Live Review: Rose Tattoo - Prince Bandroom, Melbourne, Australia
26th January 2024
Support: The Casanovas, Electric Mary
Words: Roger Leclerc
So here we are, a meeting of three of Australias finest rock bands on the nations biggest day, Australia Day. The scene is set for a blinding night and we weren't disappointed.
First band up are The Casanovas from Melbourne, twenty five years of rock and roll heritage. A three piece - think ZZTop, Ted Nugent, AC/DC - proper 70s rock n roll with no frills and no bullshit. Honest as the days long and straight for jugular, the perfect opener. Full on Australia swagger with great material; 'The Devil In Me' being the stand out track taking me straight back to late 70s. The perfect Australia day opener; 30 minutes left us ready for more!
Next up are Electric Mary, a real classic rock five piece with lots class. Rock and blues with shades of Guns N Roses; anthemic stuff but edgier than the first band. Singer Rusty Brown has the voice and the moves to prove the band belong here and ensuring they have some success in the twenty one year history. The bass player was dying for the cause all night and their memorable 'Gasoline and Guns' tune drove us along like a Kangaroo with its ass on fire. A top show from a slick act, they rocked the house, be sure and check them out!
Rose Tattoo arrive on stage at 10pm and it's on fire! No introduction needed here, they are stars of the show lead by the iconic Angry Anderson.
They open with 'Rock n Roll is King' then into 'One of of the Boys'; we're already on our way. A heroes return, they are on top form, taking the crowd along as if we were joined to them at the hip. Simply awesome. Great song after song providing confirmation that fifty years haven't dimmed the light, Angry is still the boss, 100% the real deal.
This is rock n roll, the band arestill on fire, they are still electric. The voice still immaculate and its easy to see why they've influenced so many others. Australian till they die. After one hour they give us 'Bad Boy For Love' and the place erupts as they finish after half an hour later with 'Rock n Roll Outlaw'.
What a show, what a venue, Australia Day '24 will go down as a little ripper...
G'Day!
