THE RUBENS – FORUM THEATRE, MELBOURNE

THE RUBENS – FORUM THEATRE, MELBOURNE – 06.11.2026
Review: Craig Eriksson. Photos: David Harris

Australian indie-rock band The Rubens released their sixth studio album, Group Therapy, in mid-October 2026 and are currently undertaking a massive 24-date Australian tour. Last night, they performed at Melbourne’s Forum Theatre, promoting and celebrating the new album as well as their 15-year career.

DAEZY
Opening the show was emerging Melbourne five-piece indie-pop-rock band DAEZY, formed by former AFLW player Daisy Bateman. Having transitioned from professional Australian rules football to music, Daisy is now the charismatic frontwoman of the band. DAEZY’s live sound is an energetic blend of soulful indie-pop-rock, storytelling and heartfelt ballads. They delivered a 30-minute, seven-song set, opening with the atmospheric THE CYCLE from their Take It To Me EP. Showcasing their diversity, they followed with the slow-burning ballad BLAME and the faintly alt-country NOT A MAN, both from their See Me Standing EP. Their latest release, I WANT YOU, had their young fans up the front dancing along. That feel-good energy continued with THE BITTER END, JUST DANCE and HOT GIRL SUMMER.

SELVE
Australian alt-rock band Selve are a six-piece from the Gold Coast, fronted by Loki Liddle (Jabirr Jabirr) and Reece Bowden (Anaiwan). Their set was energetic, theatrical and mesmerising, which the crowd fully embraced. Their live show is a “musical soup” that blends genres ranging from indie and surf rock to electronic textures. Loki told the crowd that they recorded their sophomore album, Breaking into Heaven (2025), at the legendary Abbey Road Studios, making history as the first Aboriginal artist to record there. They opened with the album’s title track, a high-energy anthem that immediately had the crowd hooked. Across their 40-minute, 11-song set, I could hear influences of The B-52s, Private Function, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Beastie Boys, Foals, Pond and Tame Impala. Selve create a festive atmosphere and are exciting to experience live, particularly thanks to Loki’s commanding stage presence, Reece’s distinctive dance moves and the band’s playful vocals. Other standout songs included RAPTURE, FREAKS ON THE RANGE, LOKI HORROR PICTURE SHOW and their latest single, WEEKENDS.

THE RUBENS
The Rubens emerged on stage and kicked things off with LOVE ME AMERICA, the opening track from their latest album, Group Therapy. The song is a guitar-driven love letter to the American record labels that promised them the world before the tables turned. Its lyrics capture the bittersweet mix of highs and lows that come with chasing big dreams overseas. Next came one of the band’s early hits and a crowd singalong, MY GUN, from their 2012 self-titled debut album. Sam Margin’s soulful, bluesy vocals, swaggering guitar lines and driving, retro-tinged rhythm brought the song to life.

Also from their debut album, they performed the bluesy, soul-drenched alt-rock track LAY IT DOWN, with its gospel influences, heavy basslines, and hip-hop-influenced drums, Sam’s smoky, soulful vocals created a late-night bar atmosphere.

GOD FORGOT, from Lo La Ru (2018), blends hip-hop and R&B, with a rolling kick drum and percussive pulse underpinning a moody, indie-pop sound. The force of the kick drum was pounding into my chest as I stood at the front barrier, while Sam’s raspy, emotive vocals shone throughout.

The Rubens gave fans a generous taste of Group Therapy with ARE YOU GETTING HIGH and GOANNA. Both showcased the band’s signature soulful vocals and atmospheric textures with an underlying rock grit. Sam thanked the crowd for coming along and said it was great to have new music out. He admitted that playing new tracks live for the first time is always nerve-racking, as you never know how they will go down with an audience. They also performed BRIGHT LIGHT, THE CANNONBALL and NO CHAMPAGNE from the new album, each bringing a fresh, feel-good energy. The laidback LIVE IN LIFE from 0202 (2019) was a popular song amongst fans too.

The stage was relatively dark, with well-crafted lighting shifting between beat-synchronised effects and colourful visual arrangements that heightened the mood. Flashing strobes positioned behind the band added to the energy during the high-tempo sections.

Fan favourites PETS AND DRUGS, a piano-driven number, and the upbeat, groove-oriented indie-pop track GOOD MOOD, from SODA (2024), were standout performances. Sam Margin’s lead vocals delivered a raspy, passionate edge, pairing beautifully with his brother Elliott Margin’s stunning piano work and backing vocals to create a lovely melodic warmth.

I really enjoyed the diversity of the set, with its wonderful balance of well-known favourites, popular songs and deeper cuts that showcased the band’s musical journey. Frontman Sam Margin’s soul-drenched vocals conveyed an emotional yearning, beautifully complemented by the band’s smooth backing harmonies. The lineup comprises the three Margin brothers – Izaac Margin (lead guitar), Elliott Margin (keyboards and backing vocals) and Sam Margin (lead vocals and guitar) – alongside Scott Baldwin (drums) and William Zeglis (bass guitar).

The band left the stage for a short breather before Sam and William returned to perform two stripped-back acoustic songs. NEVER EVER, normally performed as a duet, saw Sam invite the crowd to join in. They followed with a wonderful cover of Powderfinger’s MY HAPPINESS, with the audience singing along in near-perfect harmony. At the beginning of the song, Sam laughed and remarked that they had included it in their set before Powderfinger announced their reunion and upcoming tour.

During MASTERPIECE, Sam ventured down into the crowd and got amongst the fans. The punchy, blues-tinged pop-rock anthem HALLELUJAH had the crowd chanting along and this was followed by the powerful, explosive MUDDY EVIL PAIN. It was the perfect climax to the main set. The band returned for a two-song encore, kicking off with one of their biggest hits, HOOPS, which won the triple j Hottest 100 in 2015. It was a special moment, as they wrapped up the evening with BLACK BALLOON – an absolute banger and a fitting way to end a wonderful night.

SET LIST