Words by: CeeCee
Photos by: Luci Scott
170 Russell came alive with a vibrant blend of old favourites and fresh sounds, delivered by bands that drew a crowd truly passionate about music in all its forms. Kicking off the night was Melbourne’s own Best Believe, a band I hadn’t encountered before. Having only been active for about a year, they are already carving out a space for themselves in the local scene. Their sound is an intense fusion of hardcore punk, post-punk, and indie rock, marked by raw energy and introspective lyrics.
They performed tracks from their DEMO, released in July 2024, and even treated the crowd to a preview of a brand-new song from their upcoming record. For a relatively new act, Best Believe is gaining solid traction, and their performance showed they’re a band to keep an eye on.
The next band to hit the stage was Secret World, hailing from Sydney. As one of the members walked out, I turned to my friend and said, ‘I’m pretty sure he’s in another band’ – and sure enough, it was Josh Campiao, the current guitarist for Trophy Eyes. A little digging revealed that Secret World is something of a supergroup, featuring members from notable acts like Speed, Downside, and Hand of Mercy.
Their set was my first time hearing them live, and I was genuinely impressed. The band does a remarkable job of blending the styles and energy of their previous and current projects into something fresh yet familiar. Their sound was powerful and melodic, and the crowd clearly felt it, dancing, nodding along, and singing with full energy.
They played tracks like Silhouette, Complete Hysteria, and Living Less, and even treated the audience to a sneak peek of an unreleased song. It was a dynamic and memorable performance that hinted at a big future for the band.
And speaking of big things—they’re headed to one of their biggest gigs yet: a major festival all the way in Birmingham, Alabama this October. Secret World is definitely a band to watch
The moment we were all waiting for finally arrived—the one and only Trophy Eyes hit the stage to the sound of Nas’ N.Y. State of Mind echoing through the speakers. As the band emerged, the crowd erupted in cheers, and the energy hit a peak the moment they launched into their opening track, Bandaid.
Crowd surfers immediately sprang into motion, prompting front man John to check in on the audience’s safety:
‘Alright, couple of rules—look after one another tonight, okay? If someone’s having a bad
time next to you, look out for them. If you’re having a bad time, try and leave the area.’
It was a heartfelt reminder that beyond the chaos, Trophy Eyes genuinely care about their fans.
From front to back, left to right, the room never stopped moving. The crowd sang every lyric with passion, especially during emotional standouts like Heaven Sent, What Hurts the Most, and Breathe You In, which even brought some to tears.
Mid-set, John encouraged everyone to pull out their phones and follow the supporting bands from the night on their streaming apps—a cool moment of solidarity—only to be met with a chorus of groans from fans who realised they had no reception underground. Hopefully, they hit ‘follow’ as soon as they resurfaced!
One of the night’s highlights for me was OMW—I’m a sucker for a good cowbell, and it did not disappoint. As the tour wraps up, Trophy Eyes are off to Europe next, including a stop at Download Festival. We wish them a safe journey and a wild time overseas—and let’s be honest, most of us probably wish we were going with them.
Huge thanks to the crew at 170 Russell for hosting such an unforgettable night, and to all the bands for delivering an incredible show.
Until next time!
