A swashbuckling morbid Monday @ The Old Bar

This past dreary, wet, public holiday was turned wild and swashbuckling by this week’s Morbid Mondays at The Old Bar in Melbourne.

Boasting two BRILLIANT BANDS the small bar was bustling within seconds of the opening chords of the first ACT, Common Evil. 

Common Evil is a five piece death/thrash metal band from Traralgon, Victoria. The distance didn’t stop the band from bringing a high energy, high volume, and highly skilled performance.

Formed in 2018 the band is ramping up online with newly released singles ‘Common Evil’ and ‘Disturbing the Peace’ (September 2024). However, it’s their live performances that draws in the crowds over and over. 

Source: @commonevilband

Common Evil’s lead singer Brody Hocking was captivating. Pacing the floor in front of the stage like a caged lion, Hocking revs the crowd into a frenzy of headbanging, fist pumping, and raucous shouts.

Hocking was unafraid of the crowd, willing to walk to the back of the room and look you in the eyes to ensure you’re enjoying the show they’re so excellently putting together.

Often, due to the nature of the room, you could only see his dyed red-hair thrashing in the front yet his vocals remained stable and exhilarating. 

source: @commonevilband

Angus Stoel and Jack Hita on the guitar are equally impressive. With solos that are deeply expressive, and bring a heightened energy to the crowd that Hocking builds upon with his performance.

The pair are not simple stand and play guitarists either.

Stoel and Hita get involved in the swirling atmosphere and appear to thrive in the hype of the crowd.

The band is held together by the rhythm section of Jack Lease and Dave Lease, steady and solid. 

Common Evil raised the bar high for the following band, Rum Runners, and they matched Common Evil’s energy with ease. 

Rum Runners, a pirate folk metal band from Melbourne, looked the part. It was a delight spotting them scattered amongst the crowd in their corsets, tattered vests, and bandana’s.

Once the band began to play, however, you knew it wasn’t simply a gimmick. After 8 years ‘in Davy Jones’ Locker’ the band returned in November 2024 and have been playing gigs around Victoria since. 

source: @rumrunnersmetal

The performance was, simply put, fun. The music was a slight change from Common Evil’s Death/Thrash style but the spirit certainly wasn’t lacking. 

Lead singer ‘Cap’n Rawpipes’ similarly trawled the front of the stage, dragging punters into a friendly circle pit gleefully.

Guitarist ‘El Capitana Rusty Paws’ AKA Cara Silvae was a delight. Her paws were anything but rusty as she held down the rhythm guitar whilst ‘Cap’n Salty Hands’ thrilled with his pirate themed searing guitar solos.

The bands self-proclaimed theatricality was showcased by the interactions between the band members as they played off each other both musically and performatively. 

Whilst often drummers can get lost behind the wall of guitars, ‘Cap’n Wack’ could not be missed. His infectious energy permeated through the band and - helped by the flapping pirate flag behind him and his very on-theme bandana -  carried out his role with expertise that had all eyes on him. 

SOURCE: @RUMRUNNERSMETAL

This band is equal parts excellent, swashbuckling, metal music and captivating live-performers. Simply listening to their music isn’t enough.

All five can get a crowd moving and will do so, by their fun, light-hearted, music and their all-in performance.

Rum Runners are a band to be experienced. 

Lucky for Victorian readers both Commone Evil and Rum Runners will be playing together again at Geelong’s ‘The Barwon Club’ this Saturday (April 24th) at the Metal United Down Under gig.