BARELY five years after releasing their debut single Evangelists, Sydney indie-rock band Gang Of Youths have taken the world by storm.
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Winners of four ARIA Awards for their sophomore album Go Farther In Lightness, and a No.2 song in Triple J’s 2017 Hottest 100, the band managed to sell out a whopping six shows within a fortnight at Sydney’s Enmore Theatre this November.
Rumour has it that each member alone can buy a house on Merewether Beach in cash after these shows are over.
Drummer Dom Borzestowski grew up in Newcastle, so who knows, this could be more than just a pipe dream for the former St Philips Christian College student.
I caught the fourth show, and it was incredible. From the moment the band leapt onstage to a star-spangled opening of Fear and Trembling, they gave it their all and put so much emotion into the show.
From the more upbeat numbers like fan favourites What Can I Do If The Fire Goes Out? and Magnolia to the stripped-back solo piano pieces, it was obvious they were on top of their game.
Lead singer David Le’aupepe strutted his stuff around the stage both with and without a guitar, in an almost sexy mental release through his lyrics.
Playing so many shows back to back must get very exhausting, and Le’aupepe admitted this was the first night in Sydney where he was performing without a chest infection.
READ MORE: Borzestowski feels at home in Gang Of Youths
He effortlessly whined in a melodic fashion about philosophy and relationships throughout his songs, and told stories of his heritage and growing up nearby.
The dedications flowed strong. His recently-deceased father was honoured with The Heart Is A Muscle.
Every song made tears well up in the eyes of audience members. Even I could feel shivers making their way up and down my spine.
To close the night the band encored with Say Yes To Life. The anthem of hope served as the perfect backdrop for a colourful spray of confetti washing over the audience.
Walking down Newtown’s Enmore Road post-gig felt like an aftershock. The vibe was still in air, as if the band would return to the stage at any moment to continue their musical coming-of-age ritual.
A man was even trying to flog bootleg tour t-shirts for $10 each on the footpath.
No-one seemed to be buying them, but it just goes to show that absolutely everyone can get swept up in the force of nature that is Gang Of Youths.
Setlist:
- Fear and Trembling
- What Can I Do If the Fire Goes Out?
- Keep Me in the Open
- L' imaginaire
- Do Not Let Your Spirit Wane
- Go Farther in Lightness
- Persevere
- The Heart Is a Muscle
- Let Me Down Easy
- Magnolia
- The Deepest Sighs, the Frankest Shadows
Encore
- Still Unbeaten Life
- Vital Signs
- Say Yes to Life
