SYNW, image by Stewart Innes

SYNW, image by Stewart Innes

Arriving just in time to witness psychedelic dark wave rockers Changeling perform the last two songs of their set was fortunate to say the least. Lead singer and, interestingly occasional bassist, Noah Swinney along with band members Cameron Davey (guitar), Gabriel Hope (drums) and Ruby Angelica (synth/backing vocals), managed to let the mind-bending spell of the trance-ey ’60s seep into the barren concert hall with untouched doom-chants over abyssal dream melodies. The hard-hearted looking band was a worthwhile discovery that, although not as punk as a strict definition would demand, definitely did justice to the more laid-back genre that is psychedelic rock.

SYNW, image by Stewart Innes

Beach Party, whose genre description states psychedelic-afro-disco-surf-punk, did a better job at bringing punk’s passion for anarchy to life as lead singer Danny Video gets the crowd to start a serious mosh pit. As a proper punk would, he jumps over the stage barrier to join the moshers, but refutes his newly gained rebel rep later when he apologizes for his crappy beach pop band that just plays punk songs. Be that as it may, the crowd was won over by Video’s humorous stage charm, the band’s natural cheerfulness and surf punk melodies that reminisce of The Jam’s ‘A Town Called Malice’, leading to their set ending with convinced hand claps.

SYNW, image by Stewart Innes

Matthew James (vocals and guitars), Devon Martindale (guitars), Craig McKune (bass) and Jimmy McGregor (drums) of Crossfire Collision took the audience on a journey to greater and heavier shores. Backed by some razzle-dazzle stage lights, they excelled in reviving some US punk with some straightforward Blink 182 rock riffs. A sign was produced by a girl in the crowd, carefully hand-grafted with a biro, that stated ‘I’m Pregnant You Cunt’ to get the young men’s attention. Taking their music seriously, they finished their song effortlessly and with an unabashed demeanour. It being their first time to perform at The Assembly, they gave their audience what they expected to hear: unfussed punk rock.

SYNW, image by Stewart Innes

The much-anticipated The Dollfins, fronted by an Indian-headdress sporting Fuck You, kicked everybody’s punk ass through getting her namesake’s attitude spot on. Along with Bear Trap (bass) and Pussy Slap (drums) they soared through their set with catchy riffs, a rough beer-drinking cuteness and a nostalgic garage punk sound. Although the vocals could have stood out more above the instruments’ kick-ass noise melodies, the foolhardy trio pleased everybody with a heartfelt ‘In Your Head’ or a carefree ‘Friendly’ as well as some song material that they say is yet to be recorded. Their decidedly old-school rawness is very refreshing among an air of often desperate experimentalism. Punk rock til’ you drop!
 

See you next Wednesday? Mr Sakitumi and The Grrrl, FUXDVT (Das Kapital vs Sideshow) and Phaze vs Dynamo will be amongst the dedicated beat generators. Click here for more information. Also, watch out for our upcoming interview with The Dollfins to be posted on onesmallseed.com soon!

images by Stewart Innes, c/o The Assembly