Kendrick Lamar played the first of two sold out nights Wednesday night at Allianz Stadium. And it was enormous, and thrilling and just flat out spectacular. I had seen Lamar on his last two tours at the smaller Qudos Bank Arena, but after the success of 'Not Like Us' and the Super Bowl halftime show he has graduated to stadium shows. And he filled the space with ease. Lamar is at the peak of his powers and he has total command of the stage. He just raps with ultimate ease and power. He has a small troupe of dancers, but basically it's just him. And his use of visuals is great and for a stadium show the sound was pretty good as well. But it always comes back to the music. And that is totally supreme. A lot of the set was from his latest album in 'GNX', with 'Squabble Up' and a split up 'TV Off' especially being highlights. But of course he has so many iconic songs in his catalogue and they were all great to hear. And even though he plays less of his very early songs, he still plays them even if he only does them in part. The biggest response of the night though was probably for the megahit in 'Not Like Us'. It had the whole stadium bouncing. Kendrick Lamar shows truly feel like an event and a must see anytime he visits. 

Set List
Wacced Out Murals
Squabble Up
N95
King Kunta
Element
TV Off (part one)
Euphoria
Hey Now
Reincarnated
Humble
Backseat Freestyle
Family Ties (Baby Keem cover)
Swimming Pools (Drank)
m.A.A.d City
Alright
Man at the Garden
Dodger Blue
Peekaboo
Like That
DNA
Good Credit (Playboi Carti cover)
Love
Count Me Out/Bitch, Don't Kill My Vibe
Money Trees
Poetic Justice
Luther
TV Off (part two)
Not Like Us

Gloria 

Perfume Genius Tuesday night at the Sydney Opera House was a completely astounding show. Beautiful, phenomenal, sensual, majestic, incredible. A magnificent night where each and every moment was treasured completely. It's been a few years since I have seen Perfume Genius live and certainly a long way removed from the quiet piano based show I saw many years ago in Sydney. Michael Hadreas has expanded his band to five and the music is ecstatic and vibrant, but still moving and highly emotional. Perfume Genius released one of my favourite albums this year in 'Glory' and the show opened with many of those songs, including a barnstorming 'No Front Teeth' and a highly emotional 'Left For Tomorrow'. We also received a glorious Big Star cover in 'Kanga Roo', plus many classic Perfume Genius songs such as 'My Body' and 'Describe'. But I think my favourite was the jaw dropping rendition of 'Otherside'. This was one of many songs where Hadreas would contort his lithe body in an extraordianry way. He also used props such as a chair and a spinning wheel to bend and move his body in truly eye opening ways. Hadreas is of course the central figure, but the band behind him were also great. Especially his husband in Alan Wyffels and the extraordinary guitarist in Meg Duffy. Duffy provided support as well as Hand Habits. Their six song set was truly great as well. I felt lucky to be at this show. A truly special night.  

Set List
In A Row
It's A Mirror
No Front Teeth
Slip Away
Left For Tomorrow
Valley
Me & Angel
Kanga Roo (Big Star cover)
Clean Heart
On the Floor
Otherside
Describe
Eye in the Wall
My Body

Fade Into You (Mazzy Star cover)
Queen

TV On The Radio made a triumphant and ecstatic return to Australia Tuesday night. Their Enmore Theatre show was their first in Australia in ten years. The band took a hiatus before returning to the live arena in 2024. I was lucky enough to see them in London last December, but seeing them again a year later was still a massive treat. The band were one of the signature bands from New York in the early 2000s, making music that was thrilling and exciting. Their live shows are exactly the same. Taut, tight and supreme. They played a good selection from across their career, with 'Dear Science' receiving the most attention. 'Wolf Like Me' was probably the standout, with it obviously being their most well known song. But I also loved 'Dreams' and 'DLZ', whilst 'Staring at the Sun' was the obvious and perfect closer. Even without founding member David Sitek currently touring with the band, they are super tight with Kyp Malone and Jaleel Bunton front and centre on guitars. And Tunde Adebimpe is a magnetic and captivating front man. Although I don't think the vocal mix was great, his vocals were a little over powered. But it was great overall, a supreme band showing that they still have the goods.  

Set List
Young Liars
Golden Age
Lazerray
Happy Idiot
Dreams
Wolf Like Me
Stork & Owl
Could You
Love Dog
DLZ
Shout Me Out
Satellite

Ambulance
Trouble
Staring at the Sun 

It was an absolute delight to welcome the great Sharon Van Etten to Sydney again last night. Her show at the Enmore Theatre was a night of joy and happiness. I believe this was the fourth time that I have seen her live and it's always a total pleasure. Last night was a little different though as Sharon rebranded her act as Sharon Van Etten & The Attachment Theory this year. They released an album under this name earlier this year, a full band effort. I do like the album but I think it lacks a little from the Van Etten solo records. Last night they frontloaded the show with tracks from that album. They did sound good live, especially 'Afterlife', but they are very synth heavy and not as magnetic. So the show went from good to great when the older songs were played. Such as 'Serpents', probably my favourite song of the night. Of course fan favourites such as 'Seventeen' and 'Every Time the Sun Comes Up' deservedly went down a treat. By the end we were all in Sharon's hands. Not only is she a great singer, but seems such a warm and gracious person. She radiates inner beauty. A short encore featuring the magnificent 'Tarifa' topped off a wonderful night of music.   

