Tame Impala is one of those bands that you sometimes forget is Australian given how much they have built their career outside of the country but at its heart, their music is actually quite distinctly Australian and the influences are clear. Having not toured the country in quite a while, it was great to see Kevin Parker return for his homecoming shows, bringing his distinctive blend of psychedelic rock and electronic music back to Australian audiences. Demand for the gigs has been high with all three shows in Sydney selling out, reflecting the sensational demand for the band’s music.

The show was opened by Ninajirachi, who delighted the crowd with her blend of dance-pop and DJ music, providing an energetic start to the evening and a great way to hype up the fans ahead of the main event.

With Parker performing on a rounded stage, the crowd felt very intimate even in the cavernous Afterpay Arena, with the stage design allowing the audience to feel connected to the performance despite the sheer size of the venue. As Parker entered to a sea of lights, it was immediately clear that this was a high-budget and high-intensity show, with the psychedelic lighting and carefully choreographed visuals captivating the audience from the outset.

Beginning with “Apocalypse Dreams” the energy was high from the outset as Parker moved through “Borderline” and “Loser” before the energy reached fever pitch with “Elephant”.

“Ok, let’s take it up a notch,” said Parker before sending the crowd into a frenzy.

It is a song that sounds good on the record but it sounded absolutely incredible live, as the wave of sound transformed through the arena, with its driving rhythm and slight disco and EDM tinges in the live version combining with an extraordinary display of laser lights to entrance the audience. It was a sublime performance that demonstrated the power of Parker’s songwriting and production with the energy in the room tangible as the audience was swept up in the music.

“We finally made it back to Sydney,” he said. “It’s a f***ing Tuesday night but who cares.”

While Parker is not necessarily known for his voice, it held up very well throughout the performance, with his band also providing a strong foundation for the intricate arrangements. Indeed, this was a highly choreographed and carefully planned show and while that can sometimes feel insincere it did not in this case as the production felt like a carefully curated spectacle that truly complemented the music, bringing another level of light to Parker’s songwriting.

After “Afterthought” and a slight trip where he nearly fell off the stage, Parker made his way to the B-stage, providing a change of pace from the intensity of the main stage and allowing the performance to take on a more intimate quality. The contrast between the enormous production surrounding the main stage and the smaller setup was particularly effective, with “Not My World” and “Ethereal Connection” offering a more restrained atmosphere as the audience remained transfixed.

The audience was once again swept up in the performance as Parker returned to the main stage and treated them to an extended version of “Let It Happen” with the audience swinging their heads back and dancing into oblivion as the music built and transformed around them. The power of the song was felt throughout the arena, making it one of the most memorable moments of the evening. For the encore, Parker returned with “Dracula” before playing “The Less I Know the Better”, which was hugely well received by the audience, before ending on “End of Summer”, ending a wonderful night of music.

Overall, this was an extraordinary concert that combined musicianship, technical mastery, production and songwriting to create a superlative visual and musical experience. Parker is possibly the most successful Australian artist since Kylie Minogue and has done an extraordinary job of building an international career while continuing to put Australian music on the map. One can only hope he doesn’t leave Australia hanging for too long before he returns for his next set.

Rating: ★★★★★

Tame Impala – Afterpay Arena – 20 October 2026

Photo credit: Julian Klincewicz