[Live Review] YOUTH ROCKIN’ THE BLACK DOG – Heats

Heat Four
Lizotte’s, New Lambton
Wednesday September 24, 2014 :

This Wednesday saw a varied battle between two soloists and four completely different bands – Snatch, Matt Petherbridge, SOAR, Euphorium, Spencer Scott, Eleven Eleven.

Euphorium, a 5 piece all male group added trumpet and solid vocals to their lyrics and demonstrated what a gig experience can bring to a stage. Described as alternative rock, Euphorium’s set comprised of all originals and worthy of airplay. Snatch took out the people choice award. The three piece band from Newcastle again showed what a seasoned performance can bring to a stage. Another standout for me was Spencer Scott. Now with over 100 live gigs behind him, this is not the last we seen of this original soloist and his unique lyrics and guitar playing.

This was the final heat of Youth Rocking the Black Dog for 2014. Finalists for the October 8 event have recently been announced, these finalists are – Codi Kaye, Euphorium, In Motion, Montagu, Pacefaint and The Moving Stills.

Tickets for the October 8th event are available from Lizottes. Having watched these bands and soloist go around in the heats the audience are in for a real treat during the final.

Reviewer and Photographer: David Jackson

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Heat Three
Lizotte’s, New Lambton
Wednesday September 17, 2014 :

This Wednesday saw a varied battle between a solist, a rapper and three completely different bands.

Cassette, a young group from Newcastle took out the people’s choice. The band was heavily represented in the audience and demonstrated promise for the future. Kqash brought rap to the stage for the first time this year. Both The Moving Stills and The Radics showed the house what experience and talent combined can result in and no doubt one of these should move to the final.

By far the standout for the evening was a 17 year old who approached the stage with just herself, her life experience and an acoustic guitar. Codi Kaye, self-described as “indie folk pop” wowed the judges and the house with three original songs about life through the eyes of a teenager. As I was watching this I got the distinct feeling something special was happening. Who really knows if Codi will be a star or not? What I can say is for 15 minutes this teenager held the house in her hand and everything stopped and that in itself is something very unique. “Quite please (not needed), there was a lady on stage”.

Heat Four continues this week Wednesday September 24 at Lizotte’s, Newcastle.

Reviewer and Photographer: David Jackson

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Heat Two
Lizotte’s, New Lambton
Wednesday September 10, 2014 :

The Talent continued on Wednesday night with five more quality acts gracing the famous Lizotte’s stage. Artists featured tonight included Echo Echoed, Pacefaint, Boffinjah, Primal Enemy and Montagu.

Montagu took out the honour’s on the night and we will hopefully see them in a few weeks for the final. Again a saturation of talent to this special event. Heats continue for the next two weeks on a Wednesday night with the final scheduled for early October.

Reviewer and Photographer: David Jackson

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Heat One
Lizotte’s, New Lambton
Wednesday September 3, 2014 :

In what has now become a Newcastle tradition where mental health meets up and coming music, the Black Dog came to town last Wednesday night. On stage were six completely different acts raging from solo to band. The competition is open to any artist from teenage years up to twenty five years of age. The top two from each preliminary round goes straight into the grand final, there are four preliminary rounds totally twenty original bands from around the Newcastle area.

Heat One, the acts consisted of soloists Shelby and Georgie, bands In Motion, Dress To Write, and Would You Like Fries With That, and duo New mercy. The winners were judged by crowd response. On the night, three piece Port Stephens band, In Motion, won over the aptly named Would You Like Fries With That. Both bands move into the grand final to be held in October.

Reviewer and Photographer: David Jackson

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