Tonight was nothing short of a pure raw rock n roll experience. A packed Cherry Bar was home to one of the most amazing rock shows I have witnessed in recent times. Raw, energetic, in your face and loud.
Kicking off tonight was the hardest working band in Melbourne right now. Willie J’s 6v6’s and what a powerhouse this trio is. Having stumbled across Willie J a couple of years ago when he had his band the Bad Books I instantly became a fan and have watched what his career closely. What a voice, what a guitarist and he knows how to write a killer song.
With the invention of the 6v6’s Willie J has found a place to allow his talent to shine. But make no mistake this is not just about one person, this is a band that are locked in, tight and know how to jam when the purpose suits. The rhythm section of Callum Leavy (Drums) and Seb Robertson (Bass) are pure magic and the rumble in this band, some serious rumble too.
However, it is the way these guys gel and create lightning in a bottle in every song that is the real appeal. As a frontman Willie J Maxwell is charismatic and natural as if he was born and bred to be on stage, he knows how to work a room and have that entire room in the palm of his hand in moments.
Having last seen the 6v6’s only a couple of weeks ago at Max Watts for their Maximum Rock Festival where they also delivered a killer set, I kind of knew what to expect from their set, yet tonight was different, being up close and witnessing fingers on fret boards, sticks hitting skins and feeling that raw rock n roll pounce from the stage is simply something else.
Now a 6v6’s set isn’t all balls to the wall full-on gritty Australian blues, boogie and rock n roll. It had moments of delicacy, clean tones and soul. It’s these moments of light and shade that pull you right in and make the performance an experience.
It’s no wonder that with around forty shows in Melbourne alone this year and a love of playing live the band is a fine tuned high performance beast, that has more than earned the attention and the support of booking agent Premier Artists. Picking up the nation wide support for Phil Campbell this September will elevate this band yet again. If I had to pick one band to watch explode over the next 6-12 it’s these guys. They will be making waves internationally before we know it.
Setlist: Take The Wheel, Lights On, Love On The Loose, Bad Boy For Love, Night At The Gem, All She Wrote, Safe Delivery, Chant, Squeeze, Mad Woman.
The main reason for tonight’s gathering is to celebrate the release of the new Palace Of The King single “Birds Of A Feather” which hit streaming services on July 31st.
I can’t tell you just how many times I have seen Palace Of The King play, each time is just an absolute buzz. I have lost count of the time I have seen them over the last decade. They were an early introduction to the Melbourne music scene when I started out on my photography and journalism journey, so the band and their music hold a very special place in my DNA.
The line up has changed over the years with frontman Tim Henwood being the glue that holds all of this together. In Palace Of The King, Henwood is so completely at home, this band is his soul and with every performance you feel it. Tonight’s set was no exception; in fact I think tonight’s set was the best representation of the bands catalogue from the very beginning to right now. There was something for every fan old or new. It was the perfect journey through their twelve-year career. 2023’s “Friends In Low Places” was one of my albums of that year and still gets a regular play.
The core and constants of the band are Sean Johnston (keys/guitar), Leigh Maden (guitar/harmonica) and Tim Henwood (Vocals/guitar) and tonight the line up was completed with Cam McGlinchey (drums) and Andrew Gilpin (bass), both players have had time in the band before. McGlinchey who is currently a member of The Screaming Jets is just an absolute beast when allowed the freedom Palace Of The King offer him. His playing, groove, technical ability and power is something to behold. Tonight, McGlinchey played like his life depended on it dropping jaws throughout the entire room.
Make no mistake this band is like no other there is a chemistry that can’t be accurately put into words. Henwood is without a doubt one of this country’s finest frontmen, and tonight he was in his zone, smiling constantly, charismatic and just a pleasure to watch and hear. Sean Johnston is the glue in this band, what he offers through his guitar work and keyboard playing just adds so much soul to this band. Powerful, precise and engaging. The true grit and probably the tastiest ingredient to the Palace Of The King sound is Leigh Maden, his guitar parts are pure bluesy goodness, spacious, driving and dynamic.
The addition and return of Andrew Gilpin to the band adds another element to the bands sound tonight. His style is different to those before him, yet his understanding and delivery of the catalogue tonight is on point, there is a feel that I hadn’t got before from these songs. Paired with McGlinchey it’s one of the finest rhythm sections I have had the pleasure of hearing and watching. When a rhythm section is this on, you truly do understand how crucial feel and groove is.
“Birds Of A Feather” made its live debut tonight and it had all the feel and then some of the recording. The track musically is inspired by The Black Crowes and The Stones and is written abut the Robinson Brothers from The Black Crowes. It has that swagger and groove, it’s such great song and live it’s even better than the recording which was done by this very line up of the band.
While Henwood, Johnston and McGlinchey have their calendars full with their respective touring commitments of James Reyne, Jon Stevens and The Screaming Jets it is always great to see Palace Of The King live. They don’t play often enough and that’s my personal take, but when they do you would be insane to miss it.
It was great to see rock n roll bring so many together. It was such a great night where friends old and new gathered and had the time of their lives.
Setlist: Take Your Medicine, No Chance In Hell, Another Thing Coming, Valley, Get Right With Your Maker, Down On Your Luck, Black Heart, Swear On My Life, Birds Of A Feather, Free.
We would like to extend out thanks to Tim Henwood & Palace of the King for the media access.
All image credits Shot by Slaidins Photography
