I look forward to heading to BIGSOUND every year. Its the perfect showcase of the incredible talent Australia has to offer and I discover new bands that I love every time. There were so many amazing bands playing on night two that I ended up running around like a mad person but here are just some of the highlights!
WILDHEART
Brisbane melodic hardcore band Wildheart were the first act to kick off my Bigsound, where they took to the stage downstairs at the Crowbar. I had listened to Wildheart a few times before but I wasn’t prepared for the absolute furry that was their live show. From the minute the boys stepped onto the stage there was this explosion of energy that hit the crowd like a freight train. It only took one song before lead singer Axel leaped up on the stage barrier unleashing the full force of his vocals that sounded like they came from the very depths of hell. You could see and you could feel the passion in their performance, every member threw their bodies on the line making every single moment count, it was unreal to watch. By the second song Alex decided to ditch the stage all together by jumping the barrier and making his way into the crowd with his mic where he got into the faces of every single fan. Playing tracks from their recently released EP such as We Are and Calloused captivated just how beautifully intense Wildheart really are and they were a pleasure to see to live.
WALKEN
Brisbane alternative rock group Walken were next on my list playing on the upstairs half of the Crowbar. I had never seen them before and although I could barely understand anything they were saying they were giving off such good vibes and a groovy beat that it was impossible not to dance along. Acting like complete dorks the crowd were feeding from the palms of their hands, they couldn’t even change guitars without singing a little song to pass the time it so much fun to watch. Playing songs such Unomi and Eagle Eye, the boys rocked their hearts out taking up every inch of the tiny stage they had to work with. Walken’s set was so electric it was impossible to look away, the crowd were swaying and singing and laughing and to be fair the boys could have played a Christmas song and they still would have set the crowd off.
TOTTY
Wollongong rockers Totty were a band I discovered 5 minutes before heading to Bigsound and I’m so grateful I did. These guys were so good even the boys from the Dune Rats showed up to see them perform as well as plenty of hyped up fans. Catchy and relaxed Totty were the ultimate groovers, their tunes ranged from surf rock to slow jams and they were all matched perfectly with the completely unique and beautiful voice of lead singer Kelly. For a bunch of youngsters they played like absolute pros and with tracks such as Sigh and Riff it was obvious why they deserved a spot on that stage. Totty were also amazing performers, they kept the crowds attention glued to them the whole time rolling with absolutely anything that came to their mind just to make everybody laugh. They were fresh and new and they owned it, their music was the perfect roller coaster of tempos constantly leaving you wanting more. Totty killed it and I recommend catching them live when you get the chance, you won’t regret it.
SUNSCREEN
Newtown Sydney dream garage group Sunscreen took over The Valley Drive In stage around 10pm and they had a massive crowd who turned out to see them. Songs such as Voices and Tide got everybody moving to the beat and the flashing lights and relaxing tone of their tracks gave off a super nice vibe. Sunscreen played their hearts out and you could tell they loved every minute of being up on that stage.
STATESIDE
Playing their first ever Bigsound was Brisbane 5 piece pop rock group Stateside. From the minute their first song kicked off the whole band threw themselves into their set, you could tell Stateside were here to make an impression on the punters of Bigsound and they weren’t going to let anything get in their way. They created a full wave of energy throughout the whole Crowbar and whether a long time fan or not everyone was rocking out. Front woman Erin was on fire more than usual, every note was hit perfectly and with ease and her connection with the crowd kept every eye on the stage. Rolling through tracks such as The Way We Were and This Is War, Stateside also treated us to a brand new track called Hellions which showcased a new sound that the band are currently branching into. Personally I think this is one of the best sets I’ve seen them perform. The whole band were feeding off each other and not only could you tell they were having the time of their lives but they also played the best they ever have. If you haven’t heard Stateside yet make sure you check them out, you won’t regret it.
BUGS
Brisbane surf rockers Bugs are people-pleasers. I’ve seen them perform plenty of times before but they continue to get better and they change up their set every time so you never end up seeing the same show twice. With their high energy tracks and infectious lyrics, Bugs managed to pull a fairly decent crowd and those who were there were having the time of their lives. Frontman and guitarist Connor Brooker worked the crowd like a seasoned pro, smiling gleefully as he hit note after glorious note. Rolling through killer tracks such as Instant Coffee, When I Know and a new single which I’m going to say was called In The Same Place, Bugs absolutely slayed every second with not a note or beat out of place. One of the things I love the most about seeing Bugs perform live is they are not like everybody else. You can tell by the sound of Connor’s voice or the fact that bassist Jordan never wears a shirt or the smile that gleams from Brock on the drums that you are in fact watching Bugs, mix that with their catchy tunes and you have the exact reasons why these boys are making some serious waves in the industry.
THE CHATS
“I’m on smoko, so leave me alone“, I embarrassed to say its the only song I knew by these guys but I still had to see them live. Internet sensations and house punk heads The Chats were bloody brilliant. Mullets, speed dealing glasses, songs with attitude and tongue and cheek lyrics it was all to much but in a wonderful and hilariously perfect kind of way. Despite their slightly immature fun guy personas, The Chats played amazingly, there wasn’t a single beat or note out of place unless it was meant to be and it sounded incredible. The highlight of their set was most definitely their single Smoko. The crowd absolutely lost their minds, screaming and singing along to the track as loud as they could it was an insane showcase of fandom.
Stay tuned for night three!
