Gig Lists - 2008

Last updated April 2009

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

2008 was a pretty quiet year for gigs (only 22), but most of the shows I saw were pretty good.

My Favourite Shows of 2008

The Breeders @ Capitol
SPOD @ Indi Bar
The Bronx @ Amplifier
Future of the Left @ Amplifier
Project Mayhem & Boys Boys Boys @ Next Big Thing Final

Coming in at #1 of my list of favourite shows for the year is The Breeders at Capitol. They sounded pristine, especially Kim and Kelly's harmonies, and played all my favourite songs from each of their records. They even threw in some Amps rarities for good measure (Tipp City, Pacer). There was also lots cute banter with the crowd. Sublime.

#2 - SPOD at the Indi Bar. He was supporting Regurgitator. All I had heard from SPOD prior to this gig was his split EP with Quan from Regurgitator (BLOX) which was great. I had no idea what to expect live, and was blown away, as was the rest of the crowd. Spod's stage show is hilarious - go watch some videos on youtube if you haven't witness his live glory before.

#3 - The Bronx playing to a sold out Amplifier Bar. Amplifier made the unusual move of installing a crowd barrier for this gig, presumably to protect the band from its ferocious audience. It was a good idea as there was a hellava lot of crowdsurfing etc going on during the gig. The Bronx opened up with Heart Attack American off their first LP and it was pedal to the metal right until the end of the set (no encores). Amazing.

#4 - Future of the Left also put on a great show at Amplifier in March, albeit to a small but appreciate crowd. There was a lot of hilarious mclusky-esque banter offered by Falco and Kelyson, particularly about Ween who were playing a 3 hour show next door in Capitol. The set consisted off all tracks off Curses minus I Need to Know How to Kill a Cat and Contrarian. They also offered up a couple of very good new songs and Mclusky classic Lightsabre Cocksucking Blues in the encore (see the video below). This show at Amps was the first time ever that Future of the Left played Lightsabre, and it seems that they retired it after their Australian tour was over. The set ended with with Falco removing Jack's drumkit piece by piece. It got down to Jack playing a snare and Kelyson playing bass, doing a pisstake of what sounded like Jet's Are you gonna be my girl? $40 well spent.

#5 - Project Mayhem and Boys Boys Boys at the Next Big Thing State Final. Project's Mayhem's set was phenomenal. I think most people in the crowd had not seen them before, but were won over on the night. They were deserving winners of NBT 2008. Boys Boys Boys also put on a fantastic energetic show filled withy cute and catchy pop songs.

Most Disappointing Shows of 2008

Wave Rock Weekender
Black Francis
Supergrass

The Wave Rock Weekender was only disappointing because I didn't end up going, even though I (and my girlfriend) had bought tickets. We had purchased them primarily because Dave McCormack from Custard was on the bill, but he then pulled out due to a family wedding. We also found out after purchasing out Wave Rock Weekender tickets that Frank Black from the Pixies was coming to town, and his show clashed with the Weekender. I decided to miss the Weekender and go to Frank Black instead. By doing so, the few hundred dollars my girlfriend and I had spent on Wave Rock Weekend tickets, camping space and bus trips went down the drain (I tried to sell the tickets, but there were no takers).

To make matters worse, Frank Black's show was crap. He came out and played solo for about 40 minutes. In the process he massacred some Pixies classics, and some of his own best songs (e.g., Los Angeles). Frank's rhythm section then came out and they played pretty much everything from Sven Fingers and Bluefinger. I love these records, but live there was something missing. There was no energy. It was a struggle to see this gig out. Very disappointing.

Rounding out my notable disappointing shows for the year was Supergrass. Their show at Metropolis Fremantle was by no means terrible, but something was lacking. Perhaps my expectations were too high. Supergrass have written some fantastic songs but the delivery of them on the night was not quite on the money for my liking. To make matters worse, this show clashed with the New Pornographers at the Rosemount. By all reports, they were fantastic. I should have bypassed Supergrass and gone to the New Pornographers!

Complete List of All Gigs

January

zip!

February

317. REGURGITATOR
@ Indi bar, Saturday February 2nd, 2008

March

318. FUTURE OF THE LEFT
@ Amplifier, Tuesday March 4th, 2007

319. WILL STOKER & THE EMBERS, CARBUNCLE
@ Hyde Park Hotel, North Perth, Thursday March 13th, 2008

320. ZX SPECKY, ABDOJAPAROV, PROJECT MAYHEM
One Size Too Small CD launch@ Rocket Room, Northbridge, Friday March 28th, 2008

321. The TOUCH
EP launch @ Rocket Room, Northbridge, Saturday March 29th, 2008

Photos & Reviews & Videos

Future of the Left videos live at Amplifier - from Youtube - thanks to Yahoorsor includes Lightsabre Cocksucking Blues, Small Bones Small Bodies, adeadenemyalwayssmellsgood, My Gymnastic Past, and the band's awesome state exit

April

322. GHENGIS, INJURED NINJA
@ Shape, Saturday April 19th, 2008

323. IN THE PINES - Jebediah, Bank Holidays, The Homicides, Kill Teen Angst, Felicity Groom & the Black Smoke, Capital City, New Rules for Boats, Djiva, Bob Evans, Slim Pickins, Hoopers Store, Cease, Will Stoker & the Embers @ Sommerville Auditorium, Sunday April 20th, 2008

Photos & Reviews