Radio Free Alice: Support Act Review

Celebrating 20 years since the release of their debut album, glamorous indie rock and roll band The Killers have returned to tour Australia. I was excited to see this band perform, so much so that I watched them in Sydney and Brisbane! Not only did I see two incredible sets, but I also got the chance to see support act Radio Free Alice from all the way at the back of Qudos Bank Arena and all the way up the front of Brisbane Entertainment Centre, really getting to know their music as I met them for the first time.

This is what happened during Radio Free Alice’s set at Brisbane Entertainment Centre on December 9th, 2024.

RADIO FREE ALICE

The band has an explosive start to their set with Look What You’ve Done, which perfectly sets the tone for their set and highlights their nostalgia-oriented post-punk sound impressively. It’s easy enough to relate them to bands like Joy Division and The Smiths. For me, when I listened to their music, which can range from a cool grunge to moody rock, I was reminded of the musical comedy-drama film Sing Street (2016). The film follows a group of Irish school boys who deal with the various woes of growing up through music, using it as a tool to process their grief and frustration, while uniting others. There’s a similar sense of youth, and the emotional complexity it entails, channelled in the music of Radio Free Alice.

About halfway through the set the post-punk took a dive into a reflective few songs that made the audience feel almost underwater in the coolness of the ocean through a saxophone-heavy intro. Radio Free Alice’s members – Maayan, Michael, Jules, Lochie and Noah – are talented instrumentalists who work smoothly together as a group. They emphasise a coolness in their lyrics that’s embellished by honest, often introspective, lyricism. Spain and I Gotta (Fall In Love) see the band return to high energy rock, that isn’t afraid to keep the audience on their toes around invigorating musical builds.

I was lucky to get to see Radio Free Alice take the stage in Sydney, then Brisbane a few nights later. It’s a massive privilege to see these concerts once at all, but one of the joys of going twice is getting to see the bands develop quickly in a short amount of time. Comparing Sydney night 2 to Brisbane, it was clear that the band was growing more comfortable and in command of their crowd each successive show. I’d love to see some more time spent on talking with the audience and hyping up the main act, which is important for a support act. But the band members carry themselves with an increasingly confident swagger and let their music speak for itself. Their movement around the stage is less restrained and it’s great to see the chemistry between bandmates begin to be explored on-stage.

With three more nights in their hometown to finish up the tour, you’ve got plenty of time to see Radio Free Alice play with The Killers still! Consider it an early Christmas gift or an end-of-year treat, but do try and catch this gig if you can. If you miss that British post-punk sound, we have a great contribution to the genre in Radio Free Alice that is worth checking out!

Fave song: 2010