Live Reviews

Live Review: Wu-Tang Clan prove unstoppable at celebratory Sydney Opera House show

Anyone who has seen the almighty Wu-Tang Clan live before would be forgiven for being a bit cynical about their sold out four-show run at the Sydney Opera House. As far back as I can remember, all nine living members of the Wu have never been on an Australian stage together. The closest we got…

Read more

Live Review: Bhad Bhabie + DJ Busy – Enmore Theatre, Sydney (09.12.18)

Bhad Bhabie, otherwise known as Danielle Bregoli, otherwise known as “cashmeousiiiiide howboudat” girl, did not disappoint her tasteless brand as she played the Enmore Theatre stage. Opening act, DJ Busy, warmed up the crowd with well-known club tunes ranging from XXXTentacion to Cardi B. The tween audience was absolutely vibing it. In my opinion, the…

Read more

Live Review: Saba loved his CARE FOR ME show in Sydney just as much as we did

On Tuesday night, the Sydney Opera House was treated to one of the first Australian performances of Chicago rapper Saba, an incredibly talented rising star with a lot of hype surrounding his career to date. He was met with the warmest of welcomes from the packed Opera House, with energy and cheers greeting each changing…

Read more

Live Review: Stella Donnelly + Alice Skye + Jacob Diamond – Northcote Social Club (01.12.18)

Jacob Diamond, who was also a member of Stella Donnelly’s band for the tour, was the opener for the evening. Much like his fellow band member Stella, Diamond’s music has a strong focus on the meaning behind his lyrics. In fact this was a theme for the evening, with each of the evening’s artists presenting powerful…

Read more

Live Review: Gang of Youths put on a mesmerising show at Enmore Theatre as their huge tour comes to an end

Gang of Youths‘ epic stories of victory, tragedy and hope have been bringing young Australians a new appreciation of classic feelsy rock. The charisma, insightfulness and passion of lead singer Dave Le’aupepe has been at the front of most of this success, rendering comparisons to legends Bruce Springsteen and Michael Hutchence. I saw Gang of Youths perform…

Read more

Live Review: Dean Lewis kicks off his national tour at the Croxton in Melbourne with Jack Gray and Robinson

I’m no stranger to the stained lightbulbs that the Croxton Bandroom has to offer. It’s a marvellous venue which hosts some of best upcoming and established acts who choose to grace Melbourne with their presence. But on a chilly Saturday night, I was left waiting amongst a line of fans waiting to hear the sweet…

Read more

Live Review: Holy Holy + Clews + Bri Clark – Mojos, Fremantle (29.11.18)

Thursday evening saw Holy Holy’s Faces tour hit Western Australia, with a show at Fremantle’s Mojo’s, the first of three in the state. Joining the band were Sydney indie rockers Clews and Perth local Bri Clark.  The evening kicked off to a rather muted start with Bri Clark taking to the stage, armed just with…

Read more

Review: Bloc Party return to Sydney’s Hordern Pavillion for two shows celebrating their iconic debut Silent Alarm

The Silent Alarm tour brought Bloc Party back to a venue that saw them play some of the most memorable shows off the back of A Weekend in the City some 10 years ago. Though the first show of two in Sydney, it was the second show announced after the first sold out, so it…

Read more

Live Review: Alex The Astronaut + Hachiku – The Factory Theatre, Marrickville (29.11.18)

Alex The Astronaut has definitely been kicking a few goals the past couple of years. From moving back to Australia, to releasing both of her EPs, to gracing the higher echelons of The Hottest 100, she has been flat chat. And in amongst all these feats, she’s still found the time to tour religiously and…

Read more

Live Review: Alex the Astronaut and Paul Kelly cover David Bowie in Melbourne as Hachiku and Emily Soon support Alex’s Space Tour

Australia has always been known for folksy storytelling and our love of music. We’ve seen it through countless generations from Slim Dusty, Paul Kelly and now again in Alex The Astronaut. It’s the connective power of these stories and how relatable they are that makes these artists people to look up to and celebrate. Thursday…

