Review & Photography by Manny Manson for MPM
This young Australian Musician is turning a lot of heads of late, currently on her Midnight Desire tour, she plays the Musician Pub in Leicester tonight, so grabbing my camera I head over to see what all the fuss is about.
It’s a warm summer evening, thunderstorms have been forecast so the air is thick and heavy with humidity The Musician Pub, is a smaller venue with about a 200 cap, it’s going to be a really sticky night even if only half of that number turn up. When I arrive, there is already a noticeable excitement as fans gather to catch a glimpse of this Australian rock sensation, they are sat outside talking about the previous shows on the tour they’d already seen. Once inside the venue, a whole 30 minutes before the assigned doors time, its straight to the bar for a much needed wet.
We have another young band in the opening slot, tonight it was the turn of Nottingham’s very own Rattlesnakes, they add the Nottingham area code of (0115) to their name on the socials (Rattlesnakes). This is a young band who tell me that tonight is only their 4th live show, so far, there are no signs of nerves, this one is going to be RAW and fun. O.K. so what do I know about the band, very little really, I couldn’t find a webpage about them so they are one to get out and see live, they are active on the Tik Tok’s, Insta, Facebook, the usual social places and have a YouTube channel, although it’s still in its infancy with only a smattering of content.
Rattlesnakes, consist of Rowena Neale on vocals, Elliott Dryden on bass, Nathan Gratton on drums, and the dual lead guitar force of Jacob Shingler on the pointy one and Joshua Brown, on the more traditional L.P. They are a band that exudes old-school rock vibes reminiscent of Judas Priest and Dio. I have to add here that Jacob has the Allen Collins vibe going on so maybe an Explorer style guitar would complete the “Tonight Matthew I’m Going to Be” vibe.
The set kicks off with “Lost Nor Found,” It’s a full-on powerhouse of a tune, that grabs our attention with its driving riffs and Rowena Neale’s powerful vocals. Ok, this band can bang a bit, box ticked! Neale’s stage presence is commanding; her voice, a blend of grit and melody, is perfectly suiting the hard-edged rock sound of the rest of the band. Elliott Dryden’s bass is thunderous, laying down a solid, rumbling foundation that, along with Nathan Gratton’s precise drumming, lock together effortlessly, launching the band’s sound forward. This is foot tapping head nodding territory, a great opening number.
The band followed this up with a track called “Selfish Soul,” again, this continued in the same theme blending tuneful melodies with heavy rock guitar and blasting beats from the backline. The band seemed to have relaxed into their groove as Brown starts to give it the big front man moves with a face pulling solo, his foot atop the monitor. Great stuff, while the guitar work kept the energy levels high and thankfully show the band to have a bit of a dynamic between them, Dryden on bass made sure he is in the mix by pulling the shapes along-side the guitars of Brown and Shingler (Al Collins).
“Rattlesnakes” kept the momentum going with “Firestarter” (not to be confused with the Prodigy hit). This track, like its afore mentioned namesake is another hard-hitting anthem that is full of pure rock adrenaline. This was followed by their debut single “M.E.R.C.Y.,” released at the end of June on all major streaming platforms. The live rendition of “M.E.R.C.Y.” was even more powerful, with Neale’s emotive vocals and the band’s tight playing bringing it to life in the hot n muggy venue, A side door had been opened earlier and you could see it was hammering it down outside, hopefully things might cool down a bit.
One of the highlights of their set was their cover of The Darkness’s “Black Shuck.” Now I’m a fan of The Darkness so this was going to be interesting. To my delight, the band’s interpretation stayed true to the original while adding their own gritty twist. Neale’s vocals soared, and the dual guitar assault from Shingler and Brown nailed the brothers Hawkin’s iconic harmonised riffs in this banger of a tune. Ooops, am I singing along? The crowd responded with enthusiasm, clearly, I’m not the only closet ‘Darkness’ fan in tonight as the venue seemed to be enjoying the fresh take on this classic.
“Love Me Harder” is another standout track, featuring a driving rhythm and an infectious chorus. The band, although young, seem to have found an ability to produce catchy hooks, and this track seemed to be another great example of their song-writing abilities. The energy in the room was now scorching, both with the humidity and the band as they played off each, this certainly helped in creating an interesting and powerful performance.
