Some 24 years after their last headline tour, the reunion of one of Australia's most beloved and mysterious bands, TISM, has been long-awaited by their legion of die-hard fans.
The band kicked off their return with a glorious and visually stunning reunion festival run at Good Things 2022, and this successful outing emboldened the band to bring together an ensemble of fellow '90-00s Australian acts for the Death To Art tour.It was clear this was slated to be an epic undertaking as soon as the slew of support acts were announced. From Eskimo Joe to The Mavis's, it seemed every major Aussie act from the '90s through to the mid 2000s was opening for TISM, and under a brilliant blue sky, an eclectic and offbeat array of fans sunned themselves at Melbourne's Sidney Myer Music Bowl (9 November).
First opener, Ben Lee offered a completely captivating set, his understated sonic mastery the perfect counterpoint to his upbeat tone and witty commentary between tracks. At one point, he stole one of TISM's infamous balaclavas and kicked off a tune inviting the crowd to "take your drugs to this".
Ben Lee - image © Dante Griffith
Machine Gun Fellatio wasted no time in setting the scene for the timbre of their set, exceeding expectations before they even walked onstage, with multiple men in ballboy outfits completing the setup.
This was followed by a circus ringside announcer introducing the band using an array of slurs and riling up the already unruly crowd ahead of the set. Although 23 years have elapsed since the band last played together (before this tour), it was clear from the first note that time has not worn them down one iota.
The ensemble performed a tight set that completely blew the audience away, and they didn't miss a beat with their crude and over-the-top humour. Each tune had its own power, but also provided the perfect backdrop for their revolving cast of carnies, topless nuns and other assorted recalcitrants.
Machine Gun Fellatio - image © Dante Griffith
TISM pulled out all the stops for their entrance, donning bright red bodysuits with their classic balaclava masks. They began their set with a monologue about the death of art and its inaccessibility to the masses.
This lofty tone soon devolved into a riff on the death of Kyle Sandilands; the effect was certainly impactful, but seemed to end as fast as it started as the band launched straight into the classic 'I'll 'Ave Ya'.
The opening song had lead singer Humphrey B. Flaubert dive head-first straight into the audience without missing a beat; at many shows, a moment like this would be climactic and saved for the end of a show, but TISM members spent more time in the air and the crowd than they did on the stage.
TISM - image © Dante Griffith
The first song ended with a Jackson Pollock-inspired banner falling from behind the band, revealing a large scaffold full of artists painting live onstage, filling large canvases. This moment had everyone in complete awe at the spectacle unfolding in front of their eyes, yet this was just a background to the music and the antics of the band.
The hits and the energy built with each song. Usually, when bands have multiple grandiose moments in one performance, it tends to feel overinflated, but TISM, masters of stagecraft, knew how to balance these moments with the raw power of their music.
This tour marks a significant moment in the band's history, as it has been 20 years since their last tour; aside from the odd surprise and secret show they indulged in infrequently. The Death To Art tour is the closest thing we have to a '90s triple j iconic acts tour, and the programming of this eccentric line-up of bands, some re-forming after a decade or two just for this tour, is a triumph.
TISM - image © Dante Griffith
This tour feels like a pure celebration of Aussie music and is a perfect display of the enduring love the fanbase maintains for these acts. If the opportunity to see TISM live presents itself, don't delay, because it's unclear whether the band will reunite again onstage for another nationwide tour.
- written by Dante Griffith
More photos from the concert.
