The Tivoli is buzzing with anticipation and filling fast with BrisVegan and travelling fans converging to witness You Me At Six on the first night of their Australian farewell tour.
The night (24 January) kicks off with Hevenshe, the solo project of Tonight Alive's Jenna McDougall. McDougall takes to the stage with her guitar, delivering a rollicking emotion-driven set that is resonating deeply with the crowd before her.Jenna steals hearts with 'Wild, Wild Heart' and even more as she continues to rock us out with 'Trying Not To Feel' and 'Dear Life'. At one point McDougall's vocals took on an Aussie Alanis Morrisette flavour as she "ya-ya-ya'd" an intro. Beautiful.
With just the right amount of dialogue, she keeps the crowd enthralled during 'Floor Bed'. Extremely loud shouts from the crowd for her to do more made her smile broadly as she acknowledged them.
She won me over with 'Wish I Had a Friend' and with her final song, a bloody brilliant banger 'Essential' channelling the rawer, rockin' side of Pink. Jenna has successfully created an undeniable connection with punters, setting the perfect tone for the night ahead.
Toward the end of our intermission the whole venue gave a pub choir rendition of Breaking Benjamin's 'The Diary Of Jane' as it was played through The Tiv's PA speakers. I note we're running a little late on the schedule, but all is forgiven as the lights drop and a blue haze is revealed enveloping the stage and Holding Absence storm the stage one by one.
The energy in the room shifts noticeable as the Welsh rockers waste no time diving into their emotionally-charged set starting with 'Like A Shadow'. Mesmerising frontman Lucas Woodland commands your attention with his soaring vocals and raw passion.
'Afterlife' hits just as hard, sending ripples through the crowd as voices rise in unison and a circle pit erupts in the mosh pit. Woodland's energy is infectious, moving across the stage with relentless intensity, while guitarist Scott Carey and bassist Benjamin Elliott lay down flawless performances while making moves with almost as much energy as their frontman.
'False Dawn' and 'Birdcage' come ahead of fan favourite 'A Crooked Melody' that elicits a fan choir into dangerous decibel territory. So, so good is the vibe, I could cry.
By the time they close out with classic banger 'Afterlife' and 'Wilt', Holding Absence have left their mark on unsuspecting You Me At Six fans; that's for sure. Even if they left 'Aching Longing' off their set to help make up time. This performance has proved why they're a band that keeps climbing and I sure hope they come back, real soon!
Another break as drinks are replenished, punters pushing forward in an attempt to get closer to the stage. Lionel Ritchie's 'All Night Long' has us grooving and many singing, but it was nothing in comparison to the Breaking Benjamin karaoke affair.
The house lights cut out. White splaying spots light the stage and a charged buzz sweeps through the crowd as the iconic opening notes of 'Room To Breathe' blast through the speakers.
You Me At Six hit the stage, also one at a time with the kind of confidence that only comes with two decades of experience and the instrumental intro is almost drowned out as Josh Franceschi finally arrives shouting into his mic addressing us "ladies and gentlemen of Brisbane, Australia!"
The fan roars were deafening drowning out the last part of his intro that I think was "this is the final night of Six, let's do it baby!" The place erupts, and from that point on, it's clear tonight is going to be something special.
The set list takes the crowd on a ride through the band's extensive catalogue, blending classic anthems with newer bangers: 'Loverboy', 'Stay With Me', 'Save It For The Bedroom'. While tracks like 'Deep Cuts' and 'Give' spark massive sing-alongs.
The entire venue is pulsing with energy. Max Helyer and Chris Miller's guitars weave seamlessly through intricate riffs and punchy chords, each note landing with precision. The crowd is a moving sea of hands in the air, every voice screaming back the words in a mix of nostalgia and sheer joy. Queen gets a nod for a few hot seconds with 'We Will Rock You' for the into for 'Night People'.
Midway through, Franceschi pauses to take it all in and encourages fans to show him love in the form of a circle pit with the band set to desecrate our ears with 'Fresh Start Fever'. From here on in the moshing was relentless, the crowd surfing increased and things got really ramped up.
Fan favourites keep our fires burning, including 'Lived A Lie', the tumultuous 'Crash', and bangers 'Suckerpunch' and 'Make Me Feel Alive'. You Me At Six are lit!
After 'No Future? Yeah Right', Franceschi tells us about their journey and how we have added to the experience – I don't think they could have asked for a better crowd tonight; there's as much emotion on the stage as there is in the room.
The speech flows into 'Mixed Emotions' with some fans visibly emotional, caught up in the weight of the moment. It's these raw, heartfelt moments that have cemented You Me At Six as more than just a band – they're a part of people's lives.
One of the standout moments comes with 'No One Does It Better' and our own nod with the words changed to "Brisbane does it better!" at the end. We sure bloody do!
We were gifted one last live experience of 'Liquid Confidence' stripped back, letting the lyrics do all the heavy lifting. The crowd is again responding with a deafening sing-along, a reminder of just how much these songs mean to so many. The connection between band and audience is undeniable, a shared experience that transcends the music itself.
How close you may ask? So close that it's an overwhelming yes to do a shoey, but not with a shoe! No! With a prosthetic lower leg – and it was done and delivered right back to the owner. I’'ll just leave that there.
'Take On The World' gave us our Bic/ mobile phone incandescent moment with the band followed by a song for the generations 'Beautiful Way'. Fans rock-out with all they have; the chorus is strong with this lot and we sway in unison during the slower verses. Indeed, what a beautiful way to end a set – leaving us 'f...ed up in a beautiful way', hot, sweaty and breathless and not OK, they are calling it quits! Dammit!
They leave but not for long, returning to our quickening claps and calls for more. They return to us. Dan Flint, who has been flawless smashing out on his thunderous drum rolls, is hammering out rhythms with unrelenting force before the band hurtles into 'Bite My Tongue'.
The breakdown hits like a sledgehammer, the floor shaking under hundreds of bodies jumping in sync. Franceschi's delivery is fierce, his presence magnetic, keeping the entire room locked in. 'Reckless' is next and describes the wild abandon of crowd surfers, moshers and headbangers.
As the night pushes towards its climax, the energy only builds. 'Underdog' sends the venue into a frenzy, with Franceschi lurching into his mic and leaning towards the fans who have stuck with them through thick and thin, shouting the lyrics word for word, right back at him. In these moments, it doesn't feel like a goodbye – more like a celebration of everything they've achieved together.
A bittersweet vibe is left suspended above the sweaty, humid air moshers created in the room. Many fans at the barrier refuse to let go, hovering, hoping to hold onto the moment just a little longer. The band hand out picks, set lists, drumsticks and smiles to them.
Walking out into the Brisbane night, punters with ringing ears and full hearts leave as witnesses to the end of an era. For 20 years, You Me At Six have been the soundtrack to countless memories: late-night drives, heartbreaks, and the kind of reckless nights you never forget
Tonight was a lyrical Elton John moment, a funeral for a friend – a farewell to an old mate who's been with us through it all. As the echoes of their final set fade, one thing’s for sure – this might be the end of the road, but their legacy will be belted out in cars and bedrooms for years to come. So long, and thanks for all the tunes.
