The Metro Theatre in Sydney pulses with a distinct kind of energy. A low hum of conversation fills the room, punctuated by the clinking of beer bottles and the occasional shout from the back. It’s the kind of anticipation you can feel in your bones—the waiting before something big happens, something real. The Reytons are about to take the stage, and the crowd, a mix of die-hard fans and newcomers, is packed tightly, leaning into the night.
Everyone knows the band has been busy conquering stages across the UK and Europe—those sold-out arenas, the monumental Clifton Park show in Rotherham, their sophomore album ‘What’s Rock and Roll?’ topped the UK charts in 2023. And now, here they are in Sydney, ready to shake the Metro.
Local support acts Satin Cali and Sunset Avenue hit the stage with a kind of energy that feels both loose and sharp, like they’ve been waiting for this moment but aren’t overthinking it.
There’s a certain energy in the air tonight, an anticipation that can’t be faked. The devotion is tangible — fans sporting the band’s name across their chests, worn like a badge of belonging. When The Reytons finally take the stage, something snaps in the room. It’s that collective, ecstatic release only live music can generate, the kind that blurs the lines between age and identity.
Frontman Jonny Yerrell spits out the verses with his signature grit, each line sounding like it’s been dragged through a dozen pub nights, packed into a few too many vans, and sharpened by real-life wear. Behind him, Joe O’Brien’s guitar cuts through the room with those razor-sharp riffs that stick in your head long after the amps cool down. Jamie Todd sits behind the kit, a reliable presence who’s been holding down the rhythm since he stepped in after their first gig. But it’s Lee Holland who keeps pulling your eye. He’s a blur of movement, high-kicking his way across the stage, but somehow, despite the frenzy, he never misses a beat. His basslines are the anchor, the steady heartbeat that drives the band’s unmistakable sound. Holland’s energy is almost contagious, and you can feel the crowd responding, the room swelling with that undeniable push-pull between band and audience.
The Reytons head to Melbourne next and will play the Croxton Bandroom on 5 October.
