The Rialto Theatre’s classic neon lit up downtown Tucson last week when glittery British rockers The Struts rolled into town to celebrate the 10th anniversary of their electric debut album. Joined by Dirty Honey, it was a night of music with an old school vibe and very new school energy.
The room was buzzing by the time California rock quartet Dirty Honey sauntered onstage to begin the show. The band was the perfect complement to The Struts’ manic intensity. Dirty Honey brings a more laidback approach to their take on the classic rock sound, with singer Marc LaBelle’s vocals stretching to the rafters on those high notes. From younger kids at their first show to older attendees rocking the merch, Dirty Honey had plenty of fans in the room to sing along to “Gypsy”, “Heartbreaker” and “Don’t Put Out the Fire”. Guitarist John Notto took center stage to shred through multiple guitar solos while bassist Justin Smolian whipped his impressive curls and drummer Jaydon Bean made goofy faces at the front row from behind his kit. Their performance ended with “Rolling 7s” before the band made their way to the back of the room to sling their own shirts and meet eager fans in the lull before the main event.
It’s almost hard to believe that The Struts’ debut album was released only 10 years ago as the band has been omnipresent in the touring world since Everybody Wants dropped. The band combined 80s glitter and glam with their own cheeky lyrical style for an unforgettable debut and one that continues to resonate with audiences around the world. The Rialto boasted a full house for the band and they certainly strutted onstage ready to give it their all.
Even after a decade of relentless touring, The Struts are still clearly having the time of their lives onstage. The grin never left singer Luke Spiller’s face as the band gave the people exactly what they wanted- a full album playthrough of Everybody Wants. The stage was bathed in vibrant pinks and purples, going dark only at Spiller’s request for the fans to light the room with their phones on “Mary Go Round”.
It was impossible to stay still during “Dirty Sexy Money” and Spiller encouraged the audience to shake what they had for the rest of the night. The fans were more than happy to oblige, turning the Rialto into a sweaty nightclub on a Wednesday and making sure The Struts got a proper welcome back to the desert after being away from Arizona for so long. It was a rollicking good time with everybody’s favorite Brits and the band gave Tucson a glitzy sendoff with the last notes of “Where Did She Go”. The spectacle was worth the trip south and we’ll be awaiting the next glitter bomb to hit Arizona when The Struts return.
