
24 June 2023 – The Tivoli, Brisbane – words by Cody-James Henderson – pictures (Supplied) Jared Liebowitz
To say I thought I was going to be out of my depth at a show like this is an understatement. I expected to stand out like… well a metalhead at an Indie Punk show. But to say tonight was an enjoyable experience of high energy and passion would be an even bigger understatement.
Before the bands had even started, the party was already pumping. As we jumped between dance tracks, you could tell just how much energy this crowd had turned up with. They were ready to have the best Saturday night of 2023 and no one was going to stop them.
Total Pace hit the stage like a bull from a gate. No pause, no lengthy intro, nothing from 0. Just flat 100 from the get go. This is the kind of band you want to see open every show you go to. An opening band is meant to get you warmed up and ready for the night ahead, and this is exactly what Total Pace bought to the table. Even in slower, more groove oriented songs about laziness the crowd kept the energy moving.
The set was short and sweet, but the bar was already set extremely high for the rest of the night. Plus an impromptu drum solo? Come on opening bands, I need this energy at every show.
Total Pace were the full package.
Dear Seattle have been on my list of Australian bands I’ve been wanting to see for a little while now. Oh boy did they deliver, not just for me but for a sold out Tivoli. You would honestly believe that they were the headline act this night. The immediate sing alongs could almost drown out the band themselves, and you could truly see what that meant to them. Busting out their ever popular Like A Version cover of ‘The Special Two’ if you were seeing Dear Seattle for the first time, you were absolutely leaving as a fan after this.
Whilst a more mellow show than Total Pace, it’s hard to fault Dear Seattle in a live setting. This is a band that is built to perform.
Fresh off a new single ‘Nothing’s Stopping Me Now’ Dear Seattle delivered a jam packed set of vibrancy that shows this band is ready for some of the biggest stages Australia has to offer. And boy do they deserve it.
Blasting Limp Bizkit is a hell of a way to make an entrance to a packed out venue, and that’s exactly what Ruby Fields opted for. Be still my nu-metal heart.
There’s not a lot about Ruby Fields I could say that hasn’t already been said by thousands of people before; her infectious ability to make a room explode within seconds of starting a song is something that every musician dreams of. But to keep them shouting every word back at you for a whole set? Not a lot of people can do that. Ruby makes it seem effortless. Even when going on about losing her hearing and apologising for songs sounding off, it’s still a remarkable show. Her ability to shrink a room into the palm of her hand and make even a show in the realm of Tivoli feel like the smallest club in the world, more artists could strive to be like her.
A career spanning set (with a couple of new songs you should be hearing soon) showcasing one of the fastest rising stars in Australian Music, any chance to see Ruby Fields in concert is a must for anyone who loves Australian music.
My only complaint; can we please leave shoeys in the pre covid world? It was gross then, and it’s gross now.
After being quickly evacuated from the venue as we believe there was smoking in the bathrooms (seriously people? Leave that with the shoeys please) we were back inside and ready for Hockey Dad. Being out in the cold for a period of time didn’t ruin anyone’s spirits for this one. The energy was high, the voices were loud & and the party was just getting started.
No strangers to a late Saturday night, Hockey Dad played a show that really summarised why this tour was taking place to begin with. A statement to friendship and making memories that will transcend the years. I won’t pretend I knew the songs, but what I did know was that I was becoming more interested as the night went a long.
Hockey Dad brought a sensation that I could only describe as a ‘festival’.
While Ruby made you feel like you were sharing this moment with a handful of your closest friends in a small, intimate yet warm environment, Hockey Dad made the Tivoli feel like it was home to 10,000+. The crowd was raucous, but it only made the night more personal. There was no stopping this party now. No fire alarm could get between us.
I started the night run down and exhausted from a standard working week. I ended it knowing I had seen 4 bands provide one of the most energetic shows of 2023 & a new found appreciation of the music being created on our shores.
If you had any doubts about buying a ticket for any of the following shows, I highly suggest you grab one before you miss out on one of the most enjoyable nights you’ll have this year.



