LIVE REVIEW | ROYEL OTIS | LONDON TROXY 27/11/2024 by Charlie Wright

2024 has been sensational. And if there’s one band which may become synonymous with this year, it could only be the Australian duo Royel Otis. They’ve had quite the ride, and that’s putting it lightly.

In less than 12 months, the indie band (made up of Royel Maddell and Otis Pavlovic) have released their debut album PRATTS & PAIN, stormed the charts with award-winning covers of ‘Murder On The Dancefloor‘ and ‘Linger‘ and embarked on an enormous tour covering USA, UK, EU and AUS.

On a Wednesday evening, people flocked to London to catch a glimpse of this dynamic duo. And (possibly) their humongous prawn, who’s named Chippy – if you were wondering.

The band were at Troxy, an important art-deco venue in East London with a capacity exceeding 3,000 people. As the night unfolded, it was the perfect space to bring their catalogue alive; small enough to be intimate but big enough to allow their songs the freedom to breathe.

They made the most of the occasion, too, jam-packing their setlist full of goodness. In fact, as every track passed, it became easier to recognise the connection they have with their audience. There’s a sense of gratitude in the air, resonating from the stage but in the stalls as well. To see a band form such a connection from the other side of the world is astounding. They really do care.

From the ear-worm melodies of Heading For The Door, Fried Rice and Claw Foot to bangers Sofa King, Going Kokomo and Oysters In My Pocket, the Aussies brought their A-game to Troxy. One moment, folks were reaching for their lighters. The next? A mosh pit opened up.

Royel Otis (Charlie Wright / Northern Exposure)
Royel Otis (Charlie Wright / Northern Exposure)
Royel Otis (Charlie Wright / Northern Exposure)
Royel Otis (Charlie Wright / Northern Exposure)
Royel Otis (Charlie Wright / Northern Exposure)

“F**k yeah, London!” the band exclaimed, clearly revelling in the moment. Continuing: “This place is f**king crazy. Look how big it is. Last time we came here, we played to probably 400.”

The success of Royel Otis comes largely from their niche sound. Their music can’t be associated with any other moment than right now – taking influence from 80’s disco to 00’s rock.

Near the end of the evening, a cover you may (definitely) have heard slid into the setlist. Murder On The Dancefloor. There’s no way you could’ve escaped this track, after being resurrected for Salt Burn. It’s more successful now than when it was released over 20 years ago. Royel Otis’ version has become certified gold and sent the crowd into a frenzy when the opening riff kicked off.

A similar reception was felt when they eased into their cover of Linger, this time bouncing, turned to waving arms. You could argue this was the biggest moment of the entire evening – but it’s a toss-up between Oysters In My Pocket and Kool Aid for the top spot. On both occasions, from front-to-back, stalls to balcony, every person was involved.

Royel Otis (Charlie Wright / Northern Exposure)
Royel Otis (Charlie Wright / Northern Exposure)
Royel Otis (Charlie Wright / Northern Exposure)
Royel Otis (Charlie Wright / Northern Exposure)
Royel Otis (Charlie Wright / Northern Exposure)

If this was one year for Royel Otis, the future seems bright. These shows can only get bigger. They have an electric stage presence. An adoring audience. And Chippy – an insanely giant prawn. What more could you want? Imagine the size of Chibby when they hit arenas.