The first show was on the day we got there. It was an all ages affair that saw us with the following echaracteristics: 2 hours sleep, a run in with a seedy pervert, interupting our roomate getting lucky and us being taken to the wrong side of the city before getting to the show. Well, in comparison to the bands who made the trek down, I think we had it good. OSA were told to stay at a place that was infested with smckies and hookers, Bleeding Face slept outside in Albury on the way down in 4 degrees of temperature and I don't know what the story was with The Pact but they also looked like shit.
Platform III were the first band to play. I really felt sorry for these kids. I know what it's like to play in a melodic band at a hardcore show, winning the crowd is impossible! But seriously, no matter how hard I tried, I just couldn't take to this band. They were only a bunch of kids and maybe they'll improve with age but their songs seemed to be very generic and of the SoCal variety. Sure, I can get into some of those bands but I don't see the relevance of this music here. Australians have experienced life differently and SoCal done by Aussies is fake in my opinion. We're just not that shiny and clean here. Admittedly, they had a few technical problems but I just couldn't get into them. Second up were OSA. They looked like shit! You really do need sleep before you play a show. BUT, they did play alright. Not fantastic but okay. The quality of their songs pulled them through. They thought they played shite when I talked to them after but I honestly enjoyed the set and so did everybody else. Their straight-up hardcore always wins me over. The next band to grace the floorspace was The Pact. They have always been a hit and miss affair in my experience and today was definately a miss! I thought this was the worst that I had ever seen them. I don't know though, maybe I just wasn't in the mood for youth crew stuff cos I did hear other people say that it was on of their best ever sets. I honestly can't see it. There were way too many fuck ups. Songs were constantly started again and again and even scrapped along the way. Oh well, I decided to check them out again the next evening. The third (and final NSW band) was Bleeding Face. These guys are one of the best hardcore bands in Sydney at the moment. They play awesome, heavy, fast and brutal 'hate-core' that verges on power violence at times. They also put on one of the most energetic shows you are ever likely to see. They played extremely well (when do they not!?). Ari, the singer warned us that he may pass out near the end of their set and I think he came very close. He runs around like a maniac and he just wasn't in the condition to do it this afternoon. After Bleeding Face I got to check out some awesome Melbourne melodic hardcore thanks to Racor. I cannot believe that nobody in Sydney knows about this band. They are just awesome! Sort of in the cein of Self Reliance but that is only a strating point for reference. Very tight band, awesome show. They made me very happy about trekking down to Melbourne. The next band were a mettalic hardcore band called Hands Once Held. I heard this was there third show and id that is true, well fuck me dead! They are the shit. If you like heavy music at all, you'd love this band. Their first song had like 6 parts and went for about that many minutes. Brilliant muscianship but not pretentious or wanky at all. They are heavy as fuck and just as tight! They had a guest vocalist for a few songs that was just awesome, really realy high pitched screams. I get the impression that people putting their hands over their ears meant that a lot of the crowd hated this but Will and I stood there with our fists in the air screaming "BRING IT ON!!". Great stuff. They finished their set with a Cro Mags cover of all things. They fucked it up but it was still fun. Unfortuunately, I had to leave after this which meant that I missed a few bands but I did get to hook up with some cool people (Mel and her friend), unfortunately I was too tired to really talk to them at all! We called it a night and went back to the hostel for some sleep, not before interrupting our roomate again just before he got started. Oh well... The next day was time to shop and see Melbourne. It's a great city with some really cool features. Firstly, they have some awesome record stores down there. I spent sooo much money at Missing Link. It is the best record store I've ever seen in my life! They made so much money that day from the NSW crew. You