Live Review: Viagra Boys in Fremantle 2026
The Infinite Anxiety Tour of 2026 on 23rd January 2026 at Fremantle Prison
Review by Matt Gagen
Photography by Erica Lorimer Photographer
Following two shows in New Zealand, Swedish provocateurs Viagra Boys rolled through Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, and Adelaide before delivering their Western Australia debut. From the moment the gates opened, it was clear this wouldn’t be a typical gig – raw energy colliding with an iconic venue.
Formed in Stockholm in 2015, the band has earned a reputation as one of the world’s most thrilling live acts. Fronted by the gravel-throated, gleefully unfiltered Sebastian Murphy, Viagra Boys have released several acclaimed albums, including Street Worms and Cave World, toured internationally – including a recent set at Coachella – and in 2023 won the Swedish Grammis Award for Rock of the Year. Their Infinite Anxiety Tour 2026 marked their first performance in Western Australia, making the Fremantle Prison courtyard an unforgettable setting for their chaotic, sax-tinged post-punk.
Support came from Melbourne agitators Private Function, whose high-energy set primed the crowd perfectly.
Editor’s note – Private Function are an Australian punk band that turned chaos into an art form. Emerging from Melbourne in 2016, they built a reputation on sharp satire, high‑energy shows, and marketing stunts so unhinged they became folklore. Their music blends larrikin humour with biting social commentary, and their live sets on the night were chaotic art wrapped in sweat, noise, and deliberate provocation. The bassist, Milla Holland, decked out in a riot of floral prints and oversized sunglasses, stood imperiously with a Palestinian flag draped across her instrument. It brought out the “F*ck Yeah’s and the rock-god gestures among the voracious crowd. The crowd roared, not just for the riff, but for the stance. In a venue as historically loaded as Freo Prison, the image of resistance took on layered meaning: incarceration, protest, and the power of public defiance. As for frontman Chris Penney, he spent the evening unleashing chaos and goading the crowd, climbing onto the speakers and leaning over the crowd barrier, drawing shenanigans from the fans (and newfound fans). With tracks such as Music Sucks Fuck You, Fuck Me Dead and Dial Before You Dig and Fuck (yep, just “Fuck”) – needless to say, their performance was a reflection of the setlist.
Now back to Matt Gagen…
As the show began, Murphy quipped with comedic timing: “We’ve been to Australia three times, but this is the first time we’ve been allowed into Perth!” The sandstone walls loomed as punters filed in. The crowd was diverse: older music lovers nodding knowingly, parents bringing young adult children, and packs of younger fans staking out space near the front, many crowd surfing amid the chaos.
Murphy emerged in a worn Adidas tracksuit and dark sunglasses, stripping off his shirt moments after hitting the stage. A rowdy pocket of younger fans surged to the front, forming a near-death-circle mosh. The air was thick with sweat and cigarette smoke as bodies collided in rhythm with the music. Yet, despite the intensity, the crowd remained respectful, pulling up anyone who fell.
Anchored by Murphy’s vocals, the six-piece lineup delivered a relentless set: Tor Sjödén on drums drove the beats, Henrik “Benke” Höckert on bass and backing vocals grounded the rhythm, Oskar Carls jumped between saxophone, flute, and guitar, providing the melodic and chaotic tones central to the Viagra Boys’ sound, Elias Jungqvist layered hypnotic textures on synths (and bongos during Research Chemicals), and Linus Hillborg added guitar and backing vocals, filling out the band’s sonic wall of sound.
Opening with Man Made of Meat, they tore through Slow Learner and Waterboy before Murphy paused to comment on the crowd’s energy with comedic disbelief: “I thought this was a hippy town – all you people hiding behind the trinket stores!” The crowd erupted in laughter, setting the tone for Punk Rock Loser and heavier grooves like Pyramid of Health and Troglodyte.
Research Chemicals became a highlight: a long instrumental built on a repeating eight-bar phrase, made hypnotic by Jungqvist tapping out rhythms on bongos, while Murphy added dog-like sounds and urged the crowd to “make it bigger!” A brief quiet section gave tension before the drums returned and chaos erupted again, with fans surfing atop the crowd as the courtyard went wild.
The encore, The Bog Body and Worms, closed the night in euphoric fashion.
It was a show that captured everything that makes Viagra Boys thrilling: chaotic yet precise, brash yet communal, brimming with satire, sleaze, and saxophone – and unforgettable in one of Western Australia’s most atmospheric venues. Fremantle has firmly earned a spot on the band’s map, and if this debut is any indication, Perth should expect the next visit to be even bigger.
Sheldon Ang Media would like to thank Frontier Touring, Face to Face Touring and Viagra Boys for the media accreditation.
About the Writer: Matt Gagen is a Fremantle-based bass guitarist of Residents’ Club and a member of numerous bands on the local scene. With a deep passion for both local and global music, he brings a unique perspective to his creative endeavours. He’s a Graduate of Architecture working in an architectural practice in Fremantle.
About the Photographer: Erica is a freelance photographer who loves capturing images of live music and travel photography. She enjoys shooting film with vintage cameras and making prints in a home darkroom. She has lived in Japan, the UK and Nigeria. Erica holds a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) from the University of Western Australia (UWA), majoring in English Literature and Economics, and a Certificate IV in Design.
Sheldon Ang Media (est. May 2022) have been accredited to over 200 of the hottest acts including Taylor Swift (ERAS Tour in Sydney), Coldplay (Perth), AC/DC, KISS, Iron Maiden, RHCP, P!NK with reviews shared by the likes of Belinda Carlisle, Suzi Quatro, Roxette, Tina Arena, UB40, Delta Goodrem, Leo Sayer and Tina Arena on social media. Their founder has interviewed rockers Ace Frehley (KISS), John Steel (The Animals), Frank Ferrer (Guns N Roses), Phil X (Bon Jovi), Andrew Farris (INXS), plus over 70 artists. He’s also a contributor on Triple M Radio as a music journalist.
