Last Dinosaurs, Fazerdaze, Darcie Haven @ The Gov, Adelaide 2/8/2024
Perfect start to the weekend heading a long to The Gov to see the return of Last Dinosaurs. It definitely felt like an eternity since I last saw them which was at The Gov back in 2012 on The Satellites Tour. I’m surprised there weren’t more people there to be honest to see Last Dinosaurs who are right on top of their game at the minute more than proving themselves overseas and have built a solid reputation for putting on a killer show. Tonight confirmed that, terrific live show which was loaded with great tunes.
Joining Last Dinosaurs on this tour were two really good support acts with Darcie Haven and Fazerdaze. It was the first time seeing both artists who were both in solo mode. It was a shame they were not able to play with a band but nonetheless they both have some great tunes. Darcie played tunes off new EP Better Left Unsaid (seriously check it out) and Fazerdaze’s set was loaded with highlights but if I was going to pick one it would be Lucky Girl.
If there was going to be an award for the best dressed band it would have to be Last Dinosaurs all decked in suit and tie taking the formalities up a level. With five albums under their belt there was no time to waste! Even leader singer Sean Caskey indicated that it was a last time since they last played in Adelaide and that there was no time for talking as they had a lot of songs to play. Over the next hour and a half fans were taken through their highly esteemed back catalogue and it was hard not to be impressed with what they played and how they played. It really does beg belief why they aren’t bigger in their home country.
Nevertheless, this terrific show started with new tune Afterlife from new album KYORYU. The collective spirits of the crowd lifted as these tunes of indie rock perfection filled The Gov. The fans sang, they danced and were having an all round good time. Going back in to their back catalogue it was Sense (Yumeno Garden 2018 Stream (Wellness 2015) and Weekend (In A Million Years 2012). They have a real Strokes kind of vibe with a splash of US band Rooney which is easy to see why music lovers have gravitated to this band.
The new tunes were impressive with the likes of Paranoia Paradise, Self-Serving Human Being, Elton, N.P.D and Slow that stood out and will no doubt will become set staples. Keys To Your Civic is screaming out to Honda to use this in a TV advertisement. Hot damn! Bass God got the crowd moving and grooving and Sean admitted that set closer Zoom was timer for a boogie and last time he did that in Adelaide he lost two shoes and a sock! It was a classic tune from their debut album to close out what was a stellar set. The crowd weren’t going to let them leave without “one more song” starting the chant which got them back to play another Last Dinosaur classic in Eleven. Great band, great songs and a great show… don’t miss it!
Live Review By Rob Lyon