Good Charlotte ‘Motel Ducap Australian Tour’

Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney 25/02/2026.

Up for a good ol’ high school reunion? Well tonight U.S pop/punk favourites Good Charlotte, are hosting one at ‘Motel Ducap’. Also attending this pop/punk nostalgic reunion are fellow U.S pop/punk classics Yellowcard, as well as Aussie punk-rock hard-hitters Kisschasy, and opening the night is up and coming pop/punk young-gun Parker. Good Charlotte bring to the party their recently released new album ‘Motel Ducap’, along with their thirty year-long catalogue of hits, while Yellowcard are accompanied by nearly as long and vast a catalogue including last years album ‘Better Days’, AND bringing the twentieth anniversary of their smash-hit album ‘Ocean Avenue’, making up for needing to cancel last years visit for said anniversary. And Kisschasy? They’re celebrating their newly re-released album ‘The Terrors Of Comfort’, the bands’ first album in 16 years! And Parker? He’s just along for the ride, a bit like that guy at the high school reunion that nobody seems to remember but who knows everyone there and seems fun anyway.

So let’s find out if they’re still GOOD Charlotte after thirty years, or has their punk-punch faded? (just like Faith No More acting all punk and hardcore when they honestly looked like my elderly grandfather… it was kind of hilarious to be honest!)

First of all, here at Motel Ducap, I mean Qudos Bank Arena, doors opened nice and early, ready for Parker starting the night off at 6:20, with Good Charlotte not scheduled to start until 9:15 if they’re not running late (spoiler alert, they and Yellowcard are late), and keeping in mind, there’re VIP early entry patrons, so that’s a long time standing and waiting. I’m wondering if the band’s performances tonight will be able to suitably hold the diverse mix of fans age-groups attention for that long?

Parker up first brings a nice fresh mix to a classic musical recipe with his slice of pop/punk tunes, delivered with a positive energy and confident well-rehearsed sound. This sets the benchmark ready for Kisschasy nicely I feel, and the crowd around me seem to agree.

Now Kisschasy roll up to be the centre of attention, like that guy from your year at school who was always a bit of a rough-nut, but as long as you didn’t leave your backpack unattended while you went to the bathroom for him to hide it from you as a prank, he was alright. The drum start the first song and blast through the arena hitting hard, especially more loudly and aggressively than Parker. Despite this, the mix of sound is well mixed and not at all harsh, highlighting lead singer Darren’s attitude-laced vocals atop biting guitar riffs and roaring baselines along with the pounding drums. Even though it takes Darren longer to chat to the audience and rev us up then I expected, once he does, he doesn’t miss a beat. After twenty one years since their first album, and after breaking up eleven years ago, it’s nice hearing all the Kisschasy classics like ‘Dinosaur’, ‘Perfect Way To Meet’, ‘Spray On Pants’ and ‘Opinions Won’t Keep You Warm At Night’, plus a couple of tracks from the bands new album.

Next up is Yellowcard, who also had broken up previously (2017) but couldn’t stay away from music and their fans. Just like Kisschasy, the sound mix is loud and punchy, yet nicely even and comfortable, with the addition of seductive violin in the mix. Between classics like ‘Breathing’, ‘Ocean Avenue’ and ‘Only One’ along with a guest appearance in one song, by Good Charlotte’s Joel Madden, and tracks off the bands latest album, lead singer Ryan chats to us all, telling us stories of their extensive career, finally getting to tour this country they love so much with Good Charlotte, and how last years’ planned visit to Australia for the ‘Ocean Avenue’ anniversary tour had to be cancelled at the last minute, because Ryan was so sick, he’d never been so sick on tour in his life, but he’s so happy they get to be here now, and will be returning next year for a proper national headline tour for ‘Better Days’. This is like one of your old school mates missing out on your wedding, so there’s no way they’re missing this reunion! Ryan’s vocals ranging in dynamics and emotional depth in songs ranging from aggressive, to heartfelt, to lovesick, to heart-broken whilst all being accurately delivered like we all know and love goes down a treat!

Now that group of mates that were annoying at times, clowned about in classes at times (me) but at the end of the day were those mates you could always count on to have your back no matter what. Good Charlotte’s set is nothing short of nostalgic, transporting me back to my childhood and adolescence. Some bands play most of the good ol’ songs, but leave out one or two gems. Not Good Charlotte tonight! Nice and early in the set is one of my all-time favourites ‘Dance Floor Anthem (I Don’t Wanna Be In Love)’ then the rest of the set is filled with all those memorable bangers, ‘Predictable’, ‘Last Night’, ‘Like It’s Her Birthday’, ‘Keep Your Hands Off My Girl’, ‘I Just Wanna Live’, ‘Girls And Boys’, ‘Little Things’ ‘Lifestyles Of The Rich And Famous’ and ‘Anthem’ plus tracks from their latest album.

The sound mix for GC is like Yellowcard and Kisschasy’s, pleasantly loud but not harsh and even, elevating Joel and Benji’s punchy vocals (that still have the same punk-bite as ever before I must mention, hats off to the brothers for keeping their voices strong). The only thing I’d adjust if I’m splitting hairs, is at times the guitar is drowned out by the bass, when the guitar riffs should be more highlighted.

Joel and Benji stay constantly engaged with their fans both between songs, like before playing ‘Like It’s Her Birthday’ singling out people with signs saying it’s their birthday or calling out as much, to sing happy birthday to them and dedicate the song to them. Plus during songs, raving us up in instrumental sections for clap alongs and getting ready for vocal-hook melody sing alongside etc. All this is while pyrotechnics shoot-up flames throughout the set and lights flash and flicker complementarily to the sounds essence.

Even at the end of the set when the energy should be running low for everyone, when the band hype us all up to jump in sync when the final chorus drops of ‘Lifestyles Of The Rich And Famous’ they still get this blind punter jumping like he’s a teen. When the show finishes with the grand finale of ‘Anthem’ and the band leave the stage, which had the drums on one side elevated a few metres up, and same for the keyboard on the opposite side of the stage for the set, I’m left buzzing with a massive smile on my face.

It’s like at the end of a high school reunion when you all say goodbye and say/promise that you’ll be in touch and catch up again soon. But unlike is the case with a lot of those school friends…

Good Charlotte better bloody keep to that promise soon!