West Australian garage rock legends The Stems are making a triumphant return to the live stage tonight at the Manning Bar in Sydney, which is one of the major stops on their 40th anniversary tour. After their last tour in 2019, original members Dom Mariani, Julian Matthews, and Dave Shaw have reunited with the addition of acclaimed guitarist Ashley Naylor, known for his work with Even, Paul Kelly, and The Church.
First up tonight are the New Christs with Rob Younger (Radio Birdman,) on lead vocals.
By the time The Stems take the stage, there is much anticipation in the air – a mix of nostalgia and the raw, unfiltered energy that only a band with four decades of history can conjure. The band’s garage rock sounds as sharp and vital as it was in their heyday. Their chemistry is palpable, each member locked into the groove with the kind of ease that only comes from years of playing together, yet still infused with the urgency of something to prove.
