No Sleep Til... @Entertainment Centre, Adelaide(15/12/10)

Fri 17th Dec, 2010 in Gig Reviews

Not since the Australian version of the Warped Tour back in the late 90s early 00s has there been a festival with such a pure speed and punk rock focus. Soundwave has been a glorious inclusion to the summer festival season, but nothing like the inaugural No Sleep Til festival has had me salivating like this for a long time.

As I wondered down to the Adelaide Entertainment Centre the distinct lack of action had me a little concerned, the car park was all but empty and apart from a few kids milling out the front the place seemed pretty dead. I momentarily thought I had the wrong day, where was the massive lines and sniffer dogs we have become accustomed to at Aussie festivals. The old saying “Punks Not Dead”, is definitely true, but we are all a lot older and have day jobs now. I know I do, I just woke up this morning feeling a little crook (cough cough). The mid week festival in Adelaide might have been a bit ambitious.

The early and mid week start meant that great performances by We Came As Romans, 3 Inches of Blood and August Burns Red were all but missed, but as the afternoon went on and the bigger acts approached the crowd continually grew.
By the time Suicide Silence took the stage the crowd had grown to a semi-respectable size and for the first time everyone converged for a bloody impressive set by the Californian metallers. Hardcore dancing was at a premium with everyone giving it a go before the set was finished with a great wall of death.

Following Suicide Silence was the first of the big name band to the hit the stage the superest of punk rock supergroups Me First and The Gimme Gimmes. Having just recorded an Aussie EP to coincide with the tour it wasn’t long before the boys whipped out INXS’s Never Tear Us Apart dedicating it to, as only Fat Mike and Gimmes could, to autoerotic asphyxiation. With Spike, Mike and Joey all up front the banter was at an obnoxious premium. Rocking out in matching Hawaiian shirts the boys put the cunt into country with Jolie_ and Ghost Riders_ before the finishing the set with a cover End of The Road.

Alkaline Trio were the next up and the crowd just shuffled across to the other side of the stage to catch the ever popular Illinois punks. As always the boys put on a cracking show, but as is the case with the early slots you blink and you miss it and just like that they were taking requests for the last song. Private Eyes the lucky winner.

Next up was everyone’s favourite mongrels Frenzal Rhomb. Lindsey wearing a delightful red shirt, white tie combo with sawn off jeans and Jay barefooted FR were in spectacular form playing a great range of hits covering their entire catalogue. Highlights of the set included Ship of Beers, 4L and Never Had So Much Fun before dedicating Worlds Fuckest Cunt to Opera and finishing the set in style with Punch in the Face. Atreyu and A Day To Remember were the next to up and although personally I haven’t gotten into them the kids were all over them. The crowds were massive and going mental.

All I can say about GWAR is WTF?? Seriously WTF?? I kinda knew what to expect, but wow cool show. The opening which featured a decapitation and litres of blood being squirted into the crowd really just set the scene for the stage show that was to come. The music was good, but really took a back seat to the costumes, the voice, the effects, blood and guts. GWAR – what an experience.

Parkway Drive is another one I haven’t really gotten into, but the kids were all over it. One of the biggest crowds of the day packed in and fist pumped and sang every word in unison, I dont know what was more impressive the onstage action or the crowd synchronicity. Who knows why a band from surfy Byron is playing hardcore, but fuck they do it well.

Then it was time for the big three, which also triggered slightly longer time slots, a welcome inclusion after some extremely short sets earlier in the day.

The haunting sound of the Field of Athenry filled the stadium meaning just one thing, Bostons Dropkick Murphys were on their way. Out of nowhere Jeff rushed the stage, banjo in hand and ripped the opening lick of The State of Massachusetts quickly followed by the rest of the band. Al is a truly great front man and brought a stack of energy to the set which included Bar Room Hero and the AFL’s new theme song I’m Shipping Up To Boston. This set absolutely flew and just like that they were over.

Then it was time for the band with the most impressive backdrop ever NOFX. NOFX wiped the floor with all comers on the day and were in cracking form. Dinosaurs Will Die and Linolium to open the show set the scene for what was an amazing set. Other gems included the Bottles to the Ground, Eat the Meek and Dont Call Me White. Mike and Ele Hefe throwing plenty of fuel on the punk kids vs metal kids fire and getting a rise out of the metal kids waiting down the front for Megadeth. Claiming a four to one advantage over the metal kids, they all agreed theyd still lose the fight. After an hour of air tight (ha) punk and more than showing who should have been headlining it was time to say goodnight to Adelaide the smallest crowd on the tour and the owners of the shittest city with The Brews.

Then the punk rock kids made way for the metal heads and the night was rounded off in blistering fashion by one of the worlds premire metal acts Megadeth. When I say the punks left, they literally left leaving only about 300 people in the building. Dave Mustaine however showed little concern and as he always does showed why he is considered by some to be the greatest metal guitarist of all time. Playing the classic 1990 record Rust in Peace in its entirety, meant that the set was predictable but awesome. Setting the scene the opening two tracks Holy Wars and Hanger 18 were brilliant. The problem with playing an entire album is that it leaves little anticipation and inevitably a bit of filler. Following the album the men finished with a flurry of hits including Head Crusher, Symphony of Destruction and Peace Sells. The few remaining punters were treated to some vintage metal, but unfortunately there weren’t many left by the time he thanked the crowd and exited.

Awesome day, awesome festival only mistake was billing Megadeth ahead of NOFX.