Live Review: Skegss, Dumb Punts, Stork

Entering Rocket Bar on Thursday night, the smell is the first thing you notice. A gritty, sweaty, beer-soaked smell encapsulated the surf-rock culture of the night. The place was drenched in the smell, and it was only 8:30pm. Despite the early start for local punk outfit Stork, a committed fanbase filled the floor and started an aggressive pit on the sound of the first chords. These guys haven't been on the scene for long but they know how to play a set people are going to talk about. From their infectious, no-bullshit hooks to a huge Black Lips cover of Family Tree, the crowd knew their routine but relished in the familiarity. To close, the elusive surfboard waiting patiently on stage was put to use as one dedicated fan climbed on and literally surfed the crowd.

A massive set to follow up, Melbourne-based garage-rock outfit Dumb Punts were up for the challenge. Bringing a grungier vibe, dual vocalists James Gallagher and Brent Lockhart screamed about goon sacks, keeping with the reckless Australian youth theme. Dumb Punts demand your attention - good luck trying to have a conversation with your mate while these guys are thrashing guitars and swapping instruments mid-set. Crowd favourite Put A Sock In It underlined the attitude the band projected, while the crowd definitely did not put a sock in it and sung along defiantly.

Skegss have had a huge 12 months: signing to Dune Rats' label, touring, releasing a debut EP and creating a name for themselves as one of the craziest, yet most likeable bands to come out of Byron. Taking on the surf-rock scene and tearing it to shreds, these guys can write about anything and turn it into an adrenaline fuelled two minutes that will be stuck in your head for days. The pit turned into a sardine-like huddle of wet bodies, cheering and waiting for iconic, ragged Skegss guitars. Unfortunately, the crowd was left at an anticlimax just as things were getting started as technical difficulties brought the chorus of Eat It to an abrupt stop. This interruption of continuity persisted throughout the set as we had solid five-minute breaks in between most songs. Still, the crowd screamed the choruses and danced to the corners of the room throughout New York California and a punk-inspired cover of '90s classic Kiss Me by Sixpence None The Richer.

The franticness and urgency of each track was balanced with careless banter in between, and a sense they were making up the show as they went along. During the second half of the set we got a taste of 2016 release Everyone Is Good At Something, which included the massive rock'n'roll number My Face. By the end of the night, the dancefloor was a blurry mess of bodies, shoes and beers, somehow supporting Skegss' final crowdsurf into the night.