Live Review: Ho99o9 - The Garage, London 29/04/2019
Ho99o9 are one of those bands that regardless of the size of the venue, the country or the weather are consistently and aggressively incredible live! Their mix of punk,hip-hop and whatever else you want to label it, just sets the scene for non-stop chaos, closing a huge European tour they brought some of that Chaos to London.
Crowds lined up hours before doors were set to open, just so they could be front row for the mayhem that was set to ensue that evening. The Garage was absolutely packed; to warm everyone up for Ho99o9, tonight’s support came from Plack Blauge a very strange but addictive act. A mixture of trance and Nine Inch Nails is the only way to describe the scene that we witnessed onstage, fully clad in leather masked singer Raws threw himself around the stage, dancing and shrieking into the mic. The crowd weren’t too sure what to make of Plack Blauge but by the end of the set every single person was jumping up and down absolutely loving it and craving more of this leathery goodness!
As the lights went low, the infamous OGM walked on stage dressed in a high visabilty jacket and a droopy top hat, kicking off the show with ‘Is it Safe to Internet?’ as his stage partner Eaddy strolled onstage without a care in the world before headbanging like no one was watching as the strobe lights flared and the drums blasted out of the speakers! The destruction really started a few songs in during ‘Street Power’ and new song ‘Forest Fires’ off their latest EP Cyber Cop, the distorted drums and deafening bass shook the room as the duo bounced around the stage like human bouncy balls, just before Eaddy took a first class flight off the stage; jumping on top of the awaiting audience, before climbing back on to the stage to finish up.
The track ‘The Dope Dealerz’ saw the pair trade verses back and forth all while still keeping up the same energy they had started the show with, a 4 song onslaught of ‘Sub-Zer0’,’Bone Collector’, the fan favourite ‘Twisted Metal’ and finally other new one ‘Mega City Nine’ almost brought the building down! Although not before a tribute medley of Prodigy songs in memory of tour mate Keith Flint, a resounding chant of ‘Keith,Keith,Keith!!!’ boomed from the darkness of the crowd as Ho99o9 dropped into their collab with The prodigy ‘Fight Fire With Fire’!
Just when you thought it was all over, the crazy was turned up another notch and the set was finished off with older tune ‘Piss Bottle’ where they were joined on stage by Kate Mo$$ frontman Gnar who spit his verse with so much anger and passion we thought he might pass out!
Tonight’s show was the definition of insanity, bodies flying all around the room, mosh pits opening up anywhere there was available space; Ho99o9 have been able to secure some of the most dedicated and passionate fans in the scene, no matter where they play no doubt there will be fans there to listen!
Words and Photography by Joe Dick