After the huge success of their third album, Currents, Tame Impala are on the crest of their biggest career peak yet. And, having recently announced two huge gigs at the Manchester Arena and London’s Alexandra Palace for February next year, the upward trajectory of this psych-rock behemoth seems to know no bounds. In a packed out Olympia Theatre the evidence is all there.
Even at this, their first ever Liverpool show, the Perth band have garnered an impossibly enthusiastic crowd. Even a setlist weighted towards new material doesn’t deter a word-for-word singalong from the constantly gyrating audience. Even the people in the balconies take to dancing in the aisles, such is the power of Tame Impala’s unique brand of fuzzy, almost trance-like psychedelia.
Kicking off with Currents opener ‘Let It Happen’, frontman and Tame Impala svengali Kevin Parker looks increasingly proud as the audience totally defies what clearly wasn’t a traditionally crowd-pleasing set (notable omissions include any tracks from their eponymous debut EP and fan favourites such as ‘Solitude is Bliss’ and ‘Desire Be Desire Go’).
Even with the absence of a few favourites, Tame Impala are a stunning spectacle to behold, visually as well as musically. Dizzying trippy visuals are projected onto the band throughout the set – the perfect accompaniment to their hazy sound. And what a sound it is. Ever since the humble fuzz guitars of their debut EP, their live sound has gotten bigger and bigger. Parker’s Rickenbacker is saturated with space-age effects, and surrounded by the droning synths that have come to the fore on Currents. It culminates in an earth shattering wall of sound – almost comparable to the equally dreamy My Bloody Valentine. But, amongst the noise, Parker’s sweet voice and unique ear for melody still shine brightly through.
Before closing with Lonerism standout track ‘Apocalypse Dreams’, Parker praises his “fucking amazing” crowd, calling them “very three-dimensional”. But, the biggest singalong of the night comes from the encore, in the form of ‘Feels Like We Can Only Go Backwards’, their swirling and infectiously catchy classic single.
The band leave the stage to roaring applause – a fittingly triumphant reception for a band who’ve flitted effortlessly from strength to strength. Don’t be surprised if there are no empty seats at those big gigs next year.
8/10
Words by Matthew Smith