HANGING on the walls of The Loft in Warrnambool, alongside the portraits of Led Zeppelin’s Robert Plant and AC/DC’s Angus Young, is a painting of Dallas Frasca.
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Capturing the flame-haired singer in a typically fiery pose, the portrait was unveiled at the opening of last year’s Arockalypse music festival at The Loft.
Fittingly, Frasca and her band headline this year’s Arockalypse — Warrnambool’s biggest musical event, featuring 28 acts across three days.
“I’ve had photos sent to me over time,” Frasca said of the painting.
“I feel very honoured — it’s really, really cool, man.
“The Loft is one of those venues that are few and far between these days.
“The core essence of the venue is their love of music and you can see that when you go up to the bar and see all the great names they have through there.”
Frasca’s performance on Sunday — the main day of Arockalypse — will be her “third or fourth” time playing at the venue and she’s looking forward to it.
“It’s going to be really cool,” she said.
“The line-up is sick. There’s heaps of cool bands we want to check out.
“It’s gonna be one big-arse party.”
For Frasca, fellow guitarist Jeff Curran and new drummer Zane Rosanoski, it will be like a farewell party — it’s the last show the riff-rockers will play in Australia before they head to Europe for a month of touring, and possibly the last Aussie show they’ll do before they release their next album, called Love Army.
“Between now and then we hope to get the rest of our record finished,” Frasca said.
The record in question has “seven songs recorded ... and about five songs to go” and includes a track recorded with two of the members of reformed ’90s rock band Ugly Kid Joe.
The project has been recorded thanks to crowdfunding, with Dallas Frasca kicking in about $22,000 to get the band into the studio, which Frasca said was “amazing”.
“It’s also fingernail-biting because it’s all or nothing with some of those things — unless you reach the target you don’t get anything,” she explained.
“Honestly, we couldn’t have done it without the fans.
“These days, the model of the major label is quite out-dated.
“We’re proudly independent. We’ve been touring Australia for eight years, and having success at a certain level, and we’re proud of that, (but it’s only) because of the people coming to our shows, and buying our merch, and telling people about our band.”
It’s the second time fans have come to the rescue for Dallas Frasca — crowdfunding helped replace “a really large sum of money stolen off us at the airport” which was going to be used to mix their second album, 2012’s Sound Painter.
Frasca is reluctant to talk too much about Love Army until it’s released but she’s more than happy to discuss the album’s first taste — an acerbic and fuzzy rocker called Lizard Boy that takes a massive swipe at Prime Minister Tony Abbott.
“We’ve never been politically inclined (in our) lyrics before,” she said.
“But it’s almost as bad to not say anything.
“(Lizard Boy) is directly relevant to what’s going on and that’s why we’ve released this song now, so early (before the album).”
Dallas Frasca will be joined on Sunday at The Loft from 1pm until 1am by Sex On Toast, The Harlots, Aurora Jane, The Go Set, Jack Jack Jack, Sun God Replica, The Pretty Littles, Blue Heat, The Hidden Venture, Alfa Tides, and King Evil, as well as local solo artists Mick Ferguson, Jordan Lockett, Ebonie Hyland, Cobey Fletcher, Clint Williams, Brady James, Pete Janes, Bill O’Connell, Jake Gellert, Alex Francis, and a lucky open mic competition winner (to be announced).
Arockalypse kicks off on Friday night with Tank Dilemma, Buddha In A Chocolate Box, and Kashmere Club and continues on Saturday night with Tom Richardson Project, Blackwood Jack, and Aurora Jane.
Tickets available at theloftwarrnambool.oztix.com.au or at The Loft.