Story
Loud sounds from quiet places
words matt webster
PHOTOGRAPHY john krÜger
It’s a cold Monday night at Kapunda and I’m sitting on the floor of a private pilates studio.
There is no hint of incense or scented oil, a fluorescent light brightly lights the room, and a selection of yoga balls have been pushed to the side to make room for a bass guitar case and amplifier.
The mood is more meditation retreat than rock ‘n’ roll, yet this is where two-thirds of one of the Barossa’s most promising young bands, Newgate Crowd has arranged to meet.
The studio is hidden at the back of a house that Wil Vidovich (better known as Viddy) shares with his family.
He’s the band’s singer and guitarist, and while sitting on the floor, he alternates between playing quietly on his guitar and using a foam roller to stretch, while Joey Mulholland, (bassist) is seated on an exercise ball.
The band’s drummer, Kai Bingham, joins in on speaker phone as he recovers from what they call “Melbourne fallout,” the post-tour exhaustion that kicked in after the band’s first interstate headline gig – to launch the new single ‘All (f)or Nothing.’
Kai’s voice is scratchy, but he’s determined to have his input, even if it’s from the comfort of his bed. “This is the first time I’ve done a band meeting horizontal,” he jokes. “But I’ll power through.”
Just a few days later, the same three lads meet in a very different space, and with a very different energy, at the barrel room of Tomfoolery Wines.
The mix of harsh concrete and towering racks of wooden wine barrels made the perfect place for a rock band to plug in and play loud, while photographer John Krüger captured the band in its element.
It was cold and dark as the band intensely played their raw yet gritty style of alternative rock.
The trio was sweaty, sharp, and completely absorbed in the sound.
It was about as far from the pilates room, with its pastel colours and enduring silence, that you could get.
Newgate Crowd is a band defined by contrast, a contrast which helped form an identity that stands tall among the vines.
The guys aren’t quite what you’d expect after listening to their music, or seeing them perform.
They’re incredibly warm, charismatic and welcoming.
They’re also quite funny and laid-back, but there’s an air of intensity beneath the surface.
They’re a little quiet, but confident in what they do, and have well-considered insight into the world of modern rock music.
“It’s not Wil, it’s not Kai, it’s not Joey… Its Newgate Crowd. That’s the persona,” explains Viddy.
They write punchy rock songs with hook-laden melodies, they rehearse in tin-sheds, write songs on group chats, and the guys do all this between various jobs around the Barossa.
“We’ve sent each other videos from school, from sheds, even the bakery, it doesn’t matter. We’re always working on songs,” says Joey.
They’re in-part a product of the Barossa as much as a product of the modern age.
As is the story of many young bands, Viddy and Kai first crossed paths during a school music class.
Joey was recruited soon after with the classic, ‘You play bass, right?’ question.
Over the next four years, the band quickly developed a sound that sits somewhere between the swagger of Arctic Monkeys, the punch of Royal Blood, and the pop sensibilities of… well, pop music.
Viddy and Joey mention that all of their song writing is done collectively. Typically, no one arrives with a finished product.
Instead, they jam, tinker, rewrite, and if things reach a stalemate, Kai casts the deciding vote.
It’s a dynamic that just ‘works’ they explain.
They split everything evenly. The credit, the effort, the stress. It’s as much a core principle as it is a creative approach.
Whether it’s by chance, intent or necessity, this philosophy of balance extends beyond just songwriting.
The number of hats a band needs to wear in the modern world could be overwhelming for some.
They’re artists, promotors, directors, producers, content creators, tour managers, booking agents, social media managers and more. But that’s the reality of being a band in 2025. Playing music is only half the story.
The other half is content. Short videos. Reels. Engagement.
“The algorithm is the new gatekeeper,” says Viddy. “We’re introverts pretending to be brands.”
“We’re a band, but we’re also a business, a brand, a media team, and a scheduling nightmare.”
- Wil Vidovich
It’s not exactly what a band concerned about maintaining authenticity wants to be doing, especially for self-confessed introverts who don’t post on their own social media accounts.
But Newgate Crowd is leaning into it, albeit begrudgingly.
“We’re a band, but we’re also a business, a brand, a media team, and a scheduling nightmare,” says Viddy.
The guys filmed a stack of short-form content while in Melbourne for their recent headlining gig, and plan to gradually release it across platforms and build their presence outside South Australia.
The band has begun focusing on strategy with the help of Steve Cannatelli, a band coach and industry veteran whose background includes tour management for Sum 41 and Slipknot, as well as a band manager for Limp Bizkit.
Steve recently flew into Adelaide to dissect their setlist and stage presence, offering insights into everything an up-and-coming band needs to know.
“He made us do push-ups,” laughed Joey.
The reality is, for a modern band, touring is expensive, audiences are unpredictable, and attention spans are short.
For a band to jump over these hurdles, they need be strategic and their strategy now is smarter: fewer shows, better shows. Less noise, more impact.
While they’re not exactly sure what the next few years look like, there’s talk of tours, of festivals and even playing internationally.
Joey puts it simply, “Everything good that’s happened so far has been unexpected. We just want more of that.”
From the seemingly ‘quiet’ region of the Barossa Valley, Newgate Crowd has created a sound that is resonating beyond the vineyards and into live venues, streaming services and the ether of social media.
Much like the pilates studio, it’s hard to believe that this is where a band could be planning its next loud move.
But that’s how things have unfolded so far for the local lads of Newgate Crowd.
They make loud things happen in quiet places.
