‘Queerlectro pop noir’ band Alter Boy don’t just make music – they create an experience. And soon, they’ll be captivating audiences at Perth Festival in a particularly unique performance.
For the first time ever, they’ll be performing their entire musical catalogue.
The show is set to be memorable for both audience and band members alike, with the setlist following chronological order, kicking off with their 2019 hit, Frankenstein’s Dream.
Taking the stage at the East Perth Power Station, band members Molly Priest, Andrew Midnight Wright, Luke NRG Eastman, Josh HVN and Josh Hell, will revisit their creations, no doubt reflecting on how far they’ve come as a group. I chatted to Josh HVN and Luke NRG Eastman about it.
In your upcoming Perth Festival show, Alter Boy – The Complete Collection, you’ll be performing your entire catalogue live for the first time, how do you feel approaching the show? Was it a specific decision to perform your discography in this way?
Josh: It has been so fun revisiting some of the old songs that we haven’t played live in years. It has transported us back to the earliest days of this project, before it was even called Alter Boy. The early days are always the most exciting, because everything was so sparkly and new so we’re really enjoying the process. As the music has evolved so much since then, we thought it might be interesting to present the music chronologically, and without any preconceptions about what that might look like, see what story the music will tell.
How does it feel to reflect on your band’s history as you prepare for the show?
Josh: It has been quite therapeutic to go back to where it all began. After existing as a band for a few years, and especially after releasing an album, you can get caught up in all the noise that comes with trying to keep a band operating. These early songs came from a place when the only thing that mattered was the song, so it has been really refreshing to get back to that space.
The show will start with your 2019 release, Frankenstein’s Dream – how has your artistry developed since then?
Josh: Frankenstein’s Dream was written by Molly and Midnight before Alter Boy was really conceived. It was in the first batch of songs presented to the new band members and we all felt it was the stand out. Molly and Midnight remain the core songwriters, but the process has become a lot more collaborative and we’re so excited to present the songs live in chronological order, as you’ll get a great sense of the development across the years.
People can experience your music in a bunch of different ways, whether it’s through visuals, sound or feeling – could you describe some of the creative process that goes into that?
Luke: I’m able to deliver Molly’s stories in a visually-exciting format, allowing her storytelling to be visually accessible to Auslan-users. I work closely with Molly and others, to ensure while I bring my own artistic influence to the story I tell, (via techniques such as ‘alliteration’ and ‘rhyming’ of signs), it runs parallel with what Molly is delivering.
When performing live, what reactions do you see from audiences? What does that connection feel like for you?
Luke: I see people signing-along and dancing, really getting super-energized. It feels electric to connect with the audience visually in such a spectacular way. We love to make some jaws drop.
Finally, how would you describe the show in one sentence?
Luke: The Complete Collection is a movie-length cinematic, dramatic experience.
Alter Boy: The Complete Collection is on Sunday the 23rd of February as part of Perth Festival.