Aussie Band Spacey Jane Bring “All the Noise” to Brooklyn on Two Night USA Mini Tour

Photos by Abby Brustowicz

Words by Sydney Po

Spacey Jane’s return to New York City was nothing short of astounding. When the Australian indie rock band announced their first show in New York in over two years, I knew I had to jump at the opportunity. The tickets sold out immediately, which was no surprise to me since their fans have been itching for their return to the states since their first North American tour back in 2022. Fellow Best Left contributor, Abby, and I were lucky enough to be in attendance that night, and it’s safe to say that it was impossible to be disappointed with the performance Spacey Jane put on. What better way to start this new era of SJ than at Baby’s All Right in Brooklyn? The intimacy of the venue, the friendliness of the crowd and staff, and the incredible sounds of Spacey Jane made for an unforgettable night.

The night started off with an electric DJ set from local New York band Gift, who knew how to get the crowd excited as if the anticipation for the night itself wasn’t enough. The energy throughout the crowd was already electric, before Spacey Jane even took the stage. There was no mistaking when they finally emerged because the screams from the audience were deafening. Trust, I was a large contributing factor to the noise coming from the crowd.

Their set began with the easily recognizable guitar riff of “Skin”, and the crowd erupted. The excitement only rose from that point on. Their newest single “All The Noise” was fourth on the setlist, and everyone in the room began to scream every single word, even though the song was only released two weeks prior. It was apparent that there were true, hardcore fans in attendance that night. As I admired the crowd, it was obvious that almost everyone was singing along to every word frontman Caleb Harper was performing. He even commented on the fact that the audience passionately sang along to “Sawteeth”, one of their older releases, which took him by surprise. However, this song has been a staple on their setlist for years, so no wonder the energy was present.

Midway through their set, they showed no signs of slowing down, as they played “Feeding the Family” and “Thrills” back to back. At this point, everyone was drenched in sweat, including the band. But that did not stop both the band and the audience from jumping around and dancing along to the music. Guitarist Ashton Hardman-Le Cornu joined in on the action, and the intensity he brought was contagious. You can’t help but admire how he throws himself into the music time and time again. The band puts all their energy into every track, which is something I’ve missed since seeing them back in October 2022. Both Peppa Lane and Kieran Lama’s performances were mesmerizing, and watching them get lost in the music was inspiring. Spacey Jane’s live show is continuously transcendent, and the sound system of Baby’s All Right elevated it to another level, which I have to give praise to.

One thing of note when it comes to Spacey Jane crowds is that they know how to make it feel like a community. I have made countless friends at the various shows I’ve been to, and the Brooklyn show was no exception. Everyone is so willing to strike up conversations in between songs or sets, which is a breath of fresh air these days. Spacey Jane shows have been such safe spaces for people who love and appreciate live music, so being able to experience another was a treat.

My personal favorite moments from the night were their performances of “Yet” and “Booster Seat”. This was the first time that I heard “Yet” live, which is one of my favorite songs by Spacey Jane. So, I did in fact tear up when Harper brought out his acoustic guitar and started strumming the familiar chords of the song I am deeply fond of. The other highly emotional moment of the night was when Spacey Jane returned to the stage for the encore and performed the fan favorite, “Booster Seat”. There was not a single person in that entire room who was not singing along. The strength of this community was made loud and clear in that moment because you could barely even hear the band singing themselves. The crowd took over and closed out the incredibly impressive night.

The band reminded fans that their new album, If That Makes Sense, is set to be released on May 9th, and that their new single “How to Kill Houseplants” should be coming out sometime in February. Fans should also stay alert for a tour announcement in the near future, as they said they would be returning to the states at the end of this year. 2025 is going to be a big year for Spacey Jane, and as a long time fan myself, I cannot wait for what they have in store. They are sure to make all the noise this year!