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Blood, Sweat & Beers @ The Annandale Hotel 4.2.2012

February 7th 2012 11:00

This is the way summer should be. Sun out, cold Coopers in hand, waiting for some tunes in the sixth installment of The Annandales local punk festival, Blood, Sweat & Beers. With a big month lined up for the iconic live music venue, Blood, Sweat & Beers kicked things off out back with Tommy Optional from the band The Optionals playing a solo acoustic set. Playing in much the same vein as Frank Turner, his folk tunes were perfect for a sunny afternoon.

Inside, the harder music was getting underway with Sydneys post hardcore/screamo band Frank Rizzo. Their sound was chunky and brutal and got the head banging of the small but receptive crowd for 3pm. They were followed by fellow Sydneysiders, Milhouse changing the tempo with some pop punk/punk rock tunes. Bit scratchy at the start, the band got better as their short set went along. At times reminding me a little of The Bouncing Souls and The Ataris. Good fun and catchy.

Glitter Canyon followed with one of the more entertaining sets of the day. Lead by a charismatic and over enthused vocalist (with the best and only mohawk of the day), the band played blues inspired punk rock. The band had a bubble machine blowing bubbles out into the crowd which the singer decided to smash when it ran out of bubble liquid. Their performance reminded me of the first time I saw Gay Paris, really impressive! Brisbanes Army Of Champions followed packing out the small stage with three guitarists and a set that didnt pause for breath. Sounding a little like Hot Water Music, I took leave from their set to go back outside to catch Josh Mann of The Paper Arms playing an acoustic set. Doing double duty after his played Big Day Out the day before, Josh stripped it back for a folk set of cruisy tunes as the smell of the BBQ wafted over the outdoor setting.

If the crowd was lulled into a apathetic state from the sunshine and the sausages, that was to soon change when Stolen Youth hit the stage. The twin vocal, hardcore attack kicked everyones arse back into bar with fast, heavy, aggressive tunes. They are melodic and brutal all at the same time. Harmony from Melbourne changed the dynamic again with their math rock sound and three back up singers. As their name sake, they had a tonne of harmonies and really impressed the crowd and the other bands with their sound as everyone after them commented on stage how good Harmony were.

The one man I was looking forward to see was Isaac Graham. Playing the style of acoustic folk rock that makes Frank Turner and Chuck Ragan so great, Isaac and his band grew one of the best responses for the day and played a solid set. the crowd sang along and we were treated to a new song and a excellent cover of Rancids Olypmia, WA. For the second time today Josh Mann was back up onstage with The Paper Arms. Reminding me of The Loved Ones in sound, they played a great set focusing on the Days Above Ground release of last year, the stand out track being Bricks & Mortar.

Luca Barsi from the apple isle were next and after having a pretty big year last year, a lot of people were keen to see the band live. The crowd loved them and their set was excellent. For my first time hearing the band after reading alot of hype, the hype is justified. Definitely the best thing to come out of Tassie since Boonie! Melbournes Wagons then turned it a little country with their cow punk stylings. Henry Wagons is an entertaining frontman and his songwriting is cleaver and enjoyable. With songs like Good Town (about a town that is far good), I Blew It (playing a crap show) and their tribute to their hero Willie Nelson they were good fun to watch.

Canberras I Exist took up a few notches with some high energy and aggressive hardcore. The singer opted to stay down on the floor with the crowd and got the guys to start crowd surfing and slam dancing as they ripped through their set. The night closed with one and only Old Music For Old People. It wouldnt be Blood, Sweat & Beers without these guys covering all the great punk rock songs that I grew up listening to in the 90s. A lot of NOFX, Pennywise, Rancid, Lagwagon, Unwritten Law and all the bands that made up Epitaph and Fat Wreck Chords roster. There was plenty of guest vocalists from the other bands to help out. A stage dive and party atmosphere as everyone in the room sang as one to every cover they played. To this day, nothing will show more solidarity and harmony as hundred people singing along to Pennywises Bro Hymn. It was a fantastic way to end the day.

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