The Wonder Years - Gig Review & Photo Gallery 27th March @ The Tivoli, Bris QLD

The Wonder Years 
‍The Tivoli, Brisbane QLD
‍March 27^th, 2025
‍Supports: Joyce Manor and Suzi

Queensland was in dire need of some anthemic, pop punk chaos ever since ex-tropical cyclone Alfred blew away Green Day’s chance to play their stadium show on the Gold Coast. But last night, Pennsylvania-made band, The Wonder Years, gave us what we needed, serving pop punk enthusiasts an action-packed night of punchy riffs and heartbreaking lyricism. 

Entering The Tivoli, I was instantly met with a sea moustaches, micro bangs and dyed hair. The crowd was surprisingly young, the majority seemed to range from their early to mid-twenties. The energy was calm as people chattered amongst themselves. I unintentionally eavesdropped on conversations that eagerly discussed the night’s setlist. Many were simply excited to see the band at all, especially considering the last time they played in Australia was Good Things Festival in 2018. With the equally anticipated acts of Joyce Manor and Suzi opening the show, it was clear the crowd was preparing for a high-energy night.

The first opener, Suzi, was nothing short of moving. The Melbourne-based, indie-folk musician graced the stage with warmth and gratitude. It was clear they were ecstatic to be opening for both bands. This excitement was palpable in their music, specifically with the opening song: ‘Canberra’, which covers the plight of small artists moving into the big city. You could feel the cheery screams of success in their voice as they sang the lyrics: 'I’m never going back to Canberra / We’re never going back to Canberra.' It was as if in this moment; Suzi finally believed their own words. 

The artist and their band continued to deliver beautifully raw and relatable tracks such as 'Everyone I’ve Met Hates Me', a song dedicated to the suffocation of social anxiety. 

“Does anyone here have crippling social anxiety?” Suzi asked the crowd. “Of course you do, you’re at a Joyce Manor and Wonder Years show.” 

I couldn’t help but giggle in agreement.

People continued to file onto the floor as we waited for Joyce Manor to take stage. Joyce is one of the many bands I have always wanted to see live, but have never had the privilege of doing so. Considering the California-based band hadn’t played in Australia since 2019, I think most of the crowd was in the same boat. 

The band promptly commenced their set with ‘NBTSA’. This fast-paced, jumpy anthem set the show up for a great start as it instantly got the crowd engaged. Lead vocalist, Barry Johnson, kept stage banter to a minimum, flying through songs in a typical Joyce Manor fashion. 

As the set continued, I discovered, to my dismay, there was minimal movement in the pit. Maybe I set my expectations for the crowd too high after seeing the band’s chaotic set at Outbreak Fest last year. Thankfully, the lack of two-steppers didn’t take away from the show. The heartbreaking hymn that is ‘Constant Headache’ offered another form of emotional catharsis, with the lyric 'It’s such a stubborn reminder one perfect night’s not enough' causing fans to punch the air and scream along with Barry during this song, and at peak moments during the duration of their set.

The crowd murmured and cheered as The Wonder Years began to set up. Finally, after what felt like too long, the iconic intro to ‘Came Out Swinging’ filled the venue. Dan ‘Soupy’ Campbell stepped into the stage light like a wrestler entering the ring. The vocalist stood tall at centre-stage and stretched out his arms triumphantly, nodding as if he had just knocked out an opponent. It is well known amongst fans that Dan’s stage presence is inspired by WWE. The vocalist enjoys creating narratives and constructing characters not only in his music, but also in his live performances. I mean, he was even wearing a WrestleMania t-shirt. This domineering stage presence was highly effective over the crowd, many feeding off his energy and breaking into a push pit (finally) as soon as the song kicked into gear.

After nine hard-hitting, pop punk anthems, Dan stopped to praise their most recent album The Hum Goes on Forever. Dan informed the crowd the album was their best one yet and its final track ‘You’re the Reason I Don’t Want the World to End’ was the greatest thing they had ever written. Admittedly, this song wasn’t one of my favourites before the show, but after the band’s performance, I think it might be. 

The room settled down as the song began, 'It’s already June / The light paints you pink,' delicately serenading the crowd. Couples around me held onto each other and began to sway, which in most cases I detest, but in this one I found it quite sweet. It’s a beautiful song dedicated to protecting the ones you love, and it was heartwarming to see such love is real and all around. Even now as I’m writing this and listening back to the song, I have goosebumps. I love this song. 

After refusing to leave the stage for an encore, with Dan delivering a speech on how much he hates the ritual, and proceeded to close the evening with ‘I Just Want to Sell Out My Funeral’. This performance brought out the most energy from the crowd by far. A third of the floor broke into a mandatory circlepit as fans repeatedly and painfully chanted 'I’M AWAKWARD AND NERVOUS' - which I think sums the show up perfectly. 

The return of The Wonder Years to Australian soil was truly a gig to remember. From the fierce delivery of classic pop punk anthems to the warmth and vulnerability behind their newer music, fans left The Tivoli feeling a kind of pleasing, emotional whiplash. This includes supporters Joyce Manor and Suzi who similarly tugged on the audience’s heartstrings and delivered a soul-stirring show. What an amazing way to kick off the tour. 

Review by Grace Cameron @gracicxo

Setlist

Came Out Swinging 
I Don’t Like Who I Was Then
Low Tide 
Pyramids of Salt
Lost it in the Lights 
Raining in Kyoto
Melrose Diner 
Cul-de-sac 
Local Man Ruins Everything 
You’re the Reason I Don’t Want the World to End 
GODDAMNITALL
Cardinals
Cigarettes and Saints 
Wyatt’s Song 
There, There 
Passing Through a Screen Door
I Just Want To Sell Out My Funeral

Photo Gallery by Mitch Chamberlain. Insta: @chamberlainmedia. Please credit Wall of Sound and Mitch Chamberlain if you repost.