REVIEW AND PHOTOS BY: JADE GUIDA

It is a weird feeling going back to shoot gigs, even more so to to be out there shooting a full lineup. Seeing friends and the regulars out there just enjoying life again. LazyBones in Marrickville have done a really nice job of putting together a covid safe Venue for music lovers to come out and enjoy a slice of music heaven. I haven’t been to LazyBones before and I really just loved the venue. It felt like home almost immediately, the staff are friendly, the setup is deliciously quirky and they offered me a lime in my apple juice, and honestly I can just get behind that kind of atmosphere.

Get Folked Punk is an apt name for what is essentially a folk punk night and it basically showcases every folk punk act you can find. The whole event has a homely feel, everyone seems to know each other and if you run in the scene you would likely run into some familiar faces or if you went in not knowing a soul, you would probably walk out with about fifteen new friends.

I know most review start from the first band and give you a run of the night but honestly fuck it. I hate conventional anyway, and if 2020 has taught me anything it is that sometimes a little chaos can be a good thing.

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So let me start with Bruise Pristine. The trio played a striped back almost acoustic set. These three effortlessly deliver a moody grunge rock sound. The band played 20mg which has been a favourite of mine since I last saw the band. It is haunting and moody and confident in every way that music should be. Tired Eyes was another beautiful track, again a song that commands attention. Frankly I respect the power they radiate.

Now I will move on to Dal Failure. This guy seriously heckled me and I like him just that little bit more for that. He also fronts like someone who might heckle me and I think that should paint a picture of the type of music this guy plays. It is that real guttural kind of punk, it’s honest, upfront and relentlessly draws necessary social criticism. I think this type of music is almost a lost art, probably something you only see in this genre and style and this set was flawless. It is social criticism down to an art form.

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Nothing Rhymes with David is pure heart. I really loved the dynamic of this band and the flow of their music. It is explosive and yet somehow still so restrained that it was perfect for the night. While these guys were the most powerful of the night the delicacy in which they perform their powerful songs made them a perfect addition to the lineup. Watching these guys was a treat, a meal sized treat which in fairness is how I prefer my treats anyway. They are energetic to the point of being almost animalistic, it is like the music runs on pure instinct.

Full disclosure, I left the final three acts until later because I know them and it would be impossible to write about their music without writing about them as people. The more times I meet Blake Cateris, Ed Barnes and Billy Puntton the more intricate I find their music, I can see their personalities woven in to the fabric of their songs. These three are such powerful writers, they take the rawest and most fragile of emotions and experiences and transform it into something tangible, I feel like I could hold their music in my hands. I am incredibly inspired by these three as musicians and as people.

Billy Puntton is a rare type of person, he radiates warmth and kindness. He was a late addition to the lineup but I don’t know if the night would have felt complete without him. You can’t be in a room with Billy and that space not immediately be just a little brighter and the same can be said for his music. The thing about his music is that it is poignant and articulate to the point of it being confronting. His music cuts through tragedy and the rawest of human emotion with comedy, wit and emotional intelligence.

His songs have an unrelenting and undeniable grit, a conviction, something inescapably confronting as he tackles some big topics through his music. Billy writes songs that make you feel more connected to yourself and the people around you, full of introspection and emotion.

Blake Cateris is probably one of the most hard working, dedicated and talented individuals I have ever known. I feel like I say that about him all the time and it’s because I am in constant awe of the fact.

Everything he touches has the distinctive markings of his dedication, time and thought. Whenever I hear a piece of music that Blake has had a hand in, you get this beautifully delicate balance of precision songwriting and emotive exploration of a topic. There is undeniable mastery in what Blake puts into this world and his ability to step between high energy sets with Molly and Krells and his solo music is second to none, everything he does is polished to perfection. I have a soft spot for acoustic versions of songs and the stripped back version of “What Went Wrong” was a real favourite from the night. You become more immersed in the story being told when the song is performed in this way, the delicate narrative is more prominent through the softer acoustic sound.

Ed Barnes is an Enigma. Every time I meet him, I become more enthralled by his presence, his calmness and his passion. I saw Ed play earlier in the year and something about his music just resounded with me. He radiates warmth, humour and intelligence in every situation and this emanates through his music.

Ed writes songs about his personal experiences with love and loss, he has this innate ability to make you feel like you experienced the narrative of the song first hand. A few songs stick out for me “Hey Noel”, “Prom Queen” and “All Things”, with classic raspy Bob Dylan - Esq vocals and charismatic banter explaining the tracks, you feel an incomprehensible connection to the songs, you want to know more about the situations, more about the people and more about Ed. I think it’s such a charming quality in a musician, to make you want to know more about their stories and Ed is a natural storyteller.