Words by Patrick Stavelely.

Photography by Ryan Cara.

The meteoric rise of Teenage Dads was there for all to see over the weekend as they played out two fully packed shows in back-to-back nights in Sydney.

In 2022, they were supporting Spacey Jane at Luna Park’s Big Top. Now, they’re selling out popular music venues, the Metro Theatre and Oxford Art Factory. 

Still very young, the Dads might not be the most eloquent speakers or engagers with the crowd. But, that’s why they’re loved so much.

Their inexperience and their humility characterises who they are, while they prefer to let their music and energy do the real talking. 

Showing they’re still very much kids at heart, the Halo theme song preludes the stage entrance for the boys.

They open the set ripping out some of their older stuff such as the fun Come on Cowboy, fire your gun! and the popular Cheerleader and Thank You for the Honey, Honey.

The tour follows the highly-anticipated release of their Midnight Driving EP in early March. The whole of the record was played in the show with the heavily emotional Goodbye, Goodbye Again making the first appearance.

2022 single Exit Sign, was next before 3am, which was gorgeously penned by singer, Jordy, about his girlfriend.

The titular track, as cool as ever, gets played after their sensational cover of Video Killed the Radio Star, sends the crowd into a frenzy.

Hey Diego gets everyone jumping and the band couldn’t be more into it, ending the song with a rapid and rocking jamming session. 

As the main set ends, the crowd wants one thing and one thing only. The chant begins “TEDDDYYYY….TEDDDYYYY.”

“Bunch of cry babies,” Jordy says as he walks back on stage. The crowd must wait as older classic Sunburnt, gets played first.

But it’s Teddy, the true love of the fans, the inevitable, the excitable, electric, rampant track that sets the crowd alight to end the night. 

It’s going to be another big year for the band, as they join Lime Cordiale on tour dates in the UK and US, with the band’s infectious energy set to reach new heights, and new legions of fans.