There is nothing quite like the grit and groove of iconic indie rock to invoke that feeling of youthful angst and heartfelt nostalgia from our troublesome teen years.
Which is exactly what we got at Perth's Red Hill Auditorium last Thursday (6 March) with headliners The Kooks, the timeless British pop-rock band, and supporting artist Briston Maroney.The show was built to be a night filled with electricity and youthful energy from the start. With a buzzing crowd excited to rediscover some of their favourite songs, there was a sense of reminiscing excitement, the night already humming with a melody of mischief.
As the crowd filled the circular-tiered venue, the sun was falling behind the horizon; the burnt orange clouds and in-creeping dark blue sky creating nature's perfect mood lighting for American singer- songwriter Briston Maroney to amp up the crowd with his psychedelic rock and surfy style.
With a bang of his head and flip of his flowing curly hair, the show kicked off with his high energy song 'Body'. As we got to know Briston more and 'joined him in a deep breath', we learned he has also been a long-term Kooks fan as he dedicated his song 'June' to the band, this being their last show of the tour.
His raw, gritty and emotional storytelling really pulled at our heartstrings during 'Real Good Swimmer' as Briston took us on a journey to his home town in Tennessee. Maroney closed his dynamically hypnotic performance with his top hit (and personal favourite of mine) 'Freakin' Out On The Interstate'. With the crowd now swarming to the stage to sing-slong, you could feel the anticipation for what was to come next.
Enter The Kooks. I found myself 'Always Where I Need To Be', excited to see one of my favourite bands share their electrifying and swaggering performance with the bustling crowd at Red Hill. With frontman Luke Pritchard (exactly where he needs to be) front and centre of the stage with his guitar and killer vocals, he was rearing and ready to go like the rockstar he is, bringing fiery, pulse-pounding energy as soon the first song 'Sofa Song' began.
The other original band member still currently in the group, Hugh Harris (bass, guitar, synthesizer) was in fine, stylish form besides Luke, moving seamlessly between his assortment of instruments.
Longtime band mate (and now only touring member) Alexis Nunez (drummer) and 'Never/Know' album contributor Jonathan Harvey (bassist) had their band brothers backs as they went on to play other crowd favourites like 'Ooh La' and 'She Moves In Her Own Way'.
The Kooks were in their element and proved to the crowd that no matter how much time passes, they know how to put on a sharp, sensational show. As the amphitheatre boogied down to 'Westside', with one of my oldest friends Steff (my partner in crime and chaos during our teen years) with me as we 'moved in our own way' to some of our most cherished tunes from our younger years. Having both seen The Kooks perform a few times over the years, it really turned up the feeling of being a 'Naive' teen once more.
The Kooks - image © Maddie Sullivan
To change up the pace, Luke slowed it down with some acoustic early classics; the lyrics of 'See Me Now' and 'Seaside' were sung in unison by the crowd as a sea of supporting lights waved back at Luke and his guitar.
The echo of each song's catchy lyrics being sung across the crowd, and cheers from each Kooks fan as new songs began, made me realise The Kooks were among friends and fans alike. The mix of tunes from all of their hit albums over the years really gave the crowd not just a taste, but a buffet of their best work.
In their true kooky style, The Kooks ended their show with a flamboyant bang. 'Junk Of The Heart', a crowd favourite, had everyone on their toes for the encore 'See The World' and 'Naive', which saw every person from the top of the stairs to the front of the stage singing along and beaming with glee.
There was an auditorium-size standing ovation for The Kooks, who once again showed the goers of Red Hill how to put on an electrifying and exhilarating performance.
Red Hill Auditorium is renowned for its magnificent acoustics and incredible views, designed as a tiered circular auditorium it allows all concert goers to get the best view in the house. As I gazed along the escarpment to see Perth city twinkling in the distance, I was and reminded that evolution is an integral part of life.
The Kooks - image © Maddie Sullivan
As a band who continuously reforms and refines its sound, The Kooks' ability to balance nostalgia with reinvention is one of the many reasons they are such a favourite of mine as well as all who attended this explosive and energising show.
- written by Maddie Sullivan
