DescendentsLocal punk stalwarts The Disables smash out their set like a band far less dormant than they have been to get things started tonight. ASIO remains an old favourite and their rendition of Dirty Old Town is given enough of a kick to make it exciting.
Bodyjar might look a little older than the last time many of us saw them, but they play with spirit and accuracy tonight; kicking off with Remote Controller and Underwater before the first singalong of the night comes courtesy of One In A Million. What makes these guys really standout – and probably always has – is their fantastic vocal harmonies; they're tough but still harmonious and tonight they're executed awesomely. Hazy Shade Of Winter, Not The Same, Lights Out and Windsok all take us back to simpler days and have us grinning widely.
Sure, it's his schtick, but Bouncing Souls frontman Greg Attonito looks so damn bored that it seems only the diehards are getting into what the New Jersey band are bringing tonight. There are plenty of clap-a-long moments, but it's only the passionate Kids And Heroes, the thrashy East Coast! Fuck You! and Kate Is Great that have us focusing on the stage and not what the next band will have on their setlist.
There's something truly joyous about seeing a band this important to so many people play a set that is this good. Descendents are fun, loud, fast and rip songs from throughout their 30-odd-year career. Opening with their eponymous song they quickly move through Everything Sucks, Hope and Silly Girl, Milo Aukerman's voice in fine fettle and the rest of the band playing with gusto. Suburban Home is fitting given our location, Clean Sheets has Stephen Edgerton shredding beautifully and Coffee Mug gets the slam dancers doing what they do best.
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Aukerman then pulls out the piece of cardboard with the rules of All for a cheeky All-O-Gistics, some of the crowd begin to pelt drinks onstage but the band are unflappable, no amount of abuse will stop them doing what they want. Coolidge, I Wanna Be A Bear, My Age and Weinerschnitzel take us all way back, before Nothing With You, I Like Food and I Don't Wanna Grow Up add to what is already an amazing setlist. Get The Time brings things down while I'm Not A Loser is played sans-homophobia.
Bill Stevenson, who's been stunning behind the kit all night, acknowledges the Milo-less 2010 Brisbane show and thanks us for tolerating their imperfections before a quick encore of Catalina, Sour Grapes and Kabuki Girl. It finally happened; we got our Descendents show and wasn't it glorious?
