The HiFi, Melbourne
Saturday August 17, 2013 :
It’s another freezing winter’s night in Melbourne and what better place is there to be on a Saturday night other than the small, intimate venue at the heart of Melbourne’s city – The HiFi. What waits inside is an awesome punk rock line up ready to blow the roof off with punk/indie boy bands from all over Australia and the US hyping up to support pop punk legends, Cartel. Having been a fan of Cartel for many years, I was looking forward to hearing their unique voice, as well as what the other bands have to offer.
First up to perform were the Melbourne based punk rock band, The Spinset. The night started off with a small crowd, but the relaxed vibe mixed with the upbeat and enthusiastic performance by The Spinset set the stage for the awesome night that lay ahead.
Hometown were second to jump on stage and it was definitely going to be a performance to remember as it was the final show for the pop rock Melbourne boys. Each member gave it all they had, showcasing their absolute best for their final show and they finished off strong with a parting ‘thank you’ to their family, friends, fans, and everyone who helped them throughout their entire journey as a band.
Up next was the raw power of Melbourne pop punk band, Sidelines, and it was overwhelming to say the least. Their catchy tunes got the crowd up close and moving, especially to their awesome cover of ‘We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together’ by Taylor Swift, which really got the crowd going.
Sydney pop punk band, Wake the Giants, were definitely the band with the most energy, running all over the stage, which made their act incredibly entertaining. Incorporating jumps and different body angles all while playing their instruments must’ve taken a lot of practice, but it made it impossible for the audience to look away from the mayhem before them.
Lydia was a complete surprise as I was not expecting such a raw show. The lead vocalist, Leighton Antelman, has such a smooth voice and their songs, accompanied with a keyboard, matched their indie genre. Compared to the more energetic, punkier bands, Lydia took it down a notch, creating an intimate, relaxing atmosphere which eased the crowd into being able to focus their attention on the music and the lyrics.
Finally, jumping on stage and kicking off their act with ‘Luckie St’ from their debut album Chroma (2005), Cartel tore down the roof and got everyone on their feet and into the mosh pit. Their solid punk rock roots are clearly at the heart of all of their songs; but make no mistake, it was the older tracks that got the crowd roaring with energy, as opposed to some of their newer material, which lacked the same level of punky goodness when to compared albums like Chroma. But when it rained, it poured, with songs like ‘Uninspired’ and ‘Burn this City’ shaking the walls and sending everyone in the mosh crazy, making it an awesome performance to wrap up this crazy night!
Reviewer and photographer: Monica Winczura
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