Mondo Generator

The Australian touring debut of one of the world’s most acclaimed bass players. Nick Oliveri and his latest professional outfit, Mondo Generator was highly anticipated by his followers. And most probably met with a degree of bemusement to all those who recall Oliveri’s past adventures touring in Australia. But hey, that was with Queens of the Stone Age, this is a whole new musical circa for Oliveri.

It was a major move on promoters parts to bring out Oliveri’s band, Mondo Generator. As Oliveri says, “my mistress has now become my wife” but like a mistress, Mondo Generator has been a furtive, sly musical affair.

And the Metro was suitably psyched for the occasion. Decked out with barricades and a camera crew capturing all the action, there was a lot invested in the successes of Mondo Generator, but ultimately it was the allusion to the days of the Queens that got his expected audience pumping.

So with an unfamiliar band accompanied by an all too familiar name in the punk world, Oliveri’s notoriety as the bass player who made it big certainly elevated his credibility.

As a warm-up to a sparse, mohawk-laden crowd, the odd few of us were entertained by the opening act, a slightly unnerved and starstruck punk number by the name of Immolate. They managed to incorporate lengthy instrumentals and the occcasional vocal line, all the while cameras panning their every movement, trying to maintain an air of stoic indifference, but all the while appearing as if about to collectively wet their pants.

The Hard-Ons were obviously a little more accustomed to playing with big names. They have spent a while building themselves up a large and credible fanbase, which was all too apparent by the great reception which they received.

After smashing the bass guitar at that infamous Perth gig at the Big Day Out with Queens, Oliveri never performed with QOSA again. Perhaps this accounts for why he has not been back to our fair shores since that ill-fated gig, but in any case, the man will always drag the excess baggage of his QOSA days.

The point was certainly proven following a set list riddled with tracks from “Songs for the Deaf”, including “I’m Gonna Leave You”, which he lovingly dedicated to his ex-wife (ouch…)

From the moment they stepped on the stage there was a tense atmosphere: a momentum built with heavy doom riffs building up the crowd to the point of an en masse frenzy by the time the all too familiar encore arrived. (does anyone just randomly do an encore now, or is it just included in the set list..?)

I may not be a punk as of yet, but I must concede, they have the passion – a good perception on the part of tour promoters in the end…

Share this review on Facebook