There's 'Only One' Royel Otis: Indie darlings more than just cover band

After releasing two TikTok viral covers, the Australian indie pop duo Royel Otis has experienced a meteoric rise. They formed five years ago, but 2024 is their year.

Along with the release of their debut album, "PRATTS & PAIN," the band has put out covers of Sophie Ellis-Bextor's "Murder on the Dancefloor" and The Cranberries' "Linger." The album has received plenty of attention from the indie community, elevating Royel Otis to the fame they've been searching for.

Thanks to their successful releases, Royel Otis embarked on their most extensive U.S. tour this fall, and local fans were lucky enough to see them rock Brooklyn Steel last month.

Promptly at 9:15 p.m., Royel Maddell, lead guitarist, and Otis Pavlovic, lead singer, stumbled onto the stage, beers in hand, with a giant 10-foot-long prawn behind them.

Behind a floppy mop of red hair, Maddell riffed on his Kurt Cobain-style jaguar guitar while Pavlovic pranced around his mic before dropping into "Heading For The Door." A freshly buzzed Pavlovic spent most of the show moving in a circle around his mic stand, occasionally strapping on his guitar to play with Maddell.

The debut album dominated the setlist, with a few early cuts that were certain to get the crowd moving. Fans watching from the spacious balcony could see the day-one fans at the barricade, the boyfriends who were forced to go with their girlfriends and the hipster bunch that is a given at any Brooklyn Steel show, regardless of the act.

The crowd tried their best to match Pavlovic's energy as he raced through the set. They weren't rushing to get off the stage — a core element of a Royel Otis song are the short, fast-paced songs.

A highlight of the set was halfway through when Pavlovic slowed things down, took on the spotlight and sang a recent release, "Til The Morning."

Although it was released as a bonus track on the deluxe edition, just a few weeks before the show, everyone chanted along to the nostalgic lyrics. Some swayed back and forth with their buddies side by side, and others lit up their phones to capture the moment.

With time running out on their set, the boys sprang into their version of "Murder On The Dance Floor," which had the crowd jumping like nothing else. It was obvious some people were there just for that song.

Sounding as clean and "Y2K" as their recording with triple j, the energy was unmatched and a clear highlight of the night. While "Saltburn" may have resurrected the life of "Murder On The Dance Floor," Royel Otis's take on it brought many new fans to themselves and Sophie Ellis-Bextor.

The covers didn't end in the main set. After finishing the first batch of tracks, Maddell and Pavlovic encored with a raw and unique cover of "Linger." Once again, the crowd's temper died down as people joined along in a wholesome sing-along. While the two covers were the most engaging parts of the set, overall, Royel Otis never lost the attention of the audience.

As Royel Otis continues its sold-out tour across Europe and the United Kingdom, they'll continue to do their thing: cover 90s hits, most recently a cover of Mazzy Star's ethereal "Fade Into You," go on tour until Pavlovic loses his voice and play semi-sloshy shows where Maddell pours beer into fans' cups during the set. He did this multiple times at the Brooklyn show.

Regardless of what is next for the band, more eyes will be on them than ever before, and their energetic stage presence will take them far in the indie scene.