Sixty-five million years after they roamed the earth, the Last Dinosaurs have burst back onto the scene, guitars blazing. Last September, the Australian indie rock band kicked off their special-edition double-feature U.S. tour, Tourzilla, with fellow Aussie band Vacations. Chicago’s very own House of Blues was the fifth stop on their trek, occurring earlier this month.

Dual-career woman Eliza McLamb, both a singer-songwriter and Binchtopia podcast host, opened the show. Segueing from the heart-wrenching “Doing Fine” to the heart-wrenching “Mythologize Me,” McLamb set the stage with a nostalgic and wishful sound. The pensiveness following her departure was almost immediately crushed by the onset of a neon DVD logo, bouncing within the confines of the stage’s LED backdrop.

When the logo finally landed snuggly into the top left corner, the Vacations emerged to wild cheering. Their “woozy guitar pop” style, as they described themselves on their site, hit home with their song “Midwest,” released this past June. The dreamy melodies aptly brought to mind memories of sweet and warm summers. Yet lead singer Campbell Burns’s more airy timbre, as well as the signature longing embedded into the band’s lyrics, provided a cool depth in their contrast. For the listener looking for a nostalgic, reflective sound, Vacations strikes the mark right on.

With a collective pause for breath during the interlude, Last Dinosaurs finally appeared. Clad in their signature suits, the members took up their instruments in a shower of indigo and white LED stars. Breaking into “Afterlife,” their first single of 2023 to feature the return of lead singer Sean Caskey as the band’s main songwriter, Last Dinosaurs showed off their classic, upbeat groove and guitar savviness. They followed closely with “Sense” off Yumeno Garden. Elevating their already energetic and joyful sound, the band members created an intimate and easygoing atmosphere with their casual interactions with the audience. The Caskey brothers took turns approaching the very edge of the stage during their respective guitar solos, coming close enough to bridge the gap between artist and listener. At the precipice of these interactions was a sense of wonder at the band’s rawness, both in their music and demeanor.

“Hanson Ghost,” the title track of From Mexico With Love, highlighted Lachlan Caskey’s ability as a singer-songwriter. The first lines, “Point in time/ It feels crazy to describe/ When all the stars align/ But the world just feels beautiful,” reflect Lachlan’s post-pandemic introspection and hopefulness. His airier voice, underscored with whole-hearted earnestness, coupled with their lighter guitar playing offered a fresh, funky sound to Last Dinosaurs’s repertoire.

But perhaps most striking of the night was their performance of “Apollo” from Wellness. Their clever guitar riffs, energetic drumbeats, and melodic vocals seemed to lift the venue into the clouds. With lyricism that evoked feelings of both self-escapism and discovery, “Apollo” encouraged the listener to be unapologetically free. It was impossible not to dance and sing along in the wash of colors shining from the stage. Following a passionate performance of “Zoom” from In A Million Years, the members said their goodnights to raucous cheering and whistling. Steadily growing calls for an encore from the audience brought Last Dinosaurs back mere moments later, with Lachlan smiling and declaring “Anything for you, Chicago.”

Closing out with “Andy,” also from In A Million Years, bassist Michael Sloane and touring drummer Jasper Gunderson’s prowess on their respective instruments shone. The song’s incredible bassline and dynamic percussion highlighted Sean’s vocals beautifully. Magnified by the night’s sense of togetherness between artist and listener, the song’s simple yet compelling message of living in the now perfectly encapsulated their show. From Wellness to From Mexico With Love, their uniquely defined yet continuously evolving indie rock sound makes Last Dinosaurs, now more than ever, the ones to watch.

Listen to Last Dinosaurs’s latest single, “Walking on Ice,” here. Tourzilla continues through November with tickets available here.