Order of the Black Werewolf@Hydey 27/05/08

Fri 30th May, 2008 in Gig Reviews

Wednesday night at the Hyde Park Hotel shaped up to be a surprising night. Let’s face it, it was cold, it was rainy and there was no local madwoman there to entertain us this time. You wouldn’t think that combination would draw more than two people but it is a testament to the talent that was on offer that the turnout was pretty good.

The Generals and Majors played a tight set and had a considerable crowd bouncing up and down whilst trying not to spill their drinks on the floor. Dressed in ties and suits, they looked more like a convention of accountants than a punk rock band but as soon as they stepped behind their instruments it all seemed to fit, and one patron was heard to remark; “my, aren’t those young men dressed well this evening?”

The Order of the Black Werewolf was next. It was their drummer’s birthday, so they opened the set with a rendition of Happy Birthday to Royce. Wasting absolutely no time, because they didn’t have much of it, they immediately began to take the crowd on a journey.

Their music is transcendental. There is no one label for this particular style of music. It’s Rock/Spaghetti-Western/Spanish Flamenco/Surf Punk that will have you nodding in time and wishing Lee Van Cleef wasn’t dead. If the floor wasn’t sticky enough with spilled drink before, it became a veritable puddle, as absolutely no patron was left outside or playing pool while these future rock gods were playing.

Music aside, the stage show was as amusing as it was simple. Three guys, three instruments and a love of music that is never left in doubt. All three are naturals on stage and play with a clear familiarity which can only be borne from nights and nights of playing together. They were great to watch and left you with a breathless sense of being in the company of greatness. Put it this way, haven’t you always wanted to say you knew so and so when they were underground? Catch the next gig of The Order on the 5th June at the Rosemount and you may well be able to make that claim in the very near future.

Wrapping things up for the night was Genghis. They played well and rocked hard. They also clearly took home the award for The Band who most takes itself seriously. With a sombre, professional stage presence that doesn’t take away from the music, you can tell these guys practice hard and want to go places. However, you couldn’t help but feel they would’ve been better served with a bigger stage and a really cool light show.

It was a good night filled with great music and lots of booze if the number of people with their heads against the nice-cold-bin out the back is any testament. And really, do you want to live in a world where a good night isn’t measured by the piles of fresh vomit in the carpark? Of course you don’t !