Photos: Tame Impala @ Massey Hall

On May 19th, Australian psych rock band Tame Impala (fronted by musical guru Kevin Parker) successfully blew the minds of every Toronto fan in attendance at the legendary Massey Hall. 

As I impatiently waited to photograph their set backstage, there was chatter amongst the Massey Hall staff noting that it was "the loudest sound check" they had ever heard - and they were right.

The venue felt like it was going to collapse with every note being played and was paired with intense psychedelic visuals that catapulted me into a euphoric trance (just to note, I was not high and didn't need to be – it was that good).

The band mainly performed tracks off their first two studio records Innerspeaker (2010) and Lonerism (2012), but also threw in some newbies off their upcoming record Currents that I was hyped on in particular (Release Date: July 17th, 2015). Three of the four new tracks that have dropped made it into the set: "Eventually", "'Cause I'm a Man", and the mind bending "Let It Happen", which they opened up with.

One rad moment was when Kevin Parker activated the insanely large motion graphics projected on the screen behind the band by strumming his guitar. The graphics were synced up with his instrument and it was wild to see in person. As he'd hold a note, the resonance would vibrate tand the line image would change form and shape based on what sounds he was making. It's hard to explain what this looked like, but it was an incredible moment where Kevin was just fucking around by himself on stage having fun. 

I'm a huge fan of Tame Impala and I was stoked to finally get a chance to see them after missing out on their previous shows in the city and I can tell you... they did not disappoint. This show at Massey Hall was one for the books.

BTW was sent out on assignment for Blare and that's where you can check out all of our concert photos from the set.

Click here: http://blaremagazine.com/2015/05/21/photos-tame-impala-at-massey-hall

You can also check out some extras above that I shot with my Nikon F100 on Kodak Porta 800. I love how the film turned out on these shots from my seat.

Until next time.

Tame Impala Setlist

1. Intro
2. Let It Happen
3. Mind Mischief
4. It Is Not Meant to Be
5. Alter Ego
6. Eventually
7. Elephant
8. Be Above It
9. Oscilly
10. ‘Cause I’m a Man
11. Why Won’t You Make Up Your Mind?
12. Why Won’t They Talk To Me?
13. Apocalypse Dreams

Encore:
14. Feels Like We Only Go Backwards
15. Nothing That Has Happened So Far Has Been Anything We Could Control

Words / Photography by: Steve St. Jean