Words & Photos By: CeeCee
Off to the Brunswick Ballroom for a night of chaotic fun and crushing riffs. It was my first time at this unique venue, where a grand staircase framed the back of the stage, chandeliers sparkled overhead, and stained-glass domes crowned the ceiling. An unexpectedly elegant setting for an evening packed with headbanging and heavy metal mayhem.
The first band of the night was Tongue Scum, a local three-piece grindcore band from Melbourne. They opened with a track titled New Song, which caught me off guard with a sudden, guttural scream that kicked off the set — a jarring but fitting introduction to their sound. Vocalist Frank had a commanding stage presence, fully utilising the space as he stalked the stage, unleashing vocals with intensity and even flashing the iconic claw grip. It was a nostalgic moment that brought a smile to my face, reminding me of the early days of discovering metal.
Between songs, the band kept things light with some cheeky banter, if I don’t say so myself, but very tongue and cheek (insert laugh here). Frank quipped to drummer Ben, ‘Would you like the microphone?’, ‘No, you have germs.’ Later came, ‘You can laugh, just don’t smile while you’re playing,’ and a comment to guitarist Dan: ‘Seen any waiters yet? In the ballroom?’ — a playful nod to the more upscale setting of the venue.
Their set also featured songs Intent, Taman Shud, and Shut Up and Listen, all delivered with blistering speed and energy. The crowd was clearly into it, responding enthusiastically to the band’s raw, fast-paced sound.
Next up was ScarnOn, a hard rock/punk trio hailing from Sunbury, Victoria. Right from the first note, they grabbed my attention with their high-energy performance, cheeky humour, and infectious instrumentals that had me nodding along in no time. Their electric stage presence was undeniable — all three members were headbanging with passion, and the crowd responded in kind, dancing and singing along with full energy.
One standout moment came during their track Go Hard, or Go Home from their 2024 album release. The band shared sly grins with each other throughout the song, and when it ended, the crowd erupted in cheers — clearly a fan favourite. Bassist Sammy then addressed the audience, saying, ‘We’ve got a couple more for ya,’ which was met with a bit of a lull. Without missing a beat, he fired back, ‘Aww don’t get too excited, c@#*s!’ — a line that had everyone cracking up.
They powered through Killfest and BIGHEAD, keeping the energy high. Before closing out their set, lead vocalist Jack introduced their final track with a hilarious anecdote: ‘This song’s about needing to take a piss, but there’s too many people around, and you’re too fuckin’ scared to do it.’ The song? Appropriately titled Stage Fright.
ScarnOn was a blast to watch — funny, loud, and undeniably fun. I’m definitely looking forward to their upcoming album, Grow Up, set to release in October this year.
Taking the stage with a haunting calmness amidst a night of heavy chaos, SPAWN, the six-piece all-female Eastern psychedelic rock band from Melbourne, offered a captivating change of pace. ‘We are a palate cleanser,’ front woman Lenz Ma teased at the start, ‘but it will be a very strange one’ — and she wasn’t wrong.
Their set, dreamlike and slower-paced, provided a welcome breather after the intensity of the previous acts. Lenz, both vulnerable and commanding, shared a personal moment with the crowd, revealing a recent hiatus due to giving birth to twin girls. ‘I’m a bit nervous’, she admitted, before thanking King Parrot for the opportunity.
Highlights from the set included the immersive Meditation in an Evil Temple, the expansive and layered Ascension, and the meditative Remember to be Here Now. SPAWN’s performance was hypnotic, introspective, and deeply atmospheric — the kind of sonic journey that lingers long after the final note.
Charging full force into the chaos we all came for, King Parrot stormed the stage for the launch of their new album A Young Person’s Guide To King Parrot, and the crowd responded in kind—from the very first note, the energy was electric. Their entrance, set to the absurdly perfect Hot Meat Pies, Saveloys and Trotters by Chas & Dave, triggered an instant uproar.
As soon as the opening song Stench kicked in, the venue transformed. Despite the upscale surroundings, the crowd went feral—pushing, pulling, and moshing like their lives depended on it. Disgrace lit the fuse for the first wave of crowd-surfers, and the madness didn’t stop there.
Before launching into Epileptic Butcher, frontman Youngy brought a special guest, Ross, onto the stage, warning the crowd:
‘Look after him, you fucking pricks.’ He turned to Ross and added with a grin,
‘Don’t worry, these arseholes will take care of you. They’ve taken care of me for over a fucking decade’.
Sure enough, the crowd kept Ross afloat—literally.
King Parrot shows are as much about the laughs as the riffs, and this one was no different. Their stage banter is legendary. A standout moment: Youngy caught someone taking a photo of his rear and quipped, ‘Usually people pay a lot of money for that on OnlyFans. You got right fucking inside my arse. It was a moment. A special moment’.
Later, when introducing their new drummer Max Dangerfield, Auntie Slatts asked, ‘What do you call him—a little bitch?’, Youngy shot back, ‘No, he’s Little Guy.’
It’s that kind of playful dynamic—with each other and the crowd—that makes their gigs so memorable. You can’t help but grin the whole way through. True to form, Youngy dove into the crowd mid-set—mic in hand—turning the pit into his second stage. Other highlights from the set included Hell Comes Your Way, Target Pig Elite, Lizard, and the unrelenting finale Fuck You and the Horse You Rode In On, with middle fingers held high.
Seeing King Parrot always feels like reconnecting with old mates. They may be older now, but the raw energy, filth, and fun haven’t dulled one bit. Even the new members slide right into the madness. It was a brutal, hilarious, and cathartic night—and I’ll be there for the next round, no doubt.
A huge thank you to the staff at the Brunswick Ballroom for hosting the event, and to King Parrot for delivering such an epic show alongside a killer lineup of bands.
