It’s been 10 years since those street metallers Hardcore Superstar last hit Australian shores and judging by the anticipation and build up in the weeks leading up to this tour, it’s been 10 years too long.
Fresh off festival performances including their iconic home country Sweden Rock, these road warriors attacked the Prince of Wales full of the energy and stage presence they’ve built their reputation on over the last 20 years. Kick On The Upperclass hit hard first up like a kick to the head. Open with a classic and then follow it up with the slammin’ Electric Rider, from their upcoming September album release You Can’t Kill My Rock N Roll. It may be a new track, but already clearly a favourite amongst the fans, and god damn how great was that solo from Vic Zino!?!
Dreamin’ In A Casket represents the heaviest period of HCSS and there was no compromise in it’s delivery tonight with Adde on drums and Martin on bass hitting right between the eyes with that distinctive opening backbeat, not even some vocal mic problems could slow things down on this one.
The follow up double shot of Sadistic Girls and My Good Reputation kicked things into another gear, with the former one of a handful of tracks to feature off their reputation defining self titled album. Not a band afraid to change things up from album to album, we get the full suite tonight with the Brit Pop leanings of Liberation getting a most enjoyable dusting off to these ears.
Did someone say its time to get the party started? The storming anthem of Wild Boys sure is the calling for that and whilst a bit early in the night to be making the Last Call For Alcohol, tell me that song isn’t one of the best live hard rock anthems, period? We didn’t quite get the Hardcore Superbar here tonight, but that sure didn’t stop frontman Jocke Berg from bringing the crowd onto the stage and downing a’plenty of their trademark Jaegermeister.
Have Mercy On Me and the Andrew W.K’esque Bring The House Down also represented from the upcoming September album and slotted in famously amongst classic HCSS. Someone Special was my own personal introduction to the band almost 20 years ago and tonight it makes an appearance as a ballad, with just Vic and Jocke. HCSS and ballads, surely that’s an oxymoron to some, but this works and throw in a blow up sex toy to top it off!
Moonshine was the surprise packet tonight, coming across far heavier live, than it does on their Split Your Lip release. Finishing like a freight train with We Don’t Celebrate Sundays and Above The Law, was it just me, or did the volume go up a notch? Whatever it was, the crowd also went up a notch, with stage diving and crowd surfing becoming the order of the night, not to mention a Vic Zino solo standing a’top some cabinets.
Tonight was raw, loud and uncompromising, which is what Hardcore Superstar is all about. With bands like HCSS and performances like this, you can’t kill my rock n roll indeed… Man, what a show!
Brisbane (Saturday) and Adelaide (Sunday) prepare yourselves, as you are next…see you there!
Setlist
Kick on the Upperclass
Electric Rider
Dreamin’ in a Casket
My Good Reputation
Sadistic Girls
Liberation
Wild Boys
Last Call for Alcohol
Bring the House Down
Have Mercy on Me
Someone Special
Baboon
Moonshine
We Don’t Celebrate Sundays
Above the Law
PHOTO GALLERY
Photos by SAS75 Photography
TOUR DATES
Thursday, June 14: Oxford Art Factory, Sydney
Friday, June 15: Prince Bandroom, Melbourne
Saturday, June 16: Wooly Mammoth, Brisbane
Sunday, June 17: Fowler’s Live, Adelaide (Lic AA)
