TISM
TISM and Legs Electric live at Metro City, Perth | 23 October 2026
A live TISM show is audiovisual chaos, with it being a challenge to put into words what was necessarily seen at Metro City. Reviewing a TISM gig is kind of like entering a really, really, steamy hot tub. You want to just dip your toe in, and start with the basics. Adjust to the temperature a little bit, and try your best to avoid getting scalded by intense memory of the show.
Punters were flocking to the venue, with a string of punters donning ‘TISM’ shirts snaking their way through Northbridge to catch a glimpse of their favourite band. It really felt like the band had a bit of a cult following, with an already measurable attendance being reached before the first supports, Legs Electric, hit the stage.
Legs Electric were stylistically distinct, but in no way inferior as supports for the night. They were fun, loud and brash. With heady hair metal guitar solos, and viscerally tenacious vocals from lead singer Ama Quinsee. Hyping up the crowd, and getting the punters moving.
The band played a distinct, on-stage rhythm, but the exciting moments were found in the breakdown of their songs. Where it was the wild guitar solos, or crashing eclectic drum solos that saw the band charge up the crowd. The set ended with Quinsee laying on the floor with her heels defiantly pointing to the ceiling, microphone in hand, belting out her intense vocals.
TISM begun their set with a friendly PA announcement telling punters to take care of themselves and not to behave ‘like a wanker’. Self-deprecatingly announcing that there ‘where enough wankers on stage already’ and to enjoy the show.
TISM undeniably were putting the effort in for their fans. The set was multi-layered and felt at times like a kinky Las Vegas dinner show. Following the PSA, three backing vocalists and several support musicians emerged onto the stage. All donning sparkly sequined suit blazers and dresses. The aesthetic and fashion felt very ‘larger-than-life’.
There was something delightfully sarcastic, and chaotic about their performance. Each member of the seven-piece emerged on stage wearing matching glittering balaclavas and suits. It was hard to not be completely blinded by the sheer amount of glitter and flashing disco lights.
The rhythm of the show seemed to seesaw between cheeky tongue-in-cheek ballads from the backing vocals and then an immediate thrust into disco-driven shenanigans immediately after. The lyrics were a mixture of sexual innuendo and political cynicism. With the crowd jubilantly eating all of it up. It was honestly hard to keep track with what was going on, but it was helpful with one of the members holding up large placards of the song being played in large caps (‘LIKE THIS’) high up with both hands.
There were frequent escapade of band members running into the crowd and singing. With security following on from behind. After a brief wait for the encore, where the performance descended into pure, biblical chaos. The band announced they would be playing ‘old school’ TISM. In a crescendo of disco rhythms, the acquisition of an inflatable kangaroo and one final hurrah manifesting into the form of a final crowd surf.
What appeared was a sight that looked like the Australiana answer to a pagan ritual (see photos). And a sight that will stay engrained and burnt into this reviewer’s subconsciousness for quite some time.
Review by Joe Wilson
Photography by Ava Thomson
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