30/3/2012 The DeRellas, Gasoline Queens, and Healthy Junkies @ Nambucca

Subject	The DeRellas, Gasoline Queens, and Healthy Junkies @ Nambucca
DateCreated	4/8/2012 5:17:00 PM
	I reckon tonight at Nambucca is the best 3 band rock 'n' roll bill of the year so far, and at a bargain price on the door too. The proceedings are kicked off by Healthy Junkies. This lot are the least rock 'n' roll and most commercial sounding band on the bill with their tuneful pop/rock - albeit with a darker edge. When I first saw this band a couple of years ago Queen Adreena were probably their most obvious influence. Things have moved on a bit since then and now singer Nina seems more comfortable being herself instead of Katie Jane Garside. Plenty of songs from this band's impressive debut album 'Sick Note' are played tonight, along with a couple of new ones. Although there is a cover of '20th Century Boy' on their album and it used to be in the band's set, they don't play it tonight - good that the band have enough confidence in their own material that they don't feel they have to resort to putting cover songs in the setlist. Healthy Junkies turn in a good performance tonight with the most varied set of the evening. Next up are the Gasoline Queens. This band reformed last year and have got better every time I've seen them - the highlight being when they supported Dogs D'Amour in Isington . Texas Terri join's the band on backing vocals for a few songs and brings a New York punk flavour to the band's sound. The band are on good form tonight playing well and getting a good sound from this venue's sound system - something I've noticed about Nambucca is that although it's a small venue, the sound quality often puts much bigger and better known venues to shame. The Gasoline Queens have some good catchy songs of their own, but I think the best song they play tonight is a cover - they do an excellent version of 'Last Bandit'. This brings to mind my only criticism of the band - that maybe they sound like they are trying a bit too hard to be Dogs D'Amour instead of themselves. That said - if you are going to sound like someone else, then at least they've picked a great band to sound like! Each band on the bill tonight sounds quite different, although they are basically rock 'n' roll bands. The headliners bring their own brand - the DeRellas emphasis being on being louder, faster, and more 'in your face'. Shapes are thrown, moves are pulled, and there is much heroic gurning - you are left in no doubt this is a full force rock 'n' roll band! The setlist is largely pulled from the band's 'Hollywood Monsters' album - no ballads or soppy love songs to be found here! This lot are by far the most energetic band on the bill tonight and they are a lot of fun! There's nothing terribly original about their mix of rock time rock 'n' roll, sleazy glamour, and punk adrelinine - but if you are having a good time you don't care. Like the previous band, they also throw in a cover (which can be found on the album) of Carly Simon's 'You're So Vain' - needless to say much harder and faster than the original. Unlike the previous band's cover, this doesn't really stand out much compared to the other songs in the set. After you've seen The Derellas a couple of times some of their songs start to get stuck in your head - 'Freak Show', 'She's A Pistol' and 'Crash & Burn' stand out. How many bands have written a song called 'Crash & Burn' I wonder? It must have been quite a few - I even wrote a song with the same title myself many years ago. The DeRellas are a lot of fun and go all out to entertain you - this is the most energetic band I've seen in quite a while. Their set is a great way to finish off the evening's entertainment - it's been an excellent night in Holloway Road and I've really enjoyed the sets by all three bands. It's not often I can say that these days. And tonight the dreaded smoke machine was only used in moderation - enabling better pictures than previous nights at this venue.

PS: This venue closed unexpectedly in early 2014.