LIVE REVIEW: SILVERSUN PICKUPS + COAST ARCADE @ THE TIVOLI 24/07/26

Words by Cecilia Pattison-Levi

“Long time, no see,” said Brian Aubert. “Well, since we last saw you, we have been doing great. Tonight, we are going to shake off that ectoplasm, and other stuff and shake that shit off.”

These were the opening remarks to the Tivoli crowd when American indie rockers Silversun Pickups paused to take a breath in their return concert to Brisbane. With their seventh studio album ‘Tenterhooks’ the focus, they brought their distinctive sound to fans at the sold-out Tivoli for their first visit in 14 years. The night was all about high-energy and straight up rock ‘n’ roll as the weed wafted through the venue.

The night commenced with New Zealand’s Coast Arcade. They are a four-piece indie rock band comprised of Bella Bavin, Thom Boynton, Leo Spykerman and Arlo Birss. The band brought their bright and vibrant guitar-driven indie surf-rock style to the crowd. They kicked off their set with key songs from their self-titled debut album: ‘Afterthought’, ‘Greener’ and ‘Week’. Coast Arcade injected a contagious energy into every track.

The songs in the mid-set, such as the fantastic ‘Acetone’, were delivered with style. It was followed by ‘Kids’ and then ‘City Limits’. Coast Arcade demonstrated their captivating melodies, driving rhythms, and catchy lyrics through these songs. The last song of the set, which the band described as “the band’s favourite and the last song on our album” was ‘Baited’. The band launched into a high-powered delivery that had us bouncing and headbanging along. The bassist Leo Spykerman was amazing, and so energetic throughout the whole set. He showed how to engaged and rock out to Coast Arcade.

I know that Coast Arcade only had seven songs to show what the band could do and play, but I was sorry they didn’t get a chance to play some songs from their debut EP ‘Next To Me’, especially the fun track ‘Surf Club’ and the infectious ‘Tattoo’. A headline tour is needed? Coast Arcade are undoubtedly a band on the rise.

Coast Arcade setlist. Photo Cecilia Pattison-Levi

There was a fast changeover as the stage was stripped of excess equipment and reset. The pedal boards that went down were impressive as those of us in the crowd wondered if we were on the right side of the stage for guitar or bass, when we should have been more concerned about getting a great view of the drummer. He was insanely good!

With the thoughts and actions that “Sanity is rebellion” and “Decency is punk as fuck”, Silversun Pickups came out onto the stage. First the drummer Christopher Guanlao settled into the kit. Then, bassist Nikki Monninger walked to stage left as Joe Lester settled into the synth and keyboard area. Lastly, lead vocalist and guitarist Brian Aubert joined the band to commence their set with a blazing intensity of ‘New Wave’. It is the lead track from their newly released album, ‘Tenterhooks’. It was the perfect tone-setter, utilizing the hazy, atmospheric sound that built tension before exploding into their signature guitar riff.

The first major set highlight came with ‘The Wreckage’. Silversun Pickups played a great mix of songs spanning their musical catalogue as they delivered ‘Well Thought Out Twinkles’ and ‘It Doesn't Matter Why’. Then, the brilliant ‘Panic Switch’, with Nikki Monninger’s extended bass line, and then ‘Au Revoir Reservoir’, where Nikki Monninger took over the singing duties, which was an absolute highlight from ‘Tenterhooks’.

The chemistry on stage between the band members was electric. Christopher Guanlao was an absolute blast to watch on the drums, his hair flying all over the place as he jammed with incredible intensity. Nikki Monninger set the tone with her iconic red bass guitar, jumping up and down in her silver heels, completely engrossed in the music. Joe Lester was masterful at the keys, providing the essential textures that make the Silversun Pickups’ sound so expansive, while Brian Aubert drew the crowd in with his unmistakable vocals.

The band delivered ‘The Royal We’ and ‘Three Seed’ before an off-stage incident occurred, briefly interrupting the concert flow. The Tivoli’s security guards were totally bored as the risk of crowd surfers tonight was low, but when a fan fainted, she was dragged over the barrier to Tyson’s delight: “I told you I’d pull someone out tonight”.

The band, especially Brian Aubert, was concerned about the fan’s condition before he restarted the set. It was here that the band addressed their fans with messages about the power of music to heal, and how being a good person is the most radical thing you can do in life, and encouraged everyone to hold the line.

Silversun Pickups setlist. Photo by Cecilia Pattison-Levi

Then, Brian Aubert, took his guitar and played a woozy, time-warping riff as he transported the crowd back to 2022 as Nikki Monninger twirled in a circle and he said, “No, let’s go back…2020 – not there…2017, 2014, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006...2025” as the chords for ‘Kissing Families’ started and the crowd whooped in delight. “Yes. Let’s go see that band with the girl singer,” Brian Aubert joked as he pulled his hair back. The energy between the crowd and the band was remarkable as it reset the gig.

Then, the wonderful, and oh so insightful ‘Empty Nest’ was delivered. The songs ‘Mean Spirits’ and ‘Long Gone’ followed. The crowd was eating it up, clapping, singing along, and dancing to the dynamic basslines. Silversun Pickups performed with a level of emotional precision that drew the crowd into a trance of nostalgia. The weed smoking had hit its peak. The love in the room for the band had also hit its peak as ‘Circadian Rhythm’ hit.

Then, the set moved into its most intense stage with the last song of the regulation set, ‘Dots And Dashes (Enough Already)’ from the album ‘Neck Of The Woods’. Silversun Pickups’ demonstration of instrumental skill was full of control and confidence.

Silversun Pickups remain masters of their craft, playing with a level of precision and raw excitement. The encore brought it all home as they played the wryly humorous songs ‘Little Lover’s So Polite’ and ‘Growing Old Is Getting Old’. Finally, the band brought it all home with ‘Lazy Eye’, closing the circle on two decades of writing and performing music.

Silversun Pickups sounded as good live, if not better, than their recordings. If you get the chance to see them live, do it. The band reminded us that art heals and that was a message the crowd truly needed to hear. The show was nothing short of amazing.