Drop Beers gig review

the other week, i hit up Newcastle’s Hamilton Station Hotel and it was was buzzing! The room was small, loud and full of the kind of energy you only get when a free gig turns into something much bigger than it intends to be. This was one of those nights where the crowd and the bands fused into a single sweaty, beautiful mess. In a good way. Heads up, sadly no photos but enjoy the read!

Atlas And The Attic

Brisbane’s Atlas And The Attic kicked things off with a level of polish that caught everyone off guard. Matching striped shirts, tight sound and a lead vocalist who commanded the room like he was born on a stage. The vocals were strong and the harmonies cut through the room with real clarity. Their set list was stacked with crowd friendly moments and the frontman barely had to ask before the room was singing back at him. There was a confidence to their crowd control that made the whole set feel bigger than the space they were in. A massive thank you to them for inviting me along.

GREAT JOB!

Sydney’s GREAT JOB! followed and immediately shifted the mood into a teen movie fever dream. Fun songs, big personalities and a frontman who could probably win a stand up comedy award if music ever falls through. Their banter between songs was sharp and genuinely funny. The band chemistry was strong and the guitar solos were ridiculous in the best way. GREAT JOB are a talented group and their songs are unexpectedly beautiful underneath all the chaos.

One thing I loved throughout the entire night was the way each band supported every other act. Members from each group were down the front singing, cheering, filming and hyping the room from start to finish. It felt like a little creative ecosystem.

FIST

Local legends FIST kept things rolling with their signature energy. The all weed themed outfit was an immediate crowd pleaser. They are tight performers and switch between songs with impressive speed and coordination.

Their set felt like a punch to the chest in the best possible way. always a sucker for a member that stands out. josh the vocalist was wearing his iconic weed get up. hat and all.

Drop Beers

Drop Beers closed the night and delivered the kind of set that makes the scene proud. The drummer wore what looked like a tin salmon head and somehow kept perfect rhythm. The vocals were strong with solid screams and an obvious joy in every second on stage. Their frontman gave off Ocean Grove energy which sent the room into overdrive. They encored with Break Stuff by Limp Bizkit and the frontman of FIST jumped on stage to help out which made the place explode. The crowd was dancing, shouting and even picking each other up and spinning them around. Pure community energy. hell, even this disabled girl managed to get up and jumped around.

Final Thoughts

Even though this was a free gig in a small room and free gigs get overlooked, the noise level, energy and passion felt massive. These are the shows I love most. They start small, stay small and still manage to feel unforgettable. I talked to nearly everyone there and the vibe was consistently wholesome and excited.

Every band on this lineup is a must see live. Atlas And The Attic, GREAT JOB, FIST and Drop Beers are all incredibly talented and clearly going places. If this is the kind of night Newcastle keeps putting on, the scene is in very good hands.