Melbourne nightclub Billboard got considerably tougher when punk rockers, Suicidal Tendencies and Unwritten Law, along with Finnish mischief-makers The Dudesons rolled into the joint for the SRH Festival.
Drifting into the underground hole (early by the way – the event starting at 5:30pm!), punters were greeted with a makeshift circus act performed by The Dudesons.
Staples went into the buttocks of several (attractive) female audience members, only for the act to finish with one of the Dudesons getting a piece of paper stapled to his upper lip, backwards.
To prove that it was well and truly stuck there, he sang ‘Jingle Bells’ loudly and proudly, the audience laughed and sang along in support
To put it simply, the Dudesons were completely crazy. At one point they announced that they “know one thing about Australia and that is that they like to get fucked up!” This was met with an expectedly proud uproar at our collective alcoholism.
They nailed a guy’s ear to a block of wood and one landed on his back on a trampoline covered in thumbtacks while ‘The Ride of the Valkyries’ played. Needless to say, the Finnish kids were insane, for hilariousness’ sake.
Unwritten Law walked on stage in a dark room with the DJ playing loud, dark rap. Then suddenly, in what seemed like the perkiest, happiest voice ever, frontman Scott Russo announced: “Gooooooood morning Melbourne! It’s a bit early for a rock show.” With that they bound into their hit ‘Teenage Suicide’.
Derik Envy, like a typical bassist, lost his shit for pretty much the entire set. In fact, he was so enthusiastic in his movements that at one point he nearly dropped his guitar. This didn’t stop his skill as he played his instrument both enthusiastically and effortlessly.
The band made use of the three people at the front of the stage as each one of them contributed to the vocals – creating more dimension in the room.
Russo’s constant chatter was also critical to the room’s atmosphere –at one point making a jab at the cost of the night; “You guys payed $85! I didn’t choose it, it’s fucked. Come down here, I want to touch you!”
They later played a cover of Grinspoon’s ‘More Than You Are’, Russo noting: “this is for our Australian family… We wrote that yesterday – what did you think?” It was brilliant – Phil Jamieson would have been proud as punch.
The only criticism would be Russo’s continued fuck up of where he was(No, it’s not Sydney or Brisbane). Get it together.
When Suicidal Tendencies came on it was like a switch was flicked in the room – everyone dropped everything and all attention was given to the 33-year-old hardcore punk, crossover thrash band.
They played their iconic gangster-punk-metal sound with ease. Frontman Mike Muir, the only founding member left, and the sessional guitarist, just nailed every single beat.
In fact a mention should be given to the sessional guitarist – his skill and manipulation of his instrument was impeccable throughout the evening – one would have easily mistaken him for being a long-time member of the band.
Of course, one couldn’t forget Muir’s relentless movement around the stage; acting 30 years younger then he is – it was mighty impressive.
Muir acknowledged the proficiency of drummer Eric Moore – then, without hesitation, Moore belted out a solo that almost floored the audience.
After everyone had picked themselves up after the initial shock of the onslaught of insane grooves and chops, he just kept going with the madness for what seemed like forever. It was enthralling, a truly a talented drummer.
The band invited everyone on stage with them for their last couple, completely chaotic songs.
The tightly squeezed mosh pit lost their shit as the band continued playing and partying around them. Needless to say, people walked out of the venue dripping in sweat that wasn’t necessarily their own, it wouldn’t be a punk gig if it were anyway else.
