What a year for the Hard-Ons it’s been. They dropped an absolute masterpiece in “Ripper 23”, gained great reviews, toured the country and most of all put on some of the best live shows of the year. With the bands last show for 2023 here they certainly weren’t showing any signs of slowing down. Tonight, the Hard-Ons never looked at losing their virility and stamina while delivering a seventy five minute set full of classics, new cuts and had The Curtin’s crowd eating out of their hands all night. Lucky enough to have caught both ends of this tour this year, has anything changed?
JJ McCann Transmission and The Meanies provided supports to tonight’s masterclass of Australian punk rock 101. The Curtin is a unique venue in Melbourne. Its upstairs band room is spacious and well laid out. Production wise it sounds and looks great. Gigs here have always been great. The only issue with the room is that it has an off-centre stairway coming upon from the pub below. Why do I make mention of it? It will make sense shortly.
JJ McCann Transmission took to the stage to warm things up. In all honesty I hadn’t heard of or seen this band before. As primarily a three piece they did a great job with their short set which consisted of material from their debut album “Hit With Love”. The band had a keyboard player join them for a couple of songs which added an unexpected element to their sound.
With the rough front of house mix working against them the band did a great job delivering their set. Stand out moments/songs were ‘Don’t Follow Me’, ‘Amphibious Skin’ and their latest single ‘Forces At Work’. All things considering, they delivered a neat little set that I’m sure gained them some new fans.
SETLIST: Hit With Love, Judas Jenny, Blindsided, Don’t Bother Me, Forces At Work, New Machine, Amphibious Skin, Marshalling Love, Ambition
The Meanies delivered a blistering best of the best setlist which showcased the very reason why they will always go down in Australian punk rock history. Their influence not only served as a blue print to bands like Frenzal Rhomb, Regurgitator and Front End Loader to name a few, they paved a path for so many who were to come. While being influential I feel the band never really got their true due success.
The bands comparison to The Ramones has always been one that has been very fitting as their brand of punk rock has mastered the art of 2-3 minute songs in quick fire succession. If I was to explain The Meanies to someone who had never heard them I would cite them as a wonderful blend of The Ramones and Australia’s own The Saints.
I remember first seeing The Meanies in a Hobart dive bar called The Dog House circa 1990 and being blown away by the bands energy. Mind you I saw so many incredible indie/alternative/punk/metal bands there. Come to think of it I think I first saw The Hard On’s there too. Man, those days are hazy and dusty at the best of times but were so much fun and my first connection to the band.
Tonight’s set was a comprehensive walk through the band’s history with all four studio albums represented quite evenly. A surprise version of Bad Brains ‘Pay To Cum’ was thrown in for good measure as well as a couple of new songs. Which leads me to believe there will be new music from The Meanies soon.
Frontman Lindsay McLennan was in fine form tonight displaying all of the youthful energy that decades of past had. Thrashing himself around the stage, falling down and simply being larger than life was a treat to see.
Tight energetic and fun the guys seen to have not missed a step live. I think for the first time ever McLennan did encourage crowd surfing due to the central stairwell in the band room at The Curtin being dangerous. Still the crowd in attendance sang back lyrics, bounced, danced and embodied the punk rock spirit so entangled with the band.
Musically they are still as dynamic as ever and I can’t wait to see what they have in store for us.
SETLIST: You Know The Drill, There’s A Gap, Never, Just What You Need, Dark Side Of My Mind, Punching Air, All The Brought Men, Old Car To Shangri La, Pay To Cum, Rhyming Logic, Scum, Sousa, Jekyll & Hyde, Cruel To Be Canned, Round In Circles, What’s The Buzz Inside, Kill, Gangrenous, 10% Weird, Ton Of Bricks, Keep A Balance, Our New Planet
The Hard-Ons, one of Australia’s most iconic and loved power pop punk bands took to the stage tonight for the final time in 2023. With the crowd well and truly warmed up The Hard-Ons graced us with seventy minutes of pure punk rock bliss. Wrapping up the “Ripper 23” tour we got a setlist that focused on the new era of the band. Tonight’s set blasted its way through no less than nine tracks from aforementioned album and four from the previous album “I’m Sorry Sir, That Riff’s Been Taken” the debut with Tim Rogers out front and a healthy handful of classics.
