LIVE: Bad Omens at Festival Hall -

23 January 2024 – Festival Hall, Melbourne – words by Luci Scott

Last night at Festival Hall, Bad Omens brought their highly anticipated tour to Melbourne, supported by Poppy and House of Protection. The sold-out crowd was treated to an unforgettable night of performances, despite the mishap with a confetti cannon cover shooting into the roof and showering punters with debris.

House of Protection opened the show with an electrifying set that was impossible to ignore. Their energy was through the roof, with one of the members constantly jumping into the crowd and interacting with fans. It was a dynamic, engaging performance that set the tone for the night perfectly.

Poppy followed with a set that showcased her powerful growls and undeniable charisma. Her energy on stage was palpable, and she gave everything to the performance. Unfortunately, the sound mixing wasn’t great, which made her vocals hard to hear at times. This was disappointing, especially since it had been so long since I’d seen her live. Whether it was due to the venue’s acoustics or just bad mixing on the night, it was frustrating. That said, her stage presence and energy carried the set and kept the crowd engaged.

Bad Omens were nothing short of amazing. From the moment Noah Sebastian took the stage, the energy was huge, and every song hit perfectly. Their ability to keep the crowd captivated from start to finish was impressive, and the performance made up for the disappointment of missing them when they were last here for Knotfest.

There was a bit of unease in the crowd following what happened at their show the previous evening, where part of the roof collapsed during ‘Just Pretend’. Noah addressed the incident, reassuring fans he didn’t see it happen and made us all have a moment of silence for what happened.

He also shared why they didn’t play in Melbourne during their previous tour, letting fans know there was a fire which he was worried had affected his voice which added a personal touch to the night.

Although I was sad they didn’t play my favourite song, ‘Said and Done’ the setlist still delivered everything else I could have hoped for. Every moment was a reminder of why Bad Omens is such a standout band right now.

The only downside of the night was the venue itself. Sitting in the stands at Festival Hall was not a great experience. With every seat taken, there was no space between anyone, and the constant movement of staff passing through with boxes often blocked the view of the stage. It was disappointing and took away from the immersion of the show. Although I’m sure the experience would have been much better on the floor in general admission.

Overall, the night was incredible despite the setbacks. House of Protection brought their infectious energy, Poppy gave a powerful performance, and Bad Omens absolutely blew everyone away. If you’re lucky enough to catch them on this tour, you’re in for something special.

Setlist:

CONCRETE JUNGLE

ARTIFICIAL SUICIDE

V.A.N (with Poppy)

THE DRAIN

ANYTHING > HUMAN

What Do You Want From Me?

What It Cost

Like a Villain

Take Me First

IDWT$

Glass Houses