Australia’s loveliest band, Ball Park Music, turned it up a notch and delivered one of the most wholesome (and at times funny) sets at the Enmore Theatre as part of their Like Love album tour. With the Sydney crowd in the palm of their hands, the Brisbane locals’ set left everyone feeling loved up and happy on a cool Friday night.
Acting as main support for the night was Queensland natives Bean Magazine. With a 40 minute set, the three-piece were equal parts raggedy and engaging from the get-go. With each of the band doing their best to interact with the crowd, it was nice to see them feel so comfortable in such an historic and probably daunting venue. Announcing they have a new EP, Folly, coming out in a weeks’ time, Bean Magazine seemingly had the time of their lives, playing a variety of hits and deeper cuts, including “Don’t You Die”, “Free As Hell”, and “Egg Dress” (off the yet to be released EP). Young and keen to make a good impression, I look forward to seeing where Bean Magazine go over the coming years.
Entering the stage near enough to 9:45pm, Ball Park Music’s front man Sam Cromack walked on to Scott McKenzie’s “San Francisco”, a song whose vibe almost perfectly encapsulates the tones and feelings on Ball Park Music’s most recent album Like Love. Opening the night sans band and with acoustic guitar, Sam welcomed the crowd and swiftly moved into 2024’s perfect love song, “Like Love”. As the first taste of their first number one album, “Like Love” set the tone for night – an all in love affair and good times with even better friends.
The night was split almost exactly into two defined sections – the front half filled with softer, more introspective moments, while the back half was your fan favourite party tunes that Ball Park Music have become known for over their past eight albums. Featuring my personal favourites “Coming Down” and “All I Want Is You” in the first five songs gave the oldest of fans something to connect with, while newer songs like “Coast is Clear”, “Stars In My Eyes” and “Please Don’t Move to Melbourne” (announced to mixed reactions from the crowd as Sam wondered whether there really was beef between Sydney and Melbourne) gave newer fans their moment in the sun.
The middle stages of the set allowed the gig to really kick into gear, as “It’s Nice to Be Alive”, “Cherub” and “Trippin’ The Light Fantastic” all hit the sweetest of spots for the capacity crowd. Taking the time to talk about how they’ll be returning later in the year to support Oasis, the band moved into “Manny”, a song the Gallagher brothers love and quite possibly went a long way in landing BPM the support slot.
The closing quarter of the main set was saved for some of the band’s best, with the incendiary and inciting “Spark Up!” proving to be a set highlight, while “She Only Loves Me When I’m There” and main set closer “Struggle Street” (pre-empted by Sam encouraging the crowd to indulge in a drink on the best night of the week) really hit the perfect spot in a set that spanned a 15 year deep back catalogue. Exiting the stage before re-entering and providing the crowd a French lesson, all remaining members of the band (Jen Boyce, Paul Furness, Dean Hanson and Daniel Hanson) joined Sam up the front of stage for a near acapella take on “Overwhelming Sound”, before returning to their instruments for the ode to new love “Exactly How You Are”, and “Great Display of Patience”, before closing on “Sad Rude Future Dude”; another song about love, albeit a different type of love.
For a band I’ve seen into the double digits, Ball Park Music never fails to deliver. With their new album, they took a risk to be more wholesome and move away from the sound that’s garnered them years of love and respect from fans. And to be frank, it worked on the record and now in a live setting. There’s always going to be a place for the band here in Sydney and at the Enmore Theatre; whether they’re playing deep and meaningful love songs, or full out party anthems.
FIVE STARS (OUT OF FIVE)
Ball Park Music continue their tour over the coming months. For further information and to purchase tickets, head here.
Image: Eloise Coomber from the Melbourne leg of the tour
