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The first support for tonight’s show is courtesy of Melbourne’s Kira Puru. From the moment she walks in front of the crowd, it’s clear that Puru has no trouble working the stage: her incredibly strong vocals seem to be no stranger to the stage, pulling the crowd in from the walls with her instantly infectious soul-pop sounds. Each track is an impressively polished work, a textbook pop song elevated with Puru’s funky touch. Latest single, Tension, wins over the few people in the crowd who had yet to be convinced by the Melburnian. The set is a surprisingly strong opener for the night, setting the standards for next support Joyride and The Rubens unusually high.

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Singer-producer (among many other talents) Joyride, is next to take the stage. Performing under his own alias, Joyride is joined by SJ Dynasty on drums and multi-instrumentalist Handsome on everything else. The set starts with solo vocals, a wildly impressive display of talent from the singer, who is soon backed by instrumentals that pick up the pace and send the room into a frenzy. The set is a mixture of soul, pop, and funk, a more production-heavy version of the performance we saw from Kira Puru. Aunty Tracey’s Cookies, Late Night Ballgame (written by Handsome), and newer track Blue Batman are clear standouts—all are an impressive exposé of Joyride’s talents as both a singer, songwriter, and performer.

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The Tivoli has completely filled out by the time headlining act The Rubens make an entrance. The set starts with frontman Sam Margin’s silhouette in front of a spotlight as the night’s second solo opening. He’s singing a new track, a bold move that keeps the crowd eager for familiarity. It’s not long before the full band make an appearance and Margin is wading through the crowd to the delight of those in the front few rows. Cut Me Loose is quick to get the singalongs started, and it’s clear that The Rubens are here to have a good time.

The Million Dollar Man tour is packed with new material from the band’s upcoming album. The newer songs, punctuated by older hits like My Gun, Hoops, and Hallelujah, are a mix of deep piano, harmonies, and crowd-pleasing Rubens-esque 70s guitar. Margin also brings out both Kira Puru and Joyride for unreleased duets during the set: his track with Puru a slow building anti-love song counteracting the fun-loving hedonistic vibes from his work with Joyride that sees the two wandering around the venue.

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Though some tracks seem to bleed into each other with Margin’s powerful drawl, at times, overpowering sounds from the band, the crowd can’t seem to get enough of New South Wales’ finest. A cover of Chance the Rapper’s Same Drugs is an instant winner with the younger audience, and Million Dollar Man works to bring the older crowd back on board. The night ends with an encore of belter Lay It Down and the long-awaited Hoops. The double-barrel closer leaves the venue exhausted of energy as fans stand stunned in the house lights. The Rubens have provided a solid night of entertainment as well as a taste of what’s to come, and if tonight is anything to go by, I’d highly recommend keeping an eye out for the five-piece’s next record.

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Check out Kathryn Farmer’s gallery of this show HERE

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Follow THE RUBENS

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AMNPLIFY – DB