Category: Reviews

Bring Me The Horizon – amo

Bring Me The Horizon – amo

Bring Me The Horizon are back and as I sit in a room with other writers at Sony Music in Sydney we’re all being treated to a very early playback of the band’s new album ‘amo’. So as we hush, they press play. The intro builds for ‘I Apologize If You Feel Something’ and sets the tone for the album, […]

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Taking Back Sunday – The Metro Theatre, Sydney – January 14, 2019

Taking Back Sunday – The Metro Theatre, Sydney – January 14, 2019

Tonight is my first gig of the year, let’s do this! I haven’t seen Taking Back Sunday for many years, so tonight as they prepare for the first of two nights at The Metro I’m thinking we’re in for a fun, nostalgic night and I think TBS are going to make damn sure that happens. Young Lions from Brisbane are […]

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Good Things – Parramatta Park – December 8, 2018

Good Things – Parramatta Park – December 8, 2018

Let the good times, I mean things roll… welcome to the first ever Good Things Festival show in Sydney! This takes me back to the first Soundwave I went to in Technology Park back in 2007 but in the eleven years since then festivals almost run like a dream and after a pretty seamless entry and the usual wristband put […]

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Richard Marx – State Theatre, Sydney – December 4, 2018

Richard Marx – State Theatre, Sydney – December 4, 2018

Australia has been (right here) waiting for two and a half years for the dulcet tones of Richard Marx to return to Australia. Tonight at the iconic State Theatre he’s back and we’re getting ready for hopefully an endless summer night of amazing tunes. OK, enough Marx puns, as they could be considered a Hazard. Oops, sorry! Australian artist Matt […]

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Skillet – The Big Top, Sydney – November 15, 2018

Skillet – The Big Top, Sydney – November 15, 2018

It’s been seven long years since Skillet graced Australian shores and tonight with a growing catalogue in tow, they’re here for their faithful and seeing how long the line was for people waiting to get in, those faithful are ready to rock. RedHook are bang on time and first up tonight and for a newish band on the scene it’s […]

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Def Leppard – ICC, Sydney – November 10, 2018

Def Leppard – ICC, Sydney – November 10, 2018

Def Leppard‘s ‘Hysteria’ is an album that means a lot to me, in 1987 when I was eleven years old my dad brought home a cassette for me and said “I hear these guys are sort of like that Bon Jovi band you like so I thought you might like this” and handed me the cassette. It was a life […]

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Skid Row – The Manning Bar, Sydney – October 20, 2018

Skid Row – The Manning Bar, Sydney – October 20, 2018

Tonight I say hey man, there’s something you oughta know and I tell ya live at the Manning Bar, SKID ROW! Warming up the crowd tonight Dept. of Gloom take their place on the stage and in only seeing this band once before I was already hooked. These songs are just straight up catchy rock and roll tunes. I love […]

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Foreigner – Sydney Opera House – October 18, 2018

Foreigner – Sydney Opera House – October 18, 2018

If it feels like the first time tonight it actually is. This is my first time seeing Foreigner, that’s crazy right?! But what better way to start than by being at the Sydney Opera House to see them with an orchestra. The lights dim and the orchestra take their place on the stage as they make that ‘let’s all play […]

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Cheap Trick – The Enmore Theatre, Sydney – October 17, 2018

Cheap Trick – The Enmore Theatre, Sydney – October 17, 2018

The legendary Cheap Trick are back in Sydney and once again here to showcase their melodic brilliance through songs that have stood the test of time and songs that are very much part of people’s musical upbringing. Live they have always been a force so let’s see if tonight is no different! Dallas Crane have pulled the instruments back out […]

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Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band – The Enmore Theatre, Sydney – October 4, 2018

Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band – The Enmore Theatre, Sydney – October 4, 2018

Lights go down and it’s all about the blues, baby. Kenny Wayne Shepherd and his band return to Australia after many years away and as take the stage they’re straight into it with ‘Somehow, Somewhere, Someway’, and with a solo that just looked effortless this band are on fire and some quality tambourine bashing make this the start you’d want […]

