Swedish rockers H.E.A.T finally made it down under this week after a few attempts at trying to pull the tour together these last couple of years, Sydney on the radar for the first show of the tour. Crazy Lixx who were originally on the bill unfortunately had to pull out at the last minute but with support from Melbourne’s Wicked Smile and Cassidy Paris, the show was still an electrifying night of rock n’ roll.
Wicked Smile opened up as the replacement for Crazy Lixx who pulled out from the tour. Given Wicked Smile shares several members with Cassidy Paris’ band, it made perfect sense to put them on the bill as a late addition. Lots of energy and great interplay between the band members and the singer Danny (with the insanely long hair!) did well to keep the crowd motivated, despite there being far fewer punters than they deserved. The Melbourne rockers confirmed their hard rock credentials by letting the crowd know they’d be supporting Skid Row later in the year – they’ll be a great fit for that show and it’s a well-deserved accolade. Highlight of the set was Wait for the Night which was a particularly catchy tune with a singalong chorus that got the crowd going.
With a very quick changeover between acts, Cassidy Paris and her band hit the stage, which includes her father – Steve from Wicked Smile on guitar. Cassidy is a feisty frontwoman with plenty of attitude and voice that makes you sit up and take notice. It’s clear the band are here to make a big impression and put in a top notch performance. Particular highlights were Stronger, featuring Danny from Wicked Smile sharing the vocal duties perfectly on a song which probably would have seen more performances by the Wicked Smile crew than Cassidy and her band. Set closer Wannabe was the perfect way to finish out the set before H.E.A.T hit the stage.
Coming all the way from Sweden with a brand new album in tow, H.E.A.T rocked up on stage and proceeded to give the crowd something to remember. The band sounded huge and singer Kenny is an absolute dynamo on the stage, moving swiftly and with a burst of spontaneous energy. His voice is faultless on the night and so is the performance of the band who are fine form considering it’s their first show of a tour. Rock Your Body and Redfined are particular crowd favourites and Hollywood and Back To They Rhythm from the new album Force Majeure were delivered like they’ve been playing them for years.
If you are a fan of melodic rock and especially the stuff that seems to be pouring out of Scandinavia in recent years, H.E.A.T is one band you need to check out. Great records, great music and one hell of a show!
Photos by Adam Sivewright
H.E.A.T
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CASSIDY PARIS & WICKED SMILE
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