Australian Scene Report: The Scumshine Coast

Welcome to a place where the grass is where the bands play and the kids aren’t afraid to move, a place where BoogeyBoards are a show essential and there is no judgments weather you’re a stoner, alcoholic or edge, your almost guaranteed to have fun on the Sunshine Coast.

Over the years the sunshine coast has held a couple of big names such as Ceremony, Extortion, SXWZD, I Exist, Shipwreck, Champion, but over the recent years is often been missed by many bands either on tour, or just passed as the scene hasn’t been able to impress. S.C.U.M (Sunshine Coast United Music) has been around for at least the past 5 years usually with a show every month, but this year hasn’t the best, although last show put on by S.C.U.M was good with Vera and Reality playing a small hall but there never seems to be enough people to come across hearing of these shows. I remember the first bands I saw in the town were Just Say Go!, Connections & Pride of Place, playing the sunny coast almost every weekend. But since the death or movement of those bands into the Brisbane scene and with no cool live bands or shows it was about time a couple of the bands upcoming bands held their own shows.

Dead Frogs

So without anyone to look up to except “metalcore piano fags” the kids are starting to show that the Sunshine Coast DOES have something to offer, with bands of all ages coming out of the woodwork and hosting consistent house shows, with turnouts of up to a hundred people to each show, finally the Sunshine Coast can be proud of its scene, with bands such as Done For, Acid Snake and Dirty Charlie making the trip from Brisbane and Gold Coast to play and be a part of the carnage. All the kids a willing to hold the shows in garages, on driveways and anywhere where the stomping occurs. Welcome to the current Sunshine Coast.

The most recent show was held at Kai’s House in the hills with a showcase of all the local bands and Brisbane done for this one was set out to be fun. The bands and the kids congregated at the bottom of the driveway as local hardcore act Lessons Learned kicked off a fun set to a fun night, beers we’re going down. Next up was local youngsters Draw Blank, playing typical Australian hardcore punk. With helmets on the kids couldn’t held but bounce off the walls (and hedges in this case) these four kids will tear shit down, always fun conform cover by Siege went down. Check them out when they leave the coast to play Sun Distortion Studios on August 20th with Brazen, Troublemaker, Sick People, Something For The Mrs. and Knifewounds, they also have their first demo that’s definitely worth checking out (Mediafire).

Dead Frogs another young in-yo-face hardcore/punk band singer Juke came out in a dress an balaclava, always entertaining punk jumps and an all round fun set they also have something worth checking out, swamp sessions demo (Mediafire) next up was always ruling jailbait, with their convict suits when they play and a couple of changes between vocalist and drummer this three piece always a fun punk as fuck set!

Done For

It is rumored they have a split 7 coming out with Byron’s Wilde Childe also check out their download (Mediafire). Next up was the strapped up 3 piece Laeirs with the shortest set of the night. First show with their new drummer Zac, with 15 minutes of d-beat, feedback, screams and anything to make your ears bleed Laeirs brought the crowd to the front and gave kids a reason to move around. They opened with a Neil Perry instrumental song and also have some split tapes coming out with Melbourne’s Diploid and Rhode Islands Agape’ be sure to check them out.

Next up was Brisbane's Done For, they just also got their drummer back after doing some shows with fill in drummers. Done For play a more melodic hardcore sound, with kids dying to learn the words and swam singer, Coen. This 5-piece can play their instruments with tunes that’ll get stuck in your head they have a four track demo (Mediafire) they are also playing the flood in Brisbane over the weekend of the 13th of August.

Ansieta

The final Band of the night was locals Ansieta, after going through a couple of member changes they are now a four piece, with vocalist getting your face and bringing the excitement to the crowd, and backups from the rest of the band, this band sounds a bit like bands such as Daitro and La Dispute and put on a good show weather you want to move around or just take it all in, they have an upcoming EP this year and some new tracks on their facebook their defiantly worth a look.

So if your not from the Sunshine Coast and want to kick some walls in it's worth getting in touch with any of these bands chances are you’ll be at a show in their garage, and for any bands who are sick of touring and kids not coming to shows, you haven’t put us on the map yet and I recommend you do because you won’t regret it, see you in the pit…

- Fray Biden