There are few bands that come along and truly capture you and in this case the heart, spirit and soul of rock n roll. Twenty-two years ago Electric Mary took to the stage for the first time, tonight December 13, 2025 they take to the stage for the last time at The Croxton Bandroom.
Melbourne has always been the heartland for Electric Mary and tonight there were fans from across the globe, fans that had been at that very first show, so it is fitting that they say goodbye just as they had said hello.
From the moment I arrived at the Croxton Bandroom there was a certain magic in the air. An anticipation of knowing that we were about to see and feel something very special. My journey didn’t start with Electric Mary twenty-two years ago it started sixteen years ago and from the moment I first heard the open riff of ‘Let Me Out’ I knew there was no turning back. I knew this band was going to be my band, they gave me the kind of rock n roll that had been absent for quite a few years. Raw, melodic, powerful and dangerous. The bands tag line of “Rock N Roll the way it used to taste” couldn’t have been any more accurate.
In many ways tonight was a passing of the torch. Kicking off things tonight were Aztec Death Whistle who are a four piece of teens between the age of thirteen and sixteen who are playing their first show. Notably members of this band are the offspring of Spyda (Electric Mary) whose son CJ has followed in his footsteps drumming and Errin Kelly’s (Bottle Of Smoke) son on vocals and/guitar for the first three songs. I had only earlier learned that Errin’s son had only been in the band for five days. Just WOW. Opening the set was a cracking cover of Nirvana’s ‘Breed’ followed by Bottle Of Smoke’s ‘Try’, finishing off this first run of songs with Silverchair’s ‘Freak’. Aztec Death Whistle are great, I tip my hat to them as they delivered such a great introduction to the band. These guys will be ones to watch and I feel the future of rock n roll is safe in their hands. While Kelly’s son departed the stage for the remainder of the set we were given ALiEnX jumping in on vocals, who while not of the same age as his band mates on stage ALiEnX did a great job as the guys gave us four more songs to close out their set.
While the names of the members escape me and they are all exceptionally talented teens with a big future ahead of them. As the set progressed and those initial nerves settled these boys did so well winning over the crowd. I look forward to what is next for Aztec Death Whistle and judging by the crowd that turned up early to check them out I’m sure that wherever their next gig is, it will be the place to be.
Setlist : Breed, Try, Freak, Untitled, Rots From The Head, Redneck, For Truth Be Untold.
Aztec Death Whistle Gallery
Next up was Melbourne’s hardest gigging original band bar none. Willie J’s 6v6’s have been relentless this year touring all parts of the country in all kinds of rooms. Watching this band develop and evolve over the course of the year has been incredible. From dive bars to theatres this trio has become one of this countries most beloved independent bands. With only two singles to their name they have built their reputation and following on their incredible, dynamic ass kicking live sets.
Again, in many ways there are parallels to Electric Mary as the live show always spoke volumes and became the topic of conversation after a show. That same work ethic in delivering a blinging good rock n roll show is apparent.
There must be a challenge in winning a crowd over pretty much based purely on delivering a show that focuses on songs and songs they have in spades. Tonight’s set was a pure showcase or brilliant original songs. Being tied to his microphone most of the time Willie J still manages to be captivating in his performance. It’s far from a guy with a guitar behind a microphone. There is a personality, charisma and raw charm that flows from Willie, you feel his words and his playing rattles you to your core. Captivating in every sense Willie J is one of those frontmen you won’t forget easily. The rest of the band Callum Leavy (Drums) and Seb Robertson (Bass) are just as magical. The grooves these two lock into are simply perfect as they deliver enough power to light up a country town. Together as a band the 6v6’s brand of no bullshit rock n roll energises the soul and doesn’t allow you to look away. There is more than enough bluesy, gutsy, emotive playing in the band sound which is a modern take on the meat and potatoes blues driven rock that shaped this country.
Whoever said rock is dead has simply not dared to explore Willie J’s 6v6’s.
Without further explanation, I urge you to go see these guys live and revel in the experience wherever and whenever you can. You won’t be disappointed. I honestly believe this band is on the verge of something huge. 2026 will be a massive year for the band and will see them break big internationally.
Setlist : Big A, Squeeze, Safe Delivery, That’s All She Wrote, Mad Woman, Say My Name, Love On The Loose, Rocket Rich, Take The Wheel, Tell It How It Is.
Willie J’s 6v6’s Gallery
With the Croxton Bandroom now fully primed and warmed up an absolute full house is in place. The feeling in the room is one of electric love, electric energy and it’s all about to explode. There is and will only ever be one Electric fu€king Mary and everyone here in the Croxton Bandroom knows this.
