Hollywood Undead’s set at the Tivoli in Brisbane on March 19 didn’t really feel like much of a gig. I say that in the best way possible too. It genuinely felt more like one of those out of hand frat parties you see in movies.
With support from rising heavy-hitters Banks Arcade, the night had energy from the jump. It set the stage perfectly for a stacked setlist from the LA rap-rock outfit.
The masked rap-rock veterans wasted no time in getting things rowdy. They launched straight into California Dreamin’ before tearing through a set packed with fan favourites. It was chaos (both literal and figurative). And if you managed to hold onto your voice post- performance, I think you got lucky.
The energy in the room was up from the get go. CHAOS and Riot had the floor shaking, with fists in the air and a mosh pit that never really let up. Johnny 3 Tears, Funny Man, J-Dog, Charlie Scene, and Danny switched between rapping, screaming, and hyping up the crowd, proving they’ve still got that reckless, infectious energy that’s made them a staple of the scene.
By the time Everywhere I Go and Comin’ in Hot hit, The Tivoli was at boiling point. The band bounced between their rap-rock bangers and their darker, more introspective material (Bullet and Gravity got massive reactions), but it was clear that Hollywood Undead were there to party. The anthemic Whatever It Takes and the haunting Hear Me Now closed out the main set. For the encore, they brought out one last surge of madness with Day of the Dead and Undead. Because what’s a Hollywood Undead show without going out in a blaze of destruction?
It was a big night for Brisbane’s Undead Army, but also a fitting reminder of the band’s longevity. Hollywood Undead are still evolving, still delivering, and still raging like it’s 2008. If you want to get more insight into their journey, we recently spoke with Johnny 3 Tears about the struggles artists face in the streaming era—turns out, even he’s been burned by the system. Check out the full interview here.
At The Tivoli, though, none of that mattered. It was just raw energy, massive hooks, and a reminder that Hollywood Undead still know how to throw one hell of a party.
Photos by the legendary Blunt Photog, Gerry Nicholls.
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