Cobra Starship
Cobra Starship turned Northcote Theatre into a neon-fueled earthquake the moment they hit the stage, but the night was already buzzing long before that. Local Melbourne duo Mannequin Death Squad opened things up, and honestly, they came out swinging. Their set was this punchy mix of garage rock grit and raw energy, the kind that grabs a room by the collar and shakes it awake.
With just the two of them up there, the sound they created was massive — sharp drums, fuzzy guitars, and vocals that cut right through the chatter. You could feel the crowd shifting from curiosity to full engagement within minutes. By their final song, the floor was already vibrating, and you got the sense everyone knew they’d just watched one of Melbourne’s most underrated live acts show exactly why they belong on a stage like this.
Then Cobra Starship walked out, and Northcote Theatre erupted. Gabe Saporta owned the room instantly, strutting across the stage with that magnetic, slightly chaotic energy that made the band iconic in the first place. The moment the synths kicked in, the entire venue started shaking — not metaphorically, but genuinely trembling from the stomp of hundreds of bodies jumping in sync.
From the pit, the whole thing felt like a fever dream: bright purple lights cutting through the haze, sweat flying, fans screaming like they were reliving college-party memories they didn’t even know they still had. Every chorus hit harder than the last, and the band fed off the crowd’s energy like they’d been starving for it. You could feel the bass in your chest, the floor bouncing under your boots, the balcony vibrating just enough to make you wonder if the building was built for this level of chaos. It was pure release — messy, loud, nostalgic, and euphoric.
By the time the final notes rang out, everyone looked wrecked in the best possible way. Cobra Starship didn’t just play a show; they threw a full-scale party and reminded Melbourne how good it feels to completely lose yourself in it.
A wild, sweaty, room-shaking night at Northcote Theatre — and easily one of the most fun gigs of the year
Gallery https://musicfestivalsaustralia.com/event-photos/cobrastarship2025
Thanks to Cobra Staship, Mannequin Death Squad, Destroy All Lines, Dallas Does PR and the Northcote Theatre for having us along.
Review and Photos by Naga Kasu for Music Kingdom Australia
