UniCentre Band Comp Heat 1 Review

Tuesday 28th April 2009

On Tuesday night at UniBar, Heat 1 of Wollongong’s most talked-about and highly regarded
Band Competition finally kicked-off, with the usual assortment of quality bands and a few
surprises to boot.

Heat 1 was fiercely contested, starting with the moody, melodic rock of ATTICUS and SHE
WROTE ME, through to the punk stylings of THE DUBLOONS and hard rock of END OVER
END. All rounded off with the White Stripes sounding WESLEY SNIPERS and the pop
perfection of BENNIE JAMES AND THE HESITANT FEW.

After much deliberation amongst the panel of music industry judges, it was decided that
BENNIE JAMES AND THE HESITANT FEW had done enough to earn 2nd place and a spot in
the Repechage Round on July 28. Bennie James and his quartet, churned out 20 minutes of
musically tight feel-good pop, with keys, tambourine and backing vocals adding the perfect
back-drop to Bennie James’ inspiring lead vocals and energetic stage presence.

However it was the 4-piece ATTICUS that stole 1st place and a direct passage to the UniBar
Final on the 9th August. Atticus delivered a powerful guitar and bass driven set, with the subtle
yet brilliant use of keys and soaring vocals, that had many in the crowd scratching their heads
as to how a band so young could captivate a stage and crowd of this size. Atticus are most
definitely a band to watch and could surprise a few of the bigger name bands come the
UniBar Final.

In what is shaping up to be another classic UniBar Band Competition, the feeling amongst the
200 strong crowd was that 2009 might just be the year that a Wollongong band joins the likes
of Eskimo Joe, The Vines and Jebediah as National Band Comp winners.

Luke Woods
UniCentre Band Comp Coordinator