POISON IDEA, A.V.O., HOSTILE OBJECTS, DARK
HORSE
16.5.2014,
Bald Faced Stag Hotel Sydney, Australia
There’s a
big turnout tonight for Portland Oregon’s Poison Idea who are making their
first trip to Australia in their 30+ year history.
All the
support bands put in solid sets. Dark Horse with their crusty doom laden
hardcore. Hostile Objects with their sonic hardcore thrash assault. A.V.O (who have reformed to support idols
Poison Idea) with their Oi! infused old school hardcore.
By the time
Poison Idea come on the room is heaving. They start with “Hangover Heart
Attack” – which was a great way to kick off the set, (and which I hoped they’d
start with). Then they’re straight into “The Temple” from War All the time. Then it’s the classic cop hating anthem “The
Badge”. They crank through a great cross section of their best known stuff; there’s
a reasonable amount from Feel the Darkness
which everyone wants to hear – the rock and roll punk powerhouse that is “Just
to get away”, “Taken by surprise” of course “Plastic Bomb”, all of which were a
highlight of the set. All the while a bandanna’d Jerry A’s (in)famous largesse
is commanding, yet relaxed. It’s his band, and they power on with him, all with
a work-like ethic and little fuss. Eric
“The Vegetable” Olsen, (from the mid/late 80’s line up), recently returned to
the band, also cuts a commanding figure by virtue of his height (and
punk uniform – Discharge T-shirt and docs), standing rooted to the spot
hammering out power chords and solos. The other guitarist is head down, complementing
Vegetable’s melodies and leads. Likewise the rhythm section – the female
bass player keeps precision time banging her head like a metronome with the
drummer’s solid beats. The whole band is spot on with all the songs, along with
Jerry’s throaty roar.
In the
middle of the set they threw in an unexpected cover of Roky Erikson’s “You’re gonna miss me” which I didn’t
recognise at first – didn’t know they covered it, and it
seemed a little out of place, and slowed things up just a tad. Not that it was bad, just a little.....
unanticipated. Things are back on track with “Getting the Fear”, and “Say
Goodbye”, the opening cut from Blank
Blackout Vacant. (PI always have great opening songs on all of their albums,
quite a few of which were in tonight’s set). There were a couple of cuts from Kings of Punk, and they closed with “Marked
for Life” and “Alan’s on Fire”.
The crowd loved it and was singing along. Great set
- you couldn’t have really asked for
more from PI. The only real bit of a complaint from me, I guess was there was
no encore. The band themselves seem to
be having a great time – their initial date in Melbourne was extended to two
dates, after which they were back here in
Sydney for a second and final show, and then back to Melbourne again.
POISON IDEA
1989
This is the one of the only Poison Idea record not to see a CD reissue (All you pretentious record
collector scum, correct me if I’m wrong. And I’m only calling you that ‘coz I’m
jealous you’ve got more records than me).
Even though it exists in various formats – it has been
reissued on vinyl a few times, mainly as the “Filthkick” EP, (minus two songs),
it has yet to see an official re release as the “Ian Mackaye” EP in the current
Poison Idea reissue series. It was a Compilation of the Filthkick 7" EP,
Getting the Fear/4 A.M. 12" and a new track. Originally released on the UK label In Your
Face records, which was run by one of the guys in Heresy. Some came with a limited edition sticker on
the front.
This 6 track 12” 33rpm is a solid blast
of scorching Posion Idea punk rifferama
from start to finish. Opens with the killer “Hangover Heartattack”, onto Drug
Revival thend “Ballad of a Pre-Op”. Side
two has the riffy “Getting the Fear” which features a trippy type middle bit,
“4am", and Jerry A’s “ Nota love song”, “Burned for the last time”. This
is great tough mid- period Poison Idea
with a different feel - post (I think) War all the Time and pre- Feel the Darkness. Most of the songs
feature Eric “The Vegetable” Olsen’s solos which add a different flavour here
and compliment Pig’s own lead and rhythym guitar. Also captures a unique line up of the band.
Glad I got this one (a few years ago
now). Can’t say I own loads of Poison
Idea vinyl, unfortunately – there’s plenty of it to collect. Interestingly, I haven’t
seen this go for silly prices on ebay, so try and get yourself one.
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