Viagra Boys Tear Down the Walls at Fremantle Prison

Matt Oliver
2 hours ago
2 min read

Fremantle Prison - Western Australia – 23rd January 2026

WORDS / IMAGES MATT OLIVER

Doves Homecoming: Two Decades Later, Still Soaring at the Apollo — Photo Credit Matt Oliver

Fremantle Prison is no ordinary live music venue. A UNESCO World Heritage–listed site built by convict labour in the 1850s, its towering limestone walls and cavernous courtyard carry a weight of history that seeps into every event held within them.

On Friday night, that atmosphere proved the perfect setting for something feral and unfiltered, as Viagra Boys brought their Infinite Anxiety Tour to Fremantle Prison for their first-ever Western Australian show. The historic sandstone courtyard, with its looming walls, amplified the Swedish post-punk band’s signature blend of sleazy chaos, sharp satire, and relentless energy.

Melbourne’s Private Function stormed the stage as openers and delivered a performance so ferocious and unhinged it felt like a headliner set in its own right. The Melbourne punks—fresh off their Christmas Day 2025 announcement that they’re breaking up in 2026, with this Viagra Boys support run marking one of their final national tours—channeled every ounce of that bittersweet energy into a chaotic, crowd-commanding spectacle.

The band ripped through high-speed favourites like Talking to Myself and Give War a Chance, Bassist Milla Holland added extra fire, ditching her instrument at points to seize the mic, sweaty, provocative, and utterly captivating. It was a perfect, defiant warm-up: raw energy, bold statements (including that striking flag draped across the bass rig), and a palpable sense that the crowd was witnessing something special in the band’s final chapter. Their unhinged anarchy will be sorely missed on the Aussie scene—catch any remaining dates if you can, because nights like this don’t come around often.

When Viagra Boys hit the stage, frontman Sebastian Murphy—shirtless, shades on, tracksuit vibes—immediately owned the space with his gravelly vocals and quick-witted banter. He joked about finally being “allowed” into Perth and teased the crowd about hiding behind trinket shops in this supposed hippy town. The band (complete with saxophone, synths, and even bongos) tore through a tight, sweat-soaked set, opening strong and building to hypnotic highs.

Standouts included early bangers and a particularly epic Research Chemicals, where the repeating groove, layered rhythms, and Murphy’s wild vocal effects turned the courtyard into a frenzy of crowd-surfing and moshing. The audience— a mix of longtime fans, families, and younger punters—kept the energy communal and respectful amid the intensity.

They closed with an euphoric encore that left everyone buzzing. In a place loaded with history. Fremantle’s debut was a triumph; Perth fans will be clamoring for round two.

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