Check out the X gallery here

There is something to be said about a band who you want to see purely because you love the sound of their name. For me, The Jim Rockfords was one of those bands and after their performance on Friday night, I can’t say enough. This band established a perfect setting for the night’s festivities with a sound that invoked feelings of being in a deserted American roadside truckstop stuck in the middle of a Rob Zombie movie.

A very talented Kylie Lovejoy delivered solid bass lines with the driving beats from drummer Mitch “Mayhem” Humphrys. Coupled with guitar licks from Phill Wilson and Fred Noonan, they provided the platform for singer and harmonica enthusiast Junior Hickey to kick, scream and wail away in the band’s fun and energetic style, which had the audience participation at a maximum all the way the end of the set. With the night also doubling as the band’s 2nd birthday, it will be a performance The Jim Rockfords (and the audience) won’t soon forget.

Next up was the always impressive SixFtHick. If you have never witnessed a SixFtHick gig, you have missed over a decade of Tequila shots, flykicks and falling over backwards… all whilst continuing to play without missing a beat. Even if a note is dropped (which it wasn’t), who cares? This is rock and roll! These guys have a style I can only describe as energetic storytellers and have played all round the world and many a Brisbane performance.

The set list didn’t disappoint and delivered all the favourites including White Light Wet Heat, Smokin’ Mirrors and Acquaintances. With Geoffro Corbett delivering the lead vocals, Ben Corbett on backup vocals (in between falling over backwards) and Dan Baebler (Guitar), Tony Giacca (Bass) and Fred (Drums) delivering the punchy, grinding sounds, the audience was once again in full throttle and didn’t want the band to finish, even after what seemed to be a whole hearted and all-encompassing set.

After a short delay, the band known as X approached the stage for the last act of the evening. X had big shoes to fill after following the energetic and crazy antics of SixFtHick and The Jim Rockfords. This reviewer opines X delivered a style of music that was far too slow and boring to compete with the previous bands and was perhaps a let-down to the high energy they’d created. Thus the crowd lost interest and either fell asleep, drank until the music was inconsequential, or left the venue in search of a bigger sound. It was a shame to end the night with a feeling of such placidness when it seemed that the crowd was so pumped up and just itching for more.

On the up side, it’s always good to find a fresh, new band like The Jim Rockfords to keep an eye on with eager anticipation towards their next performance. Even better to know that the old favourites can still kick it like they always have.