Smoke or Fire @ RosemountHotel, Perth (13/10/11)

Wed 19th Oct, 2011 in Gig Reviews

When Smoke or Fire announced an Australian tour earlier this year to showcase their third album The Speakeasy, punk rockers loitering in basements and dark alleys nationwide started to drool with anticipation.

The FAIM Project kicked the night into gear with what could only be described as a haphazard mix match of raw, punk energy. Honesty and Wedding Dress were belted out to the already festering crowd made up, by the look of things, of the band’s mates and their die-hard followers. Lead singer, Noah Skape famously intervened by waffling on about what was being played and good housemates before belching into the microphone and dry humping the stage wall. This just drove the swelling crowd into a mosh pit where several pint glasses were smashed and the already overworked solo bouncer was flat-out trying to catch a flurry of stage divers including Skape himself. A succession of the band’s mellow songs followed before picking up pace again lead by guitarists Stefan Caramia and Jacob Fry. Drummer Jay Swenson seemed almost out of place as did mellow bass player Dom Rae, yet they held the riffs and beats with precision timing. Fry, sporting a mean Mohawk gave them the look of a raw punk genre band.

After accidently punching someone in the crowd on his way to standing and singing on the bar shirtless, Skape returned through a hoard of sweaty pumped up revellers to deliver the final songs of the band’s set, Metaphor and Than I. This group has come a long way since its electrifying Albany birth, with their unpredictable singer, the band is steadied by musicians who can actually deliver quality music. The FAIM Project is definitely one worth watching for the future.

After Perth group Chilling Winston calmed the crowd with some tame melodic tunes; American group Pour Habit graced the stage with a hero’s entrance. This juggernaut Californian punk band has an avid following in Australia and from the noise of the crowd; it might have appeared that this was the band most had leathered up to see. Sporting shoulder-length dreadlocks and red and white football socks, reggae inspired lead singer Chuck Green was in his element; screaming out the lyrics of Institution from the band’s first album Suiticide, before bouncing straight into new tracks Heads of State and Greenery from the band’s 2011 album, Got Your Back.

That was the point of the night though when it started to get messy. An undomesticated group of lads inspired by the already tussling mosh pit crew broke through the limited secure barrier of speakers and head-bangers and crashed onto the stage arena, suddenly joining the band, who were fully focused on belting out the tunes and not too much on the antics of the drunken youths onstage. Suddenly one of the patrons spear tackled Green so hard that he went flying backwards and smashed head-on into the drum kit puncturing a fist size hole in it with what appeared to be his forehead. Through an entanglement of tattooed arms, legs and sprawled out punkers, the heavy riffs continued from the band whilst they mentally assessed the situation unfolding and the health of Green himself. The drum was out of action for the rest of the set, and a groggy Green, refreshed on Jaeger, eventually continued, oblivious to distraction. This Long Beach band truly are masters of their craft.

The band’s fast metallic riffs combined with an energetic and uncompromising floor presence makes Pour Habit an electrifying and sustainable punk orchestra. Bass guitarist Steve Williams performs well on vocal support and plays a vigorous array of chords that combine nicely with the intermittent yet somewhat professional style that Pour Habit employ.

New tracks, Gutterblock Boy and Matter of Opinion were superseded by old favourites Misfigured and Zion, which sent the garish crowd into hysterics. Greens’ larks continued as he entered the mosh pit to sing with his adoring fans. The enthusiastic set concluded with Green whipping out some classic breakdance moves and singing Tomahawk and Hellbent whilst upside down on his head. With what appeared to be the last of his energy, and with tremendous shouts, whoops and applause, Green crashed to the ground collapsing on stage where he remained for a good while, trying to suck up any oxygen that remained at floor level. Pour Habit will be welcomed back with open arms when they return to Australia, bass drum or not.

The stage was laid for the headline act of the night, Massachusetts-raised punk rock outfit Smoke or Fire. Singer Joe McMahon ripped straight into the already fired-up crowd thrashing out Fire Escapes, Porch, Paddy and Filter before anyone had a chance to breathe, and the crowd worshipped it. Drummer Dave Atchison obviously hadn’t been close to a razor for a while but it didn’t stop him cutting out a seriously fine rhythm session. Bassist Ken Gurley seemed right at home with the Rosemount crew, providing a class act riff line that complimented the heavy guitar work being played out by McMahon and guitarist Jeremy Cochrane.

Melatonin was the first track played from the band’s latest release, and it drew a hard-line roar from some seriously amped up moshers. I’ll be gone and California’s Burning also joined in on a playlist that included Cops, Neon and 1968. It was well prepared and well presented to adoring fans, some of who appeared to have travelled from far and wide to see this truly classical punk rock outfit. The end of the set-list was reserved for Cryin’ Shame and a house invitation for the contented crowd to join the stage and vocalize their joy. Pour Habit fronted back up with The FAIM Project to squeeze together and harmonize the end of the night.

Leaving a seriously satisfied mob of punk punters, Pour Habit and Smoke or Fire gave a gracious and explosive performance that fuelled many rockers’ appetite for more of this raw style of mayhem music.