Before Connan Mockasin took the stage, the crowd was greeted with a bizarre opening: a homemade parody of a disturbing after-school special, starring the musician himself. It was the first of many pranks to come.
A blonde-haired figure appeared on stage and settled behind the drum kit, making themselves comfortable. Another layer of misdirection in a night built on subtle confusion and playful deception. When the real Connan finally emerged, the moment dissolved into music.
‘Charlotte’s Thong‘ slipped in softly, drawing the room into that hazy, half-awake calm Mockasin has perfected. ‘It’s Choade My Dear‘ followed, then ‘Do I Make You Feel Shy?‘ each song carrying the crooked charm that defines his work.
The show was acoustic, stripped back, and intimate. The Sydney Opera House’s grandeur seemed almost irrelevant; the performance had the feel of something that could have unfolded just as naturally in Connan’s living room. His band carried the same relaxed energy, and the audience settled into it without question. Between songs, Connan drifted between conversation and silence, occasionally sharing giggles with the crowd.
