On what was the coldest evening this year the line outside Stay Gold was keen to catch some Heat in more way than one. With doors set to open at 7pm we were still in line until just after 7:30 as Catalano sound checked. The line was halfway around the block by this stage, but all came good as we allowed to enter the venue.
With Catalano set to take to the stage at 8pm it gave me the chance to check out the merch which for H.E.A.T. was limited to one shirt that was only available in Medium or Large and an A3 print of the tour artwork. The sign saying cash only for merch kind of put me off and I thought I would chance grabbing some merch between bands after finding an ATM. Catalano had a much bigger range of merch four t-shirt designs and CD’s which was great to see.
Catalano took to the stage as scheduled at 8pm and gave us a forty-minute set of their Hollywood inspired dirty rock n roll. I must admit I haven’t seen Catalano live in a few years and I was keen to see what had changed and what their evolution had been over the last few years. From memory the band line up has changed completely with vocalist Roxxi Catalano staying the only original member. The new additions of guitarist and Danny Ritz, Bassist Jackson Van Den Bosch and drummer Arthur Cassin seem to have refined the band’s sound leaning towards a more polished hard rock sound that leans into that Swedish hard rock sound.
Roxxi Catalano still has those huge eighties LA frontman vibe to him with including a side of playful charm. The rhythm section of Cassin and Van Den Bosch are simply locked in and tight as hell, driving these melodic hard rock songs kicking us all in the ass. Guitarist Ritz while an incredible player seems like an odd fit to the band. His over-the-top stage performance and sparkly attire simply doesn’t work with the grittier image, attitude and sound of the band.Musically the new material from their forthcoming album ‘Perfect Storm’ sounds great live and there is a shift in the band sonically. There are a few songs from the past thrown in for good measure too.
A couple of false starts to one of the songs sees the band stumble a little but is saved by Catalano by putting light on it all. The one thing that I will say is that when Catalano sings cleanly, he has an amazing voice, however at times there seemed to be a little too much forced grit on it and it just became muddy through the PA. I enjoyed Catalano’s set and musically they are amazing, super tight and when they are on they are on. I can’t wait to check out ‘Perfect Storm’ when it’s released on May 1.
With what seemed like the world’s longest stage change over though it just needed to have Catalano’s gear taken from it and H.E.A.T.’s microphone stands and pedal boards put in place the now jam-packed Stay Gold was heaving. A second support band would have been amazing here, but this was not to be, and the punters seemed to be getting a little restless. Getting around the venue and getting back to the merch desk was a challenge so I thought I would leave it until the end of the night choosing to keep my spot. The playlist between sets should have been packed with hard rock anthems instead we got a mix of pop & RnB ….. Strange choice.
However, when the Glenn Frey classic ‘Heat Is On’ burst through the PA we all knew what was next. An intro tape ran as the members of H.E.A.T. took to the stage and tore straight into “Disaster” from ‘Welcome To The Future’ and within moments you had forgotten about the changeover wait, the delay in doors opening. You were thrust into the pure energy and joy of H.E.A.T. live. Having seen the band twice before, I pretty much knew what I was in for, a set of rock n roll anthems that simply built with energy as the night went on, and tonight what was different was this time it felt even better. H.E.A.T. by the time they launched into “Rock Your Body” had already surpassed every expectation I had for the whole set.
Just when you thought the feel-good energy of tonight couldn’t get any bigger they did “Dangerous Ground” is simply infectious and a perfect melodic fun fest. Live it hits harder than on record as it gains this new energy and this is exactly what rock n roll should feel like. Leckremo sings like a beast and is smiling like a cat that got the cream. Guitarist Dave Dalone lets fly on this solo and Jona Tee on keys is impeccable. This is melodic rock and roll at its majestic finest. “Hollywood” see’s the band heavy things up a little but give us a reason to sing and chant along. Drummer Don Crash is a powerhouse drummer that gives these songs that big lifting backbeat. Bassist Jimmy Jay sits in the groove with Crash and is having the time of his life appearing to almost struggle to sing his harmony parts due to the smile on his face. If you didn’t feel something by now and you hadn’t forgotten about everything outside of this room, then I need to question why you are even here.
While tonight’s set is heavily leans into the ‘II’ album and an era that didn’t’ feature Leckremo, he makes them his own and I be damned if I’m wrong actually performed them better than Erik Gronwall who featured on ‘II’, ‘Into The Great Unknown’, Address The Nation’ and ‘Tearing Down The Walls’ and I am such a huge fan of Gronwall’s voice. Leckremo is a once in a generation voice that I’m sure could sing anything and absolutely nail it. While being a fan of the back catalogue it hit and felt different tonight and maybe because it’s been a couple of years since I last saw them it hits differently now. Those first two times seeing them were incredible but there is something even more special about tonight’s performance.
