Sunday's Two Door Cinema Club Melbourne concert was a thrilling reminder of why the Northern Irish indie rock band remains one of the most electrifying live acts today.
The band indulged the Melbourne crowd in a vibrant celebration of their discography, all the way back to 2010's debut release, 'Tourist History', an album that has stood the test of time. The band played at Margaret Court Arena, joined by Declan McKenna and Soft Launch (8 December).Openers Soft Launch are a rising indie five-piece hailing from London. With their infectious, guitar-driven sound and a clear onstage chemistry, Soft Launch played their heart out to an ever growing audience in front of them.
The band's blend of atmospheric soundscapes with infectious, melodic choruses felt at home at a purely indie-centric night. While some fans of the band made clear their excitement, the audience at large may have been waiting for what came next.
Billed as a co-headliner and a clear attraction for many in the audience, the arrival of Declan McKenna was an exciting one, with fans in the crowd letting off tantalising yells of glee.
With his devoted following, the English singer-songwriter has earned his flowers through catchy indie pop and social commentary. Landing back in Australian shores for the second time in 2024, previously playing alongside Foals and Griff, McKenna was back to stun audiences with his punchy indie hits.
While he battled against a mostly still audience in front of him, aside from the pockets of dancers thoroughly enjoying themselves, McKenna's attempted connection with the crowd was evident, moving from his microphone to get closer to the crowd and diving onto the barricade.
Lighthearted moments taken between songs were full of warmth, and his candidness about the inspirations behind his tracks made the experience feel intimate for fans in the crowd. Declan and the band's stage presence and clear enjoyment playing to the arena was undeniable as the set drew on, finally breaking through the crowd during his hit 'Brazil'.
Another highlight, with its high energy and McKenna's crazed dancing, was 'British Bombs', a track that had devotees to the Englishman losing their minds in the front row.
Read our recent interview with Declan McKenna.
With the arena floor now fully packed, the anticipation in the room was at an all time high. Entering to a swirling intro of 'This Is The Life', the five members onstage launched into their world-renowned set, their immediately infectious energy and tight musicianship bringing those still seated to their feet.
With many in the audience growing up on Two Door Cinema Club and seeing them for the first time, the energy was unlike anything else. Fans bounced around with a giddy energy, each song bringing a sense of joy like no other, some grabbing their friends in sheer disbelief of who was in front of them. Thousands of punters were reliving their youth in real time in a haze of euphoric nostalgia.
The performance onstage was an exhilarating blend of classic hits and newer material, showcasing the band's remarkable growth over their 15-year career, with frontman Alex Trimble’s voice sounding as crisp and emotive as ever, soaring through tracks like 'Changing Of The Seasons' and 'Are We Ready? (Wreck)'.
"I think it's been like 14 years since we started this [band]," said bassist Kevin Baird through a thick Northern Irish accent, "do you mind if we play some songs we wrote in our garage," as the band launched into the epic 'Something Good Can Work'.
With the Melbourne crowd still a stoic mass, aside from sporadic groups in the crowd who seemed to be the only ones conscious of who was in front of them, the audience became a choir rehearsing every word of 'Undercover Martyn'.
The crowd became even more animated for one of the biggest indie tracks of the last decade-plus, 'What You Know', which was teased by the band for the last five songs in the set, with its eventual rendition becoming a pivotal moment of joy for everyone in attendance.
It took a good few minutes of cheer and applause for the band to be able to exit the stage, with the previously reserved crowd clearly wanting more of the nostalgic indie goodness. Upon exit of the venue, hoarse voices from grinning punters hummed along to the 'What You Know' tune, filled with the disbelief of what they had just seen.
Read our recent interview with Two Door Cinema Club.
