It's also a way to introduce people to music going on in Oxford, particularly the opening couple of bands at Borders. In the past they hid the bands round the back, out of the way of shoppers. This year, it was all set up right in the middle of the shop, so everyone had to watch them.
With such a simple name, The Richard Walters Band, you can forget what a great line up they are. Richard has been pottering around under various guises, now in this current one, he's taking the lead again. However his back band could very easily each take the leat too, featuring no less that 2 other former fron men of Oxford groups (Tom - Wingnut and Jamie - Medal). The band are perfect backing for Richard's voice, and this new band provides no surprises for what they sound like.
The Relationships were a perfect band to play in a bookstore, they even have songs about them! They are a bit at adds with what most of the bands in Oxford sound like, going for straightforward tweeish songs, but this just shows the diversity that is around.
It was refreshing to watch Sexy Breakfast while still sober (see last year's Punt). They were excellent, playing Placebo-ish pop punk, but twisted it to make it more interesting. A song based around samples from 'Walking in the Air'? Yes, it really worked. Then to go onto sampling Atari Teenage Riot as well.
The Modern opened the night of ridiculously young bands at the Cellar. Imagine a band bred on only Godspeed! You Black Emperor records, that's pretty much what they sound like. They have an absolutely ace drummer, and will be a blinding live band once they've played more gigs.
Late Smilex replacements Warhen were a bit of a disappointment after that. They were a bit of straightforward indie rock.
Gunnbunny on the other hand rocked very hard indeed. They were a less intense version of Winnebago Deal (even with the hair). Continuing the theme for the evening, they were very young too.
Part of the fun about the Punt is not just only how many bands you can watch in one evening, but the journey between the venues, as you spot other punt goers. Walking by the Kiss Bar it was rammed. Apparently Twizz Twangle was performing naked except for a thong. Oxford's answer to Har Mar Superstar perhaps?
Meanwhile down in the Cellar, the venue maintained its tradition of being the most packed venue of the evening. By the time Elizabeth came on there was a one in one out system just to get in.
The Evenings were certainly a band to watch while drunk. They had a dancing troop, and played storming silly big beatish music. This is where it should have finished, but unfortunately Jod were last on, and they were just rather dull. A shame really for such a damp end, when this was another great year for the Punt.