What is a summer rock song? According to Big Red Fire Truck it’s a track that portrays the feel good vibes of a classic American (or in our case Aussie) summer. The major theme is love, usually a fleeting summer love or in a few cases, sudden heartbreak.
Guitar heavy, these tracks will have you dropping the top down and launching into carpool karaoke as they hit their huge choral melodies.
How hot do you like it? Big Red Fire Truck are pumping the thermostat to dangerous levels with their 10 hottest summer rock tracks of all time.
The Dead Love – Summer
The local boys bring out that summer vibe from the late 90s early 2000s when various forms of grunge and punk were filling the charts and the Warp tour and Big Day Out were the places to be.
If you ever get to see these guys live it really is a powerful, high energy show not to be missed.
The Darkness – Million Dollar Strong
They encapsulate what we love about the old school while continuing to create something sounding modern and timeless at the same time. The opening riff is strong, the chorus uplifting, and the solo’s short but right on the mark.
Harts – Peculiar
So laid back yet filled with so much passion and fire. Harts always manages to throw in a jaw dropping solo two or three times per song too which is right up our alley.
The addition of the strings in this song really makes it sing, and compliments the entire production. Another artist you need to see live to really experience in full.
Warrant – Mr. Rainmaker
Mr. Rainmaker explodes at the 10 second mark and never really lets up from there. Like most tracks from this era it is all about a girl, but this has a sweetness to it that only summer love can provide.
Killer key change for the solo too. Feels like Venice beach on a hot June Sunday in ’91
The Lazys – Howling Woman
Howling Woman has groove from the get go and the verse vocals are so catchy it only takes a few listens before you start singing along to every lyric. Screaming the chorus at their shows is an experience in itself.
Van Halen – Feel Your Love Tonight
David Lee Roth doin’ his thing with most lyrics sounding off the cuff and Eddie playing one of his grooviest riffs. It’s a track that you can really move to and it’s this swing that they had that really separated them from all the hair metal copycats of the 80s.
Jane’s Addiction – Super Hero
Mid 2000s summer spent watching season upon season of Entourage hungover on a Sunday. Every time you hear that intro creep in… OH YEAH.
Blink 182 – First Date
The drum intro sells this song on it’s own. Killer 70s summer film clip and song lyrics combine to make you feel 15 years old again, chillin’ with your new squeeze on your family holiday up the coast.
Reckless Love – Wild Touch
They sound 80s but these young Swedes are currently smashing it over in Europe. Very bubblegum metal and proud of it, another young lust track drenched in reverb and squealing vocals.
David Lee Roth – Just Like Paradise
The title really nails a summer in Sydney. After leaving Van Halen, DLR swung over to a more pop driven hard rock. Steve Vai compliments Dave’s vocals so well with his guitar fills and you can’t help but sing the chorus as you cruise down the highway with your arm resting out the window.
Big Red Fire Truck will launch their latest single Primal Heat at Brighton Up Bar on Friday Feb 24. All the details here.
