Reviewed on Saturday September 17.
Still battling through a Friday hangover? Fear not – Hostile Objects and Creative Adult will perk you up in an instant. Hostile trade in furious, rapid-fire hardcore that completely belies their late-arvo timeslot, while Adult are a curious blend of Crazy Horse-inspired proto-grunge jamming and sprawling post-punk, and even when they’re down a guitarist, they’re far from disadvantaged.
Meanwhile, Cayetana’s scrappy, earnest take on melodic punk is the kind that can instantly win people over – that is, of course, accounting for those not already enamoured with them to the point of boisterously singing lyrics back to the bandmembers. This trend continues through the following sets from The Hard Aches and Camp Cope – the latter band in particular are almost thrown off entirely by how loudly their words are reciprocated. With both acts having put their names to killer 2016 releases, it’s a truly exciting time to be watching each in action as their respective stars continue to rise.
Rozwell Kid are proudly the day’s uncoolest band and, raised on Cheap Trick and Weezer, they play power-pop with a sugar rush and a mile-wide grin. They work their magic and have the crowd eating out of the palm of their hands, with help from The Bennies’ Craig Selak and the best guitar power-stances you’re likely to see all year. Placing Pity Sex after this would seem a bit of a vibe-killer, given their more introspective, reserved nature. Still, they’re equally as impressive in a very different way – they not only showcase the lineup’s versatility, but also how well the band has adapted and recovered in the wake of guitarist Britty Drake’s departure.
It all ends in a blaze of glory care of High Tension and The Bennies. Though the two may come from polar-opposite sonic spectrums – one a break-neck beatdown of brutality, the other a weed-toking, hot-boxing love-in – they end up complementing one another beautifully. They raise the energy in the room to a new peak and ensure it stays there right to the very end – which comes with Bennies frontman Anty Horgan crowdsurfing his way out into the middle of the room to share a spliff with a fellow punter. If you’re not loving life by now, you’re simply at the wrong damn show.
