Ball Park Music, Bean Magazine, The Tullamarines @ Hindley Street Music Hall, Adelaide 17/5/2025

Like a big exhale at the end of a long week, Ball Park Music brought bliss, sentiment and everything in between to Hindley Street Music Hall.

Riding high on their new album Like Love, the Brisbane indie darlings delivered a euphoric, chaotic, and weirdly profound set on Friday night.

But before the main event, there were two tasty support acts to chew on.

Local heroes The Tullamarines kicked things off with a dose of indie-rock. Washed-out guitars and cosmic vibes made for a satisfying ease-in. Their set oozed charm and had just enough melodic swagger to make you take notice. They filled the venue with warmth and pushed the momentum upwards.

Next, Bean Magazine stormed the stage and lit a fire under the night. The Brisbane trio did not come to warm up the room. They came to tear it apart. Think punk snarl, rock muscle and a grunge soul, all crammed into a bombastic sound that felt immense for three people to be making. Songs including Fire and Free as Hell were electrifying. They were raw, urgent and ridiculously tight. It was just the kind of set that makes you forget who you actually came to see.

Then came Ball Park Music. Easing in with Like Love — performed acoustically by Sam Cromack under a spotlight. It was tender and raw, setting the tone for a set that leaned heavily into their softer, more introspective new material. Coast Is Clear, Coming Down, and Bad Taste Blues (Part III) kept things low-lit and lovely.

All I Want Is You brought the first flicker of joy-laced energy and the first of many sing-alongs. Stars In My Eyes (more so phones in my eyes) was a slow-burn delight.

The mood deepened with the haunting live debut of Gabrielle. While the drifting melancholy of As Far as I Can Tell continued the floaty, low-key momentum. But when it felt like we might collectively melt into the floor, Please Don’t Move to Melbourne flipped the switch. Other than the raucous “boos” from the Adelaide crowd towards, well, Melbourne, they gleefully sang along to the band’s latest earworm.

From that moment, the stage exploded into technicolour. It’s Nice to Be Alive brought more sing-alongs. Cherub, while mellow, kicked the crowd into gear. Great Display of Patience gave everyone a moment to simultaneously catch their breath and lose it. While an ode to SA, Trippin’ the Light Fantastic, catapulted the night deeper into joyfulness and Spark Up! had the floor shaking.

By the time they reached Fence Sitter and She Only Loves Me When I’m There, it was full-blown indie-pop chaos.

The energy held through to Struggle Street, before the band vanished, only to return with a stripped-back Overwhelming Sound.

But they didn’t leave us weepy — far from it! Exactly How You Are picked things back up before the final blow, Sad Rude Future Dude. It reminded everyone just how cathartic shouting existential lyrics with strangers can be.

Ball Park Music may be softening with age, but they still have bite. They proved they can soothe your soul and blow your hair back, often in the same breath.

Live Review By Anita Kertes