Walking into Crowbar for Fleshwater‘s much-anticipated Eora/Sydney debut felt like stepping out of a time machine. The barrier was already packed with young fans, and the vibe was pure 90s grunge—a rarity, but one that the Fleshwater scene kids carry effortlessly.
The night kicked off with Futureheaven, channelling an emotional shoegaze edge, pulling the room deeper into a melancholic yet electrified headspace.
Then came Secret World, a hardstyle-infused dose of unmistakably Aussie energy that felt like a distilled reminder of the punk-hardcore hybrid that bands like Speed have brought to prominence.
Performing songs from their hit 2022 album ‘We’re Not Here To Be Loved’, with a few extras thrown in, Fleshwater transported the crowd to an era where grungey hardstyle reigned supreme. Their raw, DIY energy only added to the charm—whether it was improvising through a snapped string or leaning into the noise for a consistently textured soundscape, the band made it all feel overtly cool and intentional.
There were no phones in sight, just flailing arms, furious headbanging, and pure chaos in the pit. Fans screamed lyrics word for word while others threw themselves into the depths or onto the shoulders of strangers to crowd surf. Anthony’s encouragement—“I want to see every one of you come over this barrier”—amused the already overworked security guards and those of us stuck in the side stages with nowhere to run.
Crowbar proved to be the perfect venue for Fleshwater’s euphoria-fueled chaos. The room’s intimacy left no space for sideline spectators; you were either deep in the pit, holding the barrier for dear life, or swept up in the energy of the moment. The ceiling and walls were dripping with condensation, a sickly rain of sweat and adrenaline.
By the end of their 40-minute set, which felt like it passed in the blink of an eye, every face leaving Crowbar was damp but grinning. Fleshwater’s live show is an irreplaceable experience, something you’re scared you’ll never get the chance to witness again.
In a perfectly fitting move, Fleshwater will join Deftones as support on their 2025 North American tour, kicking off this coming February.
Image credit: Jess Hutton (@juiceboxjpg)
