Live Review: WAAX, Moaning Lisa, The Cutaways

It's Australia's world cup moment of truth tonight, but that doesn't matter to the sold-out crowd cramming into The Zoo for a celebration of one of Brisbane's best - WAAX.

The Cutaways run on stage and launch into an attention-grabbing opener, blazing through fast-paced emotional tunes, taking us all back to 2006 when everything was easy and Kisschasy were a thing. Melodies aplenty and huge riffs mark a great set from one of Brisbane's most exciting up-and-coming punk acts.

We're getting a light sweat going after The Cutaways, but this is a punk gig and we mean business. Canberra's fave punks Moaning Lisa continue proceedings with some of the largest guitar tones we've ever heard - seriously immense. Their set ranges from the emotional punk we just heard from The Cutaways to hooky indie-rock that you would expect to hear at 2pm on triple j. The four-piece are clearly beaming to be joining WAAX on the tour. "Last time we were in Brisbane we played to four people, and the sound guy cut us off after two songs. This is way better." Ending with latest single Carrie (I Want A Girl), it's obvious Brisbane now has a Moaning Lisa fan club.

With the lights going out and The Ketchup Song ringing through the PA, WAAX are upon us. The monstrous opening chords of Wild & Weak ring out in The Zoo, matched in volume by a ravenous crowd borderline foaming at the mouth. As frontwoman Marie DeVita orchestrates a sea of crowd surfers, The Zoo is immediately turned into an aquarium of sweat. Taking a moment to gather the mind-blowing and potentially OH&S breaching amount of people, DeVita shrieks the opening refrain of I For An Eye. Punters erupt with each chorus before The Zoo seemingly becomes a battlefield for the final breakdown.

And this is only the second song.

Taking a lengthy moment to soak in the sold-out crowd, WAAX are lost for words but the show must go on. Dedicating slower jam Fade to the memory of Eurydice Dixon, the crowd have a chance to sweep the hair away from their sopping wet faces, before the explosion that is This Everything gets us back to red alert in the pit. A slew of new tracks are sprinkled throughout the set, all sounding as girthy as any other hit from the WAAX camp. The new album is sounding very juicy, and only having one night to take in the new additions isn't anywhere near long enough. We are also treated to a cover of Julia Jacklin's beautiful slow jam Pool Party. But this is WAAX, delicate and slow are not their forte, delivering a beautifully raw version of the track that adds hefty guitar chops alongside DeVita's roars. Lucky for us, it's going to be available on a 7" in the very near future.

With another seemingly new track closing the set, DeVita exercises one more chance to snatch the crowd in the palm of her hand and shape it into a hive of madness. But as the band leaves the stage, it's obvious there's more to come, with not a single punter moving a muscle (other than their mouths, chanting "one more song!"). Unfortunately, as the band returns to the stage they bring with them a warning that someone in the crowd is exercising poor behaviour, an unfortunate staple of so many shows in Brisbane.

You would think the crowd wouldn't be able to mosh anymore having been dimed on 110% for the past 45 minutes, but before long the driving riff of Same Same shows there's plenty left in the tank. A relentless barrage of riffs and huge hooks fill our ears as we're pummelled by the wave of people reaching their second wind. Finishing the night with scorcher of a single, Labrador, it's obvious WAAX have conquered yet another Brissie venue. The power of their music is unrivalled, and the control and bravado of frontwoman Marie DeVita is a showcase of what a lead singer should be.