With Melbourne melodic rockers The Radio Sun’s last hometown show close to 3 years ago, there’s not much better way to return to the stage than supporting Canadian legend Paul Laine at his only Aussie show at the Northcote Social Club in Melbourne.
Indicative of the trend of hometown rock bands finding more fame overseas, The Radio Sun have forged a great following overseas in Europe and USA and their prolific work ethic has produced 5 killer album releases in as many years. 35 minutes of super addictive melodic rock was what they hit us with tonight. All killer, no filler! Hold On Tight off latest album Beautiful Strange was every bit as urgent live as on the album. Switch Off The World has always been a favourite of mine and the guys looked like they had as much fun playing this, as I did hearing it. Delivering their storming cover of Andy Taylor’s 80’s hit I Might Lie was another welcome bonus and by the end of the set I just couldn’t help stand and shake my head that a band the quality of The Radio Sun is lost in the mix here in Australia. But our loss is the world’s gain as they soon set out in 2019 to once again conquer the leading hard rock and melodic rock festivals!
With the heat in the packed room ensuring everyone was well and truly warmed up, it was time for the legend that is Paul Laine to take to the stage. Surely one of the most criminally underrated rock vocalists, tonight was a tour de force through his 30+ year career, backed by The Radio Sun boys who he’s toured the world with and judging by the on stage banter, shared one too many intimate moment with!
As a solo artist, debut album Stick It In Your Ear and the single Dorianna launched his career, the song that coulda, shoulda, woulda been a mega-hit and clearly a crowd favourite tonight as it closed the set proper. Also off that album We Are The Young gave the triple axe attack of Laine, Steve Janevski and Jase Old a chance to cut loose and jam on the outro.
Best known for his 12 years with Danger Danger, this period is a time which Laine obviously still cherishes, taking the time tonight to thank and acknowledge both Bruno Ravel and Steve West, whilst delivering a bunch of D2 classics with much gusto. Post the departure of original vocalist Ted Poley and in the face of changing musical times of the late 90’s, D2 with Laine bunkered down, got heavier and released mighty albums such as The Return Of The Great Gildersleeves and Four The Hard Way. Grind and Sick Little Twisted Mind got things nice and heavy tonight and the might and power in Laine’s voice delivering these songs was a true “we are not worthy….” moment. If you want the definition of rock vocal power, look no further than this man…!
Hats off tonight to Steve Janevski on lead guitar, tackling the guitar work of Andy Timmons would be no mean feat. That he did with a constant smile and many a shredding moment on his arsenal of Jackson guitars, cranking out Beat The Bullet, Under The Gun, Bang Bang and even I Still Think About You, which gave us tonight’s cigarette lighter love song moment.
Far from being quiet during the 2000’s Laine was found popping up on everything from Hinder to Boys Like Girls albums, as well as writing for TV and movie scores. He also headed to Nashville for the country rock flavoured DarkHorse release around 2013, which is a guilty pleasure of mine and was great to see Heaven Tonight from that album make the set tonight. Let’s hope there’s another DarkHorse release on the horizon!
The Defiants with his D2 buddies Ravel, West and Rob Marcello has been arguably one of the best melodic rock releases in recent years. As Laine shared with us tonight, if it wasn’t for the initial contact The Radio Sun made with Laine over 6 years ago, which re-ignited his melodic rock fires, we probably wouldn’t be hearing the likes of Love & Bullets, Take Me Back and Underneath The Stars in tonights set. With The Defiants songs nearly as popular with the crowd as D2, delivering the news to the crowd that their 2nd album is due around April this year…another album of the year contender could be on the cards!
With the undeniable bond thats been forged between Laine, his Aussie fans and The Radio Sun over the past 6 years, a fourth Aussie visit is hopefully not far away. Throw rising local young talent Cassidy Paris into the mix, who Laine has been writing some killer pop rock anthems with and you’ve got another Aussie link. Was awesome to see Cassidy get the chance to jump up on stage tonight to perform her single Talk About It with the guys. That god damn catchy hook is still stuck in my head over 24 hours later!
With free hugs, bad jokes, shout outs to his Aussie mates and plenty of familiar faces in the crowd, to steal Laine’s own word’s “this feels like the biggest lounge room I’ve ever played”. Throw in melodic rock genre defining songs sung by one of genres greatest vocalists and tonight was one of those gigs that will stick in the memory bank for years to come.
PHOTO GALLERY
Photos by Scott Smith: Lens Of Rock
