Batpiss didn’t hesitate to start things off with a bang. Their experimental noise was a powerful assault or ear damaging bliss, depending on your tastes.
With a sound reminiscent of Fugazi crossed with Shellac, and shades of Neurosis, Melbourne’s own Batpiss have something special and should be seen at all costs.
They really proved themselves as an important contender in the local music scene as a very entertaining band with great songs and a huge sound.
Bloody Hammer play a more straight forward style of in-your-face punk rock and came on to a fired up and most welcoming audience, playing their blend of simplistic ‘oi’ punk, likely to appeal to any fans of the old school.
The singer really got the audience involved and the band sounded tight. The drummer was powering through each song showing minimal effort and the band really seemed to be enjoying themselves playing tracks from last year’s debut self-titled release.
The crowd soon gathered around the front of the stage for the headliners. OFF! are, simply put, are a hardcore powerhouse; a supergroup of highly talented veterans of the industry.
If the rumours are true, the fact that this could be the very last time we see OFF! tour Australia added something special to the already alive and pumping vibe.
The curtains opened and without warning, OFF! took to the stage and wasted no time in destroying eardrums with their ferocious attack of their short and sharp one minute blasts.
Within seconds the bodies were flying around the front of the stage and a good time was being had by all.
Vocalist Keith Morris (Circle Jerks / Black Flag) was definitely the centre of attention as he educated the audience on politics and a non-violent approach to gig-going after every few songs, whilst also rejecting repeated requests to play The Germs and showing that the heckles from the audience have absolutely no effect on him.
He calmly spoke out and answered the heckler’s comments and questions before jumping straight into another four, quickish pieces before doing it all again. Impressive.
There is something to be said about OFF! that differs from other bands in the hardcore genre. These guys play it the way it was meant to be heard; raw and powerful, energetic, and at high volume.
Having a rhythm section as together and visceral as bassist Steven McDonald (Redd Kross) and drummer Mario Rubalcaba (Rocket From The Crypt, Earthless) really held the band together, and guitarist Dimitri Coats (Burning Brides) could easily be classed as one of the greatest punk rock guitar players on the planet today.
Attacking his guitar like it had done something wrong, yet delivering brute force with an unrelenting style. It was a real sight to see and quite an impressive display.
During the final song, ‘Upside Down’, Coats showed the audience his appreciation by diving into the crowd with his guitar, not missing a single note, and thrashing about with them before the band finished up and left the stage.
No encore, no bullshit. This was OFF! and this was exactly how a punk rock hardcore show should be. Well played.
