The Vasco Era
with The Watt Riot
» Winnebago Deal - venue, Fri, January 30
» The Grates - Club Capitol, WA - October 25, 2008
» The Grates - Metro Theatre, The, NSW - October 17, 2008
» When We All Lost It, The Vasco Era brought it on back - November 6, 2006
» The Vasco Era - Amplifier Bar, WA - November 2, 2007
» The Vasco Era - Annandale Hotel, The, NSW - October 26, 2007
WARNING: Song titles mentioned in this article may change to due to the impending release date of The Vasco Era’s debut album.
It is a Sunday night and a friend and I have decided to road trip ourselves out of Sydney. Why we would embark on such a quest especially when work is around the corner known as Monday poses a serious question. The answer is quiet simple: The Vasco Era is the best band you could ever see live. I’m always in awe of how Sid can keep up that rough textured vocal night after night. But driving through the quiet roads of Wollongong one will wonder whether the volume of the tavern will wake this city up.
I have seen this band numerous times before and I must say that it is always nice to watch newcomers taken by surprise and I think the city of Wollongong is in on the secret as the punter’s word is starting to catch on and there was a decent crowd gathered here on this Sunday night.
The Watt Riot opened the show with quiet an impressive set, even introducing a new song to their hometown. I must say that for a band that have only played the song live twice before, they have a talent for creating solid tunes. Even an extra song was welcomed by the crowd when the band politely asked to play one more.
Sid O’Neil started The Vasco Era’s set on his own with a cover of Elvis’ “Can’t Help Falling In Love” before Michael and Ted joining him for “Dead Love” then the show was officially on its way.
Even though the tavern had a laidback setting with tables and chairs most of the crowd did get up off their feet (except for that paparazzi bunch down the front). Clear highlights include Sid and Michael’s rhythm performance, which included the use of rotor tom drums and all that sliding action on the lap steel guitar. Songs “When We All lost it” “When we all partied and tried to forget about” “When I’m gone” and “Sweet Little Honey Bee” being well received even sparking a crowd sing-a-long request for that rarely heard live song “He came along again” but alas the request was not carried out.
With a long road trip ahead for these fine Melbournites, Sid apologised for having no encore blaming their hastiness on their sound guy’s chook feeder malfunction (I do hope they’re ok!) but the fans weren’t disappointed with such an abrupt ending as they provided an interesting close. Whilst this band with such a high calibre of energy would have every right to trash the stage (and at times it looked like they were about to) all three laid each piece of equipment down with care receiving a roar of interest from the crowd screaming for an encore. One punter even offered to set the gear up himself just to be able to hear more songs but it was time to head home- someone had chooks to save.
