When it comes to punk music festivals there is no Australian equivalent to the Memphis based Goner Festival. Established by cult punk label and home to the late punk rock legend Jay Reatard, Goner Records held their 11th annual Goner Festival over the weekend and awesomeness definitely prevailed.
Goner Fest was set over five different locations in Memphis and the line up, just like its audience was robust and diverse, packed full of emerging acts and some incredible band names like Gimp Teeth, Life Stinks, Sick Thoughts and Wild Emotions, freshly signed Goner band NOTS (and hands down one of my favourite new bands), more than a few Australians including Ausmuteants, The Gooch Palms, ANGIE (of Circle Pit/Straight Arrows fame) and Scott & Charlene’s Wedding, and then there were the punk rock icons, The Gizmos, Len Bright Combo, The Grifters and Paul Collins Beat.
Goner was an incredible celebration of scrappy underground music and if you’re into that – you need to add this Festival to your bucket list. Here are some of the greatest moments from Goner Fest 2014.
Warm Soda
Oakland natives, Warm Soda’s effortless blend of 70s rock n roll and sugary pop hooks along with Matthew Melton’s nasally vocal (which sits somewhere between a whine and a croon) was undeniably catchy. Dressed in a leather jacket and bare chested, Melton’s charm had nearly every girl panting at the front of the stage. While a little future back were the girls’ boyfriends bouncing along to the lo-fi glam pop.
Playing much of their latest album ‘Young Reckless Heart’, Warm Soda are reminiscent of ‘Too Young To Be In Love’ era Hunx And His Punx, but a little more straight. They’re one hell of a West Coast garage pop band (and festival favourites).
Photo: Warm Soda
The Gizmos Returned
Watching the original 1977 lineup of The Gizmos play to an overtly psyched older male crowd was pretty special. I for one, was far from alive when these American proto-punk icons formed (or even disbanded). 37 years on and these guys are killing it again, playing hits like Human Garbage Disposal while members of Sick Thoughts and The Gooch Palms joined them. Their simple, raw and heavy sound no doubt inspired more than a dozen new bands that night.
Goner’s Own Special Brew
The $5 I spent on a never-ending cup of GBR (Goner Blue Ribbon) specifically produced for Goner Festival by local brewery Memphis Made. The aptly named GBR was light but super creamy and gave a refreshing kick to the hard Memphis heat. Giving me a buzz that nearly made me miss all of Friday night.
The Aussies Killed It
The Gooch Palms were ending their six week tour of the USA at Goner and it’s fair to say they looked a little tired. Once they hit the stage on Saturday though, they were straight back into it, beginning their set in matching pink and red outfits, which didn’t last long for Leroy Macqueen.
Spitting out their slacker pop tunes to a completely packed room and noting how attractive the audience was, not one person’s attention strayed. Macqueen ended the set butt naked on top of the bar waving to the crowd, grinning like a teenager. Big things are going to happen for these two and definitely a band to keep an eye on.
Photo:Gooch Palms
Ausmuteants seem to be making more of an impact in the US than Australia and were one of the main allures for Goner. Their raucous and electrifying set packed the room of the HiTone on Thursday night and encouraged a pit of brawling men, beer being sprayed and program guides being tossed. Closing out the set with ‘Tinnitus’, before introducing it as “the track where we made all our money”.
ANGIE is Angela Garrick, most notable for her stints in Straight Arrows and Circle Pit, she released her solo album, Turning out on Rice Is Nice last year. The album is dark and thick, live though, and with a backing band in tow the trudge of the record escapes, leaving a psychedelic danceability. Angie’s guitar playing skills would make most incredibly envious.
Nathan Roche (of Camperdown & Out), his deep spoken vocal produced an air of normalcy and good vibes in the afternoon Memphis shade. Not to mention those incredible tracks ‘Serafina’ and ‘Come On’. If you haven’t checked out his solo stuff, you need to NOW.
Photo: ANGIE
Locals Nots Knew How To Party
Local and all-female band Nots were incredible. Lead singer Natalie Hoffman, and bassist of Ex-Cult totally owned the stage, producing demanding and catchy as hell songs such as ‘Dust Red’. Their debut album is out later this year and no doubt will be all killer no filler!
Goner Know How To Run A Festival
Goner mixed things up with music taking place at five different venues/locations across Midtown, Memphis. I have a short attention span for one, and nothing’s worse than being stuck at the same venue in a foreign city, unable to explore. Each day and night, the Festival moved locations providing the ability to check out different neighborhoods and really experience Memphis.
There is an undeniable feeling of community at Goner Fest, enhanced by the fact that there were no Access All Areas passes for the bands. No General Admission. No special Media Passes. Everyone was equal. Everyone was there to absorb as many incredible bands as possible.
Photo: Gonerfest opening party
