LOS ANGELES, CA- Jet’s two-night run at the Troubadour marked the band’s return to U.S. soil after a 14-year absence, and the sense of occasion was unmistakable. The Troubadour, with its deep-rooted history in the Los Angeles music scene, felt like the perfect venue for their comeback. There’s an energy that only certain places can capture. With Jet on the stage, it was as if the venue itself was shaking off some of its own nostalgia. The band ripped through their classic debut album *Get Born* from start to finish, allowing us to time travel back to 2003.
Formed in Melbourne in 2001, Jet quickly shot to stardom with the release of *Get Born*, a record that blended rock revival with raw energy, capturing the hearts of fans around the world. Their iconic single “Are You Gonna Be My Girl” became a defining anthem of the early 2000s, but despite their initial success, the pressures of constant touring and recording eventually led to a hiatus in 2012. Fans were left wondering if they’d ever return. Now, after more than a decade, the band is back, recharged and ready to reignite the stage, as if no time has passed.
From the moment they walked out, Jet had the crowd in the palm of their hand. The energy was undeniable, with people from different generations and geographic locations—someone said they’d come all the way from Minnesota—packed together, singing along like no time had passed since the early 2000s. With only five U.S. shows on this tour, fans seemed determined to soak up every note.
Super American Eagle opened the night with a powerful set that left the room buzzing. Super American Eagle is an Australian rock trio known for their fusion of classic rock and psychedelic influences. Emerging from Melbourne, the same vibrant music scene that produced bands like Jet and King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard, they’ve quickly made a name for themselves with a sound that combines raw rock energy with trippy, mind-bending elements. They’ve been praised for their powerful live performances that pull in audiences with their intensity and fresh take on rock, and their fanbase is steadily growing, especially among those drawn to bands that blend modern rock with a vintage twist.
The Australian trio’s mix of rock and psychedelic fusion was a fitting prelude, shaking the foundation with a sound that’s as fresh as it is rooted in classic influences. They’re the kind of band that makes you take out your phone and search for their music on the spot.
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Jet didn’t disappoint. Nic Cester strutted onto the stage, high-fiving fans in the front row, with an energy that made you forget it’s been nearly two decades since the album first dropped. The crowd erupted when the opening chords of “Are You Gonna Be My Girl” rang out, that signature bassline pulsing like a jolt of electricity through the room. That wave of nostalgia hit hard—I was suddenly back in 2003, hearing that song on an Apple commercial for the first time.
The chemistry between Nic and Cam Muncey was obvious. At times, they locked the necks of their guitars like duelists sparring with swords. Nic’s vocals surged with the raw edge of someone who was truly giving it everything while he danced through hard rock scales on his guitar. Nic was determined to show his desire for performing by leaning out into the crowd with his guitar, dancing on speakers, and even climbing onto the drum kit. Whether that’s just Nic’s usual stage antics or he was feeding off the crowd’s energy, it didn’t matter.
The band took a moment to share their excitement about being back, and Nic hinted at new music in the works. It’s surprising they don’t have a bigger following in the U.S., given their knack for earworm anthems and live shows that leave you aching for more. Maybe it’s the oversaturated market of rock bands in America, but anyone who saw them that night would have walked away wondering why Jet isn’t more of a household name stateside.
As the set continued, the atmosphere in the Troubadour seemed to swell and contract with the music. The crowd surged during “Cold Hard Bitch,” fists pumping and heads banging, while slower tracks like “Move On” and “Look What You’ve Done” cast a different spell, bringing a reflective quiet over the audience. The lighting shifted with the mood, accentuating the highs and lows of the performance.
By the time they finished, the audience was buzzing with that post-show adrenaline, a mix of exhaustion and euphoria. The final chords echoed through the venue, hanging in the air like the last embers of a fire. It’s hard to believe that Jet’s been gone for 14 years. Playing the entirety of *Get Born* was a brilliant nod to their roots, a wave of nostalgia that reminded us why we fell in love with them in the first place.
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LIVE CLIPS
