The Metro Club on Oxford Street, London has long been an old haunt for Hurricane Party so it was quite fitting that this venue played host to their first ever gig as Roadstar last night. A couple of hundred of very sweaty punters, including Thunder’s Luke Morley, filled the club in eager anticipation following a break of several months since the band’s last gig.

Before the main event of the evening we were forced to endure another young band, Sweet Suzi, fronted by a very energetic and vampish young lady with plenty of attitude. Sweet Suzi are big on riffs (good!), big on eyeliner (err, okay) and big on trying to convince us that they’re terribly evil with lots of rolling of eyes and protruding of tongues (not convincing!). What they’re not big on, however, is songs, which failed to win them any new friends amongst last night’s audience.

Roadstar burst on stage with Ready to Go followed by the blistering Killer. They looked and sounded fantastic and every time I see them they look as if they’re having a whale of a time and seem amazed that they’re getting away with it. Unlike Sweet Suzi, Roadstar are big on songs and treated the crowd to now well-established favourites such as Last Survivor and Crown of Thorns as well as introducing a new track (who’s name I didn’t get) that stood up well. Admittedly, just like some bands that have been going for even longer, there are a couple of weaker songs in their set but by in large they were hugely impressive and their best known song to date, Roadstar, had the whole club jumping.

I don’t think I’ve ever been as excited by any new band as I am with Roadstar. They look and sound the part and lead singer, Richie Hevanz, could pass for a young Steve Tyler. They have fantastic melodies, huge head-banging riffs, and quite simply, they know how to rock! With their first album coming out early next year and a forthcoming support slot with Thunder, the future is looking good for Roadstar. Make no mistake, there is a real buzz around this band and judging by their performance last night, it’s justified.

Rezagrats