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Royal Headache are hot property right now, and deservedly so. Headlining on the small stage, the Sydney foursome crank the intensity up several notches and plow through a ferocious 20-minute set of magnificently hyperactive power-pop.
From the first chord the crowd at the front is a seething, yet good-natured, mass of bopping bodies. Curly-headed frontman Shogun is a star – and he knows it. He has the smiling punters eating out of the palm of his hand as the band cranks out a set comprised entirely of potential hit singles. ‘Girls’, ‘Splash’, ‘Psychotic Episode’, ‘Eloise’, ‘Surprise’, ‘Honey Joy’ – each number is priceless, effortless and packed with explosive, infectious energy. One would only need to stick a microphone in the room at one of Royal Headache’s current run of shows to capture all that’s required for a white-hot debut album. While they have a reputation for ramshackleness, none of this was evident during this set.
The drumming was fast, tight and infused with the spirit of punk rock. Galloping bass and chiming Rickenbacker guitar locked in behind the snare rolls to set the scene for Shogun’s full-throttle soul revue. Even before the wired singer launched himself into the audience mid-song, it was clear we were witnessing something quite special; a band at the top of their game. You’d be hard-pressed to find a better live rock’n’roll experience.
by René Schaefer
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