DALLAS – The atmosphere buzzed with excitement. We nearly sprinted through the crowd, learning that day we had secured general admission tickets. Shortly after, we found ourselves entangled in the crowd when the lights dimmed. 

Although the venue was large, Tame Impala’s production crew did an amazing job at completely immersing the crowd no matter how far your view was. 

The concert commenced with a band-made infomercial on the effects of the time-altering experience of the Slow Rush tour, with the screen seeming to bend and distort as it came to a close. The lights and screen faded, the light show starting with an array of colors shining amongst the faces of the audience.

Lead singer Kevin Parker’s music has one transcending but experiencing it live is a different story. Parker’s vocals exceed expectations, with some artists sounding different in person, and the accompanying instrumental was phenomenal with the extending of songs and interludes like “Nangs,” and “Gossip,” that used a sphere of intermittent, rainbow lighting that engulfed the crowd.

The standouts of the concert highlighted the dynamic performance that Parker puts on display, a combination of a light show and performance. Early on in the show, “Elephant,” distinct in its riff, was a rock anthem that had the crowd overflowing with energy as the bass vibrated. “Apocalypse Dreams,” an older song that had an added guitar solo that had Parker shredding as his silhouette was enveloped in smoke, was a peak in the surreal nature of the show. “Let It Happen,” was a song that everyone had been awaiting, showering the singing fans in confetti as the eight-minute song reached its climax. “New Person Same Old Mistakes,” one of my favorites, serenaded with melancholy vocals accompanied with pulsing lasers that complemented the funky bass.

As the show came to a close, Parker took a few moments to thank the crowd talking about how it was his last show in the United States. The audience then commenced in the chanting of Parker’s name, leaving him smiling and waving to fans. He finished by stating that Dallas was his favorite crowd so far on tour and exited the stage.

Like almost all concerts, the final song is never really the end of the show. After a short break with the audience screaming for him to return, Parker returned for an encore. He ended with “The Less I Know The Better,” a crowd favorite, that was a bittersweet close in the encore along with “One More Hour,” in irony as it’s the last song on the “Slow Rush” album.

Proceeding Parker in the opening act, the spotlight cascaded down onto the stage, a single figure visible in the faint orange glow, gifting us with the presence of Sudan Archives.

I hadn’t heard of her before looking at the lineup, but after being touched by her amazing stage presence, I’m now a fan. Her music was unique, filled with powerful lines accompanied by violin. She was the perfect act to precede Tame Impala. Her setlist was fairly short, but longer than expected, playing 11 songs.

The concert was incredible, to say the least. Parker delivered heartfelt vocals that elaborated on a common human experience, and united fans in the most memorable concert I have attended. The crowd was encouraged by Parker to be safe, with no shoving or discomfort in the slightest. Tame Impala offered a vitalizing and vivid night that will be everlasting in my memories.

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