LIVE: Regurgitator at the Tivoli -

24 April 2026 – The Tivoli, Brisbane – words by Tarynne Ambrosi – pictures by Clea-marie Thorne

Regurgitator are at their 3rd or 4th last date of the Jukeboxxin tour of Australia – its been a leisurely 30+ weeks on this tour, not jam packing in the dates but rather spreading it over longer time and fitting more regional centres in. Tonight is home ground – Brisbane’s Tivoli.

Opening duties fell to NSW North Coast five-piece Media Puzzle, who wasted no time setting a tone that was equal parts chaos and charm. Made up of Tom Peter, Kellie Eden, Oliver Clarke, Eden Yeigh and Solomon Jones, the band tore through a punchy 12ish-track set that barely paused for breath. Their sound leaned heavily into fuzzy, lo-fi textures. These short, fast songs that felt like they might fall apart at any second, but never quite did. Save for a little teeth splintering feedback.

There was a scrappy confidence to the performance, the kind that thrives more on energy than precision. Standout track ‘New Pet’ drew one of the biggest reactions of the set, its frantic pace and tongue-in-cheek delivery landing perfectly. I can only hope the “pet” in question was a Tamagotchi, because that’s exactly the kind of nostalgic absurdity the song seemed to channel.

Media Puzzle – Tivoli – photos by Clea-marie Thorne

Another highlight came in the form of a track inspired by the almost-event that was Cyclone Alfred in 2025 ‘Out of the Rain’. Media Puzzle might take their name from the 2002 Melbourne Cup runner, but on this showing they could well become a dark horse in their own right. One worth keeping an eye on. Beneath the fuzz and frantic delivery sits a sharp pop instinct, delivered with the unpredictable energy of a savage little pygmy hippo.

Second support came from Dem Mob, who brought a completely different, but equally compelling energy to the Tivoli stage. Formed in the APY Lands community of Pukatja, they hold the distinction of being the first hip hop group from the region, and the first MCs to rap in Pitjantjatjara. Composed of Jontae Lawrie, Elisha Umuhuri, Nason Lawrie and Matt Gully, the group burst onto the stage and launched straight into ‘Dip’, immediately locking the crowd into their rhythm.

Dem Mob – Tivoli – photos by Clea-marie Thorne

From the outset, it was clear Dem Mob weren’t just there to perform, they were there with purpose. Their set, around six tracks in total, balanced infectious, old-school beats with sharp, articulate lyricism. The crowd responded instantly, feeding off the group’s high energy and the strength of their message. There was a real sense of connection, especially through the frequent call-and-response moments that turned the room into an active participant rather than just an audience.

Each track carried weight, tackling themes like supporting disengaged youth, class inequality, and the ongoing tragedy of Black deaths in custody. Yet none of it felt heavy-handed, the delivery was grounded in positivity, unity, and a clear commitment to being a voice for their community, particularly its younger generation.

Dem Mob – Tivoli – photos by Clea-marie Thorne

Dem Mob felt like a classic hip hop act in the truest sense – stripped back, direct, and driven by message as much as music. There was something deeply familiar in their sound, reminiscent of what you might have seen in the late ’90s or early 2000s. Raw, purposeful, and built on the fundamentals of hip hop, while still carving out a space entirely their own.

Headliners Regurgitator hit the stage to a room already buzzing, and a moment of unintended comedy set the tone perfectly. The punter in front of me turned to his mate, punched the air and declared, “It’s nearly ten—I will stay awake. I got this.” (…fuck, we’re old).

With a mammoth 30-song setlist looming, this was never going to be a casual dip into nostalgia, it was an endurance run through one of Australia’s most eclectic back catalogues (think the Running Man, with keytars). I settled in, bracing for the wall of hits I was about to experience.

Regurgitator – Tivoli – photos by Clea-marie Thorne

They wasted no time. Kicking things off with the gloriously irreverent ode to “ya mate’s mum” everywhere, ‘I Sucked a Lot of Cock to Get Where I Am’, The Gurg came out swinging. The crowd didn’t just sing along – they roared it back, every word delivered with decades of muscle memory. It was chaotic, loud, and immediately electric.

From there, they tore shit up with ‘I Like Your Old Stuff Better Than Your New Stuff’, ‘I Like It Like That’, ‘Blubber Boy’, ‘Kung Foo Sing’ – each one landing brilliantly with the punters. The energy in the room was ridiculous, a perfect feedback loop between band and crowd.

At the core, the lineup remains as sharp as ever: Quan Yeomans (vocals, guitar, keyboards), Ben Ely (vocals, bass, keyboards), and Peter Kostic (drums), still locked into that unmistakable chemistry. Recent addition, Sarah Lim (keytar, guitar, bass) was an absolute standout – effortlessly switching roles and bringing a presence that’s hard to ignore. She’s got a genuinely freakish amount of aura.

Regurgitator – Tivoli – photos by Clea-marie Thorne

Highlights came thick and fast. There was the very Rock Eisteddfod-style moment during ‘Fat Cop’, with the band theatrically “shooting” Peter on drums using guitar “guns” – completely unexpected and genuinely laugh-out-loud funny. Then came ‘Polyester Girl’, which somehow elevated things even further: a mirror ball-clad “Polyester Girl” dancing and gyrating across the stage, crew members jumping on instruments, total sensory overload. Hectic? Yes. Chaotic? Absolutely. Amazing? Without question.

The night closed with ‘! (The Song Formerly Known As)’, taken to another level with members of Dem Mob joining the band on stage, throwing in ad-libs through the breakdowns and turning it into a full-blown collaborative finale. It was the perfect way to end – loud, loose, and on an absolute high.