Khruangbin Sydney Opera House review: Surprising bands meteoric rise

The last time Texas psychedelic trio Khruangbin hit the shores of Sydney they were playing in what is basically a pub.

They packed out the Oxford Arts Factory many moons ago, but since then their career has taken a meteoric rise. This time, they have sold-out the Sydney Opera House three times over.

On Friday the band played the first of the three nights and lead guitarist Mark Speer admitted he was feeling overwhelmed by the iconic venue.

The show started as a something akin to a lounge room chill act — and a few chess boards wouldn’t have been out of place as the sold out audience filtered into the concert hall.

However, it all changed when two giant disco balls descended from the ceiling and Speers dusted off the wah-wah pedal. It was West African-infused psychedelic disco time in Sydney.

The entire crowd was on its feet for almost the full remainder of the set which took a tour through the music of the world.

Added to the mix of their mesmerising mostly instrumental music was an eclectic mix of well-known short covers, which the band would weave into their own songs with impressive musical skill.

There was a huge medley towards the end of the set in which the band took on Aussie classics from AC/DC and INXS.

West Coast hip-hop covers also featured in the mix which spanned from Warren G and Chris Isaak to Spandau Ballet.

There was a guitar solo for the ages over a cover of Tina Turner’s What’s Love Got to Do with It, and Speers was seen gallivanting into the crowd.

They finished with their own banger People Everywhere (Still Alive) which had the audience enraptured and wanting more before Speers signed off to the closing chords of Don’t Dream It’s Over.

Khruangbin have come a long way from selling out the Oxford Arts Factory, and their journey is only just getting started.

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