Review: Good Neighbours @ The Triffid (Brisbane)

Good Neighbours at The Triffid (Brisbane) on 16 May, 2025 - image © Hope Morgan
National Music Editor, based in Brisbane, Australia.
'Passionate about true crime docos, the Swannies, golf and sleep, I’ve been writing about music for 20-plus years. What I’ve learnt? There’s two types of music – good and bad.’

With a frothy buzz emanating throughout the venue as Friday after-work feels congealed into full-blown weekend warrior mode, Brisbane's The Triffid did its best impersonation of a packed sardine can.

Definitely feeling like a wizened old wizard amongst such a young crowd (honestly, I'm mid 40s, but I don't think there was another person over 30 in the sold-out, all-ages room), and with a couple of adult beverages in-hand (I wasn't gunna attempt a bar run as the room was swallowed by a mass of humanity), I found a spot left-back alongside the wall to await the arrival of emerging English indie-rock stars Good Neighbours (16 May).

Although still in their embryonic stages with only an EP and string of singles in their arsenal since emerging in early 2024, Good Neighbours have blown up amassing nearly 7M monthly Spotify listeners ("that's global reach, Holmes!").

After acquainting themselves with Aussies audiences last year (playing Brisbane's The Outpost highlighting how big the rooms they're now playing have increased in size), they certainly made a stack of new mates judging by tonight's crowd.

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Image © Hope Morgan

Shoutout to the screaming teens behind me, who hardly relented in their vocal appreciation of the band, especially anytime singer-percussionist-keyboardist Oli went wild with one of his onstage happy dances.

Read our recent interview with Good Neighbours.

Although two decades my junior, this band has still attracted my ardent attention; after nearly 25 years in the game, it takes something pretty unique to get me off the couch especial on a Friday night when my beloved Swannies are playing.

Yet here I was, packed in amongst the young sardines feeling like a bloated old tuna. However, as the band prepped and tuned their instruments onstage in full view (props for the old-school attitude guys) the pre-show tunes pumping through the PA (think Franz Ferdinand, Empire Of The Sun, MGMT, Grouplove – their 2011 hit 'Tongue Tied' had the night's first crowd sing-along) had me thoroughly satisfied; the din of crowd chatter slowly turning into a turbine roar echoed the sentiment.

You can also imagine Oli and bassist Scott Verrill soundtracking their younger years to such acts; add the likes of Foster The People, Vampire Weekend and The Shins, and you have a great sonic guide as to the style of Good Neighbours.

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Image © Hope Morgan

With an opening salvo of a school kids chattering soundtrack, the band launched into 'Kids Can't Sleep' (cue the relentless girlie screaming) under purple, yellow and white lights. The energy was bright, effervescent, buoyant, and oh f... yeah, the weekend had just arrived.

Oli informed us we were going to "hear some songs we know, some we won't and some even they don't know yet". 'Bloom' arrived igniting a crowd clap-along, the energy in the room remaining sensational.

Then it was time for one of their bigger hits with 'Ripple' literally exploding across the senses under golden-hued lights, the shared awe of the crowd contagious before the band stopped mid-song, lying on the stage not visible for most of the crowd; they remained their for a good 20 seconds, sections of the crowd beginning to murmur "do we get down too?" before they jumped back up to complete the song, Oli declaring: "We have the good energy tonight."

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Image © Hope Morgan

Then it was time for a new song (Oli sharing they're writing their debut album) which I heard as either 'Dork' or 'Gawk', but Setlist informs me was 'Walk'. Whatever its title, the track slapped hard with massive drums and a catchy chorus: "Give me a breather... I'm running high."

Think searing shoegaze that pops with candy-flavoured indietronica. MGMT meets Beach Boys with LCD Soundsystem, James Blake flavour. The rapturous applause at song's end certified it as a future banger.

Apparently their next single will be 'Suburbs'; the sixth song of the set, those massive drums were back. So to were The Beach Boys melodies. Luscious pop. Those drums had me thinking of a comparison; after a couple of moments it hit me – early Doves (Google them kids!).

Before playing their current single 'Starry Eyed', Oli shared that the song finally came together on a tour bus while they were touring with Foster The People. The melodic indie vibes had reached fever point.

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Image © Hope Morgan

It was then time for the band's country-pop zone as Oli apologised to certain members of the audience: "For the boyfriends here. . . here's 3.5 minutes of slow stuff then we'll be back to the party tunes; love you too. . . 'Weekend Boy'." As promised, the dance punk back for next track 'Small Town'. Think guitar rock with plenty of Nashville grit and Britpop bravado.

The keys intro to 'Keep It Up' (that is soaked in MGMT and Vampire Weekend feels) had the crowd going wild once more, the song sounding as fresh live as it does recorded. It also saw another crowd clap-along.

Prior to their cover of Sabrina Carpenter's 'Espresso', Oli was given a ridiculous-looking Aussie bush corked hat that he quickly plopped atop his head, the goofy vibes reaching peak levels when it landed on the drummer's scone. Their live rendition had The Triffid turning into an impromptu Pub Choir sing-along too.

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Image © Hope Morgan

It was at this point many realised the end of the show was super close given they'd all but played their hits; that is except the big one, 'Home'. Almost realising the same thing, Oli shared some beautiful words with the crowd about connection, unity and remaining in the moment.

To capture this, the band handed out a number of disposable cameras to the crowd, fans asked to take to some happy snaps and pass it along, the photos to end up in a future Good Neighbours project. Sweet. 'Home' was also one of those moments live music lovers dream about – the crowd and band connected as one as we sang the chorus sans Oli, who proudly conducted his brood of burgeoning singers.

Disappearing for only a matter of seconds, they were back for a one-song encore, 'Daisies', that had me live referencing Franz Ferdinand yacht rock with the drums again evoking Doves (particularly 'There Goes The Fear' and 'Pounding').

This band is proper good, and on a trajectory that could easily see them become a global brand in next to no time. So to witness them at such an intimate venue where they felt like they were in touching distance, even for those at the back like myself, was another personal reminder that even after 25 years, music still has the power to leave me in a state of joyful bliss. Cheers Good Neighbours!

More photos from the concert.

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