The Congregation - Gig Review 3rd February @ The Hamo, Newcastle NSW
The Congregation
Hamilton Station Hotel, Newcastle NSW
Saturday, 3 February 2024
Feat: Astrodeath, Mountain Wizard Death Cult, Flaming Wrekage, Boudicca, Robot God, Iron Blanket and Rails.
If you’re floating around Newcastle and dying of thirst, there's definitely no shortage of venues for you to pull up a pew to throw back a couple of frothys. But if you’re also a fan of original heavy music being played at stupid volumes, then head to the Hamilton Station Hotel (or the ‘Hamo’ as it is commonly referred to). With live music 5 nights a week and a thriving local scene at Newcastle's disposal, you’re sure to find something to boil the blood.
Tonight's event is The Congregation, where seven of NSW's finest established and upcoming underground bands, headlined by none other than Sydney’s Sonic Sabbath worshippers Astrodeath. I stroll into the newly refurbished 400-capacity gig room and it is an absolute pearler. This spacious, purpose-built live music facility is top notch and could potentially rival some of the more established and well known venues in Sydney.
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Local legends Rails hit the stage first and they immediately grab the attention of the rabble on hand. Chapo from Mountain Wizard Death Cult turns to me and says ‘they are DARRRRKKKKK!!!”. The singer has grabbed everything black in their wardrobe, thrown it on and goddamn it, they look amazing. The band sounds beautifully evil, almost like they’re going though an exorcism, whilst trying to keep the demon trapped within. The band's only downfall is their overall use of the stage.
It’s a decent-sized stage with plenty of room for the frontman and guitarist to move, yet they insist on hanging out at the outer edges of the. I don’t know if its nerves or their respective sound gear is giving them a bit of curry, but a bit of onstage interaction between them all would elevate this performance. The drummer is a blur and great fun to watch. Overall they impressed this growing crowd, with one audience member saying this music could be the theme music to American Horror Story. With some more live shows under their belt, Rails will be a force to be reckoned with.
Iron Blanket hit the stage and they absolutely rule. If you like groovy, down-tuned 70’s tinged riff worship then suss this lot out. Tambourines and bell-bottom jeans are standard fair at an IB show and if you like ol’ Beelzebub the same way these guys do, then you’re in for a rocking good time. The stoner vibes kick off with ‘Mystic Goddess’ and the punters on hand share a collective shit-eating grin. The singer leans into the mic and says “This song’s about Satan” before they launch into the catchy ‘Evil Mind’. New single ‘Kookaburra Nightmare’ follows and it gets a roomful of approving nods before they rip into ‘Iron Blanket’, from their EP Iron Blanket. Another fun-filled extravaganza from this killer five-piece who have quickly become one of Sydney must see live acts. Absolutely delicious.
Between sets, I have a yarn with Hamo’s head booker Spencer Scott, and he’s quite proud of what the venue has achieved since the renovations were completed over a year ago. The mighty Frenzal Rhomb were the first band to christen this beaut stage and The Hamo has been churning out an impressive amount of live music ever since. The killer atmosphere continues throughout the venue with a noice beer garden out back and a good-sized room at the from. The entire joint is adorned with posters of bygone gigs and the smaller stage in the front bar is capable of hosting more live music as well as being known to host some truly momentous displays of karaoke excellence.
Someone runs out the back to the swarming beer garden and yells out that Robot God are starting. Everyone grabs their beer in a panic and bolts inside so as not to miss out on this masterclass in Psych Space Stoner Rock. Ask anyone in the room who’s ever held a guitar and they’ll tell you that Raff Lacurto is a total Tone Lord. Every musician in the room gawks as he produces a sound that resonates deep within every onlooker present. The trio is rounded out by bassist Matt Allen and drummer Tim Pritchard who, as the rumbling and hypnotic rhythm section are as tight as a fishes arse. Raff and Matt sing on occasion and it definitely suits the flow but it's almost completely unnecessary. These three blokes could jam for three hours and no one would leave it’s so fricken cool. Deadset, if this incredible band are playing anywhere near you, then get there. This collection of seasoned performers are genuinely impressive and a true joy to listen to. If you even so much as liked Black Sabbath a little bit, you will fucking LOVE Robot God.
I zombie walk out toward the main bar to see the door guy Spike doodling onto the VIP name sheet and it’s bloody impressive. Regulars roll past and ask “what are you drawing tonight, Spike?” and it turns out that some of his sketches have already been hung in spots around the venue. It’s all very cool but it’s about time the Hamo gave Spike his own wall.
Boudicca bring the pace of the night way up. This is my first time seeing this high energy five piece punk band from just up the road.
Their sound suffers early but that’s sorted quick enough.