The set continued with “Burn For You,” once again, Neale’s heartfelt delivery was complemented by the subtle yet impactful guitar work from Shingler and Brown, The night came to a finish with the awesome cover of W.A.S.P.’s “I Wanna Be Somebody,” it was a fitting end to a knockout 4th live performance. The crowd encouraged to sing along the chorus did so, myself included as we, as an audience, were fully engaged, singing along happily to the band’s rendition, just like the rest of the set, it was powerful and energetic, capturing the essence of the original while making it their own, a cliched overused statement but honestly the best way to describe it.
The band finished up and said their thanks etc, as they tried to leave the stage, the applause was loud and sustained, asking for more. For a band performing only their fourth gig, they displayed a level of professionalism and talent that promises great things for their future, the band’s performance was both, energetic, and bursting with potential. Their blend of old-school rock, infectious energy, and undeniable musicianship made it another reason to get to the venue and support the opening support act. I’m looking forward to the next chapter for this promising Nottingham band.
The band quickly clear away their kit, at the same time, Cassidy Paris’s drummer, Alex Rogowski is setting things up for the headliners. He has a couple of banners he puts in front of the speakers, puts a ‘stand on box’ by the microphone, and makes sure the other microphones are sorted and ready to go. The stage is set and the short wait commences.
The venue, The Musician Pub in Leicester, is now buzzing excitedly. This is my first time seeing the band and I’m impressed at how the UK public have taken to her. This is the latest stop on Cassidy Paris’s “Midnight Desire” UK tour, and the atmosphere generated in anticipation is electric, I hate the word palpable! Australian, Cassidy Paris, is certainly a rising star, she has been making waves with her 80’s inspired, female-fronted rock music, drawing inspiration from legends like Vixen, Heart, Lee Aaron, Pat Benatar, and Lita Ford, and garnishing a lot of attention, including deals with Fender and Wornstar clothing, she also has the accolade of being the youngest artist signed to Frontiers Records.
Briefly put, Cassidy’s meteoric rise began with a mentorship from Paul Laine of the band Danger Danger, who saw her potential early on. He has been involved in co-writing and producing her music. Her style, a throwback to the golden age of big hair glam rock, is refreshingly bold and unapologetically flamboyant. With her influences obviously, deeply rooted in the powerful female voices of the 80s, Cassidy Paris is positively carving out a niche for herself in today’s male dominated modern rock scene, a welcome addition to a category dominated by our very own Chez Kane. With her debut album “New Sensation” (any connection to the Australian band INXS song of the same name?), released in December 2023 we are in for a treat.
The lights dimmed, albeit slightly, and the eager crowd cheer enthusiastically as the Cassidy Paris Band take to the stage: Tom Rogowski on lead guitar, Alex Rogowski on drums, and Stevie Janevski on bass, sporting his signature chinstrap beard. The fans, many of whom had travelled across the country following her tour, are already bouncing, like tiger on acid, with a night of high-octane 80’s rock ahead, the temperature is certainly going to rise!
Cassidy kicked the set off with “Midnight Desire,” the closing track from her debut album ‘New Sensation.’ Cassidy’s delivery was flamboyant and full of energy as she paced the front of the small stage, arms flailing, projecting the song with incredible force. The driving beat and infectious vocal, connecting with the fans as they started to bounce along to the beat, heads nodding, like the Churchill dog driving on a cobbled street.
This was quickly followed by “Addicted,” a song that blends Cassidy’s catchy melodies with hard-hitting rock. The band are tight, with Tom Rogowski’s searing guitar licks, Alex Rogowski’s steady ‘Bum’, ‘Bum’, Dah’ drum beat and Stevie Janevski’s pounding bass lines keeping the energy levels racing along. Cassidy’s vocals are powerful, hitting those at the back of the venue like a smack in the face. Throughout the venue, the fans are happily singing along.
The dirty riff of “Song for the Broken Hearted” from her 2019 EP ‘Broken Hearted’ follows. This track, with its poignant lyrics and emotive delivery, is pure 80’s rock. The harmonised B’V’s giving it added nostalgic authenticity. Tom Rogowski’s fat sounding solo is nice, I’m smiling, I’m liking the tone of his guitar. Cassidy’s voice is filled with raw emotion, the song’s slower, anthemic quality makes it a great moment in the set.
