The Mountain Goats have been frequent visitors to Australia over the years. I have been fortunate to have seen them live a few times, the first time being back in 2007. But this was their first tour in a little while, so it was great to see them again Monday night at a sold out Metro Theatre. They have a vast catalogue now and each show varies quite a bit. So you are never sure what you might receive at a show. What we received was a generous cross section from over the journey. Surprisingly they only played one song from their recent album released late last year. In fact the night was a showcase for some older classics indeed. Such as 'See America Right' and 'Up the Wolves', both of which were received with great fervour. I think my favourite part of the night though was the now customary section where John Darnielle just goes solo. He played 3 songs and two of them are very old songs that are unreleased. 'Going to Palestine' was a definite highlight of ther night. The band now comprise of just three. And they are so tight and fluid. Of course John is the centrepiece. He is as witty and loquacious as ever. Jon Wurster is purely a great drummer, whilst Matt Douglas is the glue, superbly playing bass, saxophone and keyboards. A highly enthused audience was super happy to get two encores from the band. The first one was especially great with crowd pleasers such as 'This Year' and 'No Children' getting excited receptions.  All in one it was a fun night from one of the most reliable bands going.     

Set List 
Rocks In My Pockets
Incandescent Ruins
You Or Your Memory
Shallow Grave
Moon Over Goldsboro
New Zion
Going to Palestine (solo)
You Were Cool (solo)
Younger (solo)
Sax Rohmer #1
Lakeside View Apartments Suite
Palmcorder Yajna
Animal Mask
The Diaz Brothers
See America Right
Up the Wolves

Let Me Bathe in Demonic Light
Love Love Love
No Children
This Year

Amy AKA Spent Gladiator 1
Getting Into Knives
Dance Music 

It’s been a while since I’ve seen The Smith Street Band live, but Friday night at the Manning Bar proved they have lost none of their magic. This tour is supporting their latest album in ‘Once I Was Wild’ and naturally they featured many tracks from that excellent album, opening with a barnstorming ‘This Is It’ which set a feverish crowd into a frenzy. The mosh pit was on all night with everyone singing along to every song. New songs like ‘Constellation’ and Star Child’ really hit. But clearly older songs got the most excited reaction. The back to back punch of ‘Passiona’ and ‘Death to the Lads’ was definitely hard to beat. Then an encore of ‘Ducks Fly Together’ and ‘Young Drunk’ topped off a great night in the hands of one of Australia’s greatest bands. 

Set List
This Is It
My Restless Heart
Birthdays
I Still Dream About You 
American Heaven 
Once I Was Wild
I Don’t Wanna Do Nothing Forever 
Constellation 
The Party
Don’t Waste Your Anger
Big Smoke
Star Child
Passiona
Death to the Lads
My Little Sinking Ship (Will solo)

Ducks Fly Together 
Young Drunk

A hot and sweaty Mary's Underground was the venue Wednesday night for the Australian premiere show of New York based This is Lorelei. This is the side project of Nate Amos from Water From Your Eyes, but it's a more melodic version of that band. They broke though quite a bit in 2024 with the release of their excellent album in 'Box For Buddy, Box For Star' and thus this small venue sold out pretty easily. They would end comprising most of their set from this album, which was especially well received. It was very exciting to hear great songs like 'Where's Your Love Now' and 'Dancing in the Club' from the record. And 'Im All Fucked Up' was certainly a crowd pleaser. Nate has a three piece band live and they really combined well. Just drums, guitar and bass. Nate even played a new song in the encore, which was quite beautiful. The venue was the old Basement and I hadn't been there since it changed hands. I will say it wasn't ideal. Stage is quite low and sight lines aren't great. But This Is Lorelei put on a great show, which made me forget that.

Set List
A Song That Sings About You
Angel's Eye
I Can't Fall
Where's Your Love Now
Holo Boy
My Friend 2
Chestnut
Dancing in the Club
This Is a Joke
I'm All Fucked Up
Mouth Man
Money Right Now
Bring Back My Dog

I Will Leave My Heart in the Morning Light (new song)
Two Legs
An Extra Beat For You and Me
 

Friday night in Brisbane was the eighth time that I have seen the magnificent Ty Segall in concert and I will never ever tire of seeing him. I was hoping to see him in Sydney but work prevented that so I made the decision to fly to Brisbane to see him. It was worth every cent. Once again a Segall show is just a ferocious and melodic rock show. I loved every single second. The opening three songs were just awesome. 'Wave Goodbye', 'Thank God for the Sinners' and 'Finger' is just a blistering way to open a show. And there was no let up after that. Surprisingly he only played two songs from last year's album in 'Possession', although I was happy he played the title track. But Ty delved into his vast catalogue, delivering a varied and very enjoyable set. He also played three new songs, which were all great. They were real rockers with a garage type sound. Other highlights were 'Call the Doctor' and 'She', just flat out rockers. Then a great encore closed a great night. Ty is such an awesome guitarist. He really welds his Fender like no other. And his band is second to none. Emmett Kelly is a superb guitarist and long time friend Mikal Cronin plays a mighty bass. Ben Boye adds so much on keyboards and 2024 addition Evan Burrows has fit in beautifully on drums. It all adds up to a potent mix. Ty Segall is my rock god and long may he give us such incredible music.

