Hardcore Super Bowl 1999 Iron Duke

Line Up:

Blurred Vision 2.30-3.00

Age of Distrust 3.20-3.50

Tuskin Raiders 4.10-4.40

Last Hemeroids 5.00-5.30

Open Wound 5.50-6.20

Embodiment 6.40-7.10

Grim Reality 7.30-8.00

Legendary Stockings!!!!!

Beer Monsters!!!

AVO 8.20-8.50

Vicious Circle 9.10-9.40

Arms Reach 10.00-10.30

Rocks 10.50-11.20

H Block 101 11.40-12.10

Toe to Toe 12.30-close

Firstly I should tell ya I know jack shit about most of these bands. Coming from Brisbane and not into hardcore … I'll doing this review from my impressions ( social and band wise) rather having the hardcore knowledge. So if I seem not in the know … you hit the spot. Though after this gig, I think I'll try to learn more about hardcore.

I used to think Sydney was full of unfriendly people BUT this gig certainly changed my mind. Some of the punters there would scare the pants off your granny if she saw em in the street but damn they were a friendly bunch.

As I walked in I hear " Hey Tracey". Wow this blew me away. Next thing I know I'm getting "shit" cause I said , "Hey guess what I scored yesterday!?". Micko's reply: "Sex". I thought cool shit this guy I feel at home with already, I scored 3 pairs of creepers.

The first band, Blurred Vision, are from Wollongong, play Oi! The lead singer, Gary is quite a character. They play originals and covers of bands (e.g. The Business). Martin and Dave from the Last Hemeroids got up to sing along for the Business cover. Rumor is that they may be looking for a new guitar player. Blurred Vision are worth seeing I reckon, even though they play music rather put on a total performance. Top Tip girls: Gary reckons he has the sexiest knees in Sydney, so if your into knees he is your man.

I have it on good authority Age Of Distrust are wicked. Worth the venture to catch em.

The same authority reckons Tuskin Raiders are "gay". Gay seems like a word a few Sydney siders use for crap/ shit. We don't use that term in Brisbane much to refer to crap, but then again Brisbane is ten years behind (ha!).

The guys from Resist records had a sweet stall selling CD's, vinyl and some videos. If your into hardcore these are the men for your next hardcore fantasy of buying up big. Resist Records 243 Australia Street Newtown. Phone 02- 95578771.

Gary - Blurred Vision

The Last Hemeroids

Next thing I know Gary from Blurred Vision is saying in the beer garden, "These guys are RAW!". So I go to check out Open Wound from Melbourne. He was right these guys are raw. Raw seems like a wussy word though, probably harsh is more reflecting what I thought of em. If you like that growling singing then this is a band you will cream yourself over them. To me, it just sounds evil and I keep looking for the devil over my shoulder.

Oi! The Last Hemeroids are very entertaining.They played mostly original songs and my feet just didn't want to keep planted on the ground … Pick it up! Pick it up! Oi! Oi!

People from all over the east coast went to the gig, including people from Melbourne, Geelong, Canberra, Wollongong, Brisbane, Newcastle and where ever else. Brisbane had a strong (?) contingent of 5.

Seems like the beer god releases unknown honesty and openness amongst people. I had some people tell me the most intimate stories and well I told some as well after they opened up to me. One guy was way chuffed with himself telling me his girlfriend bought home last night a pair of hand cuffs. I won't tell ya what advice I told him but I certainly hope he takes it. Some chicks were also telling tales bout the behind the scenes of the Vans Warped tour. Let's just say our "idols" are well not the wholesome guys you want to take home for ya mum to meet.

Brisbane Crew

Vicious Circle from Melbourne sure did pack a crowd to see em. Rumor has it the guitarist whom wears leather pants puts a truckload of ice down em before the set so he keeps his jewels cool. The lead singer's shirt looked like one of those Hot Rod designs I was waiting for the car to turn up mid set. But what happened was the punters went wild dancing and singing along. Good news as no car or a sardine could of fitted into the gig. Guitar string breakage cause a bit of a lull though. Vicious Circle play punk the old school way and what a way they do it! Go see em if ya haven't already.

No one told me The Clash was on the bill, oh that’s right it was H Block 101 from Melbourne. Even though they sound like The Clash they have a style of their own. Now if you ask me … I wanna listen to these guys for hours on end. Damn fine music!!!! I can hardly wait till they tour Brisbane at Easter.

By the end of the night I would say most people would certainly have consumed way too much alcohol but I saw no biffs or any agro. Talk bout a 80% male oriented crowd. Some guy was telling me that he knew a chick that went there in a short skirt ( and doesn't normally wear em) because she knew the crowd would ooze testosterone levels.

Merchanise top buys: Hardcore SuperBowl Tshirts $15, Vicious Circle T shirts $5, Last Hemeroids CD $10 and H Block 101 CD $5.

Thanks to Shaun from AVO for organizing what to me was one hell of a night!!!! I had a pearler! Hardcore Superbowl or bust next year!!!!!!!!

AVO played the best that I have ever seen them. Mixing streetpunk with high energy trashy edge, they blitzed the stage with angry aggressive punk rock that started the odd circle stomp erupting, especially for their Jerry Kids cover "Uncontrollable" and their surprise ending of a Forward Defence/ Toe to Toe medley.

Arms Reach, long time NSW hardcore heroes came on and got things moving pretty quick. A band that has survived with numerous line up changes, had yet another with the unavailability of Ben the regular bass player for the night forcing guitarist Christy to play bass. The four piece line up didn't stop them at all though as they pumped out the winning formula of stompy brutal blasty hardcore which saw some hard and suicidal dancing by regular fans.

This year brought together the most diverse selection of bands. Normally the show is restricted to Hard Core bands only and it all gets too much by the end of the night. But this year the variety in styles and personalities made it a much more pleasurable experience. We are now all looking forward to the Fifth Superbowl. Oh, don't forget to mention how cool the Rocks were!

Micko (from bXe)

Today was a test of beer drinking ability basically. 12 hours of beer swilling action and punk rock action. What can I say? We all did really well, no spewing or nuffin. My fave band of the day were Melbourne's heavy grind/crust boys Open Wound. I've never seen them before but god dayyam they can play. Arms Reach did really well with only 4 members, but Luke Crew just didnt look as intense with bleached hair. Last Hemeroids were once again fanfuckulous, the highlight I feel succumbing to our cries of "play the green square song" which is their anti-iron duke song. Great anarchic behaviour from our Sydney heroes. Other highlights were Grim Reality's set of NY style hardcore, Blurred Vision's cover of The Business's "Voices in the Crowd" and Gary pulling out his false teeth for everyone to see, and talking to those 2 rad German dudes all night (errr who were they?), the appearance of many familiar underager's (vyv, jess, vanessa), and ummmm the BEER WAS GOOD! Great job behind the bar Shanna!!! Till next year, love from Micko and bXe :)