A layer of cigarette smoke hangs above the crowd like the pollution clouds of Hong Kong, cartons of Melbourne Bitter are being sold faster than they can physically appear and there are emergency ponchos for sale next to the cider. That means that CherryRock15 is here mother-funksters. Boasting two stages, 13 bands and no clashes, it’s a rather exciting affair.
In a sea of ginger beards, blue denim and Stetson hats, Melbourne doom duo Dr. Colossus kick off proceedings to a dedicated and already bustling crowd. The Ugly Kings are up next and they don’t disappoint with the blues-rock sound and impressive baritone we’ve come to expect from the Melbourne four-piece.
Everyone who jumps to the Cherry Bar Stage to catch My Left Boot becomes enveloped in one honker of a riff-storm and front man Matt Chapman’s powerful Robert Plant vocals. This is one serious live show that prepares viewers nicely for HITS. The Brisbane five-piece have to contend with the wind tunnel that AC/DC lane has become, resulting in the visual delight of whirling smoke, billowing hair and a lead guitarist who comes dangerously close to being entangled in the glittering red backdrop.
With thick guitar tones and all the doom one needs, Horsehunter finish their set with We Hate The Australian Government – and my God, you don’t doubt it. As the sun starts to set Thor’s glowing red lightning bolt is hovering above the stage as Beastwars tear shit up accordingly, and one hardy bloke down the front gets mutilated in the name of sludge metal by a flailing dreadlock.
Melbourne punk rockers Clownsdeliver the most outrageously vibrant show of the day, before LA acid-nibblers and professional hair-growers The Shrine drench the lane in some riff-ridden, psychedelic rock’n’roll. Fuck the Fitzroy Doom Scene put on a sexy show that eats up the last of our blood sugar and gains “four thumbs up” from a very impressed member of the crowd. Red Fang are unsurprisingly excellent with some hearty power lunges that leave everyone drifting off home to glue their faces back together and get the smell of sweat out of their delicates.
Let’s hope the marvelous James “Cherry Bar” Young can bribe local establishments again next year to keep this truly excellent show of homegrown talent and rock deliciousness installed in its rightful home. Who needs eardrums anyway?
BY ROSEMARY ANSTEAD
Photo by Ian Laidlaw
Loved: The wind, hair and guitars.
Hated: That no one caught Clowns frontman Stevie during one particularly extravagant stage dive.
Drank: Doom and cider.
