The Preatures, The Tullamarines @ The Gov, Adelaide 2/8/2025
The Preatures are back — and somebody’s definitely talking!
Ten years after their breakthrough debut album Blue Planet Eyes was released, The Preatures stormed a sold-out Gov on Saturday night with a show that was part love letter to the past, part pure rock’n’roll resurrection.
The night got off to an impressive start with sets by local bands, Placement and The Tullamarines. Placement’s post-punk/ noise-rock set got the party started. While The Tullies took it to the next level, like they usually do.
The Port Noarlunga quartet filled the room with warmth and undeniable energy as they powered through a vibrant set. Songs I’m So, Loser, Never Do That, Gimme Luv, Lying, Idiot, Head Roll Back, Greenlight (Lorde), Running on Empty, and OMG had the enthusiastic audience singing along.
Then it was time to wind back the clock to 2014.
From the opening notes of Somebody’s Talking, the crowd was already vibing with The Preatures. The night felt less like a comeback and more like a homecoming.
Rather than performing a complete run-through of Blue Planet Eyes, the set was a carefully curated ‘shuffle’ of the album and some bonus tracks. This allowed appropriate ebbs and flows and made for a spectacular show.
Cruel hit hard. I Know a Girl shimmered with swagger, and Manic Baby reminded everyone how wild and weird The Preatures could be when they let loose.
In the first of two covers, When You Were Mine (Prince) slotted in early in the set. It somehow felt both reverent and effortlessly theirs.
An epic drum solo by Luke Davison heralded the coming of Whatever You Want, followed by the darker, rocky Rock and Roll Rave. Both throbbed with as much urgency as they did in 2014. Then, Two Tone Melody and Business, Yeah slowed things down into a dreamlike haze. While crowd favourite, Ordinary reignited the energy.
It Gets Better was wildly fun. Girlhood and Yanada were greeted like old friends.
Magnetic frontwoman Isabella Manfredi commanded the stage, stalking it with swagger and soul. Her vocals effortlessly leaping from sultry croon to powerful belt. She didn’t missed a step, and neither did the band. There was a sharpness to their live sound that seems to have deepened with time.
The second cover generated the second biggest sing-along of the night. The iconic Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again (The Angels) was pure pub rock’n’roll. But it was Is This How You Feel? that brought the house down. That song hasn’t aged a day. The chorus still slaps, the beat still pops, and every person in the room sang it like their life depended on it.
This wasn’t just a reunion show. It was a reminder of how talented and irresistibly cool The Preatures still are.
Welcome back, The Preatures. We missed you.
Live Review By Anita Kertes