Back to celebrate the 10th anniversary of their debut album, 'Blue Planet Eyes', The Preatures took over Melbourne's Northcote Theatre for a night of nostalgic grooves and electric energy.
As one of Australia's most beloved modern indie bands, their melodies are the soundtrack of a summer night: magnetic, carefree and full of spark.
Supported by Loose Content and The Tullamarines, this show (9 August) felt like a dream, a perfect blend of nostalgia and newfound energy that will stay with us long after the final note.
As the smoke began to fill the room and the lights turned to a purple moody haze, it already felt as though magic was around us. First to the stage were Naarm/ Melbourne locals with their dynamic alt-rock tunes, Loose Content.
The trio composed of MiLLa (lead vocals, bass), Sam Sanders (guitar) and Aquila Porter (drums, backing vocals), brought a grungy and moody vibe with their introspective lyrics and raw, energetic sound.
Their distinctive music brought us back to our angsty teen years; the perfect first step through the portal of time we were about to experience. Next up, the joyfully playful band The Tullamarines warmed up the crowd with an injection of groovy energy.
An Adelaide band of wholesome misfits – Benny Waltho (guitar, vocals), Angus Purvis (guitar, vocals), Josh Thomas (drums) and Lucinda Machin (bass, vocals) – their inviting melodies and heartfelt indie-pop sound got everyone in the room moving and shaking.
With a rainbow of lights behind them, the band got everyone's hands in the air and really made us feel included in their performance. Giving us a sneak peak of their upcoming new release 'Idiot', the room broke out into playful dance (luckily for the band, after they made a joking threat of them quitting if it wasn't received well).
The energy was high, as smiles took to every face in the crowd as the gang taught the crowd their lyrics so we could echo back, the room filled with singing voices: "I can feel my head roll back, my head roll back to us," as we sang along to 'Head Roll Back'.
As The Tullamarines ended their set with a big cheer of encouragement and excitement for The Preatures, the room was buzzing with adoring fans, itching to rock out with the legends of summer indie sound.
Smoke and strobing lights now encased the stage as disco beats filled our ears for the entrance of the main attraction of the night, The Preatures. The crowd erupted into applause, already feeling thankful for the band's performance.
Kicking off with their iconic tune 'Somebody's Talking', no two feet in the venue were still. The band's familiar sound felt like a warm, summer breeze that was filled with the soundtrack of fleeting moments, forever etched in our memories.
The Sydney band's infectious energy was contagious; Izzi Manfredi's commanding vocals, backed by Jack Moffit's rocking guitar riffs, Thomas Champion's driving bass rhythm, Luke David's powerful drum beat and Gideon Bensen's smooth vocals and soulful strums on guitar.
The group's tight, groovy instrumentation and mesmerising presence filled the room with a sense of nostalgia and awe. From the first note to the last, the crowd was hooked, relishing every moment of this rare anniversary celebration.
"Shall we rock?" asked Izzi, as the room echoed back an unwavering "yes!" as she answered a call coming from a red telephone and spoke to it saying: "We haven't been here for like, ten years. Yeah we're actually doing a show right now," the band breaking into their next song, 'Cruel'.
Image © Maddie Sullivan
Like a vintage vinyl spinning through time, the band continued to drip sound laced with sentimental grooves and electric energy as they moved into 'I Know A Girl', a dedication to some of Izzy's closeted friends.
As the disco ball in the sky lit up, the room was filled with spinning lights as 'Manic Baby' took us into the depths of desire and ever-building thrill for the night. Keeping with the groove, the indie-pop icons treated us to a beautiful cover of Prince's 'When You Were Mine', with sizzling soulful energy that was full of spark and delight as a purple haze with orange glow washed over the mesmerised crowd.
It felt like stepping into a smoky club, as Luke wove a tapestry of heart-pounding rhythm with a drum solo. Pink lights washed over the band as Jack joined with his bluesy guitar sounds, creating a playful banter between swagger and sweetness that led into their next song 'Whatever You Want'.
