If That Makes Sense: Concert Review

Before Spacey Jane arrived at The Fortitude Music Hall for their first Australian show of the If That Makes Sense tour, an intruder entered their dressing room, planting a heavy package for the band to find. Inside, the band would unveil a group of luxurious bathrobes, bearing the phrase “SOLD OUT X3”. While the gifts would be a welcome surprise (and an incredibly exclusive item to own), the immense popularity of the band is no news to longtime fans. I remember the band accomplishing a similar feat two years ago when my on-the-dot arrival to the foyer of the hall saw me already three rows behind a crowd on the balcony! Tonight, I was very happy to snag the centre balcony spot for a beautiful view of stage, revealing just how much bigger and better the band has become over time.

This is what happened at Spacey Jane’s If That Makes Sense show at The Fortitude Music Hall on June 4th, 2025.

THE MOVING STILLS

Taking to the stage first was Central Coast four-piece The Moving Stills. Their upbeat indie-pop set the tone for a night of good times and great vibes as they opened with Stick Around. The band, consisting of Tom, Brad, Mike and Ben, aren’t strangers to a Brisbane crowd and were enthusiastically welcomed, almost as if they were the main event. In Your City’s reggae flavour and the dreamy rock of Westside showcase the band’s heartfelt lyricism and emotional tact in their music, creating a deeper level of enjoyment for the crowd. Their energy was outstanding and a great sample of what’s to come when they return in August for their own shows! You definitely won’t want to miss this band if they’re in town!

Fave song: Volcano

PHOEBE GO

Singer-songwriter Phoebe Go and her band were next up on stage, showcasing her talent for crafting emotional, evocative songs. Opening with 7 Up, Phoebe quickly introduces herself to anyone unfamiliar to her in the crowd through her honest, intimate lyrics and wistful melodies, tinged with a sense of nostalgia. Each track is like hearing a diary entry singing itself up into the rafters of the music hall. Songs like Taking Care Of It and We Don’t Talk, featuring poignant reflections of love and loss exemplify Phoebe’s talent for reaching into the hearts of her audience.

Fave song: 7 Up

SPACEY JANE

As the house lights went down for the final time tonight, spotlights flickered to life in the crowd as the audience eagerly waited for the first glimpse of Spacey Jane (and a chance to capture that memory!). A serenity washed over the crowd, building into a triumphant explosion of light, sound and colour as the band began with the first song from the tour’s namesake album, Through My Teeth. The production of the album and the concert are both a massive step-up from the Here Comes Everybody era, introducing a shimmering style and re-introducing a grungier sound on a few songs that fans of the bands early releases have been sorely missing.

For the most part, the laidback indie-rock sound remains. This has always been layered with emotional complexity, a bitter undercurrent in the sonic experience that reflects that nuanced lyrics capturing the difficulties and discomforts of growing up. Spacey Jane is definitely a youth-focused band, with most fans fitting into the 15-30 year-old age range. In a time of seemingly never-ending crisis, the dissolution of relationships and the search for stronger bonds, their music reaches to the commonalities amongst the stressed out young adults – it always has.

While the show centres on the new album, weaving in the new tracks and making a moment out of each of the singles, there are songs that Spacey Jane and their fans will never be able to outrun now. Skin and Booster Seat are a couple of their legacy tracks that balance darker themes with romantic melodies. Personally, I love the upbeat rock of Lots of Nothing and Good For You but it’s difficult not the allow the full force of Feeding the Family propel you into emotional catharsis.

That rawness was brought back perhaps best in All The Noise which echoed back to the band from the balconies and the pit. It was moments like this when the band’s love for their work overflowed the stage. While lead singer Caleb took up the front of the stage and drummer Kieran was chilling up the back, guitarist Ashton and bassist Peppa were manic as they ran, danced and leapt around the stage together. Their wholesome ability to play off each other was endearing and exciting to watch. Each member of the band glowed on stage, performing their role perfectly and working together to show why Spacey Jane is such a powerhouse of the Australian music scene. ILY The Most made for an intimate moment between the band, something the audience was moved to be a part of.

Spacey Jane has just begun their run of Australian shows and continues travelling the country for the next month before they take their incredible new set to the US and Europe. If you’re lucky, you might be able to get a ticket to one of their remaining shows but the competition is steep! I definitely regret only getting tickets to one show, so if you get the chance to get a last minute resale, this is definitely worth the spontaneity!

Fave song: Through My Teeth

SOUNDS GOOD?

If you love Spacey Jane’s indie-rock reflections, chances are you’ll like these bands too (verified by me, who also likes these bands!):

Pacific Avenue – NSW is spoilt for choice when it comes to local acts with that beachy indie-rock sound. Pacific Avenue has memorable lyrics (perfect for singing along to) and powerful instrumentation to highlight the heartfelt vocals!

Hockey Dad – One of my favourite bands, they’re a little bit more stripped back than Spacey Jane but have amazing variety in their sound from different points of their career. Drummer Billy is a delight to watch on-stage and Zach’s vocals are timeless.

Ocean Alley – Having just announced their upcoming album, now is a great time to start listening to Ocean Alley. Their reggae-rock is sonically quite different to Spacey, but in terms of vibes they both have those heartwarming indie highs.