia for a long time so we haven't really focused that much of our energy here.
However, the release of our album has been really well received locally so with promoters and other acts inviting us to play, we've played more shows here in Perth in the last 12 months than we have played in Perth over our entire 7 years as a band.
For those new to the band, how would you describe the band's style?
Super-charged summery, new-wave power-pop.
Are there any songs in particular that you're looking forward to playing?
It's funny how your favourites change over time and how you sometimes re-discover songs. I've recently found a new love for 'Amy'.
'Amy' is a short, sharp, upbeat energetic pop-punk song that's very fun to play, and it's a song that has been very kind to us as a band. I'm amazed that more than a year after its release, it's still getting a heap of rotation and appearing in a number of college radio station charts in the US.
What do you most like about performing live?
I feel that for us, performing live is back to the best of the basics – four guys and their instruments belting out tunes from the heart, having a great time doing it and sharing that with the crowd. No matter how many shows you've played, no two will ever be the same and you certainly can't predict everything about a crowd's reaction.
Since performing live for us is mostly touring, it’s a mixture of making new friends and fans and catching up with old ones. While every show happens within a new or different venue with a different crowd of people, I still very much feel right at home. There is nothing quite like it.
How would you typically describe the crowd environment at your shows?
I feel like it’s a party and everyone is invited.
You released your debut album last year; when can we expect another studio release from the band?
Another full-length release will be some time away since we're fusspots when it comes to recordings, and it’s currently a time where we're all giving more of our energy to family and personal commitments.
Next 12 months for The Stanleys; what is on your radar?
We've got a cool new music video coming out early next year. I won't say much, but think fun Japanese manga. We'll most likely be back to the US around the same time.
We've also been approached by a Russian promoter about some Russian and Eastern European summer festivals, which would be somewhere new and exciting, and a great excuse to head north for winter.
