A professional press photo shows four male musicians from the band The Struts standing side-by-side in front of a neutral-colored wall. All are wearing distinct black and metallic outfits with a glam-rock aesthetic.
The Struts Credit: Anna Lee Media / Universal Music Group

If any band can turn a hot, sweaty Florida summer night into a manic, frenzied, over-the-top glam rock extravaganza, I put my money on The Struts.

The British four-piece band, which has exquisitely infused 1970s-style hard rock leanings, bombast, and style into modern pop music, treated a near-sell-out Jannus Live crowd to an evening of crunchy riffs and dazzling showmanship last Wednesday night, and staked its claim as one of the most exciting and electrified contemporary bands to experience live.

No apt description of the band’s panache and penchant for its grandiose presence is complete without mentioning their fabulous and exuberant lead singer, Luke Spiller. As displayed during the band’s last visit to the downtown St. Pete venue in 2021 and solidified during this most current performance, Spiller is an untamed and boisterous ball of flamboyant energy that is a joy to watch and observe.

Sporting a loose-fitting button-up blouse, tight black slacks, and a stylish scarf around his neck, Spiller started the night jumping, dancing, prancing, shimmying, and, yes, strutting, and didn’t let up for the duration of the group’s dynamic 90-minute set. His shaggy, jet black locks would soon be drenched in the sweat he was pouring, which only seemed to inspire him to increase his energy level and his swagger. Add to that already impressive package his strong, soaring, powerful vocal style, which more than helps make him, undoubtedly, one of the best rock and roll frontmen out there today.

Sure, he borrows from Mick Jagger and Freddie Mercury and emulates their moves and their flashiness, but who better to cop from than that pair of awe-inspiring legends?

Emerging from the wings of the darkened stage amid a swath of bright strobe lights and multi-colored spotlights, the band kicked into full gear with “Primadonna Like Me,” a balls-out rocker from its 2018 sophomore album, Young & Dangerous. Clearly firing on all cylinders from the onset, the band was loud (yet crystal clear) in its sound, but greatly benefited from the outstanding backing vocals and harmonies both guitarist Adam Slack and bassist Jed Elliott offered.

Billed as the “Everybody Wants 10 Year Anniversary” tour, the band’s current trek commemorates their decade-old, gritty, hook-filled debut album. In tribute to that heavy, glam-driven record, the band is performing that entire album, in its exact running order, as the bulk of its set. While there’s not a bum track on that fine album, the momentum of the performance got a little clumsy towards the end of the track list, especially when it came time to play the piano-driven ballad (with the multi-talented Spiller taking on upright piano duties) “Young Stars.” A fine song in its own right, when sandwiched between anthemic, high-energy rockers, it slowed the pace of the frenetic set list. But that one misstep was a small snag in comparison to the superb readings of some of that album’s standout tracks.

“Roll Up,” the album’s opening track, got the featured song list off to a rollicking start. Steeped in traditional glam rock sheen, Spiller enhanced the performance thanks to his perfect swishing, swirling dance moves and his posing. Enticing the crowd to bounce up and down and sing along throughout the night, rockers like “Could Have Been Me” and “Put Your Money on Me” sounded especially ferocious and tight, and showed off the band’s ability to bring its firepower to a live stage. “The ‘Ol Switcheroo” recalled the sing-along choruses that were synonymous with the sound of Slade, one of the greatest of all the original 1970s British glam bands, and saw The Struts carrying that torch forward loudly and proudly.

For “These Times are Changing,” Spiller recalled the band’s rise to fame upon the release of their debut album, mentioned the initial success they’d experienced in France, and the opportunity they had to open for The Rolling Stones in their earlier days. With that, he dedicated the song to those fans who’ve been with them since their inception.

Ending the night with the promise of one more encore, The Struts brought this magnificent night of fun and unrestrained rock and roll to a close with a red-hot rendition of “Pretty Vicious,” the title track from their 2023 album, which surpassed its recorded version in terms of attitude and passion.

While The Struts rely on plenty of influences for shaping their sound, and are proud to show off the debts they owe to their rock forefathers, their conviction and determination to keep the torch burning for glam-infused, exuberant, spirited rock music is as admirable as it is infectious.

Another band that doesn’t shy away from paying homage to its rock predecessors, Dirty Honey, opened the night with a sizzling 45-minute set that got the audience warmed up and engaged from the first notes of its 11-song performance. Recalling the drive and the in-your-face rock and roll vibes of bands like AC/DC and early Aerosmith, the four-piece, Los Angeles-based group served as a great counterpart for this double-bill that set the tone for an uplifting night of carefree, hard and heavy sounds for a super-responsive audience.

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This article appears in Aug 28 – Sep 3, 2025.

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