Belair Lip Bombs getting too big for small venues – enjoy them up close while you can

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Melbourne, Australia, and Washington, DC are over ten thousand miles apart, but the Australian band Belair Lip Bombs were fully energized when they performed at Songbyrd Music House on Sunday night. They’re currently touring North America for the first time as headliners, and they were excited to put on a great show.

The set was briefly delayed due to a technical issue with lead singer Maisie Everett’s microphone. Guitarist Mike Bradvica asked the sold-out crowd at the small, 150-person venue, Songbyrd in DC, to chat while they fixed it.

Luckily, the issue was quickly resolved, and Bradvica’s guitar work took center stage on the lead track of the band’s second album, Again. The song, “Again and Again,” is a great example of the band’s incredibly catchy and fuzzy sound – they’re one of the most promising indie rock groups around.

Belair Lip Bombs deliver a tight set of perfect modern rock

The Lip Bombs performed eight songs from their latest album, plus three popular tracks from their 2023 debut, Lush Life. Jimmy Droughton’s powerful bass playing stood out on “Price of Man,” the album’s final song, and Bradvica showcased their skill at creating rich, melodic sounds with limited guitar effects during the closing number, “Say My Name.”

I’ve noticed that a lot of new rock bands these days are really focused on effects pedals – almost like they need them to make their music work. But with this Melbourne group, it’s different. They do use some modern gear, sure, but they don’t seem to rely on it. Instead of staring down at a bunch of knobs, they mostly just look out at the crowd and really play their instruments – it’s way more about the raw performance, which I love.

The band plays their older songs, such as “Say My Name” and “Look the Part,” with a focused energy that really highlights each member’s talent. Even with these tighter arrangements, the performance never loses its classic feel. Lead singer Everett is confident and strong, and drummer Dev Devlin, who joined a few years ago, provides a consistently solid beat while also engaging with the crowd.

This band is still new and figuring things out, and you could tell they were excited – and a little surprised – to be touring the US. But their energy shouldn’t overshadow the fact that they’re writing really good songs that blend indie and punk styles, and they play them incredibly well.

Bradvica’s 45-minute, 11-song performance was incredibly energetic and fast-paced. While he didn’t focus on long solos, his skillful playing added excitement to every song. After seeing him perform, I can confidently say he’s become one of my favorite up-and-coming guitarists in the indie rock scene.

He’s not one to boast or seek the spotlight, but if you pay attention, you’ll quickly discover he’s constantly involved in fascinating activities.

The rest of the band delivers a similar energy. Tracks like “Another World,” a driving power-pop song, and “Don’t Let Them Tell You (It’s Fair),” an emotional anthem that’s more about strength than sadness, are typical of both the new album and their concerts.

The Lip Bombs are on tour with fellow Australian band dust, a five-piece group from Newcastle. During their 40-minute set, guitarists Gabriel Stove and Justin Teale shared vocal duties, performing nine songs. They recently put out their first full-length album, Sky is Falling, following the success of their 2023 EP, Et Cetera, Etc.

The single “New High,” released between their albums, highlights the band’s skill at blending energetic rock with catchy melodies. It also marks a clear shift from typical post-punk, thanks to Adam Rudgeway’s saxophone, which adds a jazzy and unique sound reminiscent of the influential DC band Fugazi.

I’m really loving how their new song, “Swamped,” and even an older track like “Ward 52,” blend so many different sounds into this really intense noise rock. It’s way more layered and interesting than a lot of the other stuff out there in the genre, honestly. They’re not afraid to experiment, and it really pays off!

The band Laveda, from New York City, kicked off the event with a 30-minute set of atmospheric, guitar-driven music. They played “Care,” the first song from their upcoming 2025 album Love, Darla, showcasing Jake Brooks’ energetic guitar work and Joe Taurone’s complex drumming. Laveda, a four-piece band from Queens, finished their set with “Cellphone,” the lead single from the new album, which singer Ali Genevich said was inspired by her frustration with her phone.

With a mix of intense emotions and energetic sounds, the three bands delivered a great two-and-a-half-hour performance for the Washington, D.C. audience.

Laveda and Dust are gaining popularity, but if you want to see Belair Lip Bombs in a small venue, now’s your chance! They’re touring through the South, hitting Nashville and Atlanta, then heading West and wrapping up in L.A. around the end of April. They’ll likely be playing much bigger shows soon.

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2026-04-13 20:00