The Kooks, Briston Maroney @ Hindley Street Music Hall, Adelaide 4/3/2025
What’s kooking? The Kooks, of course!
Adelaideans were spoilt for choice on Tuesday night with multiple huge live shows on offer. Hindley Street Music Hall was one of the places to be as the indie rockers blew the house down.
Set to play in the cancelled 2024 Groovin’ The Moo, the UK duo ensured fans were not disappointed this year.
Briston Maroney got the night off to a stellar start. Hailing from Knoxville, Tennessee, it was their first live performance in Adelaide/ Tarntanya. The anticipation in the crowd was palpable, with many turning up early to see them. With an energy that matched our excitement, they launched into an absorbing set.
Maroney belted out raw, heartfelt gems that showcased his unique style and emotional depth. Songs like Body and Freakin’ Out on the Interstate resonated. What began as a slow burn to the main event became an electrifying performance.
From the moment The Kooks got on stage, the energy ramped up. The opening double of Sofa Song and Ooh La had us buzzing!
The set list spanned their extensive career, and they delivered a mix of older and fresh material. She Moves in Her Own Way had us all singing along. The nostalgic Stormy Weather and the delightful new song Sunny Baby were a beautiful sunset-sunrise moment.
A highlight of the night was Bad Habit. With a great call and respond intro, we experienced the rockier side of The Kooks, and it was fantastic!
Westside brought the funk before See Me Now—a musical letter to Luke Pritchard’s dad—dropped the tempo and raised the emotion. Eddie’s Gun, Sweet Emotion and If They Could Only Know pushed this trajectory forward until Always Where I Need to Be, Do You Wanna, and an acoustic Seaside propelled the energy out of the stratosphere.
The Kooks knew how to work the crowd. They created an intimate yet electric atmosphere. Pritchard delivered each song with the emotion, precision and boldness you’d expect from a front man. The second of the acoustic songs, Taking Pictures of You, confirmed that. While his crowd interaction was minimal, he did express genuine gratitude for the warm reception. Hugh Harris (guitar) and touring band members were equally tight, with sharp guitar riffs, dynamic bass lines, and drumbeats that anchored the high-energy performance.
New single Never Know, plus old skool tracks Matchbox and Junk of the Heart (Happy), another show highlight, ended the main set to raucous applause. Encore songs See the World and the infectious Naïve were the perfect cap to an exhilarating evening.
It’s safe to say everyone went kook-a-look for The Kooks.
With a well-balanced set list, a mix of old and new hits, and a passionate performance, The Kooks proved why they remain a cornerstone of indie rock.
Live Review By Anita Kertes