G Flip
Riverstage, Brisbane, QLD
Friday, February 27th
Brisbane had the honour of opening G Flip’s Dream Ride tour this Friday.
It was truly a night for the girls, gays, and theys and — a pleasant surprise — plenty of kids too, squeezed in amongst the DIY shirts and neon-decorated cowgirl hats, ready for a triple header of female and non-binary artists from start to finish – a lineup that set the tone for everything that followed.
Things ran smoothly from the get-go, with first opener Ayesha Madon entering centre stage at 6 pm on the dot. Riverstage was the biggest venue yet for the Heartbreak High star. Dressed in suspenders and a leather newsboy cap, Madon showed what it means to be a triple threat as she pulled every bit of energy she had to keep the early crowd engaged.
Madon let the crowd into her world with an insight about the making of “Jonestown”, written while she was staying with G Flip in LA. In a bit of a rut with her career, things were confusing for Madon at the time. Having been in the same position a decade earlier, G gave some advice to not stress the small stuff, insisting that her dreams would happen. “That’s the impact they have on pretty much everyone, and there’s truly no one like them.” Madon reflected.
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Hyper-pop influences were switched for indie rock with second act The Beaches. While slightly unorthodox for an Australian act to have an international opener, the Toronto four-piece pulled their weight. They may as well be classed as honorary Australians, with the love shown by the nation’s youth broadcaster Triple J and sold-out 2024 headline tour following what would have been a stint at Groovin the Moo.
Being a sapphic crowd, it was only natural for everyone to sing along as “Pink Pony Club” played during the intermission between The Beaches’ set and G’s arrival.
The occasional premature “woo” could be heard as the crowd misjudged the intermission music for G’s start, before diving into more karaoke sessions over the likes of “Untouched” and “Unwritten”. Fair to say the crowd was unbothered by the peers partying with them while they waited.
The lights dimmed halfway through the Black Eyed Peas’ “My Humps” as a low murmur led to an on-screen countdown to G’s arrival.
Three bandmates teleported to the stage amid the fog machines, and while one would expect G on the tubs, ARIA Award-winning drummer Ben Ellingworth kicked off the set while G took to the stage.
Those dressed in their large brimmed hats and boots were immediately rewarded with “Disco Cowgirl”, a fan-favourite and most successful single from G’s latest album. The stage was lit in electric blue, purple and, of course, pink, as punters clapped along in time to the song’s bridge.
The drums signalled a transition into the next song, and G brought out a ginormous pride flag seemingly out of nowhere to wave during the short changeover.
“The happiest points in my life have been coming out: queer, non-binary, the euphoria of just being completely myself. I know not everyone is in a safe spot to do that, and it’s about finding your community, or even just calling a hotline if you don’t have anyone around. But it’s worth it. Being yourself is worth it.” They previously told Rolling Stone.
“Gay 4 Me” was a natural transition from this point, with G’s 2022 logo splayed across the backdrop and the drum faces. At this point, I was eager to get a copy of G’s workout routine; they seamlessly held consecutive high kicks and skipped around the stage, all while simultaneously singing at full capacity. The pride flag whipped above their head in large full circles, the iconic patchwork tattoo arms putting in the work.
A primary school-aged girl screamed at the top of her lungs when she heard the start of “I Don’t Wanna Regret”, her oversized poncho making her resemble a jellyfish swishing about as the stage lights doused her in neon blue.
G then did a “cheeky little house rules” lecture. This included support for LGBTQIA+, thanking those with anxiety and depression for coming out despite “how hard it is just to get out of bed sometimes.”
We finally saw the Drummer star do what they do miraculously well, taking over from Ellingworth for “Good Enough”.
The stage got significantly quieter, clearly leading up to something big. A thunderous low vibrato and dark blue lights led to an unexpected clip of Fortune Feimster chatting to someone off-camera. It should’ve been a tell-tale sign that sapphic anthem “Big Ol’ Hammer “would be up — an ode to all the sexy butches in the crowd, complete with a stunning keytar solo and pixie-cut eye candy on screen.
Next up was the femmes’ turn, with G playing a cover of Taylor Swift’s “Cruel Summer”, which originally made the cut as G’s Like A Version cover on triple J, the filmed performance going on to garner over 2 million views on YouTube alone.
@gflipmusic Thank you Brissie 🫶🏼 Sydney, you’re next! Who am I seeing there? #ontour #australia #livemusic #fyp
G then brought out surprise guest, local legend Thelma Plum, for a rendition of Plum’s “Better in Blak”.
There was only one interruption to the set, and G handled it with a grace that most artists with twice their experience couldn’t match. “Stop the show, stop the show,” they said calmly, bringing the crowd to a hush as security moved quickly to assist an unwell punter. Phones lowered, the crowd cooperated without question, and the whole thing was resolved in under a minute.
Momentum resumed as G paused to take in the moment. “Do you all mind if I get a photo with you? Is that cool?” they asked, before summoning their photographer to capture the full house. “This is my biggest headline show I’ve ever done. I appreciate you all so much — you’ve really made my life what it is.”
Then, for the first time all set, G finally sat down. They announced they were knackered, tossed an acoustic strap over their shoulder, and let the room go quiet. With iPhone camera lights flickering across the crowd like fireflies, they strummed through 2023’s “Australia”.
“This next song goes out to anybody who’s going through a breakup,” G said softly, before eulogy-like synths swept in as they delivered “Lover” with all the soft rasp and melodrama the song demands.
Then came “Be Your Man”, the love song written for G’s wife Chrishell Stausse, and G used every last ounce of energy they had left to pour their heart out to their wife watching in the crowd.
“This is a brand-new song coming out next week,” G continued, “it’s called ‘Lez Go’” – yes, “lez go”, as in exactly what you think it is. The Beaches came back out to join them, and G and the band’s Jordan Miller spun around each other at the front of the stage, trading chorus lines as a volley of beach balls launched into the crowd. True to G’s earlier promise, they had been watching closely, and two kids in the crowd had outshone everyone. They were called up to the stage for a boogie, clutching beach balls and looking like they’d won the lottery.
@gflipmusic LEZ GO! Out March 6. @The Beaches
G then brought out local lad and their co-writer Aidan Hogg — the man behind the music alongside G on every track on their latest album — and the stage crackled with a different energy as “Bed on Fire” erupted.
G thanked the lights crew, tech team, and photographer by name before extending the chorus for one final singalong — the crowd obliging with the full-throated enthusiasm of people who were nowhere near ready to go home.
Of course, after all that hospitality, it would be unlike G to not do an encore.
G got back on the drums, twirling one stick in the air before launching onto hi hats and generously grinding around the tubs. “You should call me baby, come on, I’m the worst person alive” — the crowd screamed every word back to them.
The final song was “In Another Life” from Dream Ride. Cowboy hats were raised, hand-shaped love hearts were formed, and smiles were doused in pink.
To top it all off, the walk-off song was Nutbush. While some of the crowd gapped it early, the rush of hoards of people was spaced by the power of a good ol’ dance. For those with the sense to linger, it was the perfect full stop to a night that never once felt like it was showing off — even when it absolutely was.
Check out G Flip’s remaining Australian tour dates here.
