The Skyline Stage at Highmark Mann is pretty much the perfect summertime outdoor concert venue. It graces us with a beautiful view of the city, vendors conveniently set up along the perimeter, and, with the nature of Fairmount Park surrounding it all, the vibes, for me, have always been just right. And since Festival Pier is a thing of the past (RIP), this new setting has been picking up the slack with solid momentum. 

It being a Monday night didn’t deter the packed crowd from coming hungry and energized for a night of Australian-born rock and roll music.

PARTY DOZEN

Fellow Australians, Party Dozen brought the noise. I hadn’t heard of them until literally hearing them, but what I can say is that they’re a novel noise rock duo who manage to create a big sound with a unique arsenal. Drummer Jonathan Boulet is a powerhouse, full stop. And from his technical proficiency and animalistic ability to go wild on his kit, he serves as the foundational backbone of the act. Frontwoman Kirsty Tickle takes Boulet’s rhythmic foundation and goes nuts with… a saxophone. When they first started, I figured that was just a part of the opening song. But nope, she plays a reverbed-out, effects-heavy sax over programmed electronics, bass, and guitar for the entirety of their set. While certain instruments like the sax or trumpet aren’t uncommon in ska, soul, funk, and numerous other genres, it was a first for me to see it as the leading melody-maker for an alt-punk band.

And while Tickle would march across the stage giving her all, the most unique (and pretty cool, honestly) surprise element was that her sax also served as her mic for vocals. When she wasn’t playing, she used the microphone inside the sax’s bell for the intermittent vocal deliveries. The effects layering added an element of urgency to her delivery, as if she were commanding orders to start the revolution. It was energetic and unique, and it didn’t wear out its welcome. All in all, the act was wholly unique, and the novelty of it all remained intact; their energy and urgency served to be a great way to kick off the night.

AMYL AND THE SNIFFERS

What can I really say here that everyone who’s a fan doesn’t already know? Led by iconic lead vocalist Amy Taylor, this band just knows how to rock. They’ve been the recipient of every label from pub rock to alternative to punk to garage rock, and on and on. But whatever subgenre you end up classifying them under, the point is that they just plain fucking rock.

Guitarist Declan Mehrtens, drummer Bryce Wilson, and 2026 touring bassist Lakota Vella (filling in for permanent band member Gus Romer) matched Taylor’s energy with a tight performance across the night, exploring their full discography. This is a band whose studio-to-live translation is pretty much one-to-one. Because of their nature of being a no frills, “here’s some rock and roll, fuck you,” kind of act, the level of confidence and swagger comes alive as they do what they do best. 

The band plays at a lightning clip, with the total set time clocking in around 80 minutes, yet they still managed to perform 23 songs across their three albums and select EPs. The crowd barely had time to catch their breath between songs, but the appreciation and energy never let up.

Wearing an “Amyl Platinum” silver top and matching silver chaps, Amy Taylor led the charge all night, dancing across the stage with a noticeable dichotomy of intensity and laxness. Perhaps one of the most memorable scenes of the night was when she stripped off the chaps during “Tiny Bikini.” Her brand of band leadership is rebel-rousing with a wink. Delivering her blend of observational commentary and sociopolitically-charged worldview with an effortless command, her smile never seemed to break. It felt like the band was having as much fun as the crowd. And that’s always something special.

Amyl and the Sniffers are an equal opportunity banter act. From Taylor’s shoutouts to the city itself and local icons Mannequin Pussy, to Wilson’s mistaken declaration that it was Sunday night (honestly, same vibe), to Mehrtens’ intermittent quips, the mood remained light and celebratory. Their chatting was at a minimum, but it was mostly light and heartfelt. The band tackles political issues from an everyday slant, and Taylor did not mince words when it came to the power structures we all find ourselves subject to, but her and her bandmates’ smiles never faded. “The man” was ridiculed, the rocking out was loud and aggressive, but it ultimately came down to “service with a smile” in the way that so many of the great modern punk acts deliver the message. Is the world on fire? Sure, but we can still have fun. As contemporaries IDLES said with their sophomore album title, it’s “joy as an act of resistance.” A healthy dose of absurdism to get through the day…

There’s really not much to be said here outside of the fact that Amyl and the Sniffers are excellent live performers. They’re as good as you’d hope they would be. They do what they do with extreme proficiency, energy, drive, and a generous serving of fun.

If you get the chance to see this band - whose star is still very much on the rise - take it. They’re at the top of their game and are showing no signs of slowing down.

So get it while it’s hot.

SETLIST:

Control
It's Mine
U Should Not Be Doing That
Doing in Me Head
Balaclava Lover Boogie
Guided by Angels
Chewing Gum
Freaks to the Front
Do It Do It
Security
Tiny Bikini
Big Dreams
Gacked on Anger
Shake Ya
Me and The Girls
Facts
Starfire 500
Knifey
Some Mutts (Can't Be Muzzled)
Jerkin'
Hertz

ENCORE:
Got You
GFY