2 nights of Auckland’s best at the Rockin’ establishment known as the Kings Arms. Let me just say Auckland did not disappoint. On Friday night clear winners were Moloko Vellocet, with tasty, well written and well executed songs, and one of the best front men I’ve seen in Oz or NZ, these guys are going to be tough to beat on that last Sunday in November when our top 8 NZ bands fight it out for a spot at the Australasian final in Sydney. Moving through on the Friday night was also Comeundone and Well No Way. Comeundone are a great punk rock act with the look and the attitude to make some serious noise on the punk scene. Well No Way are a hard rock band with good melodies and good players. They worked the crowd well and put on an all in all good rock show. Saturday night the field was a little bigger with 8 bands playing, and with a tie for 4th place, 5 of the bands would move through the final. The winners on the night were Ethanol 58. Ethanol play loud aggressive rock music, with fantastic melodies and an excellent voice to execute them. The backing tracks, triggered by the drummer, add to the sound and to the experience with big synth and string lines bringing the songs to life. A very enjoyable performance indeed. Werefetus played some loud fast metal, and for you lads, they did it very well, gaining themselves a spot in the final also. Eshalon and Dycphor both gained finals spots with solid performances, but the most unforgettable performance, of both nights, was from a band called The Benka Boradovsky Bordello Band. They entered this competition under the title ‘world music’ but I was informed by Ben, the lead singer, clarinet player and piano accordion player, that it should really be universe music, and I think he’s about right. An incredibly memorable show, which included Ben shirtless and playing a percussion solo on his chest, was most defiantly a highlight of the weekend, and no doubt going to be very entertaining again at the final at the end of November. Stay tuned.