Friday 20 June
Supports: Senses (USA), Besties
Sydney alt/rock powerhouse trio Yours Truly kicked off the Toxic National tour in Brisbane Friday night, which brought laidback, pop punk antics to The Triffid. The night was full of firsts, with every band on the bill debuting new tracks live. But the most exciting debut came from Los Angeles alt-punk duo Senses, who played their first-ever Australian show.
Opening the night were Sydney pop punkers Besties, who wasted no time setting the tone with a nu-metal twist—blasting Limp Bizkit’s ‘Rollin’ as their intro track. The crowd was still trickling in, but frontman Max Pasalic made sure all eyes (and ears) were on the stage, delivering a high-octane performance that punched well above warm-up duties. From the auto-tuned, power-pop shimmer of ‘Race Car‘ to a punk-charged cover of Pink’s ‘Who Knew’, Besties kept things fun, loud and relentlessly catchy. The only minor disappointment came at the close, when their collab track ‘Lovebombs‘ missed the anticipated appearance from Yours Truly’s Mikaila Delgado. Still, the boys left the stage having won over more than a few new fans in Brisbane that evening.
Opening with ‘Diamond On Your Dagger‘, LA alt-punk duo Senses lit up The Triffid with a set that pulsed with raw energy and unshakable confidence. From the first note, their edgy presence was infectious. Frontwoman Madison Taylor’s powerhouse vocals soared above glitchy punk riffs and driving drums by bandmate Nick Sampson, her performance magnetic and seemingly effortless. Emo melodies and bleak, biting lyrics collided beautifully on tracks like ‘Stabiliser‘ and ‘Nosebleeds‘, which stood out as an early highlight.
The duo kept the momentum high as Taylor and Sampson debuted their brand-new single ‘Obsessed‘ to a roomful of fresh ears. Much like recent release ‘Clean Cut‘, the track delivered the band’s signature mix of angst, attitude and anthemic energy—tailor-made for emo playlists. As Madison tore through fan-favourite ‘Better Than This‘, it was clear that Brisbane had just been introduced to their next music obsession. Expect to see Senses back on Aussie stages very soon.
Having followed Yours Truly for the past five years, I’ve become well-acquainted with their back catalogue — so naturally, curiosity was high about how they’d open a new chapter with the darker, more mature tone of Toxic. That night at The Triffid, we were met with a band that’s grown into their skin. Confident, nuanced and stylistically bold, Yours Truly didn’t just perform—they owned the stage.
Frontwoman Mikaila Delgado wasted no time setting the tone, launching into ‘Back 2 U‘ and ‘Bloodshot Eyes‘ before swerving into the band’s rock-laced take on Charli XCX’s ‘Von Dutch‘ — an unexpected twist on the setlist that landed with conviction. Even during the glitchy pulse of ‘Lights On‘, the band never missed a beat, looking sharper than ever under the stage lights.
Between songs, banter from Mikaila and guitarist Teddie Winder-Haron injected a cheeky, relaxed vibe — proof they were right at home in front of Brisbane fans. This ease gave way to a set stacked with both new gems and time-tested anthems. ‘Circles‘ and ‘High Hopes‘ still had the pit bouncing with pop-punk euphoria, while ‘All That I’m Not‘ gave Mikaila the spotlight to let her vocals soar with newfound depth.
It was a wholesome night soaked in grit and growth, blending fan favourites with bold new moments. As the biting guitars of ‘Funeral Home‘ rang out to a chorus of voices singing every word, it became clear: Yours Truly aren’t just surviving the scene; they’re evolving within it. Through lineup changes and personal growth, Mikaila and Teddie continue to hold their ground with resilience and heart. Maybe that’s the secret. Maybe that’s why fans are still shouting their name five years on.
Review by Tamara May
Photos by Amy Driscoll
