Over the years Sebastian Bach has become an ever more frequent visitor to Australia, usually with a new album for us when he arrives. This time though his latest release has been his Autobiography ’18 and Life on Skid Row’ – tonight he kicked off his Australian Tour in Perth, Western Australia, before he rolls out across our other capital cities. Then it’s on the the US for further dates. Judging by the performance tonight and reports from Singapore, where the band played for the first time before hitting Perth, you’re in for a treat.
Opening tonight is Legs Electric, an all-girl Classic Rock act styled on greats like Zeppelin. I’ve seen them a few times over recent years (also supporting Bach last time here) and to be honest they put on a damned great show, they could do with some new material though as I swear its pretty much the same set each time. That’s not knocking them, rather the opposite in fact – I just want to hear more! They make a rather pleasing racket, and have a great front woman in Ama Quinsee who does a nice Plant-like wail and a killer drummer in Kylie Soanes who could teach a few drummers out there a trick or two!
Second support comes from Ragdoll, a Perth band that our editor used to manage, they do a nice line in progressive and thought-provoking Melodic Hard Rock and have some great tunes. In singer Ryan Rafferty they also have a secret weapon – that guy has an incredible voice, both powerful and soulful at the same time. Guitarist Leon Todd isn’t short of a trick or too either and lays down some nice chunky riffs along with some searing solos. For a three-piece they sure make some fine noise and played a packed set of songs primarily from their latest album, with ‘Love on the Run’ getting one of the loudest responses from the crowd to a support act I’ve heard in ages.
Of course we’re all here for Mr Bach and Seb and co didn’t disappoint the throng of loyal fans with a set that began with a fine version of the Hendrix classic ‘Little Wing’, took in all the Skid Row classics and a bunch of choice solo cuts. The set-list was pretty close to perfect mixing up the songs nicely and keeping the momentum going from first to last.
Sebastian kept informing us throughout of how ‘warmed up’ he was feeling, till by the end he was ‘just damned hot’. It was a great night full of crowd participation, trademark microphone swinging and plenty of grunt just like a real rock show should be, and the crowd was enthusiastic as you could wish for, jumping, singing and dancing their way through the 15 songs till the walls were sweating as much as the punters.
The best thing about the night was the way it never stopped, with the wonderful ‘Breaking Down’ following ‘Little Wing’ before we were hit with ’18 and Life’ and ‘I Remember You’ two songs that mean the world to a lot of those here tonight. I swear that after ‘I Remember You’ there were already a few voices in the audience already blown they were singing so hard!
This visit was so special and the music so tight the band really has to take a bow. Brent Woods was exemplary on guitar, doing a great job flawlessly and with so much energy, whilst Rob Le Luca prowled the stage giving a bass masterclass full of touch and aggression and his rhythm section partner-in-crime Bobby Jarzombek was a sight to behold with the sticks in hand.
‘Slave to the Grind’ almost raised the roof when it hit and the segue into ‘Love is a Bitchslap’ which itself cannoned into ‘Big Guns’ was a fine trifecta that just hit relentlessly without taking a breath. If there was a high point for me though, it was the rampaging run through ‘Sweet Little Sister and ‘Piece of Me ‘ that followed. I don’t think I’ve ever sung as loud!
One of my favourite early Skid Row songs has always been ‘In a Darkened Room’ so it’s great we get a rousing rendition of that tonight before the Metal blunt instrument that is ‘Australian Metalhead’ a song that Seb always changes the title to down here much to the delight of the crowd.
And like I said at the beginning the set never stops: closing out just as relentlessly and impressively as it started with a great mash of ‘Monkey Business’ and Rush’s ‘Tom Sawyer’ which Seb nails before launching into closer ‘Youth Gone Wild’ which understandably drives the crowd wild. After a brief break the band are back for a closing tribute to Fremantle’s favourite son – Bon Scott, and Seb takes a few lines of ‘TNT’ to himself before the band kicks in, it’s a great was to start a great song and fitting as Seb has been sporting an AC/DC shirt all night!
I’ve seen Sebastian a few times now with different line-ups over the years but this is probably the best of them all, he sounded great tonight, was high on energy and despite telling us he has to be up at six to fly on to Adelaide he was unstoppable and the band were magnificent. Australia is in for a great week if this show at the Astor, which is always a great room sound-wise, is anything to go by.
Go wild people! Get out and see some great Rock and Roll!
