Pyro, Phallic Props, and Puppets

A three piece made up entirely of Robinsons, which feels far too neat to be accidental and works in their favour as a band identity.

Duane on lead guitar, Jamie on bass, JP on drums. They opened with All These Things That I’ve Done by The Killers and walked into a room that was bank holiday Sunday ready. The place was full, the energy was there, and they didn’t waste time easing into it.

The pre set build mattered more than you might expect. Cinematic sound bites running before they stepped on stage created a sense of humour and anticipation that a lot of bands skip over, meaning the first note didn’t feel like a start, just setting the tone for the rest of the evening.

JP’s kit setup tells you everything before he even plays a note. Cymbals set high, almost exaggerated, very much in that classic rock silhouette. There’s intent behind it rather than just noise, even if he did spend the first half of the set in a hoody and beanie.

Jamie stepping in on vocals across parts of the set added a welcome shift in dynamic. It broke up the run of songs in a way that kept things feeling varied without interrupting the flow. It also gave the set a bit more personality, which matters when you’re working through well known material.

Radioheads 'Just' can be a risk. It relies on tension and control, and if it drops, it drops quickly. Here it held together. The band kept the pace tight and didn’t let it drift.

Billy Idol followed and the crowd response was instant. Calls for “more, more, more” came easily, although Jamie’s attempt at getting the crowd involved with some group dancing didn’t quite take. As someone fully convinced the Macarena fits any song with enough commitment, this had all the makings of a great crowd moment. It came in just a touch too early, before the audience were fully warmed up for dancing. Shifted into the second half of the set, it likely becomes a guaranteed win.

Mid set, a double hit of Green Day was exactly the right move. For a crowd this varied, it pulled everyone onto the same page. Even those hanging back were drawn in.

The addition of pyro effects for the drums and guitar lifted the visual side without becoming a gimmick. Timed well, used sparingly, and just enough to draw a reaction. It complemented what was already happening rather than competing with it.

Elton John’s Rocket Man marked a shift into something more theatrical. Costume change, extended guitar work, and a moment where Jamie moved through the crowd before returning looking entirely dishevelled. It could easily have tipped into chaos for the sake of it, but it didn’t. There was control underneath it, which is exactly why it worked.

Sweet Caroline made its appearance, and personal opinions aside, there are moments where you let the crowd have exactly what they want. This was one of them. Bank holiday, World Cup fotball just around the corner, and a room full of people ready to sing. It did exactly what it was meant to do.

The transition from Must Be Loved into Lip Up Fatty was one of the smarter pacing decisions of the night. A brief dip into something lighter before pulling everyone straight back up. It kept the room moving without feeling forced. Watching every generation in the crowd test their knees and hips without hesitation, is usually a reliable indicator that you’ve judged it correctly.

They closed with Queen, but not in a token way. After the expected calls for one more song, they delivered something closer to a full extended finale. More costume changes, props brought in, and Bohemian Rhapsody played with a sense of theatre that matched the scale of the track. It didn’t feel excessive it absolutely felt earned.

And then there is Jamie’s moment, which is difficult to ignore and even harder to describe while keeping things even vaguely P.G. Appearing on stage with what can only be described as an exaggerated, theatrical, distinctly phallic addition. Not real, presumably, but convincing enough that a member of the crowd decided to test that theory, pulling on it like a stretch arm strong. It was ridiculous, unexpected, and completely in keeping with the tone of the night.

As covers bands go, this is a group that understands its audience and commits to the performance beyond just playing the songs. The musicianship is there, but it’s the willingness to lean into character, timing, and interaction that sets them apart. It is very easy to see why they draw the crowds they do. The reputation has not come out of nowhere.