Kicking off the third night of SXSW Sydney at The Rolling Stone House, the energy across the city was electric and spreading fast. The night opened with a serious dose of rock ‘n’ roll, courtesy of Full Flower Moon Band. Babyshakes Dillon stood at the centre, her vocals cutting through their dense wall of sound with a clarity that anchored the performance. Their blend of heavy psych-rock felt unfiltered, untamed, and unapologetic.
Next up were The Grogans, delivering a perfect shot of our favourite kind of garage-surf rock. Their set was laid-back yet electric, capturing the coastal punk essence they’re known for. The reverb-heavy guitar riffs washed over the crowd, while their bluesy undertones kept things gritty and grounded.
Hockey Dad followed, and it felt like the room got even tighter as the duo from Windang took over with their surf-punk anthems. There’s something about Hockey Dad’s music that taps into pure nostalgia, they’ve been performing long enough to have been the backing track to so many of our high-school summers. Watching them on stage felt like a reunion with old friends.
As Hockey Dad was wrapping up, I made a dash across to The Chippo Hotel to catch Sex Mask in “The Den”. They’re a Naarm/Melb-based band that defies easy description, fusing elements of indie-pop and punk with razor-sharp lyrics and enough charisma to fill any room. They have this captivating kind of energy, both chaotic and unfathomably cool. Arriving five minutes before showtime, I found only a few people scattered around the space as the band was finalising their soundcheck. For a brief moment, I thought it might be an intimate affair, but part of me relished in the idea of having them all to myself. If Sex Mask has one million fans, I am one. If Sex Mask has one fan, it’s me.
But just as the show was about to start, people began filtering in. Another photographer, then two more, and suddenly, the room filled up. It’s as if the band cast some sort of magnetic field, drawing people in with the pull of their looming performance. Wry Gray, their enigmatic lead, immediately stormed the audience with a presence that was equal parts awe-inspiring and slightly menacing. They threw themselves into the set with reckless abandon, their 30-minute performance flying by in a burst of frantic energy. With only three singles out in the world, Sex Mask managed to turn that small room into a storm, each track punching through like a damn freight train.
After their exhilarating set, I power-walked back to The Rolling Stone House, just in time to catch FELONY., who were called in at the last minute. FELONY. brought the heat from the first note, their punk-infused sound blasting through the venue with a ferocity that belied the short notice. With aggressive guitar riffs and defiant lyrics that perfectly encapsulated the chaotic spirit of the night. Despite the last-minute call-up, they played like a band on a mission and to a crowd of adoring fans.
