Gig: Danezig, The Gnar Gnars, The Mags and Poor Choices Date: July 16, 2021 Venue: The Phoenix Bar & Grill It had been over 16 months since Victoria had hosted a live punk/metal gig. Sixteen long months without mosh pits, screaming guitars and people sharing in the moment of live music. Due to Covid-19 restrictions the seating capacity was set at 75 people – doors were at 7 P.M., and capacity had been reached by five after six. For all of us it was a night of joy and happiness as most of us hadn’t seen one another in over a year. The local legends were on hand, Cretin and Spud from the Dayglo Abortions, the AWT crowd and of course a few JAKs. As Matt said early in the night, “hell they (the bands) could not play a single note and we’d still all be ecstatic”, and he was on the money with that. The Gnar Gnars did the honor of sound check which included their song Rebel Yell and at the end the place exploded in applause and pretty much a standing ovation – you could see tears running down the cheeks of people who were so moved by having just heard loud live music in over a year, myself included. Afterwards Hoon from the Gnars was repeatedly heard telling people who came up to thank him, “it was only sound check”. But that sound check was pure magic to all in attendance. All four bands delivered with Danezig finishing up the night with a cover of Mother (by Danzig), which earned them an outburst of applause and the screams of “yeah” and “fuck yeah” from the crowd. It’s so good to be back. Support your local venues and bands, don’t ask to be put on the guest list, buy merch and vinyl/CDs/tapes, and stay safe everyone. For Absolute Underground,
Scott
