The Gifthorse becomes Fires of Waco and Headaches

The Gifthorse – ‘Awake and Waiting’ (mp3)

The Gifties are one of my favourite Brisbane bands, so of course they’re breaking up on Saturday. I’m a bit bummed to tell you the truth – their final single ‘Awake and Waiting’ gave hints of a band keen to look in new directions, but perhaps they feel they’ve done their dash. The good news is that they’ve rounded up a bunch of mates and split into two new bands.  It’s cheap and easy to draw comparisons between the new outfits and the old,  so let’s just move on and hear the new stuff.

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Headaches – ‘Boy Division’ (mp3)

Vocalist Shane Collins and guitarist Chris Anning make up the Gifthorse contingent of Headaches, a band on the Bad Religion/Rancid end of the punk spectrum. The songs are short, the pace is unrelenting and there is no screaming. There’s a bit of whinging from Collins though – the lyrics to “Boy Division” aren’t particularly inspired.  Their shows will be fun, at any rate, with their first one with Break Even on the Gold Coast.
www.myspace.com/headachesbrisbane

Fires of Waco
If you like Polar Bear Club and Hot Water Music; well son, Fires of Waco is the band for you! Gifties drummer Luke Gal and guitarist/vocalist Stevie Scott are in this band, with Allan Reid on lead vocals. Reid’s voice sounds best when supported by Scott’s rough shouts – without those, it sounds a bit thin and flat. Sorry for the lack of audio aid here – the band assures me their song ‘Risk and Reason’ is downloadable from their MySpace, but I think Rupert and his new music player have other ideas. Check it out though.
http://www.myspace.com/thefiresofwaco