Set List
Wave Goodbye
Thank God for the Sinners
Finger
Possession
Glass
Buildings
Void

Chrome
Black Paint
Whisper
Call the Doctor
Imaginary Person
She
Manipulator

My Lady's On Fire
Girlfriend

A night with Gillian Welch and David Rawlings is always a night to savour. Previously they didn't tour here much, but this time their tour follows very quickly on from their last just on a year ago. Last time they played the Sydney Opera House and this time they played the beautiful State Theatre. Tuesday night was, as expected, a truly wonderful night of music. Their sets always vary and so it proved. They pulled out songs from across their entire catalogue, plus some great covers. They play two sets with an interval and they did three encores., so we truly received value for money. Plenty of highlights on the night. I was especially thrilled they played 'Wrecking Ball' and 'Wayside/Back In Time', probably my two favourite Welch songs. 'Cumberland Gap' was also great, as was 'Hard Times'. 'Six White Horses' is always a crowd pleaser and they gave us some great covers including ones by Ryan Adams and Guy Clark. 'Revelator' proved the perfect end to the night as well. They are a great duo on stage. Rawlings is an extraordinary guitarist and Welch is a superb singer who also charms with her banjo playing. A superb night again from the masters of Americana.       

Set List
Scarlet Town
Empty Trainload of Sky
My First Lover
North Country
Bells of Harlem
Annabelle
To Be Young (Is To Be Sad, Is To Be High)
Wrecking Ball
Ruby

Cumberland Gap

Dear Someone
What We Had
Hard Times
Desperados Waiting For a Train
Howdy Howdy
Wayside /Back In Time
Six White Horses
The Way It Goes

Brokedown Palace
Look at Miss Ohio

I Hear Them All/This Land Is Your Land
I'll Fly Away

Revelator

Monday night at the Sydney Opera House felt like something truly special. Cameron Winter put on a show that will live long in the memory of all those that were lucky to attend. Winter is the lead singer of Geese, who have taken all before them in the last year. I was very lucky to see Geese last week and they put on a phenomenal show. Winter's show was just as good. He released his solo debut album, 'Heavy Metal' in December 2024 and it has been on constant rotation for me since then. So I was super excited to see him live. He walked on stage in jeans and a hoodie, but once he sat down at the grand piano he produced magic. We received 7 songs from 'Heavy Metal' and I was in awe of all of them. Of course 'Love Takes Miles' is an instant classic but I think my favourites were 'Drinking Age' and '$0". Winter is a generational talent and his piani playing is delicate and inspired. He barely spoke a word, but he let his music do the talking. He also played three new songs, which he has been trying out live. My favourite of these was 'Sandbag'. Hopefully he might have another album in the works. When he finished an adoring crowd gave him a very loud and long standing ovation. He returned to play 'Take It With You' in the encore. When he finished we knew this had been a very special night.

Set List
It All Fell in the River
Try as I May
Emperor XIII in Shades
The Rolling Stones
Love Takes Miles
Drinking Age
Cancer of the Skull
Sandbag
Nina + Field of Cops
$0

Take It With You

Geese performed a monumental show Wednesday night at the Metro Theatre. A very hot, sweaty and packed room was there for the band of 2025. Geese conquered the world last year and they definitely lived up to the hype. It was an electric show with an excited crowd singing and dancing to every single song. It was quite thrilling in truth to see a band be 'in the moment'. A band of such incredible talent and one destined for greater things. Last year they released 'Getting Killed' and it was easily my favourite album of 2025. It was for many critics too. So when they opened with 'Husbands' it was a sign of just how great the show would be. They ended up playing eight of the songs from 'Getting Killed' and they were spectacular. My only small regret was that they didn't play 'Cobra' but otherwise I couldn't complain. 'Islands of Men' was a cosmic delight and 'Half Real' was beauty personified. 'Bow Down' was amazing and of course 'Taxes' tore the roof off. They still had time for older tracks too with '2122' being a true rocket blast.  The encore was short and sweet with 'Trinidad' sending the room into a total frenzy. Then they left. They came and conquered. Even though they are a young band they combine beautifully together. Max Bassin is a phenomenal drummer and Emily Green is an intuitive guitarist. And of course all eyes were on lead singer Cameron Winter. He has a howling voice and is very charismatic. This show will live long in my memory without a doubt.

Set List
Husbands
Getting Killed
Islands of Men
Half Real
2122
I See Myself
100 Horses
Cowboy Nudes
Domoto
Tomorrow's Crusades
Bow Down
Au Pays du Cocaine
Taxes

Trinidad