RedHook | 170 Russell

Live Review

6 Sept

170 Russell holds a lot of nostalgia for me, being the venue where I saw my first-ever live show, and it’s one I’ve returned to many times since. On September 6th, I had the opportunity to catch RedHook on their Breaking Up With tour, featuring a powerful all-Australian lineup with Patient Sixty-Seven, Eat Your Heart Out, and The Beautiful Monument. Despite some initial hiccups due to Eat Your Heart Out’s flight delay, the night turned into an exciting showcase of talent, resilience, and passion from every band involved.

With Eat Your Heart Out’s set pushed back, The Beautiful Monument kindly swapped set times and took the stage earlier than planned. Kicking off the night, however, was Patient Sixty-Seven. The Perth-based band opened with Lake Valley, immediately energizing the packed room. After delivering Hibbertia, they launched into Antisocial from their 2021 album Home Truths, but a technical glitch with their backing track caused them to stop mid-song. Showing their professionalism, the band quickly fixed the issue and relaunched into the song, sounding even tighter. They closed with Scattered and took a heartwarming group photo with the crowd, marking a wholesome end to their set.

Next up, The Beautiful Monument made their way onto the stage, and I was particularly excited to see them again after last catching their set in 2021 when they supported Alpha Wolf. The band, featuring Lizi McIntosh on vocals, Amy McIntosh on bass and heavy vocals, Alex Manhire on guitar, and Adam Pinzone on drums, has continued to rise, even recently supporting Evanescence on their 20 Years of Fallen tour. They kicked off with Invisible, a standout from their album I’m The Reaper, and moved through a mix of older and newer tracks. A highlight of their set was the newly released Hellbound alongside Deceiver.

During their performance of their latest single Duerme, technical difficulties struck again as Alex Manhire's guitar cut out. Despite this setback, Lizi took the opportunity to engage the crowd, making light of the situation with a humorous remark about working at JB HI-FI and how "technology can be a nightmare." Her upbeat attitude kept the energy flowing until the issue was resolved. They closed with Misery, a single that showcased the band's impressive growth and stage presence, leaving the crowd more than ready for Eat Your Heart Out.

After finally overcoming the earlier delays, Eat Your Heart Out took the stage, and their resilience shone through. Opening with Carousel from their 2019 album Florescence, the band wasted no time in delivering a high-energy performance. Despite the earlier disruptions, they performed as though nothing had gone wrong, showing their professionalism. One of the standout moments came during Conscience, where Amy McIntosh from The Beautiful Monument returned to the stage, throwing her arm around Caitlin Henry as they performed together, filling in the heavier vocals that are usually provided by Movements' Patrick Miranda. Their chemistry on stage was palpable and the crowd loved it.

Eat Your Heart Out powered through more fan favorites like Twenty Something and Scissors in My Skin before closing their set with Down, where Caitlin rallied the crowd to sing along with the chorus. It was a dynamic set that proved they could still captivate an audience even after a rocky start to the night.

Then it was time for the headliners, RedHook, to take the stage. As the lights dimmed and the iconic THX intro sound filled the venue, you could feel the anticipation building. They exploded onto the stage with Pyromaniac from their upcoming album Mutation (dropping on November 22, 2024), complete with pyrotechnics that took me by surprise. This was a first for 170 Russell, and it added a spectacular visual element to their performance. The band, led by Emmy Mack, brought their usual high-energy, playful vibe, with Craig Wilkinson on lead guitar, Ned Jankovic on bass, and Alex Powys on drums rounding out the lineup.

One of the best parts of RedHook’s set was the collaborations. Lizi McIntosh was invited back on stage for Imposter, where she and Emmy delivered a powerful vocal performance together. Later, Amy McIntosh returned for Cannibal, stepping in for Alpha Wolf’s Lochie Keogh to deliver the song’s brutal screams. It was great to see such strong camaraderie between the bands, and it added an extra layer of excitement to the night.

In a fun twist during Breaking Up With, RedHook called for a “Wall of Hugs” instead of the usual "Wall of Death," encouraging the crowd to embrace each other. As sparks flew and Craig Wilkinson surprised the audience with a saxophone solo, the room turned into a softer version of the usual mosh pit chaos. It was a playful moment that captured RedHook's unique ability to bring both intensity and light-heartedness to their performances.

The band closed their set with their hit single Bad Decisions, using up the last of their stage pyrotechnics for an epic finale. The visual spectacle and their unmatched energy made it a performance to remember. Despite the earlier technical challenges and delays, every band gave it their all, delivering a night full of memorable moments. RedHook's Breaking Up With tour was an incredible showcase of Australian talent, and with their album Mutation set for release on November 22, 2024, the future is looking very bright for this powerhouse band.