Rrocklobster of Perth

Live Review

Radfest

Rosemount Hotel

Wednesday 24 September

One Last Thing, Priority One, Burning Fiction, At The Space Jam, Being Beta, Ben Elliott, Blonde Spit Acoustic Duo.

Review by Kimberly Greygoose

Last Wednesday night the Rosemount Hotel and Breaking Punk played host to Radfest. It was a great night with several of Perth’s best punk bands coming together to put on a show for the crowd.

Members of Blindspot had stepped in at a few days’ notice to replace the opening act who had fallen ill. Under the name ‘Blonde Spit’ they entertained the crowd side-by-side with acoustic guitars, capturing the playful spirit and high energy that their full band usually brings to the stage.

Punters streamed in from the cold to watch folk-punk dude Ben Elliott take to the stage. Armed with his guitar and a set list of songs filled with down-to-earth, honest lyrics, proved that he was just what the crowd at the Rosemount needed to warm up for the night.

Young bloods, At The Space Jam, definitely got the party started. The energy on stage proved to be contagious as lead singer Andre Georges beckoned the crowd forward and they willingly obliged. It was proof that the fast paced combination of Ska and Punk was infectious as punters were either bopping along or shaking their hips. Not a band to turn away from involving the crowd, they made a request for a fifth member. After pulling their new member to the stage, they armed her with a triangle, positioned her at a microphone and began to play What Are You Doing It For? The crowd relished in the reggae vibes pumping through the speakers and seemed almost upset when their set ended.

Taking a break from supporting Lionizer on their tour, Being Beta were next on the line up. One month on following the release of their second EP Drink Tea, they played through their repertoire of songs, including usual crowd favourites Hoarding My Thoughts, Highs and Lows and Reading In A Rib House. With the perpetually enthusiastic Andy Storey switching between his guitar and synth,and bopping around the stage like the energizer bunny, it’s easy to see why these guys have become favourites in the Perth punk scene.

With many more years of experience under their belt than their fellow Radfest bands, Burning Fiction put on a good show for what was now a very pumped up crowd. The audience bopped and head-banged along, and those who have been fans of the band for a few years sang along to their bouncy progressive-rock-tinged punk tunes.

Returning to the stage for the second time after taking some time off to record some new demos, Priority One are a tidal wave of punch-drunk guitars, pumping bass and striking drumming. Despite having taken advantage of the Rosemount’s $12 steak and $10 jugs, they managed to hold it together and play an engaging set. Taking a break from playing their own tunes during the set to cover an old Gyroscope song, Confidence In Confidentiality, much to the pleasure of many punters in the crowd. Priority One ended their set with the track Zombie, fittingly named as the song would not have been out of place if used for the closing credits of a badass horror film.

Concluding the night for those who stuck it out late on were headliners One Last Thing. Still relatively new to the Perth music, the five piece band are already making a name for themselves, and it’s easy to see why. Playing tracks from their recent debut EP Back Stories, a lovely assembly of get-up-and-go pop punk, One Last Thing proved that it was worth sticking it out late, as the set was fun, lively and the perfect end to the night.