Words by Benno Rogers
Pix by DarkSpiritPhotography
Right, so this is my first time writing a gig review. How does one even start this sort of thing? Do I begin by telling you that my flight to Perth kicked off with a computer glitch that had everyone thinking the plane had left five and a half hours early? Or do I start with the obvious, that with Danny back on stage, this show was always going to sell out?
It’s also my first time at Magnet House in Perth. Technically it’s a nightclub, but don’t let that fool you. The stage is huge, the room is wide, and the motorised LED tube ceiling is absolutely insane.
Opening the night are ALTER BOY, and the moment those subs warm up you can feel it in your bones; this show is about to blow up! ALTER BOY are no-holds-barred and unapologetically themselves, with a powerful visual performance that includes one of the members signing the lyrics in AUSLAN for the hearing impaired. They kick off with HVN & HELL and instantly win the crowd over. Molly’s voice is transcendent when it hits, and the emotion behind it is even more powerful live. Pretty quickly, it’s clear this isn’t just a gig, it’s a show. Full credit to the sound team with a long runway in front of the PA, managing clarity and level was top-class. Lighting and vision were equally on point, and by the time they closed with Act of God I’m fully primed for what’s to come.
Then the lights drop. The LED screen lights up with a countdown timer, and the moment it hits zero the crowd erupts, VOYAGER are back. This is their triumphant return, and in my humble opinion, they remain one of the best live bands ever. They open with The Best Intentions, which is emotional and perfect, then roll straight into Colours and Dreamer. The crowd sings every word, and the band are tighter than ever: heavy, groovy, and having an absolute blast. When Danny pulls out the headgear, we all know Submarine is next, and how Alex manages to play in that helmet still baffles me.
There’s a powerful through-line in this set. Chapter one closes with Brightstar, and chapter two begins with Gren (Fearless In Love). The room is right there with them, it’s not just a crowd, it’s a choir. Throughout the night, chants of Fuck Cancer and even Oncologist! burst from the pit, hitting hard, hitting real.
To the Riverside and Ghost Mile bring the weight before I (this little Queenslander) somehow cop a shoutout from Danny right before Hyperventilating. Pretty sure I left with whiplash. Then comes their latest single, Seen Better Days which provided a deeply personal moment. You can see the emotion in Danny’s face, and the crowd is there, holding him up.
But it’s not all heavy feels; this is VOYAGER. Their stage banter is legendary. The second interlude has them jamming through the theme songs of Red Rooster and Home and Away. It’s chaotic, hilarious, and just so them.
Chapter three kicks off with Alex walking the catwalk for a solo bass intro into Runaway. The LED screen flickers to Eurovision footage, and the crowd loses it as Promise explodes through the venue, every lyric screamed back in full force. Simone’s solo? Flawless. Honestly, I could watch her play guitar all day. Not be outshone, even Ash gets out from behind the kit at one point to take a strut down the catwalk to be adored by the crowd.
They wrap with Ascension, and what a closer, but of course, it’s not really over. There’s one song left. The song they love to hate. The one that just won’t die. Yep, it’s time for White Shadow. The entire room sings, jumps, runs — run white shadow, run — and it’s the perfect way to finish. The vibe was massive. The love for this band even bigger. I made new mates and met fans who flew in from Adelaide, Melbourne, and Sydney just to witness this comeback. I loved every bloody second of it. I’m backing Danny all the way in his fight.
Voyager By Night was more than a gig. It was a celebration and one I’ll remember for many moons to come.
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