The space between The Blue Mountains and Parramatta is a precarious area for fans of live music.
As venues in the area hosting alternative bands and artists are rather limited, many attendees are faced with trekking it to Sydney’s CBD in order to catch some entertainment of this nature. And thus, the final chapter of their night consists of soldiering on the infamous midnight train home.
Thankfully, halfway up High Street in Penrith, a local dive bar seems to adhere to this struggle. Upon walking into its dimly lit premises, handwritten messages utterly caking the walls- at first glance Elton Chong reveals itself to be one of the most unique celebrations of alternative culture in western Sydney.
It was 2pm on a Saturday. A local metal band was in the midst of a soundcheck, which could be heard numerous streets down.
After having to shout towards the bar manager Ez in order to introduce myself, it was then I met the venue’s gig organiser, Tom.
He discussed how current council and community development in western Sydney is creating valuable potential for local bands; ultimately becoming the second space for live acts outside of the CBD, big and small.
Tom emphasised the importance of having what the community needs in its own space, rather than having to travel to the CBD.
“I think Western Sydney has a great underground community. It’s actually stronger than Sydney’s [city].”
In March of this year, Elton Chong was given a grant from the state government through the Live Performance Venue Program. “Any assistance from the Government is super appreciated […] the things it’s allowed us to do with the venue’s upgrades, will hopefully create a better vibe and a safer space.”
The bands playing that afternoon pushed the boundaries to another level. Not only through their styles of music, but also with how they involved the audience- in beautifully cruel and twisted ways.
As the headliner band, Choof, entered on stage, they began hurling insults at random audience members. The lead singer led further demonstrations of uncomfortable craziness, where in some moments he’d snatch and pour audience member’s drinks over them. A few times he crawled across the ground, still screaming into the microphone. Akin to some sort of demented toddler. Other on-stage endeavours were so extreme that their legality may have been questioned by members of the audience.
Tom surprised me that evening upon fronting his band, Carnal Viscera. Once on stage he stepped out of his calm, collected shell, then into the microphone he produced the most otherworldly, tortured growls for the entirety of their set.
Tom’s vision for Elton Chong is to create a diversified venue where attendees will feel as safe as they feel in danger. “I’m all about normalising anything,” he says, a profound sentiment made very clear from that evening’s show. Elton Chong’s ideal is to balance how the bands and the audience members feel during the shows they host.
All things considered, this little dive bar on High Street proves that it is not only one of the biggest spearheads for music and culture in Western Sydney- it is also an absolute one-of-a-kind location.
The vibes and energy that are generated within the tinnitus-inducing locale of Elton Chong is absolutely unfound anywhere else in the country. Simply a must visit for those living on the edge.
