YOURS TRULY | MAX WATTS
It had been a hazy weekend, let alone past couple of weeks, and as the brisk air curled around my already freezing nose, I felt a small grin tug at my mouth. It’s been close to a month since my last gig, and also a solid year since I’ve gone to one alone. The train ride in was quiet, but the mission down Swanston St was brimming with flashing lights, chatter and busking, the usual clashing smells making me consider going on a side quest to devour a crèpe. The impulses won me over, and as I got stamped and rushed down the stairs into Max Watts, the lights dimmed as Besties took to the stage.
Photo Credit: Selena Hema
The Sydney based pop-punk four piece vibrated the stage with grinning enthusiasm, slamming through some of their tracks like “racecar” and “theme song”. Lead singer Max Pasalic enamoured the room with his presence, and each song was interludes with giggling banter. Their backdrop was black, projected with white writing that read “This is a band called Besties, it is NOT the band Metallica,” which was as tongue in cheek as the band's attitude. They finished up on their collab track with the only and only Yours Truly, called “love bombs”, the perfect send off and hype up for the sets to come.
Next to the stage, all the way from Los Angeles, was the duo Senses. I’ve heard a few of their tracks over the years, and was very excited to get to see them on their first tour down under, and they did not disappoint. Not a moment went by when Madison Taylor and Nick Sampson were not giving it their all. Electricity flowed through Taylor’s incredibly proud voice, belting effortlessly through unforgettable bridges in “Nosebleed” and “Playing Dead”. Their cover of “Good Luck Babe” took the original song and elevated it into an emo anthem, and they had completely won over the audience by the end of their final song “Better Than This”.
Photo Credit: Selena Hema
I snuck out of the pit to pinch a cheeky cigarette, and once again my timing was on point as the outro to The Veronica’s “Untouched” faded, so did the soft white stage lights. A low drone filled the room, and one by one the band took to the stage as the slammed into an instrumental version of “Love Feels Like”. Seamlessly transitioning into “Back 2 U”, a jolt shocked the venue as teal strobes washed over the crowd. It was a bold, brash opener, setting the tone for the emotional rollercoaster ahead. Touring in support of their latest record, TOXIC, the band arrived sharp, honed, and ready to shake walls—and they did just that.
Mikaila Delgado was magnetic. She wore a white leather corset and platform boots , she owned the stage with a charisma that felt both intimate and invincible. Her vocals were clear, aching, furious. They cut through the room as she led the crowd through “Hallucinate” and “Walk Over My Grave”, songs that thrummed with vulnerability yet never felt fragile. Her connection to the fans was palpable; between songs, she shared stories of navigating life’s battles, and healing—a nod to the deeper themes of TOXIC, all while cracking jokes and beaming down at the crowd.
The band behind her - Teddie Winder-Haron (guitar), and Henry Beard (drums) - were thunderous and tight. The dual guitars were sharp and melodic, weaving through tracks like “Sinking” and “Sour” with both bite and beauty. “Circles” was a standout—a dark, swelling anthem that had the crowd screaming every word. They closed with “Call My Name”, a furious, high-tempo burst that left the venue trembling. Guitars squealed as waves of fans headbanged and sung along. Delgado stood atop a stage monitor, roaring the final chorus with defiance and joy, then thanking the crowd graciously alongside the rest of the band.
Yours Truly’s show was more than just a performance, it was a declaration. Of resilience, of evolution, and of the power of community in alternative music. The band has never sounded tighter or more self-assured, and TOXIC has brought a new fire to their live show. This wasn’t just a night to remember. It was a band proving they’re no longer the future of Aussie rock - they’re the now.
Photo Credit: Selena Hema
