It all began with a simple screen change, 15 minutes before showtime. Nothing extravagant, just a photo of the man we were all there to see, Alex Warren, alongside a playful message, 'see you soon :)'.
That was all it took to send Brisbane's The Riverstage crowd into a frenzy (23 August). Under a crystal-clear night, the sold-out venue buzzed with anticipation until the opening chords of 'Burning Down' exploded across the stage.
Alex sprinted out to deafening screams with mid-song streamers raining down, an electrifying start that set the tone for the night. Towards the end of 'Before You Leave Me', Alex shifted the spotlight to his stellar band: Tim Spier (drums), Joy Morales (keys), Ryan Hoffman (guitar), and Sophie Potrykus (bass), urging the audience to cheer them on during an extended instrumental.
Before launching into 'Catch My Breath', Alex proudly displayed his custom-painted guitar, a piece of art crafted by his wife Kouvr, before telling fans: "I'm gonna need your help to sing these songs." That spirit of togetherness ran through the entire night.
Image © Keely Baker
A touching show-and-tell moment came when fans held up handmade signs. One gift, a painted wedding photo of Alex and Kouvr, left him visibly emotional. He admitted to the crowd that he wasn't feeling 100 per cent, humbly asking for their help carrying the songs.
However, Alex has always been more than just a performer; he's a lifeline for fans navigating their own grief. Opening up about losing both his parents, he invited the crowd to raise their hands if they too had lost someone.
Looking out across a sea of raised hands, he reflected: "I felt so alone, and I bet there's a lot of people who also understand that feeling; and as I play these shows and as I've been able to continuously see these people, I realise that this... this is usually a room and it's not a room anymore. This is a f...ing, I don't know, this is crazy.
Image © Keely Baker
"Like all of you can look at me, please. A. because I'm an attention whore and B. if you could raise your hand if you lost someone. Now, look around. This is a room or a volume of land that you all can feel together. You all can feel like it's okay to laugh at these stupid jokes, I think. It's okay to cry at these songs that I wrote."
In that moment, Riverstage felt less like a venue and more like a sanctuary. His compassion shone throughout the night. Midway through 'Yard Sale', Alex stopped the show when he noticed someone in distress, waiting until security ensured they were safe before resuming.
Later, he laughed with fans over their signs including one who gifted him a koala plush toy signed by the audience. He even addressed the kids in attendance with tongue-in-cheek dark humour: "Hello, another child. We need to have to talk. I am gonna say a lot of bad words during the show. I can't help it. I'm cursed with something called degeneracy.
Image © Keely Baker
"It's 'cause I didn't finish high school, I never passed any of those tests; and that's why I look like Shrek's offspring. If you want to make sure your parents live, don't repeat after me. Because I lost Santa, my good looks and both my parents."
Of course, his love for Kouvr was a constant thread. At one point he told the audience: "I could talk about my wife all day, and I'll take the next few minutes to. She is. I know you guys probably have a weird parasocial thing where we know each other on the internet, and you guys want me.
"I love seeing you, but my wife is probably one of the coolest motherf...ers you will ever meet in your entire life. She's unbelievably great at everything, and on top of it. She's f...ing beautiful."
The set was dotted with heartfelt moments; during 'Never Be Far', a fan handed him an Australian flag covered in signatures, which he draped over his shoulders like a collective hug.
Image © Keely Baker
During 'Save You A Seat', fans raised paper hearts reading 'They Would Be Proud Of You', a tribute to his parents that left him visibly tearful. Before 'Bloodline', he dedicated the song to a fan who had just lost their sister, turning personal grief into shared healing.
For the encore, Alex returned wearing a fan-made shirt emblazoned with 'All My Life, I'll Do Ya', a cheeky nod to his connection with the audience. Closing with 'Eternity' (a song he hadn't planned to play) and 'Ordinary', the night ended as it began – raw, real, and utterly unforgettable.
Alex Warren didn't just play a concert. He built a space for joy, pain, laughter, and healing, reminding every single person in that crowd that even in their darkest moments, they are never truly alone.
More photos from the concert.
