House of Music and Booze
24 September 2022
The Hard-Ons, Particles, Nancy and the Jam Fancys
Reviewer : Matt Houston
Photographers : Jo Forster, Matt Houston
The opening gig for Sydney’s newest venue, The House of Music and Booze in St Peters, and they couldn’t have booked a better band to pop their cherry than The Hard-Ons.
First band to open the proceedings were the curiously named Nancy and the Jam Fancys. Not sure what to expect, I was pleasantly surprised. Their songs were energetic and full of passion. Sounding familiar, they came across like the lovechild of The Cult and Danzig, who’d invited Radio Birdman to be the godparents and teach the child some Australian punk rock ethics. The fusion was a winning mix worthy of checking out if given the opportunity.
Particles followed onstage with a bang. The two-piece produced a sound defying their minimal members. Skarlett Saramore pounded her drums to fit perfectly with the heavy riffs emitted from the dual guitar and bass amp combo (think Local H if you need a reference point). With a distinctly nineties flavour to the songs, their enthusiasm was infectious and fun to behold.
The Hard-Ons are a band I’ve seen many times since I was teenager in the early 90s. Like many bands whose longevity prevails, they’ve experienced a number of line-up changes over the years. Their sound has evolved, but the songs and humour always have that unique Hard-Ons feel. New kid on the block, Mr Rogers, fits into the family with the ease of a long-lost brother reunited with his siblings. Some folks find it difficult to accept such change to favourite musical acts, but I found the communion a natural evolution.
The band drew heavily on their latest release, Sorry Sir, That Riff Is Taken, with little time spent looking to the past for inspiration. Their set was a raucous and rambunctious ride of Blackie’s punk rock riffs soaring above Ray’s low grinding bass and Murray’s precision drumming. Tim paid tribute to his fellow bandmate’s throughout the night, clearly a fan and humbled to be a part of the fold. He delivered his vocals with gusto and rock’n’roll swagger, dancing freely and encouraging the packed room of punters to join the fun. Tim has done his homework through years of listening fandom and nailed the vocal style perfectly, adding his own unique twist.
‘Hold Tight’, ‘Frequencies’, ‘Lite As A Feather’, ‘The Laws of Gossip’, ‘Fucked Up Party’ and ‘Oh, You’re Crushed?!’ were all standout tracks and got the room movin’ and shakin’. Interspersed with the traditional one liners and humour we’ve come to expect, it felt like an intimate and relaxed gathering at a friend’s house for party time. The band experienced some sound and technical issues throughout their set, but that is understandable when breaking in a new PA for the first time and those gathered were warmly forgiving. The sound engineer worked tirelessly to put out the spot fires with success. Ray blew his bass amp just before the encore and Mr Engineer saved the night with his magic to get the rig back on track. Hats off to you, sir!
Ending the night with a powerful rendition of ‘Suck and Swallow’, The Hard-Ons proved again why they’re one of Australia’s most enduring and respected live acts. No airs and graces, just a passion for down to earth rock’n’roll.
