Bitchslap - Live
[Melbourne Pony]

Bitchslap and their fuzzy Grunge Punk are as tight as Jon Bon Jovi’s trousers. Wonderfully thick guitar tones, bass lines and drum beats coming through crisp and crystal clear.

Jess Coram, resplendent in regulation black with a severe haircut that looks just so right for the night, delivers sullen lyrics with aggression and panache. She barely acknowledges the audience between songs but still possesses and emits a certain confidence and charm whilst spitting lyrics about misery and oppression.

Equally competent on guitar, she rips out simple but blistering lead lines as well as chunky rhythm, treating her guitar like an old friend that you’re not quite sure if she still likes. Liz on bass constantly conjures the perfect accompaniment, expertly interplaying with the guitar; the arrangements of songs seemingly planned for maximum effectiveness, unyet making it all look so easy.

Scott at the back on drums may look a little out of place (with the additional role tonight of being the sole male on the entire line up, a role he may be quite used to) but he doesn’t show it, providing a similarly solid backing to the girls up front.

The material and it’s content is far from cheery and some might say it’s even a little melodramatic at times, but it’s heartfelt, the motivations and passions behind it are real and genuine. You may not sympathise, comprehend or understand the band or their aggravations, but if you’re in the same room as Bitchslap, you will most certainly notice and hear them.