Sydney’s Crowbar is buzzing. The beer’s cold, the air’s thick with anticipation, and the stage is set for a night of pure, unfiltered rock ‘n’ roll. The 5.6.7.8’s the same ones who sent “Woo Hoo” ricocheting through your brain back in Kill Bill—are about to tear it up. Since 1986, sisters Yoshiko “Ronnie” Fujiyama and Sachiko have been the soul of this Tokyo-born powerhouse, serving up a blistering cocktail of ‘50s and ‘60s rock ‘n’ roll, British Invasion grit, and that raw, don’t-give-a-damn spirit of ‘70s punk. Tonight, they’re joined by longtime collaborator Akiko Omo on bass, keeping the rhythm tight and the energy wilder than ever.
Their name might come from a classic music count-in, but The 5.6.7.8’s aren’t just keeping time—they’re smashing it to pieces. English, Japanese, it doesn’t matter. Their sound is universal: hip-shakin’, amp-blazing, time-warping rock that makes you wanna scream, stomp, and lose your mind.
But before the headliners take the stage, we’re treated to a double dose of sonic chaos courtesy of Cheetah Beat and the Psychotic Turnbuckles.
Cheetah Beat glide in with effortless cool, their surf-infused rock rolling over the crowd like a neon-lit tide. It’s all twanging guitars, hip-shaking rhythms, and a nonchalant swagger that turns the packed room into a sea of swaying bodies.
Then come the Turnbuckles—less a band, more a fever dream in fluorescent spandex. Imagine Twisted Sister after a technicolor explosion, fused with the full-throttle power of AC/DC. They’re wild, they’re unhinged, and they’re unlike anything you’ve ever seen. Careening around the stage like a derailed freight train of rock ‘n’ roll absurdity.
By the time the dust settles, Crowbar is primed and ready—the perfect storm before the 5.6.7.8’s bring it all home.
The 5.6.7.8’s don’t so much start their set as slip into it like a well-worn leather jacket—one minute they’re casually tuning up, the next they’re tearing into a rock ‘n’ roll riot with the effortless cool of a band that’s been doing this longer than you’ve been alive.
Visually, they’re a contradiction in the best way—imagine your favourite bookish aunts suddenly possessed by the spirits of Link Wray and Bo Diddley. Prim and composed one second, full-throttle garage rock chaos the next. It’s a sugar-rush of vintage swagger, surfy riffs, and untouchable attitude, all delivered with a knowing wink.
And the crowd? They can’t get enough. Every twang, every yelp, every fuzz-drenched groove is met with total devotion. The 5.6.7.8’s don’t just play rock ‘n’ roll—they embody it, proving once again that cool isn’t about trying too hard. It’s about not trying at all.
5.6.7.8.s Australia Tour Dates:
Friday, 21 March – Brisbane @ Powerhouse
Saturday, 22 March – Beechworth @ The High Country Hop Festival
Sunday, 23 March – Hobart @ Alter Bar
Tuesday, 25 March – Melbourne @ The Tote
Go HERE for tickets.
