The Gels - Crown and Anchor Hotel May 10

The Gels, despite their larger-than-life stage personas and much-lauded live performances, remain modest and humbled. They wont tell you that just their third gig (of which there has been hundreds) was supporting Seattles legendary Melvins, or they were handpicked to close the main stage of the celebrated Falls Festival behind You Am I, Black Eyed Peas and the Ataris on NYE 2002. They wont tell you they are often a first choice support act amongst local promoters. Sharing a stage with the likes of Mudhoney, Grinspoon, Magic Dirt, Datsuns, Bodyjar and perhaps my favourite gig, Rose Tattoo, is only the tip of a very large iceberg; the type that sunk the Titanic.The Gels recorded history, despite huge underground support on community radio (most played artist two years running on Adelaides much loved Three D Radio), remains largely ignored by larger networks. It would be unfair to judge those recordings on modest sales or poor commercial airplay alone. Although the I Wanna Be A Ramone single plucked from the Never Mind The Title, Heres The Gels album moved more than 1000 units and featured on music bible Rolling Stone Magazines Next Wave of Summer compilation, bigger things have not been forthcoming for the band. Similarly, appearances on Foxtels Channel V and Network 10s long defunct Ground Zero failed to spark significant national interest...Still, The Gels have done their thing (usually in the corner of a dingy, darkened pub) without great fanfare, certainly without complaint, and often to a packed room of admiring punters and respectful musicians.