Jet and Dallas Wax: A Loud, Sweaty Night of Rock and Roll Nostalgia
The electric energy leading up to Jet’s sold-out show was intense. Fans snatched up tickets quickly; Jet’s highly anticipated return to touring, marking the first major shows for the Australian rock band since their split and 2017 reunion, proved a massive draw. The Melbourne-born group, fronted by powerhouse vocalist Nic Cester and featuring his brother Chris Cester on drums, Cameron Muncey on guitar, and Mark Wilson on bass, rose to international fame with their 2003 debut, Get Born. That album channeled the spirit of classic rock and garage revival, making them one of the 2000s’ defining rock acts.
Opening the night, New York City five-piece Dallas Wax delivered a perfectly fitting and extremely good set. Lead vocalist/guitarist Ryan Dallas Wax and his bandmates—John “Kutter” Reddan (bass), Owen Hite (keys), Matthew Stawinski (guitar), and Gabriel Seiler (drums)—cater their sound with influences from punk, psychedelia, and the blues, a style they’ve dubbed “stepson rock.” Their tight, energetic performance earned loud cheers from the hungry crowd. They drove the set forward with catchy riffs and a driving rhythm section, finishing strong with a surprise cover: a blistering take on Billy Idol’s “Rebel Yell” that had the floor instantly singing along. Dallas Wax absolutely set the tone for the headliner.
When Jet hit the stage, the crowd exploded. Nic Cester immediately commanded the room, launching into a set that demonstrated exactly why fans missed the band so much. The audience knew every lyric to every song. Literally every single person sang every single line back to the band without missing a beat. You saw the genuine pleasure and deep humility Cester and the band felt playing to such an ecstatic, devoted crowd.
The band packed the setlist with high-octane fan favorites from their catalog, especially tracks from Get Born. They tore through essentials like “Last Chance,” “Look What You’ve Done,” “Rip It Up,” and “Rollover D.J.” Naturally, the biggest radio hits generated the loudest singalongs: the iconic riff of “Are You Gonna Be My Girl” got the entire venue moving, and the raw swagger of “Cold Hard Bitch” provided a massive high point.
Other highlights on their reunion setlist included “Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is,” “She’s a Genius ,” and “Move On.”
The Belly Up gig was just one stop on their current run, which includes major festival appearances like Corona Capital in Mexico City, showcasing their continued relevance on a global scale. Overall, JET delivered an incredible show. It successfully fueled the nostalgia for longtime fans and proved their classic brand of rock and roll remains vital.
