Live Review: Hot Cross Buns

With a couple of long weekend nights on the cards, last Easter weekend would not be complete without a huge party, and Hot Cross Buns featured an eclectic mix of local and national acts to kick the break off. There was something for everyone to get their teeth into with a line-up that sported a mix of 15 bands and DJs, spread out over three rooms. With some cunning inter room manoeuvres, it was possible to get around and catch a bit of all the action.

Opening act Stillwater Giants produced some early high quality pop-rock to a growing few, their recent triple j interest understandable and their i-nbetween song banter relaxed. Scenic followed, playing with a four-piece set up of guitars, percussion and synths, and pulling off an impressive cover of Air's Kelly Watch The Stars midset. Their overall take on electronic indie was a respectable contribution to the night.

After catching a brief glimpse of the KNO Agents' hard-hitting mainstream house going on in the Capitol room while heading upstairs to see FTW, there was already a really strong party vibe going down. To a jumping dancefloor the FTW DJs spun some thumping house tracks with the driving bass sounding sweet, all up it was an enjoyable and lively take on the tek-house genre.

Back down in the Amps room again Brisbane's YesYou were well into their show and had the busy dancefloor moving along nicely to their delicate dancy pop grooves, the early appearance of breakout track Half Of It going down a treat. The palatable sound mixture of soothing female backing vocals over swinging bass, synth pads and riff-laden guitars set up the scene nicely for the next Queensland act of the night, The Medics. The long haired four-piece, melodic indie-rock band immediately had the room in a state of immersion as the shoegazing style of blended guitar textures and sensual vocals of opening tracks Deadman and Rust whirled all over the packed-out venue. Also performing their single Beggars and This Boat We Call Love EP track Joseph, The Medics wrapped up an intense set of hard hitting rhythms and deep howling guitar with plenty of audience smiles.

While all this was going on, next-door Tonite Only had the Capitol room revved up into a frenzy with some banging house (and to a full house), while upstairs seemed to have lost some of its earlier gusto, though the jacking rave of Jus Haus? was by no means dull. Finishing off the live bands in Amps The Brow Horn Orchestra, sporting a new-look five members. Playing to an enthusiastic crowd in their usual urban dub hop style, the Brow entertained and amused throughout their hour-long set.