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VOYAGER BY NIGHT
@ Magnet House, Perth
4th July, 2025
(Live Review)

Review by Chris Reid

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Voyager have worked hard on their craft since their formation in 1999.  Over the last decade the band have refined and solidified  their line-up and their sound. In 2023 Voyager achieved some incredible things and were arguably on the cusp of something truly special. They had just released their eighth studio album, Fearless In Love, and had unprecedented momentum on the back of an iconic performance at the Eurovision Song Contest finals (something the band had been seeking to achieve since Australia was granted a place in the competition). Just when it looked like the band was ready to cash in on decades of hard graft, it was revealed that front man and founder Danny Estrin had recieved a Stage 4 Cancer Diagnosis. Life can be brutally cruel. 

After a 2 year hiatus (read, gruelling chemotherapy and radiation therapy for Danny, and i’d imagine all sorts of challenges for the rest of the band too), Voyager recently emerged with a new single titled ‘Seen Better Days’. It’s a haunting and confronting track that sees Danny sing candidly about his challenges facing a ‘certain demise’.  To be brutally honest when this song came out i almost saw it as an epitaph (such is the severity of Danny’s condition).  I was therefore shocked but delighted to see the announcement of a couple of one off shows in Perth this July. A family friendly daytime show ‘Voyager by Day’, a prime time friday night show, ‘Voyager by Night’.  Both events sold out. Friday nights show at Magnet House  ‘Voyager by Night’ was something pretty special. Whilst I wasn’t there for the purposes of reviewing the show, it’s one of those events that demands to be documented. The band obviously felt this too as the night was clearly being recorded. 

Opening act Alter Boy warmed up the crowd with their synth laden pop/art rock. Voyager have always been sonic chameleons –  sharing the stage comfortably with an array of bands across many genres. I would suggest the choice of opener on this occasion reflected the synth pop element in their sound, and catered for the demographic of new fans who have discovered the band since their Eurovision foray. 

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The stage at Magnet House had been extended and featured a cat walk style runway that led into the crowd. The lighting and use of the massive screens at the venue were also more elaborate than usual. This show was clearly going to be something else. 

Voyager hit the stage with the opening track from their latest album – The Best Intentions. It’s a brilliant track, and the band played it flawlessly. It’s not lost on me that the band never toured for the Fearless in Love cycle,  so hearing this track along with Gren (Fearless in Love) was fantastic and long overdue for both the band and fans. 

The setlist for the evening was very strong and largely focused on cuts from the most recent run of albums; V, Ghost Mile, Colours in the Sun, and Fearless in Love. This run of albums has seen Voyager maintain a consistent lineup, and in that time they’ve honed a unique sound that consists of Djenty riffs with a nuanced complexity, a heavy dose of synths, and a pop-style sensibility in Danny’s vocal lines.  Personal highlights were Colours, Ghost Mile, Ascension, Gren (Fearless in Love) and Seen Better Days. The latter was particularly moving to see live,  given the personal and confronting nature of the lyrics referenced earlier. The roof lighting at Magnet House is quite the set up and seems almost custom made for a band like Voyager. The triangle shaped neons almost look like big ‘Vs’ as they were lowered down to provide a cloak of Illumination around Estrin as he poured his heart out through his vocals. 

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Voyager’s two Eurovision tracks, Dreamer (2022’s Australia Decides Entry song) and Promise (Australia’s 2023 Eurovision entry), were both part of the set. Whilst they are somewhat conspicuous in their tight 3 minute run time and pseudo-dance-track-drum-beats, it must be said they blend into the set quite seamlessly. ‘Promise’ was player after the audio visual production showed a montage from the various news and current affairs interviews around the time of Eurovision. It’s sobering to think how much has changed for the band since those times. The song itself had the crowd in an absolute frenzy. 

The band closed the set with Encore ‘White Shadow’. This track is very much a cult classic to the long term fans and straddles the progressive and power metal genres evenly. The black metal vocal, blast beat interlude is always a highlight. It’s clear that 2 decades ago when this song was written,  Danny and the band just wrote the sort of music they wanted to listen to, without any genre limitations. 

Without taking any thing away from the rest of the band (who continue to be absolutely brilliant and charismatic in their own ways, and turned in flawless performances across the board), I felt like this show was all about Danny. Estrin has always been a charismatic front man, but with the full knowledge of what he has been going through, and continues to fight, he demanded even more of the crowds attention and applause. His vocals were as powerful as they’ve ever been, despite noting that at the peak of his treatment cycle he had all bust lost his voice. Constant Jacket changes – switching between an array of sequin houndstooth jackets and full length fur coats – helped to maintain his standing as the focal point throughout the set. 

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The drawn out, mid-set, banter about 1990s advertising jingles and theme tunes – renditions of Cool or Cosy, Decore, Pizza Hut and the theme from Ship to Shore – was particularly light hearted, as were the novelty dress ups during ‘Submarine’. Starting crowd chants in support of Danny’s ‘on-colo-gist’ was also a sign that despite ongoing challenges,  the band and Estrin have maintained the good sense of humour that has been a major part of their live set for years. 

As a heavy music fan in Perth, Voyager are part of my live music DNA. Seeing them open for Steve Vai in 2004 was my gateway. Back then the band looked and sounded very different, but Danny has continued to be the focal point and driving force over the years.  I’ve seen them countless times since, both locally and abroad; supporting a variety of international acts and playing with other ‘local’ bands in Perth’s underrated scene. Despite considering myself to me a big fan, I’ve been guilty of taking Voyager for granted in the past. What was evident at this show was that no one in the venue took this band or set for granted. The Love and energy from the crowd was palpable. 

If Danny needs to prioritise his health and this is the last show Voyager play in Perth for a long while then will have been a fitting celebration of the career of one of the states finest ever acts. If Danny is well enough to continue on playing live then the night will be remembered as an emotional and triumphant return for the band. Either way, it felt very much like a special night and a celebration of both Danny’s resilience and the music of the band that he has led for decades. 

Fvck Cancer.

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SETLIST:

Colours
Dreamer
Submarine
Brightstar
Gren (Fearless in Love)
To the Riverside
Ghost Mile
Hyperventilating
Seen Better Days
Runaway
Promise
Ascension

ENCORE

White Shadow

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Follow VOYAGER
Website – Facebook – Instagram
Twitter – YouTube

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AMNPLIFY – DB