If the walls of the Manning Bar could talk, they’d probably be hoarse by now. And after tonight, they might just crumble altogether. The Beasts – the surviving wrecking crew from Beasts of Bourbon – stormed the stage, turning Sydney into a whiskey-drenched, riff-laden, rock ‘n’ roll sermon. With Tex Perkins at the helm, flanked by James Baker, Kim Salmon, Boris Sujdovic, and Charlie Owen, this was no nostalgia act—it was a band alive and kicking, drenched in sweat, swagger, and sin.
They’re here for Ultimo, their latest studio effort, but let’s be real—no one’s expecting a quiet evening. The Beasts are road-hardened and fireproof, dragging their bruised-and-battered sound through a night of snarling blues riffs, guttural howls, and grooves that could grind steel to dust. If rock ‘n’ roll has a last gang in town, this might just be it.
Opening the night, Chimers proved why they’re fast becoming underground royalty. Their jagged mix of noise pop, post-punk, and garage rock came in like a clenched fist. Their sophomore album Through Today is out now, and after tonight’s performance, it deserves a place in every collection that’s ever housed a Sonic Youth record.
But let’s not pretend—the night belonged to The Beasts. From the first snarl of the guitar to the final, sweaty roar from Perkins, this was rock ‘n’ roll at its most primal. Sydney got its fix. The Beasts delivered. And the bar staff probably need a drink.
Buy Ultimo HERE.
