Live Review: Royal Headache, Kitchen's Floor

It's not every weekend that you get to see two of the country's most interesting punk-at-heart bands playing in a boxing ring heavily sponsored by Converse sneakers. The only way in tonight was RSVPing by way of liking the Converse sneakers page to get on the exclusive door list and the line to get in snakes down the street. Inside, punching bags are already being kicked as the predominantly young audience are treated to free beer and Red Bull.

With the band taking up the electric incarnation only a handful of times this year, Kitchen's Floor are the perfect choice for tonight's bill. The production is loud and the performance matches it, with frontman Matthew Kennedy drowning out the mix with tense monotone vocal screaming. 116 makes an early appearance and its fast-paced lo-fi pop gets a notable response from the crowd. New track Down and classic Graves are notable highlights and contribute to an all-'round perfect set, with only a couple of 'acts of disruption' being a broken bass string and the rather disrespectful move by the bar staff refusing to serve alcohol during the set. Whilst an odd billing, the mostly Converse sneaker-wearing band holds their own and from a musical perspective do their job ten-fold.

The large bar crowd barely depreciates, despite the free beers running out. A stupid hour-and-a-bit wait between bands so people can absorb the Converse logo and listen to the DJ spin completely irrelevant music largely irritates. When Royal Headache finally do take the stage, it is clear that since last time they were in Brisbane, shit's changed. The crowd are going ballistic to every song, knowing every word and crowd surfing off the turnbuckles in punk WWE fashion. Girls appears early and is a highlight, with ring-side seats becoming platforms to try and see the band. Vocalist Shogun seems born for this type of environment, as he works the ring almost like a competitor. The whole set is sharp, concise, cohesive and faultless with Really In Love, Down The Lane and the spastic energy of Psychotic Episode working so well that at the end of the set swarms of police and chaplains ascend into the venue to deal with the masses.

Musically, it's undeniable that tonight is simply unbeatable – with only two bands on the bill they manage to pull off one of the highlight shows of the year. However, the blatant commercialism is overbearing and when looking at the bands you begin to wonder if Mr Converse knew the definition of irony whilst naming this gig Acts Of Disruption.