On Saturday at The Gov, in Adelaide, The Preatures delivered more than a comeback; they gave us a soul-elevating, high-energy sermon on the resilience of rock in 2025.
As always, the feature of The Preatures was Isabella Manfredi, a frontwoman like few others, fusing elements of Chrissy Amphlett's magnetism, Patience Hodgson's explosive spontaneity, and Julia Zemiro's sharp stage awareness.
They opened with 'Somebody's Talking', instantly pulling the audience into their sonic gravity (2 August). Manfredi, sporting a white netball skirt, black boots, and a Colgate grin, reflected on how long it had been since they'd last stood on The Gov's stage in 2015.
It was such a big room, she thought; how would they fill it. She then humbly stated they still thought this, even though tonight's sold-out crowd stretched out to the beer garden. Reflecting on the interruption of the pandemic, she noted the craving to be back at a sweaty venue, where the amplified noise vibrates your bones.
The reunited band was touring to celebrate ten years of 'Blue Planet Eyes', an album, Isabella said, inspired by artists ranging from Chairlift and Caroline Polachek to Booker T and Prince; they paid tribute to the latter with the Purple One's 'When You Were Mine'.
Their set rippled with deep cuts and crowd favourites including 'I Know A Girl' and 'Rock And Roll Rave'. Manfredi shared how the latter song was born from the band's origins where they often felt like misfits among Sydney's nightlife tribes. Too weird for dance floors, but not grungy enough for rock rooms, they floated between scenes. One fan shouted: 'Weird is good!" They agreed.
Later in the show, Isabella introduced 'Yanada', a track with weight, especially in a post referendum Australia. It was informed by her thoughts on reconciliation, reparations, and Indigenous justice. The message wasn't forced; it was thoughtful, grounded, and sat in contrast to the band's more hedonistic tracks with purpose.
One unexpected turn came when she took a seat at the keyboard for 'Two Tone Melody'. After a couple of piano-driven tracks, she asked the room: "Want another ballad or should we keep on rocking?" The crowd chose volume. She rose to power through 'Ordinary' and 'Better Than Ever It Ever Could Be'.
The band has fond memories of Adelaide. Isabella recalled watching Bad//Dreems at Rocket Bar back in 2013. To wrap the nostalgia in a bow, Ben from the pub rockers took the stage, spilled his schooner of red wine on his lyrics sheet, then joined the band for a wild rendition of 'Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again?' – no way?!
The final track, of course, was 'Is This How You Feel?', which clocked in at #156 in triple j's recent Hottest 200 Australian songs of all-time. No encore needed. Just the promise of more to come. "More gigs, more songs, and, more cute outfits," Manfredi quipped before stepping offstage.
Placement opened the evening with tightly-wound post-punk aesthetics. Tracks like 'Inertia' and 'Lost Sun' were jagged and evocative, showcasing a band unafraid to lean into dissonance and texture.
The Tullamarines brought scrappy, self-aware energy. Their originals including new single 'Lying' and 'Head Roll Back' landed with charm, while their cover of 'Green Light' was a joy.
The Preatures' return wasn't nostalgic; it was vital. Manfredi remains a frontwoman with unmistakable presence and an instinct for both spectacle and substance. Fans had no reason to feel blue after a few hours on Preatures' planet.