Set List
Live Forever
Afterlife
Idiot Box
Comeback Kid
I Can't Imagine (Why You Feel This Way)
Somethin' Ain't Right
Southern Life (What It Must Be Like)
Trouble
No One's Easy To Love
Anything
Serpents
Every Time the Sun Comes Up
Jupiter 4
Seventeen
I Want You Here

Tarifa
Indio

The final show on my recent US trip was to see the magnetic and magnificent Father John Misty at the iconic Greek Theatre in Los Angeles. This superb venue is set at the foot of Griffith Park and is a special place to see a show. It was fitting that the show in question was also special. I have seen Father John Misty a few times over the years and he always delivers live. But this was the first time that I have seen him since 2018, so it was extra nice to see him again. Last year he released his sixth album in Mahashmashana, an album that I love. Through the night he played all eight tracks from the album. They all sounded great, especially the title track and the epic 'Screamland'. Of course he delved into his now extensive back catalogue. Songs like 'Chateau Lobby #4 (in C for Two Virgins)' and 'God's Favorite Customer' were especially resonant. Josh Tillman is such a commanding performer. He owns the stage with larger than life personality and incredible voice. His band is also wonderful, making for a great night. The two song encore completed a great night with 'I Love You, Honeybear' a perfect closer.

The two support acts were world class too. First up was Hamilton Leithauser, former lead man of The Walkmen. Hamilton has carved out a successful solo career and it was great to hear those songs live. He played a short seven song set, with five songs picked from his latest album in 'This Side of the Island'. Following him was the country legend Lucinda Williams. Lucinda suffered a stroke in 2020, so she needs assistance to walk on stage. But her voice has lost none of her power and it was a true honour to see her live. She played some of her great songs plus a Beatles cover and a Neil Young cover to close. A triple bill of greatness that I will never forget.

Set List
I Guess Time Just Makes Fools of Us All
Josh Tillman and the Accidental Dose
The Night Josh Tillman Came to Our Apt.
Being You
Mr. Tillman
Nancy From Now On
Goodbye Mr. Blue
Chateau Lobby #4 (in C for Two Virgins)
Mental Health
Ballad of the Dying Man
God's Favorite Customer
Nothing Good Ever Happens at the Goddamn Thirsty Crow
She Cleans Up
Screamland
Summer's Gone
Mahashmashana

Holy Shit
I Love You, Honeybear
 

The next stop on my July trip to the US was Milwaukee, a city I had never visited before. I was excited to visit the city and I enjoyed its history, food and beer. But the main reason for visiting was to see two legendary American bands. Yo La Tengo and Built To Spill are icons of the Indie Rock scene and they joined forces to do a co-headlining tour where they would swap who goes last each night. In Milwaukee Yo La Tengo had the last spot. The show was in the impossibly beautiful Pabst Theater. It was built by the Milwaukee beer baron in 1895 and word can't describe its stunning inner beauty. Yo La Yengo as expected put on a stellar show. They have existed for nearly fourty years and show no signs of slowing down. They are as inventive as ever and the New Jersey trio dug deep into their catalogue for a brilliant show. A highlight was Doug Martsch from Built To Spill joining them for an epic rendition of 'I Heard You Looking'. Their encore was beautiful too with them covering a local musician, before paying tribute to the late great Michael Hurley. A wonderful end to a great show.

Set List
Apology Letter
Sinatra Drive Breakdown
Madeline
Stockholm Syndrome
One PM Again
Alyda
Nowhere Near
Tome Courtenay
We're an American Band
Fallout
This Stupid World
I Heard You Looking

Griselda (The Holy Modal Rounders cover)
The End of the Road (Michael Hurley cover)     

 

Built to Spill opened the night and it was perfection in sound. If they are not my favourite band of all time, they are certainly in my top two. They managed to pack 13 brilliant songs into their hour long set. I have seen them several times now and they never disappoint. It was a brilliant display of why they are just so great. I loved every minute but I was especially gratified to hear 'Twin Falls' and 'Randy Described Eternity'. They were just stratospheric. Happily they closed with the blissful 'Carry the Zero', which had everyone standing and dancing to this supreme band.

Set List
Goin' Against Your Mind
Reasons 
Never Be the Same
Bad Light
Hindsight
So
Gonna Lose
Get a Life
I Would Hurt a Fly
Twin Falls
Some
Randy Described Eternity
Carry the Zero 

Red Rocks near Denver was always a venue I long wanted to visit. So when I was in Denver in July I took the opportunity to see a show there with open arms. To make it even better it was The Avett Brothers, one of the best live acts on the planet. This show on a Sunday night was the third of a three night stand. It was a special night, full of fun and joy and happiness. The venue is about 30 minutes outside Denver and I caught a shuttle bus to get there. It holds about 9500 people and my seat was about a third of the way back from the stage. It's truly a spectacular setting. The venue is set amongst massive rocks and as the sun sets it just glows. The Avett Brothers were wonderful as expected. They played for about two hours and it was all wonderful. They are such great entertainers with warm and lovely personalities. They played a long set that gave a good spread from their vast catalogue. Special mention to 'I and Love and You', 'Head Full of Doubt/Road Full of Promise' and 'Laundry Room' which were especially great. They even called on their father Jim to sing a couple of songs with them. This made a wonderful night even a bit more special.  

Set List
Pretty Girl From Feltre
Talk on Indolence
Go to Sleep
Gimmeakiss
February Seven
Pretty Girl From Chile
No Hard Feelings
Movin' Out (Billy Joel cover)
Murder in the City
Shame
Die Die Die
Hard Worker
The Weight of Lies
Ain't No Man
I and Love and You
Here I Am, Lord
Signs
Country Kid
Laundry Room
Old Joe Clark
Head Full of Doubt/Road Full of Promise
Living of Love

We Are Loved
Nothing Short of Thankful
If It's the Beaches