The pace picks up again with a cover of Joan Jett and the Blackhearts’ “I Hate Myself for Loving You.” Cassidy’s rendition is gritty and fierce, paying homage to one of her idols while adding her own flair. The crowd’s response was as expected, after all this is an iconic track, now standing at the back of the venue, to get the full effect of the open door, I’m once again caught up in the moment, I’m singing again, singing along to every word, which I didn’t know I knew. It obviously gets a huge cheer from this partisan crowd.
“Stand” and “Danger” are next, both tracks from her recent debut album release, back in December 2023. “Stand” features a soaring chorus and infectious guitar riffs, The powerful vocal conveys the message with the subtlety of a sledgehammer This was released as a single in 2018 and is an anthem about standing up for yourself, Cassidy is an active campaigner for the worldwide ‘Metalheads Against Bullying’ a worthy organisation. “Danger” is a darker, more intense track that has more than a nod towards Heart and Vixen, both stunning bands, and both still treading the boards and filling venues today. It’s a great song that lives a smile on every ones faces.
“Like I Never Loved You” has Cassidy on guitar for this heartfelt ballad, another song that highlights Cassidy’s vocal range. The band’s performance has remained tight, with Tom Rogowski’s effects pedal full guitar solo, adding an extra layer of colour to this already emotive song.
The energy ramps up with “Here I Am,” a high-energy rocker with its slow start building to an anthemic arena filling wall of sound. Cassidy’s powerful vocals and the band’s driving rhythm section creating a powerful if not electrifying atmosphere. Janevski’s bass lines are particularly punchy, adding a thunderingly heavy groove to the track. I’m liking that one, as are the crowd.
“Rock n Roll Hearts” continues, it’s, a song that perfectly captures the Cassidy Paris Band’s love for classic rock of the 80’s. The band’s performance was again spot-on, with Alex Rogowski’s drumming driving the track forward. The driving riff from Tom, on guitar is tasty, the crowd are fully engaged, their heads nodding and dad dancing along to the catchy track. And you guessed it, it gets a hearty cheer. “Give Me Your Love,” her 2020 single, is yet another highlight of the night. Cassidy’s performance is passionate, her vocals soaring over the band’s tight instrumentation, her vocal has a country/gospel rock edge, its powerful. This is probably my favourite of the night, there’s just something that got under my skin.
“Searching For a Hero” and “Wannabe” the latter from her 2021 EP ‘Flirt’ keeps the momentum going. “Searching For a Hero” is yet another powerful anthem with a message of resilience and strength, driving guitar and a thundering backline power this one along. The snare cracks from Alex are jarringly concussive, nice. “Wannabe” is an energetic track; it has an almost punk edge. This appeared on her 2021 E.P. ‘Flirt.’ It’s a crowd favourite judging by the dad dancing going on in front of me. It has to be said that Cassidy’s charisma is undeniable, her connection with the audience, immediate with the first song, has grown stronger with each song, the band look like they’re having a fun time playing to this intimate but respectful crowd.
The set closed with “Walking on Fire,” another scorching track, Cassidy’s energy is infectious, her vocals full of fire and passion. The band are also on fire, delivering a performance that is both tight and electrifying. The small crowd’s cheers and applause are surprisingly deafening, as they demand another one from this Antipodean dynamo.
Cassidy and her band proceed to deliver a powerful cover of Paramore’s 2007 track “Misery Business.” The room is filled with thundering drums, chest collapsing bass and a fast, skilful guitar riff. Cassidy’s voice is off the scale as she belts out the lyrics, her voice filled with intensity. The band’s performance is tight and energetic, as they crush this 31/2-minute, high octane tune ensuring they close out the night on a high note.
The fans who travelled around the country following the tour have been rewarded with another night of rock n’ roll that no doubt lived up to their expectations. Cassidy Paris has impressed me with her modern take on a sound that is so iconic with the 80’s rock scene, her performance, tonight at The Musician Pub in Leicester was proof of that. With 6 more nights to go on the tour, finishing at Leo’s Red Lion in Gravesend on the 9th there’s a chance to go and catch this “Wonder from Down Under”, “Good on ya”, Cassidy!
