BulletBoys made it all the way to Australia for their first Australian Tour and over the last few days have treated audiences to a glimpse of what we’ve been missing out on all these years.
Fowler’s Live I have to say is a great Rock venue, if you’re in Adelaide from interstate it’s got just what you need: decent capacity of 500, great people and bar that serves reasonably priced beer just a stones throw away from the heart of the city.
Tonight the BuletBoys re supported by two of Adelaide’s finest plus Melbourne’s Hard Rocking heroes Dellacoma who we catch up with before the show. It’s always great to check out the local talent and first up ‘Trash City’ tick the ‘sleaze’ box nicely with a compact set that climaxes with a more than competent cover of D.A.D.’s ‘Sleeping My Day Away.’ It’s a great way to start an evening of Rock and Roll.
‘The Babes’ are up next, a band that is sporting a new line-up and a new lead singer. They’re a little grittier, hitting that ‘Biker Rock’ vibe from the off and running with it.
Completing the build up Delacoma take things up a notch, I’ve not seen Del since his days with Sunset Riot and he’s become and even more complete front-man in the years between. The set is packed to the rafters with rock gems and some rather wicked tunes, huge riffs and a surging energy that you don’t see too much these days. The band are wonderfully in-tune with the crowd too and their cover of Aerosmith’s ‘Toys in the Attic’ couldn’t have gone down better. You have to give it to them though – it’s the originals that really shine here.
Of bands you never thought you’d get to see in Australia go then BulletBoys would be high on that list, but here they are in the flesh. It’s a daring move by Silverback Touring to bring them out, but one that has certainly paid off. From the get-go, Marc Torien and co are on fire, and like Delacoma before them, seem to be full of energy- their set breezes through like wildfire, taking in highlights from that first classic album, but also injecting a couple from ‘Elefanté’ along with a two choice covers and a track from ‘Freakshow’ – the wonderfully ‘THC Groove.’
It’s a set that has me torn though – there are some wonderful extended outtros and breakdowns that really showcase the musicianship of the band and allow the songs to breath. But on the other hand after so many years without a visit I’d have loved a couple more tracks and definitely something from the latest album which The Rockpit reviewed and loved. It’s a small gripe though as the set is pretty flawless even if the mix is a little muddy at times. BulletBoys are so much more than just another band from ‘back in the day’ and more than impressed tonight’s pretty vocal Fowler’s Live crowd.
We need to get behind promoters like Silverback who are taking a real punt bringing bands like BulletBoys out to Australia and talking to Chad, Nick and Anthony after the show it’s clear that they’ve enjoyed their time down-under and they may even be back sooner than you’d think, but let’s wait for official announcements for that.
SETLIST: Rollover | Hard as a Rock | Hell on My Heels | THC Groove | For the Love of Money (The O’Jays cover) | Symphony | Kissin’ Kitty | DRUM SOLO | The Bitch Is Back (Elton John cover) | Smooth Up in Ya
