Without a word, they picked up their instruments and launched into an unbelievable instrumental opener. Huddled together in a circle, four silhouettes played to each other while the crowd watched in anticipation, wondering which song would kick off the night.
Then, almost casually, frontman Willy Ferrier walked on stage.
Bang.
The band exploded straight into Chantilly.
The room erupted. Voices instantly joined in, shouting every lyric back at the stage. Willy's smooth vocals took over and suddenly everything clicked into place.
No Cigar had arrived.
From that moment on, the New Zealand outfit owned the room. The lads worked every inch of the stage, but never in a way that felt forced. They let the songs do the talking and, fortunately for them, they have plenty worth saying.
Highlights came thick and fast through Chantilly, Clean, 1999, Russian Roulette, Tickets to Space, Problem, Great Escape, These Are the Days and Father of Mine, to name just a few.
One of the band's greatest strengths is their understanding of pacing. They know exactly when to bring the energy down, allowing both the crowd and themselves a moment to breathe before launching back into another run of anthems.
Halfway through the set, Arthur and Willy stripped things right back with an intimate acoustic performance of a track you'd only know if you'd spent time with their vinyl releases. Moments later, the band hit reset with another instrumental interlude before delivering banger after banger through the second half of the show.
There were so many little moments throughout the night that stood out.
First, there was the smoke. While clearly far more than intended, it somehow became part of the atmosphere. Five silhouettes emerged through the haze, belting out songs to a crowd that couldn't get enough.
Arthur's vocal harmonies also deserve special mention. His ability to hold those perfect vocal pads, particularly during Great Escape, added another dimension to the band's sound.
During Clean, Ned Gow's drumming elevated the song to another level entirely. The guitar bridge midway through was one of those rare moments that genuinely tugs at your soul strings.
Then there was Problem.
The song carried such a strong Kings of Leon energy that it instantly transported us back to watching them in 2008. The shimmering guitar reverb somehow evoked the sound of wind chimes, a subtle touch that added another layer of beauty to an already brilliant track.
No Cigar also gave fans a glimpse into the future.
The band debuted two unreleased tracks and revealed that their next album is already finished and due for release in 2027.
The new material was fascinating. Where previous No Cigar songs often felt like a sweaty, pleading Kings of Leon exorcism, these new tracks introduced something different. The vocals sat more comfortably in a cool, conversational New Zealand rock swagger, while the drums again took a prominent role, much like they do on Clean.
And then there's Willy.
Simply put, Willy is the ultimate weapon.
A true frontman in every sense of the word.
At one point he accepted a cigarette from a fan. He danced, smoked, skulled a couple of beers and worked the crowd effortlessly. Yet for all the antics, the thing he was born to do is sing.
He makes it look outrageously easy.
In short, Willy Ferrier is everything a frontman should be.
What was equally impressive was the crowd.
We haven't seen a Canberra audience like that in a long time. The Baso was absolutely heaving and that's a credit to No Cigar, especially on a Thursday night. Every lyric was sung back. Every big moment landed. Every song felt like an event.
Which leaves us with one question:
How are No Cigar not already massive?
They have the songs. They have the chemistry. They have the stage presence. They have the fanbase.
In our opinion, the world is sleeping on them.
It's only a matter of time before they explode.
After having the chance to sit down with the boys, ask a few questions and spend some time chatting with Arthur & Josh
, it became even clearer why they're building such a loyal following.
They're humble, genuine and passionate about what they do.
No egos. No pretence.
Just great people making great music.
If you're new to No Cigar, start with their latest album, Under the Surface. It's one of our favourite albums of all time.
As for this gig?
It will go down as one of our all-time favourites. 🎸🍻
Gig Photos by Dale Wowk - Instagram dale_wowk
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