Full Send Freo
Found the pub easily enough, but had to drive around a bit to find some parking. Also roadworks.
Arrived in time to see the Mess Around's last few songs. Missed Chasing Jayme and Better Late (both of whom I expected to be near the top of the gig, not the beginning) and Broken Pedal Band.
First full band I saw were Queen Qoral. Apart from a killer lyric -- 'Don't touch my soul with your dirty hole', the most I remember of them was the pack of surfies doing the bro dance near the front of the stage. Seven-10 guys all drunk slam-dancing with arms around each other and side-cuddles and bum pats in a celebration of fraternal masculinity. I think. About halfway through the set some guy standing next to me comments about older people going to gigs (he looked to be late 30s) and I pointed out a couple other grey heads in the crowd. He gets all affronted and "nahh, I wasn't saying you are old, mate". I'm no worries, whatever, and turned back to the music. The guitar solo at the end was somewhat redeeming. Surf-prog rock?
The night's highlight for me was the Matthew Trent Band comprising Mr Trent and a drummer. I recorded one and wish I'd also recorded the next song 'Take me away' - both bangers! A later song 'It's all over now' was really good too. He says he's on bandcamp - will look up and buy stuff.
Between the first old people comment and the end of Matthew Trent's set, that guy sought me out in different areas of the bar (tryna get good photos, natch) and had some comment to make over half a dozen times including one starting 'oh, sorry, i thought you were a girl'. By attempt #3 I'd gathered he had some 'interest' and by #7 or 8, after I'd played the naive straight - civil, non committal comments with a complete lack of interest, he blurted out a spiel on why didn't i like him when all he wanted to sit down and have a chat with me? WTF? Let him know what I thought of chatting and told him i was there to see the music, all right? after which it seemed he got the message.
Final band was Tritus. If it wasn't for the fact that other bands mentioned these guys as the band the ppl were waiting for and the swelling of the crowd, I would have thought these guys were warm ups. Opened with a cover of Toto's 'Hold the Line'. I've heard Sick Visor doing 5, 6, 7, 8 (Bootscootin' Boogie) and PMX (I think) covering Blush by the Hummingbirds, but a classic rock staple that's in most AOR playlists today? Other than that, they were 'OK' according to my notes from the night.
Tritus had a very quick set and the whole night was done by 10.30. All in all a very weird experience. Non band highlight was the delightful barmaid - a German backpacker - who not only hadn't tried the craft beers on tap, but wasn't really a beer drinker at all. I couldn't not comment on the two beer-drinkingest countries in the world coming together, working in a bar and not drinking beer and got a pretty laugh. Best service I remember in a pub - she'd see me while pouring and i would get served next. I made a point to thank her at the end of the show and even did some of that flirting 🫦 thing. Like I said, weird.