Review: Nev Pearce
Additional Photos: Melicious Photography
Last year, American murderfolk legend Amigo the Devil made his first trip down under to an incredible response. Not only did he completely pack out Vinnie’s Dive on the Gold Coast to test the waters, but tickets were in such high demand that it was inevitable he’d be back to play bigger shows. What I didn’t expect was for that return to happen quite so soon.
Amigo has returned just over a year since his last visit, this time bringing his full band with him. The lineup includes his sister Katerina (Katacombs) on keyboards and backing vocals, bassist Jason Deitz, and drummer Carson Kehrer and guitarist David Talley, who is also opening the tour with his solo material.
David Talley greets the crowd with a casual “well, shit,” seemingly surprised to see the room near full capacity as he kicks things off with “Raccoon.” And while his music isn’t well known to many here tonight, he sure as hell knows how to make an impression with his haunting take on old-western balladry.
Songs like Older Orphans and Cemetery Skyline from his Cabin Sessions EP sound incredible, but it’s the unreleased material that really stands out — blending deeply open-wounded lyrics on tracks like My Lover, My Loneliness and Ocean with the hilariously sharp storytelling of John Belushi and Dressing Up a Hard Time.
One of the highlights of his set is a slowed-down country version of Limp Bizkit’s Break Stuff, which somehow manages to be both strangely emotional and funny as hell at the same time.
I feel very lucky to have seen him perform his set at The Triffid tonight. You can just tell he’s on the brink of something huge, with a bright future ahead once the mainstream crowd gets their mitts on him. When he breaks, he’ll be everywhere — keep an eye on this guy.
Walking on stage to the Jurassic Park theme song, Amigo and his band are met with a loud, warm welcome before launching into It’s All Gone from his latest album Yours Until the War is Over. It’s an incredibly heavy way to start the night, especially given what he’s been through recently — changing the song’s ending lyrics to reflect his own loss after the tragic house fire that took everything from him. Watching him pour that pain into every word is heartbreaking, and it’s a testament to his resilience that he still made the journey down here to perform. The room feels it — and we are all right there with him.
Next up is Dahmer Does Hollywood, getting everyone singing along before the set moves into the deeply personal Cannibal Within. Then comes Once Upon a Time at Texaco Pt. 1, a perfect example of his dark and twisted storytelling about a robbery gone wrong.
Switching from banjo to acoustic guitar for Virtue and Vitriol, the band delivers an extended, epic ending that builds to full intensity before seamlessly transitioning into the fan favorite Murder at the Bingo Hall. The crowd always loves it, especially when the song pauses so Amigo can challenge everyone to scream the lyrics, “Someone should call the cops, I’m killin’ it,” ramping up the energy and fan interaction.
I Hope Your Husband Dies is another highlight — a darkly humorous story about Amigo’s love for a female friend he wished he had a chance with but missed his opportunity when she married another man. Plot twist: the husband actually ends up passing away. While he swears it’s a true story, there’s a mischievous sparkle in his eye that leaves you guessing whether it’s fact or fiction. This blurred line makes his twisted tales even more intriguing and hilarious, especially when he shares his insights into their backstories.
Next up, he brings out the true love of his life and partner, Gabby, for a duet of John Prine’s In Spite of Ourselves — a quirky little love song that leads into Dive Bar. Watching the two perform together adds an intimate, heartfelt moment and reveals a softer side of his onstage persona, bringing smiles to everyone in the room as they kiss and play off each other throughout the performance.
Hungover in Jonestown is a huge moment in the set, coming at just the right time when the crowd is already a few beers deep, sparking a wild and chaotic sing-along. Then the mood shifts to my personal favorite, the deeply emotional Cocaine and Abel, which hits even harder with the full band behind him. The song already packs a punch, but the extended, cinematic jam at the end takes it to another level, leaving many wiping tears from their eyes — myself included.
“I fucking hate encores — adult hide-and-seek bullshit,” he declares with a wry grin, cutting through the usual concert formalities. After thanking the fans and his band, he dives into a powerful closing trio: Hell and You, Perfect Wife, and Another Man’s Grave.
There really isn’t anything like an Amigo the Devil show — it’s an emotional rollercoaster filled with raw storytelling, dark humor, and moments that cut straight to the heart. It’s easy to see why he’s becoming one of the world’s most treasured performers.
You simply don’t get experiences like this every day, and you can bet that next time he returns, it will be to a bigger venue with an even larger fan base. His fellowship is growing with every click around the globe, and no matter where he goes, we’ll be there, following eagerly and excited to see where the journey leads next.
Come back soon!
AMIGO THE DEVIL
WITH SPECIAL GUEST DAVID TALLEY
Australian + New Zealand Tour 2025
Saturday 9 August – Factory Theatre, Sydney AU (full band)
Sunday 10 August – The Corner Hotel, Melbourne AU (full band)
Tuesday 12 August – Lion Arts Factory, Adelaide AU (full band)
Thursday 14 August – Amplifer Bar, Perth AU (full band)
Friday 15 August – Lyric’s Underground, Maylands AU (solo)
Sunday 17 August – Railway Club, Darwin AU (solo)
Thursday 21 August – Altar, Hobart AU (solo)
Friday 22 August – Royal Oak, Launceston AU (solo)
Tickets on sale now via Destroy All Lines