The cliché’d are you ready for some more comes from Leckremo, let’s see how ready you are, repeat after me, it’s really easy. And I Beg as we all chant back Beg to the stage Leckremo responds My friends you were all a little bit late, but this guy right here was a little bit early, I don’t know if you can see him, stand up man, not only is he god’s gift to mankind, but he is a great f*cking guy and one of my best friends Crash is his name ladies and gentlemen and the female element of tonight’s crowd simply went nuts. Let’s carry on shall we? …. And I Beg, this time the crowd gets it right, but it’s not enough until we get it right ‘Beg Beg Beg’ goes into full flight and man these guys are just so damned good. The energy lifts yet again as the crowd is all in now. A break down in the middle sees the band deliver a minute and half snippet of Black Sabbath’s ‘War Pigs’ in tribute to the late great Ozzy Osbourne. What can’t these guys do … really? I’m blown away. The seamless transition back into ‘Beg Beg Beg’ rides out the final verse and chorus making its way for a Don Crash drum solo. Now I’m not one for individual solos but this one doesn’t overstay its welcome and blends into the set well.
‘Back To The Rhythm’ is executed flawlessly and again live I find it much better than the studio version. It is that magic that these five guys have live that just lifts and elevates these songs. Stay Gold by this stage are singing every word loud and proud. Leckremo addresses the audience with the biggest smile on his face Can I just say something here real f*ucking quickly here Melbourne, you are such mad c*nts we actually sold this motherf*cking place out, what a special night. Before he starts the wahh-a-wahh-o chant through Stay Gold as they launch into “Running To You”.
“Living On The Run” is delivered perfectly and the band are just incredible to watch. This song is incredible; it’s one of those songs that defines this band their sound and energy. This is a text book anthem, good lord, do these guys know how to write and deliver one hell of a song. H.E.A.T. seem to be having the time of their lives on that stage and the room is simply buzzing. While I have never really been a fan of modern keyboards in hard rock music, I feel like they give some songs too much polish and take off the edge of what truly appeals to me. There have been so many artists that became somewhat fluffy, taking away their power. H.E.A.T. on the other hand use keyboards to their advantage and it adds this bigger dimension to their sound and makes this collection of catchy as hell anthems sit right. Again, live I find the use of keyboards effective, but when a studio uses them, they can become overpowering and obnoxious. Jonah Tee has that balance right and his lines works so damn well in the structure of these songs. It almost makes me want to go back and listen to those bands that I liked but just didn’t hit right due to being keyboard heavy in their sound.
‘1000 Miles’ is a killer rock track that keeps the energy high and again keeps the energy high.
Jesus Christ this is fantastic. Let me tell you something before we get into the crescendo of things, as you know we have other places to go but I want to cherish these last few moments we have together Melbourne, it’s been absolutely fantastic. We may not have been to Australia all that much before because we are from the other side of the world, but I can tell, we can tell that from the first moment it was first love. You guys have such an amazing rock, hard rock, heavy metal, I don’t care what you call it. You have such a great spirit and community. It doesn’t matter if it is H.E.A.T. or any other fucking band, go to the shows, support the scene. Let me tell you one more thing, we are not gonna stop until we have taken you all on ‘One By One’ Leckremo tells us as they kick our collective asses again. Loud, connected and having the time of our lives Stay Gold give back just as much as we are getting from the band and that’s a hell of a lot. The groove is huge and Dalone’s guitar work once again makes the hairs on my arms upright.
Closing out tonight is ‘A Shot At Redemption’ something that this band never needs especially after delivering a set and show like this. For the first time in quite some time I am speechless after this set. My mind has been blown and what I thought I would get was simply turned up to eleven. H.E.A.T. deserve to be playing arena’s, to the masses and not just 400 passionate fans in a room. This was a masterclass for any musician or music fan. If we were in the days before the internet H.E.A.T. would be the gig everyone would be talking about for weeks.
Tonight we were treated to an incredible set of stadium ready anthems in a four hundred capacity room. All the sing-a-longs were there, the chants and the energy in the room was simply electrifying. H.E.A.T. are one of those bands that regardless of the venue they play in command your attention, have you engaged and pull you into the fun they are having on stage. For me H.E.A.T. have always been a band that sounds better live than on record. There is something in the magic of the band and the way frontman Kenny Leckremo can work a crowd that sets H.E.A.T. apart from so many others.
H.E.A.T. live have it all and for me the next step for this band would be to be put on a Good Things or Knotfest type of festival and exposed to the Australian masses. Talent of this calibre needs to be celebrated. How H.E.A.T. are not a household name is beyond me. Radio friendly, catchy as hell and live they are white hot. I hope we get to see more of this band live down under.
Setlist – Disaster, Rock Your Body, Dangerous Ground, Hollywood, Rise, Nationwide, Redefined, Set Me On Fire, Beg Beg Beg (with War Pigs), Drum Solo, Back To The Rhythm, Running To You, Living On The Run, 1000 Miles, One By One, A Shot At Redemption.
With thanks to Chris Maric from Maric Media and Silverback Touring for the media access.