Live Review: Jet Takes Off In Fremantle
Jet live in concert at Metropolis Fremantle, Western Australia on 18th of April 2024.
By Lee Garces
Photography: Praia Photography (Lee Garces)
Let’s rewind for a moment and re-live the birth of Jet. It’s pretty hard to believe that it’s now a little over 20 years ago, when two brothers and two mates started up a band in a garage in Melbourne that was destined to be one of Australia’s most loved rock bands. Call it fate, call it being universally aligned – it doesn’t matter – what followed was a chance meeting with a guy that could see their potential immediately. Before you knew it these kids were flying to rock stardom – and to LA to record their debut album Get Born.
Fast forward over two decades and Look What You’ve Done boys! Millions of copies sold worldwide, last year achieving the highest honour in the Australian music industry of an induction into the ARIA Hall of Fame, and now an anniversary tour to go along with it.
The four-piece extended their 20 Years Of Get Born anniversary tour from the end of last year due to demand, filling a Metropolis Fremantle to the brim on Friday night, with more shows to come around the country as part of the 2024 extended line-up.
Casually strolling on stage, each member taking their place with instruments in hand. After a minute of musical tease, Jet wasted no time kicking off their set with the power of Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is. The sound of only a few strums of an electric guitar enough to have the eager Metros fandoms burst into an evening of nostalgia filled with rocking, singing, fist pumping, moshing and a small amount of crowd surfing.
Confirming that age certainly makes things finer, frontman Nic Cester delivers every dynamic vocal effortlessly and with perfection as the group was non-stop rocking into the Get Born catalogue with She’s a Genius, Black Hearts (On Fire) and giving us one Last Chance.
As Myf Warhurst put it when inducting Jet into the ARIA Hall of Fame, “it’s among the most recognisable riffs of the new millennium”. You already know what song I’m referring to. Jet have undoubtedly created one of the most recognisable and infectious riffs we have ever heard. So recognisable that even my 11 year old, who didn’t know of Jet (bad mum, I know), knows the song just by hearing that riff. Taking a surprising place early on in the evening, Are You Gonna Be My Girl was guaranteed a crowd favourite, making it impossible to not sing along to the “1-2-3 take my hand and come with me!”. Jet playing with the crowd and taking pauses throughout to allow for the giant sing along. I’m convinced that this song will forever hold its place in music.
Reminding us of the importance of live music, Rollover DJ followed before slowing it right down. A soulful experience for Freo fans as Nic takes a seat on the edge of the stage with only a microphone, to have the entire audience join him in singing and swaying along to every word of Look What You’ve Done. Lighters and phone torches in hand, a teary moment for some as members in the audience wipe away their memories. Putting a hold on the slow set for a hot minute with Get What You Need, it was again time to strip it back with classic break-up material Move On, finishing up with Radio Song.
Get Me Outta Here had everyone back on their feet and ready to roll, but with an extended introduction to the next song, it was the loudest “yeeaaaaahhhhh” you could hear in this venue – another group singalong of “gotta leave town got another appointment” – Cold Hard Bitch was absolutely without a doubt, the most welcomed song of the evening.
Putting their energy into their performance and delivery leaves little room for spoken words when on stage. Nic taking a grateful moment though to tell the crowd, “This album changed our lives and we want to thank all of you”. This receiving much appreciation from Jet fans, who ranged from being in their 20’s and were only getting born themselves back then, to those old enough to be their parents.
Come Around Again, Take It or Leave It and Lazy Gun journeyed us toward the end of the evening as guitarist Cam Muncey took the lead vocals performing the last song on the Get Born album, Timothy, where the moshers turned swayers in the night.
Keeping in the tone of swaying, Cam, Pete, Mark and Louis depart the stage to allow for a solo Nic Cester to perform an acoustic Shine On, the song being the title track of their 2006 album release, Shine On.
After 15 years, Jet have a new release. Nic confirming, “We’ve been away for a while, but we have a brand new song…before we play it I want you to know it’s only available on vinyl”. Hurry Hurry isn’t a Spotify release (yet!), but has been released on limited edition 7” vinyl, as the group work on a new album to be released next year. It was certainly a crowd pleaser ,as the moshers turned crowd surfers with Jet rounding up the night with post Get Born hits, Seventeen and Rip It Up.
JET’s 20 Years of Get Born – Extended Edition tour continues with a further six shows around the country this May/June, then heading to the US for three sold out gigs in New York, Nashville and LA later this year in October. Jet has also released a new single Hurry Hurry 7″ – listen through our recent Press Release.
Set List: Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is / She’s a Genius / Black Hearts (On Fire) / Last Chance / Are You Gonna Be My Girl / Rollover D.J. / Look What You’ve Done / Get What You Need / Move On / Radio Song / Get Me Outta Here / Cold Hard Bitch / Come Around Again / Take It or Leave It / Lazy Gun / Timothy / Shine On / Hurry Hurry / Seventeen / Rip It Up.
Band members: Nic Cester (vocals/guitar), Chris Cester (drums/vocals), Cam Muncey (guitar/vocals), Mark Wilson (bass), joined by Pete Marin (drums) Louis Macklin (on keys).
Sheldon Ang Media would like to thank Live Nation Australia, RPM PR and Jet for the media accreditation
About the Writer/Photographer – Lee Garces is a local lifestyle and events photographer based in Rockingham with a great appreciation of Australian music. Keep an eye out as she endeavours to continue to capture more of our homemade talent, right here in Perth!
Perth based Sheldon Ang Media (est. May 2022) have been accredited to almost 100 of the hottest acts including Taylor Swift (ERAS Tour in Sydney), KNOTFEST (Melbourne), Coldplay (Perth), KISS, P!NK, Tom Jones, Robbie Williams and Rod Stewart with reviews shared by the likes of UB40, Delta Goodrem, The Wiggles and Toni Childs on social media.
