It was “Pan-Pacific Power Punk” at Toronto’s Danforth Music Hall recently as highly acclaimed Australians Amyl & The Sniffers made their first ever appearance there.
When I first caught wind (late in 2021) of this band’s planned North American Tour – which included for the first time two Canadian stops — I circled those dates quickly to my calendar.
For whatever reason and from my earliest days enjoying punk music, Aussie bands have had a special place for my particular palate. I got into bands like The Saints, Radio Birdman and Cosmic Psychos early and often and still carry forward that preference.
For whatever reason Australia has managed a better job than most countries with its upkeep for punk ladened music. “Down Under” pub style punk popularity is not only more mainstream accepted it is also more prevalent and influential.
Amyl and The Sniffers are a Melbourne-based powerhouse which since 2018 have seriously accelerated their careers. Fronted by super energetic female lead singer Amy Taylor, the band showcases the guitar excellence of Dec Martens rounded out by the sub-sonics of drummer Bryce Wilson and bassist Fergus Romer.
Together they have and are producing a sound that is Australia-familiar and effectively original in it’s own right – incorporating a guitar-searing AC/DC sound but at much quicker (early Saints like) pace and feel.
While the band’s current discography is somewhat limited due to their relative newcomer status (at least internationally) they have two studio albums to their credit. Their self titled Amyl & The Sniffers (2019) and the more recent release Comfort to Me (2021) – are available through Rough Trade and ATO records.
I’m a very big proponent of and highly recommend the Amyl & The Sniffers first release which instantly became and remains as one of my “go to” favourites within my vast collection.
The Amyl & The Sniffers set at the Danforth was everything I expected. While Amy Taylor warmed up with a calisthenics like exercise during the lengthy opening guitar riffs for the song “Starfire 500” — the appreciative crowd amped themselves up right along.
Then their relentless and gratifying show did include their signature releases — “Gacked On Anger”, “Control”, “Shake Ya”, “Some Mutts” and their newest hit “Guided by Angels”.
And everyone attending Amyl & The Sniffers’ first ever Toronto appearance most certainly did their part to — Get Rowdy!
To visit Amyl & The Sniffers official click: HERE
Event review & photo gallery by Bruce Biegler
