End‑of‑tour air hangs sweet and heavy – that rare poignant cocktail of road‑worn tightness and last‑night looseness.
We’ve been on this dusty ride with Sons Of The East for some years and the promise tonight is simple: nothing saved for tomorrow, everything hurled at the dark. You get to feel it could be a rowdy one; after all, the joint is packed to the rafters with Australians and South Africans alike – there’s a charge in the air for sure.
A simple strumming of the reassuringly familiar I–IV–V progression opens Matthew Mole’s perfectly paced set at Kentish Town’s O2 Forum. Soon, the gentle shift to rhythmic fingerpicking allows his big, rich voice to soar across the venue as he launches into “I’m With You.” From the very first notes, it’s made clear he’s completely at ease on stage; his delight in performing is palpable, and his genuine surprise at the audience’s early enthusiasm is utterly charming.
Within a matter of minutes, Mole wins the crowd over with his mellow sound and infectious positivity. When he tentatively asks the audience to sing along – and they do – his soft, incredulous laugh only deepens the connection. Though he’s been on an extensive summer tour with Sons of the East, there’s a box-fresh newness about him tonight that gives his performance the sparkle of a debut.
As the set unfolds, the atmosphere grows buoyant and buzzy. Mole’s gorgeous voice, carried on heartfelt lyrics, fills the Forum with emotion and hope, things we need, things we hope for, things to hang on to. His signature sound – a confident blend of acoustic guitar rhythms, subtle electronic percussion, and that sonorous, wide-ranging vocal – wraps the audience in an enormous warm embrace.
By the end of the set, it’s clear what makes Matthew Mole so special: sincerity, optimism, and songs that radiate wholehearted love. It’s a performance that leaves the crowd fully warmed up, entertained, and uplifted.
If you didn’t know, Sons of the East are Jack Rollins (lead vocals, guitar) Nic Johnston (vocals, keys) and Dan Wallage (guitar, banjo, vocals) and they are looking cool, calm and extremely confident as they take their places on stage. Much like our own dearly departed Bruce Forsyth, Jack has a silhouette ready pose and we must say – nice to see you Jack, nice!
As lean and as mean as he’s ever been, guitar held high, Jack debuts the evening with Recognise, and the harmonies are there just as we had remembered them but, ooh just a little bit tighter, closer, dare we say lovelier even than before. The end of a long European tour (although there’s not much of a break before they start again in the US), one might expect voices to be a little tired (or at least hoarse) but Jack’s distinctive Laryngeal folds are as strong yet tender as ever, a slight huskiness adding an exciting and delicious aesthetic edge.
There’s more of that silky crushed velvet voice as old favourite On My Way bursts into sunshine, the banjo perfectly in step with those brilliantly balanced harmonies.
There’s a change of guitar (in fact, there’s usually a change of guitar!) for a pure Country start as Pour the Wine slides over the crowd in a gush of joy, There’s a compelling sense of mutual delight that is growing with each song and as they sing Come Away, everyone is singing and The Forum becomes a huge ball of energy.
The set list is a lucky mix of the old and the new; a showcase of the band that these boys from Sydney have become. Still with all the passion and warmth of the early days, this is now a finely honed, ultra-professional performance – a real class act.
Rescue Me, a song from their new album, is unmistakeably Sons of the East in style; in structure (exposition of an initial idea which is then developed and variated) in the chord structure, rhythm and tune, with an a capella section that displays just how well these three sing together.
The swish of a banjo and the flourish of the keyboard combined with those storyteller lyrics are reminiscent of Bob Dylan, I Wish I Knew infused with sophisticated lyrical techniques and poetic expressions.
It’s the harmonies, though, that elevate Sons of the East to something truly special. Seamlessly blending until individual voices melt into one, then breaking out with sudden clarity, they deliver spine-tingling moments, none more so than in One Track Mind, sung unamplified, raw and fearless. By the time the first unmistakable notes of You Might Think strike, and Jack leaps into the crowd, the devotion of their fans – singing every word is overwhelming.
And so, with the explosive encore of the beloved Millionaire, the night feels like a celebration- maybe even that long dreamt-of lottery win. Sons of the East’s masterful harmonies, boundless energy and exceptional polish and talent made for an inspirational evening – a perfect goodbye to summer.
1st 3 Magazine have followed Sons of the East for several years now, but tonight they shone brighter and better than ever; a polished gem that sparkled more resplendent even than afterglow of the Aussie sun. They sent us home uplifted, renewed, and reminded of music’s rare ability to turn an ordinary September Saturday into something unforgettable.
Sons of the East played
27th September 2025
O2 Forum Kentish Town
Support from Matthew Mole