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William Ryan Key – Oxford Art Factory, Sydney – September 26, 2018

William Ryan Key – Oxford Art Factory, Sydney – September 26, 2018

Last time William then known as Ryan Key was in Australia was on the Yellowcard farewell tour in 2017, now he’s back and after stepping away from his band he’s here to show us what he can do as a solo artist. Alex Moses opened the night, you may or may not know him from his band Columbus. He’s up […]

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Slash Ft. Myles Kennedy & The Conspirators – Living The Dream

Slash Ft. Myles Kennedy & The Conspirators – Living The Dream

They’re back! ‘Living The Dream’ is Slash’s fourth solo album and third with his merry men of Myles and The Conspirators. I’m looking forward to seeing what they’ve done here as when a band has worked together for a while they truly get into a groove and I get the feeling this album will be the one that will make […]

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James Van Cooper – Coming Home

James Van Cooper – Coming Home

The first time I saw James Van Cooper play was a couple of years ago in his rock outfit called Van Cooper and in the set he played a couple of Butch Walker tracks, now what I love about what James has done is that much like Butch he’s moved away from the big rock arena rock sound and made […]

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Gene Simmons – The Enmore Theatre, Sydney – August 31, 2018

Gene Simmons – The Enmore Theatre, Sydney – August 31, 2018

There’s a first for everything with KISS members and tonight is one of those here in Australia, not only is it Gene Simmons’ first solo tour of Australia he has his old friend and original KISS member Ace Frehley supporting him. Bet you never saw that coming! The earlier start meant I made it in just as Ace Frehley took […]

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Andrew W.K. – The Manning Bar, Sydney – August 26, 2018

Andrew W.K. – The Manning Bar, Sydney – August 26, 2018

It’s been a long time between tours for Andrew W.K. so tonight Sydney is ready to party, and dare I say Party Hard!!! Opening the show tonight, Bare Bones as always delivered a loud, tight, heavy set. These guys get better every time I see them and I look forward to hearing more as they continue to smash these kinds […]

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Stryper – Max Watts, Sydney – August 18, 2018

Stryper – Max Watts, Sydney – August 18, 2018

Tonight after eight years, Stryper return to Sydney! This time though as a three piece minus guitarist Oz Fox who is currently unwell, so tonight Stryper will be knows as Tri-per as they show us what they can do as a trio! Gypsy kick things off with some rock and Roll and a mix of originals and covers, and I […]

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Halestorm – Vicious

Halestorm – Vicious

How has it been three years since a Halestorm album? Wow! Thankfully here they are in 2018 with album number four and things are about to get ‘Vicious’. I’ve been sitting on this for a couple of weeks and in listening through a number of times, just be ready that you’re in for a treat. Straight away the ‘Black Vultures’ […]

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Jeff Martin – Leadbelly, Newtown – July 5, 2018

Jeff Martin – Leadbelly, Newtown – July 5, 2018

Seeing Jeff Martin solo is an experience, and this venue is just perfect for what we can expect tonight, and I have to say that I’ve been lucky enough to see The Tea Party play here previously back in 2012 and that was amazing, so now tonight getting to see Jeff Martin do his thing here but this time solo […]

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Theory of a Deadman – The Manning Bar, Sydney – June 22, 2018

Theory of a Deadman – The Manning Bar, Sydney – June 22, 2018

It feels like a lot of band’s are finding their way to Australia for the first time in 2018, we’ve had some rippers come through and tonight we get to add to that list with the Canadian rockers, Theory of a Deadman, aka Theory for those playing at home. So as a fan from the beginning of their career I […]

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Hardcore Superstar – Oxford Art Factory, Sydney – June 14, 2018

Hardcore Superstar – Oxford Art Factory, Sydney – June 14, 2018

It’s been ten years since Hardcore Superstar have been on Australian soil, and tonight at the first of their shows here the eager crowd are ready and as their forthcoming album says ‘You Can’t Kill My Rock N Roll’ and tonight there’s no chance of that. Dept. of Gloom opened the show to a moderate crowd but delivered a set […]

