Live Review + Gallery | Tame Impala @ Afterpay Arena, Sydney

Matt Wellham

After years of photographing and filming the London music scene, Matt’s now based in Sydney, Australia. A lover of the post-punk and alternative movement, he can usually be found in the grassroots venues, camera in one hand and a beer in the other.

Tame Impala unites generations of fans with a setlist that explores the best of Kevin Parker’s past 15 years

On Monday night, Tame Impala, the musical project of multi-instrumentalist and producer Kevin Parker, took to the stage for the first of three nights at Afterpay Arena, formerly known as Qudos Bank Arena.

With ‘Deadbeat‘ having been released almost a year ago, this was Australia’s first taste of the album in a live setting. Looking out at the crowd, you could tell the record had brought a new generation into Kevin Parker‘s world. With tracks ‘Dracula’ and ‘Loser’ dominating TikTok for much of the year, younger fans were mixing with the older psych crowd, all ready to experience a truly once-in-a-lifetime visual trip.

Kicking off with a personal favourite from Tame Impala‘s incredible 2012 record ‘Lonerism’, the six-piece effortlessly eased into ‘Apocalypse Dreams’. This trippy, hazy track instantly established the synth-heavy sound and heart-thumping bass that would remain a constant throughout the night, before giving way to ‘Borderline’ and ‘Loser’.

This opening three-track run showed that Kevin Parker and the band weren’t here to mess around with B-sides. Instead, they launched into a hits-heavy set spanning their discography. Whatever generation of Tame Impala fan you belonged to, it was guaranteed to be a good time.

Even if you didn’t like a particular track, I can guarantee you’d love the light show. It was nothing short of exhilarating. Parker and the band were bathed in a kaleidoscope of colours beneath a dynamic lighting rig suspended above them. Throughout the night, the production delivered eye-catching lasers, gorgeous spotlights and delicate patterns that danced around the 21,000-capacity venue.

Following ‘Dracula’, the screams, tears and a few TikTok dances being recorded in the crowd, Parker decided to take a walk. This gave us a five-minute interlude in which the camera followed him underground to… and I kid you not, take a piss.

Giving the crowd a good laugh, Parker continued his walk to the back of the arena, where a small, intimate stage had been set up in the general admission area. This gave him the opportunity to perform stripped-back instrumental versions of ‘No Reply’ and ‘Ethereal Connection’. Parker layered synths and drum rhythms until, from his reclined position, he’d built his very own rave at the back of the crowd. It was a brilliant, intimate moment and a chance for the audience to witness his production skills up close.

Back on the main stage, the show continued, and the hits didn’t stop. ‘Let It Happen’, ‘Eventually’, ‘New Person, Same Old Mistakes’ and ‘The Less I Know the Better’ all made an appearance, an absolute joy for ‘Currents’ fans. The tracks were accompanied by elaborate light shows and confetti cannons that sent the crowd into fits of excitement every time they burst into life.

What Kevin Parker and the rest of the Tame Impala live band have created here is a beautiful, immersive show that spans the very best of his career. It doesn’t matter which era of Tame Impala you love; there’s something for everyone here. The Deadbeat tour is a must-see, so grab tickets for the remaining Australian shows if you can, or catch it when it heads to the UK and Europe from late May 2027.