20 October 2023 – The Tivoli, Brisbane – words and pictures Luci Scott
On Friday night, I had the incredible privilege of attending the Brisbane leg of Short Stack’s regional tour at the Tivoli. To say that Short Stack is the band of my childhood would be an understatement. I can vividly recall those nights of dancing around the living room with my sister until the wee hours, grooving to Short Stack’s tunes when Stack Is the New Black first graced our ears. So, you can imagine just how thrilled I was to see them back together, embarking on a tour that brought back a wave of nostalgia.
This tour had a fantastic lineup, with The Beautiful Monument and Hevenshe as supporting acts, and they both added their own unique charm to the evening.
Kicking things off, we had The Beautiful Monument. I’ve had the pleasure of seeing them before, and without fail, they bring an infectious energy to the stage that makes watching them an absolute delight. As an opening band, they truly captured the crowd’s energy and had everyone thoroughly engaged in their performance. Lizi’s vocal prowess always leaves me in awe, and it set the stage for an electrifying night of music.
Following The Beautiful Monument, we had Hevenshe. This is Jenna from Tonight Alive’s fresh new project, and although it’s a departure from her previous style of music, it was an incredibly enjoyable experience. Jenna’s happy vibes were palpable, and it was evident that everyone in the venue was loving it. Musically, Hevenshe blends country and indie elements, and even though I’m not typically a fan of this style, I found myself thoroughly enjoying their set.
And then, the moment we had all been waiting for – Short Stack graced the stage, and you could feel the sheer excitement radiating from the audience. This marked the fourth time I’ve had the pleasure of seeing Short Stack, and I can confidently say that each experience gets better and better. The night kicked off with their new song, ‘Shotgun Wedding’ and the energy was off the charts. They seamlessly transitioned into their older classics, including ‘Shimmy a Go Go’, ‘Back of My Head’, ‘Dance With Me’ and ‘Ladies and Gentlemen’. It was a heartwarming sight to witness everyone at the Tivoli belting out every single word in unison.
Short Stack has had their share of breakups and reunions, and they’ve produced gems like ‘Amy’ during these times. The crowd was then treated to a blend of their older hits, such as ‘Werewolves’ and ‘Sweet December’.
A highlight of the evening was a mind-blowing drum solo from Bradie, themed around Mario. Bradie’s prowess behind the drum kit left me utterly impressed; he’s truly a powerhouse drummer. The night continued with ‘Armageddon’, one of my personal favourites. What made this performance extra special was that Andy took the lead vocals, and it was a delightful twist. This was followed by more of their classics, including ‘We Dance to a Different Disco’, ‘Princess’, and ‘Planets’.
The evening was a rollercoaster ride of emotions, and it concluded with an encore featuring one of their newer songs, “Burn You Down.” The grand finale was arguably their most popular hit, ‘Sway Sway Baby’. The performance ended with Shaun hopping up on the barrier, holding hands with fans, it was incredible to hear everyone singing back as one in The Tivoli.
It was undeniably a special evening, one that left us all hoping that Short Stack won’t part ways again anytime soon. Here’s to more incredible music and unforgettable concerts from this iconic band!
