Mason Hill - London Review

It is funny how things can change in the space of a few years. In 2018 I saw Mason Hill and Hollowstar opening for the Dan Reed Network in Bristol - and neither really did a lot for me. Fast forward three years however, and I am travelling to London from the South West to see both bands as part of a lengthy UK tour supporting Mason Hill's strong debut album Against the Wall. Sometimes it can take a while to appreciate a band, but also bands can come a long way in the space of three years - especially early in their career. Since that Bristol show in 2018, both Mason Hill and Hollowstar have released their debut albums - and both are really starting to make names for themselves here in the UK. It is always great when new rock bands from the UK start making waves. There are still a number of bands from my teenage years whose losses I still mourn. There just did not seem to be the audience for new rock bands in the mid/late-2000s, but thankfully things are different now. There are a quite a few new UK-based rock bands that are finding their feet and establishing themselves - so much so that there is a genuine scene on the rise at the moment. That is great to see, and I hope that the success of bands like Mason Hill will inspire more to form bands and put albums out. Despite this, however, it took me a while to come around to Mason Hill. Following the 2018 gig I essentially put them from my mind, but earlier this year I was recommended the video to one of their recent singles on YouTube. I was really surprised to find myself enjoying the song, so I decided to pre-order Against the Wall. It is an album that I have been enjoying quite a bit since its March release - so much so that I decided to buy a ticket to the band's tour. There were closer shows, but London was the easiest logistically - and shows at Camden's Underworld are always enjoyable. The place always seems to be able to conjure up a strong atmosphere, and I have had many memorable nights in there over the years. I did wonder, however, given the amount of shows that tour contained, whether the band had stretched themselves a little thin. The pictures on Facebook of various shows seemed to put that fear to bed however, and the London show attracted a healthy crowd - one that seemed to delight all three of the bands on the bill.

Opening the show was Empyre, a band that I knew very little about prior to the gig. The four-piece only had around half an hour to play with, but plenty of people had turned up early - meaning that there was a strong atmosphere from the off. There were clearly a few in attendance who were already familiar with Empyre too, which meant that the reactions to the band's songs were strong. In contrast to the more riff-based sounds of Mason Hill and Hollowstar, Empyre's sound was more atmospheric. There was something of an alternative rock vibe throughout their set - with bands like Soundgarden and even Anathema coming to mind at various times. The main focal point throughout was Henrik Steenholdt (vocals/guitar), who's commanding voice really carried the band. Empyre's sound is fairly minimalist for a rock act, so it could have all fallen flat on its face if the vocals were not there to really take the lead. Thankfully, though, Steenholdt's deep voice really brought the songs to life - and everything really revolved around him. That is not to take anything away from the rest of the band however, particularly Did Coles (guitar/vocals) who's atmospheric leads and chords created the textures for Steenholdt's voice, but Empyre are a band that know were their strengths lie and play to them. As a result of the band's somewhat strange sound I was initially sceptical - but by the end I was hooked. The song that really did it for me was the lengthy pseudo-ballad Only Way Out, where the band's sound really clicked for me. By the time the bands set ended I knew that I had to hear more, so I went and bought a copy of the band's debut album Self Aware from the merch table. I will enjoy listening to the album over the coming weeks, and Empyre are a band that I will be keeping a close eye on going forward.

