Cocktoberfest @ The Greenroom(21/10/2006)

Sun 22nd Oct, 2006 in Gig Reviews

Cocktoberfest promised to be an affair to remember with a huge line up of Canberra’s best acts. The bill included Zero Degrees and Falling, Eldest Son, Variodivers, Burn the Truth, Superbest Friends, Barrel of Monkeys, Spoil, Switch 3, Using 3 Words, Tonk and Casual Projects.

The night started for me with Eldest Son. A good performance with some catchy punk /rock songs including covers of Tainted Love and Rock the Kasbah. A fairly young band who are fast becoming a strong force in the Canberra music scene.

Next up, on the upstairs stage were Variodivers. This band won the Jamming for Justice comp last week and I can see why. Their sound varied in sound, from heavy rock to funky pop. The set was strong and they had their fair share of fans in the audience.

At 7pm it was time for Burn the Truth. This was a brilliant set. Lead singer, Seppy, has as much stage presence and charisma as you could ask for in a lead singer and the band as a whole works so well together. A sound that can be described as hard rock , with a hint of funk, this is one band to watch out for.

Superbest Friends put on yet another good gig. They have an energy about them that is truly contagious. Their fan base seems to grow with every show. Not only did SBF put their crowd in a happy mood and get them jigging, I also noticed one, if not all members, rocking out to nearly every band that played on the night.

There were a couple of stand out bands for the evening. For me, Spoil was one of them. Their self described ‘groove metal’ sound can’t be ignored. You didn’t have to be metal fan to enjoy the set. The heavy and melodic songs had the crowd cheering for more. The band know how to put on a show, and their genuine talent and love for music reflects in their performance.

Switch 3 were another band that proved to be a highlight for the night. They got the crowd dancing and singing. If there is Canberra band ready for some Australia wide recognition, in my opinion it’s these guys. Their music is radio friendly with the perfect blend of punk and rock. The set was tight, and with songs like Sidelined and Never, it was hard not to keep the foot from tapping.

If you didn’t go to Cocktoberfest, you missed out on an excellent night. It was great to see so many talented bands in the one place. Not to mention the massive turnout. The Canberra music scene has never been better and this gig was just the place to see what’s on offer. There was a strong sense of community in the air, and the good vibes were flowing. Cheers to everyone for making it a memorable night.