Live Review: Sunami Overcomes Manning Bar as Knotfest side shows hit Sydney – Spotlight Report
The Knotfest side shows have well and truly kicked off in spectacular style with Sunami taking over Manning Bar last night.
Originally formed as a bit of a joke and parody of the scene, this group of San Jose natives suddenly found the joke was on them as they found themselves in great demand. Their brand of beatdown, crust punk brings all the Hardcore kids to the yard – and last night was no exception.
The yard in question though is a place to expel great amounts of energy, in any way you like including back and forth, round and round, with high kicks and spinning punches. Manning Bar kindly worked with the band to also remove the photo pit barriers meaning fans could also launch themselves off the stage… hopefully into the arms of awaiting fellow revellers… but not always!
To the casual observer, the crowd moves like magnets repelling each other or like a pinball that’s just been fired trying to gain as many points as possible. Ding, ding, ding! There is however a twist, a silent code between the magnets and pinballs that if they fall, they pick each other up, dust each other up and check each other are ok before continuing.
There were a few special guest fans filming and cheering on the chaos from the side of the stage, including members of Hardcore punk band, Drain who have just joined the festival weekend line-up.
In a twist of what turned from very Australian to very un-Australian, taking a beat between songs, lead singer Josef Alfonso shouts ‘I have $100 in my wallet and I want to see a f*uckin’ shoey!’ In less than three seconds an obliging someone had jumped on the stage, removed their hot trainer, poured in a cold beer and started to drink it much to the delight of everyone around them. Not stopping there, the generous soul preceded to offer it another thirsty crowd member who didn’t hesitate to finish it off. That wasn’t the un-Australian bit though – Alfonso then laughed saying ‘I don’t actually have $100…’ Fairdinkum! (although sources confirm Mr Shoey did get a post-gig prize.) This didn’t stop play though, if anything it seemed to bring the fans to fever pitch, where the stage seemed dominated with people believing they could fly and looking to share a moment on the mic.
Closing the set with the iconic Weak Die First, the crowd howled together one last time throwing all their energy into the last call, now in sync and looking more like a crazy murmuration. Unbelievably, the set went for only 30 minutes, it certainly didn’t feel like it though proving yet again that hardcore is a different type of fitness.
Sunami were supported by Newcastle locals, Dropsaw who provided the perfect mix of high octant fuel for the fans to limber up to and get into the zone and lyrics to scream to.
See you SOB’s at Knotfest!
Photos by Sergio Martin ©Spotlight Report
