HEADLINER: MAGGIE LINDEMANN
OPENER: SUNBLEACHED
DATE: MAY 6TH 2023
VENUE: THE TRIFFID
REVIEWER: DAYNA W GILMORE
PHOTOGRAPHER: DAYNA W GILMORE

Sunbleached 

Having caught Sunbleached recently open for “The story of the year’s’ knotfest side show  earlier this year; it only made sense that they’d get the bris opening slot for Maggie  Lindemann too. Treating bris to the first live play of ‘Delicate Places We Hide’, the band was  met with support and enjoyment, with singer Josh Baker looking relaxed and comfortable as  he jumped off the stage and onto the risers of the barrier – relishing in the bright and  zealous atmosphere. This was only the beginning of outpouring of angsty attitude & boy was  there more to come! 

Maggie Lindemann 

Emo/Pop punk artist Maggie Lindemann took to the Triffid stage in Brisbane this Saturday  the 6^th of May, with many devoted fans awaiting her arrival. Her fan base was a notably  younger audience, with the show an AA/licensed event – which was no surprise as the  young singer herself writes music that appeals to the younger alternative emo crowd,  exploring themes of young love, heart break, angst, and mental health topics – which  connect with the younger demographic who are newly experiencing such themes in their  own life.  

Having grown up a massive Avril Lavigne fan myself, I could hear that influence coming  through strongly during Maggie’s performance. It was very Avril reminiscent, as well as a lot  of nostalgic elements I remember from my teenage years; sleeping with sires – who maggie  

collaborated with on track ‘She Knows It’ in late 2021. She has been credited as one of the  artists ‘keeping emo alive’ – but in a fresh, 2023 context. Mixing elements of pop, punk and  rock – the title of “emo” is an accurate one – and it makes my teen emo heart beat strong  knowing that the sentiment of emo is still alive in teens today…(although they don’t look as  dorky and their makeup and hair skills have well and truly surpassed our own).  

Her first time in AUS touring her debut album ‘Suckerpunch’ which took 7 years in the  making, working around label issues and personal song writing developments, Maggie is still  a relatively new artist, despite being in the industry since 2015. Her fan base was extremely  

vibrant and excited; and sung each word back to her with such altruism and pure  uninhibited adolescent angst. I can safely assume this might have been a few peoples ‘first  show’ – I could feel the spring in the crowd’s step, and the high energy buzzing off the  arched tin walls. There was an enthusiastic and eager element to this show that I haven’t  felt in a long time, a giddy ness to see Maggie take the stage. There was a sweet innocence  in the air, in contrast to some of the more intense shows I’ve witnessed in recent – and  stood out to me as a special show for this crowd who are experiencing pop punk for the first  time.  

At times I thought Maggie’s performance was slightly inhibited by nerves, which is to be  expected, her first debut album AU tour at only 25 years old – it’s a big deal, and rising star  maggie will undoubtably become a seasoned and strong performer in the realm of emo / 

pop punk in the years to come, continuing to establish her legacy as one of the ‘revivalists’  of modern pop punk.  

Lindemann’s vulnerability and audience connection solidified the reason why her rising  stardom brought her to AU. Her on stage persona appeared genuine and reserved – but  vulnerable and delicate. It’s hard not to connect with her words – even if they may not be  relevant to your current life, it’s easy to understand why so many younger audience  members felt seen and heard tonight. If I was a young 14-year-old girl again, I would have  had a poster of Maggie on my walls next to Hayley Williams and Avril Lavigne. A nostalgia  trip for me, spun me into a nostalgic daydream at the back of the triffid, as I watched many  fans dancing and jumping to the sounds of suckerpunch.