One Electric Day Delivers Another Classic Rock Day With Noiseworks, The Angels, Baby Animals, The Screaming Jets
One Electric Day Mornington may have been challenged by weather but when you put together a line-up of heritage Australian rock bands, the fan feast was all that mattered.
Victoria was hammered by thunderstorms this weekend but after a wet start for Chocolate Starfish and The Screaming Jets, the skies dried for Baby Animals, The Angels and Noiseworks who each gave the audience a smorgasbord of classic rock songs we’ve had been ingrained in our minds for decades.
For Noiseworks, it was a special occasion for two reasons. The current shows were to honor their late guitarist Stuart ‘Chet’ Fraser who we lost in 2019. Jack Jones of Southern Sons is playing guitar on this tour. There was a real “circle of life” feel to this performance with singer Jon Stevens also announcing the arrival of his third grandchild.
Noiseworks have also released ‘Evolution’, their first album in 31 years and showcased two songs ‘Heart and Soul’ and ‘Sunshine’ at the show.
The Angels have a new movie ‘Kickin’ Down The Door’ screening in cinemas this week. It is incredible that we can still see this band with such its legacy already detailed in a book and now a movie with an unfuckable setlist. It is almost as entertaining watching an audience watching the Brewster Brother, John and Rick, the engine room of The Angels. These Australian music fans worship this band.
And Baby Animals, who may have come along almost 20 years after The Angels, performing right before them, casts an Australian rock heritage across the 70s, 80s and into the 90s. (And I hear from someone who chooses to remain anonymous that there may be new music from Baby Animals in 2023 … okay, okay it came from Dave Leslie. Dave Leslie blabbed).
While the weather behaved for most of the afternoon, it was a shame headliner Suzi Quatro had to endure the downpour. The rain challenged her voice and to avoid potential danger for the punters, promoter Duane McDonald was quick to act for the safety of the fans, who were still treated to some of Suzi’s greatest hits including ‘Daytona Demon’, ‘The Wild One’, ‘Tear Me Apart’ and ’48 Crash’. Suzi Quatro is in Australia for the One Electric Day events with her all-Australian band led by Nat Allison and Tim Henwood.
One Electric Day heads to Queensland next weekend.
26 November, Bribie Island, Sandstone Point Hotel
27 November, Southport, Broadwater Parklands
Then the Red Hot Summer tour begins on 14 January at Mornington racecourse with Paul Kelly, Bernard Fanning, Missy Higgins, Mark Seymour, Vika & Linda and Ian Moss & Troy Cassar-Daley.
The Angels documentary ‘Kickin’ Down The Door’ set for cinema release in December
The film features interviews with members of the band, past and present
Kickin’ Down The Door – a feature documentary based on the storied career of The Angels – has been set for a theatrical release at the start of December.
It’ll hit cinemas around the country on Thursday December 1, following its formal premiere at the Adelaide Film Festival tomorrow (October 19). It’ll also screen at the inaugural LongPlay Music Film Festival in Ballarat, with a special showing being held – alongside an acoustic performance by founding guitarists Rick and John Brewster – on Monday November 21.
The two Brewsters are the only founding members of The Angels left in the band; the group formed in 1974 alongside frontman Doc Neeson (who left in 2000, rejoined in 2008 and left again in 2011) and drummer Charlie King (who left in 1976). The current lineup is rounded out by Dave Gleeson on vocals, Nick Norton on drums and Sam Brewster on bass.
In addition to chats with the Brewsters, Kickin’ Down The Door will feature interviews with former drummers Graham ‘Buzz’ Bidstrup (who succeeded King and performed with The Angels until 1981) and Brent Eccles (who filled the gap left by Bidstrup until 2001), and many other figures integral to The Angels’ longstanding success.
The film was directed by Madeleine Parry – best known for helming Hannah Gadsby’s two Netflix specials, Nanette and Douglas – and produced by Peter Hanlon (Holsted), Martin Fabinyi (Chopper, Wolf Creek) and Rick Davies (The Caravan). Distribution comes via Universal, with the film itself helmed by Maslow Entertainment.
So reads the film’s synopsis: “The Angels came hurtling out of Adelaide with the searing guitars of the Brewster brothers and Doc Neeson, a frontman who was beyond intense. Their songs are etched in the DNA of this city: ‘Take A Long Line’, ‘Am I Ever Goin’ To See Your Face Again’.
“They were on the path to international success… until they just missed out. Yet they revolutionised Aussie music with gritty guitar rock and ferociously theatrical live shows.”