ROCKET SCIENCE
@ Hopetoun Hotel, Sydney
September 5, 2008
Words: SIMON LI
Photos: RICHARD SHARMAN of Blackshadow PhotographyNight Two of a three-evening Sydney run to launch their new album "Different Like You", Rocket Science proved what a stroke of luck it was that this unique band wasn't lost to the world - along with vocalist-keyboardist Roman Tucker when he suffered THAT untimely accident.
Apologies to both The Straight Arrows and Songs, both of whom I unfortunately missed, but they reportedly warmed up the Hoey band-room which was quite the packed house.
My first encounter with what became known as Rocket Science was in the late '90s, when Roman (ex-The Martians/Velvet Tongue/Royal Flush) was fronting "The International Jetset" at Fitzroy's The Night Cat. This was a night that showcased his formidable keyboard prowess (which left his incredible guitar antics in The Martians abandoned and left for dead.) This band would then lead into Rocket Science whose founding members Dave Gray (ex-The Freeloaders) and Paul Maybury (ex-Megalong Valley.)
Founding guitarist and "Different Like You" producer Paul Maybury was not on stage tonight, having retired from touring, to concentrate on his studio and home life, which left guitar duties to be handled by newly-added Mickey Heartbreak.
Opening with "Welcome to the 3C10", Rocket Science's set was comprised mostly of tracks from "Different Like You", with the title track and "Psychic Man" working well alongside earlier period gems "Burn in Hell" and "Being Followed". It was a set that proved without doubt that this band still has all that's necessary to keep older fans and solidify newer fans' interest.
Tucker was so inspired as to desert the stage with mic in hand and get in amongst the crowd, whilst the rest of the band maintained their onstage rage. Rhythm section Dave Gray and Kit Warhurst were in rock solid form and new guitarist Heartbreak proved a more than impressive replacement for Mr Maybury on tonight's showing.
Rocket Science at The Hopetoun Hotel proved that you hardly needed to have psychic powers to determine that these men remain capable of delivering the garage goods.
