words: Marcos Leal (edited by Raquel Pinheiro)
photos: Ricardo Silva
The opening act was Rip Magic who, despite showing real quality in their dance punk approach, deserved better sound conditions.
It was at the Super Bock Arena, in Porto that Tame Impala, aka Kevin Parker, kicked off their European tour presenting the new album Deadbeat. Live,
It couldn’t have started in a better way.
Both for the audience, who got to experience the concert in a smaller arena compared to other dates on the tour, and for Kevin Parker himself, who expressed how delighted he was with the warm and enthusiastic reception from the crowd.
On a Saturday night after a day that smelled like summer, the energy was already palpable upon arriving at the venue. Expectations were high, especially considering Tame Impala’s new album leans into a more electronic sound compared to previous releases.
As Kevin Parker stepped onto the stage and the first notes of Apocalypse Dream echoed through the arena, the crowd was swept into a psychedelic whirlwind of light and color. The rawer, more electronic new sound blended seamlessly with the classics everyone was eager to sing along to, and once again the stage design and lighting were nothing short of impressive. Elephant continues to prove itself an unshakable live anthem.
Kevin – who famously takes a quick bathroom break at every show – used that moment to reappear on a small circular stage in the center of the arena, decorated like an improvised living room.
There, he lay down surrounded by synthesizers and keyboards to perform the more electronic tracks from the new album, while the audience watched intently, bodies swaying.
Between songs, Parker didn’t hide his affection for the city. He said several times that he loved Porto and didn’t wanted to leave, perhaps the lingering effect of a sunset at Virtudes. The crowd’s reaction made it clear the feeling was mutual.
The final stretch was pure catharsis: Let It Happen turned the venue into a sea of lights and confetti, and The Less I Know the Better had the entire arena singing as if it were a generational anthem.
The farewell came with the first track unveiled from Deadbeat, End of Summer, perfectly delivering that sense of early nostalgia for a short but memorable summer, one that Tame Impala brought along for a visit to Porto.
Setlist:
- Apocalypse Dreams
- The Moment
- Borderline
- Loser
- Breathe Deeper
- Gossip
- Elephant
- Afterthought
- Feels Like We Only Go Backwards
- Dracula
B-Stage - No Reply
- Ethereal Connection
- Not My World
Main Stage - Let It Happen
- Nangs
- List of People (To Try and Forget About) [live debut]
- Alter Ego
- Piece of Heaven
- Eventually
- New Person, Same Old Mistakes
Encore:
- My Old Ways
- The Less I Know the Better
- End of Summer
Mondo Bizarre Magazine 