Night Lovell | Northcote Theatre
On 13 November, Northcote Theatre in Melbourne became the host of Night Lovell’s 8 Legs Under tour, supported by America’s own HAARPER and Melbourne’s own MUDRAT. Usually I am deep in the metal scene, so it was refreshing to dip my toes into something different.
Opening the night was MUDRAT, who set an immediate tone of intention and connection. Before launching into his set, he addressed the crowd directly, acknowledging that we were standing on stolen land and reminding everyone that this is, and always will be, Wurundjeri Country. He also touched on the themes that shape his music: looking out for one another, the widening gap between social classes, and the way people in power can overlook those beneath them.
The set opened with MUD25 (Interlude), his band taking the stage as the track built the atmosphere. As soon as it wrapped, they shifted straight into the first full song of the night, MUD25, without breaking momentum. Throughout the set he took small moments between tracks to speak with the crowd, opening up about what he stands for and the ideas that drive his music. MUDRAT delivered an absolute belter, with the crowd going completely mental and throwing his energy right back at him. For my first time seeing him live, he knew exactly how to open the show.
Photo Credit: @_tristanphotos
The second opener, HAARPER, was otherworldly. I first came across him when he popped up on one of my Spotify radio mixes at the gym. BUNGEE GUM grabbed me instantly and earned a permanent spot in my workout playlist, so seeing him live for the first time felt like a full-circle moment. For his first time in Australia, it must have been surreal to see how far his music has travelled. On stage, he had a natural command over the crowd, guiding the room’s energy without ever forcing it. One moment he had everyone crouched to the floor waiting for the beat to land, and the next he had the whole room off their feet or driving a circle pit. Every cue he gave, the crowd followed.
The atmosphere during his set was something else. The strobes and smoke shrouded him in a larger-than-life silhouette, before the lights snapped back to normal, then dropped into complete darkness for NOT ENOUGH MANA. With the stage lights cut entirely, the crowd lit the venue with phone flashlights and lighters, turning the moment almost cinematic. He used everything at his disposal to make his first time in Australia a memorable one. I can only hope we see him back here soon.
Photo Credit: @_tristanphotos
The star of the night, Night Lovell, went completely unmatched. I had not listened to him much beforehand, so I came into the set with a clean slate, which I actually enjoy every now and then. It feels like a treat, experiencing an artist with no expectations and letting the performance shape the experience.
His first track was MORRISON, and he bounced onto the stage with a mic in hand and stunning visuals blazing behind him. I could feel the crowd clustering tightly together, everyone trying to get as close to him as possible. Further into the set he played an unreleased track, RUN, which somehow lifted the energy even higher. Fans were singing every word, the mosh pits kept growing, and it felt like nearly every pair of feet was off the floor for most of his performance.
Unfortunately, a little way into the set, a fight or accident seemed to break out in the pit. I could not see exactly what happened, but Lovell immediately stepped in to calm the crowd and make sure everyone was safe and still able to enjoy the night.
It was an absolutely stacked setlist. Eventually I moved to the back of the venue to watch from a distance, and honestly it ended up being the best view of the entire show. The lighting and mix were dialled in perfectly, so credit has to go to the engineers for helping shape the night into what it was.
Lovell had a charismatic presence on stage, looking genuinely happy to be exactly where he was. Performing on the other side of the world would make anyone feel that way, and it showed in the best possible sense. He poured his whole soul into the performance, and you could feel it in every moment.
Photo Credit: @_tristanphotos
When the show finally came to an end, the room felt changed in the best way. Each artist carved out their moment, stacking energy on top of energy until Night Lovell closed the night with a performance that felt both heavy and cinematic. No matter where you stood in the venue, you could feel the pulse of the crowd, the low-end shaking the floor, and the collective rush of everyone locked into the same moment.