The Dillinger Escape Plan, Ho99o9 @ The Gov Gov, Adelaide 12/8/2025

Celebrating past albums and their glories seem to be commonplace on the touring circuit however what isn’t is when it’s a band as explosive and haphzard as The Dillinger Escape Plan. Bringing back original vocalist Dimitri Minakakis, the legendary five piece bring their A-game of anarchy, in-your-face, combative punk rock to Adelaide celebrating debut album Calculating Infinity.

Following off the back of support act Ho99o9 is no mean feat. The luminous three-piece outfit bring energy, funk and rap with aggressive vibes which show the difference between intense metal and hip hop is purely guitars. Whether it’s reggae matched with punk or drum and bass, they are a kaleidoscope of effervescent music and colour bound together with distortion and drums.

However, The Dillinger Escape Plan has never folded easily. The show runs the album through however not in order (why would it? This is DEP after all) and does bring in tracks from the previous EP Under The Running Board. Throw in a couple of covers of strange bedfellows of Aphex Twin and Crowded House and it’s naturally chaotic.

Opening with Destro’s Secret and The Running Board, the band appears calmly like charted accountants on a day trip, then erupt like human marionettes being dangled over bubbling lava. A punter feels lucky and grabs onto Minakakis however it’s a Dirty Harry type of lucky, as Minakakis pulls him up and throws him back into the crowd in no uncertain terms. There’s a volatile energy in the music and the band’s performance in the air that is refreshing.

The show throughout dangles on dangerous without crossing the line. Minakakis stands on a monitor like a leader before his wide-eyed masses and they respond, cult like, obeying him The Mullet Burden is frantic and Calculating Infinity has every inch of the stage -drum riser, ceiling, lightning rig – all used by the band wrestling its nervous passion.

During the set, two covers are dropped, a slow dirgy Crowded House Don’t Dream It’s Over and Aphex Twins Come To Daddy, sinister, cutting and electric.

Manic doesn’t do the bands stage presence justice. The intensity of the music attacks the crowd, the ferocity of sound rips inside you and the vocal delivery of Minakakis – angst, ferocious and violent – mesmerising. A Dillinger show really is a cult like experience.

Finishing with 43% Burnt, the ending can only be described as performance art, combining crushing riffs and strobe lightening that flickers long after leaving the venue.

This Dillinger show was a roller coaster without a safety belt. Exhilarating and scary.

Live Review By Iain McCallum