2024 has been nothing short of spectacular for Australian duo Royel Otis. Their meteoric rise is a story of indie brilliance, and even that feels like an understatement. In under a year, Royel Maddell and Otis Pavlovic have achieved what most bands could only dream of. They dropped their debut album, PRATTS & PAIN which dominated the charts with award-winning covers of Murder On The Dancefloor and Linger, and embarked on an epic tour spanning the USA, UK, EU, and Australia. Finishing this long run of shows in Dublin was the perfect ending with The Academy, renowned for its intimacy and stellar acoustics, being the ideal setting for Royel Otis to bring their infectious catalogue to life.
With a jam-packed setlist of 20 songs, they wasted no time in setting the tone with their opener, Heading For The Door, leavingthe audience wanting to do anything but. The track’s contagious rhythm had the crowd moving from the get-go, a perfect scene-setter for what would unfold over the next hour and a half. Delving through tracks from their Sofa Kings EP to their PRATTS & PAIN debut album, the evolution of the Aussie duo was on show for all to see.
In a live setting, Pavlovic’s vocals take on a transformative quality, morphing with each song to act as a dynamic instrument in its own right. Across tracks from PRATTS & PAIN, the tone, texture, and emotional weight of his voice shifted to complement Maddell’s intricate instrumentation, creating a rich and layered sonic experience. This interplay added depth and character to the performance, elevating songs like Big Ciggie and Velvet to new heights on stage. One of the most exciting aspects of Royel Otis is the strength of their bonus tracks, like Claw Foot, If Our Love Is Dead, and Til’ The Morning. These tracks, while not part of the original PRATTS & PAIN, are clearly more than worthy of making the setlist, proving the band’s ability to consistently deliver standout songs that resonate just as powerfully as their album material.
On top of their impressive debut album, Royel Otis have gained popularity from their viral cover of Murder On The Dancefloor by Sophie Ellis-Bextor, a song that gained a new lease of life from Saltburn earlier in the year but taken to another level by the Aussie duo’s Triple J cover that has now become a permanent feature in their tour and festival setlists. Now a certified gold hit, it ignited the crowd the moment the opening drums rang out. It was a moment of pure, unfiltered energy that turned the night into something unforgettable, proving why they’re masters of reinvention.
As if one viral cover wasn’t enough, the Aussie duo garnered even more recognition for their cover of Linger. With Ireland being the birth place of The Cranberries, the band were rightfully nervous to play the track with guitarist Royel Maddell exclaiming “we’re f**king nervous to play this next one” but with the help of the 850 strong Irish crowd, it was a special moment. The duo gave Linger new life—Dolores O’Riordan would be proud.
Not to be outdone, their biggest hit Oysters In My Pocket proved why they are one of the most exciting live bands on the scene. The punchy rhythm and quirky lyrics resonated throughout the room, a clear fan favourite that had everyone from the balcony to the barrier jumping and screaming their heart out.
If there was one thing to take from a random Wednesday night in Dublin, it’s that Royel Otis have cracked the code for live performances—charismatic, energetic, and full of surprises. The duo are just getting started.
Words by Cian McGivern