STONE TEMPLE PILOTS – Live at The Palais Theatre Melbourne 2025

Supported by Wolfmother

03/03/2025

Words – Shelby Lane
Photos – DjSedick

If you had told me a year ago that I, Shelby Lane, would be reviewing Stone Temple Pilots, I would have absolutely laughed in your face. I guess that means the joke is on me because I did that very thing on Sunday evening. After a quick Uber ride and a Mexican feast with the one and only @djsedick, we made our way into the Palais Theatre with full stomachs and rife with anxiety and Imposter Syndrome. Not sure if you can tell by now, but we are HUGE fans of Stone Temple Pilots. I cautiously took a big deep breath as I nestled into my seat, ready to take it all in.

Now, enough of my usual yapping! Let’s get into it!

For tonight’s entree, we have the neo-psychedelic, bluesy rock gods, WOLFMOTHER. One of the things I love most about WOLFMOTHER is the music, and skill speaks for itself. The moment Andrew Stockdale took the stage and yelled, ‘Let’s go, Melbourne, ’ you are immediately enamored with their musicianship and no-nonsense performance. Raw, enticing and delighting us at every song performed and trust me, the crowd wanted more. Featuring Stockdale’s piercing vocals, the bluesy and rollicking twang of the bass lines teamed with the punchy and, at times, ground-shaking drums makes you gleeful with excitement and almost questioning what other tasty offerings are to come. Since their inception in 2004, it is hard to imagine or comprehend the hard rock music scene without them.
They’ve successfully and unsurprisingly cemented themselves as a staple in the Australian music scene as one of the most hardworking and consistent acts. Dan was torn between being upset that they didn’t play the ‘Joker and the Thief’ while she was shooting and being glad that she just got to enjoy it because she has spent far too many hours playing Lego DC Super Villains and has developed an earworm. Not sure if this is handy information, but it felt somewhat important to let you know that. I highly suggest heading down to see Wolfmother if you can because you’re pretty much guaranteed to have an amazing time. Go on! You know you want to.

After a quick self-imposed intermission, it was time. Not just time for Stone Temple Pilots but for me to have an internal discussion with myself to actually sit back and enjoy one of my all-time favourite bands without wanting Jesus to take the wheel. Now, onto our main meal. It has been 30 years since STONE TEMPLE PILOTS released their groundbreaking album Purple back in 1994. The grunge scene was thriving, and STONE TEMPLE PILOTS almost certainly left their mark on the industry. In my life and career infancy, I never thought I would see them live. I was fortunate enough to see STONE TEMPLE PILOTS fronted with the much missed, Wunderkind vocalist, Chester Bennington (RIP), way back when Soundwave (RIP) was a thriving music festival. With the addition of ex-Dry Cell member, Jeff Gutt, as the lead vocalist, my thoughts and hopes were strongly assured the moment they opened with Meatplow. Nothing will ever stop me from singing along and tapping my toes, and I must admit I did get a light workout. Touring with this album proved to be nothing but incredible as every single track on PURPLE really proves that STONE TEMPLE PILOTS are an enduring force of a band with songs that are like your mother’s cooking. Warm, trustworthy and tasty, the song ‘Still Remains’ cheekily got me at a vulnerable moment as I nursed my confidence wine whilst Jeff dedicated ‘Still Remains’ to the much loved and adored Scott Weiland. I didn’t expect to have a cry, but I embraced it as I noticed a flood of people throwing their arms around their counterparts, swaying in union and singing each word with nothing but love and adoration. I would have partaken, but Dan was shooting, and I was awkwardly seated whilst crying. It was most certainly a sight to behold, haha.

As PURPLE progressed, my spirits and mood certainly became uplifted. You could call it a resurrection by sound if you will, because I went from crying to joyfully dancing around in the aisle. Unglued, Army Ants, Kitchen Ware & Candy Bars and Wicked Garden were expertly performed with Jeff Gutt swanning around the stage with such admirable confidence and infectious presence that I almost started to feel some serotonin flooding back which was lucky because the moment they started playing ‘Plush’ all of my woes and concerns had dissipated.
At this point, no one was seated, and I can assure you no one wanted to be! The energy was utterly electric, and the thing that always gets me is watching people just absorb their surroundings and just enjoy themselves without judgment or fear. It’s just pure, unadulterated joy. Rounding out their incredible set with Sex Type Thing was absolutely the cherry on top. It was like a cure for an ailment you didn’t know you had. I can say, in almost 32 years roaming the Earth, I absolutely implore you to see Stone Temple Pilots. I could list one million reasons, and believe me, don’t even ask. You think you know what you’re in fo,r but you’ll leave with a rejuvenated appreciation and love for Stone Temple Pilots. You should already love and appreciate them, but I don’t think you can match mine and Dan’s affections. It’s not a competition but I think we can guess the winners. Despite my fatigued state and hazy brain, I wish to relive last night over and over again. I am a lucky, grateful and everything-in-between lady.