Paramount Theatre Seattle, WA
Contact: michele@nastylittleman.com
Players: Amy Taylor, vocals; Bryce Wilson, drums; Declan Mehrtens, guitar; Gus Romer, bass
Amyl and the Sniffers kicked off their biting, bona fide Aussie-punk set with lead singer ‘Amyl’ bounding onto the stage. After a few fist pumps and pogo-style jumps, she emphasized respect for one another during the show before screaming, “Now, let’s get rowdy!” Her strong ‘Strayan’ voice and visceral energy prompted the packed pit at the Paramount Theatre to thrash at will as the Sniffers careened into the fast-paced, three-chord slammer “Control,” from their self-titled first release (2019). The song’s ‘Be Resilient, Be a Boss, and Believe in Yourself’ themes continued in the rocking banger “Do It Do It,” from their recent release Cartoon Darkness (2024).
The band’s skull-crushing performance was chock-full of punk rock anthems loaded with savage power chords, thunderous basslines, and brash wit. “Security” and “Freaks to the Front,” both from Comfort to Me (2021), were hard-hitting and had the crowd moshing as Amyl moved across the stage—her presence, a force to be reckoned with. The Sniffers’ raw edge and dynamic performance further lured enamored fans into their ferocious lair. The realness made for a refreshing antithesis to the polished, pretty-from-afar acts that tend to dominate today’s touring scenes.
While the fourpiece highlighted their love of all things rock on their sleeves, beneath the band’s tongue-in-cheek sneers, Amyl and the Sniffers are observing, seething, and writing about darker societal themes. “Big Dreams,” the band’s first single from Cartoon Darkness, moves away from their signature brash punk, slithering into a grim requiem that touches on the concept of the strength of the human spirit in the throes of trying to move beyond the daily grind and challenging times.
The band’s talent for tackling unsettling topics also cuts in “Knifey” (Comfort to Me). Amyl’s voice carved a hole through its driving rhythm, piercing the veil of the foreboding unknowns—in doing so, capturing a fear felt by many while walking alone, particularly at night, and confronting a rising ‘what if’ panic by pulling out a comforting ‘knifey.’
Amyl and the Sniffers round-kicked it back to their touchstone high-voltage energy by closing the superb set with “GFY.” The song’s self reliance punk ethos served as a perfect ending to the night. Concert goers left the historic hall with reminders from the band—to keep a head up while advocating for oneself, resonating within, ready to resurface when needed.
