Tate McRae - Think Later World Tour
Tate McRae electrified Sydney’s Hordern Pavilion tonight, captivating a young, mostly female crowd with a mix of energy, vulnerability, and dazzling visuals. From the moment support act Charlie Onnafriday wrapped his set, the venue buzzed with anticipation, and Tate didn’t disappoint.
The night opened with a powerful and fitting spoken word intro from philosopher Alan Watts, resonating through the dark room: “A person who thinks all the time has nothing to think about except thoughts.” With words reflecting on the importance of living in the moment, the pulsing screen flashed “live now, think later” before Tate hit the stage to an explosion of cheers, launching into ‘Think Later’ with full force.
From there, she flowed into ‘hurt my feelings’, ‘uh oh’, and ‘What’s Your Problem?’—each song keeping the crowd singing, dancing, and screaming.
The evening struck a perfect balance between high-energy anthems and heartfelt ballads. For ‘stay done’, her most personal song, Tate sat on the edge of the stage in a wash of blue light, backed by guitarist Zach DeGaetano on acoustic, while 5,000 fans provided backing vocals. Tate took time to connect with the audience, even leading them in singing ‘Happy Birthday’ to Zach—a personal touch that resonated with fans.
One standout was ‘Rubberband’, where Tate and her dancers transformed the stage with boxing ring ropes, while “Guilty Conscience” brought an almost raw aggression. She described the song as exhausting, calling on the crowd to sing along, which they did from the first note, fired up by her shirtless drummer and an acrobatic dancer in the ring.
Just before ‘we’re not alike’, Tate playfully introduced it as the anthem for every girl who’s ever dealt with someone who’s “not a girls’ girl.” She took a moment to thank the crowd for sticking with her, saying it meant the world to her—especially her Aussie fans, whom she called the best.
The high-energy set ended with ‘you broke me first’, a song Tate wrote at 16 that changed her life. As the opening chords played, fans erupted into song, with Zach delivering a solo fit for any rock concert to wrap up the main set.
After thunderous applause, Tate returned for a three-song encore, kicking off with ‘It’s ok I’m ok’ before debuting a new song, ‘2 hands’. She ended with ‘Greedy’, her energy still high, delivering a masterclass in stage presence and movement that had even reluctant boyfriends leaving with a newfound respect.
Thanks to Hordern Pavilion’s fantastic setup, the promoter’s smooth organization, and the hard work of Tate’s team, the night was an unforgettable experience. From the dynamic lighting to the flawless sound, every detail was designed to elevate Tate’s performance. As fans left the venue, you could feel the excitement as they swapped favorite moments—a true sign of a night well-lived, and one to remember.
A big thankyou to Tate, Live Nation and the Hordern Pavilion for having MKA along.
Review by Andy Kershaw