Review: The Rions @ Hindley Street Music Hall
With their humour, energy, and ability to connect with fans, The Rions delivered a night Adelaide won’t forget anytime soon.
Words and image by Dakota Griffiths
The Rions w/Holly Hebe & Stormy-Lou @ Hindley Street Music Hall 30/11/2024
Buckle up, because ‘jet engine city’ has taken off to new heights during The Rions' biggest Australian tour to date.
Fresh off the back of a successful co-headline tour with Pacific Avenue across Europe and the United Kingdom, The Rions released their 6-track EP Happiness In A Place It Shouldn’t Be in September and wasted no time in taking it on the road.
The Rions returned to Adelaide/Kaurna following their sold-out show at The Gov earlier this year where the city earned the title of ‘jet engine city’ after the crowd proved to be louder than a jet engine during The Rions’ performance of hit single ‘Minivan’.
While the venue didn’t sell out, Adelaide sure did turn up, with fans lining Hindley Street well before the 8:00pm door time. As soon as those doors were open, it was a race to the barrier for devoted fans eager to secure their spot.
The evening began with local indie-rock band Stormy-Lou, whose lively set quickly warmed up the crowd with their personable interactions and enchanting performance. The band showcased their emerging talent, particularly with their electric presence that was barely contained to the large stage of Hindley Street Music Hall.
Next up was the ethereal Holly Hebe who has to be one of the most exciting artists coming out of Melbourne/Naarm. With her dreamy pop music and celestial light show, she created an enchanting atmosphere that captivated the audience. It’s been a successful year for Holly with the release of her debut EP Ruby and recent single ‘Ultra Love’, featuring the talented US artist Ella Rose.
Between Holly Hebe and The Rions, the interlude took an unexpected turn with a playlist of old school R&B hits from artists like The Black Eyed Peas and Nelly Furtado. This provided a fun singalong moment for people of all ages, even if the R&B edge of ‘No Scrubs’ felt worlds apart from The Rions’ pop-rock energy.
Exploding onto stage two minutes early, The Rions kicked things off with ‘Sweet Cocoon’, the opening track from their Happiness In A Place It Shouldn’t Be EP. The crowd immediately joined in, setting the tone for a high-energy set that blended old favourites like their debut single ‘Sadie’ and fan favourite ‘Night Light’ with the entirety of their new EP. The band kept the energy alive and there was no shortage of laughs from the crowd as the band incorporated humorous moments into their stage banter, including an impromptu lightsaber battle to introduce ‘Anakin’. Lead guitarist Harley Wilson also informed the energetic crowd that Adelaide was his most anticipated stop of the 22-show tour, which got the punters cheering.
‘Passionfruit’, with its youthful energy and introspective lyricism, was by far the best-received track of the night. The performance of ‘The Part’ was a particularly intimate moment, with Holly Hebe returning to the stage for a stunning duet with The Rions lead singer Noah Buckley. Their harmonies created a magical atmosphere under the venue’s grand chandelier, prompting couples and friends alike to slow dance.
The night closed with the song that crowned Adelaide as ‘jet engine city’, their huge hit ‘Minivan’. The crowd didn’t disappoint, breaking their own record of an ear-splitting 121 decibels – the energy was high until the very end.
One of the most remarkable things about The Rions is their diverse fan base which ranges from teens to middle-aged adults. The community feel was evident throughout the night, with everyone singing and dancing together in a shared celebration of The Rions and the bands' achievements.
The Rions once again proved why they are one of Australia’s most exciting bands. With their humour, energy, and ability to connect with fans, they delivered a night that Adelaide won’t forget anytime soon.
