w/ TYNE-JAMES ORGAN @ Bar On The Hill - Friday 9th December 2022

Liverpool’s kings of indie-rock-pop THE WOMBATS are back in Australia for the second time this year! This time, touring their latest album Fix Yourself, Not the World and for the first time, playing Newcastle! Avid fans of Australia (their name speaks for itself), it’s no surprise the love from their loyal fanbase is mutual. As I made my way to the University of Newcastle’s Bar on the Hill I expected a more intimate setting for the evening, but boy was I in for a surprise. The stage wasn’t in the bar, but out in the open awaiting a sea of rainbow-coloured hair, Doc-Martens and tour T-shirts all the way back to 2007. The atmosphere was unreal. 

As the crowd moved in, we were met with the raw yet suave alt-rock sounds of Wollongong-native, TYNE-JAMES ORGAN. My first time seeing him perform, ORGAN was just captivating. From his 70s aesthetic to the way he wears his heart on his sleeve, he truly is a sight to behold. There’s a humbleness about him, knowing he is still a newcomer but enjoying every moment, occasionally reminding the crowd “this isn’t my show, but I don’t care.” Losing himself in the stories he tells with the help of his Martin acoustic, ORGAN played many songs from his 2021 debut studio album Necessary Evil, including ‘Graceful’, ‘Hold Me Back’ and my personal favourite ‘Sunday Suit’. ORGAN had the crowd in the palm of his hand, and deservedly so. 

By the time ORGAN had wrapped, the sea of fans had become an ocean. As I looked over the pit barricade, I realised this was not a party, it was a hurricane (a shameless WOMBATS pun). I had seen THE WOMBATS three times prior - Matthew Murphy is one of my songwriting heroes. Their sound ages like a fine wine with every album, and seeing a legion of day-one fans with new, younger ones made for an incredibly diverse atmosphere. When the lights went down, a wave of screaming and cheers ricocheted through the crowd and everyone knew we were in for a wild ride. With three strums on his guitar, Murphy dove straight in with an instantly-recognisable debut-album classic, ‘Moving to New York’. The stage lighting was one for the books, featuring every colour under the sun and some you’ve never seen before. Their energy as always was fantastic! Bassist Tord Øverland Knudsen gets a special mention here, not stopping even for a second (unless the keyboard needed attention). Drummer Dan Haggis was also having the time of his life, as is the feeling with every one of their shows - they play like it’s the very first - or last - time. 

‘Techno Fan’, ‘Ready for the High’ and ‘Pink Lemonade’  are all examples of how, no matter what album, they have stayed true to what makes them such an addictive alt-pop force to be reckoned with. The first five songs alone represent a decade of THE WOMBATS and their upbeat melodically, but lyrically-melancholy trademark music. The fans belting every word, never failing to show their appreciation with endless applause and whistles even from the very first note of a song.  

As I left the pit to experience the action from atop the venue pillars, it was unlike any WOMBATS scene I had seen before. My favourite moment was making my way right into the centre and finding myself surrounded by guys hoisting girls up onto their shoulders, looking up and seeing the sheer joy of a wave of fans screaming out “iIf this is a rom-com, KILL THE DIRECTOR!” There’s something insanely special when you can go to a concert solo, but dance the entire time and sing your favourite lyrics with people you’ve never met before. That’s a telltale sign of a wholesome fanbase, so to THE WOMBATS - thank you for an incredible night. Here’s to another 15 years of screaming your lyrics with that iconic Liverpool phonetic and celebrating the irony!

Check out the FULL PHOTO GALLERY by Adrianne Armida below!