Bleak Squad [Blue Mountains]

Blue Mountains Theatre, Springwood
07 February 2026

Reviewer and Photographer : Kevin Bull

After a two-hour drive through Sydney’s suburban sprawl and into the misty Blue Mountains, I arrived at Springwood’s Blue Mountains Theatre on Saturday, February 7, 2026, for the opening night of Bleak Squad’s national tour. The venue was packed with a mid-to-older age crowd, all eager to witness the supergroup’s noir-rock album, Strange Love, on the live stage. The anticipation was palpable, and I was curious to see if the band could translate their studio magic to the live arena.

Bleak Squad – comprising Adalita (Magic Dirt), Mick Harvey (Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds), Mick Turner (Dirty Three), and Marty Brown (Art of Fighting) – delivered a performance that was both tight and atmospheric. They played the entirety of Strange Love, starting with the title track ‘Strange Love’, setting a moody tone with its brooding melodies. The set flowed seamlessly through tracks like ‘Safe As Houses’, ‘Everything Must Change’, and ‘Blue Signs’, each song showcasing the band’s cohesive chemistry and musical prowess.

A highlight was ‘Melanie’, which closed the main set. The song’s haunting guitar lines and layered instrumentation left the audience in a reflective hush. After a brief pause, the band returned for an encore, opening with a spirited cover of Magic Dirt’s ‘Summer High’, a nod to Adalita’s roots. They also paid homage to their influences with covers of Mick Harvey’s ‘A Suitcase in Berlin’ and Jackson C. Frank’s ‘Cover Me With Roses’. These selections added depth to the performance, bridging their new material with their musical heritage.

Mick Turner’s guitar work was a standout, characterised by his signature ‘illogical squawk’—a style that blends dissonant tones with melodic undercurrents, creating a soundscape that’s both unsettling and captivating. His playing added a unique texture to the performance, complementing the band’s overall aesthetic.

In conclusion, Bleak Squad’s live rendition of Strange Love was a compelling showcase of seasoned musicianship and artistic synergy. The band’s ability to weave their individual styles into a cohesive performance made the two-hour journey worthwhile. As I joined the throng of satisfied concertgoers waiting in the mercy queue, I couldn’t help but feel that Bleak Squad had not only met but exceeded expectations, delivering a show that resonated long after the final note.