Over the last few years, Private Function have established themselves as one of the most chaotic, engaging, memorable live acts in the Australian punk scene, and beyond. The Melbourne band bring forth top-quality, raucous punk music that is also highly entertaining, and oftentimes downright hilarious. They headed into this tour off the back of their brilliant debut full-length album St Anger, and a hosting gig on rage which saw them feature legendary artists like Limp Bizkit and Crazy Frog. It's safe to say the anticipation was high to see what the band would bring to the table, and the densely-packed, sold-out Bearded Lady was the perfect venue for some frenetic punk energy.
Young Sunshine Coast rockers The Unknowns kicked off the evening with a quality performance and a real sense of legitimacy. Although they were the opening act, it isn’t hard to envisage them playing to larger sold-out venues in the future. They look, sound, and feel, like a serious rock band. The band was undoubtedly aided by the infectious energy of the many enthusiastic punters that headed in early but played off of this fantastically well.
Local band Ascot Stabber's performance was perhaps the highlight of the evening’s openers. Raw and visceral, the band powered through a ball-tearing half-hour set which really got the sweat dripping. For anyone in attendance who hadn’t previously had the chance to catch Ascot Stabber, they established themselves as a band whose live show isn’t to be missed, and whose two menacing hardcore punk tapes are not to be slept on.
In the evening’s penultimate performance, Zed favourites Being Jane Lane proved why they are becoming one of the more beloved acts within the Brisbane punk scene. There appears to be a real connection between the band and their fans, and it’s hard not to be drawn in by that. They tore through tracks from their debut LP Savage Sunday and maintained the bubbling intensity of the two preceding acts, setting the tone perfectly for the headliners.
Private Function came bursting out of the gates with St Anger cuts Thick of it All to White Lady Funerals. The audience responded to this feverish energy in toe with an unrelentingly wild, but good-spirited mosh. One of the things that make Private Function so great is their ability to make the audience feel like a part of the performance, consistently hopping into the crowd, and engaging with audience members. It truly adds to the show, even when it’s as simple as members of the band crowd-surfing or throwing themselves into the most pit. Tracks God Save the King Hit, and cult classic I Wish Australia Had Its Guns Again proved crowd favourites, with the ‘USA’ chants at the end of the latter a perennial highlight at Private Function gigs. Meanwhile, tracks like Duct Tape, Spontaneous Combustion and No Hat, No Play went just as hard as you could hope. They closed out the night with the anthemic Marco Chan and a cover of Linkin Park’s In The End, both songs seeing lead singer Chris Penny dragging onto the stage as many members of the crowd he could fit.
It’s a testament to Private Function that crowds dependably respond so well to their live performance, and it always really adds to this show. It wasn’t hard to read the crowd response following this gig if people flocking to the merch desk wasn’t a dead giveaway (in fairness, Private Function does have some of the best merch in Australian music). Every time the band makes it to Brisbane, they remind us that they are one of the very best live acts Australian, and perhaps even wider, punk music has to offer. As the band keeps telling us: PF still on top.
- Jack Jones