Amyl & the Sniffers in Detroit: Aggressive, sassy, and in-your-face rock

By Vlad T, Rock At Night Detroit & Chyrisse Tabone, Rock At Night Tampa

Live Review: Amyl & the Sniffers w/Lambrini Girls – The Majestic, Detroit, MI – July 25, 2024

On the heels of show-stealing runs as openers for Smashing Pumpkins and most recently Foo Fighters, Amyl & the Sniffers have commenced a barnstorming headlining tour of their own in North America. Thursday saw the tour visit Detroit’s Majestic Theater, a venerable venue where this reviewer has experienced a run of highly memorable shows over the years, including the Black Angels and (climbing in the way-back machine) newly solo Paul Weller.

It’s safe to say the run continues.

The Aussie neo-pub rockers have earned a reputation for aggressive, sassy, in-your-face rock, both on recordings and live. On this evening, in a town that spawned the Stooges, MC5, and White Stripes, Amyl and cohorts put the Motor City on notice with their buzzing 800 volt assault.

On stage, frontwoman Amyl (Amy Taylor) visually channels an array of blonde rock icons, ranging from Wendy O. Williams to Debbie Harry. Her movement sees her athletic form tirelessly cascade to every corner of the stage like a boxer floating around the ring. And her vocal delivery suggests a limitless emotional fuel stemming from a cocktail of anger, sassiness, and perhaps even the band’s namesake poppers from down under.

Deftly grinding out the sonic blitz are guitarist Declan Martens, drummer Bryce Wilson, and bassist Gus Romer. Australian pub rock—akin to American garage rock—has an unmistakable legacy thanks to bands like Billy Thorpe and the Aztecs and even early AC/DC. The lads in the Sniffers ably continue that lineage.

PHOTO GALLERY

Amyl & the Sniffers

The Lambrini Girls