Simon RushworthThe Lazys and Sweet Electric @Newcastle The Grove, 25.09.26
For Liam Shearer this may well have been the most rock and roll night of his life.
The Aussie-based Newcastle United fan wore his black and white stripes loud and proud as The Lazys kicked off their first show on Tyneside.
And if sharing a name with the Toon’s greatest ever goalscorer wasn’t enough, Liam was finally able to share the same rarified air and fan adulation as Big Al.
Of course, The Lazys’ Leon Harrison — in the face of a partisan Geordie crowd (and a few brave Mackems) — couldn’t help but taunt the masses by declariong himself Man City through and through.
On the day the ‘cheating c***s’ (his words, not ours) were back in the news for their alleged industrial scale rule breach, the flamboyant frontman’s faux allegiance to the Premier League’s pantomime villains seemed apt.
Harrison loves the banter just as much he loves the music and that beaming, cheeky smile is one of the greatest sights on the live scene.
Prior to their Newcastle debut, Rushonrock’s only taste of real life Lazys was at Ramblin’ Man Fair in 2019.
Back then we happily referenced the raging Aussies’ ‘infectious anthems and endearing craic’.
Seven years down the line and we’re happy to report it’s business as usual on both fronts.
Harrison held the rowdiest of Friday night crowds in the palm of his hands as a band as slick as they’re incendiary raced through a set of AC/DC-meets-Airbourne bombast with a liberal helping of punk-fuelled attitude.
There’s the obsession with pirates and (thanks to lead guitarist Matty Morris) the tribute to Johnny Cash.
Then there’s bonkers bassist T.J. Smith — a livewire Canadian who’s the perfect foil for Harrison in full, piss-taking flow.
But there’s also the bona fide, fist-pumping anthems in the shape of Can’t Kill The Truth, Nothing But Trouble and new single Too Tough To Die — now dedicated to the late, great Angry Anderson.
In truth, The Lazys had it all to do after supercharged support Sweet Electric hit The Grove all guns blazing.
Rippling with pent-up energy — after their opening slot was cut from the previous night’s Manchester show following a last-minute venue change — the five-piece played like their lives depended upon it.
Regular visitors to Newcastle, it’s baffling that the Toon’s rock community wasn’t out in far greater force to support the NWOCR scene leaders. This is a blast of a band that never disappoints.
Sweet Electric and their high voltage frontman Brad Marr have proved time and time again that there’s no better show in town… when they’re in town.
And yet again a truly remarkable blend of 80s pop metal mixed with glam rock and heavy blues threatened to bring the house down.
New album Something Something Disco dropped earlier this month and a ripper of a record boasts more bangers than a sold-out sausage festival (something the Cologne-based collective know all about).
Party starter Mexico and new single Long Way Back are made for gold lame tracksuit-wearing singers in sweaty rock clubs the world over.
But what about brain melting set closer Hard Times? For a band that missed a gig in Manchester — and had their van smashed in 48 hours later — these really are the toughest of times.
Marr sings Sweet Electric’s final song like he really means it. He does.
