Gig Review: Cosmic Psychos + ZEKE + Downgirl + Sonic Reducer at the Metro, Sydney

Live Review: Cosmic Psychos, ZEKE, Downgirl and Sonic Reducer, The Metro Theatre, Sydney, Saturday, January 13 2024

By CORIN SHEARSTON

IN THEIR 42nd year of existence as a world-touring drunken punk juggernaut, the poster for the Cosmic Psychos’ latest east coast run in 2024 features an illustration of a baby suckling from an imposing black goat. As other fans of the trio may have noticed, this is the perfect visual metaphor for the generations of listeners who have grown up on the menacing power of the Aussie trio. 

These disciples of distortion may well include the Psychos’ three support bands, ZEKE, Downgirl and Sonic Reducer, listed from oldest-to-youngest and appearing the other way round. Managed by Scarlett McKahey from Teen Jesus & The Jean Teasers, whose younger brother Cormac fronts the band, indie upstarts Sonic Reducer opened the night. Drawing influence from the young, loud and snotty approach of the Dead Boys, whose 1977 hit gave the band their name, the group’s debut 2023 single ‘”One Of The Lads” made a stand against the toxic masculinity present in certain groups of young Australian men. Citing classic seventies punk acts among their main influences, along with indie groups such as Arctic Monkeys and IDLES, they warmed up the stage in authentically youthful fashion before the heavy riot grrrl delivery of Downgirl. 

Oft-compared to groups like L7, due to their all-female lineup, Downgirl are apparently striving to break free of that comparison to establish themselves as something fresh and uniquely Australian. After striding across the stage in their miniskirts, boots and bras, the young quartet ask us how many beers deep we are before commenting that we’re all “a-fuckin’-sleep” after their first few songs. Indeed, most of The Metro’s audience are, despite the group’s hard-hitting, danceable approach enhanced by Marshall stacks, double-kicks, sass and shredding. Despite a lack of crowd movement, apart from the dancing of a few other young women who resonate with their sound, Downgirl appear unhindered and enthusiastic, while playing tightly and passionately. After the release of their eight-song, 25-minute debut album, Manic, last year, Downgirl are definitely one group worth keeping an eye on.  

Men take the stage again with the emergence of ZEKE, a vicious, mind-bendingly fast quartet from Seattle, formed in 1992 – the Cosmic Psychos’ chosen tour mates for their 16-date, east coast run, running from January 4 to 28, (although the Psychos first set out in December). After not touring Australia in over 20 years, ZEKE still hit as hard as ever while dishing out 25 brutal thrashers within their allocated set time of one hour and 10 minutes. Blazing through selections of minute bursts from their nine-album discography, including songs from Super Sound Racing, Kicked In The Teeth and Flat Tracker, ZEKE once again prove that their unique musical approach still holds true. Namely, crafting complete punk songs that are so fast that they can compete against each other as sonic racing vehicles. Hence the speedway-inspired imagery of their onstage banner, complete with a cartoon race car and a chequered flag, and an onstage aesthetic which almost resembles that of a group of rough, tattooed mechanics. Often pausing to pose with their three guitars in a hoisted Eiffel Tower of wooden necks before blazing through their next song, ZEKE pay further tribute to classic rock theatrics by pummelling us with an unrecognisable version of “Shout It Out Loud” by KISS. “You might be wondering when we’ll stop,” shouts their vocalist and lead-guitarist, Blind Marky Felchtone, in between peeling off searing flashes of soloing on his black Gibson. Indeed, when we finish experiencing the power of ZEKE, the few of us who tried to truly get down with them feel like we’ve run a marathon. While they last played a one-off gig here in 2010, ZEKE still display an absolutely merciless approach that’s sure to win them more Australian fans before the end of their tour with the Cosmic Psychos … whose tempos verge on sounding like doom metal in comparison. 

Two years ago, before embarking on their current 23-date tour, the Psychos celebrated their 40th year, one year after the release of their 11th studio album, Mountain Of Piss. Displaying the unwavering yobbo attitude of many of their earlier albums, such as Blokes You Can Trust produced by Butch Vig (Nirvana, Garbage), and Glorious Barsteds, featuring their most recognisable song/drinking anthem, “Nice Day To Go To The Pub”, Mountain Of Piss is their highest chart topper to date. While not at Taylor Swift level, #19 on the ARIA charts is still pretty respectable for a band whose sole-remaining original member, singer-bassist Knighty (Ross Knight) still views running his family’s farm in rural Victoria as his main occupation. 

Backed by drummer Dean Muller and guitarist Mad Macka (John McKeering), Knighty appears onstage in the attire of someone who could have just stepped down from a tractor to crack open a can and pick up a bass. His dusty boots, navy-blue work wear, cap and wraparound sunnies are perfectly complemented by Macka’s immense, singlet-covered beer belly and Muller’s collection of urban t-shirts. Together, their mean rock sound is gut-shaking, with thunderous drums backing sharp, fuzzy bass and overdriven guitar. To say it has grit would be approaching it. They barrel through songs at their own pace, without rushing, stopping between tracks for Knighty to crack a joke or for someone to sip a beer, before launching into another song. Towards the end of the show, Macka pulled out his party trick of rhythmic bare-beer gut rippling, in-between wah-laden freeform soloing. 

While headlining The Metro after brilliant sets from ZEKE, Downgirl and Sonic Reducer, certain Psychos tracks such as “Lost Cause”, “Rip ‘N’ Dig”, “Custom Credit” and “Fuckwit City” drew the best responses from the surprisingly tame crowd. Unperturbed by a curious absence of dancing, jumping or moshing, with a couple of exceptions, the Psychos still managed to rouse The Metro into a traditional sing-along for “Nice Day To Go To The Pub”. 

After the show, in the smoky alley next to The Metro, we passed some of the guys from Sonic Reducer, clearly in high spirits. Either behind concrete walls, over metal fences or halfway across the city, Downgirl, ZEKE and the Cosmic Psychos probably all were too.