Under The Southern Stars @ Bonython Park, Adelaide 19/3/2022
Day two of Under The Southern Stars offered plenty of great music and great times. It was scorching hot but that did not curb the collective enthusiasm of the crowd, many of whom backed up for a second day of rock action. What time to be alive in Adelaide in March, it’s the best place to be with the city literally coming alive with everything going on in what’s becoming widely known as Mad March.
Melbourne rockers Electric Mary got things off to a flying start featuring killer singles sweet mary c and Woman. It was great to see Flyying Colours up on the main stage and hear some songs off their killer album Fantasy Country. The crowd went nuts for Adelaide’s own The Superjesus and no one looked any more excited than Sarah McLeod who just thrives on the main stage. Her energy and enthusiasm are infectious. With the set loaded with hits including the likes of Second Sun, Stick Together, Gravity and Down Again we loved every minute of their set. Also, who would have thought they would have stopped a rock show because of a brown snake on the loose! Fastest way to clear the mosh pit…
Rose Tattoo again packed plenty of punch in their ripping forty-five-minute set. Angry Anderson was vocal powering through a rocking set that featured Out Of This Place, Rock ‘n Roll Is King and Juice On The Loose. They did unleash the big guns in We Can’t Be Beaten, Bad Boy For Love and Rock ‘n Roll Outlaw with Angry quite outspoken on the freedom of people. With a few minutes to spare Angry was pretty clear that if they didn’t have a clock “fuck ‘em” and played one more in Nice Boys.
What I really loved about Under The Southern Stars is seeing these internationals play for a second time. Black Rebel Motorcycle Club changed up their set list from the previous night to the delight of the most die hard of fans including myself. Oh yes! So good! Opening with 666 Conducer the set moved to more familiar territory with Love Burns, Hate The Taste and Beat The Devil’s Tattoo. Berlin is a killer tune as was Awake. Guitarist Peter Hayes maintained his next level approach to safety donning the balaclava again despite the scorching heat. Finishing strong on Six Barrel Shotgun, Spread Your Love and Whatever Happened To My Rock ‘n Roll (Punk Song) we can only hope a return is much sooner than later.
Stone Temple Pilots were freaking amazing. We have been waiting for these guys for so long to tour Australia including little ‘ole Adelaide. Singer Jeff Gutt is fantastic and complements the band so well. Whilst he has similar vocal stylings and mannerisms as Scott Weiland he has very much carved his own niche in Stone Temple Pilots honouring the music and legacy Weiland left behind. It was a barnstorming opening with Wicked Garden followed by monster hit Vasoline. Gutt said it was great to be in Adelaide and thanked everyone for making this special. It was all about the hits knocking out Big Bang Baby, Down and Big Empty. Gutt said that Plush is dedicated to Scott Weiland every night and then later asked everyone to come back and party again on Sunday night. Interstate Love Song is brilliant and a highlight for me. Gutt got up close and was ready to break out in to a crowd surf in Roll Me Under. Trippin’ On A Hole In A Paper Heart and Sex Type Thing were big moments which saw their set out.
Fantastic to have Bush back in the country and front man Gavin Rossdale looked like a caged animal let loose ripping his way through opener The Kingdom. Rossdale said it was a beautiful night and they were so happy to be here. Machinehead and Blood River maintained the intensity with Rossdale later commenting that they were relieved to be here after three or four attempts suggesting the world is a little crazy. The Chemicals Between Us and Quicksand were killer and despite some the technical issues Bush played an awesome set. The new songs off The Kingdom absolutely rock with the likes of Bullet Holes and Flowers On A Grave impressing amongst the hits including Everything Zen and Glycerine. Rossdale asked Adelaide to indulge them as they put out an album during a pandemic and that this was their first tour they played it. Come Down was a perfect finish to a cracking day before heading home to rest up for Day Three.
Live Review By Rob Lyon