Lyrics Underground, Friday May 15, 2026
Back down the steps to Lyrics Underground on a Friday night, and nothing beats going in blind and seeing what you get. Having not seen any of the bands before, we were in for an interesting night, and some real revelatory moments.
Walking into the venue, with lights flecking through smoky wisps, it was quite an experience hearing Black Swamp Sinners’ atmospheric guitar with lap-drum percussion. It was quiet, absorbing, and a really fine way to start their set. The drummer then switched to the kit and the duo proceeded to jam, in swampy Jimi Hendrix style, for the remainder of the set. Whatever that lap-drum thing was, more please.
Coldspring brought things back down to earth with a classic four-piece alt rock sound. With a sound somewhere between late-90s punk and the Aussie vocal-led bands like Camp Cope, they had some catchy tunes and a tight sound. And here’s me seeing the name and thinking they might have been an Offspring tribute. They were not!
The young lads of Figgy Tuna took to the stage next with some excellent songwriting. With vocals and bass handled up front, and a couple of guitars sharing lead and rhythm duties, the band had a full, energetic sound. The main thing that shone through above everything else was the quality of the songs. The band have been together for four years, forming in high school playing covers at first. Knowing this, we can only say keep at it with the originals and get more gigs under your belt. The potential is well and truly there.
To the headliners: Jacobin Caesar. The three-piece have a good balance between quirky stage presence and solid songs, with their frontman donning proper over-ear earmuffs for most of the set. Plugged straight into the PA without a guitar amp in sight, the guitar sound was unusual and helped by the excellent songwriting. Imagine a quirkier Creedence mixed with the modern rock acts like Kings of Leon. Definitely keeping an eye on where these guys take this sound. If this is anything to go by, expect bigger things to come.
Lyrics Underground is a fantastic venue, and good to see some of the younger, up-and-coming bands up on the stage showing us the shape of things to come.
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