It’s been well over thirty years since Crash Test Dummies have been in Australia, so tonight in Sydney we are here to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of their amazing album ‘God Shuffled His Feet’, and by the sold out signs up across this string of shows it seems a lot of people have been waiting to see the band, me included and I can’t wait to see a band I truly thought I’d never get the chance to.
Opening with ‘The Ghosts That Haunt Me’ and this is wholesome as all get up. I think this is going to be an absolute vibe tonight and I’m here for it. The band sounds great, and hearing Brad’s vocals live for the first time is really something special. I mean an accordion solo in the opener, we’re in for a treat. Some amazing work on the keys gets a huge cheer, and I have to say that when you have an original line up playing together things just gel. ‘In the Days of the Caveman’ is next and the vocal pairing of Brad and Ellen is so great. Brad throws an acoustic on for ‘Flying Feeling’ and it just keeps getting better. ‘I Think I’ll Disappear Now’ keeps that groove they have going, and I love looking around seeing the dynamic and age range of this crowd, I can literally count about five phones up at the moment as everyone is just here enjoying the music and the moment. Brad treats us to a guitar solo and they play this one out perfectly.
Up next is one of my faves and the eternal question ‘How Does a Duck Know?’ and that is such a great song both lyrically and musically as that driving drum beat from Mitch is maintained throughout the song and that got the biggest reception of the night so far. What a song. That reception just got bigger for the title track of the album they’re here celebrating ‘God Shuffled His Feet’ and that was something. I never thought I’d get to hear that live and tonight hearing it played was special. Brad’s solo outro was awesome too. ‘Swimming in Your Ocean’ just makes me happy, and it’s so easy to say with these songs but they can’t help but make you smile.
Addressing the crowd and it really is hard to believe it’s been 33 years since they were here and clearly have been missed based on this sold out show tonight. ‘The Psychic’ slows things down a little and the vocal balance at the front of the stage is perfect. They absolutely loved that one. Now a Replacements cover with ‘Androgynous’ and the return of the accordion for that short and sweet track. ‘Two Knights and Maidens’ is fun and then Ellen addresses the crowd on her birthday as we all sing to her and telling us it’s not actually her birthday is perfection ha ha as she asks us “are you ready to rock moderately” that is the absolute best. Taking lead vocals on ‘The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead’ this gets the tempo up and sounded great.
Now the one I’ve been waiting for ‘Superman’s Song’ and Brad’s vocals on this one are perfect, then when Ellen harmonises on this it is better than I hoped. From the old to the new with ‘Sacred Alphabet’ and live this one hits so much more with big drums and that haunting vibe. That was awesome. Time for I’d say their second biggest hit, here at least, ‘Afternoons & Coffeespoons’ and this happy little ditty is exactly what I wanted. As everyone sings along and jumps in to the chorus way too early that was hilarious. Mid song we stop to split the crowd for a singalong with guitarist Stuart before the song resumes with all back on stage. They smash it out and get the applause they deserve before heading off for about 45 seconds ha ha.
Back for the encore and ‘Heart of Stone’ is first, a quiet song with a request for the crowd to “shut the fuck up” which was perfect. Only Brad, Ellen, and Stuart on stage and they played to silence which was respectful and amazing. That was spectacular. The silence is gone as ‘He Liked to Feel It’ rocks things up including some amazing keytar work. That contrast between songs was insane but they both worked one after the other.
Band introductions as the keyboard plays the opening music to the closer and it is of course the only song they could close with, ‘Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm’ and hearing everyone sing not only made me happy it clearly made the band happy as their smiles were beaming. That song is just so damn good that hearing it live was a tick off the songs I need to hear live bucket list. That was great and with the big rock ending they got their deserved kudos and I’m stoked for them. They deserve the love they’ve gotten tonight.
That was the most wholesome slice of nostalgia I think I’ve ever had the chance to experience. What a show!
Essential Information
Venue: The Manning Bar – Sydney
Date: April 4, 2025
Presented by: Metropolis Touring
Website: www.crashtestdummies.com
Set list:
The Ghosts That Haunt Me
In the Days of the Caveman
Flying Feeling
I Think I’ll Disappear Now
How Does a Duck Know?
God Shuffled His Feet
Swimming in Your Ocean
The Psychic
Androgynous
Two Knights and Maidens
The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead
Superman’s Song
Sacred Alphabet
Afternoons & Coffeespoons
Heart of Stone
He Liked to Feel It
Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm
