Last night, one of the UK’s biggest rock outfits, Royal Blood, returned to Sydney for their first shows since 2018. In the time between visits, the duo have released two new albums, both of which hit #1 on the UK charts – so it’s fair to say that fans have been eagerly anticipating their return.
Before they took the stage at the iconic Hordern Pavilion for their biggest show in our city to date, Sydney’s The Buoys and Perth’s Psychedelic Porn Crumpets got the crowd in the mood. And it doesn’t feel like it will be long before we see either band headlining the same stage.
This holds particularly true for the Crumpets, who are one of Australia’s biggest rising stars on the international stage. Just take a look at this massive run of shows they have lined up for the first half of the new year in Europe/UK, USA/Canada and at home in Australia. They’re joining a wave of Australian psych rock bands who are commanding the world’s attention, and tonight’s performance was a reminder that they are more than worthy of all the growing success and acclaim.
With relentless touring under their belt – they tour with Royal Blood after a massive run in North America – and in the near future, the Perth five piece are certainly a tight unit. They ran through seven tracks in their half hour set, leaving the crowd wanting more.
Highlights of the night included “Tally-Ho”, which opened things up, “Cubensis Lenses” and “Cornflake”, which got a big cheer from the audience. They didn’t talk too much – introing only a couple of the tracks – leaving them to jam from one track into the next, fitting as much as they could into the short set. And boy was it good.
If you’re a fan of rock music, there are few brighter stars in the world right now than Psychedelic Porn Crumpets. But as the Hordern filled to near capacity as they finished up their set, the group reminded everyone of who was coming next, calling them “two of the best blokes they’d ever met”.
Psychedelic Porn Crumpets Setlist
Tally-Ho
Mundungus
Nootmare (K-I-L-L-I-n-G) Meow!
Lava Lamp Pisco
Cubensis Lenses
Cornflake
Hymn for a Droid
Chants started early from the all ages crowd for Royal Blood, as they hit the stage to show off their latest LP Back to the Water Below.
Typhoons, which they weren’t able to tour in Australia, got a bit of a look in as well, but the set very much leant between their fourth album, and their self-titled debut – with six tracks from each making up the majority of the 18 track set.
And it’s a good thing – these are their two best albums. Back to the Water Below is one of the year’s finest, as the Brighton duo – Mike Kerr and Ben Thatcher – continue to level up the mastery of their craft. Songs like “Shiner in the Dark” and “Pull Me Through” are some of the best they’ve produced, and translated powerfully live with a third member (Darren Watts) on keys to elevate it all.
“Out of the Black” off their debut opened things up, with Ben jumping off the drums and into the crowd before the track even ended. This timing is no doubt as much for the photographers in the pit as it is to get the crowed amped up – but boy does it work on both counts.
“Trouble’s Coming”, a favourite off of Typhoons was one of three included off that record, and the night – mostly – jumped back and forth between songs new and old.
From the videos I’ve seen on this tour – which has been going for a while, through the UK, Europe, US/Canada and now Australia – there was very little unexpected from the night. You can tell the guys are in the zone in their sets, and they give it their all, but more than 50 shows into the tour, it’s no doubt they’re running on reflex at this point. It doesn’t take away from the show by any means, but you can definitely tell when a band is a long way into a run – exemplified by a super tight, professional performance, and amplified by a fantastic production. The lights and sounds have rarely been better in this venue.
One moment that was definitely off script though was when the audience started chanting “Shoey” – a standard of so many shows in Australia, which really does need to stop. Especially when you’re chanting to someone who is notably sober (and we’re so happy to see Mike on that journey!).
He took it in good humour though, saying something to the extent of (and I’m paraphrasing here) “a lot of things change with time, but the shoey stays the same… and we’re not going to do it – but you can while we play the next track.” Later, someone in the crowd must have thrown a shoe on the stage because at the end of “Tell Me When It’s Too Late”, Kerr added the lyrics “don’t throw your shoes on the stage”.
And yes, can we just not?
While they once were a band who would never do an encore, now they very much are – with three songs coming in to close the night. “Waves” off the new LP saw guitarist Chris Young from Psychedelic Porn Crumpets guest on the track (which was awesome), and then classics “Ten Tonne Skeleton” and “Figure It Out” closed things out. And then a lightning storm greeted Sydney fans as they left the building!
With incredible music and a great light show, Royal Blood delivered a night fans won’t forget. And local acts Psychedelic Porn Crumpets and The Buoys served a reminder we have some amazing rock music at home, too. But don’t miss out of chances to see either band live – chances are they’ll be overseas more than they are here as things move forward. But here’s hoping that Royal Blood, at least, don’t take another five years to return to our shores.
And in the meantime, if you haven’t had a chance to listen to Back to the Water Below, please do.
Royal Blood Setlist:
Out of the Black
Mountains at Midnight
Come on Over
Boilermaker
Lights Out
Shiner in the Dark
Supermodel Avalanches
Trouble’s Coming
Typhoons
Pull Me Through
One Trick Pony
Little Monster
How Did We Get So Dark?
Tell Me When It’s Too Late
Loose Change
Encore:
Waves (with Chris Young from Psychedelic Porn Crumpets)
Ten Tonne Skeleton
Figure It Out
FOUR STARS (OUT OF FIVE)
The author attended the Royal Blood show at the Hordern Pavilion in Sydney on the 13th of December, 2023. The tour continues tomorrow night in Melbourne.
Friday 15 December
Festival Hall | Melbourne, VIC
18+
ticketmaster.com.au
Sunday 17 December
Changing Tides Festival
Kiama Showgrounds, Kiama, NSW
changingtides.com.au
Tuesday 19 December
Hindley Street Music Hall | Adelaide, SA
18+
moshtix.com.au
Thursday 21 December
HBF Stadium | Perth, WA
Lic. All Ages
ticketmaster.com.au
