The Kooks know their place in indie history. They also know they don’t want to live in it. And if tonight’s sold-out show at Sydney’s Hordern Pavilion is anything to go by, they don’t need to—because the crowd is still very much here for them. It’s been nearly two decades since Inside In/Inside Out made them the soundtrack to a thousand coming-of-age montages, but with their new album Never/Know, out in May via Virgin Music Group, they’re proving they’ve got more in the tank than just nostalgia. The first taste of the record, lead single Never Know, dropped recently, and it’s classic Kooks: hook-heavy, breezy, and packed with the kind of earworm chorus that begs to be sung back at festival crowds.
Briston Maroney and his band (Nathan Knox – drums & Zack Lockwood – bass) are opening for the Kooks they kick off the night with a set that’s equal parts raw energy and easygoing charm. Between bursts of raucous indie rock, Maroney banters with the crowd like an old mate, grinning as he invites the audience to come to The Record Store tomorrow, where fans can hear his latest release. There’s a full-circle moment, too—he reminisces about his Florida youth, longboarding to the soundtrack of The Kooks, a fitting nod to the band he’s now warming up the stage for.
And then, just like that, The Kooks stride onto the stage, the anticipation in the room snapping into pure adrenaline. Last to appear is Luke Pritchard, swaggering in head-to-toe black wearing leather pants, every inch the rock star. The band wastes no time, launching into their set with tight, effortless cool as Pritchard throws out all the classic frontman moves—arms wide, hips loose, owning the stage like he was born on it. Hugh Harris keeps it cool and collected, his guitar anchoring the chaos as Pritchard gets the crowd moving. While the frontman struts and soars, Harris holds it all together with effortless precision—a quiet powerhouse at the heart of the band’s groove.
Behind me voices swell in unison, a crowd of people suddenly transported back to late-night singalongs, road trips with the windows down, and the bittersweet ache of youth. Inside In / Inside Out may have been released in 2006, but tonight, it feels like yesterday.
The Kooks haven’t lost the energy that made them the poster boys of 2000s indie. There’s a looseness to their performance, a sense that they’re still having fun—whether it’s Harris throwing himself into a riff with reckless abandon or Pritchard cracking jokes between songs.
And as the final chords ring out, as the crowd spills into the night still humming their favourite melodies, there’s only one thing left to say—long live The Kooks.
Head over HERE for ticketing information as the Kooks move on to Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth next.
