Live Review: Bed Wettin' Bad Boys

'Tis a bloody cold evening which raises questions as to whether or not human life can thrive in this desolate climate. In The Curtin, though, none of that stuff matters as it's time for a bit of straight-up punk and a cold beer.

The Shifters are up first and thanks to a tram that travelled at the same speed as a shopping cart, this scribe bears witness to the set's last moments and it is enjoyable nonetheless as the band seem to have a defined mix of underground flair and Go Betweens-esque jangle. Wet Blankets follow and the room is thriving, but, as the band progress through their set, it becomes notably sparse. The problem is that these young'uns don't really bring anything original to the table. It's not bad necessarily, but the whole thing just feels like a bit of a carbon copy of Australian so-called 'underground punk' without the songwriting ability or performance aesthetics of some of the frontrunners of the genre.

From outside, the sounds of The Stevens can be heard. Wandering inside, we discover the two-vocalist group are making some lovely indie tunes that make one feel as though they're walking down a Shady Lane with a Summer Babe. All in all, The Stevens are quite enjoyable, though, the band do sound a bit like Pavement; in fact, almost identical at times, from guitar tone to vocal lines and the songwriting definitely gives a nod to the band. Still, this is not necessarily a bad thing; just know what you're in for in advance.

With a new record on the way, Bed Wettin' Bad Boys decide to do a quick run of shows before the band separate into their respective day jobs. From the kick off, these leaders in slacker-punk/newstart-garage/whatever-clever-name-you-want-to-attach-to-them seem to have the formula down pat. The sound is top notch as well, coming through loud while maintaining a level of lo-fi personality while the interplay between the group on stage feels as if it is all quite natural. Nic Warnock is entertaining as band leader, though the R.I.P. Society label head/punk socialite's DJ set following the performance is not and comes across as a guy in a band playing some average hip hop he's into and Cured Pink oddly between it. It does not improve as time progresses and if anything becomes more of a stereotype. Sorry mate, that dancefloor was not ready for the likes of you.