Health @ The Odeon Theatre
layers of tech - heavy - blasting - pulsing divinity
Photos & Review by Dayna West
Interacting with the crowd at the barrier, an electrifying buzz filled the Odeon. Anticipation was high as smiling faces eagerly awaited their Dark Mofo highlight: HEALTH. The opening track, "IDENTITY," burst out of the gates with syncopated beats that created a pulsating rhythm. The ethereal vocals chanting "calling us, calling us" soared above the mix, while the techno-infused alien experience churned beneath. It felt like a scene out of BLADE, with me glancing over my shoulder, camera in hand like a MAC-11.
Seamlessly transitioning, "GOD BOTHERER" followed suit, with vocalist Jake Duzsik's voice acting as a comforting anchor amidst the organised chaos.
"The Message" is the essence, not the beginning. The Odeon trembled as the industrial legends, HEALTH, had only just begun their performance. Over the course of a stacked 22-track set, "VICTIM" marked the end of the first half. The bass drones reverberated in my ears, while the lighting design stood out as the festival's most pristine and intricate. It moved, darted, and jumped in perfect synchrony with the heavy industrial performance.
The fast-paced rhythmic drumming of "MEN TODAY" was absolute mayhem. Drummer BJ Miller showcased his flair, skillfully raising his sticks and delivering some of the most awe-inspiring drumming I have ever witnessed. I raise my metaphorical hat to you, sir. BJ's drumming, combined with the mastery of controller John Famiglietti, was insane. During "STRANGE DAYS," I had a momentary reflection, contemplating how a Victorian child from the 1800s would perceive HEALTH's performance. The sheer magnitude of their sound was overwhelming in the best possible way. My senses tingled as I allowed the booming explosiveness to consume me, feeling their intensity behind my eyes.
My gaze remained fixated on the bass, pedals, and electronic wizardry of Famiglietti, who stole the show. Seeing him in action, skilfully wielding his bass and navigating through the multitude of tech on stage, I was captivated by the energy he exuded. The light gracefully caressed his instruments and face as he moved to the orchestrated arrangements coexisting within the auditory landscape.
"TEARS" evoked a trance-like state. I was nodding along and losing myself in the otherworldly atmosphere. Creating such an enigmatic listening experience for so many people simultaneously made me feel as though we had all been transported onto the same journey. It was a remarkable feat to orchestrate.
The beautiful melancholic chords of "CYBERPUNK 2.0.2.0" triggered an emotional response within me. A wave of feelings washed over as Duzsik's voice broke through the wall of noise and resonated in my psyche. Amongst the intense trance-like tracks we had been exposed to, it served as a perfect interlude, allowing us to collect ourselves and find our footing before diving into the more intense realm of "WE ARE WATER"
Closing with the colossal track "CRUSHER," a layered explosion of tech-heavy, pulsating divinity, they delivered the perfect high-energy finale to the elaborate, evolving entity. The audience's energy was vibrant and alive, invigorated by the exchange we had just participated in. The last 40 seconds of "CRUSHER," a gnarly, bold, and intense conclusion to the journey, felt truly sacred. Merely bowing down to Famiglietti, Duzsik, and Miller was not enough.
I spoke to HEALTH fan Luke Hackett post show on his thoughts of the experience: ‘Honestly? HEALTH invite you into their fully realised dystopian world, complete with oppressive lighting and tattered stage clothing. The bleakness of their retrofuture never becoming drab as Jake Duszik’s vocals and chorused guitar somehow echo just as thoroughly through the venue, managing to co-exist with the pummeling drums of Beej and the thunderous waves of noise that Johnny generates’.
The energy that HEALTH emulate is illuminating and it brightened my Dark Mofo experience. Thank you HEALTH.
