Celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, Sydney’s Bad Friday festival was one that has shown a lot of growth and change. This year brought punters so many artists jam-packed into just one day.
What impressed me most was the acts I had yet to see on larger scale tours and stages, these artists had so much energy, passion and a spirit that was so infectious.
Having to succumb to the never-ending, never-moving line of the toilet, I was lucky enough to still be in earshot of SCABZ, who self-proclaim themselves as ‘Newtown’s shittest band’.
“We’re probably the shittest band at Bad Friday,” the group explained to the crowd.
However, SCABZ don’t give themselves enough credit. Their songs were quirky, insightful and really bloody cool. Covering some really important topics and some offhand fun ones with such ripper instrumentals backing it.
Their energy was consistent from the beginning to their bow at the end; I was an instant fan.
Check out SCABZ’s ‘Starting Line’:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TpmGrnIM9_I
Crocodylus are favourites of mine, usually trying my best to catch them whenever they are playing in Sydney. Knowing their style and how great their sets can be, there was already a huge expectation for them, with hundreds of punters filing in, eagerly awaiting their performance with the same mindset.
The three-piece were just as electric, kooky, strong, and fantastic as ever, playing some new songs yet to be released, and tearing through crowd favourites like ‘My Love’ and ‘Sweaty Already’.
“This one is for the twins,” one half of Crocodylus singers, Josh, calls as he gives me and my twin a flashy grin before they play song ‘Rake’. A classic from their Bummed Out! EP, the track instantly causes a fit of screaming and an attempt of very squished dancing from yours truly.
I left their set sweaty, beaming, and very impressed.
Check out Crocodylus’ ‘My Love’:
Johnny Hunter was a definite stand out of the entire day. In full honesty, I could write this review on their set alone – it was that striking, and I know I wasn’t the only one who felt this way.
Crowd members during the set were all transported into some kind of alternate universe with these singlet clad guys as their spirit guides, playing their cherished hits including, ‘Cult Classic’, ‘1995’, and newest single release ‘Ashamed’.
All the audience could do was smile hopelessly, hang on every word, and succumb to having their sternums crushed into the barricade or each other while trying their best to get a glimpse of the enigmatic Nick Hutt as he danced and flew past punters in his suit, glorious mullet, and a red lip to die for!
Delivering very strong lead vocals, punchy, strong backing vocals, and melodic musings I’m yet to find anywhere else, Hutt punctuated the set with the bellow of the words; “Are you entertained!?”
Yes Johnny Hunter, yes, we were.
Check out Johnny Hunter’s ‘Ashamed’:
Keeping the night on a high was act DMA’S, playing crowd favourite ‘Delete’ and ‘The End’ with an acoustic twist.
Being transported into a wonderland with hundreds of other sweaty punters, but for that moment I wasn’t aware of the amount of other peoples’ sweat collected onto me, or that I was surrounded by couples making out.
Unfortunately, DMA’S kept their iconic Like A Version of Cher’s ‘Believe’ under wraps and did not play it, but the energy was still on a high and it didn’t seem to matter much to punters as they had seemed to enjoy the set despite its absence.
What a day, what an abundance of killer bands! I left with ringing ears and a smile that didn’t leave the rest of the night. The only thing that disappointed me was that I couldn’t be in more than one place at the same time. Oh, and that toilet line!
Check out DMA’s ‘Delete’:
