Live Review: Last Dinosaurs, I Know Leopard

In the lead-up to the release of their second album later this year, Last Dinosaurs have set about touring the nation with a solid set of sold out shows. Having kicked off in their hometown Brisbane, the boys descended on Oxford Art Factory last night to unveil both new releases and old classics.

To ensure the night started with a bang, however, Laneway Festival favourite I Know Leopard opened proceedings, bringing their ‘70s pop-inspired vibes to the fore. Their celestial sounding debut hit, Perfect Picture, had the crowd nodding in approval, but it was their cover of TLC’s Waterfalls that really got everyone riled and ready for the main event. 

Last Dinosaurs were obviously not content to ease Oxford’s mosh of diehard fans into their set, and broke out the hits from their debut album, In A Million Years, without hesitation. Time And Place and Alps had revellers cautiously singing along, but it was their cover of Stardust’s Music Sounds Better With You that was the surprise smash hit of the night and had every ‘90s kid feeling nostalgic. Riding the high of a crowd in full swing, Honolulu awakened the beast in lead singer Sean Caskey and it was impossible not to join in as the entire Factory sang/screamed along to “Hey! Oh… I’ll teach you what you need to know.”

Given the title of the tour, it was only a matter of time before the boys broke Evie out from their forthcoming album. The wistfully uplifting tune about forbidden love has only recently dropped, but everyone was passionately lamenting the fact that “the distances are far between us”. And to wrap things up, what else could the Brisbane quartet finish with than Zoom? Of course, the hit from their debut album had to make an appearance, but as they walked off stage afterwards with heartfelt thanks and promises to return soon, the rising tide of fans making pleas for Andy was unrelenting. So, with the typical aplomb of Australia’s arguably greatest indie-pop export, Last Dinosaurs answered the call and pretty much set Oxford Art Factory on fire.