GalleryDitch This MagazineMarch 09, 2023gallery, live, melbourne, Rebecca Houlden, forum melbourne, bikini kill

Bikini Kill @ The Forum 07-03-23

GalleryDitch This MagazineMarch 09, 2023gallery, live, melbourne, Rebecca Houlden, forum melbourne, bikini kill

Images & Words: Rebecca Houlden @rebecca_houlden

Bikini Kill's first Australian tour in 25 years did not disappoint. With two almost sold out nights of All Ages shows at the Forum Theatre, the crowd was a broad range of alternative fans from 15 year old punk girls at their first ever concert to older fans in their 50s and 60s, loving every minute of the concert that almost didn't happen.

Frontwoman Kathleen Hanna explained that their drummer Tobi Vail was unwell and they almost cancelled, but the tour crew stepped in to make sure the show went on. Lauren Hammel from Tropical Fuck Storm filled in on drums - learning 20 songs in just four hours notice. When it came time for one of Tobi's songs in the set list, Kathleen jumped on bass, original member Kathi Wilcox swapped to drums, and crew member Al covered Tobi's vocal parts on I Hate Danger and For Only.

The band played a tight set of their hit punk feminist anthems, including New Radio, Carnival, Demi Rep, and Suck My Left One. Kathleen is clearly a born entertainer, dancing in her own unique style all night, and chatting to the crowd in her valley girl accent on topics such as the 90s punk scene, racism, sexism and gratitude journals (which she made fun of herself for doing), and even doing a partial cover of Matthew Wilder's Break My Stride.

The band ended their set with their biggest hit Rebel Girl, and everyone in the room chanted along before the band bid everyone farewell, and urged everyone to support their local punk scenes.