There was already a crowd gathering in the Danceteria as Tight Slip threw their instruments around. It was a bit of a mess and the garage three-piece struggled to maintain even the casual interest of folks. Musicianship isn't the issue (it's never paramount to garage and punk anyway); it's the energy and momentum and the presence that's important and they lacked two of these crucial elements.
The Ruined Fortune Band took their time trying to set up and it seemed to be the running gag of the night. The leads didn't work, no volume on the mic, etc. When they finally got going, their down-tuned garbage proto punk was good and their woozy unfocused aggression was impressive. Nic Warnock's vocals were loud and abrasive and pushed past all the other noise. Punk needs a mouthpiece to spew its message out and Ruined Fortune has it.
Local slackers Camperdown & Out played a bright set of more upbeat material. It was a predictable jumble of off-key singing and jangly sunburnt pop that had the floor swaying. It was a short set, but a loud one.
Melbourne's Boomgates stood out for the simple fact they were polished. Throughout the night the screws were tightened through each set, so by the end of the night we had a group that actually played in sync and in tune. The human body seeks out rhythm naturally; it's why we respond to music. The loose nature of punk and garage present difficulties and it's the agitation that gives us the energy, as we're constantly slightly out of sync. Not so here, as the energy was coming directly from the razor-sharp hooks and ferocious pop melodies bursting through the speakers. Boomgates found the sweet spot between order and chaos and manipulated both to great effect.
