Mental As Anything are a band firmly embedded in the proud history of Australian rock music, having inspired generations with their legion of hits and being the soundtrack to a generation. The band has reformed for their 50th anniversary tour, although without Andrew “Greedy” Smith, who sadly passed away in 2019, and without Martin Plaza, who elected not to be a part of this tour. As a result, this was a very different looking band, with Simon Rudston-Brown taking the lead alongside original members Reg Mombassa and Peter O’Doherty. Despite the changes in personnel, the band’s Sydney return attracted a full house at the Enmore Theatre as fans gathered to celebrate one of Australia’s most beloved groups.

The band played all of their biggest hits, opening with “Come Around” and “Too Many Times” before really revving up the crowd with “If You Leave Me, Can I Come Too?” and a cover of Roy Orbison’s “Working for the Man”. From there, they moved confidently through a catalogue that has remained a staple of Australian music for decades, with both O’Doherty and Mombassa showcasing their musicianship and trademark showmanship, while Rudston-Brown did an excellent job as frontman. Rudston-Brown was a particular (and perhaps unexpected) highlight of the show, producing exceptional vocals and displaying natural charisma which breathed new life into the material while remaining faithful to the spirit of the original recordings to really add to the performance. 

While the absence of Plaza and Smith was inevitably felt, the current lineup delivered the songs incredibly well with great musical execution and frequent interludes from O’Doherty and Mombassa, who took up the showman roles to lift the crowd. Rather than feeling like a tribute act (of which there was definitely a risk), this incarnation of the band felt determined to celebrate the music while putting its own stamp on it, which the audience responded very well to all night. 

The crowd received a great surprise towards the end of the set when original drummer David Twohill returned for two numbers, including the powerful “Live It Up”, which was a genuinely special moment that everyone in the venue seemed to appreciate. “Live It Up” had the crowd on its feet and undoubtedly evoked a wave of nostalgia as audience members connected with one of Australia’s most enduring rock anthems, with Twohill’s appearance added an extra sense of occasion and helped make the performance feel even closer to the band that so many people grew up with. At more than an hour and a half, the set was substantial but the audience showed little desire for it to end. The band returned for an encore of “The Nips Are Getting Bigger” before closing the night with “I Didn’t Mean to Be Mean” and a cover of Chuck Berry’s “Rock and Roll Music”, which was a fittingly energetic finale to end a great night of music. 

Overall, this was a highly enjoyable show that highlighted the remarkable depth of Mental As Anything’s catalogue and their excellent musicianship. With two original members still carrying the torch (complete with a cameo from another) and a strong lead vocalist in Rudston-Brown, the band proved that these songs are still going strong and this felt like a befitting continuation of the band’s exceptional legacy and a wonderful ode to Aussie pub rock. 

Rating: ★★★★1/2

Mental as Anything – 19 June 2026 – Enmore Theatre