The Waterboys
State Theatre, Sydney, NSW
Thursday, May 14th
For over 40 years and over 85 musicians who’ve performed as a member in a live setting, UK/Irish group The Waterboys have been a multitude of different bands, from post-punks to purveyors of cinematic art rock to Celtic folk revivalists.
With sole constant member Mike Scott — resplendent in stylish Texan cowboy hat at odds with his Scottish roots — still steering the ship, The Waterboys 2026 have now morphed into a US-inspired bar band with a heavy dose of soul, the latter feature partly due to the talents of flamboyant, Memphis-born Hammond B3 organ maestro Brother Paul Brown.
With America clearly on his mind, Scott opens with brand new song “Don’t Even Have to Say His Name”, a pointed diss song that doesn’t have to name its very obvious target. (Sample lyrics: “Who granted ICE immunity / To murder with impunity? / Who indeed should we blame? I don’t even have to say the motherfucker’s name.”)
Regardless of what era of The Waterboys the audience may favour, there’s no denying their current potency as a live act — tight as a drum but also able to indulge in some feverish jamming when the mood strikes, like on “Ladbroke Grove Symphony” where Brown goes haywire on an extended keytar solo.
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There’s a clear camaraderie and chemistry between the five players on stage as they energetically run through fan favourites like “A Girl Called Johnny”, a reworked version of “This Is the Sea” and “Fisherman’s Blues”, the latter causing a spontaneous dance party at the front of the stage that security fruitlessly tries to get under control.
Scott has the swagger and stamina of a man half his 67 years of age, looking every bit the eccentric rock star who joyfully follows his every whim — even if that means a sprawling double album all about the late American actor Dennis Hopper (last year’s Life, Death and Dennis Hopper).
Rather than test the audience’s patience by playing all 25 of its tracks, Scott makes the smart decision to play a condensed selection of six songs that cover the arc of Hopper’s life, the acoustic “Letter From an Unknown Girlfriend”, sung gorgeously by Fiona Apple on the recorded version, the clear standout with Scott taking the lead.
The final stretch of the two-hour show sees the band generously play half the songs from beloved 1985 breakthrough album This Is the Sea, including, of course, the soaring, timeless classic “The Whole of the Moon” (which Scott reminds us was a hit in Australia before it was anywhere else in the world).
As predictable — albeit immensely satisfying — as it may be as a way to end the show, it still leaves us with the thrilling feeling that even several decades into their storied career, there’s still no telling what musical destinations The Waterboys might be sailing to next.
Check out The Waterboys’ remaining Australian and New Zealand tour dates here.
