So summer finished. I
only know that because of the duvet that I’m cocooned in and the steaming hot
soup I’m sipping through a straw.
But it was a
fantastic summer and there’s no better way to wrap it up then by looking back
at The Decline’s set at Kingston’s The Fighting Cocks in August. Nothing
screams summer more than an Australian Skater Punk band, especially when they’re
this much fun.
First things first, we sat down with The Decline and watched them face the Louder Now Grab Bag before their set. You can read that here.
The Decline went full pelt with opening song, New Again, which is also the first track
of their new album The Resister,
released in July. Short and speedy, no other track could have got to the point
faster. The point being that this band has so much energy it’s a wonder the
drum kit didn’t get pummelled through the stage.
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Ben Elliott - Guitar/Vocals
The Fighting Cocks - Kingston
17/08/2015 |
Next up was my favourite song from these guys, Giving Up is a Gateway Drug (also the
second track on The Resister). A
dedicated fan of explicit language, this song had me from the very first line.
It’s another worthy example of fast paced punk-rock with a relentless drum
track but with a downbeat mid-section to match the lyrics.
But I’ve got a problem with those lyrics, they’re a bit of
an understatement: “I haven’t seen it all, just some foreign countries and a
mattress for on my best friend’s interstate living room floor.”
Just some foreign countries? These Aussie natives have
toured the States, Europe, the UK (holllllllaaaa), have just closed up a
Japanese tour with our friends Versus The World and in a few days will be
jetting off to Mexico. Just some foreign countries my arse.
I’m jealous of the frequent flyer miles but I understand. The Resister is album number three from
a band who will celebrate their 10th birthday next year. Tonight’s
set spanned that decade long career and showcased the robust, energetic,
decaying sunshine that is The Decline.
Tracks Excuse Me, 66B
and $hit Yeah!!, all from the 2011
album Are You Gonna Eat That? were
all highlights of the night because…well because The Decline have had punk rock
nailed for a while now.
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Pat gives up the mic to a fan
The Fighting Cocks - Kingston
17/08/2015 |
They’ve had it nailed for so long in fact that they can be
half a planet away from home and still be surrounded by friends to have some chitchat
with from the stage. And when that distance gets boring just get them up on the
stage to sing with you!
When a band asks the crowd what song they should play next,
and a discussion ensues, you know that there’s something pretty ridiculous
going on. Pat (guitar and vocals) kindly wrote out a set list for me before he
took to the stage (thanks Pat!) but that was COMPLETELY pointless. I told him
afterwards that it sounded as if the set list had changed a bit. He smiled,
chuckled a bit and said “once or twice I think, yeah!”
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Ray Chiu - Bass/Vocals
The Fighting Cocks - Kingston
17/08/2015 |
But somewhere in there, around the middle of the set, they
cracked out Almost Never Met You, the video for which was released this week (which is definitely the reason why I
have waited so long to write this review, it has nothing to do with s**t logistics
and laziness on my behalf). My challenge to you is to listen to this song and
try to refrain from grabbing a board and pretending you know how to do rail
grinds, flips and other stuff I learnt from playing Tony Hawks Pro-Skater.
The Decline were a pleasure to chat with and I’m so glad I
got to catch them whilst they were over the water. They are a lot of fun to watch
and are flying the flag for mindful punk rock with something to say.
