Concert Review: Amyl and The Sniffers Crash Through Stubb’s for Levitation Fest 2023
Hot off the tail of a tour with the renowned psychedelic band King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, the “ball-tearing” band Amyl and the Sniffers was ready for their headliner show at Stubb’s with support from Militarie Gun and Die Spitz.
Written by Rachel Joy Thomas
Photo courtesy of Daniel Cavazos
Band members Amy Taylor, Bryce Wilson, Declan Martens, and Calum Newton formed Amyl and the Sniffers with a chaotic vision. Firstly, their name is based on the drug amyl nitrate, otherwise known as poppers. Secondly, one look at the band inspires the image of pub punk, from mullets to jean shorts, shirtless bodies, and sweat pouring down their sides as they perform. Thirdly and most definitively, the band is most well-known for wild stage getups, fanatical turnover rates on EPs (One written in only 12 hours), and increasingly unbridled success. Compared to the extreme dedication that many successful bands place in their new discography releases, Amyl and the Sniffers’ prosperity can be seen as infamous — to some, it may appear that they don’t even need to try and be successful; they just are.
Before they came to the stage, Die Spitz and Militaire Gun opened at Stubb’s, with the former arriving at the scene at 6:50 p.m.
The Austin darlings, originating from Co-Op parties and a residency at Hotel Vegas, balanced their pure punk image with some bouts of wistfulness, showing a multi-faceted side to the band. Specifically, drummer, singer, and guitarist Chloe Andrews donned an acoustic guitar for specific show segments, especially when showing off music that has yet to hit streaming services.
Every band member had opportunities to shine with thrashing instrumental solos or by dancing across the stage in intricate and wild ways. Bassist Kate Halter shimmied while holding the bass in an almost jester-like fashion with a gleeful, cheery smile. Ellie Livingston, a singer and rhythm guitarist, pulled up her princess dress, shaking her wig off as the excitement of the performance continued to bubble. The band was unique in that there was no clear leader, with every member participating and receiving the adoration of a crowd of onlookers awaiting their mischief.
Toward the end of the set, Livingston climbed the metal beams of Stubbs to the screaming, palpable enthusiasm of concertgoers. Like King Kong, she stood over the rest of the crowd with a sense of gleeful thrill at breaking the constraints of the venue, before exiting the stage and meeting with fans at the merch table.
Photo courtesy of Daniel Cavazos
Next up was Militaire Gun, an L.A.-based band formed during COVID-19. With a relentless touring schedule, the band recently released their debut album, Life Under The Gun, after two successful EPs. Introducing his song “My Friends Are Having A Hard Time,” a devastating track about watching your friends slowly sink as you desperately try to swim yourself, lead singer Ian Shelton lamented actor Matthew Perry’s recent death and its connection to the song’s themes.
Militaire Gun filled their set with punkish references, meandering lyrics, and a boyish charm. Occasionally, guitar sections would veer from their typical punk sound, but the band was wholly classic throughout their hour-long performance.
Amyl and the Sniffers came out at 9:21 to the excitement of an eager crowd. Taylor, the band’s lead singer, gave a quick message before starting the performance for the night, saying, “How are you doing? If anyone falls down you help them up. Don’t touch anybody who doesn’t want to be touched! Get ready…”
Starting the set with familiar favorites like “Control” and “Freaks To The Front,” the crowd's energy picked up immediately. During “Control,” Taylor’s high-pitched screech controlled the audience's energy, hypnotically inspiring rapturous dance along with the energized, high-paced riffs from Martens and heavy bassline from Gus Romer. As Taylor repeated, “ I like control / I like control,” with a splash of occasional grunts and growls, the crowd started to unravel, allowing themselves to mosh freely. A woman sitting by the stage suddenly jumped headfirst into the crowd; audience members lifted and carried her toward the barricade where the event staff safely ushered her back into the crowd. Others followed suit.
Die Spitz watched the performance from atop the balcony, still in their Halloween attire, minus their scratchy wigs. Halter came downstairs, joining in on the fun and crowd-surfing alongside the fans, eagerly awaiting the next opportunity to float across welcoming hands.
Photo courtesy of Ismael Quintanilla
At least three punkheads in various Halloween costumes would crop up on the hands of their fellow die-hard fans during each song, throwing their Lone Star Beers in the air and screaming “Rock and Roll!” as loudly as possible. Spurts of beer landed on attendees as they knocked into each other, clashing over and over to the rhythm of the drums and the all-encompassing distortion of the guitar strings.
When the band played “Security,” a song with lyrics detailing a drunken encounter with a security guard while trying to get into a pub, the crowd grew rowdier and more palpably excited. As the drums rattled across the venue, Taylor sang with a fierce, wild expression, “Will you let me in your hard heart? / Let me in your hard heart? / Let me in your pub?” The blaring electric guitar sounded out in a noisy riff.
Spitting water into the air and then sprinkling her bottle on herself, Taylor slicked back her hair as she slightly thrusted into the mic for “Maggot.” A bright, red light glowed throughout the venue as Taylor aptly sang: “I am who I am, and I said what I said / Underneath the red light / I’m drowning in ya.”
Taylor ran across the stage to different audience members, staring into their eyes as she sang “Guided By Angels.” There was a sense of reckless abandon with the traditional norms of the venue as she jumped across pedestals, touching the hands of fans and swinging the mic cord around her with little consideration. Taylor drenched herself with water, bent into various positions, and propped herself up, entirely in control of the energized, liberated audience.
Closing out their set, Taylor played one last unexpected hurrah with a swing dance in tow. As the band danced to a country song playing over the speakers, many started dancing with them, both out of the joy of performance and delight for the welcome surprise. Many took the opportunity to exit the concert venue as bandmates danced around the stage for the fun of it.
Amyl and the sniffers cultivated the ultimate concert experience, giving a mix of sheer, joyous celebration without teetering into an uncomfortable level of buzz. Active security guards and the band’s continued interaction with the crowd led to an exciting night that let fans be wild and careless without any negatives concertgoers might imagine at a rock show. With their openers Militaire Gun and Die Spitz, the band defined itself as one of the best acts of Levitation 2023.