If you go back far enough through photos of Fat Louie’s, you’ll find pics of both The Bennies, and Clowns playing there years back. So to see those two crews team up with Axe Girl, and local legends Walken, to make a party thrashing hydra that sells out The Triffid is truly a sight to bring a wry smile to even the most purist of punks. The overall bill had wide music cross section stylistically but all shared a single track vision: turning this corner of Newstead into a hurricane of fun. That vision was well and truly seen through with spirits as higher than a fair majority of the punters.

Brisbane two-come-three piece Walken, adorned in very party prepared attire, didn’t diminish themselves on what I think is the largest stage and show they’ve played to date. Kicking off the set with their most recent single Eagle Eye, the River City residents dominated the opening slot. Powering through their set, the proverbial foot only eased off the accelerator to get, as vocalist Matt Corchan put it, “Rappy,” with some slower, Rage Against the Machine vibe channelling songs. An older single, Even If It Kills Me, drew a cheer from the crowd before finishing on a high note with Float closing out an all-killer-no-filler performance. These dudes seemed more than stoked to be playing such a show, constantly thanking everyone involved in the evening, all with ear-to-ear grins plastered on their faces. Walken are destined for big things and tonight is indicative of that.

Going into tonight without actually listening to Axe Girl wasn’t a bad decision at all. Seeing a band without any prior knowledge of their music means when they blow you away, like Axe Girl did, the surprise and ecstasy that you get is so much better. A collection of highly energetic and downright fun songs was brought alive when the Western Australian natives took to the stage. Brining a strong repertoire of groove inducing pop-punk jams, Axe Girl got the Triffid’s crowd dancing with vigour for the first time this evening, an interesting juxtaposition was to follow. Capping off their set with an apparent crowd favourite and hook filled gem 1981, there was non-stop energy from the band. For their first time in the Sunshine State, Axe Girl certainly made a positive impression.

I was more keen to see Clowns than I was to see tonight’s headliners, admittedly. I’m Not Right is one of the best Australian punk albums in recent memory, and every time the raucous quartet brings the noise to Brisbane, they lay waste to the stage and whip the crowd into a frenzy. Tonight was honestly no different. Filling a fair majority of their set with songs off last year’s release, Clowns hardly gave us a chance to breathe, crashing continuously through a blistering set. Songs like Play Dead, Figure It Out, and Euthanise Me, erupted in anarchy, alongside a sad display of idiocy. The only downside to bands like Clowns garnering a larger fan base is the influx of “pit idiots”. The over-booze lubricated Neanderthals who treat gigs such like this as a primal display of macho aggression dick swinging, with little or no regard for other fans. There’s nothing wrong with whilin’ out to your favourite songs but when you’re purposefully violent to people who’re trying to watch the band and get caught in your gravitation pull of needless limb swinging, it’s simply sad. On a more positive note, we were treated to a new song that we were asked to pretend to have heard before and lose our shit to either way. For a band that openly incites chaos at every venue they play, all four members are succinct in their playing, bringing such monstrous songs off the record and alive in this setting is no small task, and they do it with ease. With a call to arms to head to Crowbar afterwards and drink beer with them, Dead in the Suburbs brought a close to yet another thrashing Clowns’ set.

I’d love to meet someone who has listened to The Bennies and doesn’t think they’re fun. There is no denying that the party machine gents are thrilled to do what they do, and with tonight’s show being their largest sold out show outside of Melbourne, to borrow the old cliché, tonight’s party was turned up to 11. The Bennies are a definite Brisbane favourite. Walking onstage to DJ Otzi’s Hey Baby, Anty, King Jules, Bowie, and Craig simply couldn’t wipe the smile of their faces. On the high off their album, Wisdom Machine, possibly amongst other things, purveyors of high fives and good vibes played a set that would tire out the Energizer bunny and most certainly could have convinced any non-believers. Despite not being the most broadly thematic band, The Bennies have honed their craft down to a science, infecting every single body into a dancing marionette they controlled with a supreme hand. Offering a fair spread of their discography between three albums and seven inches, My Bike, new single Burnout City, High Rider, and Acid On My Brain, were all pumped out with the utmost of vigour and all brimming with undeniable positivity. Accompanied by a two piece brass section, which added greatly to the live show, The Bennies did what they do best: bang out anthemic, high octane punk rock songs and have an absolute blast whilst doing so. It was an ironic moment when they capped off a stellar set with Knights Forever because I’m damn near certain that we could have watched the last hour’s masterclass on repeat forever. You can’t help but swell up with pride seeing them grow from tearing up Fat Louie’s to stamping their authority on a place like The Triffid. I do wish these nights could last forever.

- Matt Lynch