Review - FiniScad + Violetine + Peabody
@ The Annandale, 1 Aug 1998

Violetine opened proceedings for the night, having arrived just in time for the Peabody load-out, with a hard-pop, almost Portland-punk (ergo Heatmiser) attack on a growing and receptive Annandale crowd. The light show was excellent for a support act, but not quite up there for a first-on double-bill act. The instrumental mix was OK too, although the vocals were down in the mud. Most of us enjoyed the show, especially the corner barman, with Harpo Burn, Dr Vonk, Red (the new single) Crush and Find A Place the standouts; the set closer would have been there too, were it not for the bass-string breakage and the subsequent attempts to cope. Love the hat! «««¼ stars

I haven’t seen FiniScad since their meteoric rise from having to play the E-circuit. Even then they were giving 120% to the handful that bothered to front, but tonight... the experience overseas and on the A-circuit has honed a professional outfit with a sound as big as those early days promised. Dave has learned to work the crowd they’re drawing now, to almost sycophantic levels, but he sometimes needs to be reminded that the crowd aren’t located behind the drummer.

Lead The Day, Weekend Circle (a personal favourite from an early demo), Mr Coroner and Redefined fairly pumped; Wider Screen and Sonic Boy saw Dave surrender the Fender so as to bounce absolutely everywhere, although what to do with the mic during Wider Screen was a source of confusion; the obvious crowd pleasers Coppertone (straight out of Redefined) and It’s Not Real brought the required response, although if you’re going to make mistakes, you don’t do them in the songs everyone knows!

The mix went without a hitch, along with the lightshow, but guys, an encore would have been an idea - if you want these people to continue to travel this far west for your gigs, come out and give them just one more! FiniScad have a few years left in them yet «««¾

PG (Jacky) Gleeson