Tame Impala returns to Manchester - Deadbeat tour review
- Natasha Judge
- May 11
- 3 min read
Kevin Parker’s Tame Impala stopped off at the Co-op Live in Manchester on their Deadbeat tour for an unforgettable, euphoric evening of psychedelic alternative music.
From start to end, this definitely felt so much more than just a concert, the pairing of staging, lasers, confetti, smoke, and lights really made this feel like an immersive experience into the tunes.
Joined by six musicians on stage, the Australian multi-instrumentalist captured the crowd of 23,500, who welcomed him with lively sing-a-longs and dancing, as he returned to Manchester for the first time in a decade.
Kevin Parker admitted early on he was a little hungover from the night before, but said it soon faded as he met the Mancunian crowd.
He said: “Manchester, thank you for being with us tonight, we’ll see you soon! Here we go!”
Though this tour is in support of his fifth studio album ‘Deadbeat’, the setlist was well balanced with songs from each of his irreplaceable albums. Performing hits such as ‘Let It Happen’, ‘The Less I Know the Better’, ‘Elephant’, and his latest hit ‘Dracula’.
Parker has synesthesia, where one of your senses can evoke another sensory path, in his case, he can see colours when listening to music. The otherworldly set design and production enabled attendees to get a real immersive glimpse into how he views his discography.
From dry ice infused with corresponding lasers, and multiple confetti releases, it is certainly a show that will be difficult to top for its mere immersion of the crowds alone. From the standing to the high up seats, there is not really a bad position at a Tame Impala concert, all views provide a cool, psychedelic encounter to the powerhouse that is Kevin Parker.
Whilst some artists take a mid show break out of view, Kevin Parker brought the audience with him. His camera operator followed him as he walked through the crowd for a quick toilet break, where there was cheers galore when he washed his hands - a hygienic gent!
Being a northern show straight after the London date, of which he brought out Dua Lipa, he compared the crowds, and reiterated that Manchester had the better energy of the dates. This was met with roars of cheers, after the initial booing at the mere mention of the southern city.
The staging featured an additional carpeted B-stage in the centre of the pit, where Kevin entered to perform two songs from the new album - ‘Ethereal Connection’ and ‘Not My World’. It gave the audience a glimpse into how he as a one man wonder builds and creates his music into the tunes we all know and love. It was a creative addition to the already well-thought out set design, and gave people at different standing positions alternative views.
The enjoyment from individuals in the crowd was mirrored on stage, as Parker repeatedly formed a heart sign at the crowd appreciatively, and said he would return to the city.
The EU leg of the Deadbeat tour has seen surprise songs each night, and seemingly the Manchester songs had been well thought out, as Kevin expressed he had never sung the deeper cut ‘List of People (To Try and Forget About)’ in the city before. It was a very welcomed entry to the setlist, and many (myself included) were ecstatic to hear the track off his album ‘Currents’.
The evening was opened by London-based group, RIP Magic, who only formed in 2024, and they readily warmed the crowd up by performing dance punk tracks.
The UK leg of the Deadbeat tour continues with shows in Birmingham and Glasgow, before continuing in the US, and returning to his home country Australia. Further information can be found here.
Setlist
Apocalypse Dreams
The Moment
Borderline
Loser
Breathe Deeper
Gossip
Elephant
Afterthought
Feels Like We Only Go Backwards
Dracula
No Reply
Ethereal Connection
Not My World
Let It Happen
Nangs
List of People (To Try and Forget About)
Alter Ego
Yes I’m Changing
Eventually
New Person, Same Old Mistakes
My Old Ways
The Less I Know the Better
End Of Summer
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