Roundhouse, London
The Aussie rockers led by the magnetic Amy Taylor showcase new album Cartoon Darkness with an explosive set that just keeps giving and giving
Part of the appeal of the Roundhouse, a famous north London venue, is that if a gig ever becomes boring, you can gaze at its vaulted, jointed ceiling – a marvel of the industrial age. It’s a safe bet that no one checks the architecture tonight, or on the other two nights of this sold-out residency. Because punk crossover stars Amyl and the Sniffers are never dull: they go off like a long-haul firecracker, detonating time and again.
Their ingredients are, yes, consistent – the thuggish judder of Gus Romer’s bass, the wallop of Bryce Wilson’s drums, the unapologetic squall of Declan Mehrtens’s electric guitar and singer Amy Taylor’s fierce invective – against predatory men, internet trolls and people who seek to muzzle her. They often feel like the same set of adversaries. But the Australian band rebuild their pub-glam-punk rock Lego again and again, with surprising variety.
Continue reading...