Royal Blood at Festival Hall
Returning to Australia for their first shows back in our country since 2018, English rock duo Royal Blood destroyed their set at Melbourne’s Festival Hall – putting on an absolutely wild performance that left the audience buzzing. With four albums now under their belt, vocalist/bassist Mike Kerr, drummer Ben Thatcher and touring keyboardist Darren James gave their all during their 18-song performance, which left the ground shaking beneath us.
The first opener for the night was Sydney band The Buoys; whose alt-rock anthems had the audience dancing along. Set openers I Want You and Best Friend saw the four-piece rocking out onstage, visibly having the times of their lives, while the Scomo-dedicated track BDSM and new song Settle Petal went down an absolute treat. Standout single Lie to Me Again was a set highlight, which was driven home by the heavier set-closer Linda – a completely relatable song ‘about a shit boss’. We’re sure we’ll see The Buoys soon – we expect big things from their catchy-as-anything music and incredible stage presence. Playing as the second support of the night, Perth band Psychedelic Porn Crumpets continued to thoroughly warm up the crowd with their mass of sound; consisting of layered guitar work and progressive riffs and tones. Kicking things off with Tally-Ho, the pace picked up for tracks Mundungus and Nootmare (K-I-L-L-I-n-G) Meow! – which sent the audience into a frenzy. Taking the time to wish lead guitarist Luke Parish a Happy Birthday, the lads ended their set on a high with the riff-heavy Cornflake and Hymn for a Droid.
With the crowd’s energy peaking, Royal Blood made their way onto the stage to start off strong with the thundering Out of the Black; kicking off a show that punters had been waiting eagerly for. It was at the climax of the song that we realised drummer Ben Thatcher had jumped into the pit, before rejoining Mike Kerr for the song’s closing bars – with the audience going crazy throughout the stunt. Seamlessly transitioning into the gritty riffs of Come on Over and Mountains at Midnight, the audience watched in awe at Kerr’s seemingly effortless bass skills, before the pummelling bassline and bass drums of Boilermaker resonated through the venue and pushed the set to new heights.
Kerr addresses the audience at this point – expressing the band’s delight at being back in Melbourne – before explosive hit Lights Out saw the stage swathed in red light, as the crowd screamed along with every word. The slower Shiner in the Dark and Supermodel Avalanches from 2023 EP Back to the Water Below were up next – with the latter building the pace back up for Trouble’s Coming and Typhoons, one of our personal faves. The quieter Pull Me Through saw keyboardist Darren James flexing on the keys, while the roaring One Trick Pony featured a riff so powerful that we could feel it reverberating in our chests. Fan favourite Little Monster was up next, and saw the audience jumping along to each beat. With the song ending, Thatcher took his time to play an impressive drum solo which wowed the crowd, before transitioning into the opening beat of 2017 track How Did We Get So Dark?
Newer song Tell Me When It’s Too Late bridged the gap between old and new, leading into set closer Loose Change from their debut album – much to the audience’s delight. With the set leaving the stage, the crowd’s screams for more is deafening – especially when a few punters lead everyone into a joint chant of ‘Olé, Olé, Olé’. Leaping back onstage with Psychedelic Porn Crumpets guitarist Chris Young, Royal Blood launched into the soulful Waves; seeing the audience in a gentle sway. The pace changed up once again for the jarring Ten Tonne Skeleton from their debut album, as the deafening bass and jumping punters shook the floor beneath their feet. With the show reaching its end, their biggest hit Figure It Out saw Kerr and Thatcher throwing their everything into a massive finale; leaving the crowd in awe of the incredible show they had just witnessed.
As easily one of the best sets we’ve seen this year, Royal Blood put on one heck of a show – solidifying their place as one of the most formidable acts in modern rock. With an awe-inspiring back catalogue, we can’t wait to see what they come back to Australia with next time. We left the earplugs at home for this show – after all, this is the way Royal Blood should be listened to.