After the successful release of debut album Don’t Sleep, Melbourne band Stealing O’Neal graced Sydney with their presence for what turned out to be an amazing show.

 

Due to being a tad late (may or may not have possibly had any idea which direction to go in when on Oxford Street) unfortunately I only got the tail end of Sierra Montana’s set, but from what I heard the upcoming Sydney pop/rock band sounded quite promising.  Ladies & Gentlemen were up next. Having never actually heard their music (or ever heard of them in general) I was impressed with their live set. Vocally and musically they played well, and having just MySpace stalked them, I can safely say I would catch them in a live gig again in the future.

 

All the way from the Gold Coast, Skyway hit the stage next, and I enjoyed their set so much I nearly forgot about the headline act. They played with a great energy, with their harmonies spot on and I predict this is a band who will keep getting bigger and better. You can download a free copy of their EP now if you go check out their MySpace!

 

Having to follow such stellar performances,  Stealing O’Neal  hardly disappointed. It is now official – I LOVE seeing this band live. I’ve been lucky to see them three times and they improve with each live show. This is the first time I’ve seen them in a more intimate setting, and I was curious to see if their show would be just as energetic compared to seeing them with far bigger crowds. However, the bands was as energetic as usual, Chris Scott’s vocals spot on (with his seeming trademark microphone cord hanging from his neck) and to this date I think this is one of the best shows I have seen the boys play. Hearing all the new songs from Don’t Sleep was a major highlight as well as the great energy drummer Ryan D’Sylva plays with – that guy just looks like he is having the time of his life every time he hits the stage. Crowd involvement was great for a smaller crowd, with Chris also demonstrating great front-man skills.

 

Kudos to Chris for trying to get guitarist Tim O'Keefe to get naked – Tim just didn’t seem to be in the mood that night, much to the girls and possibly some of the guys dismay. And also kudos to the girl in front of me that started crying when Chris touched her at some point. If that isn’t a hardcore Stealing O’Neal fan right there, I don’t know what is.

If you haven’t happened to catch Stealing O’Neal live yet, you’re missing out. I only see this band destined for great things in 2011.