Strung Out
Updated: 4 days ago
Strung Out and Rat Salad live at Rosemount Hotel | 16 September 2026
Punters came down early to check out American band Strung Out on the Perth Leg of their Australian tour. Part of the 30th anniversary celebration of the release of their seminal record Suburban Teenage Wasteland Blues. The night made for heady concoction punk rock antics from both the band and crowd. Coupled with Geraldton rockers Rat Salad to set the mood right early into the evening. It made for a diabolical night of rock anthems and crowd shenanigans.
Rat Salad were eclectic and fun. With a stage presence that was larger than life. There was something for everyone. Whether it was intensive sax solos, or cartwheels and impromptu gymnastics from Jaz McCartney. It made for a wild ride. There was a moment when McCartney dived head first into the crowd whilst various Star Wars theme tune tracks from the Mos Eisley Cantina Theme to the Imperial March were played. With McCartney standing on the shoulders of one of the punters and doing a shoey.
There was something tongue-in-cheek about their set. Whether it was gaslighting the crowd into questioning if they really were vaping dealers. Their sound was as tenacious and cheeky as their humor, with a live versatility that rocked hard out hard.
The wait for Strung Out wasn’t too long. Their set opened to Frank Sinatra crooning across the PA. Inserting a subversive level of class throughout the venue. With some punters jaunting side to side like they were in a Sinatra stage show themselves. Once the band members arrived on stage, like a stamped of Wilder Beast. Several punters decided to surge forward from the back of the bar. Making it easy for you to be pushed back by a boxing day tsunami of black tees, middle-aged beards and beer breath.
Despite this, it is the antics from the crowd that make half the fun at these gigs. Watching the mosh pit from the elevated stepped area of the venue. You could see a scene of confusing delight, and delirium. There was a lot of fun in watching the crowd surfers go well, everywhere. With one punter even landing feet first onto the stage with the band. And like some mad maverick, diving straight back into the crowd with the finesse of an Olympic diver.
Other crowd surfers became obsessed with trying to grab onto the support beam close to the ceiling. With every probable of intention of wanting to literally bring the roof down. Many punters failed to grasp it, for they were too heavy. And gravity was too strong. Something easily forgotten when you are intoxicated.
Strung Out were incredibly stoked to play in Perth. Providing adoring punters with a heady, eclectic mixture of heavy rock and intense noise. Many punters were left grinning ear to ear. With one of the punters summing up the sentiment nicely. Slapping me hard across the chest in a barrage of enthusiasm (and a few broken ribs). It there was any passion felt in that swing that imaginably left a red mark on my chest. Then I would say Strung Out definitely made a few happy campers catch them on their Perth leg.
Review by Joe Wilson
Photography by Ava Thomson
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