Read more

Live Review: Glades + Balu Brigada + LA Women – The Corner Hotel, Melbourne (24.11.18)

Following the heavily anticipated drop of their new album (which was our recent Album of the Week), alt-pop trio Glades kicked off their five-show tour in Melbourne on Saturday night and left none of us disappointed. The band, formed in Sydney, released To Love You earlier this month and The Corner Hotel in Richmond was the perfect intimate setting…

Read more

Live Review: Xavier Rudd + The Teskey Brothers – Fremantle Arts Centre (23.11.18)

Friday night saw the South Lawn of the Fremantle Arts Centre play host to the penultimate night of Xavier Rudd’s Storm Boy Australian tour, joining Rudd for the evening were Victoria’s The Teskey Brothers. Having never seen The Teskey Brothers before, nor heard any of their output, I wasn’t too sure what to expect. Even…

Read more

Live Review: The Wombats gets the crowd singing in Melbourne with Eves Karydas

Eleven years after their initial album A Guide To Love, Loss & Desperation, The Wombats have been at it again. Their 2018 release, Beautiful People Will Ruin Your Life was a great addition to the band’s catalogue, touring it alongside their appearance at Splendour In The Grass. Yet, these tours were not enough for one of…

Read more

Live Review: Baker Boy + Dallas Woods + Kalea – Howler, Melbourne (17.11.18)

It was an evening of fun in Brunswick as Baker Boy brought the excitement to The Howler, along with two wonderful openers in Kalea and Dallas Woods. Baker Boy’s spirit was electric and was quickly transferred into the assembled crowd, making the night even more pumped. The night opened with the smooth vocalisations of New…

Read more

Live Review: East Brunswick All Girls Choir howl through Brisbane show with Gold Stars and Jack Spider

Melbourne’s East Brunswick All Girls Choir stood in a row on the Greaser Bar’s thin strip of stage. It’s smaller than the band’s original venue for their Brisbane show, which was changed due to noise complaints. Playing songs from their latest album Teddywaddy, their raucous noise crashed into the dimly-lit brick walls and no complaints…

Read more

Live Review: Spilt Milk Festival delivered a stellar day of Australian music and legendary international artists

Spilt Milk Festival in Canberra is really establishing itself as one of Australia’s biggest one day festivals. Now in its third year, even the late withdrawal of international star Childish Gambino didn’t for one second detract from the magic of the day. Childish Gambino’s broken foot led to the inclusion of Aussie favourites Angus and…

Read more

Live Review: Maxwell’s stylish live show dominates Las Vegas’ legendary Pearl Concert Theatre

Back in 1998 when Maxwell released Embrya, a follow-up to seminal debut Urban Hang Suite, the famously suave purveyor of sophisticated and mature R&B (casually referred to as “Grown Folk Music”) was met with piles of critical backlash. Although the album was a success, reaching platinum status and earning the Brooklyn artist a Grammy nod,…

Read more

Live Review: Dionne Warwick teaches us all about love at her greatest hits concert in Sydney

Dionne Warwick knows the way to your heart. This glorious singer has been the voice and occasionally the muse for some of the world’s greatest songs. Whether it’s falling in and out of love, the fact is that in her concerts and albums, Dionne shows us that this emotion is all that you need. This…

Read more

Live Review: New Worlds is like a fun Bill Murray variety hour at the Sydney Opera House

Bill Murray and Jan Vogler could be the odd couple except that that name was already taken. Okay, “odd” is probably too strong a word. An unlikely pairing seems more appropriate because Murray is a Hollywood actor, comedian and occasional bartender, and Vogler a world-renown cellist. New Worlds saw both men making their Sydney Opera…

Read more

Live Review: The Pierce Brothers and Garrett Kato deliver a stellar night of music at The Forum

Friday night gave Melbourne a taste of their own son’s music as buskers-turned-indie-folk success duo the Pierce Brothers rocked the Forum Theatre, showcasing their recently released album Atlas Shoulders. Joining the duo on tour was their backing band and opener Garrett Kato, who put in a stellar performance to kick off the duo’s home show. Opening with…

