Press Club with Money Boys, ZigZag and Raging Hormones 21st May 2022
Photos & Review By: Andrew Faram
It’s election night, the votes are being counted, the newsrooms are on standby and the tension in the room at the Corner Hotel is already building as chatter of the potential results are circulating amongst the crowd. Everyone is on high alert and much like our opening band, the hormones are raging! Ready to explode! As the pent-up frustration of the past four years was reaching a fever pitch, ready to be unleashed, Raging Hormones took the stage and as if to be the perfect reflection of generational angst the crowd needed, their classic punk anthems reminiscent of those of the Ramones and others alike erupted throughout the venue. Anarchy and joy filled the room as band members began swinging from the rafters (quite literally) and dancing like the world didn’t exist, the band encapsulated the essence of the crowd.
Their single, “Power Hour” almost like an allegory for the day’s events, a message of going against the grain to do what’s right, a sentiment the crowd seemed to agree with, their cries of adulation echoing across the venue. It wasn’t long before the crowd were all on their feet, embracing the rebellious attitude of the band, whose high-octane energy became infectious. Front man … between songs teasing the crowd with news of a special guest, a guitarist, “Who could it be?” he taunted, “Could it be Murray from The Wiggles?”, the crowd now chanting for everyone’s favourite Red Wiggle to take the stage, however, only to be met with someone just as cool, Press Clubs lead guitarist… who graced the stage for a single song. The match was lit, the fire was ignited, and the room was alight, hungering for more.
Silence fell over the room as quiet murmurs of the crowd spread throughout the venue. Something had happened. Within moments the silence was broken as someone cried, “HE’S FUCKING GONE!”. The results were in, ScoMo was out! The news of a new Labour Government had broken and, cheers and rumbles exploded across the room. With that the stage was set and Zig Zag were ready to take it! A band whose sound had been described as “celebratory”, doing just that! Celebrating! Band singer, Kelly Dingeldei, stating their excitement at the news. We were in for a night to remember; it was a night to party. Through the punk cries and crunch of distorted guitars, the crowd danced as if put under a spell but none greater than that of Dingeldei, who danced as if they were demon possessed. It was an exorcism of the old, a celebration and embrace of the new. A band who seemingly resembles change, now bringing it.
Embodying the Aussie laracon spirit, Money Boys blew up the room with the sound of punk rage. It was the sound of the streets bracing the stage for what was a loud, explosive set which caused frenzy in the crowd. Sleeves rolled up and a won’t take crap from anyone attitude, their presence delivered thrills from stage dives to embracing the crowd from the railings, Money Boys left no room for boring, no room for silence, only room for the motion of flying limbs and bodies crushing against one another as the small room was packed with a sea of people. It was anarchy at its finest, the feeling reminding me of that of the original punk bands of the 80’s. Their energy, a throwback to another era, however, showing that the sentiment and style of the genre is truly timeless and possibly never went away!
The curtains closed and gear rattled from the stage, I stood there eagerly anticipating our main act, the scale of the room suddenly getting bigger. As distant chatter could be heard from behind the clothe wall, droves of punters flooded through the bar’s entry, the noise of the crowd suddenly increasing, getting louder and louder until the room was engulfed by the sound commotion, the venue stacked from wall to wall.
An announcement came over the PA, the crowd’s attention immediately shifting to the stage, the room was quiet but not for long. Creaking could be heard as the curtains opened, blue and yellow light shining onto the crowd revealing the silhouette of the four band members, the crowd erupting! Lead singer, Natalie Foster, raising her hands to the sky, like a conductor navigating the audiences ovation.
From here the stage was chaos manifest, Foster, spiralling around the stage with joy, members Frank Lees (Drums), Grew Rietwyk (Guitar) and Iain Macrae (Bass) thrashing as their instruments shook the room with heavy grunge riffs and beats that sent the crowd into frenzy. Before not long, Foster, swinging from the curtain railings like a monkey, the crowd gone wild, the band turning the suburban rock venue into a jungle, and they were its rulers.
Abruptly the show ended, what seemed like minutes was really an hour of heated expression and fun. The crowd wasn’t ready to leave, chanting spread across the room, those infamous words, “one more song” shouted towards the stage. It couldn’t be ignored, the band taking the stage one more time, closing out the night in one more blast of high energy performance, the crowd leaving satisfied and on a high.