Adding reflections and memories of life while writing 'Blue Planet Eyes', Izzy spoke to the beautiful mess the band drew inspiration from while writing in Sydney. Creating the perfect segue for their classic hit 'Rock And Roll Rave', a funk-tinged rhythm with infectious groove, as a celebration of the nightlife and the connections formed within it.
Slowing down the pace so we could catch our breath, we leaned into the disillusionment of 'Magick'. With the disco lights spinning around the room, listening to Izzy's magically melodic voice soothed our souls.
As she moved over to her retro keyboard for 'Two Tone Melody' and 'Business, Yeah', my friend Susan, always knowing the perfect time for bubbles, filled the air above us with little bubbles of joy as Izzy's heart-melting vocals washed over the room and put a sway in everyone's hips and a smile on their faces.
Image © Maddie Sullivan
Checking in with the crowd to see if we wanted to rock or be graced with one more ballad, Izzy continued to serenade us as the band took a seat for our full attention to be on the woman of the hour.
Singing 'Your Fan', she had us all under a spell as we were held by her voice in a sonic embrace, where every note felt like a shared memory from the passage of time. Followed by thunderous applause that continued to grow, the band kicked it back into a higher gear with 'Ordinary'.
Every chord felt like the first kiss of dawn; bright, electric and full of promise. The energy in the room filled with ecstatic electricity as Izzy climbed on the drum kit for a rock and roll leap of enthusiastic joy.
Keeping with the pace and warming of our hearts 'It Gets Better' was next, as a love letter to the golden age of rock with a wink to the future. Keeping with the theme of nostalgia, Izzy's ode to the times of youthful anger in her life (which aged perfectly), we heard 'Girlhood'.
Watching the crowd around me, I saw each woman ignite with a spark of defiance and raw pulse of chaos, as we all screamed the lyrics "whatever makes me a martyred girl". Leaning into the fierce anthem, it was invigorating to see the wild energy of rebellion among inspired fans.
With deep respect for the land and its traditional custodians, the band took a moment to acknowledge the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. They reflected on the profound writing process behind their song 'Yanada', sharing the beauty and significance of the journey that led to its creation.
Fittingly for the night, with the full moon filling the night sky and 'Yanada' meaning full moon, the crowd sang along to yet another one of The Preature's heart-warming, soul-filling songs as we were wrapped in a haze of starry-eyed admiration.
The eyes of the crowd sparkled, hearts full to the brim, we had arrived at the last two songs of the night. As Izzy dowsed herself with a bottle of water for some extra rockstar aura, the band broke into their cover of The Angels' 'Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again?'.
With energy high and the angsty rebuttal (you all know the one) echoing throughout the room, the air was alive with a sense of never-ending, timeless summers of delicious delight.
Image © Maddie Sullivan
Cheers from the crowd filled the room for the final song, 'Is This How You Feel?' as the room broke out into a rebelliously gleeful dance and sang: "I open up my eyes underwater ooo," back to the rockstars onstage.
The Preatures weaved their magic as they carried the crowd through a journey of nostalgia and new memories alike. There was a bittersweetness in the air, as we were wrapped in their familiar, warm embrace; savouring every note, knowing that tonight wasn't just about reliving an album, it was about feeling alive in a moment that would stay forever etched in our hearts.
As the cheers of admiration and gratitude echoed through Northcote Theatre, every soul was left with a sense of fulfilment and joy, having relived the magic of a decade past. The Preatures' performance was a testament to their timeless sound, effortlessly bridging the gap between past and present.
With hearts full and spirits high, fans slowly filtered out in the hopes to catch the band at the merch table, carrying with them the energy of a night that celebrated not just an album, but a moment in time. It was a reminder of the power of music to transport us, to unite us, and to make every experience feel like it’s worth remembering.
