I can’t remember the last time I was at Selina’s for a gig. Maybe Sebastian Bach in 2006 but it’s not about that tonight so I have left the familiarity of the city and ventured to the beach to come and see the original Rock Star, JD Fortune back in Australia to play the INXS songs he helped rejuvenate in the mid 2000’s and it’s been far too long since we’ve heard him sing these songs and I actually am very pumped to hear them again.
Coming on to some AC/DC, the band take the stage as JD waits in the wings getting ready to go. Immediately into ‘Suicide Blonde’ and that swagger is something!! It’s actually so good hearing this and I know we’re in for a treat tonight. A quick welcome before ‘New Sensation’ and it’s just gonna be a party tonight, and speaking of parties ‘Devil’s Party’ from Switch gets a run and I hope we get a few from that album tonight as obviously it was the one JD featured on and meant to be sung by him, and this is smooth! ‘Beautiful Girl’ slows things down a little, before a tambourine makes an appearance for ‘Afterglow’ back to Switch and that was awesome. I’d not forgotten about that song but I just hadn’t heard it in so long that it was a treat.
Then taking it was back with ‘Listen Like Thieves’ and he nails this one and that was sensational. What a track that is forty years on. ‘By My Side’ suits him perfectly and ‘Disappear’ gets the crowd singing along, and I have to make note of this band, they are tight. This is great. ‘Mystify’ keeps us singing and the set just keeps getting better. It launches into the stratosphere with ‘Need You Tonight’ and what a song! It’s a pleasure hearing these again. I remember hearing that song for the first time, it was different, it was cool as hell, and live its next level. Time for a couple of new songs and let’s see how these go. First up is ‘Open a Beer’ with JD on guitar followed by another new one of his ‘A Million Ways To Live’ and balls to him for throwing these in. More of that modern day country twang and I can dig it.
Back to the INXS with ‘Devil Inside’ and that was something! What a tune that is, and the sexiness oozed was amazing I know I’ve said that but these songs just embody that. ‘What You Need’ keeps the hits coming and this is so nostalgic hearing these songs live again, and when you get that feeling you know this is a great night. ‘Pretty Vegas’ was what cemented JD as the new vocalist for INXS and hearing him sing it again tonight with that same passion is perfect. That really is a great song, and it’s been far too long between hearing it live. As it finishes the band leave the stage but there’s surely more…
And maybe two minutes later they’re back. ‘Never Tear Us Apart’ was of course going to be this late in the set and it’s always powerful, the band nailed it and that sax solo has always been pretty awesome to see live. ‘Don’t Change’ is easily one of the best songs ever written and recorded, and it was a gimme that it was the show closer, the crowd went nuts as it began and sang it at the top of their lungs. That was cool to be a part of. This song encompassed everything INXS is about and remained a classic that’s been covered by so many. Tonight JD sang it with everything and showed us just why it’s so good.
Tonight felt like an INXS show, it had that charisma and swagger that Michael was known for and JD continued when he joined the band. He truly loves these songs and you can see it in his performance. I’m so glad he came here to sing these songs again for us, I hope it won’t be the only time.
Essential Information
Venue: Selina’s, Sydney
Date: October 11, 2025
Presented By: Metropolis Touring
Set List
Suicide Blonde
New Sensation
Devils Party
Beautiful Girl
Afterglow
Listen Like Thieves
By My Side
Disappear
Mystify
Need You Tonight
Open a Beer
A Million Ways To Live
Devil Inside
What You Need
Pretty Vegas
Never Tear Us Apart
Don’t Change
