First show of '26

Stella Donnelly, first cab off the rank, was 'moniker' in advertising all week. Those devious Mojo's tricksters! I got there about half way through the set coz *reasons - and missed out on food. Stella - International act from Wales/Australia - is touring and (I think) testing new material on the road. Mostly folk/waif rock (is that a thing?), but showed signs of a punk attitude. I've not heard of her before, and, somewhat surprisingly, I think I like. I was trying to work out why, and the only reason I could come up with is that it would be rock if it had the right back beat. Very popular - Mojo's was near packed and getting to the stage was not happening. The more I learn, the more I don't know.

Grub. Low key one of my favourite bands. I have loved 'Hate' from the first time I heard it, and possibly have three videos of it. Guitars everywhere, rhythm/bass section know how to go real hard when that's called for, lead g is understatedly good (that should be a word if it's not) and vox packs a punch when she sings! I wonder what a Grub love song would sound like. 😁

Headline show - with single release - was New Nausea - I guess they don't like Benedictine monks - who I've also never heard of before and was a bit hesitant about based on their music presence (poppy, 'nice' stuff). I was wrong. When they get going, New Nausea are as rock as you'd like. They can drop down into lighter, poppy stuff, but when they rock, they rock. Chicks on guitar and bass, plus also chick-in-frog. I probably won't tag that one. 😁 Single is a banger, but the last song of the night blew me away. Very punk, 'Australia, dafuq is this all about?'. I need a copy of this song. Will see again.

I also took a copy of 'Only Ever Coming Down' but the transcode process resulted in a 1.1GB file so it can remain offline.