The Kooks
Hordern Pavilion, Sydney, NSW
Thursday, February 20th
The Kooks took Sydney back to the indie 2000s at Hordern Pavilion on Thursday night.
A full-on singalong from start to finish, the show gave fans everything they’d hoped for – classic hits played with just enough looseness to keep things fresh, alongside a few new tracks that showed they’ve still got a knack for snappy riffs and sticky melodies.
The band’s return was overdue. The English indie favourites last toured here in 2022 for a sold-out run, and their 2024 plans took a hit when Groovin the Moo was cancelled. They’re making up for it this time round, though, slotting in festivals like Party in the Paddock and Yours & Owls, plus five headline shows.
“It’s amazing to be back,” frontman Luke Pritchard grinned in Sydney, his leather pants swaying as he got the crowd going.
View this post on Instagram
The Kooks know their biggest hits are now pushing 20 years old. Pritchard – ever the charming frontman – almost seemed to apologise before introducing a new song. “We might play another song. I know you’re like, ‘Really?’” he teased.
“It’s cool… we’ve been playing it a bit,” he added, hyping the crowd up. Just in case, he promised to “play another old song to keep it going.”
He didn’t need the disclaimer. The wistful “Sunny Baby” and breezy “Never Know” fit right into the setlist – stripped-back and soulful, but still undeniably Kooks.
And the crowd went all in, singing along like it was 2006 again.
“You guys still keep coming back, it’s incredible. It’s a beautiful thing, we think about it a lot,” Pritchard told everyone, his voice cracking slightly. “My voice is a bit croaky now as I’m getting older… we just love you guys.”
There were emotional moments sprinkled throughout the set, including “Seaside”, stripped back on acoustic guitar, had phone lights swaying across the room.
Then came “See Me Now”, a song written as a letter to Pritchard’s dad, who passed away when he was a child. “This song gets harder to play… I guess it becomes more poignant when you have kids yourself,” he shared.
As the encore rolled around, it was time for their biggest hit – “Naïve.” A brief stumble saw Pritchard throw the first verse to the crowd, only to be met with an awkward silence as they missed the cue. Instead of restarting, he shrugged it off and picked it up seamlessly. The crowd, forever loyal, belted every word this time.
If you’re in the mood for a feel-good trip down memory lane, The Kooks still have it.
The Kooks’ Australian tour continues this week. For more information and tickets, visit here.
