Live Review: The Front Bottoms, The Hard Aches

Locals The Hard Aches have certainly become hometown heroes with their brand of Australian indie punk. Vocalist/guitarist Ben David has charmed his way into the hipster hearts of the nation with his honest lyrics and celebratory attitude, while his percussionist partner-in-crime Alex Upton provides excellent rhythm for the party. The duo soared through a finely selected setlist including Glad That You're Gone, Wide And Wired, Loser and the anthem that the band may have admittedly become slightly weary of, but which provokes an unbelievable reaction, I Get Like This. Enigma Bar was also treated to some brand new songs, which reaffirmed that The Hard Aches are becoming one of the most skilled outfits in the genre, joining the likes of Luca Brasi and The Smith Street Band. To summarise, it's fantastic to have a band of this calibre filling the void that After The Fall left behind.

This writer has to admit that New Jersey's The Front Bottoms were somewhat unknown aside from a quick accidental viewing of the program Late Night With Seth Meyers (on which the quartet performed). Still, it was established very quickly that this four-piece deserve a lot more attention. Opening track Skeleton transformed the venue into a crowded trampoline, which shook the entire building, and members of the sold-out audience did everything they could to clamber closer to the New Jerseyites. Be Nice To Me, Help, Ginger, West Virginia, Maps (which included an excellent trumpet section), The Plan (Fuck Jobs), Backflip, The Beers, Peach and Swimming Pool were featured and instigated a form of chaos not generally witnessed at indie-punk shows. The Front Bottoms combine The Shins, Jamie T, The Swellers and the movie Garden State; it is a quirky amalgamation, but also very alluring.