Rocking up early enough to catch the first band, I Heart Hiroshima was scary. Susie the girl drummer was freaking wild, bashing the drums and screaming like a floppy, possessed ragdoll. Sneering and growling and making horrid faces at the crowd, it wasn't a pretty sight. But my! It was captivating, seeing what this wild girl can do. One guy on guitar did nothing to catch the eye, another on guitar and mic distracted by being so ugly. (Not my words, someone else in the crowd made that claim. Because I'm in no position to judge people's looks.) But it was all about Susie. Hot damn! With or without this band, she is going places, I don't see what can hold her back.
The Panda Band. From Perth. Had one Triple J hit in "sleepy little deathtoll town". "then you apear" wasn't a big enough follow up hit, was it? So, a bit of a one hit band, and they didn't do anything tonight to show they deserve anything better. Really. I love live music, I love to turn up early and support the supports. Maybe it was wrong for them to follow something like I Heart Hiroshima. But as they played, I was bored. Sorry Panda Band, big thumbs down from me.
The Grates, not so tiny on the Metro stage this time now that they have decorated the place with shinny streamers and heaps of balloons, plus an extra man on keyboards. Always hyper fun, they didn't disappoint tonight. All their songs sounding fantastic, not a single dud in there. My favourite tune, "feels like pain", still freaking awsome. A bit simple, perhaps, but it even had me jumping. And you know I'm not one to participate in... anything. The whole young and girly crowd was very excitable and more than willing to bounce around like crazy too. Patience may have calmed down a bit on the hyper dance moves, and for some reason drummer girl Alana looked quite upset with the requests for a drum solo. But it was still a mad fun night. How can anyone not enjoy a show that has balloons drop from the ceiling and a confetti canon?