FESTIVAL REVIEW: Kraken
The kraken was well and truly released on Sunday in Helensville, as hundreds of punters descended upon the Original Kaipara Tavern to see Japanese jett rock n rollers GUITAR WOLF and Switzerland's psych-punk fuzz rockers THE JACKETS, along with a handful of Tāmaki Makaurau's finest local bands. The inaugural Kraken festival featured two stages, one outdoors behind the bar (lucky the weather was good) and another indoors. The indoor stage kicked off with INGRESS, a young cover band who got the crowd warmed up and ready for the day of punk rock chaos that awaited them. After them were THE BRIGHT IDEAS, who opened the outdoor stage with their mod-rock tunes. Then it was time for CAPRICORE, who laid down some glossy, glammy rock n roll, before heading back outside for CHEM CHAIN, easily the heaviest band on the bill. One of my highlights was the set by THE NERVOUS SYSTEMS, who featured Jimmy Christmas and Jake Harding from The D4. I'm a huge D4 fan, so it was awesome to hear ...