Boomtown Showdown

Tonight was the only over 18 Melbourne show for the Boomtown record label showcase tour, featuring young bands that lean towards the emo/screamo genre of punk rock.
I should start with making a disclaimer here, this genre is not my favourite type of music, but it’s always good to go out and see music you’re not comfortable with, you never know you might be surprised.
It was a very young crowd; the bouncer was checking id ruthlessly and the bar staff were complaining about the lack of alcohol being drunk. One band remarked on how anyone that wasn’t over 18 was a very baaad person, but the crowd was extremely well behaved, polite and respectful towards the bands.
Wishful, were the first band up, lively Californian style pop punk, the most original outfit of the night, they had lots of energy, and glimmers of the Buzzcocks between their songs. Like most of the bands of the night they were a kin of homogenised punk, however their music would have made great background for when you are on the half pipe or grinding the rails.
Wishful had snatches of originality and then they went back to the standard formulaic pop punk, they need to loosen the reins of conformality.
However they got the crowd pumped up with one sing-a-long, and their love song, their best of the set was simple and heartfelt, more in this line would see them reach a wider audience.
Infiction were an Adelaide screamo band, classic guitar riffs, the singer performing in the regulation emo pose, with American accent. There was nothing new here; however the crowd loved them, all standing to rapt attention. The song featuring piano was fantastic.
I guess that is what separates these bands from the rest of the genre that can be seen at most of the Freeza gigs around the country, is those glimses. Sure they all sound the same, but their young, and obviously have talent, as they grow up diversify their musical tastes these guys could produce some notable music.
The Getaway Plan was the band everyone was here to see. Another Hardcore/screamo band featuring lots of leaping and head banging. The bass player was going for the Mike Patton sound.
Though there are only so many songs that one can listen to about how hard it is to be a misunderstood white boy from suburbia. Let’s hope John Howard brings in more restrictive legislation and that songs start to get written that really are angry.
The singer had a great voice, singing clear concise lyrics, he had an amazing range.
The feedback throughout their set was really annoying and there seemed to be some trouble with the equipment as the next band took over half an hour to come on stage, sorry to say this reviewer didn’t catch the last band Angela’s Dish, but according to one of their fans on myspace ‘hey hey guyz..last nyt waz so awesome!.. u'z rock hard out!.. cant wait to c ya'z again’

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