It’s a Thursday night, a school night in Melbourne. I have my camera and I am heading to a venue I have never heard or attended before, Musicland Melbourne.
I have come to see Truck – I had the pleasure previously (2 weeks ago) of interviewing Dave Leslie, power guitarist of Truck and talked about all things about their latest 3-piece feed that they had recently served to their adoring fans. I had never been lucky enough to have heard their songs live but I knew I was in for a treat.
I pull the car up out front out on the main road and immediately think this is a stitch up! The GPS in my phone has sent me on a wild goose chase to a music store – a retail outlet to buy drum skins not somewhere to see live music. It’s after 8pm and there are plenty of cars out front but the front façade is dark and dimly lit, I ask myself how many people need to buy drum skins in Melbourne on a school night at 8pm? Clearly quite a few!
I open the door nervously not knowing what to expect, thinking, “has someone got one over Rossco the boy from Perth?” No, they have not! They are just filming a live show out of an amazing venue that doubles as a Pub and Music store that supports local artists in Melbourne…… how cool is this!
The show is hosted by George, Tyrone and Ebby called “In Musicland Tonight – The Live Show” and it is broadcasted over all the platforms of social media showcasing Melbourne’s musical talent. How fitting that Truck were scheduled to play!
First artist of the night was Cush Ryder. I had never heard of Cush before, and I am always open minded when it comes to new music no matter what style it is. Sitting centre stage with just his acoustic guitar Cush Ryder can be best described as someone that looks like he could take down a bull whilst smashing out a tune on his guitar……. His style of music is a unique mix of Pub Rock and Country with a dash of attitude. He holds his own on the stage whilst delivering his own lyrical story to the punters in the room. The selection of songs played told stories of where he had been, his experiences and his influences. A well-travelled performer, Cush delivered a well-rounded but diverse selection of musical treats. You can see why Cush has such a huge following here in Australia and I thoroughly enjoyed the performance and would highly recommend anyone checking him out.
The second set was what I was there to see……..Truck! And I must confess I am a new fan with only recently being exposed to the driving prowess of this rock giant. I loved the latest three offerings from Truck so I was very keen to see if they would transfer well into a live environment. It is a very surreal moment when you are chatting to someone (in this case Dave Leslie from Truck off stage) about the venue, the previous performance by Cush Ryder and then they get up on stage ready to perform like no tomorrow.
I watched as all five band members casually walk onto the stage which was elevated and under lights. Cheeky banter between Dave Leslie and Andy McLean (Horsehead) cut through the silence as everyone assembled into their positions, poised and waiting for Alex Deegan on drums to kicked it off……. And he kicked it off hard! Kevin Hunt grabbed the bass and let it run like a dog off the lead at the beach. He had an energy that spilled everywhere, encouraging everyone in the audience to clap along whilst delivering the lyrical goodness to the punters.
Alex Deegan on drums kept the kids in check, keeping the tempo high and not giving them an inch so no one could go rogue – his timing was impeccable all night keeping them focused and on task. Mark Donaldson on keys was mesmerizing to watch, he created an additional layer to the music almost like a second coat just reinforcing just how good the music is. I found myself checking out his talents behind the black and whites a few times in ore of what he contributes. Dave Leslie on guitar what more can I say….. this man can shred guitar strings like a hot knife through butter. The more impressive thing is that he can do it with very little effort, his fingers danced over those strings with purpose and conviction. Andy Mclean on vocals delivers in spades, his stage presence consumes and commands all the attention in the room. In full flight Andy is amazing when they are all together the Truck is unstoppable!
If you love your good old fashion iconic Aussie rock n roll and “Truck” are in a city near you – go and check them out. If you can’t wait that long check out their latest offering “Unconventionally Rising” it’s a belter. These champions won’t disappoint.
GALLERY by Hunter Brothers Media
CUSH RYDER
TRUCK
