Four bands for forty bucks is awesome value when you consider that this gig at Melbourne’s iconic HiFi Bar included the likes of The Dune Rats, The Bleeding Knees Club, Papa Vs Pretty and The Vines. I have been banging-on about the depth of Australia’s rock talent for some time now, and though these bands aren’t from my home city, I’m still mighty proud to say they’re Australian.

Surprisingly the show wasn’t a sell-out. Punters had breathing space for a change, and if you were super quick it was possible to score a seat in the ‘gods’. An eclectic mix of people turned out to witness what could only be described as a professional and tight show. I still cannot truly figure why the Japanese businessmen showed up except to say that it could have been the ‘cool factor’ that attracted them. The youngsters were there in droves, which signals that grunge and indie rock is definitely alive and kicking still.

There was a decent crowd present to give The Dune Rats ample support. This young duo play what is described in some bios as a combination of power pop and surf sounds, but resembles old style punk to the unschooled. Danny and BC Deusa ripped out their staple songs in staccato bursts of noise. Like 70’s punk tunes the experience of each was short and loud like a mini street riot. Their set left the punters panting with the beginnings of a major adrenaline rush.

The Bleeding Knees Club doesn’t pretend it wants to change the world. Like The Dune Rats the band consists of two guys from Brisbane (Alex Wall – vocals/drums & Jordan Malane – guitar), who enjoy thrashing it out. Sophisticates would probably not like the sharp and simple lyrics that relate to young punks forcing themselves on society and believing they’re the first surf bums to rebel against societal norms. Other surf bums would find something that resonates and for that reason I say they’d definitely appeal to that demographic. Always it’s horses for courses and all music has a purpose, even if it’s to calm people in lifts or while the ship is sinking.

Papa Vs Pretty has been around for a while now, and the band has the support of alternative radio stations. Songs on high rotation usually garner a substantial following and it was great to recognise songs such as “Heavy Harm” and “One of the Animals”. The HiFi had filled steadily, and by the time this act took the stage, the anticipation had built and there was a palpable buzz. Maybe in staying open-minded and clear-headed I was a little let down by this band. They played exceptionally well and performed a neat set, but I think the mix of songs was a little off. There were too many mid-tempo songs together, which should have been mixed up with some rockin’ numbers to draw our attention. The overall effect was one of blandness with a couple of highlights. It seems that most punters didn’t notice the dip in the vibe as time drew closer to the appearance of the headline act and young hearts were beating apace.

Thank the good Lord that The Vines are no longer called ‘Rishikesh’, because that sounds like some insipid Bollywood wedding singer. This gig proves that all great bands have autistic lead vocalists (well maybe not all, but many), who focus on the minutiae and intricacies of sounds and words and cough up tiny masterpieces. The Vines songs remind me of those little paintings with details so perfect that you have to view them over and over to fully appreciate the skill with which they were executed.

Craig Nicholls has the power to focus on music with an intensity that astounds those of us who aren’t ‘aspy’. Some have the power to make their limitations into a true gift. The Vines played a clean, tight set and hit us between the ears with new and classic songs, all of which sounded as though the guys had been playing them since birth. The intense machine gun fire of “Gimme Love” contrasted with the brilliantly crafted ballad “Leave Me In The Dark”. By the end of the night we were on a musical high and could have happily listened to The Vines play every song they’ve ever recorded over the 10 years of their existence.

A memorable gig indeed.