May 20, 2009

Last week was pretty epic. After what seemed to be a massive drought of international acts, the gigs came thick and fast last week. I’m still in the midst of several impassioned arguments about whether Chuck Ragan or Tom Gabel had the better set at the Corner Hotel last Wednesday. It seems Ragan could not be topped when he managed to play three Hot Water Music tracks, a Loved Ones cover and an Alkaline Trio cover. But Gabel’s set choc full of old Against Me songs was unexpectedly sensational. I still cannot pick a winner, though I think Ragan’s gravely howls and sweaty, clenched biceps may have just tipped him over line. Speaking of boneriffic dudes, Ollie Sykes took Melbourne by storm last week. I caught Bring Me The Horizon and the Cancer Bats at two Billboards shows and one ridiculously large Sydney show and it pains me to say that Sydney brought the party last weekend, absolutely trouncing Melbourne in enthusiasm. If Sydney and Melbourne were two scraggly bogans in a hardcore pit, Sydney would have roundhouse kicked Melbourne square in the knackers before using it’s dejected carcass to launch itself into the crowd. Sydney FTW.