The rise of Cigarettes after Sex from a hip indie band to stadium-filling superstars has been quite something. The band’s unique brand of soulful, chilled pop has taken on new dimensions after success on TikTok and in films. On their last tour in 2018, the band played at Max Watt’s (now Liberty Hall) which barely seats more than 1000 people and only 7 years later, they have sold out two shows at the 10,000 seat ICC Theatre Sydney.

The crowd was a little slow to fill up due to the train delays around Sydney but once the band took to the stage, this did not matter in the slightest for those in the audience. The band’s vibe is almost completely incongruous to their persona on stage, with their music capturing the spectrum of private emotion and intimacy within the shell of what looks to be a classic rock band. Yet, it works, and, on the night, they had the whole audience entranced by their sound as they moved through their catalogue. 

The band relied on little theatrics or production throughout the set and seldom interacted with the audience, choosing to rely on the power of their music. Various TikToks have suggested that the etiquette at a Cigarettes after Sex concert is to not sing along and to simply enjoy the music, and it seemed like this was mostly observed, with the crowd preferring to listen to the band work through their setlist. 

The band performed songs from across their discography with the dulcet sounds of “Nothing’s Gonna Hurt You Baby” and “Touch” being some of the highlights of the start of the set. The rest of the performance was well-paced, with the biggest hits sprinkled throughout the set. While the crowd tended not to sing, they began to join in on “John Wayne”, which created an ethereal atmosphere, as the band, shrouded in darkness, crooned about the delusions of the world. 

The band closed their main set with their biggest hit, “Apocalypse” before lighting up the stage with a disco ball for their final song, “Opera House”, which felt like a fitting tribute to the Harbour City. As the band finished for the night, frontman Greg Gonzalez stepped away from his guitar to give his picks to members of the audience. It was a fleeting interaction but was done so with a charm that meant that the internal focus of the set and lack of interaction with the crowd felt like a hallmark of the intimacy of the music, rather than a detraction. 

Overall, this was a superb concert with the band showing off the best of their music to a crowd who savoured every moment of the night. It was clear that the songs resonated deeply with many in the room, leading to a night of passion and emotion. The band’s vibe may be chill, but they were consummate professionals on the stage, giving the audience exactly what they wanted and more. With sold out shows all around Australia, it will surely not be long before they are back again. 

Rating: ★★★★1/2

Cigarettes after Sex – ICC Sydney Theatre – 14^th March 2025

Photo Credit: Ebru Yildiz