Sticky Fingers @ House of Blues 3/19

Photography by Samantha Weber

Review by Maaya O’Flaherty

When Sticky Fingers finally returned to North America after seven years away, the long gap seemed to heighten the anticipation in Boston’s House of Blues this past Thursday.  The Sydney-born band, formed in 2008, blends alternative rock, reggae, and psych-influenced sounds. This tour gave Boston fans a chance to hear live performances from two of their most recent albums since their last visit to the States.  With a setlist spanning from the beginning of their career to newer material, the performance felt like both a reunion and a refresh.

The night began with opener Ruby Waters, whose performance warmed up the crowd and set a lively tone before the headliners took over. But the transition to the Sticky Fingers was anything but ordinary. 

After the opener finished, a man dressed like a Founding Father walked on stage, unrolled a scroll, and delivered a playful, patriotic speech directed at Boston with what can only be described as very colorful language. The bit soon gave way to a much looser introduction, as he dropped the act and greeted the room with a loud “What’s going on, Boston?” and launched into a series of jokes and impressions, before leading a call-and-response chant. He shouted “Drake Maye,” answered with “King of the North,” and then pivoted to a chant of “Sticky Fingers,” with the room responding, “Kings of the South,” just as the band made their entrance.’

They arrived one by one under flashing lights. Freddy Crabs, on keys and synth, appeared first, sporting nothing but some bright red shorts and tossing a ball into the crowd. Soon after came drummer Beaker Best, guitarist Seamus Coyle, bassist Paddy Cornwall, and touring lead vocalist Claude Bailey. 

Without delay, the band opened with “Land of Pleasure.” The soulful song began relaxed and breezy, making Boston feel like it was already summer. As the lighting intensified near the end, it hinted at the psychedelic rock energy that would define the set.

That shift became clearer during “Outcast at Last.”  The venue was flooded in red light as Bailey flung off his jacket to reveal a Boston Celtics T-shirt, drawing a huge reaction from the crowd. Live, the song carried a heavier, more rock-driven beat than its studio version; the crowd responded with steady head banging as the groove took hold.

One thing that stood out throughout the show was how easily the band could pivot between moods and styles, and it was interesting to be able to hear the evolution of their music. The next stretch highlighted this versatility, beginning with “Sad Songs,” which paradoxical to its title, felt light, upbeat and even drew a singalong from the crowd. 

The band continued that lighter energy with “Cool & Calm,” from their 2019 album “Yours to Keep,” bringing a laid-back groove full of relaxed percussion and unique synth textures. Onstage, the guitarists leaned into their riffs, adding an extra bite to an otherwise peaceful song.

Throughout the performance, the band had a relaxed, almost carefree presence that added to the experience. Members sipped beers between songs and joked with each other, creating an easy-going atmosphere that matched their music without losing any momentum. That balance worked well when they transitioned into “These Girls,” from their debut album “Caress Your Soul.” As soon as the opening guitar notes were struck, the audience erupted. Bailey’s raspy vocals gave the song an extra emotional feeling to the track, and the repeated lyric “thinking ‘bout you” was sung so loudly by the crowd, it nearly drowned out the band.

Bailey later told the crowd, “Come on now Boston, we’re going to loosen up,” before starting “Gold Snafu.” The song’s carefree rhythm quickly spread through the room, and the lyric “velvet skies” synced to the shifting of stage lights into a warm gold tone, moving across the venue in a sunset-like glow that added another layer of spectacle to the performance. 

Soon after, Sticky Fingers slowed the pace with “Rum Rage” and “Liquorlip Loaded Gun,” both from the album “Land of Pleasure.” These leaned into a more emotional tone, giving the room some time to settle into this passionate mood.

After a brief pause to thank their managers, the band began rebuilding the show’s energy with the newer track “Saves the Day,” which worked well as a transition. Later on, during “Angel,” the aforementioned Founding Father character reappeared onstage, joking with the band while they shared drinks and encouraged the crowd to clap along with the beat.

What was undoubtedly the most explosive moment of the night came with “Bootleg Rascal.” Sticky Fingers stretched the live version of the song to almost double its recorded length, turning it into a dynamic multi-part performance. Red lighting drenched House of Blues while the band teased the intro. When the beat dropped, the sound shifted into a reggae groove that had nearly everyone shouting the chorus, “I’m a bootleg rascal.” Later, the band ramped up the intensity into heavier rock territory, complete with a bass spotlight for Cornwall and a forehead-to-forehead guitar moment between he and Bailey that brought cheers from the crowd.

Another memorable moment came when Ruby Waters returned to the stage to perform “Where I’m From” with the band. Her higher voice added a unique texture to the track, blending with the group’s sound to create a striking duet that ended with a hug between the performers. 

The atmosphere changed again with an intimate performance of “Cyclone,” which Bailey and Coyle performed acoustic at the front of the stage. They even invited a fan from the crowd to join them onstage for part of the song, creating a heartwarming moment as the rest of the band joined behind them in a loose embrace.

The set then returned to an upbeat reggae-rock vibe with “Australia Street” and “How to Fly,” two fan favorites that had the crowd singing every word. When the lyric “Sticky Fingers, don’t forget the name” rang out, the entire room shouted it with hands raised.  The band kept the momentum going with “Freddy Crabs,” ending with high-energy drumming and guitar.

Nearing the end, the band announced that Sticky Fingers “doesn’t believe in encores.”  Instead, they asked if the crowd wanted more and rolled straight into “Not Done Yet,” before finishing with “Lazerhead.” As they walked offstage, waving and handing setlists to fans near the front, the fans continued cheering.

After seven years away, Sticky Fingers delivered a deliberately structured performance reflecting a journey through their sound. Each shift in lighting, tempo, and instrumentation seemed to reset the mood without breaking the flow, moving from sun-soaked reggae to heavier indie rock and then back again. For a band returning to North America after such a long break, the night proved they haven’t lost their spark. If anything, they’re more dynamic live than ever.