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metro theatre

  • osees metro2

    Osees
    + R.M.F.C.
    The Metro Theatre, Sydney
    15 February 2023
    Photos
    - Vic Zubakin / Look Sharp Photography


    Osees have been landing on Australian shores for more than a decade and consistently leaving an impression as a “must see” band.  Over the years, I have been in conversationswith people who have raved about the powerful live experience, the guitar sound and the energy.

    When I heard claims they were “one of the best live rock bands in the world” I was always dubious. Let’s face it: rock roll can be about hype and creating a myth.  Finally, I had an opportunity to witness what all the talk has been about.  

    Band leader John Dwyer is someone who anyone making independent original music should greatly admire.   Over 26 years, there are 33 albums he has produced, or played on. Dwyer is the last of a breed: the rock ‘n’ roll outlaw and fringe dweller completely living the music.

    In the last decade, with intense work, he has made a real impact, supporting his music with shit jobs like stacking shelves, with one focus:  Running his own label, creating art, playing in a band and driving his part of a cottage industry.

  • osees stage shot Bryan GrenbergBryan Grenberg photo. 

    The OSees
    + G2G
    + Exit Mould
    The Metro Theatre, Sydney
    February 28, 2025

    During the 1990s, The Metro was THE venue in Sydney. I could list the life-changing gigs that I went to and it was chocka block full of top shelf bills every weekend. More than a thousand punters crammed in and with great sound. And great sight-lines.  Tonight, I am back again to see if the sold-out OSeescan top their intense performance of almost two years ago.

    In the '90s, playing a gig at The Metro was something to aspire to. Even I played gigs there back in the day, as an opening act. Damn, they treated you well, with a fridge full of beer and a dressing room…complete  with a photocopied A4 piece of paper with your band’s name on the door. It was welcoming.

    It is still a top shelf room in a prime location. While the suburbs outside the city are abuzz with Friday night teens, roaming gangs and dance music kitsch and glitter, The Metro is mostly (sadly) like the last oasis of rock ‘n’ roll in the Sydney CBD.

  • angry bob metroAngry Andrson pontificates and Bob Spencer enjoys it. Shona Ross photo.  

    Rose Tattoo
    Hard-Ons
    Metro Theatre, Sydney
    Friday, March 29 2019

    Photos by Shona Ross

    There were plenty of people giving plenty of reasons why people should not go to this gig. The announcement that Rose Tattoo would team with the Hard-Ons for a the national "Still Never Too Loud" tour caused some people to lose their shit online - and not in a good way. More on that soon.

    The more mundane reasons were timing (“it’s a Friday night in Sydney after a long working week, maaaaan”), the venue (“the sound at The Metro is sooooo dodgy”) to ignorance (“I never heard that was on”) so most of it was nothing unexpected. Another apathetic night in the Harbour City.

    Then there was The Angry Issue.

  • knighty metroRoss Knight.  

    COSMIC PSYCHOS
    + ZEKE 

    Metro Theatre, Sydney
    Saturday, January 13 2024

    Nice Day To Go To The Pub? Aren’t they all during an Australian summer? Tonight in Sydney it’s muggier than a brickie’s armpit and there’s no reason to break convention, but, fuck me, The Sir John Young Hotel on Sydney’s George Street sure has changed. 

    It’s been re-named “The Resch” (gee, wonder where they dug up that one), the front bar has been opened up and there’s not a TV set in sight. All that polished concrete makes for a brutalist existence. Of course, it lacks live music, with a DJ setting up while we sip our beers, and the usual crowd of pre-Metro gig people absent. The schooners have not unexpectedly crept up close to the $10 mark. That’s life in Sydney!