4 April 2025 – Old Bundy Tavern, Bundaberg – words and pictures by Brad Fry
The clouds hung low and the rain fell just enough to keep me on my toes as I drove from Gladstone to Bundaberg. Turning off the Bruce Highway at Miriam Vale and taking the back roads was slightly risky due to the flooding that can occur after prolonged periods of rain (which we have just had). I had been watching the road closures website off and on all day hoping to see an uninterrupted path to Bundy and this is exactly what I got (save for a few potholes).
Playing chess on my phone, waiting for the doors to open, I could hear muffled sound checks happening upstairs in the function room. It was nearly time to climb the stairs for the Weekend Warriors Tour and enjoy the type of chaos and catharsis that only a DZ Deathrays show can evoke. Hailing from Bundy, tonight would be DZ’s first ever show in the town where it all began. Along for the ride were support acts Semantics and Trim Reaper who were a perfect choice and wasted no time in getting the crowd primed for the local legends.
Trim Reaper’s dreamy vibe enveloped the crowd immediatly. Their sound was almost dance like, electric and ethereal. Delay soaked jangly riffs, powerful drumming and timeless vocals had the Bundy locals hooked. Trim Reaper is made up of Matthew Somers – Guitar, Vocals and George Browning – Drums (filling in for Michael Hardy who is 1/2 of Trim Reaper but due to work commitments couldn’t make the gig). I knew we were in for something different when Matthew put on over-ear headphones. Tweaking his guitar pedal knobs during songs he was like an artist mixing hues on a pallet. Samples, backing tracks and loops over live music. They were so hard to pigeon hole style wise making Trim Reaper memorable in all the right ways.
Trim Reaper – Old Bundy Tavern – photos by Brad Fry
Semantics’ emotionally charged punk anthems brought enthusiastic singalongs, cheers and a multitude of fist pumping through the set. The Brisbane based quartet are made up of Mitch Lawrence – drums, Madi Tunstall – Bass, Zac Roberton – Guitar and Callum Robinson – Guitar/Lead Vocals. Stoked for the full house so early in the night, Callum heaped praise on the Bundy locals who returned the love in spades. The 9 song set had an energy about it that the crowd fed off. Moshing started early in the set and was brutal ! I witnessed somebody get flung into the barricade backwards, hit the floor and get back up to continue moshing (they breed em tough in Bundy). Tight music and genuinely cool people endeared Semantics to the rum city crowd. Semantics will be welcomed back with open arms to Bundaberg and rightly so. They are a band full of talent and personality.
Semantics – Old Bundy Tavern – photos by Brad Fry
From the moment the opening drum beats of ‘Blood On My Leather’ boomed across the room, the energy was relentless on both sides of the barricade. In fact, the crowd started moshing when Thin Lizzy’s; ‘The Boys Are Back In Town’, played announcing the arrival of DZ to the stage. The band wasted no time ripping into their set, blasting through a mix of new material and old-school bangers. ‘Gina Works at Hearts’ sent the front rows into a frenzy, while the recently released ‘Like No Other’ was met with just as much enthusiasm—proof that DZ Deathrays are still evolving while keeping their signature high-voltage sound intact. Shane Parsons brought his effortlessly cool vibe to stage left as he poured out his lyrics with precision and passion. Drummer Simon Ridley played like a man possessed, his thunderous beats acting as the backbone to the night’s controlled chaos. Guitarist Lachlan Ewbank added an extra layer of ferocity, thickening the band’s sonic assault to near-apocalyptic levels. The trio moved like a well-oiled wrecking machine, effortlessly shifting from thrashy punk to groove-laden breakdowns without missing a beat.
DZ Deathrays – Old Bundy Tavern – photos by Brad Fry
There was something special about watching DZ Deathrays play Bundaberg—an undeniable full-circle moment. Front man Shane Parsons took a brief pause between songs to acknowledge the town and their roots, lamenting that it had taken them so long to play there. The crowd roared in response, making it clear that Bundaberg had been waiting for this moment just as long. It was so hot in the room you could feel the heat coming from the crowd as they danced, sung and writhed under the influence of DZ’s spell (and possibly some of the local “sugarcane champagne”). Parsons ands Ewbank took themselves to the barricade for a number of songs which sent the crowd wild as they clambered for phones to record the moment for prosperity. As the final song hit—an explosive rendition of ‘Shred For Summer’—the venue descended into beautiful chaos. Bodies surged forward, beers went flying, and the band gave it everything they had left in the tank. When the last note rang out and the trio left the stage, the euphoric crowd knew they had just witnessed something special.
DZ Deathrays – Old Bundy Tavern – photos by Brad Fry
For a band that has played festivals and clubs around the world, DZ Deathrays’ show in Bundaberg proved that sometimes, nothing beats coming to a regional (and in this case, home town) pub and blowing the roof off the place. DZ Deathrays’ return to their hometown of Bundaberg felt less like a gig and more like a long-overdue house party soaked in sweat, beer, and searing guitar riffs. The trio delivered a blistering set that, no doubt, left The Old Bundy Tavern’s (est.1915) foundations rattling long after the amps powered down.
DZ Deathrays – Old Bundy Tavern – photos by Brad Fry
