Austin riot girls Die Spitz bring their high energy to Houston on their Texas tour with Quinn the Brain.
On the Saturday before Christmas, Houston punks gathered at The Secret Group to catch Die Spitz. The crowd grew as everyone waited for doors to open with excited chatter about what the night had in store.
Once doors opened and the crowd had claimed their spots in front of the stage, it was time to get the night going with Houston locals, Quinn the Brain. Angsty and loud, Quinn the Brain took the stage as they powered through a set made up of grungy, alt-rock songs. It was obvious the power trio had won the crowd over immediately, captivating the audience with catchy, head banging, hooks on songs like “Bad Friend.”
As Quinn the Brain finished their set and made their way off stage, the anticipation for Die Spitz grew. The audience waited patiently, looking toward the small gap in the door next to the stage, when finally four of the rowdiest ladies in rock danced and cartwheeled their way in front of the audience and took their places for their set. A Die Spitz live show has become notorious in the punk community for being the most fun you’ve probably had in a long time, and on the last day of Spitzmas they doubled down on that notion.
Without wasting any time Die Spitz erupted into their set, soaking the audience with their unique sound that lives somewhere between Sleater-Kinney and Bikini Kill with a dash of doom metal for good measure. It was clear from the start how this show was going to go, but to say Die Spitz is an entertaining live act is a severe understatement. Unruly, raucous, and bursting with campy chaos, Die Spitz’s live performance is a masterclass on how to put on a punk show.
Die Spitz demands the stage in a way that is much more powerful and experienced than their age would let you believe is possible, their presence truly putting a spell over the audience as they jumped, kicked, and screamed for their hour long set. Circle pits and stage diving were a given on a night like this, but Die Spitz took it further when their singer and guitarist, Ellie Livingston, asked the crowd to hoist her up by her ankles for what felt like a punk rock cheerleader pyramid.
Eventually it was time for the show to come to an end, and Die Spitz exited the stage the same way they came on, spinning and cartwheeling. The house lights came up, the crowd made their way to the merch lines and to meet the band who posted up for autographs and photos. The women of Die Spitz are fearless, mayhem loving rockers who seem born to be on stage, and the main takeaway from this night was this; never miss a Die Spitz show.
I’m a photographer born and raised in Houston. Music has been a huge part of my life since I was a teenager, I love attending local shows and supporting the Houston music scene. If I’m not at a show I’m probably making my own music, hanging out with my cat, or binge watching RuPaul’s Drag Race.
