LIVE REVIEW: CHERIE CURRIE + HOT MACHINE @ CROWBAR 13/09/25

Photo Charlyn Cameron

Words by Cecilia Pattison-Levi. Photos Charlyn Cameron

Cherie Currie's 2025 Final Australian Farewell tour continued at Crowbar in Brisbane. The night was pure rock ‘n’ roll heaven with a community of people who know what good rock ‘n’ roll looks and sounds like. You do not need pyrotechnics, extreme lighting or any other gimmicks when you have a rock legend in fine voice, a tight band and great songs. Fans were treated to high-energy show featuring Cherie Currie’s songs written over the past 50 years especially her connection as a member of the classic Runaways’ band. She delivered an evening of rock with grace, style and authenticity with the assistance of an amazing group of musicians in her band and the support of Australia’s own all-female rock band Hot Machine.

The surprise of the evening was the outstanding performance by the Melbourne based band Hot Machine. They delivered an awesome warm up performance while demonstrating the continuum of women in rock music. They celebrated the music of a rock legend and showed where the present and future is going for female rock bands. Hot Machine were able to show with consummate skill how women in music have been able to build off the founders of women in rock like Cherrie Currie and pay it forward. And, I have to say Hot Machine make that future look bright!  

Photo Charlyn Cameron

Hot Machine comprises of Sammy O'Keefe (vocals), Sarsha Marsden (rhythm guitar), Jess "JT" Turner (lead guitar), Brittany Britten (bass) and Jessica Maio (drums). And, their performance had swagger, powerhouse vocals all delivered with sass and musical skill. Their 12-song set with an encore was superb. They treated the crowd to songs like ‘Red Hot Summer’, ‘She’s On The Money’, ‘Fuel To Fire’, ‘Bad Hand’ and Night Rider’.

Hot Machine were a pure rockin’ quintet with sparkle. They were perfect pairing in every way for supporting the ‘Queen Of Noise’ herself. The songs like ‘8 Ball Blues’, ‘Burnt’, the group’s searing cover of Pat Benatar’s ‘Heartbreaker’ and the great song ‘Speed Machine’. They delivered heavy guitar riffs, terrific guitar solos, tight rhythm control in drums and bass, lovely headbanging flailing long tresses and powerful vocals. Their songs were wrapped up by women in full control and who were experts in delivering full-throated heavy rock music.

Hot Machine closed out their set with ‘Sweet Lick’ and ‘Ruff Ridin’ Rebels’. At the end of the set, the band looked stoked to be in Brisbane and warming up the crowd for Cherie Currie. She made a surprise appearance on stage at the end of band’s final song. She shouted out deserving words of praise for them. And, then she demanded Hot Machine do an encore and the crowd was over the moon about that - as the music continued. Hot Machine please hurry back to Brisbane with those new songs and album.

After a short break, where towels were put down, new setlists were put on the floor, water was strategically placed but the fan was missing.

Photo Charlyn Cameron

Cherrie Currie’s band that comprises of her son Jake Hays (drums), Nick Maybury (lead guitar), John Ashton (guitar) and Blane Barker (bass). And, she told me earlier: “The energy of his young band, Maudlin Strangers, and their excellent guitarist like Nick Maybury, they will blow the roof off the place we are playing” and she was right. As the band took their positions on stage, the crowd clapped and woo-hooed. Then, Cherie Currie came out onto the Crowbar stage in camos, and the voice of The Runaways hit the ground running with ‘Queens Of Noise’ and the crowd was in rock ‘n’ roll nirvana.

Cherie Currie was here to rock ‘n’ roll. She and the band got stuck into ‘California Paradise’ and then she chatted to the crowd: “Did any of you guys see the movie ‘The Runaways’? Well, the next song was from that movie. It was originally written and recorded in 1975 by the glam rockers Sweeney Todd with Nick Gilder,” she explained. And, then, she and band delivered the cymbal-heavy ‘Roxy Roller’.

Photo Charlyn Cameron

Then, there was a moment, as Cherie Currie stole the fan from her drummer as she had a “menopause moment” in the Brisbane heat. The crowd had a laugh about those life changes before Cherie Currie asked the crowd: “Do you know who Slash is?” and the crowd nodded back to her. She introduced the song ‘Mr. X’ that was a Slash/Duff McKagan co-write and appears on her album ‘Blvds of Splendor’.

Then, the crowd were treated to the huge sing along that is ‘Rock & Roll’ (“It’s alright!”) as Cherie Currie got down onto the floor and in with the crowd to sing the song. The crowd lapped it up as people danced and sang along with her. Then, she returned to the stage and delivered the amazing ‘You Wreck Me’ about a former relationship she was in.

Photo Charlyn Cameron

Then, she stopped and spoke about her former band mate Sandy West and had a “brain fog moment” and got confused about where they were in the setlist. It lasted all of 20 seconds but her son joked about the “menopause moments” especially his “moments” as the sweated dripped down his face and someone had found him a small fan to help him cool down.

Cherie Currie revealed that the late great Runaways drummer Sandy West gave Jake Hays his very first drum lesson. “Jake gets Sandy like Sandy got Jake,” she stated as the drums started and ‘C’mon’ was delivered with an awesome Nick Maybury guitar solo. It was electrifying as the band continued on into ‘Rock & Roll Oblivion’ where Cherie Currie’s voice was on fire. It was a set highlight!

Then, the set started to really heat up with the delivery of The Runaways’ ‘Is It Day Or Night?’, ‘American Nights’ and of course the classic ‘Cherry Bomb’. Cherie Currie teased the crowd with the “Ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-ch” before launching into the performance of the song with massive crowd participation in the sing along. Cherie Currie kept true to the song’s original version that the crowd knows and loves – and the love was strong in the room – for her, that song and The Runaways.

Then, the set was over. But there was demand from the crowd for the night not to be over yet. Cherie Currie, her tight band and Hot Machine returned to the stage to perform David Bowie’s ‘Rebel, Rebel’ and they had a fantastic time. Cherie Currie told the crowd: “The man that started my rock ‘n’ roll journey was David Bowie”. The song is on the movie soundtrack of ‘The Runaways’. It is a Diamond Dogs-era classic and it was wonderful to sing it with her as she grabbed my hand in the final chorus.

Photo Charlyn Cameron

Cherie Currie, then, signed off for the final time in Australia. She thanked her superb band; she praised the deserving Hot Machine for their great performances on the tour. And, she reflected on her time – 50 years in the music business – and the rise of women in music – as she admitted, “I love feeling like I might have had just had a little bit to do with that” as she winked knowingly.

The Runaways, along with Suzie Quatro who Cherie Currie also praised during the night, were one of the first all-female rock bands in 1975. Their legacy in their songs, and the band members, still resonate 50 years on. It was wonderful to spend the night in the presence of rock ‘n’ roll royalty.

The admiration from the crowd was genuine and heartfelt: there was real joy and a tinge of sadness as a real ‘musical era’ was brought to an end under Cherie Curries’ own control and on her own terms. Magic!