Atlas Genius and Robert DeLong co-headline historic Kessler Theater

Ashley O’Mara

On Saturday, October 6, Atlas Genius and Robert DeLong brought their co-headlining tour to a packed room at the historic Kessler Theater in Dallas, Texas. The co-headliners are touring in promotion of their new albums which were both released last month, and are joined on tour by supporting act Normal Behaviour.

Normal Behaviour, a rock/pop/indie band out of Australia, kicked off the night. Their sound is said to have been inspired by 70s rock and 90s grunge, and is for fans of bands like Nirvana, Silverchair, and Nothing But Theives. Although the band was relatively unknown to those in attendance, the crowd took to the band almost immediately, and by the end of their set, everyone was cheering. Each member of the band commanded the stage with confidence, and together they delivered an impressive performance. Lead singer KAM captivated the audience as he kicked, punched, and danced his way through multiple songs, holding everyone’s attention with his energetic and dynamic performance. KAM and guitarist Nic Hutton frequently engaged with the crowd, discussing the meaning of their songs, and teaching parts of “Banana Brain” to the crowd so that they could sing along and “one-up” the Houston crowd from the night before. The band wowed the crowd with a cover of Fleetwood Mac’s “The Chain” which had everyone stomping and clapping along before ending their set with a high energy performance of their song “Slow March”, leaving the audience buzzing with anticipation for the remaining performances of the evening.

Australian alt-rock brothers Atlas Genius took the stage next, joined by their “honorary cousin”, Nic Hutton, of Normal Behaviour on bass guitar. This tour marks the band’s first in 6 years and they didn’t miss a beat. They opened their set with “Stockholm”, a track off of their 2015 album Inanimate Objects, and launched into a set filled with fan favorites spanning their entire discography, including “If So”, “Symptoms”, and “Elegant Strangers.” The band also included tracks from their recently released album, End of the Tunnel, including “Falling So Hard,” “Don’t Let Love Be A Stranger,” and “When the Night is Over.” Robert DeLong and his traveling drummer made a special appearance during “Falling So Hard,” which added an extra layer of excitement to the performance. In true Texas fashion, both DeLong and AG singer/guitarist Keith Jeffery proudly rocked Buc-ee’s merch, much to the delight of the local fans. Jeffery joked of what a disappointment it was to not have Buc-ee’s in Australia and that perhaps he would open his own franchise down under. When introducing new song “Don’t Let Love Be A Stranger,” Jeffery explained that the track was written prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, and means more now and makes more sense in 2024 after having gone through those pandemic experiences. The band’s performance was tight, with each member perfectly in sync, delivering crisp transitions and flawless execution that kept the energy high and the audience fully engaged. Singer Keith Jeffery exudes joy, which radiates through his performance and makes it impossible not to feel happy while watching. Atlas Genius ended their set on a high note with fan favorites “Molecules” and “Trojans,” which had the entire crowd on their feet, dancing, and singing along to every word. At the end of the evening, the band generously spent time greeting every last fan, taking photos, signing merch, and making sure everyone left with a memorable, personal connection to the night’s experience.

Singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist, Robert DeLong, closed out the night with a spectacle of a performance. DeLong kicked off his set with a track off of his newly released album, PLAYLIST of DOOM. It was clear from the start that the audience was in for whirlwind of a set showcasing DeLong’s talent. DeLong’s setup included a station of MIDI controllers, a keyboard, drum pads, Wii remotes, throttles, and a Nintendo 64 controller, with a TV affixed to the front projecting live images of DeLong, music videos, song lyrics, and other imagery. DeLong played synth melody on a laser harp, and frequently ran between his setups to alternate between playing drums and guitar, as well as mixing sounds with his eclectic setup. When he wasn’t playing an instrument, DeLong was hopping around the stage or interacting with members of the crowd. The energy did not falter at any point throughout his set. In addition to tracks off of the new record, DeLong incorporated tracks from all of his albums, including “Jealousy,” “Religious Views,” and “Global Concepts.” DeLong worked his way through the crowd during what was meant to be the final song of the evening, “Favorite Color is Blue.” After playing this song, DeLong offered to take a request from the audience for one last song. DeLong was unable to play the song due to a computer glitch, noting that it must have been the “ghost of Henry who followed him from the last venue.” DeLong closed his set with a request from another member of the audience, “Thanks for Everything.”

While much of the audience came in support of one of the headliners, it was clear that everyone left a fan of both. Both Atlas Genius and Robert DeLong put on memorable performances that fans will be talking about for years to come. Don’t miss this tour as it heads west, closing out at the Echoplex in Los Angeles on October 21. Tickets can be purchased here. Both acts also offer VIP upgrades which include a meet and greet with the artists.

Atlas Genius and Robert DeLong co-headline historic Kessler Theater

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