My second night at Bigsound begins at the Empire Hotel with Sydney post-punk four-piece Den, a band that sounds a little like Iceage crossed with The Horrors on their first album, but also more deeply rooted within Australia’s post punk sound. Next up, I popped over to Heya bar for Confidence Man who, like HABITS and Flowertruck the day before, had this commanding stage presence and energy which pulled you in and kept you transfix throughout their set. After Confidence Man, it was time to head back over to the Empire hotel and catch a few minutes of Melbourne three-piece Wet Lips; a kick arse “self-confessed punk band” reminiscent of L7. 

Soon I find my way back over to the Mammoth for 100%. 100% is one of those Brisbane bands that I have listened to and see on gig bills all the time, but somehow have always managed to miss. Finally this is my chance to see them. 100% have a striking physical presence in live in their live shows. There’s a techno undercurrent to what they do with their brand of electronica with roots in a shared love for Eurythmics and Madonna, this strikes an interesting contrast with singer Léna Molnar’s raw, dramatic vocals. Later when Léna strides into the audience to dance and stare everyone down it proves to be both impressive and intimidating and I soon leave feeling both happy to have finally seen them but also slightly unnerved. 

I ended up heading towards the New Globe Theatre so I could see Terrible Truths. Before the ban started I managed to overhear some industry people gossiping about other delegates in the toilets, this ended being the closest thing that happened to me during my two days covering the live showcase that would count as a Bigsound story. Sadly the crowd for Terrible Truths was not as big as it really should have been considering the critical acclaim and hype the band has been receiving since their 2015 self-titled debut album. Terrible Truths is another one of those bands I have been listening to for years but haven’t managed to see before now. It was great to see Stacey Wilson and Rani Rose’s complementary vocals and minimalist groove in action and it felt as if it was all over far too soon. 

Back over at the Woolly Mammoth Grace Stevenson as Rebel Yell, who is one third of 100%, had the crowd enthralled with her brand of dark wave, industrial techno. 

As the end of the night was looming it was now the time to make that all important decision of who I was going to see as the final act of the night. I had a number of options including stuff I have seen before and love and stuff I hadn’t seen before but had heard great things about as I found the options somewhat overwhelming and as I was feeling somewhat nostalgic for the last Bigsound I attended back in 2012 I decided I’d go see Gooch Palms. 

I love the Gooch Palms. I first saw them at a Lux Interior tribute night at Woodland in early 2012, then again at Bigsound later that year and since then I have been hooked to their infectious garage “shit pop”. Excellent as always, their set included a good mix of songs from Introverted Extroverts and Novos tracks that the crowd ferociously bopped along to. Of course seeing as this is Bigsound and Leroy seems to enjoy getting his kit out on stage as their parting gift to the audience, Leroy jumps off the stage and races over to the bar, hops up and bears his junk for all to see. Happy Bigsound everyone, enjoy nursing your hangovers and see you next year.

- Jasmine Darlington-Rielly