CIVIC brings Australian punk fury to LA’s Echoplex

Los Angeles traffic is already insanity, but when protests shut down major arteries leading to Echo Park, even the most dedicated of punk fans found themselves stuck the night of June 6th, 2025. Missing opener Whoremones was a bummer, but arriving just as Spunk took the stage at The Echoplex turned out to be perfect timing.

From the sewers of Hacienda Heights, Spunk delivers on their reputation — pure, unfiltered punk aggression.

Frontman Bruno Bones commands the stage with the kind of manic energy that made this old head think of Darby Crash tearing through a Germs set. The high school-aged band played like their lives depended on it, channeling that authentic punk fury that so many older acts struggle to recapture. Bones prowled the small stage, spitting lyrics with genuine venom while the rest of Spunk bashed out stripped-down punk anthems. It was a reminder that the best punk comes from kids who have something to prove and nothing to lose.

The Mainliners followed with their own brand of Hollywood punk and the energy didn’t drop for a second. The crowd, a healthy mix of grizzled punk veterans and younger faces, responded with enthusiasm. Stage-diving became the norm as fans literally threw themselves into the music. The band handled the chaos with seasoned professionalism, sharing the stage with anyone wanting to grab the mic and/or take a dive. It was punk rock democracy in action, the kind of interaction that makes smaller venues magical.

By the time CIVIC took the stage, the packed Echoplex was ready for another rowdy performance.

The Melbourne quartet didn’t disappoint, launching into “Starting All the Dogs Off” from their just-released album, Chrome Dipped. The song showcased the band’s evolution from their earlier garage punk sound into something more expansive and ambitious.

What struck immediately about CIVIC was their chemistry. Vocalist Jim McCullough and guitarist Lewis Hodgson have been friends in the Melbourne scene for years. “We used to punch on all the time,” Hodgson admitted during our chat with them at Punk Rock Bowling a couple of weeks back, laughing about their history before deciding to work together.

CIVIC’s set drew heavily from Chrome Dipped, with “The Hogg”, “Poison”, and “Trick Pony” before the title track hit especially hard with its driving rhythm and McCullough’s urgent vocals capturing the band’s vision of punk for the modern era.

But it was the older material that really got the crowd moving.

“End of the Line” from 2023’s Taken by Force had the entire room circling, while “Just a Fix” and “Call the Doctor” showed everyone why CIVIC built their reputation as one of Australia’s most exciting punk exports. “New Vietnam” sparked the pit, with bodies flying and fists raised everywhere.

Let it be known also that this band’s approach to punk goes well beyond simple three-chord bashers. “It’s a common misconception that it’s fucking easy to play punk,” Hodgson explained. “To get hooks, it’s the whole lot. It’s not just pummeling.” That philosophy showed throughout their set, where many of their songs demonstrated their ability to craft memorable melodies within punk’s framework.

The crowd at The Echoplex seemed to understand this philosophy perfectly. With ages ranging from teenagers to Gen X’ers (who’ve been in the pit since the early days), all were willing missionaries of CIVIC’s ethos by the end of “Swing of the Noose”, the final song of their 18-song set.

CIVIC’s current tour, which kicked off at Punk Rock Bowling in Vegas, represents a major step for the Australian band. “It’s fucking surreal,” McCullough admitted about playing such iconic venues.

“I had a meltdown the day after we got here because it was so intense, so overwhelming.”

Well, for a scene that can sometimes feel ‘stuck in the past’, nights like June 6th prove punk’s future is in good hands. Between Spunk’s youthful fury, The Mainliners’ polished chaos, and CIVIC’s commanding presence, The Echoplex showcased three different approaches to the same fundamental idea: play it loud, play it fast, and mean every note.

As McCullough put it when asked about advice for young bands: “Write shit that actually means something to you. Don’t buy other people’s styles — be true to yourself. Don’t be afraid to fail, because you’re gonna fucking fail so many times. But, each time you learn and it gets better.”

Amen to that and to aspiring bands playing one sweaty club show at a time!

Photography by Shane Pase

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