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Saturday 16th Aug 2003

Bat & Ball Hotel - Surry Hills

Scrum - Switchblade - Snugg

Account by Sway (Vocalist for Switchblade)

(Pics Below)

Christ it's been a while since Scrumblade tore shit up. Sat 16th @ the Bat 'n' Ball, what better way to celebrate Russ's 21st (ahem) Birthday?

The night started at about 18:00 with beer and football, I just couldn't have it any other way really. In typical Scrumblade style, steaks were devoured & hotdogs partially eaten. I suffered whilst biting into a hotdog that turned out to still be frozen on the inside, but after the chef nuked it for me, all was good again.

Snug kicked off about 20 minutes late (bloody bass players!), but when they did everyone new about it. The vocalist's use of a megaphone is very Mike Patton & very cool. I have a hard time thinking about what genre they fall into, but in the end, it's all rock 'n' roll to me baby. I think a mix between RATM, Deftones & Fantomas is a good enough example. Snug played their entertaining set with much energy and enthusiasm. If there is one thing I can complement them on, it's that they hang around after they play and watch the other bands. Well done fellas.

Now it was time for Switchblade to make some noise, and being the loudest band currently rehearsing at L.A. Studios, we're always up to the challenge. We got the stage at our posted time & didn't waste any time getting stuck into it. We played 2 new ones and Body Hammer as a cover which got a good enough response from the crowd. Being drunk and a little weary, I almost threw up about 3 times whilst trying to hit some notes, but that's what happens when you cover a Fear Factory song. We all played well enough, but are looking forward to our next show!

Now the part of the night I was excited about, SCRUM IT UP!!! Being a good mate of Scrum, I could go to town on their set, and generally give them shit. But I'm going to do this as honest as Mother Teresa would.

The more I see Scrum, the more I wanna see em, which I can not really say for any other Aussie band. Due to the amount of alcohol I consumed before they started paying, I can not give a song by song synopsis, but I can say this.

Chris & Russ riff together like Hammett & Hetfield. An un-penetrating layer of crystal distortion, enough said.

Trav is one of the tidiest bass players I have watched play in years, from any band, name 'em. And I was wrong to doubt him buying his Ibanez bass, it's actually quite PHAT. And with boobs like his.......

And what about Gaz, his first show back with Scrum for some time, and he wails onto the skins like a kid that has had too much red cordial, smashing down onto his hungry hungry hippos game. Fantastic.

This was Scrum & Switchblade's last Sydney gig before doing dates in QLD, check the gigs listing for details.

SNUG IT UP SCRUMBLADE!!!