LIVE REVIEW: THE RIONS @ THE PIER BANDROOM
The Rions’ Happiness in Places tour, celebrating their EP ‘Happiness In A Place It Shouldn’t Be’, made its way to The Pier Bandroom in Frankston on Saturday night. With support acts Pisco Sour and Holly Hebe, the night was filled with love, sweat, and an overwhelming sense of youthful joy.
First up was Pisco Sour, one of my favourite Melbourne bands. They’re bringing back 80’s Aussie pub rock, and it’s impossible not to love them for it. Over the last two years, they’ve grown exponentially, recently signing with Mushroom, and Nich Marchese’s vocal abilities have skyrocketed. Nich, the pocket rocket of a lead singer, has insane energy that electrifies the stage.
Hearing their new song ‘Kids’ live for the second time was a highlight. I love the way each verse builds, kind of like INXS’s ‘Never Tear Us Apart’, until the extremely rewarding and satisfying chorus. The boys’ love for each other and their fans is palpable—it’s infectious and made me so happy to witness.
Next was Holly Hebe, who brought major “upcoming pop star” energy. As a Ninch local, she had plenty of rowdy supporters in the crowd. Playing keyboard throughout her set, she delivered soft indie-pop vibes reminiscent of Clairo, Beabadoobee and Phoebe Bridgers. My favourite song was ‘If You Were a Person (Ruby’s Song)’, a heartwarming love song for her dog, Ruby. It’s nostalgic and fuzzy yet bittersweet, as it reminds us that we outlive our beloved childhood pets/best friends. It was such a beautiful moment, and I’m so excited to see her continue to grow - her 67k monthly Spotify listeners are just the beginning.
By the time The Rions took the stage, the room was buzzing. Their crowd- a sea of moustache-wearing young men (seriously, why use Hinge when you can go to a Rions concert?)- was ready to celebrate youth, love, and music. You know that feeling when you go to a gig expecting a good time, but the moment the band starts playing, you’re reminded why they’re f*cking epic and every one of their songs is a banger? I found myself saying, “OMG, I LOVE THIS ONE,” almost every song. I loved listening to songs from their new EP, especially ‘Passionfruit’ and ‘Physical Medicine’. They perfectly capture the vibe of summer road trips and late nights with friends at a festival campsite.
The encore? Pure magic. Holly returned to the stage to join Noah (lead singer of The Rions) for ‘The Part’, their voices melting together like chocolate. And the final song, ‘Minivan’, epitomised everything The Rions are about: carefree, vibrant, youthful energy. Everyone was on shoulders, chanting, “Don’t care if our parents are worried… We’re on our owww- ow-ow-ow-ownnn” (iykyk).
I left feeling so grateful for my youth. Naturally, I drove straight to the beach and went for a swim with my friend- it was the perfect end to an unforgettable night. I can’t wait to listen to the Rions all summer!