DZ Deathrays certainly don’t mess around when it comes to live shows.
On March 22, the Brisbane trio brought their no-nonsense brand of thrash-party energy to Miami Marketta on the Gold Coast, ripping through a career-spanning set that left little room to breathe.
The crowd packed in early, with the venue’s industrial layout—part open-air, part warehouse—making for a gritty, close-quarters setup that worked in the band’s favour. The sound was tight, with the mix staying punchy across the board, even as the energy dialled up.
They opened with ‘Teeth’, immediately setting the tone. Sharp, loud, and locked-in. From there, it was a fast descent into ‘In To It’ and ‘Total Meltdown’, both of which got a strong crowd response. There wasn’t much banter—just a tight set delivered with intent.
‘Polyanna’ and ‘Keep Myself on Edge’ hit early in the set, reminding long-time fans that DZ haven’t lost their edge. Shane Parsons’ vocals cut through with urgency, while Simon Ridley and Lachlan Ewbank kept things anchored without losing momentum.
The band didn’t lean too hard on nostalgia, though. Tracks like ‘Tuff Luck’ and ‘Ocean Exploder’ showed they’re still pushing forward sonically, mixing thick riffs with the kind of groove that keeps heads nodding even when bodies are too wrecked to move.
Mid-set, ‘Like People’ and ‘Cops Capacity’ turned things up another notch. These tracks hit heavier live than on record, with the room reacting accordingly—pits opened, drinks flew, and the band powered through without hesitation.
‘Paranoid’ and ‘Eating Me Alive’ brought a slightly darker edge, but it didn’t derail the pace. If anything, it helped reset the tone before launching into the home stretch.
The final run was as relentless as the opening. ‘Shred for the Summer’ and ‘First Night Fever’ locked in hard, before ‘Gina Works at Hearts’ closed the night with the kind of controlled chaos that DZ have made their trademark.
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