"Me and the boys, we've been in a band for almost 10 years now. We think it's pretty special to be all the way on the other side of the world playing over in Boston, and you all came out to see us play." - Amy Taylor

Australian punk-rockers Amyl and The Sniffers animated Boston's Roadrunner at the Cartoon Darkness World Tour. The group is known for its blunt, brash, and empowering discography, drawing in a line that extended around Guest Street. Fans of all ages were decked out in black crochet boleros, oversized t-shirts with bikini trompe-l'œil graphics, and gelled mohawk hairstyles.

The night began with Philadelphia-born rock group Sheer Mag. Their powerful sound infused energy into the venue, with every fan glued to lead singer Christina Halladay's raspy and commanding voice. The band decorated the stage with giant dice and stage fans that blew Halladay's curly locks into the air. Songs like "Steel Sharpens Steel" and "Playing Favorites" compelled the venue to bounce along.

Soon after, the lights dimmed, and fans released thunderous cheers and yelps. Vocalist Amy Taylor jumped onto the stage to the band's walk-out song, "Destination Calabria feat. Crystal Waters" by Alex Gaudino. Before kicking off their set, Taylor yelled, "If anybody falls down, you help them up. Don't touch anyone who doesn't want to be touched," reminding fans about the power of community at live shows. Amyl and The Sniffers kicked off the night with the electric song "Control" from their self-titled debut album. Taylor effortlessly commanded the crowd, making it fitting that she was singing about how control is "the reason I exist."

Her beloved thickly accented voice bounced off the walls as she spit between verses, creating an electric atmosphere. Taylor wore a laced-up leather corset bodysuit and bold eye makeup and carried a bedazzled microphone. She stomped her feet and threw her head back and forth to the sharp instrumentation provided by drummer Bryce Wilson, guitarist Declan Mehrtens, and bassist Gus Romer.

The venue emphatically sang along to every word, with most fans opting to wave their arms in the air instead of watching the show through their phone screens. Taylor paused between songs to grab a bouquet of roses and a letter from an admirer at the barricade who had the band name tattooed on their arm. The quartet fed on each other's aura, frequently coming together in the middle of the stage to do jumping jacks and push-ups to hype everyone up.

Life imitated art during "Freaks To The Front" when a sea of crowd suffers floated to the barricade and mosh pits opened up throughout the crowd. Taylor's bleach blonde wolf cut stole the show by creating a mesmerizing dynamic blur with each hair flip while she invited the "freaks to the front / Everyone in this room deserves to have fun." There lies the mission of the show. The band created a fun and vibrant space where people could be present and lose themselves in the cathartic music.

"I'll tell you what. I've been down before guys and you know what I learned on the streets of Boston? You can give in, you can give out, but you can never give up." - Declan Mehrtens

Taylor infused humor into the set, orchestrating a call and response during the song "Got You," where she asked "just the ugly ones" to sing and then "just the dumb ones" while placing the mic in front of her bandmates.

"When it comes to powerful women, people seem to only be able to absorb it when it comes in a sexual form...But women can be smart and ugly. Women can be strong and ugly. Women can be strong and thankful without needing to be sexual. Women can be sexual and strong. They can be smart and strong." - Amy Taylor

The energy peaked during the feminist anthem "Tiny Bikini," which the band recently performed on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on May 14. The song serves as a powerful commentary and playful escape from reality, made clear by the fans dancing in the audience with no reservations. Their performance effortlessly balanced this release with care, pausing during "Me and The Girls" when someone had a medical emergency in the crowd, saying they wouldn't play while someone needed help. Later in the set, Taylor checked with staff to ensure they were safe, announcing the good news to the audience.

Amyl and the Sniffers proved that cheeky, euphoric, rough, and passionate energies not only coexist with kindness and community, but that each of these elements are fundamental aspects of punk subculture.

"You never know what somebody's gone through or what somebody's going through. Everybody reacts differently to pain and trouble, so just have compassion. I don't think there's enough of that right now...We need some patience with people." - Amy Taylor

They returned for a two-song encore, jokingly dedicating "Big Dreams" to the "incoming recession" before ending with "GFY." The setlist spanned fan favorites and deep cuts, holding the energy at an impossibly high level the entire night. The band crafted an indescribable and unbridled sense of freedom and connection. Taylor's quotes inspired audiences to remember that acting with true unrestraint and abandon includes uplifting those around you. Make sure to catch Amyl and The Sniffers before the Cartoon Darkness World Tour ends in November. Buy tickets here.