Rad Riders

Rad Riders

Friday night saw Sydney lads Red Riders play Neverland Bar, as part of their single release tour for 'You've Got  A Lotta Nerve', the first track to be released from the forthcoming 'Drown In Colour' record. 

Opening band, The Delta Riggs absolutely smashed it last night. I don’t think anyone could have expected different after last week’s legendary performance. This band is doing exactly what needs to be done, bringing the spirit of rock and roll right back to where it never should have left in the first place. The band showed no signs of fatigue as they ploughed through their set like a train with no breaks. These guys prove that Australia really does put Garage Rock on the map (The Saints, Radio Birdman, The Scientists) and that they are the next grade-A export. It’s exactly what this country’s music scene needs at the moment. The times are calling for this music, as they always should of. Hopefully it takes over the greasy, spray-tanned electro bullshit that is plaguing the radio waves at this daft point in time. 

The beauty of last night is that we as an audience were treated with the pleasure of getting two sides of the rock and roll coin. The other side of this coin being Red Riders. We caught up with Alex and Brad before the gig and they were the most enthusiastic act we’ve ever done. They told us about their beginnings and influences all while being completely light hearted. The boys also spoke about the new album, filming the clip for 'Y.G.A.L.O.N' and talked shit about hair colour and wearing the same clothes for 18 days straight. Their enthusiasm proved well in the much-anticipated set. These guys magnificently gave the audience a tour of their angular but euphoric tones. They played a few tracks from the upcoming album mixed in with some of the classics from 2006’s “Replica Replica”. Their sound is reminiscent of the best times of the fabled “old” Bloc Party. (When they used to be amazing.) In saying this however, the Sydney boys have created their own sound that is gaining an ever-growing fan base. Front man Alex Grigg carried his voice with such halcyon and melody that it replicated studio recordings and then some. Through his delivery and presence i could not help but shake the thought of a young dylan!  There were a few dancy, rock numbers, which were driven by Tom Wallace’s fantastic drumming that put grins on faces and rhythm in feet. After a blissful and long set, they finished the night off with their newest single “You Got a Lot of Nerve”. From the preview they gave us last night, we can tell the new Album is going to be killer.

Stay tuned for our interview with the boys in the next few days -Ian

More Photos at Takennever

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Popping My Cherry with The Delta Riggs

Popping My Cherry
with The Delta Riggs

Last Friday night, I was in virgin territory. It was the first time I’d ever properly reviewed a gig, the first time I’d been to the new Neverland Bar, and somehow the first time I’d ever seen local Gold Coast lads The Delta Riggs play.  These boys have been the men about town for ages and for whatever reason I’ve never got to see them. 

Getting there relatively early, the Neverland Bar blew me away. Definitely one of the best venues on the coast, the brutally simple venue set the mood for what was to come later that evening, and believe me, the vibes were high. A few beers, a few chats, and a few hundred people later, 5 lads stumbled onto the manky stage set up in the corner of the bar; enter The Delta Riggs. 

Now to be honest, I was scared that I was going to have to make up a whole load of bullshit for this gig review, but having seen a band of this stature, the words spill out like word vomit. These guys absolutely kill it. A straight-up rock’n’roll band, the boys are raw, punchy and just ‘rock’ in its purest form.

Defined as playing ‘sweaty rock and roll with stupidly sweet pop sensibility’, The Delta Riggs are kinda like Jet, but with more depth. The hints of blues and country add extra element to their sound.

On stage, I can’t stress how easy it all seems to come to them. It was more like seeing them jam than playing in front of the crowd. And it’s this brutal rawness that makes them such an epic band. Stand out track of the set was Get Back, a slower yet still as strong track, based around an over-the-phone argument between Elliot and his girlfriend whilst standing inside a club. 

Not to take away from the rest of the guys, it’s frontman Elliot, with charisma nothing short of a rock god that captivates you. Equipped with a harmonica in one hand, and a drink in the other, he’s a true showman. How that massive sound comes out of that wirey skeleton frame I have no idea. His on-stage antics cast him in the character of a rock’n’roll priest, preaching his songs and converting non-believers by the second. 

The guys played a killer set, got everyone dancing and also thrashed out covers of LCD Soundsystem’s Daft Punk is Playing At My House, and Slave by The Rolling Stones. They’ve recently recorded at Sony Studios, but after listening to earlier recordings, merely listening to them doesn’t cut-it; it’s when they perform is when the boys truly deliver. 

I truthfully haven’t heard a band this brilliant in years, and how they’re not massive I have no idea. It’s a real shame they’re playing this weekend too; I might just have to force myself to go see them again. Put these guys on your to-do list. 

Jordan Bond

More Photos

http://www.myspace.com/deltariggs

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The Delta Riggs

The Delta Riggs

The riggs play this friday night the 22nd at neverland bar! (Its a pretty rad new venue in cooly). Their first gig in a very long time, I am excited! One of the Gold coast's best bands! It is hard to get six of them together well five now to play one show as most have other bands! So come down for a bit of rock'n'roll ! The following week they also support red riders at the same venue on friday 29th.
Check them out at The Delta riggs Myspace
they do a pretty funky cover of "Daft punk is playing at my house" by LCD Sound system

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