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GRINSPOON
+ Regurgitator
+ Molly Rocket
@ AEC Theatre, Adelaide,
1st November 2025
(Live Review)

Review by Louise Miller

Photos by Deb Kloeden (@debkloedenphotography)

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GRINSPOON / Photo – @debkloedenphotography

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Grinspoon’s 30th Birthday Bonanza hit Adelaide like a sonic explosion

Thirty years, zero signs of slowing down. Grinspoon’s 30th Birthday Bonanza hit Adelaide’s Entertainment Centre Theatre like a sonic explosion — a night of nostalgia, chaos, and pure Aussie rock brilliance. The sold-out crowd didn’t just show up; they showed out, ready to celebrate three decades of one of Australia’s most iconic bands.

With Molly’s Rocket and Regurgitator setting the stage, it was a full-throttle night from the first power chord to the last bow.

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MOLLY ROCKET / Photo – @debkloedenphotography

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Molly’s Rocket Light the Fuse

Opening acts can be hit or miss — but Molly’s Rocket? Total hit. The Adelaide-based alt-rockers stormed the stage with that unmistakable 90s grunge swagger, filtered through a fresh, modern edge. Big riffs, driving drums, and infectious energy poured from every track. For a band still early in their journey, they owned that stage like seasoned pros. Keep an eye on these guys — they’re going places.

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REGURGITATOR / Photo – @debkloedenphotography

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Regurgitator Bring the Chaos

Then came the legends of the unexpected — Regurgitator. Genre-bending, rule-breaking, and unapologetically weird in the best way, they turned the night up to eleven. From the second they shouted “I love this town, Adelaide!” and “Happy Birthday, Grinspoon!”, the crowd was theirs.

Their set was a whirlwind of electronic pulses, punk grit, and pure rock mayhem. Between the wild antics and Sarah Lim’s keytar heroics (complete with headbanging hair flips), the band delivered a masterclass in musical mischief. The lighting turned the stage into a kaleidoscope of colour — part gig, part fever dream — and their shoutout to Adelaide’s own The Gov drew massive cheers.

Regurgitator’s love for the stage, for Adelaide, and for Grinspoon was infectious — and by the time they left, the crowd was fully primed for the main act.

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GRINSPOON / Photo – @debkloedenphotography

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Grinspoon: Thirty Years Loud and Proud

Cue the cowboy intro. Spaghetti Western visuals rolled across the screen as the crowd roared to life. One by one, the band appeared — Phil Jamieson, Joe Hansen, Pat Davern, Kristian Hopes — before launching into their 2024 track “Unknown Pretenders”. From that moment on, it was absolute bedlam in the best possible way.

Grinspoon’s set was a hit parade of attitude and nostalgia: “Dead Cat”, “Just Ace”, “Lost Control”, “Champion” — every song tighter, louder, and heavier than the last. Behind them, a slideshow of merch and tour memories traced their 30-year legacy, reminding everyone just how far they’ve come.

Frontman Phil Jamieson was electric — part rock god, part chaos conductor. He danced, grinned, and teased the crowd nonstop, yelling, “Who’s an oldcomer or a newcomer? Welcome!” His energy was contagious, bouncing off every corner of the room.

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GRINSPOON / Photo – @debkloedenphotography

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Midway through, things took a heartfelt turn. Under two white spotlights, Jamieson performed “Minute by Minute” acoustically in memory of a late friend. The theatre fell silent, hands swaying gently as his voice filled the room — a beautiful, emotional pause that hit everyone right in the chest.

But just as quickly, the mood flipped. “1000 Miles” kicked the pace back up before Grinspoon tore through a killer cover of INXS’s “Don’t Change”. Jamieson channelled his inner Hutchence, all charisma and cool confidence, before dropping straight into “Chemical Heart”. The crowd went off — voices raised, fists pumping, every lyric shouted with pride.

As the final notes rang out, Jamieson took a moment to thank the crew, the fans, and the city. The roar that followed was deafening.

Thirty years in, Grinspoon are still pure, unfiltered rock energy — tighter, louder, and more magnetic than ever.

Happy Birthday, Grinspoon. Adelaide loves you. Here’s to the next thirty.

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GRINSPOON / Photo – @debkloedenphotography

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Check out Deb Kloeden’s (@debkloedenphotography) full gallery of this event HERE

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GRINSPOON / Photo – @debkloedenphotography

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GRINSPOON / Photo – @debkloedenphotography

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AMNPLIFY – DB