Dune Rats - Gig Review & Photo Gallery 29th December @ Nightquarter, Gold Coast QLD
Best Night Ever 2018
Nightquarter, Gold Coast QLD
December 29th, 2018
Featuring: Dune Rats, DZ Deathrays, The Gooch Palms, WAAX and more...
The now annual Best Night Ever series had their second year of festivities to wrap up 2018 at the ever impressive Nightquarter on the Gold Coast, this was my first time at the Eat-Street-esque location at Helensvale Train Station and I have to say, I was realllly impressed and kicking myself for not making it down for a gig in previous years. The live music venue is set up inside a kind of plane hanger styled outdoor location complete with bars, seating a VIP area overlooking the crowd and the sound is actually really good for what it is. I highly commend Nightquarter for its dedication to live music (growing up on the Gold Coast myself, I would have killed for a venue like this during my time there) and commend all the patrons who attended.
Our evening kicked off rather late, arriving just as Brisbane locals WAAX hit the stage playing a ready to play a new set for fans who may have caught them at the recent Good Things Festival, but all the best bangers were included like 'Same Same', 'Wild & Weak', 'This Everything' and locally inspired single 'Labrador' which sent fans wild in their own moshpit. Looking back, I think this was the fifth or sixth time seeing WAAX live this year and can I just say, I am in no way shape or form getting sick of it at all. I cannot wait for their new music (within the next month) ahead of their debut album out around May-ish next year. You just watch these legends explode in 2019.
I've said it before and I'll say it again, maybe I'm too old for The Gooch Palms and I just don't get it, but when the Newcastle natives hit the stage, consisting of guitarist/vocalist Leroy Macqueen and standing drumkit player/vocalist Kat Friend I tried very hard to get into their set, unfortunately, it just wasn't for me. However, I will point out the sound these two make with just a guitar and simple drumkit is insane. They powered through their songs much to the approval of the younger fans who had scored a spot closer to the stage and even had a guest vocals spot from Maz DeVita of WAAX. I will try in the new year to see what the fuss is about their music, not in a live setting, but until then I'll just say they were a fun act to watch.
When DZ Deathrays hit the stage one of two things happened, I couldn't believe this band were not headlining for starters and two its been so long since I had seen them live that I COULDN'T BELIEVE 'GINA WORKS AT HEARTS' HAS BECOME AN OPENING SONG!!! Seriously, you can go back through any live review I've had of these guys and every time that song comes on, something bad (but good) happens in the moshpit. In the past I've lost countless amounts of sunglasses, been punched in the nose, elbowed in the temple, trodded on while falling over, ripped my shirt, lost a thong, you name it, it's probably happened and I guess that's why I felt safe watching them play that song first from the comfort of the VIP Balcony. The two three piece powered through their set which featured new songs 'Reflective Skull', 'Like People' (without a sneaky appearance from former Wiggle, Murray Cook), 'Total Meltdown' and wrapping up with 'Shred For Summer'. It was insane to see s many bodies in the mosh/circle pit going up and down as they played, proving they're more of a closing act than a second headliner, but from all accounts, everyone down below had a great time, despite their injuries (one bloke was running around in the pit with a XXXX Summer bucket on his head, I didn't see him again after that set). T'was good seeing DZ again and I can't wait for them to come back around again after missing their two prominent tours this year.
Last but not least Dune Rats hit the stage as Aussie Icon John Farnham's 'Your The Voice' played over the loudspeakers, much to the approval of those in attendance who were too busy caught up singing the words to notice they had emerged on stage. Coming out of live show retirement for the first time in 5 months, the guys picked up where they left off playing through a wide combination of newer songs like '6 Pack', 'Red Light, Green Light', and absolute crowd favourite 'Scott Green'. They also had plenty of special guest moments on stage both inviting Chris and Maz from WAAX on with them to perform a song and also the moment they got their Mums on stage to scull a beer before ripping into 'Braindead'. Old "classics" 'Dalai Lama, Big Banana, Marijuana' and 'Superman' made appearances but it was the climactic 'Bullshit' which really brought out the fun and festivities of the event as Kat from The Gooch Palms rode a boogie board across the crowd and back to the stage again while the boys played, only to be outdone when Dunies drummer BC Michaels hopped out into the crowd, on his knee/standing up before they walked off stage, only to return with their own rendition of the Violent Femmes track 'Blister in the Sun'.
Dubbed Best Night Ever, Gold Coasters certainly copped just that watching these bands put on one hell of a show. I fully back this venue as well and encourage any/all live music fans to check it out when you get the chance. Last year's BNE featured Grinspoon headlining, I'm looking forward to seeing who they manage to get at the end of 2019 for the next instalment.
Gig Review by Browny @brownypaul
Photo Gallery by Bec O’Reilly. Find Bec on Facebook and Instagram.
Please credit Wall of Sound and Bec O’Reilly if you repost.
WAAX
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The Gooch Palms
DZ Deathrays
Dune Rats
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