Tame Impala – aka “it’s just one guy” Australian psychedelic/techno vocalist & multi-instrumentalist Kevin Parker – took Baltimore by storm on July 18 at CFG Bank Arena, the first of two WAY sold-out nights. Charm City was equally fortunate to see support stunners Djo (the music creative outlet of actor Joe Keery) along for the ride!
Djo performed on the heels of his third album, The Crux (released early 2025), and the later released companion, The Crux Deluxe, containing new tracks. He and Parker have admired each other’s work since 2020; subsequently Djo appeared on Tame Impala’s video for “Loser” (Deadbeat, 2025). This night they joined forces and the results were pretty epic.
Djo’s set was somewhat brief, but powerful. He began with the jarring “Awake” (Crux Deluxe, 2025). The dancy infectious “Change” (DECIDE, 2022) followed, and properly prepared the crowd for the popular hit “Basic Being Basic” (The Crux, 2025). Djo’s endearing emotive attitude and gestures wooed his audience with every breath. Djo’s set concluded with the global viral track “End of Beginning” (DECIDE, 2022), which left fans levitating in their wake.
Watch the official music video for “End of Beginning” by Djo on YouTube:
On this current Deadbeat Tour, Parker and his beloved Tame Impala brought along all the ethereals: airy and breathless psychedelic modulated vocals amidst stacked harmonies; heavenly, celestial, and at most times beyond other worldly visuals that completely encapsulated and mesmerized his intimate crowd of 14,000 fans! Heavily influenced by shoegaze pioneers My Bloody Valentine, Tame Impala’s live keyboardist Jay Watson described Parker’s music as incorporating “shoegazey guitar sound but not played in a shoegazey manner.” Parker has indeed carved out his own “wall of sound,” coupled with his dreamy, soft, melancholic vocals. Additionally, the “newer” vibes of vocoder/sampler vox meshed well in the set, beautifully connecting both older and new fans alike.
Tame Impala kicked off their set with the psychedelic six-minute behemoth “Apocalyse Dreams” (Lonerism, 2012). The main stage resembled a simulated UFO platform, dome-shaped and metallic. Lasers and strobes flooded the crowd, with what proved to be the start of a gorgeous evening of exceptional music and flawless visual artistry.
Parker quickly said hello to the crowd, with a swirling DEADBEAT circular widescreen behind him, then launched straight away into “Borderline” (The Slow Rush, 2020). The crowd swayed leisurely to the blue and purple fuzzy lights emanating from the center of the stage. “Loser” (Deadbeat 2025), “Breathe Deeper” (The Slow Rush, 2020) and “Gossip” (Currents, 2015) were also welcomed with much enthusiasm, the latter tune emitting spacy techno rainbows along distinct, pulsing red lasers.
Watch the official music video for “Loser” by Tame Impala on YouTube:
Psychedelic gem “Elephant” (Lonerism, 2012) reminded us of Parker’s Blue Cheer-era roots, heavy bass coupled with his strong Rickenbacker 335 guitar vibes. Incidentally, I was fortunate to have a photo pass for Tame Impala’s performance at Coachella way back in 2013 – it was truly lovely to see Parker’s Rick 335 aging gracefully.
A hilarious, comedic, down-to-earth break happened as the videographer followed Parker to the toilet. Parker’s literal take on ‘letting it all hang out’ (btw, the camera was focused on his feet lol) was a surprisingly endearing way to keep his fans ‘engaged’ with the entire performance!
During ”Afterthought” (Deadbeat, 2025), Parker stepped down from the stage into the barricade area and sang at eye-level with the swooning crowd. Fan favorite “My Old Ways” (Deadbeat, 2025) began with Parker’s silhouette on the jumbo screen, reflecting the vulnerability of the song’s beginning (“I tell myself I’m only human”), then as he abruptly descends into the ‘sobering’ darkness of his own self-doubt, the lights gravitate to thick, bold strobes. In a 2025 interview with Studio Brussel, Parker described his meaning of deadbeat as: “…it’s kind of just feeling like you’re behind the eight ball in life, ya know? Like it’s that feeling like everyone has their s**t together more than you.” The crowd shouts anthemically to the collective “Feels Like We Only Go Backwards” (Lonerism, 2012), amidst radiant psychedelic rainbow bubble bursts.
Watch the official music video for “Feels Like We Only Go Backwards” by Tame Impala on YouTube:
Parker then strolled to the B-Stage (again circular in shape), edged with 1970’s/1980’s lamps, cushy pillows and layered quintessential Turkish rugs, alongside various Moog synthesizers and instruments, exquisitely exemplifying the living room/home recording studio aesthetic. There he performed “Ethereal Connection” (Deadbeat,2025) and “Not My World” (Deadbeat, 2025) to a privileged smaller crowd gathering.
Back on the main stage, Parker ended the set with many of the hits. On “Let It Happen” (Currents, 2015), he quipped “Baltimore, are you FEELING it?!” Hot pink glitter descended from the rooftops and blessed the crowd below. “Nangs” (Currents, 2015) had a subterranean vibe, wavy blue lights and white strobes mimicked calm probing submarines. During “Eventually” (Currents, 2015), I’m quite certain I heard every single patron singing along. Parker has described his album Currents (2015) as somewhat of a departure, or a “break-up,” from the guitar. Yet here, his Rickenbacker 335 wailed sweetly, gently underneath the swagger of the synths and compressed drums. Parker astounded us on “New Person, Same Old Mistakes” (Currents, 2015) with his perfect tenor falsetto, as he bonded with the crowd in between: “Baltimore, are you still with us…let’s do this together!”
During the encore, on “Dracula” (Deadbeat, 2025), enclosed in pulsing red and white strobes, Parker assured that crowd that “Tonight will last forever!” On “The Less I Know the Better” (Currents, 2015), asymmetrical, kaleidoscopic, rainbow lights cascaded on to the crowd. The show ended poignantly with “End of Summer” (Deadbeat, 2025).
An end note: Parker has been recognized having a form of synesthesia – a neurological condition where he sees & perceives color palettes when hearing sounds. Parker and Tame Impala will forever be resplendent examples of the complicated wonders of neurodivergence, especially at these vital moments when it is fearlessly explored and cultivated fully.
Here are some photos of Tame Impala and opener Djo performing live at CFG Bank Arena on July 18, 2026. All pictures copyright and courtesy of Nalinee Darmrong.
