Parkway Drive @ Wollongong Uni, 25th June ’16
Having already conquered all of our main cities in support of last year’s album Ire, it seems Parkway Drive’s touring itch still required scratching.
This time around the focus of the affable Byron Bay hardcore masters was to be our rural and regional centres. As a result we find ourselves this evening down in Wollongong Uni, filing into a large room that I had no knowledge of hitherto.
Despite the crushing brutality of their sound, PWD possess a sense of humour and laconic larrikinism that sets them apart from others of their ilk. This begins before the show with cranked up Bon Jovi and Queen epics pumped out to inspire tongue in cheek yellalongs, to which the youthful crowd duly obliged. Then comes the unexpected explosion of red streamers and confetti as the feverish crowd is hit with the one-two punch of ‘Destroyer‘ and ‘Dying‘.
With a grin stretching from ear to ear frontman Winston McCall expresses his simple wish for everyone to leave the gig a happier person. The message is received as an inspired youngster magically materialises on a blow-up raft and commences a wobbly journey on a sea of eagerly helpful hands.
Aside from the tracks from Ire, tonight’s set is basically a best of, which crowd pleasing singles such as ‘Idols And Anchors‘ and ‘Wild Eyes‘ making for a consistantly surging set.
As someone not overly familiar with the intricacies of the hardcore genre I found this evening’s combination of sonic aggression and playfulness an intriguing experience. PWD have it all down. They are a bunch of laidback surfer buddies who just happen to produce bowel shattering mayhem.
As the night closes with another bombardment of confetti and streamers I find myself reflecting upon McCalls earlier call for everyone to leave the room that little bit happier. Looking at the smiles on faces at the end of the show, I’m pretty confident he got his wish.
Photos: Benon Julius William Otto Koebsch
He can also be found clinging to his youth on a skateboard or wandering aimlessly through the bush.
- The Beards @ The Metro, 2nd July ’16 - July 8, 2016
- Parkway Drive @ Wollongong Uni, 25th June ’16 - July 1, 2016
- Basement @ The Factory, 27th May ’16 - June 3, 2016
