The first duo was 69′, a real source of noise to begin the proceedings. The drummer was absolutely out of this world. They don’t need any more members in the band, their wall of sound was certainly enough of a wall to warrant being a duo, and the crowd were super appreciative. Props to the vocalist for wearing a suit in this god-forsaken weather. Sounds like a good dude when he chinwags to the audience. They’re fun. They designed it that way. Like a Punky Noise Rock Waterslide.
The second band was Civic from Melbourne and this is a rare time where I am critical. I thought their drummer was terrific, but I found their sound to be quite cookie cutter and the performance to be quite bland. The boys can clearly play their instruments but I felt every song was uninspired and lacked direction. I thought one song was ‘Ballroom Blitz’ by The Sweet and I was wrong. I want movement from the whole team, and not the vocalist to dress like he’s on Farmer Needs a Wife and the Farmer is going to the local pub for a meal.
Sounds harsh but their songs sounded like they had heard three punk songs and decided to form a band and emulate it. Not the drummer though. Sorry boys, it just didn’t click with me and your vocalist didn’t give me the Iggy Pop energy he should have. That’s probably the harshest review I’ve given a band in the five years I’ve done this. Feel free to tell me I just didn’t get it.
The Bronx hit the stage at 8:20pm and they already had energy you would expect from some California boys ready to tear it up. Immediately as they crashed into the first song, the energy in the room flipped upside down and we were ready for destruction. Ooh, and those backing vocals for the first song gave me the Dopamine hit I was looking for. They are a wild, savage animal. They know how to talk to the crowd, pump them up, and turn the whole situation of the venue into a punk rock thunderstorm.
‘Heart Attack American’ was a wild experience as the people in the audience lost their proverbial shizit. Vocalist Matt Caughthran is a bouncing wild man, perhaps the Pinball Machine of Punk Rock. He brings the energy this kind of audience seeks. All I saw was bopping and flailing hair from the stage, and their blaring noise. Oh, and an enthusiastic crowd that seemed to be hanging onto every single second of music and energy they were sending out.
The Bronx were so humble and really showed their appreciation. They really care about how their Australian fans think of them. The wanted to start a wild circle pit as ‘Breaking News’ broke out, and boy am I glad I stood at the back. I am sure those in the pit were super into it! It was sweaty enough just sitting at the back viewing the show from afar!
‘Under the Rabbit’? Relentless. ‘Curb Feelers’? As expected, as is tradition. ‘Knifeman’, ‘Six Days a Week’, ‘History’s Strangers’? We retained our destination. ‘Kill My Friends’ and ‘Around The Horn’ finished the proceedings. What a wild and woolly affair by that point! Talk about holding the pace, the fire, the mayhem, The Bronx were everything I expected them to be. What a fun Wednesday!
Set List: White Shadow, Sore Throat, Shitty Future, Heart Attack American, False Alarm, White Tar, The Unholy Hand, Breaking News, Under the Rabbit, Curb Feelers, Knifeman, Six Days a Week, History’s Strangler
Encore: Kill My Friends, Around the Horn
With thanks to Live Nation for the media access.
GALLERY & PHOTOS by Shotweiler Photography
The Bronx
Civic
