Bodyjar @ The Annandale Hotel 27/11/09
December 7th 2009 08:42
What started out as a bit of a dare 20 years ago, evolved into a icon in the Australian punk rock scene that has culminated into a final farewell tour as the band split to pursuit other endeavors.
I remember listening to Bodyjar when I was just a teenager. Having been deeply influenced by all those great melodic punk bands of that time (Pennywise, Offspring, Descendants, et al) I found that Bodyjar closely resembled what those bands played. But in recent years, the boys have slowed up the pace recording and touring wise, so it was no surprise when it was announced that this tour would be the last.
A packed Annandale crowd reverted back to when they were 17. They drank, they sang along to every word, they moshed, they crowd surfed. They wanted more and wished that it wasn't the end. it wasn't until half way through the set I realised how I still knew every word to every song and remembered how good they were. performance wise was not a let down. Just four guys on stage letting the power of the music whip the crowd into a frenzy. Songs like 'Too Drunk Too Drive', 'Glossy Books', 'You've Taken Everything' and 'One In A Million' gained a large response. the biggest singalong was left to their cover of 'Hazy Shade Of Winter'.
Tonight was a celebration of the work of one of Australia's premier punk bands. 20 years is a long time in any job, in any industry and especially in a cyclical and often finicky Australian music scene. Bodyjar will leave a tremendous gap in the scene that, giving the many bands coming through this year, will one day be filled. But alot of people who stumble out tonight, won't forget the importance of Bodyjar.
I remember listening to Bodyjar when I was just a teenager. Having been deeply influenced by all those great melodic punk bands of that time (Pennywise, Offspring, Descendants, et al) I found that Bodyjar closely resembled what those bands played. But in recent years, the boys have slowed up the pace recording and touring wise, so it was no surprise when it was announced that this tour would be the last.
A packed Annandale crowd reverted back to when they were 17. They drank, they sang along to every word, they moshed, they crowd surfed. They wanted more and wished that it wasn't the end. it wasn't until half way through the set I realised how I still knew every word to every song and remembered how good they were. performance wise was not a let down. Just four guys on stage letting the power of the music whip the crowd into a frenzy. Songs like 'Too Drunk Too Drive', 'Glossy Books', 'You've Taken Everything' and 'One In A Million' gained a large response. the biggest singalong was left to their cover of 'Hazy Shade Of Winter'.
Tonight was a celebration of the work of one of Australia's premier punk bands. 20 years is a long time in any job, in any industry and especially in a cyclical and often finicky Australian music scene. Bodyjar will leave a tremendous gap in the scene that, giving the many bands coming through this year, will one day be filled. But alot of people who stumble out tonight, won't forget the importance of Bodyjar.
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