Words by Belinda Quick
Photos by Justin White
“Trials, temptations, disappointments – all these are helps instead of hindrances, if one uses them rightly. They not only test the fibre of character, but strengthen it. Every trial endured and weathered in the right spirit makes a soul nobler and stronger than it was before” – James Buckham, The Heart of Life
Arguably, 2026 will be remembered for the maelstrom of socio-political tribulations that have plagued populations worldwide. An elder millennial living through the chaos of yet another year and the next ‘once in a generation’ event seems all too commonplace.
Learning the lay of the land early, the earth-shattering experience of 9/11, wars on and because of terror, living through economic and environmental crises, and a Digital Revolution has bred a resilient generation; one which sustains themselves to the present day on their Suburban Teenage Wasteland Blues.
A double-edged sword to be sure, we’ve learnt from tribulation comes triumph; for so many of us, music has provided the panacea at every moment of malaise. And, so it remains. This year undoubtedly one to forget for all the furore, 2026 reaffirms what deserves remembrance – the anniversaries of artists and their contributions to our living soundtrack, such as STRUNG OUT.
Adelaide institution, STABBITHA AND THE KNIFEY WIFEYS, enmeshes reverb with respect in acknowledging Kaurna country. Announcing their Victory of Death, tonight’s blistering set is a cross section of 2026’s Disgust and Old favourites. Sass Williams’ screams punctuate the frenetically paced Letiticus and Act Your Wage epitomises the ethos of the band, as does the impervious Smile or Die stage persona of guitarist, Jordy Varbaro. The performance from Jason Cruz’s “new favourite band” is sweet but sinister, and sets the pace for the Final Kindness.
Frank Sinatra’s My Way meanders into mimicry, the sophomore album’s opener and Strung Out’s anniversary celebration explodes with Firecracker. Collectively ageing out of our Suburban Teenage Wasteland Blues decades ago, the Californian patriarchs take us back to the Better Days of the late-90s. Cruz’s Solitaire ‘wo-o-oah’ catches an echo from the crowd of juvenile delinquents-turned-silver foxes. “Looking after us for a long time now”, the live music experience is Never Good Enough as it is tonight, 30 years older and wiser.
Giving it up “for the hardest working man in the band”, drummer Daniel Blume, “the handsome side of the stage” represented by guitarist Chris Aiken & bassist Derik Envy thrash the Gear Box and pump the adrenaline both literally and figuratively. Co-founding guitarist, Rob Ramos, pauses sentimentally to remind us to “rock tonight and worry about tomorrow, tomorrow”; it’s time to unleash the Monsters and Bring Out Your Dead for the second half act of Radio Suicide.
In Somnombulance, stray revellers stumble out from the mosh. Gasping for air in an act of defiance, they refuse to miss out on more than a moment of the mayhem, even if it means risking ending up Six Feet under. The band racketting through their second album tracklisting as if fuelled by a Speed Ball, a bewildered silence speaks volumes for Cruz’s announcement of “the last one”. Refusing the rumour, the crowd parties righteously on the Wrong Side of the Tracks, patiently waiting for Strung Out to retake the stage for their encore.
A band which never disappoints, the fantastic five reemerge in single-file, treading a bluelit Velvet Alley on the Lion Arts Factory stage. ‘Nobler and stronger’, New Gods energy meets old dogs’ trickery, the magic of music makes it all Too Close (not) to See: a year like this one may test our mettle, but Strung Out across a lifetime, we are built to win the fight.
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PHOTO GALLERY
STABBITHA AND THE KNIFEY WIFEYS
STRUNG OUT
