Zebrahead started out in 1996 in California, founded by three of tonight's members, rap vocalist Ali Tabatabtee, drummer Ed Udhus, and bass player Ben Osmundson.
So it's probably no surprise their music – while quite innovative and original – has similarities to some of the huge bands from the same area and era, notably The Offspring and Green Day. Blink-182 and Linkin Park might also be reasonable comparators.
One other US band that springs to mind – the only one on my list not from the west coast – is Beastie Boys, given the rap-infused vocals that feature in so much of Zebrahead's music.
The band came to significant attention through the use of their music in early video games, notably the Tony Hawk skating game. I must admit to having landed on some excellent west-coast music through video games and high-energy sports videos being released at the time.
'Check' was that opening hit single, but it was 2000's 'Playmate Of The Year' album that finally saw them breakthrough, with its highly suggestive and somewhat inappropriate lyrics. Their huge album 'MFZB' was then released in 2003. This was the album that captured my attention, living in Japan at the time.
Zebrahead - image © Bill Prendergast
The album was a huge hit in Japan – no doubt tying back to the Japanese involvement in video games, and the band's love of the country – and they built a large following inside Japan. I admit to having had 'MFZB' on constant rotation on my pink iPod for a couple of months.
It was no surprise then there was a contingent of fanatical Japanese music lovers in the audience at the Crowbar show in Brisbane (12 October). Their five-city tour of Australia – their first outing down under in seven years – winds up in Brisbane, the perfect location for a raw-edged band with a reputation for very strong live performances.
Leading into the warm-up act, we're treated to a soundtrack chosen by the band. The only other band that comes to mind when looking for a relevant comparison of music styles – Australia's great The Living End – features. The link makes sense, given the punk influences of both bands.
Thomas Nicholas Band - image © Bill Prendergast
The Thomas Nicholas Band provided a great support act, sourced from their seven albums. The look was skate punk, and the music was quite simple. There was a lot of stage movement including leaps off the drum riser, and it was a thoroughly enjoyable set including a Blink-182 cover.
Later in the set, the drum work of Australian Scott Eckel was incredible, incorporating an almost jazzy feel at times, mixed with very light taps on the cymbal, with significant movement of his head, shoulders and flailing arms.
This is a very different style to Zebrahead's Udhus later in the evening, whose elbows rarely leave his waist, with most of the power coming from his wrists (not a criticism, just very different playing styles).
Zebrahead - image © Bill Prendergast
Nicholas is well-known for his acting role in the 'American Pie' series, and incorporates this into his music (and his music was used at times in the movies); he has a clear affection for Australia, this being his third set of local gigs this year.
As soon as Zebrahead's 90-minute set kicked off, it was obvious it was going to be a loose event (and I mean that in a positive way). Two skeletons came onto the stage with the band, located behind a Zebrahead bar at the back of the stage, to keep the band – and some of the audience – well lubricated.
Early pieces included 'We're Not Alright', which had an old-school punk feel, before they launched into one of the huge 'MFZB' songs, 'Hello Tomorrow'. For 'We're Not Alright', Tabatabaee was in the crowd, crouching on the floor, to get the crowd to launch as the song kicked off, facetiously offering various non-financial bribes to everyone in the crowd if they participated!
Zebrahead - image © Bill Prendergast
'Hello Tomorrow' provided a great energy, and Ali was demanding the first circle pit of the evening. It's something they've been doing for years at their shows, and helps really build the energy in the crowd (I wouldn't say it builds tension, as tonight's crowd is well behaved, creating a very positive vibe).
'Rescue Me', the opening song off 'MFZB', follows and is yet another wild version, and a clear crowd favourite. Ali has a few more inappropriate comments around the use of the merch takings for the evening, and after a couple of additional wild songs, including their most punk-infused song of the evening, 'No Tomorrow', the crowd is invited to share in Dylan's birthday celebration.
Dylan is one of the two drink-bearing skeletons, so it's only right he was asked to do a shoey, which as I saw it was from a sneaker thrown up from the crowd! Ali then tells the crowd in very clear language that Dylan wants to see how many crowd surfers they can get up for the next song (this may restrict the band to certain venues on Australian tours!).
Zebrahead - image © Bill Prendergast
Ali has a classic look of wonderment during the guitar solo, a look he repeats a number of times when moustachioed guitarist Dan Palmer plays a solo, and Ali crouches on the floor as if stunned by the incredulous guitar work.
Ali asked the crowd whether anyone was thirsty, before launching into the next set, with crowd members being asked onstage to enjoy the hospitality of the skeletons. The crowd was asked whether anyone liked Tony Hawk's 'Pro Skater', before they played 'Check'. We were told by Ali they don't play this song elsewhere, only in Australia.
The song was dedicated to everyone in the crowd, the band promising they will be back soon. A quick fact-check on setlist.com shows the claim is basically correct; they hadn't played 'Check' live since 2019, the year of their last concerts in Australia.
Zebrahead - image © Bill Prendergast
'Call Your Friends' morphed into the Ramones, which then morphed into a very brief cover of Green Day's 'Basket Case'. Ali then demanded another circle pit for the entire final song, which was 'Anthem'.
The encore was heralded by guitarist Adrian Estrella screaming "we're f...en back!", before playing what I thought was the evening's highlight, 'Falling Apart'. The night had been very loose to that point, so this song made perfect sense.
This time Ali had the room splitting and charging into a single pit. This song is famous for its tie-in with the US wrestling franchise. Ali and the band's shared repeated refrain was perfect for this evening: "You can't control me, you can't control me, everything's falling apart!"
I admit to being a little surprised, as the crowd was a slightly more restrained for this classic than I had expected (and relative to the earlier part of the set); maybe the punters were just weary from already having given so much energy to the band.
Zebrahead - image © Bill Prendergast
One more crowd pleaser, 'All My Friends Are Nobodies' wound up the set. Shortly after, band members were spotted sharing a drink at the bar with the audience, as they had promised earlier in the evening.
Overall, this was a great evening. The music is not to everyone's taste, but it would be hard to find a higher-energy show that left no one disappointed. This is definitely a band to be seen when they are next back in Australia.
More photos from the concert.
