Words by Luke Murphy
As part of this issue’s attempt to get you to listen to more Australian music, we thought we’d do a simple ‘if you like that, then maybe try this’ to give you a good start.
If you like The Distillers, maybe try Press Club
Melbourne’s Press Club channel the same raw, throat-shredding energy Brody Dalle brought to The Distillers, with frontwoman Natalie Foster delivering ferocious, unguarded vocals over tight, driving punk rock. If you miss Dalle’s snarl and the band’s mix of vulnerability and aggression, Press Club’s Late Teens and Wasted Energy scratch that exact itch. The fact they aren’t playing stadiums is a crime against humanity.
If you like Pkew Pkew Pkew, maybe try Dune Rats
Brisbane’s Dune Rats trade in the same beer-soaked, no-frills party punk as Pkew Pkew Pkew, all shout-along choruses, dumb jokes and riffs built for a backyard show. Their album The Kids Will Know It’s Bullshit hit #1 in Australia, proof that gleeful, unpretentious punk can still land big.
If you like Weezer, maybe try Klinger
This ’90s Melbourne outfit mined the same fuzzy, hook-heavy power-pop vein as early Weezer, pairing crunchy guitars with self-deprecating, melodic songwriting. They toured with Green Day and Everclear and landed two songs in Triple J’s Hottest 100 in 2000, so there’s real substance behind the nostalgia pick.
If you like Beabadoobee, maybe try Mallrat
Brisbane’s Grace Shaw (Mallrat) writes the same kind of intimate, genre-blurring bedroom pop that made Beabadoobee a breakout, drifting between hazy dream-pop, rap cadences and sharp pop hooks. Tracks like ‘Charlie’ and ‘Groceries’ show off the same knack for turning small, personal moments into huge choruses.
If you like Atmosphere, maybe try Horrorshow
Sydney duo Horrorshow (rapper MC Solo and producer Adit) share Atmosphere’s introspective, storytelling approach to hip hop, favouring thoughtful lyricism over bravado. Albums like King Amongst Many (ARIA #2) show the same soulful production and emotional honesty that defines Atmosphere’s catalogue.
If you like The Menzingers, maybe try Sly Withers
Perth’s Sly Withers write the same kind of heart-on-sleeve, gang-vocal rock as The Menzingers, blending punk urgency with genuinely affecting songwriting. Their ARIA top-10 album Gardens and singles like ‘Clarkson’ show a band equally comfortable with big anthemic choruses and quieter, reflective moments.
If you like Jawbreaker, maybe try Blueline Medic
This Melbourne band wore its Jawbreaker influence proudly, fusing melodic punk with introspective, emotionally raw songwriting. Their 2001 debut The Apology Wars (on Fueled by Ramen) captures that same tension between pop hooks and lived-in, cracked-voice honesty.
