
20 July 2023 – The Tivoli, Brisbane – words and pictures by Justin Gittins
A quick glance at my Spotify recommendations would confuse the hell out of anyone. I am a gig photographer so one week it could be Swedish “melodic” death metal, some grunge, a punk rock cover band and then some folk music added to the mix.
It would be my second Thursday night visiting the iconic Brisbane venue. The previous Thursday night saw The Tivoli filled with a very Emo crowd. There was an Aussie band jumping up and down, the lead singer of an American band Set it off crowd surfing and English Band You Me at Six exploding onto the stage silhouetted by bright red lights. (See Luci Scott’s review)
The line-up for this Thursday night would be a totally different feel. The crowd filtered into the venue sporting lots of denim and clothing that was definitely more sensible given the cool weather.
First on stage was Mick Thomas. He was accompanied by Mark Wallace (aka Squeezebox Wally) and Melbourne-based singer songwriter Brooke Taylor. The two guitars and piano accordion made for a unique sound to warm up the crowd.



Mick Thomas & band – The Tivoli – photos by Justin Gittins
There was something familiar about Mick Thomas, but it took a while for my brain to put the pieces together.
‘Back in the Day’ from his new album started the set. We were told that “The birds got to fly. The fish got to swim. I’ve got a new song I want to sing.” And so, he did.
As the set progressed and “Weddings” were referenced, the connection became clear. Mick had been a major part of Aussie folk rock band Weddings Parties Anything for over a decade. The set list would include their songs from that era ‘Step In, Step Out’ and ‘Away Away’.
The familiar lyrics of “I haven’t always been a single man….” would energise the crowd as the “Weddoes” classic ‘Father’s Day’ was belted out by Mick.
The rest of set would showcase Mick’s talent for writing relatable lyric about everyday life. From the challenges of being in a relationships to the struggles of just paying the bills, the lyric would resonate with the crowd.
Twenty years ago, The Waifs release and album called Up All Night. The iconic lighthouse from the album cover would adorn the stage as band members appeared in front of the enthusiastic punters in the sold out venue.





The Waifs – The Tivoli – photos by Justin Gittins
Donna Simpson and her sister Vikki Thorn took to the stage. They were accompanied by Josh Cunningham on guitar, Ben Franz on bass and David Ross MacDonald on drums.
The setlist would include twenty-one songs and keep the crowd entertained for over two hours. Every track from Up All Night was included along with nine other songs.
Although I was only familiar with a few of the songs from The Waifs, their live performance was amazing and I see why they have filled this venue two nights in a row. The complete experience of their music comes with seeing them live. Donna is a captivating storyteller, and her commentary of the history and development of the songs give the crowd an insight as well as a few laughs.



The Waifs – The Tivoli – photos by Justin Gittins
The rendition of ‘London Still’ was a unique experience. From the mezzanine I was surrounded by a thousand fans singing the lyric “London still, London still” as the interaction with the crowd turned a four-minute song into about ten minutes of nostalgia.
Interspersed with the songs from Up All Night were a mixture of old and new songs.
The two sisters would take turns on the lead vocals. Their harmonies are simply stunning, and they have a way of making every song sound both familiar and fresh. Josh would also jump on the mike and take the lead for some of the tracks. Instruments would be swapped. Vicki would pull out the harmonica for some songs. Ben would swap his bass guitar for a double bass.
With the tracks from the Up All Night album complete the crowd were treated to a new song sung by Vicki called ‘Heart in the Game’.
The encore would see a return to the 1996 self-titled album with the soulful ‘Gillian’ and then ‘Crazy Train’ wrapping up the night with a foot-stomping harmonica filled country song.
The Waifs are an incredibly talented band, and their live show is simply electric. They have so much energy and passion, and they really connect with the audience. I would highly recommend seeing them live if you ever get the chance.