Hits and Pits 3 - Sydney, 11th May 2014
Words: Sam Strachan
The problem with having so many bands on one stage is the time constraint. A half hour set with fifteen minutes turn around barely gives enough time for a band to connect with the crowd. Hits and Pits was essentially a tasting platter with a sample of different punk acts. For a main course you’d have to head to a sideshow.
The Implants warmed up the thin crowd in front of the Roundhouse stage followed by Heartsounds. Impressive, deep, guttural backup vocals were delivered by guitarist Laura Nichols.
On the acoustic stage in the beer garden, Josh Arentz entertained the drinkers and smokers with a cover of Frenzal Rhomb’s I Went Out With A Hippy And Now I Love Everyone Except For Her.
Back inside the Roundhouse there were now five men on stage: four wearing colourful ski masks and one with arms crossed looking like security. He’s introduced as Officer Branford. “Has anyone partied with a cop before?” they ask. With instruments in red, yellow, green and blue matching their respective balaclavas Masked Intruder delivered their pop punk set. With fingers raised for Stick 'Em Up, Officer Branford came to life and jumped into the crowd. He threw his arms around anyone he could grab, sang loudly along to the songs and tried to initiate the first circle of the day.
“C’mon guys, put your party face on for Office Branford” Intruder Blue called out. Branford and Intruder Green brought some girls onto the stage to dance to Why Don’t You Love Me in Real Life? The audience was then informed that special guest, Nichols from Heartsounds, was going to join Masked Intruder for their next song, Heart Shaped Guitar. Unfortunately her microphone wasn’t on and her voice wasn’t heard singing until mid way through the song. Intruder Blue demonstrated his impressive falsetto voice during the last song, Crazy, and Officer Branford decided it was about time to get shirtless.
Stepping Out Of Line Forever followed by Shit Tattoos, both from their 2013 album Stomp, were the opening songs from Big D And The Kids Table. The small crowd that gathered to see them started skanking right away. Digging In Your Nails followed, complete with melodica solo. Also from Stomp was the Specials sounding Don’t Compare Me to You with a trombone solo played by Paul Cuttler. LAX proved to be Big D’s most popular song followed by other classics that included Shining On, Noise Complaint and their cover of Little Bitch. But all in all it was a disappointingly short set. They’re the kind of band that would be more fun in a more intimate venue full of fans. It was a waste of talent as the majority of punters were drinking in the beer garden. This was one sample that would have tasted better as a main course.
“What’s up motherfuckers?!” screamed Efrem Schulz of Death by Stereo. The band began their set bouncing in unison on stage. They played Beyond the Blinders and Schulz ran into the crowd with his microphone simultaneously singing and creating a circle pit. Back on stage, Schulz thanked Fletcher Dragge from Pennywise for releasing their new album Black Sheep of the American Dream on his Viking Funeral Records label. Everyone in the audience sang along with the “woah-oh-ohs” in I Sing For You. Their performance was full of antics and drummer Mike Cambra stood up to show off his very short Australian Flag shorts. Sing Along With The Patriotic Punks finished their set and, like the beginning, ended with the band members all jumping in time.
After the energetic performance of Death By Stereo, Ten Foot Pole seemed boring in comparison. Their set began with Old Man. One patron managed to get on stage and joined Dennis Jagard at the microphone to sing but he cleared out before security caught him. Their performance was polished and clear, notable songs were John and ADD. But they just weren’t very entertaining. They may have been tired, however their minimal interaction with the audience made the whole band seem jaded and unenthused.
The Implants warmed up the thin crowd in front of the Roundhouse stage followed by Heartsounds. Impressive, deep, guttural backup vocals were delivered by guitarist Laura Nichols.
On the acoustic stage in the beer garden, Josh Arentz entertained the drinkers and smokers with a cover of Frenzal Rhomb’s I Went Out With A Hippy And Now I Love Everyone Except For Her.
Back inside the Roundhouse there were now five men on stage: four wearing colourful ski masks and one with arms crossed looking like security. He’s introduced as Officer Branford. “Has anyone partied with a cop before?” they ask. With instruments in red, yellow, green and blue matching their respective balaclavas Masked Intruder delivered their pop punk set. With fingers raised for Stick 'Em Up, Officer Branford came to life and jumped into the crowd. He threw his arms around anyone he could grab, sang loudly along to the songs and tried to initiate the first circle of the day.
“C’mon guys, put your party face on for Office Branford” Intruder Blue called out. Branford and Intruder Green brought some girls onto the stage to dance to Why Don’t You Love Me in Real Life? The audience was then informed that special guest, Nichols from Heartsounds, was going to join Masked Intruder for their next song, Heart Shaped Guitar. Unfortunately her microphone wasn’t on and her voice wasn’t heard singing until mid way through the song. Intruder Blue demonstrated his impressive falsetto voice during the last song, Crazy, and Officer Branford decided it was about time to get shirtless.
Stepping Out Of Line Forever followed by Shit Tattoos, both from their 2013 album Stomp, were the opening songs from Big D And The Kids Table. The small crowd that gathered to see them started skanking right away. Digging In Your Nails followed, complete with melodica solo. Also from Stomp was the Specials sounding Don’t Compare Me to You with a trombone solo played by Paul Cuttler. LAX proved to be Big D’s most popular song followed by other classics that included Shining On, Noise Complaint and their cover of Little Bitch. But all in all it was a disappointingly short set. They’re the kind of band that would be more fun in a more intimate venue full of fans. It was a waste of talent as the majority of punters were drinking in the beer garden. This was one sample that would have tasted better as a main course.