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Extreme / Mr Big – The Enmore Theatre, Sydney – June 3, 2018

Extreme / Mr Big – The Enmore Theatre, Sydney – June 3, 2018

Tonight is set to be a musical masterclass of the greatest proportions, two bands that amazingly have never toured together, one in Australia for the first time and one for the first time in twenty five years, both absolute masters of their craft, so take a deep breath, strap in, and get ready for this ride. Here we go! For […]

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Europe – The Enmore Theatre, Sydney – May 22, 2018

Europe – The Enmore Theatre, Sydney – May 22, 2018

It kind of feels hard to believe that Europe have never toured Australia, but here we are in 2018 and they’re finally here to give us an evening with Europe, all Europe, all night and the crowd here are pumped and ready (even if a lot of them are here for one song.) Let’s see how converted they are after […]

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Steel Panther – The Big Top, Sydney – May 18, 2018

Steel Panther – The Big Top, Sydney – May 18, 2018

They’re back! The band that can’t seem to stay away, and why should they when sold out signs keep appearing whenever they hit our shores. Tonight Steel Panther are doing something a little different and they’re bringing the Sunset Strip to us, I’ll explain more about that later. Tribal drums fill the venue and some Van Halen get us ready […]

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Sevendust – All I See Is War

Sevendust – All I See Is War

I’ve always been a Sevendust fan, there’s just something about the way they make music that works, the melodies, the tone, the whole damn package. So when it’s new Sevendust album time there’s always a bit of an internal fist pump as I know what I hear is going to be good! Here we have ‘All I see Is War’ […]

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Biffy Clyro – The Enmore Theatre, Sydney – April 30, 2018

Biffy Clyro – The Enmore Theatre, Sydney – April 30, 2018

It’s been about four years since we’ve had the pleasure of witnessing Biffy Clyro live in Australia and tonight at The Enmore this place is full and you’ve gotta love that, and gotta love that people are well on board with Biffy!! Seeing these guys a few times before I can tell you that tonight will be nothing short of […]

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Simple Plan – The Big Top, Sydney – April 27, 2018

Simple Plan – The Big Top, Sydney – April 27, 2018

Tonight is a celebration of Simple Plan’s album ‘No Pads, No Helmets… Just Balls’. A celebration you say? Why yes I did, but what blows me away is that it’s the 15th anniversary of it. Are you kidding? Way to make everyone feel old! In saying that though and in seeing Simple Plan a number of times before I can’t […]

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Stereophonics – Sydney Opera House – April 26, 2018

Stereophonics – Sydney Opera House – April 26, 2018

I love the Opera House as a venue, there’s just something about bands playing in such an iconic venue that makes the show feel even more special and tonight I get to pop my Stereophonics cherry at this very place. From everything I’ve heard and I suppose from the two sold out nights something tells me I’m in for a […]

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Fall Out Boy – Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney – March 2, 2018

Fall Out Boy – Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney – March 2, 2018

They’re back! It’s been a few years since we’ve seen Fall Out Boy in Australia and I’ll tell you what hasn’t gone by the wayside, their fan base! This place is pretty damn full besides a couple of curtains upstairs and it looks great in here. I’ve perched myself at the back of the venue near what looks like a […]

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Evanescence – Sydney Opera House – February 14, 2018 

Evanescence – Sydney Opera House – February 14, 2018 

Evanescence are back in Australia and tonight they’re here to do something pretty special. Not only have they reworked their songs for their newest album ‘Synthesis’ but they’re here to play it in full tonight with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra in probably the most iconic venue you can get, the Sydney Opera House. The orchestra warms up for us and we’re […]

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Rise Against – The Hordern Pavilion, Sydney – February 13, 2018

Rise Against – The Hordern Pavilion, Sydney – February 13, 2018

Rise Against are making a habit out of coming to Australia and there’s no problem with that at all. They’re back in Sydney tonight at this top of their ‘Wolves’ tour and the Hordern is ready for a dose of punk rock and roll! Pagan and Bare Bones opened the night and both came out firing and delivered a tight, […]

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