Project Description

HOCKEY DAD

@ The Tivoli

(Live Review) 

Reviewed By: Alexandra Ainsworth

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It’s no secret that it’s been a wild couple of days for Windang duo, Hockey Dad.

After their underage show at Brisbane’s Woolly Mammoth saw the venue’s floor nearly collapse, the band were forced to reschedule and converge their following Brisbane shows to the Tivoli, releasing an extra 500 tickets in the process (now making it the only show of their national tour to not sell out). It’s no surprise, therefore, that the venue runs a little on the empty side tonight, but it’s clear that everyone, especially Hockey Dad, are just happy to be here.

The set starts with My Stride, the first track off the recently released sophomore record, Blend Inn. Within the first opening riffs, the view of the stage is already marred by crowd surfers, flying drinks, and stray shoes. The instant mosh is one that doesn’t suit the delicately ornate facade of the Tivoli, but the louche duo still head the party like it’s one being hosted in a mate’s garage. The juxtaposition of the two makes the spectacle all the more entertaining, with punters using the extra venue space to enjoy the set to their full capacity.

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Hockey Dad run through a quick succession of tracks before stopping, pausing only briefly between songs three and four to let out an adorably curse-filled sentence about how stunned they are that they managed to pull off tonight’s show. It’s clear that Hockey Dad has gained more traction over the past few months than anyone expected. Their cult following, the majority of which have their sweat-soaked HD shirts tucked into their back pockets, are completely unperturbed by the forced relocation or the fact that this is all going down on a Monday night.

Chants of ‘break the floor’ keep spirits cheekily high as the band performs tracks from both Blend Inn and debut record Boronia. It’s near impossible to note which one track stands out as a crowd favourite as each aggressively energetic intro is met with equally energetic approval from the crowd, who have yet to fail singing the lyrics word for word.

A cover of The VinesGet Free with guest vocals from Maz De Vita of Waax and 2014 release, Seaweed, cap off the night with a final burst of energy that leaves you unsurprised by the fact the band are breaking venues. Despite the carnage left by the crowd, it feels as though everyone is walking away from tonight happy to have been a part of Hockey Dad’s incidentally biggest gig to date.


Regardless of the fact that it’s all too easy to sonically lump the band into the steadily growing genre of apathetic indie surf-rock that doesn’t care what you think, lyrically, Hockey Dad manage to tackle all-too-relatable themes of anxiety and social pressures with earworm hooks, stellar riffs, and head-pounding drums. There’s nothing ostentatious or egotistical about it. Hockey Dad care, probably a little too much, but that’s what makes them so easy to love.

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