“What’s up motherfuckers?!” screamed Efrem Schulz of Death by Stereo. The band began their set bouncing in unison on stage. They played Beyond the Blinders and Schulz ran into the crowd with his microphone simultaneously singing and creating a circle pit. Back on stage, Schulz thanked Fletcher Dragge from Pennywise for releasing their new album Black Sheep of the American Dream on his Viking Funeral Records label. Everyone in the audience sang along with the “woah-oh-ohs” in I Sing For You. Their performance was full of antics and drummer Mike Cambra stood up to show off his very short Australian Flag shorts. Sing Along With The Patriotic Punks finished their set and, like the beginning, ended with the band members all jumping in time.
After the energetic performance of Death By Stereo, Ten Foot Pole seemed boring in comparison. Their set began with Old Man. One patron managed to get on stage and joined Dennis Jagard at the microphone to sing but he cleared out before security caught him. Their performance was polished and clear, notable songs were John and ADD. But they just weren’t very entertaining. They may have been tired, however their minimal interaction with the audience made the whole band seem jaded and unenthused.
But then it was the riotous Casualties. Their image was the epitome of punk. The band members were looking a bit older than in their heyday. Rick Lopez and Jake Kolatis, bassist and guitarist respectively were still rocking extreme mohawks but drummer Mark Eggers was bald and singer Jorge Herrera’s hair was so flat and messy it looked like a wig. But age did not stop them from delivering their signature fast, hardcore, New York City punk songs including Unknown Soldier, Life On The Line and Resistance. In dedication to the band that started it all, Efrem Schulz of Death By Stereo joined Jorge on stage for a cover of The Ramones’s Rockaway Beach. The crowed must have been too tame at this point, so Jorge made a call for stage divers and a wall of death. During For The Punx one punter took up the offer and dived off the stage straight into the floor, but he seemed ok. Everyone else was slipping and falling down on the beer soaked floor during Riot. Things really got rowdy when punters were invited on stage for We Are All We Have. But sure enough security was on stage as soon as the set was over to herd people off.
Cooling down in the beer garden Punk Rock Hillbilly kept the patrons entertained playing acoustic covers of punk classics. A cover of Frenzal Rhomb’s Never Had So Much Fun even featured a kazoo solo!
Having supported Pennywise last year, Face To Face were no strangers to Australia. In anticipation for their set, the Roundhouse arena had finally begun to look like it was at full capacity. They played Walk the Walk, Ordinary and Velocity. Singer, Trevor Keith got everyone to repeat “bright” in Bright Lights Go Down and they all sang along to AOK, Complicated and Disconnected too.
Punk Rock Hillbilly were on again outside, getting people singing along and dancing to their cover of NOFX’s Leave It Alone and Blink 182’s Dammit (Growing Up). They were then joined by Trevor Keith to sing an acoustic version of Face to Face’s You’ve Done Nothing.
The members of Unwritten Law appeared as impressive silhouettes with massive hats clothed by the thick artificial smoke on stage. Starships and Apocalypse was followed by Cailin, California Sky, Underground, Mean Girl, Shoulda Known Better and the Celebration Song. She Says started acoustically and built to an impressive performance that was certainly the highlight of the night. Their final songs were a cover of Grinspoon’s More Than You Are and their biggest hit, Save Me.
The Strung Out guys were more visible and they entertained the thick crowd with Katatonia, Razor Sex, Angeldust and Too Close To See. They even dedicated one of their songs to all those with Strung Out tattoos. After Mind of My Own, cigarettes and a lighter were thrown on the stage for Jason Cruz. It wasn’t weed like he’d asked but he still proceeded to light up on stage. One of their final songs was a cover of Nirvana’s Where Did You Sleep Last Night.
Although at times brief, with a great taste of punk, pop punk, ska and hardcore acts, the Hits and Pits platter proved to be a satisfying feast.
Cooling down in the beer garden Punk Rock Hillbilly kept the patrons entertained playing acoustic covers of punk classics. A cover of Frenzal Rhomb’s Never Had So Much Fun even featured a kazoo solo!
Having supported Pennywise last year, Face To Face were no strangers to Australia. In anticipation for their set, the Roundhouse arena had finally begun to look like it was at full capacity. They played Walk the Walk, Ordinary and Velocity. Singer, Trevor Keith got everyone to repeat “bright” in Bright Lights Go Down and they all sang along to AOK, Complicated and Disconnected too.
Punk Rock Hillbilly were on again outside, getting people singing along and dancing to their cover of NOFX’s Leave It Alone and Blink 182’s Dammit (Growing Up). They were then joined by Trevor Keith to sing an acoustic version of Face to Face’s You’ve Done Nothing.
The members of Unwritten Law appeared as impressive silhouettes with massive hats clothed by the thick artificial smoke on stage. Starships and Apocalypse was followed by Cailin, California Sky, Underground, Mean Girl, Shoulda Known Better and the Celebration Song. She Says started acoustically and built to an impressive performance that was certainly the highlight of the night. Their final songs were a cover of Grinspoon’s More Than You Are and their biggest hit, Save Me.
The Strung Out guys were more visible and they entertained the thick crowd with Katatonia, Razor Sex, Angeldust and Too Close To See. They even dedicated one of their songs to all those with Strung Out tattoos. After Mind of My Own, cigarettes and a lighter were thrown on the stage for Jason Cruz. It wasn’t weed like he’d asked but he still proceeded to light up on stage. One of their final songs was a cover of Nirvana’s Where Did You Sleep Last Night.
Although at times brief, with a great taste of punk, pop punk, ska and hardcore acts, the Hits and Pits platter proved to be a satisfying feast.