Out Of The Blue - The Snowdroppers

Rosemary from The Snowdroppers on Vimeo.

Unfortunately the night started off poorly, with news that The Snowdroppers had cancelled due to emergency illness. This was a massive shame as this is a band I have wanted to see for sometime. They create the kind of music that sounds like it has been spawned in a time of prohibition, speakeasies, whorehouses and places where saloon doors were not for novelty. And this sounds just great to me...

First was The Still Bandits. Being band that was attending JMC Academy I was apprehensive to say the least. My apprehension didn't last long as tore into their opening number and over the next 30 minutes I was treated to a fascinating blend of ol' fashion rock and roll, with a touch of blues and a good pop hook, without the diabetic sugar levels of today’s pop. I do have to admit that close to the end of the set I was getting bored (which in 30 minutes is saying something!), so I would have to say with a little work on the live aspect of their show, this band could be onto something.

The second act witnessed was Porcelain. I didn't think much of their live show, but I guess I was biased after witnessing them abuse the guestlist by attempting to get as many people as they could in for free or "VIP" and then proceed to get upset about the fact they were not able to get free drinks. While this was happening I thought to myself "wow so this is what Prima-Donna means on a small scale, well I guess their music will back up the behaviour." And yes it did...to an extent...it was hard to shake the previous scenes when watching them perform at what was essentially a charity benefit. So for me, this would be a band I would like to see again to determine my final thoughts.


Now, onto something happier...THE SALVAGES!!!!...OH MY GOD!! Now here was a band that understood what a live show could do to and for an audience. It was rock, as simple as that. The stage presence was there, the music was tight and the sound crystal clear. These guys made you want to dance with your shirt off, strike your best rock pose and sing in front of your mirror with your best rock bandana. You couldn't have asked for a better band to step in to make up for the lackluster performance previously. By the end of the set I looked around to realise I had not only consumed more than enough beer, I had also gravitated to the front of the stage. For me that is what you look for in a band. They have gone on to support both The Galvatrons and Bertie Blackman, easily showcasing their versatility. I only wish I could find them on the Internet to share to the masses!


Moving on to the final two, Ladies and Gentlemen & The Rumjacks. I have gotten to see L&G alot, and am always willing to catch one of their shows. Alot of people have been heard to say "I don't know man, it’s just like watching Fall Out Boy or Panic at The Disco." And yes, yes it is... but I love it! Who out there cannot admit to secretly loving a tune from one of the previously mentioned bands...I'll happily admit to it. Sure it may be associated with eyeliner and adolescent guys and girls taking Myspace pictures from "The Good Side". But that doesn't mean it can't be good. Ladies and Gentlemen's songs have more twists and turns in them than a case of the Delhi Belly. With a band as attractive as the songs, this band is set to see nothing but good things for the future. And maybe a revealing autobiography just for good measure.

The Rumjacks...
For all those fans of The Dropkick Murphy's and Flogging Molly, here is your Australian counterpart. As soon as the opening chord struck out into the Gaelic Club, I had an overwhelming urge to spray Guinness all over myself and begin punch dancing. I've always been a fan of this style of music for two reasons: It always puts on a great show (this was no exception), and for its amazing ability to combine relatively sad or emotional lyrics with music that is impossible to be sad to. For the next hour I we were treated to a right royal hoedown that eventually left the crowd arm in arm in a fantastic drunken sing-along...Here was a band that new what they had to do to replace the headlining act, but did it with an ease that could only come from playing show after show.

It was a night I enthusiastically enjoyed and was glad it went to something worthwhile. Though I was still disappointed that I did not get to see The Snowdroppers. It was a night that again proved to me that where one thing may fail, another will succeed and that you can always discover new music at the weirdest and unexpected of times!