Looking at the line-up and times for the night made me wish I could be magically split into three so I could get up the front of every stage for every band this New Year’s Eve.
The long queue of people outside and security checks made me miss the start of The Kamikaze Trio in the Front Bar. If you have yet to check out these guys, you are missing one of Melbourne’s most exciting bands. More thump than punch than Sam [guitar] and Andy’s [drums] other band, Digger and the Pussycats, the boys are spellbinding to watch as Andy’s red ‘fro rattles in the rear and Sam belts out melodies reminiscent of Fugazi. This was perfect music for the St Kilda sunset streaming through the Front Bar’s picture window; a spectacle unto itself. The Trio were over too soon but I had a mountain more bands to see tonight.
In the mammoth Gershwin Room, Silver Night Drive, a new band for me, hit the stage to a packed room. Vocals from Andre [apparently Kit’s brother from Rocket Science] caught my attention. He has one hell of a voice and could run rings around many a falsetto metal singer. But this band is more Outback Pub than Nordic Vikings. By the third song I wanted to swig on a bottle of Bundy, do circle work in the back paddock in Dad’s ute and drive off into the sunset, swag on back like in any good Holden commercial. But I just had to rip on the handbrake and head back over to the Front Bar for Cannon.
Cannon have been deservedly supporting a stream of great bands in recent months such as The D4. Their sound has been labelled first derivative rock, but that’s what most people were here for tonight. Cannon’s third song was an acoustic number and held the crowd’s attention. After they played Round and Round, I had to hit the Carousel of Rock and spin myself from the bar, round to the boy’s dunnies [the Ladies was crowded!], wipe someone’s spew off my shoes and swing back round to the Gershwin Room.
Local rock ‘n ’ roll favourites The Specimens hit the stage with a bang! So many denim clad dudes and busty cleavage’s bouncing front stage; these boys have really got a solid fan base. By now the Gershwin Room had its own ecosystem with sweat dripping off the high ceiling and pouring over us all. Terry Specimen [guitar/vocals] was well prepared with his towelling sweat band and for a moment I though he might bust into Footloose [go Bacon!] No ‘80s retro here, just genuine raunchy rock ‘n’ roll.
Highlights of the night were Head Straight with its Turbonegro-esque killer riffs, Get On Top accompanied by Cam [vocals] from The Can’ts and a cover of The Saints A Perfect Day [although this fell on deaf ears with the young Supre shoppers in the audience]. The ladies man, Tim Specimen [lead guitar] jammed out a riff lying down while one over amorous fan gave him an early New Year’s Eve pash just before another wave of girls leapt on stage!! The New Year’s Eve party was in full swing!!
Passing the Public Bar, I caught the last song from Spoonful, a country rock ensemble which was just a little to mellow as midnight approached so back to the Front Bar for everybody’s favourite band, The Anyones. Their infectious poprock oozes catchy guitar ditties and vocal harmonies that will ring in your ears for days.
By this time the Front Bar was brimming with bouncing party people sliding off each others sweat and I though I might sidle into the Gershwin Room to catch Dallas Crane. Denied!!! You could not squeeze one more person in through the entrance. Then 3-2-1 it was midnight and everyone’s tongues were searching in the dark for some action [where was Tommy Love?!] Lucky me, The Casanovas were kicking off in the Front Bar. This 3-piece chunk of manlove kicked off with Livin In The City and had plenty of energy left after their appearance at the Philip Island Pyramid Festival only a couple of hours ago. What I love about The Casanovas is their ability to play songs that you “think” you know. Be it AC/DC’s High Voltage or maybe the Sweet’s Ballroom Blitz, you can’t quite put your finger on that familiar melody but you know you love their music; its not rocket science, just solid gold rock.
The Espy was starting to look a little like a scene from The Dawn of the Dead as a mass of drunk sweaty bodies piled up front for The Cops band finale at the Front Bar. Being a Cops virgin, it struck me why this band has a strong Australian following. They play their sloppy, [not quite paint by numbers] rock’n’roll LOUD!! Out of the songs played, The Shake got me dancing [make that sliding] across the floor and no-one here tonight wanted them to leave the stage.
Alas the Carousel of Rock at The Espy had ended but I did get to see the crème de la Roque of the 15 bands on offer tonight. Can we do this again soon? Start counting the days until the St Kilda Festival rock lovers!!
Anton
said ages ago