April 8, 2025 by A.S. Van Dorston

Aussie garage punkers elevated the art of party-rockin’ in Austin Saturday night

As a big Aussie garage punk enthusiast, I was all over Amyl and the Sniffers since their first EP, Giddy Up (2016). Since then, I’ve enjoyed all the albums, even though they are admittedly hit and miss. But seeing them live highlighted their strengths that only partially comes through on recordings. Firstly, Amyl’s charisma and humor really makes the show. Her one liners weren’t always completely intelligible from the back, with her Aussie accent, but her delivery followed by her gleeful cackle just adds to the elevated mood, her voice reminding me of Poly Styrene of X-Ray Spex, and her stagecraft and style of Wendy O. Williams of the Plasmatics.

Secondly, the band’s thwacking ‘n’ bludgeoning live attack draws not only from early contemporaries Power and underground icons The Cosmic Psychos, but also going back half a century to Aussie pub rock pioneers Coloured Balls. This band had all the DNA of what would become important to the pub rock and garage punk scenes — bawdy, witty humor, knuckle-dragging working class belligerence, and no frills simplicity — including one scrappy little pub band called AC/DC, who took from da Balls their drummer Phil Rudd. Those blokes in turn are recognizably a big influence on guitarist Dec Martins, particularly Powerage (1978).

As much as Amyl (the stage name for Amy Taylor) and the band love gutter humor, drinking and baring flesh, they elevate it all with a very inclusive queer friendly vibe, as well as a focus on political issues and climate change, a deep well of targets for their rage. Several tunes also have a strong feminist message, as Amyl was outspoken about violence against women still being a huge problem in both Australia and North America. All of this is accomplished with a celebratory mood, which is no easy feat in these dark times. A rare show that had me leaving feeling energized and uplifted, even without booze. On a chilly (for Austin, 56 degrees and windy) night, the crowd filling the Stubb’s 2,500 capacity Waller Street Ampitheater seemed to share my feelings, but with a lot of the younger folks boldly braving the breeze in much skimpier gear.

Props to Sheer Mag, who jumped in last minute when another opener had to cancel. This band from Philly were up and coming starting with their first garage rock and power pop singles in 2014, but their three albums have not gotten quite the acclaim that was hoped for. But they delivered a great set that shows promise that they have more good music to come.

T-shirt worthy!