could tell who all the Sydney/Woolongong/Newcastle people were very easily. They were the ones running around going "Oh my god! Look what they've got. I have to get this!" So much music that is not available in Sydney. They actually stock new school hardcore and straight ahead punk rock. You'll never find that stuff in Sydney (unfortuately). Problem was, I spent so much money in Missing Link that I had no more money left for Au Go-Go. They also stock some great punk rock, more left of centre stuff and punk punk n roll stuff. Next time I'm down there they'll be the ones that get all my money. The rest of the day we just looked around Melbourne hanging out at the skate park and shit like that (they actually have skaters in Melbourne that ride their boards instead of holding them...and a skate park in the middle of the city). Well, after a great day it was time to head off to the next show at The Arthouse (an absolutely awesome venue). Platform III kicked it off again. Once more, I tried but they just don't do it for me...sorry guys! Racor were up next. They were even better than the night before. I had to buy the cd (which is awesome). I've come to the conclusion that they need to move to Sydney so that I can see them all the time. OSA were next. They were way better than they day before, The sleep they had must have done them a lot of good. This was easily the best set they have ever played. They played really well and put a lot of energy into it. The crowd got into the set (well the NSW people did...the Melbourne kiddies obviously don't know how to dance). They sure did impress all that saw them though. Open Wound were the next band. Melbourne power violence reigns supreme. These guys are defiantely the tightest band I have ever seen. The guitarist was pissed out of his mind and was standing in the crowd the entire set. Still, he mangaed to attack his giutar in a way such as I have never witnessed. He is the best guitar player I have ever seen. Jay sure can sing when in comes to grind/power violence. One of the best voices I have hear in this genre. The bass player does a great job of keeping it together along with the best drummer I have ever seen live (blast beats galore...with precision). Apparently they are recording soon, I can't wait. The next band were Without A Reason. Basically I'm a dickhead and I didn't watch them. I don't even know why. Apparently they were awesome though! The Pact were up next. WOW!! I have never seen them play so well. Really tight, no noticeable mistakes. Finally, they have won me over. I'll be a fan forever now! Awesome youth crew hardcore! The final band was Bleeding Face. It was a bout 2am by this stage and a lot of the Melbourne people that bothered turning up (trust me there wasn't a lot) went home to go to sleep like good little boys and girls (yes, girls actually go to hardcore shows in Melbourne...amazing!). Bleeding Face tonight were just amazing. Sure, they ususally are but tonight they were beyond description! Tight, tight, tight! They were just so energetic too. If you didn't know better you'd think that these guys would need a garbage bag full of speed to put on such a great show but no drugs here! They just run and jump constantly for the best part of an hour and don't let up. I got tired with them just by watching. They did plently of damage to the equipment too, one of the mic leads just snapped in half but that's what you get with such dangerous show! Finally the night was over and it was time for bed.
The next day was just spent at the skate park all day hanging out with OSA and The Pact (who I discovered are very nice people) before jumping on the bus that night for the trip back. I'd just like to take a moment to give a shout out to all the kids that made the 10-14 hour journeys down there for the shows and made the whole weekend so much fun! Also, thanks to Brendan and Emily for putting on the shows, it's just too bad that more people that could go to the shows without much effort (ie people who live in Melbourne) didn't come along and enjoy themselves. I can't wait to get down there again!!!
The first band was Blurred Vision, this being their first show in Sydney. Blurred Vision are a Wollongong band that play great Oi! It was the first time I've ever seen them cos last time I got stuck waiting for a pizza while the played. Well, they are truly a great band. Musically, they weren't all that generic for an Oi! band. Sure, there were no 2 minute solo's but they were original in some respects. I can't wait to see them again.