Read more

Live Review: Thundamentals + Ziggy Ramo + Billy Davis & The Good Lords + Jesswar – The Forum, Melbourne (10.11.18)

Thundamentals were here to not just bring the music over the weekend, but support it to, as the hip-hop trio hailing from the Blue Mountains – Tuka, Jeswon and Morgs – brought along Australian hip-hop legends of the future to open the celebrations of their I Love Songs album at The Forum in Melbourne. The…

Read more

Live Review: Didirri + Emerson Snowe + Merpire – Mojos, Fremantle (08.11.18)

Thursday night saw Didirri’s Measurements Tour hit Fremantle, for the first of two shows across in the West. Joining the Melbourne singer-songwriter were fellow Victorian Merpire and Brisbane’s Emerson Snowe.  Merpire, tasked with kicking off proceedings, did a good job of warming up an already substantial crowd. It was a wholly stripped back affair with…

Read more

Live Review: Bootleg Rascal + The Moving Stills + Zac Slater – Howler, Melbourne (05.11.18)

Bootleg Rascal came out firing on Monday night at the Howler, showcasing their newest album Anònimo. Along for the ride were blossoming RnB artist Zac Slater and Alternative pop rock band, The Moving Stills. Beginning with some emotion and passion, Zac Slater opened the evening. The man and his guitar were impassioned and his short…

Read more

Live Review: E^ST blesses the Howler stage with Jack Gray and Kota Banks

Brunswick’s centrepiece venue was happy to host the young, eclectic rising indie dance pop star E^ST on a chilly spring Saturday night. With a steady Spotify presence that has over a million streams on his single “Red Rental Car”, Queensland’s Jack Gray was the first act supporting the headliner. Bringing his new age alternative indie…

Read more

Live Review: King Princess + Clea + Paris – The Triffid, Brisbane (03.11.18)

King Princess has been bouncing from strength to strength since releasing her international hit “1950” in February. In anticipation of her debut album, the Brooklyn 19-year-old is in town to give Australian audiences their first sneak peak of what to expect. Drag queen Paris opened the night, dressed in a red sequin gown with large…

Read more

Live Review: Thunderstorm doesn’t dampen Taylor Swift’s triumphant return to Sydney

Pop powerhouse Taylor Swift is on her second visit to our fair country having graced our shores as part of her 1989 World Tour three years ago, flaunting a larger than life stadium show that somehow entertains and inspires without completely losing those moments of intimacy and connection Swift fans treasure. Swift wisely showcases a…

Read more

Live Review: Aussie trio Haiku Hands thrill with Synne Sanden at Maze in Berlin (Germany)

Let me tell you a little story of megaphones, neon masks and confetti. Once upon a time, in a town called Berlin, people started dropping into a cosy little underground bar in the middle of Kreuzberg. The vibe is relaxed and the small crowd of mostly young hipsters is lounging on steps or on chairs…

Read more

Live Review: Gang Of Youths kick off record breaking 8 show run in Melbourne with epic set

It was always going to be a special night in Melbourne as Gang Of Youths returned to the city to grace the stage of the Forum Theatre for the opening night of their long string of tour dates across the country. The band, just returning from the US opening for the Foo Fighters, were happy…

Read more

Live Review: Darren Middleton + Ashley Naylor + Taylah Carroll – Northcote Social Club, Melbourne (26.10.18)

Much like how actors and actresses have trouble getting out of a typecast roles, musicians are often unable to get out from under the music of their previous bands. This is especially true for artists who have been involved in massive bands, bands say for example, like Powderfinger. Yet, Darren Middleton is one artist who…

Read more

Live Review: Hellions deliver an unforgettable night in Melbourne as they launch Rue

It was only a week or so ago that their latest album Rue was released, and already the pillar of modern Australian punk that is Hellions have hit the road, playing three intimate album release shows along the East Coast this last week. Melbourne was a major stop on the tour, and the packed out band room…

Read more