Review: The Screaming Jets @ The Shed 4/1/24

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Review: The Screaming Jets @ The Shed 4/1/24

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Marc Roberts

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Review: The Screaming Jets @ The Shed 4/1/24

January 5, 20257 min read

Words by Penny Brand. Photos by Marc Roberts.

Legendary 90s rock band The Screaming Jets swung past the Sunshine Coast last night hitting the stage at The Shed on their latest tour. With local legends Pricey and Wave Raiders supporting, it was a packed house at the iconic Banana Bender Pub at Aussie World.

The Shed is the perfect backdrop for a Jets show. It just smacks of quintessential Aussie rock ‘n’ roll, and was packed to the rafters with salt-of-the-earth types, who after a few beers would give you the shirt off their backs. Unless it was a Jets merch tee of course, and there were plenty in the crowd rocking those!

Frontman Dave Gleeson is a huge supporter of emerging acts, and was only recently here with Pricey at the Big Weekend Festival. He has taken both Pricey and Wave Raiders under his wing this time around for three stops on the tour. They played at Beenleigh’s Distillery Rd the previous night, and tonight perform at Gold Coast’s Miami Marketta (January 5). (Grab your tickets here https://tickets.oztix.com.au).

Caloundra tween rockstars Wave Raiders gave a killer warm-up set, proving there is only one way from here for them – and it’s on the up! Their set was tight and you could tell they had put a lot of effort into their choreography. It was well-rehearsed and full of energy – with guitars on heads and all sorts of shenanigans – well done lads.

Pricey @ The Screaming Jets

Pricey brought his usual charisma and larrikinism, smashing threw all his hits, including some favourites from his breakthrough band The Chats. “I’m Pricey and I’m from Coolum Beach!” he says before he launches into his punk-rock classics such as “Big Sky” and “88”. There was plenty of all-local commentary too with “Wrong Way Sekisui” – about unwanted high rises at Yaroomba – and “Courtesy Bus”, a hilarious diddy about the bowls club courtesy bus. Pricey is a star performer and it’s evident the love he has for his fans is a two-way street.

When I first walked into the Banana Bender Pub, Pricey was the first to catch my eye, sitting there in his green VB cap blending in with the punters. He’s a true local legend through and through. He is truly passionate about his hometown of Coolum and just wants everyone around him to succeed. There’s no ego, just a whole lotta love and plenty of good rock tunes and beer. He’s the first to give you a big hug when he sees you out and about, and there’s always a glint in his eye when he spots you in the crowd from the stage. Pricey is one genuine dude who only has one path in front of him, and it’s straight to the tippy top.

The Screaming Jets @ The Shed

The Screaming Jets show that age is no barrier to great rock ’n’ roll. Their passion was palpable, and the connection between the band and the crowd felt just as electric as it did in their prime. They play with fire and fervour, and they weren’t just running through their greatest hits – they were living and breathing them. And their adoring fans were soaking up every last drop.

After speaking to a few in the crowd it was clear the entourage were on this tour, as these fans had just been to their Beenleigh show and were heading to Miami Marketta too. I love when the hardcore fans do this stuff. It just adds to the excitement and nostalgia of the show.

The Jets left the best till last with “Better”, “Helping Hands” and “Shivers” all re-living their peak 90s rock moments. But the highlight was Pricey joining them on stage for “Fat Rich Cunts”, where an epic guitar-on-heads battle ensued with Jimi Hocking. The only person we missed was bassist and co-founder Paul Woseen who sadly passed away in 2023.

This show wasn’t just a celebration of the past: it was a statement about the present and future. As The Screaming Jets tore through their set with the same intensity as ever, they not only proved that the heart of rock ‘n’ roll is timeless, but that you don’t get to the top on your own – you take your mates with you. This is The Jets handing the baton to our emerging stars, Pricey and Wave Raiders. But it’s not quite over for these rock greats, because after that performance it’s clear they still have a lot more to give when it comes to igniting the stage and capturing the hearts of everyone around them.