Photos: Maddie O’Brien

With huge energy and great crowd engagement, Le Shiv were a spectacular support act. 

Some of their transitions and breakdowns gave me Radiohead vibes… albeit a very energetic version that made me dance instead of cry!

Their drummer stood out for his snare technique. He was in the pocket and driving every song using some almost funk inspired fills. 

Once again I’ve been to The Tivoli to watch a headline act and walked away as a new fan of some great music. 

Le Shiv give big energy

Photos: Maddie O’Brien

Royel Otis share their support act moment

Speaking of support acts, Royel Otis said later onstage that the last time they played the Tivoli, it was as a support act themselves. Amazing to see these lads succeeding in such a superb fashion. 

I first discovered Royel Otis only a few weeks before their insanely popular cover of Sophie Ellis-Bextor’s dancefloor classic, “Murder On The Dance Floor”, dropped on Triple J radio’s Like A Version.

Immediately I was sucked into their world of catchy guitar and synth rhythms.

Naturally, when their Pratts and Pain Album Tour was announced, I had to get in to see their live work. 

Royel and Otis themselves are impeccable live musicians.

They command the stage, without being overly dominating, and their drummer and synth dudes provide much of the essential meat of the songs.

Photos: Maddie O’Brien

Skilful keys manipulation

Royel Otis have found the sweet spot that popular music composers strive for: crafting simple melodies that listeners can sing to, with a perfect driving dance tempo, while also retaining a dash of that classic Aussie-indi vibe.

The instrumentation and composition beneath these surface melodies are delightfully original and complex, meaning a musician like myself can really appreciate the care and attention Royel and Otis have afforded to their work. 

I must comment on the synth player’s skilful manipulation of pre-recorded and live keyboard and lead synth lines. “Motel Boy” is a perfect example of what I am trying to describe.

The syncopated synth and guitar rhythms contrasting the rhythm of the vocal melody are deceptively tricky to isolate and perform in time. 

And then there’s the atmosphere and emotion that their music captures. Somehow, they evoke nostalgia with new music, that longing for the good old days of your youth before everything got far too serious, while still retaining hope for the future. Shy but boisterous. Withdrawn but exuberant. 

Perhaps it helps that Royel hides behind his trademark curtain of pinkish hair while Otis leaps about hyping up the crowd. 

Sound is always spectacular at The Tivoli. 

Hot concert tip from a muso: stand next to the sound guy/production booth for the perfect mix for volume and instrument levels. They’re mixing the band to sound best to their ears, so the greatest sonic experience will be in their radius. 

The fact that every Royel Otis show is sold out only proves that no one needs me to tell them they should go!