Live at The Trust Arena
10 October 2024
Live Music Review by Music Journalist: Paul Marshall
For the eagle-eyed, or rather eagle-eared among you, the unmistakable Rock’n’roll vibes of Eagle-Eye Cherry are impossible to miss. His signature sound, a blend of Hothouse Flowers’ soulful energy, Jellyfish’s quirky pop sensibility, and just a touch of Roachford’s smooth groove, resonates as distinctively today as it did decades ago.
It’s been more than 25 years since Save Tonight catapulted Swedish singer-songwriter Eagle-Eye Cherry into global stardom.
The track became a worldwide anthem, emerging from Desireless, an album originally intended for a modest independent release in Europe.
The unexpected success of that record launched Cherry into a career that continues to evolve, with his recent album, Back on Track (2023), offering fresh material that complements and expands upon the songs that first put him in the spotlight.
Coming from music royalty (his father is jazz great Don Cherry), and his half-sister is none other than 80s icon Neneh Cherry, Eagle-Eye’s lineage is steeped in creative genius.
Fun fact. Neneh is still making waves herself, with her latest release Immortal Queen (2024) featuring collaborations with Chaka Khan and Australia’s own Sia.
Kicking off the night with the riveting This Paralysis, Cherry eased the crowd into his familiar sound, his raspy vocals and steady guitar leading the way.
By the second track, I Like It, it was clear that this live rendition outshone the recorded version, with the raw energy of electric and acoustic guitars taking centre stage, lifting the song far beyond its studio synth elements.
Everyone feeling alright? Cherry asked the crowd, eliciting an enthusiastic roar in response. He followed it up with One of Those Days, a heavier-hitting track where the synths echoed The Killers, and the rock edge recalled 80s Roachford.
By this point, the audience was fully engaged, hanging on his every word, and he knew exactly how to keep the momentum going.
Are you still having fun? he teased, before launching into the 2000 anthem Are You Still Having Fun? Complete with infectious hooks and a chorus that demanded a singalong.
The set was a celebration of 90s and early 2000s Indie Rock, with Cherry exuding effortless cool throughout. Dressed in a black Peace t-shirt and long black trench coat, he performed with a kind of calm confidence that radiated dignity. No gimmicks, just pure honest music.
And of course, it all came down to the finale. With Desireless now over 25 years old, it was inevitable that the night would close with Save Tonight. As the first strums of the song rang out, the crowd erupted, and for a few glorious minutes, it felt like 1997 all over again.
Reviewer: Paul Marshall
Eagle-Eye Cherry - Set List
- This Paralysis
- I Like It
- Death Defied By Will
- Golden
- Falling in Love Again
- Streets of You
- One of Those Days
- Are You Still Having Fun?
- Save Tonight
Reviewer: Paul Marshall
Photography by Paul Marshall
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