Frenzal Rhomb's 23rd anniversary tour of Sans Souci @ The Warehouse, Townsville - Sept 19 2026

I think the last time I saw Frenzal Rhomb was at Brisbane's Livid Festival sometime in the late 1990s. Whether it was 1995 or 1999, I can't quite remember, but I do know I was keen to see them again all these years later as they celebrated the 23rd anniversary of Sans Souci. Released in 2003, it was an album that spent plenty of time in my headphones while walking to work during my years living in London in the mid-2000s. So when the opportunity came to revisit those songs live in Townsville, I jumped at it.

The night opened with a pair of enjoyable support acts. Anty, best known from The Bennies, was a lot of fun, blending ska-punk and reggae influences through tracks from The Anty Affliction, along with One Step Beyond, a fresh reimagining of the Madness classic. Local high school outfit Relaxolotyl also performed an energetic pop-punk set that included their original song Sunburnt and a ripping cover of The Hives' Hate to Say I Told You So. It's always encouraging to see young local bands confidently sharing a stage with Australian punk royalty.

Taking the stage just before 10pm to a solid mid-sized crowd, Frenzal Rhomb wasted no time getting things underway. Opening with the ever-subtle Stand Up and Be C#nted, they launched straight into a set packed with the fast, loud, hilarious and gloriously expletive-filled punk rock that has made them one of Australia's most enduring bands.

The main attraction was a complete performance of Sans Souci, played in its entirety, but the band also sprinkled in fan favourites from across their catalogue, including Never Had So Much Fun, You Are Not My Friend and my personal favourite, Punch in the Face. Looking around the room, it was clear the audience had grown up with Frenzal Rhomb. Many probably discovered them through CDs, while some may even remember the early cassette releases before those relics disappeared into music history.

More than two decades after its release, Sans Souci still holds up brilliantly. There's plenty of humour to be found in tracks like Russell Crowe's Band, Bucket Bong and 60, Beautiful and Mine. The latter even reminded me a little of The Darkness' Dinner Lady Arms, another song that received plenty of spins during those London years.

Between songs, vocalist Jayson Whalley and guitarist Lindsay McDougall kept the crowd entertained with the kind of effortless banter they've clearly perfected over years of friendship and their time working together at triple j. McDougall also switched dexterously to acoustic guitar for some of the softer moments, providing a nice contrast amid the chaos.

Their conversations wandered through memories of previous Townsville appearances at venues such as The Playpen, Bombay Rock and The Venue. There were affectionate observations about local landmarks, including the Rock Pool and Magnetic Island, some jokes about introducing children to pill presses, a few digs at Pauline Hanson, and Jay’s thoughts about turning 53 this year.

One exchange in particular had me in stitches. The pair discussed the recurring themes of their songwriting: being a c#nt (Looking Good), environmental collapse (Lead Poisoned Jean), and the consequences of bad decisions (You'll Go to Jail), all topics explored on the album being celebrated on this tour. The irony, of course, is that Sans Souci roughly translates from French as "no worries". I laughed when they reinforced their band motto - it's not just good, it's good enough.

Among all the laughs, there was also a surprisingly touching moment when the band acknowledged drummer Gordy Forman's father, whose image appears on the album cover. It was a brief tribute but one that added a layer of warmth and humanity beneath the usual irreverence.

One newer song that sat comfortably alongside the older material was Where Drug Dealers Take Their Kids from 2023's The Cup of Pestilence. It remains a fast-paced punk gem, and if you've never seen the animated music video, do yourself a favour and look it up.

As the set rolled on, it became increasingly clear how well Sans Souci has aged. The songs remain funny, sharp and surprisingly relevant, while Frenzal Rhomb themselves sound every bit as energetic and entertaining as they did decades ago.

Even when the set was over, the night wasn't quite done. Lindsay stuck around at the merch desk, chatting with fans and making himself available for photos before unexpectedly launching into an acoustic number for the remaining handful of hanger-ons still refusing to call it a night. It was a lovely touch and proof that, beneath all the profanity, and bad-decision anthems, Frenzal Rhomb are still a band that genuinely appreciates their audience.

Next year marks the 30th anniversary of Meet the Family, the album that introduced me to the band and one of their first CDs I purchased. With its wonderfully weird cover art and a stack of classic tracks that didn't make this tour's setlist, it remains a personal favourite. Here's hoping 2027 brings a full Meet the Family anniversary tour and, more importantly, that they make their way back to North Queensland to celebrate it.