Music is a wonderful thing in that it has the potential to bring people of different backgrounds, races and creeds together under one enveloping banner of mutual respect based on musical taste alone.
When LA glam outfit The Midnight Devils managed to find their way onto the stage supporting Bon But Not Forgotten at The Corner Hotel one Sunday afternoon of their debut Australian tour, many - especially the rock hardened fanatics that generally make up an AC/DC crowd - were torn between the urge to ridicule, fight or flee the moment the three open minded Americans forced their way through the lunchtime doors and began loading their gear on stage.
Quizzical looks were rampant, as were the murmurs and rumblings of an unforgiving crowd that was already swollen despite the early afternoon timing. People talked behind their hands, laughing and pointing in the direction of the trio, who were openly smiling and happy to be given a chance to play in front of a large audience.
From the moment the boys struck their first notes and frontman Sam Spade bounced onto stage the looks had turned to bemusement, then eventual wonder, and finally respect as all previous inhibitions fell to the floor as The Midnight Devils got the party started - LA style.
So good was their performance that day that the Captain of Bon But Not Forgotten, James Morley, approached the Devils and put the feelers of interest out to see if they were keen to return to Australia in 2024 for a national run of shows to celebrate the 50th birthday of Bon Scott.
Now, twelve months later, the tour has kicked off, with two massive shows in Perth opening the run of shows before TMD made an early morning dash to Brisbane to play for their growing fan base on the only opportunity they had to play in the Sunshine State.
As the dust settled and the memories began to take hold, there could only be one conclusion drawn.
The Midnight Devils had nailed the absolute fuck out of the three shows, proving more than capable as an opening act for Australia's premiere tribute band.
HEAVY was initially asked to speak to BBNF frontman Skenie but decided to handpass the opportunity to TMD vocalist/bassist Sam Spade to see just how much the two respective band leaders have learnt about each other in just three days.