Live Review: The Bennies, Clowns, Axe Girl

The Brisbane Hotel backroom was quickly filling up with loyal Tasmanian fans keen to see The Bennies on the island state for the third time in five months. Energy was already high and the good vibes were contagious.

When WA pop-punk band Axe Girl took to the stage, the crowd was intimate and there was the right amount of room to really get down to the funky bass and have a little dance. After perfect mix of a funky beat and a little bit of scream, the crowd was amped and ready.

Melbourne hardcore punk band Clowns were up next, changing things up slightly. The braver ones in the crowd headed in to make a death circle and burn some energy before The Bennies took to the stage. It was a high energy and engaging set with the microphone being shared around so a few lucky fans could have their turn at screaming the lyrics and enjoying five seconds of fame. 

After much anticipation, The Bennies took to the stage with frontman Anty Horgan rocking his trademark tights, of course. Anyone at the front of the stage was being crushed before the set even began but bravely smiled through the pain. As they began to play, the crowd, understandably, only got more amped up and the brave ones at the front continued to rock on despite not being able to move. The stage was low and easily accessible for the crowdsurfers in the room, and the number was certainly not lacking. Only three songs into the set, the crowd got so wild that a large main speaker wobbled and very almost fell over before being caught by a near by security guard. "Give that guy some space hey because if it falls over it'll fucking kill everyone in the room," the audience had been warned.

With a good combination of old favourites and songs off their new record, The Bennies certainly did not fail to deliver. As Horgan very wisely said "we are all here to have a good time: look after one another because if one person is having a good time, we are all having a good time. If one person is having a shit time, we are all having a shit time." No one was having a shit time by the last song, fittingly, Knights Forever. The crowd sang and chanted and by the end of the set, 70% of the audience was on stage, which was both amazing and terrifying to watch all at once.

For only the second night of their Australian tour, it is fair to assume things are only going to heat up even more. Don't miss The Bennies when they roll into your town — if this show was anything to go by, you certainly won't regret it.