RATSALAD: The Geraldton punk band that’s taking the Mid West music scene by storm

In a world where the music industry is dominated by pop and hip-hop, it’s rare to find a band that is true to its punk roots. RATSALAD, featuring husband-and-wife duo Ken and Jaz McCartney, along with their bandmate Erica Trotter, are doing just that. They’ve taken the Mid West music scene by storm, playing more than 50 gigs across WA and releasing 16 original songs since their inception in 2019. Their energy, tempo and loud guitars are what make them true punk, but it’s their positive impact and genuine love for music that sets them apart from the rest. All this while holding down careers and raising a young family. Ken McCartney’s love for music began with old-school hip hop in the 70s and 80s, but he evolved to include 2000s bands such as Blink 182, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Foo Fighters. Despite having a full-time job and children, he finds time to pursue his passion for music and loves the Geraldton music scene, which he thinks is one of the best in WA, if not the world. “The Geraldton music scene is going off. The music-goers are so supportive. The musicians here, too, are world class,” he said. “Alexia Parenzee and the Fold are playing massive shows and making waves, and it’s easy to see why with how talented and hard-working Alexia and the team is. “(Ian) Weggler is an absolute talent, and we’ve been trying to tee up a time for me to learn some of his amazing techniques. Xhalisse is kicking goals, they have an amazing lush and dynamic sound. “All the good folk on the covers circuit here are amazing too. The Davidson Brothers, C4 have been holding it down for decades and are arguably Geraldton music’s greatest. “Loving squeaky frequencies also, Carly Markham and Josh Crothers are an epic combo.” Ken McCartney said the sound and production scene locally was helping push music to a new level. “Lane and Candice Place of 65thirty (are) doing amazing things. Liquid Rock Studios here have recorded a few of our most streamed songs. Phil Mullins of Ghost Note Audio is a treasure,” he said. “Everyone is really amping up the passion, work and talent. Also little nod to Balmy Events, good to see young crew bringing big names to the area. “Lastly the local venues love booking live music. Love em. Love this town and everyone in it.” Jaz McCartney listened to pop, rock, and country as a child and moved on to metal, emo, and drum and bass/electronic as a teenager. In university, she got into punk and has been listening to a mix of genres ever since. She played piano as a child and dabbled with guitar as a teen, but only started playing bass so her husband would start a band with her. She took up singing only after spending a year without finding a singer for their band, but has experienced tremendous growth and progress since. Juggling band commitments with work and kids is not always easy, but Jaz McCartney finds pleasure in pursuing her passion for music and loves that her children get to see their parents co-operating and having a laugh creating and just being imaginative. “‘Juggling a band with other life commitments like work and kids isn’t always easy but it’s something that brings us so much fulfilment and is worth it,” she said. “Our kids love helping us write lyrics and design merch and come away with us to different towns for gigs. I think it’s awesome that they get to see their parents collaborating and having fun being creative together. “We have such a strong support network of family/babysitters, which makes it easier to play gigs. Our families probably don’t love all our music but are super proud and supportive of us.” And then there’s drummer and heart and soul of the group, Trotter, who got into music at a young age through her older brother’s electronic music mixed with what was on surf and motocross videos. She loved 90s grunge and started guitar lessons at around 10 years old, but it was when a friend gifted her a drum kit found at the tip that she started making a lot of noise in the shed for years in Kalbarri. When asked about how they got started with RATSALAD, Trotter shared: “I never really thought much of being in a band until I ran into Jaz and Ken many years later who were both keen as mustard to start a band. “‘It’s really exciting to see original bands doing their thing here in Geraldton, and to be able to go to venues and watch live music, whichever genre it be, I’m sure will forever be one of my favourite things.” The story behind the band’s name is a fascinating, yet simple one, defying the punk band’s unconventional image. Contrary to what you might expect, the name RATSALAD didn’t originate from a rebellious act or a provocative idea. According to Ken McCartney, it was simply heard from a co-worker at Iluka, and Jaz thought it was a rad name. However, the plot thickened as they later discovered that RATSALAD was actually an old Black Sabbath song. The band recently took home the 2022 WAM Song of the Year award for their powerful effort, Chicken Lips. This is not the first time RATSALAD has been recognised by the WA music industry, having won the WAM 2020 heavy/metal song of the year and WAM 2021 punk/hardcore song of the year. The band has been making music in their kitchen since 2019, and they have been working hard on their debut album, hoping it will open doors for them. Despite the challenges, they are thankful that the wider WA community has adopted RATSALAD and lets them perform throughout the region. Their music is raw, authentic and genuine. Their lyrics are relatable and reflective of the struggles and joys of everyday life. Their live performances are electrifying, and they have developed a loyal following in the Mid West music scene. In a world where everything is commercialised, RATSALAD is a breath of fresh air. They’re not just a punk band; they’re a group of individuals who are passionate about music and making a positive impact on the world. They are family people, Geraldton people, footy players and fans, they are me and they are you! The future looks bright for RATSALAD, and I for one can’t wait to see what they do next.