Newcastle larrikins Screaming Jets have swooped into Sydney for a second sortie with the Gotcha Covered collection and it’s a hot and sticky venue that greets them. Dave Gleeson, with all the bug eyed enthusiasm of a child fuelled by gallons of red cordial adds even more energy to the Easybeats Wedding Ring, while Automatic Cowboy, lifted from Chrome is somehow reminiscent of Prince (yes you heard that correctly) in places ,before old staple Needle pushes it into the red.
Gotcha Covered is a varied selection of Oz Rock gems, some working better than others. Razors Edge by Goanna, works surprisingly well, the band easing off the pedal, loping along on a North Coast bbq vibe. Flowers Walls , while lacking the brittle anxiety of the original, grows in stature with the bands confident approach.
Scott Kingman, celebrating 12 years a Jet, gets a little bum grope from a smirking Gleeson, who remarks “I’m the Harvey Weinstein of the band”(towards his bandmates) after a romp through Sister Tease, another nugget from All for One. Ride my broom indeed!
Fear not, the Jets can do sensitive well, as on Sad Song and October Grey, numbers that could be strummed along at the Goanna bbq, with barely and eyebrow raised. Even set highlight Helping Hand has a heart of gold beneath the bluster. Bob Spencer(ex Skyhooks, Angels and currentRose Tattoo) lends his considerable talents during the second half of the set, deafening stage left during Guitar Band, Stevie Wright,grinning down from above, giving it the thumbs up.
C’mon is the original statement of intent and is played at warp speed, while Better is unafraid to show its pop smarts, before soaring off into the stratosphere on the outro. This is a band still delivering the freight and touching on their 30th birthday.
