Ur A Rat: WAAX Concert Review

One of the bands that inspired me to start The LayMusic is WAAX. After hearing Labrador on Triple J, I fell in love with the powerful punk rock act and frontwoman Maz DeVita’s incredible delivery that impressed even more live. In 2023, as the financial crisis we’re in the thick of now seemed to get its initial footing, the band announced they would be going on hiatus. It was heartbreaking and a big loss to the rock scene in Australia with the unique impact WAAX had on fans of the genre.

That’s why I’m especially glad to be standing outside The Brightside tonight, in front of a massive stage where WAAX is set to perform their first show (SOLD OUT!) of their 2025 single tour Ur A Rat. It’s an exciting and unexpected addition to their catalogue and a resurgence of a band that we never should have lost. And leading us on the road back tonight are three incredible support acts to hype us up!

This is what happened at WAAX’s Ur A Rat show at The Brightside on August 29, 2025.

SEEING VIOLET

Our first local act for the evening is alt rock band Seeing Violet. If we’ve started out this strong then I can’t wait to see what’s next. Seeing Violet features Madeline Hobbs (vocals, guitar), Ryan Smith (guitar) and Rob Forrester (bass) who work brilliantly on stage to craft a vivid sonic experience. Madeline’s sultry rock vocals carried beautifully into the evening air, perfectly complimented by the steely rock sound that felt like a flashback to the best of the early 2000s. I loved the band’s ability to give every part of the music its moment to shine, adding layers to the each song that kept the music fun and exciting.

Fave song: Don’t Touch Me

MANNEQUIN DEATH SQUAD

Elly and Dan, who form a duo as cool as the name suggests, played an epic heavy rock set that had fans begging for more by the end of the set. With Elly on guitar, Dan on drums, and both carrying the lyrics with strong vocals and the occasional guttural growl, the band kicked things into higher gear and led a head banging crowd through a solid half hour of untamed energy. Three songs in, the crowd was in awe as the pair swapped places and showcased their talents as multi-instrumentalists, with the set only getting more exciting from there! I was struck by their mastering with pacing, often slowing the music right down before an explosive rebound which was like being on a rollercoaster and getting ready for the sudden drop. The energy on stage was electric and definitely converted the crowd to the Mannequin Death Squad.

Fave song: Shame

WORM GIRLZ

The Brisbane/Magandjin five-piece Worm Girlz was our last phenomenal support act of the evening. I love that each band tonight highlights a different aspect of the rock genre and Worm Girlz is a political indie-rock group with a flair for the dramatic. Stepping out, all dressed in red showed unison between the members without removing their individuality. The band consists of Lauren Rowe, Angela Gail, Isabella Wood de Melo, Nikolai Bray and Jade Montgomery and each member contributes to an exhilarating rock set that sees the band address gritty topics like sexism and dysmorphia with a sarcastic wit and edgy attitude. Dance breaks and tongue-in-cheek commentary make this more than music, especially when the intricacy of the message Worm Girlz carries is highlighted in the lyrics, the instrumentation and the on-stage antics. They’re not just ‘punk’ in aesthetics - they actually get what it means to care enough to scream about it.

Fave song: Get Ugly!

WAAX

We were suddenly thrust into the darkness of the night, the cool air flowing around us as the anticipation electrified the audience. Bassist Izzy de Leon, guitarists Karelia Moloney and Jonathan Tooke, and drummer Rangi Barnes took their places on stage and slowly built up for the arrival of the band’s singer, Maz. She soaked in the beaming faces and affectionate cheers from the crowd, before stepping up to the mic to play the ethereal, heartbreaking Mermaid Beach, which seemed to take the form of an acknowledgement of everyone’s feelings on the band’s departure, before amping up into an excited celebration of WAAX’s return.

The performance for the next hour was as untamed and energetic as ever, with Maz singing and rocking out on stage as if she’d never left. The musicians joining her did a fantastic job matching the energy from the audience, who weren’t afraid to get rough throughout the night. Screaming back every lyric and flipping the bird along with the band during FU showed the powerful return to form. The set featured some of the iconic punk anthems that WAAX has released in the last decade, but complemented these with their more melancholic rock features, like You Wouldn’t Believe and the romantic History.

The enthusiasm during the tour’s featured single Ur A Rat was a great sign that we’re all eager for more to come soon! It was a highlight of the night, alongside the seizure-inducing This Everything, which saw Maz running up and down the stage and almost leaping off into the crowd. Of course, she came down and sang straight to the fans not long after, with fans going wild to get a chance to sing up close with the adored singer. The hardest part was singing the band’s “last” song, Wild & Weak…

But of course that wasn’t enough and a screaming audience garnered a stacked encore, featuring guest singers from the support acts in the evening for Same Same and the iconic Labrador. I’m hoping Brisbane will be the crowd to beat, but there’s still plenty of time for the rest of the cities on the Ur A Rat tour to sell out and show up. With a killer line up and an incredible show from WAAX, there’s no reason to miss out, especially for fans of the punk rock genre. WAAX continues to be a formidable player in the music scene, coming back strong from what will (hopefully) be their last hiatus for a good while.

Fave song: Ur A Rat

SOUNDS GOOD?

WAAX is one of my favourite punk rock bands in Australia, shining through in a strong music scene. If you like this genre and you love WAAX, chances are you’ll enjoy these acts too:

Stand Atlantic – Another female-led punk band, Stand Atlantic have a shinier pop take on this heavy genre. If you liked Paramore in their transition from punk to pop, you’ll enjoy Stand Atlantic just as much. Plus, they know how to put on a super memorable show (and after party!).

Tired Lion – This WA-band are great at building up to explosive rock moments in their nostalgia-inducing indie rock songs. With strong guitar throughout and passionate vocals in the choruses, Tired Lion is a band who wants you scream alongside them as they reflect on youth and relationships.

Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers – Vocalist Anna Ryan’s sweet and sultry voice lead this feminist rock band through stories of sexism and female rage, reclaiming power in the musical space. The edginess of their music and wry sense of humour make for a layered experience as a listener, with loads of repeat value and a great set in a live show.