The Go Set, The CasinoRumblers, Hytest, LosCapitanes @ The Annandale,Sydney (14/04/06)

Tue 18th Apr, 2006 in Gig Reviews

Easter Friday saw a healthy crowd of punters gathered within the hallowed halls of the Annandale Hotel for the launch of Melbourne band The Go Set’s new album The Hungry Mile. And it was all go from the onset with four great bands brimming with boundless energy and substance to match.

First up is Canberra’s Los Capitanes. On first listen you may have thought them another ska/punk band going through the motions, but this bunch of wacky lads have a heap more than that up there collective sleeves. Horns and percussion helped drive this mix of reggae, ska, punk and enough melodic sheen to keep the tunes in your head for longer than the moment. The crowd warmed well to their snappy arrangements delivered with a cool tongue in cheek attitude and the ability to not take themselves too seriously; a great fun vibe.

Next is Hytest who are up from Wollongong for the night. The 3 piece delivered their straight up punk rock with hard driving riffs and punchy vocals. It’s hard to say that there’s anything new or groundbreaking going on here but I guess that’s the point. The simplicity and in your face nature of it speaks for itself and they’re set is executed with energetic precision and they jump about the stage with glee. Look out for things to come.

Time for Sydney fellas The Casino Rumblers, fresh from supporting the Misfits on their national tour these guys are seemingly indefatigable… very nice! From the moment that screen rose it was an absolute barrage of punk psychobilly energy; these guys absolutely go for it. Initially, their sound is punk with horns and the double bass slappin’ away, all at top speed. But as the set unfolds you realise that there is more to it than just bashin’ out the bar chords. They have this psychobilly shuffle thing going on with the drums plus a real swing feel to it, and at the same time still rockin’ real hard and tough. It’s angry and dark, but these lads have definitely got the cool factor going on in aces. Catchy choruses get the crowd moving to the front dancing away. The musicianship of these guys is awesome with lead vocalist Dave Bean also handling the mental job of slap bass, tres impressive. A new album out next month they say…. cant wait.

The Go Set announce their set with lonely bagpipist, Johnny Rotten McHaggis, dressed in full Celtic garb playing some mystical folk tune then off we go on a fantastic set of big chanting, rockin’ melodic punk. Their sound is huge, augmented by non intrusive sprinklings of bagpipes, piano accordion, mandolin and tin whistle. But this wasn’t some folk fest; these guys headed by singer/songwriter J. Kennan deliver straight from the heart punk tunes which delve into political subjects at times but are more about having a wild time and jumping around beved up chanting away in full voice. A touch of Billy Bragg, and of course The Dropkick Murphys comes to mind, but more than anything they have their own sound and it’s immediately infectious. You just can’t help moving to The Go Set, they have the house jumping away fists in the air. The new album, The Hungry Mile which was released in March got a good workout tonight with songs about the Australian Trade Union Movement and past Australian war heroes, but without getting too obsessed with the political vein. Someone described them as a bit like an electric Sydney City Trash without the anger… perhaps, but without doubt they rocked the house and for all those lucky enough to be in town to check ‘em out, a great night of awesome bands, topped by The Go Set in full flight. Good Friday indeed!