TREAT ME MEAN The Sure Fire Midnights (Out of The Loop)
When you consider the state and range of all-girl rock bands of the present and recent past, West Australian four-piece rock band The Sure Fire Midnights not only appear to have developed in isolation ever-changing trends on the Australian east coast, but also have a sound that contrasts wiht the likes of contemporaries like The Donnas, The Spazzys and Doll Squad, to name but a few. Here's a band with few sonic equals, barring maybe The Sahara Hotnights.
Most of the bands mentioned above have a relatively narrow range of influences.That means they rarely deliver music that steps outside of the parameters set by their influences. The Sure Fire Midnights - currently Clair Sargeant (vocals), Sarah Bevan (guitar) Nora Klokeid (bass) and Kylie Soanes (drums) and a fifth (ex) member who's now part of fellow West Australians Capital City - derive their sound from AC/DC, The Hellacopters and Turbonegro...plus arguably the most influential all-girl rock band ever, The Runaways.
"Treat Me Mean" is The Sure Fire Midnights' newest nine-track CD and follows their "Sure Fire Adult Entertainment" CDEP. Opener "Let's Talk" is a taut and hard rocker drawn from that classic AC/DC mould, with the added touch of a classic sound bite from the late Bon Scott at the beginning. It's followed by "Don't Stop" which lyrically checks the late Tim Hemensley's classic "Take It Out On You". It can't help but find favour from this reviewer and many a Bored!/Tim Hemensley fan.
The title track follows and although its sexually suggestive sentiments are likely to give rise to a misleading impression of the band members and their relationships with men (throw in "Booty on the Brain" and "Don't Look Up My Skirt Unless You Mean It" on the same score), it does show the band's impressive grasp of dynamics and tasty guitar work particularly from Sarah Bevan.
"Booty" and "Temperature Rise" find the band truly cutting loose in high-energy Detroit rock fashion, and prove they can really deliver this stuff.
"Don't Look Up My Skirt (Unless You Mean It)" is a major musical departure as its delves into some acoustic blues but the band doesn't hesitate to eventually to return loud(er) electric guitar rock. "Gotta Live" wraps up the album with some more impressive high energy rock.
Throughout "Treat me Mean" the engine room of Nora and Sarah really impress and alongside Sarah Bevan provide some tight backing vocals. The Sure Fire Midnights "Treat Me Mean" should impress those seeking more from all girl rock than the current all girl rock crowd. - Simon Li
