Red Hill Auditorium, Sunday January 4th 2026 –
Despite being on the eve of returning to the daily grind for the first time in 2026, there was a festival vibe at Red Hill for this interesting mix of bands. Maybe everyone else was in the same boat and this was a good final release before reality kicks back in.
Note – this reviewer is somewhat biased and there to see Santigold, hence her name in front in the title.
First up Perth’s local heroes Pond, providing the small but loyal crowd gathered near the stage a set that is perfect for summer festival vibes. I have mixed feelings about the band – one part appreciates the psychedelic sounds and willingness to go into some out-there ideas, the other wishes they had more songs that dug deep and stayed with you. They come close with some tracks – Sweep Me Off My Feet, Daisy, to name a few, and they have good energy with frontman Nick Allbrook playing the Aussie feral role well. Imagine Prince if he was born in the lower-middle class suburbs of Perth, wearing thongs (flip flops for the non-Australian readers). Overall, they offered a nice foreground to the sun setting behind them.
To Santigold. I must admit I didn’t know what she would present on stage – she came out with a pair of masked backing singers/dancers and with a hint of cockiness asked the crowd if anyone had experienced her show before. Some had but I never actually expected to see her live and hadn’t thought about how good this would be – I’m glad I came.
Going through what is a fantastic back catalogue of songs, the show was tight and energetic and gave off gospel church choir vibes (which she mentioned when talking about some of the dance moves). From L.E.S. Artistes to Lights Out, Shove It and Disparate Youth, she reminded the crowd she is a force to be reckoned with, and her influence on the crossover between guitar-based rock, hip hop and electropop cannot be denied.
On several occasions she brought members of the audience on stage to dance with her, sending security into chaos, and I’m pretty sure a woman threw her false leg onstage before being ejected from the front row. Fun and a little out of control, the energy was great.
I consider Santigold a little under the radar when it comes to great music and hope that there are plenty of other people that also get her – from the size of the crowd I don’t think I’m the only one.
While not as familiar with Maribou State as the other acts, they came on and clearly had a loyal fanbase who came to get up there and dance had into the night. The sound and lightshow were something to behold. This reviewer had to leave mid-set unfortunately. Sucks being part of the rat race. Thanks all three bands for keeping me dreaming and trying to live a better life.
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