Happy 20th Feeding the Wolves!: Josh Pyke Concert Review

Bri D
Nov 6, 2025
4 min read

Updated: Nov 9, 2025

At some point in my childhood, Josh Pyke appeared, with gentle voice and steady guitar, bearing Memories and Dust. His music was comforting and inspiring, sparking the imagination with his exciting melodies and gorgeous lyrics. Growing up in Cairns, he was one of the first artists I got to see as a teenager, in the steely grey barrel and warm glowing lights of The Tanks. In the decade that has since passed, life’s map has continued to unfold gradually in front of us all, guiding us down bends and narrows to clear and familiar paths, the route twisting in on itself and unwinding sporadically. For Pyke, the path has led back to his first EP, Feeding the Wolves, as we celebrate its 20^th anniversary tonight.

This is what happened at Josh Pyke’s Feeding the Wolves 20^th Anniversary show at the Princess Theatre on November 6th, 2025.

TIM HART with Mou

Our opening act for the night was Sydney songwriter, Tim Hart, who opened with the title track of his latest EP, The Kingdom By The Sea. The song is dreamy and sombre, with calming acoustic guitar and melodic vocals, creating a great first impression. Hart introduced himself, then invited his friend and fellow musician Mou to the stage for the set. The pair complemented each other beautifully, with Mou’s use of the electric adding another layer of interest to the soundscape on top of the catchy guitar and Hart’s beautiful lyrics, brimming with gorgeous imagery and romantic sentiments. The stripped back performance highlighted Hart (and Mou’s) vocal talents, which carried forth the bittersweet themes of the music beautifully.

Fave song: Sapphire

JOSH PYKE

It wasn’t too soon before Josh Pyke took his place at the front of the stage between Elana Stone and Zoe Hauptmann, making for a stunning trio. They commenced the set with Beg Your Pardon, treating the audience to an extra verse and chorus after a technical hiccup and very smooth recovery. To celebrate the 20^th anniversary of Feeding the Wolves, we were treated to the EP in full with some intermittent insights into the life and times of Pyke as the release influenced the course of his career.

Pyke has always had incredible charisma and good humour on stage, bouncing off his fellow artists and the audience at every opportunity. I can’t think of a better pair to match him on this front than Elana and Zoe, who share the same wry intelligence and penchant for artistry that make them a formidable band for the night. As they moved through the rest of the songs from the tour’s namesake collection, including fan favourite Middle of the Hill and the cathartic Staring Down the Sun, we were treated to spontaneous flourishes and improvised podcasts. The EP, foreshadowing the rest of the Pyke’s eventual discography, is full of those intricate melodies and stunning chord progressions for acoustic guitar that have become unanimous with the singer-songwriter’s name.

The set moved into a highlight reel of the last 20 years, kicking off with the invigorating Make You Happy. Suddenly, I became very aware of the fact I was seated and how strange it felt not to be on my feet dancing along – to that point PLEASE can we have a Queensland standing show next time? This is music made for dancing, whether that’s bouncing to the beat on the floor (Forever Song) or with arms wrapped tenderly around another as you sway gently along with the rhythm (The Lighthouse Song). Pyke’s range is expansive without compromising on the tenets that make it distinctly his own.

This is also true of his lyrics. Each song is poetry performed aloud to music. Bursting at the seams with imagery and extended metaphors, any of Pyke’s songs could easily sit within an English syllabus for eager students to unpack and interpret endlessly. They would find within those words the timeless themes of love, healing and growth, but shrouded through sweet melodies to soften the anxieties that all of these go hand-in-hand with. Buttons and the beloved Memories and Dust showcase what I mean.

We began to conclude the set with Pyke’s dedications to his children in Leeward Side and You’re My Colour. With 20 years of music, there will sadly be omissions from the setlist… or an excuse to start planning 2027’s Memories and Dust anniversary tour! I’m going to overanalyse the choice to end with a track from the album, Vibrations In The Air, with its haunting lyrics and powerful instrumentals, as a hint of what might come next but that’s just the English-major in me speaking!

Our “encore” song (without too much pretence) was a cover of The Jezebel’s Endless Summer.

After the show, Josh came to the merch desk to say hi to the fans who stuck around for a chat. When I was a teen, waiting to get picked up from the tropical surrounds of The Tanks, we snuck back into the venue looking for water. Josh was there, packing up with the others, and we shyly asked for a photo which he was happy to oblige. Tonight, I hoped for another photo and a chance to thank him for creating so many beautiful memories for his fans over the last 20 years. So once again, thank you.

Fave song: Leeward Side

SOUNDS GOOD?

I love how Josh Pyke’s music emphasises acoustic guitar, compelling lyrics, and a cinematic folk-rock sound. If you do too, you’ll likely love these bands as well:

The Paper Kites – Another band I’ve been a fan of since high school, The Paper Kites are a powerhouse folk-rock band from Melbourne who have incredible unity in their recordings and stage performances. Expect mellow vocals and a vibrant guitar twang.

Julia Jacklin – Julia Jacklin’s soulful sound is wondrous at capturing the melancholia we navigate in life without caving to the weight of those thoughts and feelings. Instead, she invites us to dance ourselves into acceptance and find freedom there, bringing her audience on a cathartic and emotional ride in her music.

Angus & Julia Stone – Australia’s iconic sibling act has been creating folk-pop hits for almost 20 years as well. Their rich voices explore a range of beautiful melodies through memorable and poetic lyrics, with a lot of secrets to discover in their sound.