To say that Rogers fits like a hand in a glove in The Hard-Ons is an understatement. The band fire on all cylinders and are having a blast doing so. From the in your face opening riff of ‘Apartment For Two’ there was an energy surrounding the four members that had you hooked instantly. In typical punk rock style the first four songs of tonight were played efficiently but with maximum energy. There is no need for small talk between songs as the music is what this band is all about.
In synchronised fashion all four members remove their t-shirts as they launch into the gritty yet quite commercial ‘Never Been Handsome’.
‘Frequencies’ gives contrast in its placement and sees Rogers spitting the lyrics with intensity. It also showcases just how damn tight this band. Drummer, Murray Ruse’s stamina is faultless as he belts his way through this. Ruse and Ahn are so locked in it gives Black the perfect place to shine as he delivers his quirkiest guitar part of the set.
The song that first drew me to “Ripper 23”; ‘Letterbox’ is next. This track for me is a perfect melting pot of You Am I pop sensibilities and Hard-Ons grit. When I first heard this track on a Spotify playlist, I could have sworn it was a new You Am I song. It’s such a clever song in the way it builds. Definitely a set highlight for me.
Roger’s refers to guitarist Peter “Blackie” Black as the master of riffs on more than one occasion tonight and although you might write the genre of punk rock off as simplistic raw energy it is undeniable that Black has continued to prolifically and consistently written some killer riffs.
‘Humiliator’ and ‘Goin’ It Alone’ again cast contrast stylistically but the way that the band makes this so seamless is perfect in every way. Simply introduced by Roger’s asking “What Would Stiv Bators Do?” the band delivers this back catalogue gem. It’s hard to imagine Roger’s not having written this track as he completely owns it and it suits him perfectly.
Speaking of perfection, ‘In Falls Everything’ with its gritty riff that nods to AC/DC is next. This has to be my favourite track of “Ripper 23”. Lyrically it’s clever and catchy. Musically is straight ahead yet twists and turns. There is just so much to love in this song. Live it’s a cracker. Ray Ahn also took a light hearted stab at Judas Priest bassist Ian Hill during a break between one of the songs saying “seven notes in fifty years, fuck that guy” jokingly.
‘Backpack Sweat’ and ‘Chopping Block’ compliment each other well and have The Curtin bouncing again.
Amongst tonight’s interactions with the crowd there were stories of delayed flights, of the change of pilots and the announcement that Peter Black would be their flight pilot. Which Blackie himself made fun of. Attitude, banter, fun and laughter are all the hallmarks of a band that truly enjoy sharing a stage together.
Something new in ‘Chopping Block’ and something old ‘Ache To Touch You’ round out tonight’s set.
Not being able to leave the stage and return easily the band waits for The Curtin to make enough noise for an encore. Taking to his microphone Ahn announces that next year 2024 is the bands 40th Anniversary and they have some huge things planned for it.
‘Carrot Top’ and the lightning fast ‘Three Separate Lightbulb Moments” precede the galloping ‘Sling Shot’ which is sadly the final song in tonight’s show. Captivating as always Rogers displays his best air archery, shooting and swordsmanship. His charisma is captivating and commanding. The band is pure heat.
If the shows I have seen this year are any indication of what’s in store we will be in for an absolute treat. Fingers crossed we get a true career spanning set. I am so interested to see how Rogers adapts to deeper cuts from the catalogue.
It’s quite the revelation tonight as it truly dawned upon me how influential The Hard-Ons were on You Am I. In reflection You Am I are in essence a vagabond mix of indie pop and Aussie punk rock; their heart never far from being worn on the sleeve of the Hard-Ons formula to craft incredible songs.
Tonight, versus the first show earlier in the year, what were the major difference? Without a doubt Rogers has become more comfortable and settled out front and with song selection. The band seemed tighter than before and more relaxed. They truly do seem to be having a blast.
Despite no encore of ‘Let There Be Rock’ this punter walked away “happy as a clam”.
SETLIST: Apartment For Two, Bad Bad Temper To Match, Hold Tight, Makes Me Sick, Never Been Handsome ,Frequencies, Letterbox, Humiliated/Humiliator, Goin’ It Alone, What Would Stiv Bators Do?, In Falls Everything, Back Pack Sweat, Chopping Block, Ache To Touch You
ENCORES: Carrot Top, Three Separate Lightbulb Moments, Slingshot
Thanks to Dave Laing Publicity for the media access.
GALLERY
Photos by Shot by Slaidins Photography
The Hard-Ons
The Meanies
JJ McCann Transmission
