Project Description

Jet

+ A. Swayze and the Ghosts

@ Metro City 08/06/18

Reviewer: Karen Lowe

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Jet

JET // Photo – Adrian Thomson

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While Jet first formed back in 2001, it wasn’t until the release of Are you Gonna Be My Girl? and Get Born that Australia really sat up and took notice. It was a sad day when they announced their break up and Jet fans lived in hope for a reunion. One that happened in 2016 so as you could imagine, excitement was high at Metro City as people started lining up early to see such an iconic band.

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A.SWAYZE AND THE GHOSTS

A.SWAYZE AND THE GHOSTS // Photo – Adrian Thomson

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It was A. Swayze and the Ghosts that took the stage first and boy, were they something else. It’s the kind of band that you either get it… or you don’t and unfortunately, most there did not get it. While they had a great beat and the lyrics sounded fine, it just felt like they were trying too hard to be a mix of The Ramones, Iggy Pop and Ian Curtis but just not quite hitting their mark.

It would be nice to see this band stop trying to be other people and to take the time to discover who they are as a band (as they clearly have talent) and maybe, they wouldn’t have had quite so many stunned faces just looking up at them; not quite knowing if they were watching a train wreck or something that is just too far ahead of their time for the present.

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Jet

JET // Photo – Adrian Thomson

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After they finished their set (and audience members shared the same puzzled expressions), it was time for the main act to step out on stage and they did so with the style that we have come to know and love about Jet. They were oozing with confidence and not with arrogance. It was also good to see such a varied audience. Some who would have seen their first performances, some who would have seen them last at the Big Day Out and then there were the younger generation who got into Jet because their parents had excellent taste in music.

They started off with Last Chance, Are You Gonna Be My Girl? and Roll Over DJ – the crowd singing loudly along with the band as if they had never gone away.

Chris Cester (looking very suave with his unicorn coloured hair it must be stated) asked the audience:

“Who else here is pissed already? This guy right here! So you better clap in time or I’m fucked!” he laughed.

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Jet

JET // Photo – Adrian Thomson

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We were regaled with stories about how some of the songs came about. The first one being about Look What You’ve Done where Nic Cester wrote while sitting down on the toilet (“the seat was down”) as it was the only quiet place in the house.

“My little brother Chris is going to sing this next one for you.” Nic told the audience.

“There really is no telling where this could go.” Chris said back as they played Move On.

As some punter shouted out “I love you!” to Nic, he responded with “Love you too!”

He laughed and said  “I fucking love it when dudes shout out I love you. We never really used to play this song other than this tour.” as they ended their Get Born part of the night with Timothy. “Thank you Perth! It’s so good to be back!”

Jet started their second half of the set with She’s a Genius, Seventeen, Black Hearts (On Fire) and “this will be our last one for the night and it’s called Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is.” as they walked off stage.

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Jet

JET // Photo – Adrian Thomson

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Of course, that was not to be their last song as they came out for their encore and Nic told us how he had lived in Northbridge for about eight months when he was 18. He lived in a backpacker’s which was “not the best decisions of my life I would have to say.” as he sung Shine On.

They finished their set with Bring It Back On and Rip It Up. Chris and bassist Mark Wilson had a little interaction once the song was finished with Chris almost knocking his drum into Wilson. Needless to say, Wilson was not impressed; pushed back which only caused Chris to laugh and push his drum straight off into Wilson.

Wilson stormed off stage after throwing his bass. Instead of leaving a bad taste in the audiences mouths however, it just added to the whole feel of the show. A genuine rock moment there coming from a band that had just wowed everyone there. A good rock show should leave you feeling satisfied yet wanting more and not only did Jet deliver that feeling but they did so with style. Let’s hope that they will be back to give us more.

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Check out Adrian Thomson’s gallery of this show HERE

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AMNPLIFY – YR