How Jacob Fitzgerald has not been on my radar in the time I have lived in Melbourne is astounding to me. It actually took his support of The Struts to even look up his name and music is beyond me. Finding that Jacob has been releasing music consistently for six years is insane.
Jacob Fitzgerald and the Electric City are an absolutely magical experience. Tonight, they warmed up a near full house at Max Watts. The thing that was most evident about this bands is if you know them, you know them. The group of fans against the barricade tonight were in fine form and voice. Hearing fans singing at the top of their lungs right through-out their set induced goose bumps. Warming up a crowd is the support acts job and boy oh boy did they do just that. Their short but oh so sweet thirty-minute set introduced the band to me as well as hundreds of others in attendance and as a performer you only hope that you are remembered for all the right reasons. They did exactly that, they won yet another fan over …… me, talking to others that were in attendance I don’t think I was alone.
When you listen to an artist on streaming services you certainly get a feel for them. On record Jacob Fitzgerald and The Electric City sound like indie pop fun with a dash of yacht rock at times, other times they channel a gritty rock side that nods to a modern Springsteen and retro groove of The Black Keys, all the while delivering some incredible melodies and some of the finest hooks you will hear.
Fitzgerald’s back catalogue has something for everyone, trust me on that. Live; Fitzgerald and his band are another beast all together. From the opening riff of ‘Hurt Me Harder’, the pop sensibilities were strong. This song had the strongest indie pop hint of tonight’s set of songs; part Kings of Leon, part Harry Styles, part yacht rock. There is something to be said about these guys live. It’s incredible how the finesse of the studio moves to energy in the live delivery of tonight’s collection of songs. While the finesse may have been there it was subtle and it was the songs, the hooks, the melodies and those completely infectious songs. This powerhouse set of songs set the scene for a set that just built with each song.
By the conclusion of the first three songs the band worked seemed to have lost any nerves that may have been present, frontman Fitzgerald continued to captivate those is attendance. His engagement and presence is world class, even more so when he doesn’t have a guitar strapped to him.
Another set highlight was the forthcoming single ‘Obsessed’, due in the coming weeks. A cover of The Black Keys ‘Lonely Boy’ ramps up the end of the set yet again.
The bands latest single ‘Penny Lane’ goes down a treat and set closer ‘Muse’ tops off an incredible set. It is obvious that Jacob Fitzgerald and The Electric City have a huge year ahead of them.
Please check these guys out, you won’t be disappointed. Their next gig is March 22 at The Howler in Brunswick, Melbourne. Show them some love; you can thank me later.
Jacob Fitzgerald and The Electric City Setlist :
Hurt Me Harder, Shame, Sophia, Chlorine, Obsessed, Lonely Boy, Penny Lane, Muse
GALLERY
The Struts are a band that first came onto my radar a decade ago, the super fresh faced four members that captivated me with their stadium ready debut EP ‘Kiss This’ have continued to deliver and build a catalogue of stadium ready songs. Each release has shown a growth and a fine tuning of the craft that The Struts now show.
Having a musical playground of the calibre of The Struts it has to be hard to pick a set list. Of their four studio albums it has to be hard to pick a set to play. Tonight, the spotlight was on their latest release ‘Pretty Vicious’ which in itself is some of the finest rock n roll you will hear. With four songs from their latest album and the teasing 2022 non album single ‘Fallin’ With Me’ it was all about everything new. Of course there have to be the hits, the anthems and the singalong tracks that just simple evoke happiness, they were there and in spades too.
With a quick clearing of the stage, the house lights dimmed and Queen blasting through the PA the stage was now set for the main attraction, the real deal, the prize at hand; The Struts.
Max Watts now at capacity was in for a treat. As guitarist Adam Slack, bassist Jed Elliott and drummer Gethin Davies, took their places on stage a bouncing Luke Spiller made his entrance. Spiller is the ringmaster, master of ceremonies, the host of tonight’s party and a whole lot of fun. There are few frontmen that can hold open their hand and have 800 plus eating out of it instantly. ‘Dirty Sexy Money’ has the whole place singing every word and the energy is simply infectious. Spillers endless jumping is enough to make you breathless. His pitch perfect vocals and delivery are on point. Spiller really does utilise the space in songs to capture his breath and connect with everyone in the venue tonight. How you couldn’t be drawn to the charisma and charm of Spiller as a frontman is just unfathomable. If you can pull your attention from Spiller’s tractor beam magnetism you soon find that the band of players are next level and share that same energy. Slack has a fun vibe to him; his slick riffs and bounding energy are amazing and the dynamic rhythm duo of Elliott and Davies just drives the good time that is a Struts show.
Three songs in and already the room is hot and sweaty with Spiller reaching for his towel. The usual charm and banter begins with the audience, with each rolling R pronunciation people were engaged and hanging off his every word. There has to be something said about a frontman that can motion a room full of people raise their hands, wave them side to side and sing in their finest voices with such command.
Even in the most tender of moments tonight where Spiller asks for all the lights be turned off and the glow of mobile phone lights filled the room, Slack and Elliott sitting on the drum riser; Spiller on his knees at the front of the stage there is magic and enough energy in the room to radiate. It was a connecting moment of pure magic between band and fan.
Telling the crowd of how special ‘I Won’t Run’ was to the band Spiller invited the crowd to sing the opening lines in a call and answer fashion. Which the audience did and much louder than what was coming from the PA.
By the time we had reached the last two songs of the night the band was soaked in sweat as they had given everything they had and left nothing behind. Their final bow radiated love, respect and appreciation for all in attendance.
The Struts have all the hallmarks of their influences Queen, Bowie and a slew of others, but they have taken this greatness and have applied it to today they are a modern day quintessential band.
If tonight’s show was advertised as a guaranteed great time it would have lived up to and exceeded the boldness of that as a disclaimer. How could it not be a guaranteed good time? Smiles were so big that you can’t help but be drawn into the feel good of the moment. Having not toured Australia since 2019 it was obvious that absence has indeed made the heart grow fonder, that absence is mutual. The love in Max Watts tonight was so special.
Spiller does what he does on stage this with ease and pure class, the band as pure fire and there is a cohesion and complete package in this foursome as a band. From the front to the back of Max Watts arms waived, lyrics were sung and smiles were the order of the day.
Try and put a label on this band, I dare you to. Other than being one of the greatest modern rock bands who have a massive career ahead of them, the band live are in a class of their own. Tonight it’s evident that if there ever was a band ready to play the world’s stadiums it is The Struts.
This review is one of the hardest I have ever written purely because however I tried to pull apart tonight’s show there was nothing that I could critique, it was fun from start to finish and like everyone else I didn’t want it to end. I can’t wait to see them again. Hurry back guys.
Struts Setlist :
Dirty Sexy Money, Body Talks, Fallin’ With Me, Too Good At Raising Hell, Kiss This, Rockstar, All Dressed Up (With Nowhere To Go), Mary Go Round, Primadonna Like Me, Wild Child, Pretty Vicious, I Won’t Run, Where Did She Go, Put Your Money On Me, Could Have Been Me
GALLERY
With thanks to Destroy all Lines for the media Accreditation
Images credit Shot by Slaidins Photography