Age of Distrust were the next band. They are a new-school hardcore band that has plenty of mosh parts in their music. They always play a tight set and today was no exception. They are only a relatively new band (played their first show in November) and they are gaining a strong following very quickly. I was disappointed to see the singer without his gimp mask on today but I guess it was very hot. Not the best set they have ever played, but that's not to say they were no good...far from it! The Tuscan Raiders were the third band up. They are a pop punk band (please note that this year the bill was very diversified). While I love pop punk, I'm not a huge fan of the Tuscan Raiders. However, this is the third time that I've seen them and it was definately the most impressive. The vocals are getting a bit more rough sounding (or was that just so that they'd fit in with the hardcore bands) and the band is getting tighter. If you like them, you would have liked their set. The next band to grace the (barricaded) stage was The Last Hemeroids. Now I love TLH and have seen them so many times it isn't funny. But to be honest, the last time I saw them I was really bored (sorry guys). I was starting to think that I had seen them too many times. Today set me straight. Sure the same verbal introductions were there for every song but they were much more exciting to watch than they have been for a long time. Again, TLH were on the bill due to the diversifaction factor cos seriously, ska is nowhere near hardcore but I was glad to see them play. I guess their set was just a warmup for the Voodoo Glowskulls cruise the next day cos they played unbelievable on that boat - definately the best I have ever seen them play. The next band up were Open Wound. Open Wound are a band from Melbourne that contain members of various great hardcore bands including MYC/Heads Kicked Off and Fallout. Well, they opened their set with the words "We're Open Wound from Melbourne and this is the Grindcore Superbowl" and that is excactly what it was for the next half hour. They were definately the best band of the day, which is saying a lot considering it was the first time I'd heard them. As soon as they finished their first song somebody in the crowd spoke up and said "Okay, that's it! All the other bands can go home now!", not a bad call at all. There was one song they finished so damn suddenly that the entire place just gasped in disbelief. I really need to see this band again, and as soon as possible. Open Wound are gods! Well, cos I'm a shitty reviewer I can't tell you about Embodiment, Grim Reality, AVO or Viscous Circle cos I had to leave for a few hours to go play a show with my own band. Sorry about that but we did get payed a lot of money! I returned about 4 hours later to see the beginning of Arms Reach's set. The first time I saw Arms Reach I thought they were way overrated. I honestly couldn't see what the big deal was. Slowly, they've won me over. They are an awesome band! Tonight's set was great for the simple fact that they put so much effort into it. They played really tight and put on a great show that everybody was getting into. In the second last song the singer jumped into the crowd (not that this is unusual or anything) and fully got floored. He didn't miss a word though. He was on the ground screaming away. He returned to the stage after the song covered in all this black stuff, I think he copped a bit of a trampling. He looked like he was in a bit of pain but kept singing for the last song. At the end of this he just jumped in the air and tried to do a backflip (I think) and landed on his back and head. I think he just figured he was already hurting so he may as well. Tonight Arm's Reach weren't far behind Open Wound and neither were any of the bands to follow. They've been together since 1977 and tonight they followed Arms Reach. ROCKS were the next band. I'd never even heard of ROCKS until about a year ago when Bibs from Crank joined to play drums. I then forgot about them until a few months ago. This was the second time I've ever seen them. Sorry, but when I think of punk bands this old I think of the Sex Pistols embarrasing themselves for money or The Exploited just embarrasing themselves for no particular reason. ROCKS are in a totally different league. They are actually a great band that plays well live. The weird thing is that they don't even have a sound that is really that old. Well they have a great bunch of songs and they played really well tonight, even dedicating a song to H-Block for all the inspiration (ha ha). They finished the set with a cover of Sham 69's "If The Kids Are United". They do it a bit differently and definately improve on the original. The place went off, definately a great moment in punk! I had that song stuck in my head for weeks. H-Block were next. What can you say that hasn't been said before. Not once have I seen these guys play badly or have I been bored by their set. They have a sticker on the drums that says "Putting the Rock back into Punk". Exactly what they're doing. Tonight they played well and put on an enthusiastic performance. They even played a cover of a Fear song (though I'm yet to actually hear the original, I've only heard covers of it, most notably from H-Block and Blatz). Tonight was also good cos I found out that H-Block will be doing a split 7" with Voice Of A Generation on my label, Falsestart Records, this year. YAY! Well, that was it for me. I couldn't be bothered to stay for Toe To Toe, I had to work the next day and then go on a cruise that night so I called it quits for the night. Definately the best Superbowl I've been to!
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