DIIV have returned to our shores to support their latest album, Frog in Boiling Water. I managed to catch their Sydney show as part of Vivid LIVE, supported by Sydney post punk outfit Negative Gears at Carriageworks in Redfern.

Negative Gears

Negative Gears delivered a tightly wound set at Carriageworks on Friday night, quietly confident and utterly unflinching. The Sydney five-piece worked like a machine – precise, driving drums and bass forming the backbone, while layered, restless guitars added shape and electricity. Their sound balanced urgency with control, never rushed but always pressing forward even when faced with a couple of tech hitches towards the end of the set.

The frontman prowled the stage, a little manic, bursting with caged energy in sharp contrast to the rest of the band’s cool restraint. The sound hit somewhere between punk, post-punk and the edges of something else entirely. Raw, economical, and daring you not to move. If you stood still, it wasn’t for lack of provocation.

Check out their latest release, Moraliser and see if you can resist twitching.

DIIV

Fresh off their Dark Mofo appearance the night before, DIIV brought their signature blend of shoegaze and shadow to Carriageworks – and it was more than just a set, it was a constructed experience. The show opened with a surreal video sequence, part infomercial, part fever dream, drawing the crowd into a night of immersive sound and screen. Projected visuals stitched together newsreels, home videos, and karaoke-style lyrics, forming a kind of dream-state commentary layered with political overtones.

The sound through the set moved with purpose – from droney dream pop melodies to heavy guitar and determined vocal riffs, each track delivered with a sense of slow-building urgency. There was a gritty New York undercurrent through the set adding a dark edge to the otherwise ethereal tones, creating a sound that felt both grounded and dangerous. In the cavernous Carriageworks hall, it swept through the crowd like a tide – equal parts hypnotic and confrontational.

If you get the chance to see them live, take it. Until then, dip into their latest album, Frog in Boiling Water, for a glimpse of the temperature rising.