Amyl and the Sniffers by Jamie Wdziekonski
Pop ’em if you got ‘em — though PureHoney magazine prioritizes the safety and well-being of all and encourages a drug-free and responsible environment, it’s hard to not take the bait for an opener like that when Amyl and the Sniffers storm into town on a haze of vasodilating psychoactive alkyl nitrites.
Fronted by the ferocious Amy Taylor, whose electrifying stage presence can turn any venue into a raucous, sweat-soaked battleground, the band is an amalgam of ’70s pub rock overtones, power pop, contemporary rap and hardcore punk. That it is delivered in a deceivingly simple and straightforward punk rock ’n’ roll manner is the secret sauce of their music’s endless enjoyability.
Borne in 2016 out of the informed Aussie punk scene in Melbourne that has given the world the likes of The Birthday Party and the post-punk little band scene, Amyl and the Sniffers were destined for their nomenclature apropos of their maniacal singer. Rounded out by guitarist Declan Martens and the rhythm section of drummer Bryce Wilson and bassist Gus Romer, the band’s sonically evolved leap and bounds in their relatively short history.
Their self-titled LP dropped in 2019 to critical acclaim and solidified them as one of the continent nation’s must-see acts before the Covid-19 pandemic crashed everyone’s party. But like everyone else worth their weight in Victoria Bitter lager, Amy and Co. buckled down for their sophomore effort, 2021’s “Comfort to Me.” At 13 tracks and a little past the 34-minute mark, the album bottles up the energy of their previous work and live performances that is true blue, hard yakka rock and roll of the tight and unforgiving nature.
They’ll be joined by Austin’s all-woman quartet, Die Spitz, toting their recent album, “Teeth.” Their racket has been compared to obvs spiritual foremothers L7 and Bikini Kill, but the energy is more Lunachicks and the Red Aunts with a heavy dose of those fucked-up nurses and fellow Texans Stinkerbell. Expect great things.
Amyl and the Sniffers with Die Spitz perform 7pm Wednesday, Nov. 1 at Revolution Live in Ft. Lauderdale. amylandthesniffers.com ~ Abel Folgar
