LIVE REVIEW: Do Gang Of Youths Deliver On Their Record-breaking Tour?

Sydney five-piece Gang Of Youths are now into week two of their record-breaking Say Yes To Life tour. The Music's contributor Bryget Chrisfield attended last night's show at The Forum in Melbourne, which was the first show of the run to sell-out. Read the review below.


Tonight’s opening act Charlie Collins sings, plays guitar and harmonica, and is backed by a three-piece band. Her vocal is husky and plaintive, perfectly complemented by her guitarist’s harmonies.

Charlie Collins & band


The Style Council’s Shout To The Top makes a wicked intro tape for Gang Of Youths. They’re playing a colossal eight sold-out shows at Forum Theatre and, having recently performed at Foo Fighters’ festival, CalJam, and toured with the band as support, Gang Of Youths are making moves internationally as well. 

The band open with Fear & Trembling and frontman Dave Le’aupepe oozes charisma from every pore. Song two, the barnstorming What Can I Do If The Fire Goes Out?, contains a melody that calls to mind Home by Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros and immediately the crowd's lyrical knowledge is on point. Le’aupepe doesn’t have to do much to gain a reaction, he can just stand up there on stage and simmer. 

“I can’t remember what number show this is, but thank you very much for showing up," Le’aupepe commends. He then reveals that when he woke up this morning his voice was "fucked", before admitting he’s performing on steroids tonight. Le’aupepe's delivery of Keep Me In The Open is so raw we almost feel guilty for peering into his soul.

All bar Le’aupepe leave the stage and the frontman takes a seat at the piano, under a single spotlight. He calls on the audience to help out with the singing and we happily belt out the, Go Farther In Lightness outro. "This is the greatest job on the face of the planet," Le’aupepe gushes. He then performs Elton John's Tiny Dancer solo on piano as well and the enthusiastic crowd singalong continues.


The full Gang Of Youths band returns to the stage and Le’aupepe dedicates The Heart Is A Muscle to his dad, who taught him "how to love without fear” and sadly passed away quite recently. Let Me Down Easy is always a Gang Of Youths set highlight thanks to Le’aupepe ditching his guitar and showing off unexpectedly flamboyant dance moves; those rotating, hip-swivelling hula moves leave us powerless. After mimicking a move from Beyonce's Single Ladies clip during Magnolia, Le’aupepe crowdsurfs. 

The frustration he feels not being in the finest of voice for the first of this run of Forum shows to sell out is evident, but Le’aupepe's a trooper and refuses to give up. As a result of his condition, we wonder whether there will be an encore this evening. Our foot stomping demonstrates we'd love one and Gang Of Youths return to the stage, Le’aupepe beating his heart with his fist to show his appreciation and love. A bit of Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody riff makes its way into this evening's closer, Say Yes To Life. 

The music of Gang Of Youths has heart and you can tell it comes from an intensely real place, which is an irresistible combo. While the band take their bows, Style Council's Shout To The Top is once again played over the venue sound system to signal show's over.