The Rubens Brisbane Review @ The Tivoli Theatre

Eager, buzzing bodies quickly filled the beautiful The Tivoli Theatre (24 February) to catch alt-rockers The Rubens (click here to read our February 2018 interview with the band) kick-off their first Australian show of their 'Million Man' tour.

After two epic sets from supporting acts Joyride and Kira Puru, the crowd was suitably warmed up and ready to go as patrons flocked to the pit to snatch a spot closer to the stage.

Bright, white lights beamed out onto the venue and the loud, chattering crowd simmered as frontman Sam Margin emerged, opening the show with a captivating, never-before-heard new track with gentle, heart-hitting lyrics. The audience was almost silent.

Click here for more photos from the show.

It was the perfect start to the set, refocusing some of the rowdier members of the audience. The pace quickly changed as the stage lit up and the rest of the band emerged as they threw themselves into an undeniable favourite, 'Cut Me Loose'.

Straight away Sam jumped into the crowd, singing and dancing alongside the audience. The crowd loved it and the energy in the room was electric.


Sam took a breather and had a drink after the second song and said they were going to be playing some new tracks and of course the older, much-loved ones. “It’s going be a f*#$ing awesome night, I can tell already by your behaviour,” he said.

And that they did, the band went on to play several of their well-known classics including 'Hallelujah', 'Bitter End', 'My Gun' and also chucked in their bluesy cover of Chance the Rapper's tune 'Same Drugs', which seemed to be a crowd favourite.

They played a bunch of new tracks that didn’t disappoint with the audience responding with more love with each one.


The show went on to be truly special with The Rubens separately joining forces with both supporting acts to play two unique, never played before songs. Kira Puru and Sam performed a duet that sent chills throughout the venue with the pair gently bouncing off each other with their delicate lyrics.

There were two main things that made The Rubens live show so special. Firstly, the undeniable, identical sound of their live performance to their studio recordings. And secondly, the stage presence and engagement Sam brings to the audience.

It’s not just the pure talent and passion that’s clearly visible in Sam’s performance, but it's the way he completely connects with the audience that makes him such an amazing performer.

Throughout the set he continued to get to know the crowd, making eye contact with audience members: from the groovers dancing front of stage to the people admiring the set from The Tivoli’s beautiful balcony.


The band wrapped up the show with 'Million Man', giving it there all before quickly exiting the stage at the end of the song. There was only one song missing in the seemingly perfect set that The Rubens had masterfully created; triple j’s Hottest 100 of 2016 number one 'Hoops', of course.

After what seemed like 100 agonising minutes of cheers, yells and screams from the crowd, the band returned to the stage to smash out the single, the audience singing along with every word.

An excellent ending to an extraordinary show.

Click here for more photos from the show.