A look back at Perth’s golden era of indie sleaze

Forgotten Perth Indie Sleaze Y2K 2010
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Picture this: it’s 2009… Or thereabouts.

You’re fresh-faced and (mostly) innocent, with your favourite playlist of Arctic Monkeys, the Libertines, Interpol and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs shuffling on your iPod Nano.

You’ve never even heard of a vape!

Forgotten Perth Indie Sleaze Y2K 2009
Villa, 2009

You’re getting ready for a night out, deciding whether to wear your floral print tea dress and an elastic headband straight across the middle of your forehead, or squeezing your way into the ultra-skinny Dejour jeans you picked up on your last trip to Melbourne. (You’ve been telling everyone you’re moving there like, super soon… Perth is so boring anyway, barely any laneways, no vibe to speak of.)

You’ve been saving your pennies for a pair of Cheap Monday jeans from Billie & Rose, but your saving was set back by an impulse purchase of a vintage neon shell suit from Spokey Dokes. Jeffrey Campbell Lita booties don’t even exist yet! Your fingers, blessedly, are free of any fake moustache tattoos – the same can’t be said for some of your friends. Maybe you’ll wear a pair of 3D glasses to really up the fashion stakes!

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Forgotten Perth Indie Sleaze Y2K 2009 Moustaches
Shape, 2009
Forgotten Perth Indie Sleaze Y2K 2009 Moustache
Villa, 2009
Forgotten Perth Indie Sleaze Y2K 2010

Of course, you’re riding high: last week your graphic tee and long owl necklace got your photo onto Dropstitch, Perth’s pre-eminent street style blog. The week prior? You were snapped by photographer Lloyd Hughes (Perth’s own Cobrasnake?) at Amps in between cigarettes in the courtyard and screaming along to the oft-repeated Clap Your Hands Say Yeah! and TV On The Radio. At this rate, you’re practically a celebrity – you’re practically Alexa Chung for god’s sake!

You have never used an Instagram filter. You have never touched an iPhone. Life is good.

Forgotten Perth Indie Sleaze Y2K The Bump 2009
Forgotten Perth Indie Sleaze Y2K Lupe Fiasco Metro City 2010
Forgotten Perth Indie Sleaze Y2K 2009

So where are you heading? If it’s a Wednesday night, perhaps you’ll put that shell suit on and head to Seizan Karaoke Bar for Cassette – or catch a baby-faced Nick Allbrook at the Bakery? If you’re extra lucky, it’s Bourgeois Bogan Prom night: practically an institution that began in 2005 and ran until 2015.

Forgotten Perth Indie Sleaze Y2K Cassette, Seizan, Roland
Forgotten Perth Indie Sleaze Y2K The Bakery Nick Allbrook 2006
Nick Allbrook performing at the Bakery, 2006
Forgotten Perth Indie Sleaze Y2K The Bakery Prom #1 2005
The first ever Prom, The Bakery, 2005
Forgotten Perth Indie Sleaze Y2K The Bakery Prom
The Prom, The Bakery, 2011
Forgotten Perth Indie Sleaze Y2K The Bakery Presets 2006
The Presets performing at the Bakery, 2006
Forgotten Perth Indie Sleaze Y2K Hot Chip The Bakery 2007
Hot Chip performing at the Bakery, 2007

Or perhaps you were lucky enough to catch some snaps on your digital camera of the Mighty Boosh-themed night at Villa, complete with a DJ set from Naboo the Enigma (AKA stony-faced actor Michael Fielding).

Forgotten Perth Indie Sleaze Y2K 2010 Naboo Mighty Boosh Villa
Naboo DJ set, Villa, 2010
Forgotten Perth Indie Sleaze Y2K 2010 Naboo Mighty Boosh Villa
Naboo DJ set, Villa, 2010
Forgotten Perth Indie Sleaze Y2K 2010 Naboo Mighty Boosh Villa
Naboo DJ set, Villa, 2010
Forgotten Perth Indie Sleaze Y2K 2010 2009 Midnight Juggernauts
Our faithful Editor-in-Chief, DJ Troy Divisionn (centre) with 2/3 Midnight Juggernauts, Halloween at the Republic, 2009
Forgotten Perth Indie Sleaze Y2K 2010

Want to share your favourite indie sleaze era memories of Perth? Send ’em through to hi@perthisok.com!

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