Las Vegas may glitter in neon, but Phoenix buzzed with pure punk electricity when Amyl and the Sniffers took over The Van Buren on April 10, 2025. By the time Sheer Mag—the riotous opening act—left the stage, the venue was packed shoulder-to-shoulder with fans eager for a cathartic release. When the lights cut and the band hit the stage, the air vibrated so hard you could feel it in your bones.
Full Setlist
Here’s how the night’s madness unfolded:
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Control
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Security
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Motorbike Song
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Doing in Me Head
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Freaks to the Front
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Got You
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Do It Do It
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Chewing Gum
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Some Mutts (Can’t Be Muzzled)
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Big Dreams
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It’s Mine
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Guided by Angels
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Knifey
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Me and the Girls
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Jerkin’
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Tiny Bikini
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Facts
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U Should Not Be Doing That
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Hertz
Encore:
20. Maggot
21. GFY
The Energy
From the first explosive scream of “Control,” Amy Taylor and her band launched into pure punk mayhem. Taylor’s stage presence is kinetic—she roared, she prowled, she catalyzed chaos with a smirk and sweat-drenched hair. “Security” had the room pushing and swaying; “Freaks to the Front” and “U Should Not Be Doing That” ignited the crowd into a beautiful, sweaty frenzy.
Declan Mehrtens shredded his guitar, Gus Romer slung bass straight into your chest, and Bryce Wilson’s drumming was precise but punishing. Together, they formed a suicidal rhythm section propelling the crowd into a beautiful riot, song after unstoppable song.
Highlights & Crowd Moments
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“Doing in Me Head” & “Motorbike Song”: Raw, punchy openers that immediately delivered a buzz of adrenaline.
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“Freaks to the Front”: A roaring call to the outcasts, and a mosh pit anthem in living color.
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“Some Mutts (Can’t Be Muzzled)”: Amy flexed her defiance—back bent, guitar in hand, spit flying—I was howling every line.
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“Big Dreams”: A brief moment of melodic reprieve—Taylor dedicated it mid-chant to “a few women shining in the crowd,” and it felt like a secret love letter.
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“Guided by Angels”: Built from drum thuds to full scream; the room rose as one.
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Encore (“Maggot” + “GFY”): Brutal, righteous, and quick—sent everyone home gasping for air, and still smiling.
The Vibe
Amyl and the Sniffers brought punk back to its raw roots with an infusion of brutal heart. This wasn’t a polished show—it was a cathartic purge. The air crackled with liberation; friendships formed in the pit; strangers helped each other up. Taylor’s brief shout-out in Denver earlier on the tour rings true here in Phoenix: “This is what it means to love fiercely.” Even as bodies collided and voices cracked, there was tenderness under the madness.
Tiny Quibbles
If I’m nitpicking: a slight dip in volume during a few mid-set transitions made a couple of riffs a little dull. Also, the first few seconds of “It’s Mine” felt a bit cramped in the mix. But these were fleeting; the adrenaline and performance style drowned them out fast.
Final Thoughts
By the end of “Hertz,” sweat, smiles, and shouted lyrics were cascading into the night. Amyl and the Sniffers aren’t recharging punk—they’re igniting it. Phoenix didn’t just catch a concert that night; we caught fire.
The Cartoon Darkness Tour is more than a setlist—it’s a lifeline for anyone craving honesty, catharsis, and back-to-basics punk fury. If you ever need a reminder that music can still matter viscerally, that punks still unite and ignite, just remember April 10th in Phoenix. That energy was real, and I can still feel it shaking my heart.
The Van Buren burned—and Amyl and the Sniffers made us feel alive.