Canberra Band Explosion @ TheGreenroom (24/02/2007)

Mon 26th Feb, 2007 in Gig Reviews

On returning to the Greenroom on a beautiful sunny Canberra day, I remembered
to dress in all black and leave my hippie gear at home, to make sure I was accepted in rock
community! Enthusiastic crowds from as young as 5 to as old as – well I won’t say how old,
arrived from all over Canberra, to rock, dance, party and drink – if you were over 18 that is!

The Canberra Band Explosion was certainly an explosion, as there were 40
bands from across Canberra, with three stages to shake their long sweaty, shaggy hair on.
The massive day that started from midday and lasting till past midnight, was a well planned
and laid out event with three different stages that each had a distinctly different vibes.
Outside was a big stage – where the rockers could get a sausage sizzle and lay down on the
grass, a stage upstairs in the Greenroom itself – the bar was transformed into soft-drink only
bar, which felt like one big party filled with balloons and ambience, and of course the
designated 18+ area downstairs where the ‘oldies’ hung out, that felt a little like a bikies’
bar with all the black leather and long grey hair… The bands kept well to their set times,
so that you could keep walking from stage to stage to see most bands you were hanging out
for, except of course if you were too lazy to walk up and down stairs and across the road
and would rather keep playing pool upstairs!

It was clear that upstairs was the most popular place to head-bang, as even with the lack of
beer – the over 18’s set their differences in age aside to dance, jump and scream along with
the young’uns, all in appreciation for great live music, and really set a fantastic vibe. Every
time a guitar solo came, the crowd went wild and in total enthusiasm they threw their arms
up in the air and wiggled their fingers in a symbolic air-guitar-type tribute. It was definitely
a great initiative of the Greenroom to hold an all-ages event, and you could really see the
excitement of the young ones who were finally allowed in to see their favourite
bands.

I’m still rather amazed at how Canberra had 40 rock bands with such high calibre. As
expected there were a few bands that stood out from the rest, and were clear to have a
following, but I must say, that there was a whole lot of talent filled in Phillip that day, and
there wasn’t one band with an empty crowd. Some of the standout bands the crowds got
excited for were Australian Kingswood Factory, who had the stage presence and
audacity to get the whole house rocking, the charisma and fun of Dahahoo – who got
the whole room dancing, the flying dreadlocks of Little Smoke and interesting
instrument ensemble (e.g. a rhythm stick with bottle-caps combined with electric guitars?),
and the sheer brilliance, talent and skill of the very young rockers from Fistful of
Nothing, just to name a few.

I left feeling refreshed with a nice dosage of pure rock and roll that left me wanting for
more, as I’m sure that everyone that attended did as well.