Short Stack, Heartline, Down & Out @ The Gov, Adelaide 13/6/2025
Sway, Sway Baby has just finished and the The Gov erupts into a giant cacophony of noise that makes your hair stand up. Noise generated not by the band but the sold-out audience who have not stopped all set. It is electric.
Short Stack are back, this time on their Stack Is The New Black anniversary tour. The show sold out ridiculously quickly and anyone who thought the crowd would be solely made up of mid to late thirties peeps are off the mark. Young children with earmuffs on are dancing, older couples reliving the past, but the majority are still dead set teenagers.
The bands music and performance, full of energy, vitality, positivity, and fun really do speak to the audience who have been in party mood all night.
Adelaide’s Down & Out brought the summer nights pool party vibes which made you forget how bitterly cold it is outside. Whether it’s their own songs like Living The Dream or a cover of Metro Station, the bands infectious bounce really gets The Gov popping. They are enjoying themselves, which shows in the magic spark live music creates, and the crowd is won over as people push to front, blow bubbles and dance their heart away.
Heartline are up next and this band are going off like fireworks. On the back of EP Pink Lemonade and a string of high-profile support slots, the guys have settled into a tight unit that arguably have never sounded so good.
Vocalist Luke Taylor captures the ability to still hit the notes while whirling around while the bands cherry flavoured melodies with heavy riffs has the Friday night crowd partying. Throw in a new track, Dead Batteries, and you could say this has been a victorious homecoming for the lads.
Short Stack have the place jam packed, and opening with Ladies And Gentlemen, the buzz around the room reaches climax. Singing, clapping and a room that bounces all night greets the opening numbers played in album listing like Princess and Shimmy A Go Go.
The set list deviates a little however Sway, Sway Baby was always going to be last. What is different is the medley of album tracks that displays the bands skills, a drum solo that breaks into a cool jam and the guys enduring personalities. Each one of them may be older, more refined but at this moment on stage, we are all young kids having a great time.
The Gov is mentioned as one of their bands favourite venues which at that point, the crowd take over. The final run of songs, Planets, We Dance To A Different Disco, Honey and the closer, you can barely hear the band sing, it’s all the audience.
Every song a firecracker of an anthem, every song a dance floor stomper and every song has the venue with their arms in the air.
Tonight was the perfect antidote to a cold winters evening. The sound of summer, of forgetting about work or school, and just having a great time with friends. Short Stack are undoubtedly back.
Live Review By Iain McCallum