Kevin Parker’s Tame Impala bring the Deadbeat Tour to life in San Diego for first Southern California stop of the limited six-city US tour.
With lush visuals, hypnotic rhythms, and a crowd ready for transcendence, Tame Impala’s Deadbeat Tour reaffirms Kevin Parker’s reign as psych-pop’s meticulous mastermind. This tour stop marked the first Southern California date of Kevin Parker’s limited six-city Deadbeat U.S. tour, his first major run through SoCal since recovering from a serious hip injury that sidelined him in 2023. For fans, it wasn’t just a concert—it felt like a resurrection.
But before the sell-out crowd got the main attraction, the night began with a punchy, high-energy set from FCUKERS, the New York electronic band whose brash riffs and cheeky stage presence immediately energized the crowd. Their concise, 30-minute set served as a perfect primer, with tight grooves, sing-along hooks, and raw attitude setting the tone for a night of sonic immersion. Fans bobbed and shouted along as vocalist Shanny Wise did laps around the in-the-round stage, proving they, even as a warm-up act, could command the room.
Under a kaleidoscopic haze of fog, lasers, and towering LED trusses inside the 60-year-old—but still beloved—former San Diego Sports Arena, Tame Impala reemerged with cinematic soundscapes, pristine audio, and emotional gravity that made the night feel timeless. It was a full-spectrum psychedelic escape—equal parts auditory perfection, visual spectacle, and soul. The stage, situated in the center of the arena in an oval configuration, provided fans on the floor and throughout the arena with an intimate and immersive experience.
Opening with “Apocalypse Dreams,” the crowd erupted as Parker’s falsetto floated over looping synths and pulsing bass. The song stretched and shimmered into a hypnotic extended jam that set the tone for the night: lush, deliberate, and immersive. The massive oval stage featured remote laser boxes that raised and lowered in sync with massive laser arrays, moving screens, and visually impressive lighting trusses projecting prismatic visuals and live video from the stage. The effect was a high-tech lucid dream, with visual and audio treats at every turn.
The Deadbeat Tour finds Parker and his ensemble sharper than ever, bridging the studio precision of Currents with the sprawling emotion of The Slow Rush, augmented by the updated electronic sounds from Deadbeat. The mix was immaculate—each kick drum hit sculpted, each synth tone carved perfectly, allowing the music to envelop without overwhelming.
Fan favorites arrived early: “Elephant” ignited a wave of dancing, singing, and joy across the floor and seats, followed by lush, introspective renditions of “Breath Deeper” and “Borderline.” Parker spoke sparingly but warmly, visibly moved by the reception. “It’s been too long, San Diego,” he said, promising the city will always see Tame Impala return.
Mid-set, Parker briefly left the main stage, allowing the band to extend “Feels Like We Only Go Backwards” into a jam, before returning to a smaller, intimate “B” stage resembling his home studio. Surrounded by a rug, pillows, and warm incandescent lamps, he performed “No Reply,” “Ethereal Connection,” and “Not My World,” reclining on the floor at times, creating a striking contrast to the arena’s high-tech spectacle.
Late in the show, Parker shifted gears into cuts like “Eventually,” where his guitar tone sliced through the dreamlike mix, reminding everyone that beneath the production wizardry lies a formidable rock musician. The encore featured three songs, but it was “The Less I Know the Better” that felt almost cinematic, with the finale “End of Summer” —its final swell a moment of pure release that dissolved into applause and cheers.
What lingered afterward wasn’t just the glow of the visuals or the pulse of the bass, but the sense that Tame Impala continues to evolve without losing its core. Kevin Parker remains a singular figure—part scientist, part mystic—continuing to refine the art of psychedelic pop for a generation born long after its origin.
San Diego got more than a show on Sunday night, evoking the spirit of Pink Floyd—it was a reminder that true transcendence, crafted from musicianship, sincerity, and dazzling visuals, never fades.
PHOTO BY: Colt Grice
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