LIVE REVIEW: The Struts - Melbourne, August 22nd 2019

Well it’s certainly interesting in life the cards we are often dealt and how we choose to play them… With Greta Van Fleet cancelling their Aussie tour part way through earlier this year in February, The Struts were scheduled to support and rather than sit back and instead enjoying a few days off of summer sun, they seized the moment playing a bunch of pop up shows around the country, which helped spread the word about their high energy performances and essential rock. Now in August 6 months later they are back doing their own run of headline shows, with tonight’s show in Melbourne at the Corner Hotel being the second show with the first being a quick sell out.

It’s hard to believe that The Struts are only two albums into their career, with tonight’s 15 song set coming across like a slew of greatest hits delivered by a band who have been conquering stadiums worldwide for decades. Having already opened for the likes of The Rolling Stones, The Who, Foo Fighters, Guns N Roses and Motley Crue, they’ve certainly been soaking up the DNA from the best. Conquering stadiums on their own, is a time that won’t be too far away, for The Struts seem to have that perfect formula of stadium rock songs and a stage presence that had tonight’s packed Corner Hotel shaking their asses from the moment The Struts kicked off their set with Primadonna Like Me and Body Talks off current album Young & Dangerous.

Luke Spiller is instantly likeable as front man, with a high octane performance that didn’t let up, which had him shimmying and shaking through the bands glam rockers Kiss This, In Love With A Camera and Dirty Sexy Money, whilst he’s also no slouch tinkling the ivories on the bands more grandiose songs One Night Only and Somebody New. With a stage persona that reminds of a cross between Austin Powers, Freddie Mercury, Jack Sparrow and Justin Hawkins from The Darkness…Spiller never stopped engaging with the crowed all night, whether it be call and response sing alongs, witty stage banter or just simply making purposeful eye contact with fans in the crowd, making them feel like they were the only person in that packed room.

Introducing the cock-sure swagger of I Do It So Well, Spiller recounted a discussion with a former record label head honcho in the bands early days who challenged him on his penchant for “wearing makeup and clothes that make him look like a transvestite, nobody will buy into that, darling”…. Well judging by the wide-spread age group and crowd demographic at The Corner tonight, there’s lots of people buying into The Struts and their glam rock infused songs and good old’ fashioned rock show. In a world that takes itself far too seriously, we need more bands like The Struts to bring the love and enjoyment back to life, but importantly get ROCK music firmly planted front and centre in the music world.

With good old fashioned word of mouth and the show of hands tonight signifying it was their first live experience of The Struts, you can be sure on their promised return to Melbourne, they won’t be playing at a venue the size of the Corner Hotel. To quote the bands closing final words before departing the stage “Remember the name…..The Struts!”

PHOTO GALLERY
Photos by Scott Smith: Lens Of Rock