After 13 long years, The Neighbourhood have returned to Australia for their Wourld Tour, having kicked off in Sydney and now sitting midway through their Melbourne leg. This is their first headline tour in the country, having only ever performed with a short stint at Laneway 2013, so it’s safe to say Aussie fans have waited a long while to see their favourite songs across five albums.
Before they take the stage, we’re greeted by the night’s opener, Noise Dept., for an emotion-fuelled electronic performance. As a US-based artist, this being his second time in Melbourne makes his journey feel a little extra special. Standing beneath a multicoloured spotlight, he pieces together an electronic DJ set; only this set is blessed with beautiful live vocals. The live vocals add so much heart and quality to the tracks that you can’t help but feel moved by his sound and passion. That’s also not the last we see of him, as he joins the band for the entire duration of the show; showcasing his talents on the guitar.
With the stage blanketed in a layer of fog and a Siri-like voice setting the scene, The Neighbourhood kick off with one of their biggest hits off their latest album, Hula Girl. With lead singer Jesse Rutherford partying with a tambourine, he moves through “OMG’ to “Cry Baby”; where the latter song got the seated stadium crowd up on their feet to an eruption of applause and squeals of joy. Moving through huge hits from their self-titled album, we get to “R.I.P 2 my Youth”, where Rutherford encourages ‘lighters’ to come out and fill the stadium with a starry night. It’s a beautiful sight, and one of many instances of crown interaction that Rutherford encourages.
One of the biggest pops of the night goes to “Afraid” off their debut album, I Love You. With hands waving and a chorus of singing along, they transition right into “You Get Me So High” to prolong the good vibes. As they head towards the end of the unofficial part one, “Devil’s Advocate” fills Margaret Court Arena with pure joy. The song is accompanied by fun, frantic and almost psychedelic camera work, making it one of the most memorable moments of the night.
The next portion of the night is introduced as the ballad section, where the bulk of their slower songs live. This is a brilliant approach as it eliminates the jarring tonal shifts that stem from some artists hopping between fast-paced bangers and slower, emotion-heavy beats. By keeping them all in one tight segment, the likes of “Daddy Issues”, “The Beach” and the groovy “Private” are able to thrive due to the audience expecting a very specific vibe and getting exactly that.
The slower ballad segment paves the way for a finale that’s as wonderful as the three songs it houses. “Sweater Weather” is arguably their best and most popular track, so to no surprise it lifted the roof off the arena. Audience engagement was at an all-time high here, rivalled only by the final song; “Softcore”. It’s an interesting choice to go out with “Softcore” over “Sweater Weather”, but since the latter has had a slightly longer shelf life, I can see the vision. Besides, there was no love lost, as the crowd was perhaps the loudest they had been all night.
Musically, this concert was packed with fantastic songs, but it was the incredible on-stage talent that upped the wow factor. Jesse Rutherford’s stage presence is a real treat, prancing across the stage, gradually stripping his clothing and engaging with the audience in ways that are endearing and playful. He has a similar on-stage vibe to Role Model; a little flirty and fun, while also quite classy. He seems to have boundless energy, getting the crowd involved in any way he can during songs. The staging itself is minimal, yet it works for this performance. Backed by a band of seven, the stage is lined with instruments, giving off a distinct old-school vibe that doesn’t rely on flashy sets, letting the music do the talking instead.
The Neighbourhood’s Wourld Tour is the perfect love letter to the fans, especially Australian fans who haven’t been able to experience the band’s biggest hits from the last decade and beyond in a live setting. Every element of the staging is minimal yet well crafted, including the on-screen visuals which range from live shots to pre-filmed footage and the occasional song-relevant graphics. The vocals don’t miss a beat, and the array of on-stage instruments enhances every single track beyond the quality heard on your drives and at-home listening. With a setlist that spans their biggest albums, it’s a discography that benefits immensely from a live setting, making this global tour one that’s not to be missed for any fan. All we hope is that it doesn’t take another thirteen years to be able to witness greatness like this again.
FIVE STARS (OUT OF FIVE)
The Neighbourhood play again at Melbourne’s Margaret Court Arena tonight before heading to Singapore for their next leg – For last minute ticketing information, head HERE.
Reviewer attended on Friday July 10th, 2026
Image supplied
