Australia’s beloved Gang of Youths kicked off their winter tour at The Basement East in Nashville last week, playing a fiery and passionate set that was sure to shake off the December blues. Coming off of a run opening for the Foo Fighters’ U.S. arena tour, the band hit the stage to the anthemic “Fear and Trembling” and never looked back. Frontman Dave Le’aupepe has an argument for being the greatest frontman in rock and roll today — interspersing his own stories between songs, the man has a knack for story-telling and such passionate energy for everything he does, and it makes you want to root for Gang of Youths to conquer everything in their paths. They played a club show with the same intensity that could be found in an arena with the band leaving absolutely everything on the stage as they powered through tracks from Go Farther in Lightness and The Positions. There might not be a better live act right now than this band; I left this set feeling like I could go run for miles, ready to face the uncertain future with unabashed joy — just as Le’aupepe sings about. Check out our coverage of the show below:
Check out Gang of Youths on Spotify, and look at their remaining tour dates here.