Thursday nights may be a school night but they are also one of the best nights for catching some of the finest acts Brisbane has to offer. And what better place to go than the Beetle Bar at Upper Roma Street not too far from where the Saints inhabited their infamous share house, slash venue. Bands often comment on the excellent sound at the Beetle Bar and hail the efforts of Steve the Sound Guy who makes everything just ... work. Having good sound could be one of the reasons why every performance at the Beetle Bar seems guaranteed to please.

The evening of Thursday 21 March 2013 begins with Trashqueen who have a familiar sound with an authentic spin. This four piece rocks some really nice guitar harmonies and slide solos straight from slide guitar heaven. Lyrics spill cleanly from the mouth of lead vocalist and guitarist Sean Jackson and must be designed for audience participation as I find myself singing along even though it is the first time I have heard the song.

Trashqueen are a mash of a decent, solid rock base with a tasty Glam Rock glaze. Nik Shulz, Bass player for the band is sporting knee high rocker boots and long blonde locks, looking every bit like the reincarnation of Jani Lane, lead singer of Warrant..This is a band that could seriously make a “gimmick look” work. Make no mistake, this is serious music but if any group had a hankering to resurrect the 80's wardrobe from bands like Poison I wish it was Trashqueen. Personally I think it's time to bring back some pageantry to the garage rock scene. Just a thought.

Trashqueen hit the scene in 2010 and since then have produced a six track EP titled “Dirty Attraction” and are working on an eight track album which they intend to start recording soon. Look out for it.

Dameena were the next to take the stage and were the surprise package of the night. Dameena proved themselves to be a band that know how to craft sound and make each instrument do it's job, distinctively and proficiently. The first song of the set sounds like a mash up of Placebo and Foo Fighters. Front man Shane Jamieson has an amazing vocal range; sometimes sounding like Billy Corgan from Smashing Pumpkins then like Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder.

Dameena have a five track EP titled Overture that comes complete with lyrics that are worth reading and I thoroughly recommend you grab a copy. Definitely get along to see these guys play as soon as you can, they will enthrall and enchant you beyond your ability to resist abandoning yourself to the supreme vibration that is Dameena.

The headliners this evening began their life in the Brisbane music scene as the Soundcasters in 2010, to later become Thirteen Seventy. Their debut album “Arrest the Slide” launched in October 2012 and the rugged three piece have wasted no time collecting more material for a forthcoming album. Thirteen Seventy are working really hard on the Brisbane scene and not only on stage. Lead Singer and guitarist Clint Morrow also pens live music reviews for a music scene blog.

Tonight we are treated to a fine mix of both new and more familiar tracks from the post grunge trio. “Rubble” is one of the new tracks being performed tonight, it is a piece that entices you in with tantalising melody then thumps you with a massive rock blast. I was blown away by the performance of the epic tenth track on the current album “Breathe”. At nine minutes “Breathe” is nothing short of a journey; the flow of the music literally transports you to another place and works well as both a recording and live performance. The band is also displaying great wisdom in capitalising on the impressive vocal stylings of their feisty drummer Fi Ellwood on the track titled “Inside”. The other stand out track tonight is Mirror. Thirteen Seventy are showing signs of becoming one of the bedrock bands on the Brisbane scene. They certainly have the drive, talent and presence to take them wherever they would like to go and I for one wish them every success that they truly deserve. Whatever you do, don't miss the next opportunity you have to experience what is undoubtedly one of the finest live bands on offer in 2013 and beyond.