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This is a pure shot of adrenaline and it’s only a matter of time before vocalist Madeline boots someone in the head with one of those high kicks. Guitarist Jacob Cummins should be in every thrash metal band that ever existed. He shreds like a bloke that’s sold his soul to the big dog downstairs and at one point Tim from Astrodeath spins his head around like Regan from The Exorcist and lets fly with a Waynes World “WHOAAAAAAA” after one delicious solo. Individually the members of Boudicca look like they came from five different bands but collectively they are a tight unit. With elements of thrash, punk and a big hint of riot girl thrown in, this mob cover a lot of ground but absolutely make it work. Well, shit. I knew this would happen. Boudicca are my new favourite band.
After their set I have a yarn with Boudicca bass player Tegan, who just so happens to be the legend that put this whole day together. For me, this is a collection of some of the best live bands that Sydney has to offer and Tegan agrees. Not a bad effort putting on a lineup of this calibre, especially considering its only the second time Tegan has put on an event like this. There’s talk of this being an annual event, one that could easily grow over the years.
The Hamo is starting to fill inside and out. There music fans of all sorts in here tonight, including those that are itching for a shot at the Karaoke stage that’s been described as “so bad, it’s good”
Flaming Wrekage are primed and ready to destroy your ear holes. With a slew of shows under their belt and a new album Terra Inferno coming out April 26th, these lads from Sydney are gearing up for what should easily be their biggest year yet. Easily one of my favourite live bands of late, Flaming Wrekage have been building a solid reputation as one of the local undergrounds best thrashers about. These blokes have a huge presence, great banter and a repertoire that is almost completely devoid of filler. New songs ‘Witch Hunt’ and ‘Ghosts’ get the crowd moving and as the latter is played, Chappo from Mountain Wizard Death Cult leans over to me and says “I’m in their new film clip for this song, but don’t tell anyone”. The Secret’s out mate and the film clip is tip-top. Only thing that’d blow the roof off this set is if guitarist Justin Humphry got into a shred-off with Jacob from Boudicca to see who could melt the most faces. Killed it again lads.
The next band up have got something special happening, something I’ve been itching to see for a few weeks now.
Mountain Wizard Death Cult recently announced the indefinite departure of vocalist JJ Brady, who played his last gig on the Wizzie’s support slot at the Greg Puciato gig in Sydney.
Tonight, they’re bringing in the new guy.
Elliot Smith (Foothills/Wicked Sister) has been given the great honour of taking the helm and it’s fair to say he’s chuffed to be a part of it all. Drummer Lachie, guitarist Chappo and bassist Tony get things started as I look over to the wings to see Elliot pacing nervously, getting pumped for his first gig with these legends. He charges the stage and BOOM. A shot of energy blasts through the room and he immediately matches the enormous energy of the other three on stage. This is SICK and I am so chuffed that I made the trek here to witness this. I look around the crowd and the rabble on hand are collectively grinning like dickheads. This is amazing. Now I've seen MWDC many times but they’ve NEVER had this level of intensity or cohesiveness on stage.
JJ was always a beast sonically. A solid and unique vocalist, but was never the most active performer. It’s a trait that becomes more obvious when you’re sandwiched between three of the most manic on-stage personalities. JJ always just looked like he needed to bring more to the show. But with Elliot at the helm, a new energy has consumed the band and almost immediately it’s apparent to me, and every other longtime fan of the group bearing witness tonight, that this is the energy this band needed. An absolute maelstrom of doom follows and tonight's show is easily cemented as my favourite Mountain Wizard Death Cult thus far.
I grab a beer and join the throng outside and the consensus is that we just saw something uniquely special. To step on stage after that would be daunting for any musician and there's only a small handful of bands from NSW that could follow up a performance like that.
Astrodeath hit the stage and horns are immediately raised to the sky as frontman Tim, armed with his guitar in hand, starts pacing the stage like a caged animal riling up the rest of the herd. He plants his feet, drummer Yoshi chimes in, the rip into ‘Humanoid Slave’ and it’s a party. Astrodeath are easily one of the best live bands in Sydney right now and even with a bill as stacked as this they are, without a doubt, worthy headliners. A dozen punters climb onto the stage as they rip into a cover of ‘Children Of The Grave’ by Black Sabbath and some of them stay long after the song is finished. It’s ridiculous how only two blokes generate this amount of noise and create this incredible atmosphere but they really are one of the most entertaining mobs out there. Top that with them going back to back with MWDC and Flaming Wrekage and you know I wasn’t missing this for all the Steel in Newcastle.
An epic night with a chockers lineup, topped off with Chappo dusting off the karaoke machine with his mate Paris and belting out ‘Hits From The Bong’ and ‘Ace Of Spades’. I’ll need a week to recover, and it’s a million percent worth it.
Review by Duane James @duanejamestattoo
Here's some pics I took on my Nokia 3315
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