Reviewed on Tuesday November 10 (photo by Ashley Mar)
Tame Impala and the Sydney Opera House were made for each other. Far-out and futuristic with foundations in the ’60s. Grandeur with grace in equal measure. At once solid and soft. Weird, wonderful, known the world over and Australian icons.
It seemed destined to be a gig where everything would come together just so. A perfect union of sound and space.
As the eager but ticketless fans looking down on the Forecourt through the Royal Botanical Gardens fence were chucked out by wardens, on came Mini Mansions (their bass player in a particularly fruity flower-patterned suit). They could feel it too. After delivering a stern-faced set of power-prog-pop, they thanked their hosts: “We’re all lucky to be here together.”
While the late arrivals felt their way round in the dark, the stage whirred up with a lo-fi lit backdrop and modulating synth. With a ‘What’s up Sydney?” Kevin Parker and chums launched into ‘Let It Happen’. After a “Here we go!” came ‘Mind Mischief’. They sounded shimmering and bright and… quiet?
A group in the crowd soon started a chant of “Turn it up!” Eventually the sound crew heard them. Volume levels sorted, the set covered new and old, including ‘Yes I’m Changing’, only the second time they’ve played it live.
Parker, ever humble (he introduced the band with a “We’re Tame Impala, from Perth”), was visibly moved by the location. He kept looking out to the skyline in awe (the bands get the best view at these forecourt gigs), once telling the audience: “It’s like it’s not even real.”
He gushed, clearly overwhelmed by the occasion. “We played a gig at the Opera House once, y’know, just a thing inside. It was pretty cool but. I think it’s pretty safe to say not in a million years did we think we’d be out here doing this with you guys, and this [pointing to the Harbour Bridge] and this [looking up at the Opera House sails], and so much love in this space – Jesus!”
He continued, breathless, excited like a child at Christmas: “You guys see these things every day, but for us it’s just, it’s, y’know. It’s a novelty. Y’know, we look up at these things and it makes us feel like we’re somewhere, y’know what I mean? So yeah. Anyway. There we go. That’s it, I promise.”
What a trip.
