Opening band The Cants draw their sound from classic stoner rock and ‘90s metal with an emphatic set mostly based on covers that never fully lifted into top gear despite solid guitar playing. The lead singer is the shining light of the band tonight, even with some slight pitching problems. She has an edge with a real Patti Smith attitude. I felt the back-up singer did not work and took direction away.
I'd like this band to rely on their own song-writing and believe The Cants can soar with more of their own material. They're still finding their feet and there is a prospect of them becoming something special once they break out of the party band mould.
Van Ruin was the band that a quite a few folk had travelled from Sydney to see tonight: It's their debut public show and they were chancing their arm with just one intense rehearsal earlkier in the day.
The band has evolved out of a 35-year friendship between former New Christs guitarist Al Creed and guitar-vocalist and songwriter Phil Van Rooyen (also currently in Chickenstones). The pair have shared history in Northern Sydney Beaches bands like Dr Fruitworld and Panadolls, two of the district’s most rocking acts in the 1990s.
The songs Phil has worked up were written pror to his recent band Sonic Garage. Phil recorded and/or remixed, mastered and released them as the “Jails, Death and Institutions” EP.
It’s a tough. killer, no-frills CD in the tradition of street-level Northern Beaches rock ‘n; roll, as practised by Hellmen, RUST and Celibate Rifles. There’s also an influence of The Visitors and the New Christs. The songs are in a similar vein to “Asteroid”, the song that launched Sonic Garage a few years ago, and it is in the set tonight.
It’s a sensitive and emotive song about Phil’s close mate, Luke Lovelock, from their band Circus Chaplains, a wild spirited, sensitive and talented musician who left too soon. Tonight, it’s performed with urgency and a flat to the floor attack. Al Creed rips in with fluid and blistering guitarwork, forming a formidable two-guitar attack with Van Rooyen.
Sonic Garage’s demise at the end of 2023 has freed Peter Triftunovic (Mushroom Planet) to join Van Ruin on bass.He’s paired with drummer Stuart Wilson who is in fine form tonight. When he and Trifunovic lock in, they are machine-like. Wilson is one of my favourite drummers in Sydney; he has swing and no matter what band he sits behind, he lifts them to a different level. A craftsman and intelligent player.
We are served a blistering take on “This Perfect Day” by The Saints that takes on an MC5 feel.
Phil Van Rooyen.
Van Ruin is lean, mean and focused. “Let’s Me Down” is a blistering song. So is “Threw It All Away”. The pace is brought down a notch with the soulful “Is it Enough”. The set was understandably short and they return for an encore with a punked-up version of “Another Girl Another Planet” and the New York Dolls’ version of “Pills”.
The band was a bit rough around the edges and there was a feeling they were winging it in a couple of places. Quite understandable but there’s no mistaking the chemistry between Al Creed and Phil. The whole band already has a real connection on stage. They need half a dozen gigs and a few more solid rehearsals. They will mean business.
Van Ruin obviously draws from the history of street level rock, post-Radio Birdman, with maybe a sideways glance to 1978 and “Give It Enough Rope” period Clash. They are the real deal.
