Gig review: Suicidal Tendencies + Big Noter at the Tivoli, Brisbane

Live review: Suicidal Tendancies and Big Noter at the Tivoli, Brisbane, on Tuesday, November 11 2025 

By DAN SOUTHALL

HAILING from Victoria, Big Noter are tipped to be the next big thing in Aussie hardcore, fronted by rapper Adam Briggs and creating a sound similar to Body Count or Stray From the Path with his similar rap flow.

I went in blind and ignorant, thinking this band was one more rapper’s vanity project, but ready to have my opinion changed. If this kind of music has taught me anything, it’s to keep an open mind.

And holy fuck, did Briggs and his band do just that. Big Noter threw down genuine hardcore straight from the heart, played by artists who have been mastering their craft for years. Only having two recorded tracks out, they played new (unnamed) songs as well as beefing up some of Briggs’ solo material.

After a solid 45 minutes, Big Noter leave the stage with a pit primed and ready for Suicidal Tendencies.

ST waste little time digging straight into their classic opener “You Can’t Bring Me Down”, exploding like a well-oiled machine. So they should, never seeming to leave the road. Mike Muir is ably assisted these days by some big names in the heavy music scene including Ben Weinman (Dillinger Escape Plan) and ex-Slipknot drummer Jay Weinberg.

For fans of Suicidals, this is the place to be as the band blasts through classics like “Join The Army” and “Possessed to Skate”. These are songs you can guarantee aren’t being played while they are supporting a much bigger band also touring right now. In fact the only noticeable thing missing from the set was what is arguably one of their biggest hits, “Institutionalised”.

Despite an obvious setlist laying about on the stage, it felt more like Cyco Mike was winging it a lot – and we were all the better for it. In a testament to just how powerful this form of music is, Muir is like the Energizer Bunny on speed, making it look as though sometimes the band could barely keep up with him. How a bloke his age manages it is unbelievable.

If you get the chance to see this band on this current run, you would be a sad case if you didn’t enjoy yourself.