Tame Impala are back in Sydney, and tonight Afterpay Arena belongs to Kevin Parker. What started as one bloke making psychedelic music in his bedroom in Perth has turned into a worldwide phenomenon, and the sheer size of tonight’s show tells you just how far he’s come.
Getting things underway is Ninajirachi, the Central Coast producer who’s had one hell of a year. Her debut album I Love My Computer cleaned up at the 2025 music awards, taking home three ARIAs, two J Awards and the Australian Music Prize. She’s gone from making electronic music at home to playing some of the biggest stages in the country, and supporting Tame Impala is another massive tick on the list.
Then it’s time for Parker. It’s hard to believe nearly two decades have passed since Tame Impala first appeared on the Australian music scene. Back then, it was all fuzzy guitars and psychedelic rock. These days, Parker has become one of the most sought-after names in music, working with everyone from Dua Lipa and Lady Gaga to The Weeknd and Justice.
And what a back catalogue he’s built along the way. From InnerSpeaker and Lonerism through to the game-changing Currents and The Slow Rush, Parker has never been one to make the same record twice. Throw in The Less I Know The Better, which has racked up more than two billion streams, and you’ve got a pretty good idea of why Tame Impala can fill arenas around the world.
The latest chapter is Deadbeat, Parker’s fifth album, which landed late last year. It’s a record that leans harder into electronic music, with punchier beats, fewer frills and a healthy dose of dancefloor energy. Singles Dracula, Loser and End of Summer have already made their mark, with the latter picking up a Grammy for Best Dance/Electronic Recording.
Tonight, Parker has a six-piece touring band behind him, giving those meticulously crafted studio tracks room to breathe on a much bigger stage. It’s quite a leap from the early days, but the music still has that unmistakable Tame Impala stamp.
And that’s the thing about Parker. Just when you think you’ve got him figured out, he heads off in another direction. Rock, psychedelia, pop, electronic music, he’s had a crack at the lot, and somehow it all fits together.
Tonight at Afterpay Arena, Sydney gets the latest version of Tame Impala. Bigger, bolder and still doing things entirely on Parker’s terms.
The tour moves on to Perth after two more night in Sydney, tickets HERE.
Images Deb Pelser