Hollowstar were up next, and I have become something of a fan of the four-piece since the 2018 show. I saw the band again the following year, on a bill topped by Skid Row, and they really impressed after going in with low expectations. I have been enjoying their self-titled album since. Due to my familiarity with the band's material, this set was the best from the band that I have seen yet - and their eight-song performance went down really well with the crowd. Pretty much the whole set was drawn from the band's debut album, with the riffy Take It All getting things off to a strong start. While Joe Bonson (vocals/bass guitar) is a great singer and likeable frontman, for me the real star of the show is Phil Haines (guitar/vocals). The guy is such a talent, and his tone throughout was to die for. He drove every song with his strong riffing, but he really came alive during his numerous solos - which were all expertly crafted and well-phrased. There was little shredding for its own sake, and each song was enhanced by its solo - as well, of course, by Bonson's great vocal melodies and hooky choruses. Due to the quality of the songwriting, the set really flew by. Invincible was another stand out, as was the more politically-charged Money. The crowd loved every minute, and I think that there were portions of Hollowstar's set where the crowd was actually at their loudest during the entire night. A mid-set rendition of Free's Wishing Well prompted a bit of a sing-a-long, but it was the set's closing couple of numbers where the energy levels really rose. The first, Good Man Gone, dedicated to Haines' late father, was probably the highlight of the set overall. The song is extremely melodic, and its solo is one of the band's best. It was a song that really got everyone going, and the cheer that erupted when it finished was huge. It was left to All I Gotta Say to close out the set, which is one of the band's hookiest pieces. It has the sort of chorus that is easy to latch onto, and nearly everyone in the room seemed to know it. As a result, the sing-a-long that followed was excellent. It was a powerful end to a great set that everyone in the room enjoyed. I would not be surprised to be Hollowstar headlining venues similar to The Underworld in due course - and if they do get that chance then they will have deserved it. The setlist was:

Take It All

Let You Down

Invincible

Money

I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles) [The Proclaimers cover]/Wishing Well [Free cover]

Overrated

Good Man Gone

All I Gotta Say

Despite Mason Hill being the evening's headline act, the crowd had already had a great time before the Scottish five-piece took the stage. The evening really was one that celebrated all three of the bands on the bill, but Mason Hill took things up a notch in terms of showmanship and stagecraft. With a backdrop and other on-stage props, Mason Hill's set felt like one of a headline act - and the large crowd lapped up every minute of the show. With only one album and an EP to their name, Mason Hill do not have a massive catalogue to draw from. The whole of Against the Wall was played, alongside one older number from their debut EP and a choice cover. As such, anyone familiar with Against the Wall was assured a good time - and all the highlights from the album translated well to the live setting. The band took the stage to the sounds of Reborn playing over the PA - before they launched into a great double-salvo of No Regret and D.N.A.. These two high-energy tracks were a great way to kick off the set, but in truth much of the evening was taken up with driving rock numbers. The gang-vocal led We Pray was an early highlight, with frontman Scott Taylor encouraging the crowd to join in, as was the tough Find My Way. The band have a real knack for crafting memorable choruses - and their overall sound that fuses modern and classic rock elements is one that really works. In James Bird (guitar/vocals) the band have  real guitar hero too, and his solos were a big part of the night. This is not to take anything away from Marc Montgomery (guitar/vocals) however who's rhythms and more atmospheric approach to the guitar are also a big part of the band's sound. Bird usually drives the song with a riff, while Montgomery's arpeggios and clean sections add a real sense of depth. The styles of the two guitarists are a big part of the band's sound, and this is particularly evident on more dynamic pieces like Who We Are and Broken Son. By the time the band launched into their cover of the Foo Fighters' Best Of You however, the majority of the rest of the set was all about energy. Best Of You certainly got everyone singing along, before the more old-school hard rock of Now You See Me from the band's past was dusted off. It had more of a classic rock vibe than much of the rest of the set, but this helped to inject further energy into the night - before the rousing Against the Wall took things even further. By this point, there was only one song left - and it was left to the slow-paced and emotional Where I Belong to close the evening out. By this point you could see just how much the evening had meant to the band, particularly Taylor who was clearly having the time of his life on the stage. The emotional song was a great closing number too, as it builds towards a climactic solo - which Bird owned as he had done a number of times previously throughout the set. There was a huge cheer as the band took their bows at the end, and it was clear to everyone in attendance that Mason Hill are a band that are potentially on the cusp of something much greater. The setlist was:

Reborn

No Regret

D.N.A.

Out of Reach

Hold On

We Pray

Who We Are

Find My Way

Broken Son

Best Of You [Foo Fighters cover]

Now You See Me

Against the Wall

Where I Belong

Reborn [Reprise]

A great night is always had when every band on a bill really delivers, and that is what happened in London on Friday night. Every band really stepped up to the plate, and the large crowd made their appreciation heard throughout. All three bands deserve to push on in their careers, and I hope that this lengthy tour will further cement that. The tour can only do wonders for each band's fanbase and popularity - and those who are seeing any of the remaining shows on the tour are really in for a treat!