A Night Out: Tame Impala’s Deadbeat Tour
Tame Impala, also known as Kevin Parker, is a singer and multi-instrumentalist from Australia who leveled up my music taste with four (now five) amazing albums I’ll never get tired of. I don’t remember exactly when I started listening to him, but the first song I heard was “Love/Paranoia” from Currents and I’ve been addicted ever since.
Back then, his sound was unlike anything I’d heard before since I mostly listened to 90s and 2000s Hip Hop, R&B, and electronic music. I eventually made my way to his other albums: Innerspeaker, Lonerism, and The Slow Rush. I can genuinely put any of these albums on repeat any day.
Shot on iPhone 14: At the end of the Deadbeat Tour Pechanga Arena San Diego show
That dreamy, psychedelic indie sound won me over and especially aligned with my love for the 60s and 70s era where the psychedelic sound was born. With his fifth album, Deadbeat, Tame Impala gives us a fusion of techno-inspired beats with his signature sound that many either love or hate. Despite what anyone says, Parker proves he cares about the music through his evolving sound and I’ll always be here for it.
Although I’ve been a fan for years, I’d never seen him live and regretted missing his Coachella 2019 set. So when the Deadbeat Tour was announced, I grabbed tickets to his San Diego show this past Sunday, November 9, 2025. From the venue to the opening act to his performance, Tame Impala is easily the best concert of the year for me.
The Venue
I went to the Pechanga Arena San Diego show because I enjoy going to concerts in SD and was over LA’s rising prices. Staying at a budget hotel just a 10-minute walk from the venue was clutch, especially with the $45 parking and heavy traffic. I got my steps in and saved money. Perfect!
It was my first time at this venue and I loved how the stage was right in the center, giving everyone a good view no matter where they sat. The tiered seating was also a win for someone short like me.
There was also enough room to dance and I could sit down anytime I wanted! The only downside were the insanely long lines to the restroom after the opening act, but that’s expected. Other than that, I had a wonderful experience at this venue.
The Openers
Fcukers, an American electronic duo made up of Shanny Wise and Jackson Walker Lewis, were the only openers. I’d heard their name before but never checked out their music until I found out they were opening for Tame Impala.
I like most of their songs because they remind me of 90s dance music, but the song I love the most and was excited to hear live was “Play Me.” Wise’s soft, evocative vocals layered over drum & bass is just downright sexy to me.
The Performance
Tame Impala’s performance exceeded my expectations. While Parker is the mastermind behind it all, his touring band deserves a shout out for bringing his music to life. There was not a moment I wasn’t dancing or singing my heart out. I wish I could attend every show, it was that good.
The circular dual-stage setup with lamps and pillows felt like a private jam session in his living room. The lighting and visuals were perfect—fun, colorful, subtly trippy, and never overwhelming.
The setlist was on point, mixing classics with newer songs (see below). I would’ve loved to hear “Solitude is Bliss” or “Posthumous Forgiveness,” but the setlist was satisfying nevertheless. A delightful surprise was his performance of his 2009 single “Sundown Syndrome,” a song I wouldn’t have guessed he’d play exclusively for SD.
Deadbeat Tour Pechanga Arena San Diego Setlist
(Bold = my favorite)
Apocalypse Dreams
Borderline
Dracula
Loser
Breathe Deeper
Gossip
Elephant
Afterthought
Feels Like We Only Go Backwards
No Reply (Instrumentals)
Ethereal Connection
Not My World
Let it Happen
Nangs
Obsolete
Sundown Syndrome
Alter Ego
Piece of Heaven
Eventually
New Person, Same Old Mistakes
My Old Ways
The Less I Know The Better
End of Summer
I loved Parker’s playful mid-show bathroom break, bringing us along through a live camera while “No Reply” instrumentals played. It was silly and lowkey genius.
Shot in iPhone 14: Parker taking his mid-show bathroom break
And his “techno” moment during “Ethereal Connection” brought back memories of the techno shows I used to go to. No flashy lasers or intense strobes, just Parker on the floor, tweaking knobs under the warm lamp glow. It was laid-back, intimate, and so fun.
Watching Parker get into the groove and feel the crowd match his energy reminded me why I love live music.
