Perhaps it was the two pints sitting pretty in my stomach, or end-of-week lethargy, or the deep thoughts that often follow exposure to late afternoon Autumn sunshine, but I found myself to be a very happy Vegemite following this punchy Punk pairing at The Gem. A festival-less weekend never looked so good.

It was the first Friday night of September and footy finals fever was in the air, yet my mind remained on other things. I was seeing a band who would prove to be worthy adolescent reincarnations of the messiah, who were also partial to some flirting in denim. Enter, Teen Jesus and The Jean Teasers.

It was the battle of the decades in the Workers band room on the night of Friday the 13th. Jervis Bay charmers Debbies fused their Skeggs-reminiscent-surf-punk with looking like they’d just strolled off the set of Puberty Blues, whilst front-woman Hallie appeared like a late 90s fever dream sporting Gwen Stefani No Doubt era vibes, and finally, the cheeky Adelaide duo TOWNS stayed true to blink-182 influences in baggy trousers and flannies and performed a phenomenal cover of Smashmouth’s ‘Allstar’. 

Not my usual review- you know me, I like the acoustic-y, lullaby type of music that puts my heart into a state. These Cairns boys, however, are killing it right now! The album BEAUTY IN DEATH is out now so if you haven’t yet, get yourselves ready!

QR codes and masks were not a feature at my last Forum gig, but they were firmly ingrained in the standard routine as the crowds began to line up on a warm January Wednesday. After sitting empty for months, it was the injection of humans needed to bring music back to live (pun intended).