Due to circumstances beyond Speak n Spell's control, Crocodiles, who were due to headline this Christmas party, cancelled their trip to Australia last minute. Nevertheless, the show must go on, and this reviewer geared up for the fantastic evening that is the Speak N Spell Xmas show.

First up were Sydney three piece Skullsquadron. I hadn't heard nor seen them perform live before, so was eager to see what was in store. Upon the first note these three musicians, no wait - Gods - heaven is truly on Earth. All hail Skullsquadron! They delivered a set so dynamic and powerful akin to a young Dinosaur Jr., that they left the crowd in awe. Each song was beautifully composed and executed with such passion; the wall of the sound created had left my ears begging for more.

Next was Melbourne two piece Kid Sam, who played beautifully crafted pop songs. The thing that caught this reviewer’s attention was the drumming by Kishore Ryan, whose explosive energy and skills needed to be acknowledged. Their set was rich and fun with ‘Down To the Cemetery’ getting everybody moving.

The last time I saw Jack Ladder was when he opened for Patrick Wolf at The Basement in 07, and after his set it was clear – he still had it. His haunting pop voice, driven by guitars and drums, complimented each other flawlessly. His thunderous voice roared through the speakers, captivating the audience. People were swaying and by now had completely forgotten about the Crocodiles cancellation.

Overall, considering the situation, it was a great night. Speak N Spell put on a great Christmas show and the highlight of the night were Skullsquadron - surely to be the next big thing.