Roy, Static Era, All Dead Superstars, Kavort @ The Royal 19/10/2013

The night was kicked off with a guy named Roy playing an acoustic set of covers from a wide range of styles, Smashing Pumpkins, David Bowie, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Sublime and my favourite (and the crowds too, as I looked around I could see most of them singing along) – Tool.

Next up we had Static Era – this was probably my highlight of the night. A chick fronted rock group with an amazing stage presence, this wasn’t just a bunch of people onstage playing music you actually got a show. Emma G was bouncing around all over the stage (in her now world famous in NZ hotpants) with a powerful voice and amazing vocal range, a natural performer, I was hypnotized from the first note. The whole band was very high energy, BV’s a mix of gang vocals and harmonies, and that bass tone… wow.

All Dead Superstars were next to the stage with something pleasantly different – Irish rock. ¾ was everywhere, gang vocals, shuffle beats, the whole pub was dancing (I’m sure I even saw the bar girl having a wee dance), I even saw a few irish jigs making their way throughout the crowd. Awesome show, it’s getting to see bands like this that breakaway from the current “trend” and just doing what they love that is a big part of why I do this job.

And last but not least we have a band so far at the opposite end of the spectrum from the opening acoustic act that you had no choice but to listen. No seriously, these guys were louder than every other band combined. The boys from Wanganui were bringing the metal, Kavort saw the sound man take the stage and strap on his guitar, and this was quite possibly the first time I have ever seen a couple get down on the dance floor and “boogie” to a metal band, awesome.

Overall this was a very eclectic mix of bands but one that I thoroughly enjoyed, if ANY of these bands are playing in your town you best be getting your ass own to that gig.