Mario Vayne / An Aussie Soho Showcase At Karma Sanctum

As music journalists, we attend a lot of showcases. But tonight, we witnessed a showstopper as Australian rock pioneer Mario Vayne checked into Karma Sanctum Soho, the rock ‘n’ roll hotel, to celebrate his upcoming album, The Moment.

As the Christmas lights twinkled on a very cold night in Soho, the crème de la crème of rock royalty including my colleagues photographer Eric Duvet and Rhys Tagg, plus writers, PR, friends and fans, all piled into the hotel home of rock, The Karma Sanctum Soho Hotel in London to meet a brand new music talent on the global scene.

All the way from the Gold Coast of Australia, Marcus Vayne greeted the packed venue. “Jeez, it’s bloody cold here,” he declared. “I had to go straight to a shop and buy 20 layers.”

This was Q&A like no other.  Hosted by MTV Headbangers Ball legend Vanessa Warwick, and now the presenter of Trust In Rock, we were thrilled to welcome back the Queen of Metal as she chatted to the main man in question, Mario Vayne.

Plus we were treated to some new songs from the upcoming album drop The Moment. Mario put his heart and soul into this new album and as we were honoured to hear a few of his carefully crafted songs, we soon realised it is going to be a banger. 

Vayne literally has rock ‘n’ roll flowing through his veins (sorry, I couldn’t resist that one). His style of music is what we have been waiting for. With nods of nostalgia and instantly catchy choruses but with a modern Aussie Twist, there is something for every rocker.

From the energy licks of electric to the softer ballads, Vayne can sing. He has a set of pipes some rock stars would kill for, and his guitar chops are off the hook.

Looking like the proverbial rockstar in mirror shades, a bandana covering his luscious long hair and leather trousers, Mario is a delight to listen to.  You can feel his passion. Having started young as a performer, Vayne took some time out to do some “normal stuff.”

But it was his kids who persuaded the rocker to return to recording and performing, and boy we are pleased that he has.

With a love of Harley Davidson motorbikes, Jack Daniels, and the Aussie scenery, each video and song is packed with nods to his homeland. In fact, Vayne grew up not far away from AD/DC legend Bon Scott and he was certainly an inspiration.

But Vayne is no Acca/Dacca or Airbourne. His style is classic with a slight hint of that ’80s rock we all grew up loving, with the big anthems, the big hair, big guitars and the big voice. No growling, pure singing.

We were given a sneaky exclusive listen to the track Rock ‘N’ Roll Day, and it is not often at a showcase like this we were already singing along by the second chorus. Enabled by some cracking vino tinto, everyone here was clearly enjoying themselves.

Then the video for Electric is exactly what you want from a filmic slice of rock like this, with the dodgy backstage dressing room, the shots of JD, live performance and sublime fan shots. It felt like you were right there with him in an old venue, rocking it up.

It was like being back at the old Marquee, and if this video is a hint of what to expect when Vayne tours next year, then we are all going.  Vanessa Warwick stated that she would be right down the front wearing the tour T-shirt and getting her rock on.

So join the Vayne train and check his socials. This guy is the real deal. 

His management includes my dear friend Mark Adams, who was at the helm of Kerrang! TV for 15 years and my favourite colleague when I was honoured to work there with him. He is now the CEO of Blinding Talent, and he sure has the gift to cherry-pick top talent and promote them. With PR from Duff Press, Mario will rise to the top, and we can all proudly say we saw him here first.  

As the Q&A came to a rapturous end, none of us wanted to head off home, as we were proper in the mood to party. So we headed up to the bar where another one of my favourite rock bands, Sick As Thieves, turned up with JD in hand, and we stayed partying and celebrating Mario until the wee hours.

It’s times like these I’m blessed to be a rock chick and a reviewer. I just love my job.

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