From the machine gun like intro of ‘Let Me Out’ the brakes were off and the band were taking no prisoners tonight, that riff, that voice, that swagger, grit and power took me back to when I first saw the band. My jaw simply dropped again as I sang along with everyone else in the room, those lyrics a part of all our DNA. From the get-go Rusty Brown and co had everyone in full voice.
Never afraid to deliver a killer riff Pete Robinson and Brett Wood are the perfect guitar combo who effortlessly duck and weave through each other’s parts creating that magical Electric Mary energy and sound. The rhythm section of Spyda and Alex Raunjak is power personified locking into the grooves that are synonymous with the Electric Mary sound.
With the evolution of the band there have been many players that have contributed, come and gone, but true to the spirit of the band these songs have all been delivered and played with that same intention they were when they were written and played live in the early days. This line up of Electric Mary has now been together for close to seven years and as a band they are so damn solid.
When you feel the kick and true power of songs like ‘No One Does It Better Than Me’, ‘Gasoline & Guns’, ‘One Foot In The Grave’, ‘OIC’, Gimmie Love’, ‘Woman’ and ‘Give Me Love’ you realise just how special this band is, how they wrote songs that you feel and felt. Dive into the blusier, more soulful side of Electric Mary and you get pulled into songs like ‘So Cruel’, ‘Already Gone’ and ‘Sorry Baby’ they consume you and connect with you.
Rusty Brown is a lyrical master; he knows how to write a great lyric and tell a story that you just can’t forget, vocally Brown gave the show of his life tonight. A big part of that Mary magic too lays with long standing members Pete Robinson and Alex Raunjak who effortlessly create the musical playground that serves Browns lyric so well and give a freedom to Brett Wood and Spyda to play, enhance and compliment the bones of these songs.
When it comes to guitarists and dual guitar attacks Electric Mary have always been intentional in what they do. As I mention before there is a magic between Wood and Robinson that you simply feel and experience there is a soul baring beauty in the way they feed and feel off each other.
Having said that every musician that has ever played with Electric Mary in a permanent or fill in capacity have all been elite. Seeing so many of them here in attendance tonight also exemplifies just how special their shared experience within the band and this catalogue of songs and music has been to each of them.
The last song for tonight ‘My Best Friend’ was so full of emotion. You could see it on the whole bands face, the smile holding back emotions, everything was pure and real. Electric Mary celebrated their live journey and closed the chapter perfectly. The extended jam from Wood & Robinson was great and the dual drum off between Spyda & his son CJ was incredible to see and hear.
In the ninety-minute set that took us from the debut album to the last single we were treated to a set that was nearly the perfect greatest hits set. However, there was one major exclusion from the set tonight, missing was ‘Sail On’, the song that started it all. Mind you the guys could have played for two and a half hours and still not satisfy every fan in the room, but it was a shame that the introductory song wasn’t in the set.
In reflecting on tonight’s Electric Mary show it had everything for me, it brought me back to the feeling when I first heard them, when I first saw them live. It all came rushing back and when I think about it, this show sits closely with the first time I saw them live. Everything was there, that connection had a spotlight put on it once again.
Then the moment that had to come did, the final bow, the tossing of signed set lists into the crowd along with drumsticks seemed to happen in slow motion. I can’t begin to imagine how it felt for the band.
Being caught inside a room filled with so much love, energy, magic and emotion as Electric Mary closed the live chapter of the band. A band that has become an institution, the benchmark for live Australian gritty blues based hard rock in the new millennium. The bands reputation for delivering a blistering live show is legendary. Tonight was no exception.
The fans, well we are a community, we all know each other and there are faces you know you will see at an Electric Mary show and may not see outside of one. It was great to see the band members families in attendance too, some seeing the band for the first time live. Fans travelled from interstate too. It really was such an incredible send off. To make things even more special there were faces to put to the names of international fans that travelled to be a part of this historic celebration. The power of rock n roll is strong and the way it connects us all is magic.
The Croxton Bandroom is an 800-capacity room and tonight through a reliable source I learned that the capacity had been given a nudge by quite a few. This was an old school Melbourne rock n roll show and packing people in just added to the atmosphere, the memories and the journey we have all travelled with the band.
Farewell to the stage Electric Mary, thank you for the blood, sweat and amazing memories. Your music will live forever.
Setlist : Let Me Out, Give Me Love, 3 Days Gone, Love Me, Sweet Mary C, Shaun, No One Does It Better Than Me, Sorry Baby, Gasoline & Guns, One In A Million, One Foot In The Grave, Already Gone, Woman, OIC
Encore : So Cruel, My Best Friend.
Electric Mary Gallery
To the production team Spag on sound you did an incredible job, Flea you outdid yourself again with an incredible light show. To Rusty, Pete, Alex, Brett & Spyda thank you for everything, the friendships that will continue and for the music that will never leave us. Farewell to the stage Electric Mary, thank you for the blood, sweat and amazing memories. Your music will live forever.
