Bringing Punk Back

Amyl and the Sniffers are bringing Punk back from down under.

Written By Christy Bilbo

Photos By Joe Guzman

House of Blues outdid themselves when they brought in a punk band that sold out the venue. It’s been a while since we’ve been blessed with an excellent band that threw out the heavy punches of some good old punk music.

I grew up in the 70’s and 80’s and loved punk music. Nothing was better than sitting in my room and listening to “The Zoo” and thinking I was a badass rebel. The Ramones, Clash, Sex Pistols, Iggy and the Stooges, and the Misfits were just some of the ones that I loved.

I remember rolling my pants up above my ankles, a t-shirt with stains and holes, and the beginning of a bad perm that I tried my best to salvage and make look as rad as I could. None of my friends were listening to punk, so I was one of those young people trying to figure out where I fit in the crazy world. Punk music had allowed me to delve into myself and find this wild and crazy person who had just been dying to come out and scream at the world.

Looking around the House of Blues, you could see some fashion flashbacks in the younger generation. Standing in line, the buzz was all about how excited they were to see Amyl and the Sniffers. The conversations were about what songs they would play and how rowdy it would get tonight. With the band being known for some controversy with their music, everyone was a little anxious to see what the night held for us.

Standing true to the punk genre, they are known for some lyrics that promote violence. Amyl and the Sniffers also take a proactive approach against sexual assault and women’s issues. So, their music hits all levels, but one thing it isn’t missing is fast, loud, and furious.

To start the night off, their opening act, Sheer Mag, kicking the night off. Coming hot out of Philadelphia, the band teased the crowd with a smooth mixture of punk, disco, and a little rock and roll.

Tina Halladay’s vocals were hard and loud. Backing her were Matt Palmer on guitar and keyboards, Kyle Seely on lead guitar, Hart Seely on bass, and Evan Campbell on drums.

Sheer Mag started the night with “Steel Sharpness Steel.” Speaking with the band after the show, they said that they try to mix it up every night so they can play a variety of their songs and not feel pigeonholed into the same thing every night.

With eight songs on their set list, numbers like: “Nobody’s Baby,” “Turn it Up,” and Eat and Beat It” were had, loud and a crowd pleaser.

At 9 p.m., the headliner Amyl and the Sniffers took the stage. When Amy Taylor strolled out, looking like she was straight out of the 70s, the crowd went crazy. With her bleach blonde hair fashioned in Farrah Fawcett style, shorty shorts, leg warms, and a bikini top…the night was hot from that second on!

They started hard and heavy right out the gate and went straight into “Control.” The song “Security” had the crowd bouncing up and down and singing along to the lyrics. However, the song “Chewing Gum” had wads of gum thrown on stage, and they were taking hits like a champ. They never dodged the flying stickiness but kept playing and killing the crowd with fantastic tuneage. “Knifey” and “Me and the Girls” had everyone in tune and shouting the lyrics. “Tiny Bikini” was when Amy turned up the sex kitten stage persona and knocked our socks off.  Not one person in that venue wasn’t gawking at Amy as she strutted around the stage and put on the best sexed-up moves to their song.

Amy was spunky Friday night. Jumping around, doing aerobic-type movements, and never standing still, she was all over the stage and lit the place on fire with her energy and attitude. Flashbacks to the 70’s and 80’s aerobic craze were all I could think about.

After Dallas, Amyl and the Sniffers are headed to Austin, Houston, and San Antonio, wrapping up Texas with a stop in San Antonio. They are making a huge appearance at Coachella, and I’m sure that they have plenty of excitement with Amy’s leg warmers.

Amyl and the Sniffers have brought back punk in a way we haven’t seen in a long time. It was an honor to witness such a great band. They had an aggressive presence on stage and ensured the crowd was drawn in. There wasn’t much roughness in the crowd, but some were pushing and shoving…but hey…it is a punk band; what more could you expect?

Thanks to the House of Blues, the night was electric, and such a fantastic band was brought in. Sometimes, we all need a little punk to liven up our lives, which Amyl and the Sniffers brought to Dallas.

Now get your concert tickets and enjoy let’s have some fun!

Amyl and the Sniffers

Sheer Mag