HUXTON CREEPERS – CROXTON BANDROOM – THORNBURY – 08.08.2026
Review: Craig Eriksson. Photos: David Harris.
There have been a lot of incredible milestone gigs lately and last night, it was Australian iconic 1980s indie-garage rockers Huxton Creepers turn to celebrate the 40th Anniversary and special vinyl edition re-issue of their debut album 12 Days to Paris at the Croxton Bandroom in Thornbury. This was their second show of the tour and it’s their first national run of dates since 2011. It has also been 10 years since the Creepers last performed at the Crox on their notable reunion show sharing the stage with Models.
Melbourne’s Huxton Creepers formed back in 1984 and were an active part of the Melbourne pub rock circuit during their original 1984-1989 short but spirited run. They built up a strong live reputation around Melbourne playing alongside other Australian bands like the Hoodoo Gurus and Sunnyboys. These iconic Aussie bands combined power pop, garage rock and punk into a sound in differing quantities. It was an exciting time back then to attend live music. I first experienced the Creepers performing with Painters & Dockers at ‘The Seaview Ballroom’ formerly known as the ‘Crystal Ballroom’ in St Kilda in the mid to late 80s when I was in my early 20’s. It’s amazing to think that 40 years on, three of the original band members Rob Craw (Lead vocals/guitar), Matthew Eddy (Bass/backing vocals) and Archie Law (drums) are still playing together alongside new lead guitarist Julian Matthews from The Stems. For those wondering how their band name came about, it was from a character in Basil Rathbone’s Sherlock Holmes Film called Pearl of Death (1944) although they got the name wrong as the character was called the ‘Hoxton Creeper’ (Hoxton being a suburb of London).
Also from Melbourne, special guests Icecream Hands were the perfect opener with their upbeat, power indie pop that went down well with the Croxton crowd. The positive energy created by the charismatic frontman and guitarist Charles Jenkins with his wistful lyricism, storytelling, and friendly stage banter created such a feel-good vibe. Jenkins rich vocal tones carry a sweet, melancholic edge that perfectly serves the bands clean, melodic riffs, classic lead breaks and guitar-driven indie power pop. The backing harmonies and musicianship of this group are incredibly tight consisting of Douglas Lee Robertson (bassist/vocals), Derek G Smiley (drums/vocals), David Andrew Milne (piano/keys) and Marcus Goodwin (guitar/vocals). They played a 13-song set and performed some of their classics with NIPPLE, DODGY, YELLOW & BLUE and PICTURE DISC FROM THE BENELUX from Sweeter Than the Radio (1999). The anthemic power pop SHAKESPEARE ALWAYS from Pineapple Pieces EP (2026), SAY THAT YOU WANT ME SOME MORE from The Good China (2007) and several songs from No Weapon But Love (2021) with the self-titled track and GENERAL WEAR AND TEAR. It was delightful to hear some of their new tracks from Giant Fox Pineapple (2025) such as LEAVING NOBODY OUT, BACK ON THE ROAD, DO YA FEEL IT and TAMBOURINE MOUNTAIN.
The Huxton Creepers emerged on stage, smiles on their faces and launched into THE MURDERESS, which was their first ‘official’ single that they released back in 1985. This song was produced by Rob Younger (Radio Birdman) and helped launch them into the mid-1980s Australian jangle-pop and indie pub-rock scene. Frontman Rob Craw thanked all the Creeps (term of endearment) for coming out tonight and said they were playing the 12 Days to Paris (1986) album in its entirety for the first time ever, in track order as they appear on the album. This intro then led into one of the biggest hit singles from the album MY CHERIE AMOUR which set the evening off with a bang. Next was fan favourite and standout track AUTUMN LEAVES which showcased that the Creepers still retain their raw, visceral pub rock edge, featuring their high-energy, retro guitar sound and powerful hooks.
The ‘hits’ kept coming with LIFE FIT FOR A KING and LONG HOT SUMMER. You could see and feel the Creepers pure, infectious energy, watching them radiate on stage with sheer bliss on their faces, interacting warmly with each other, having fun and fully immersed in the joy of their performance. The Creepers played with enduring energy and tight musicianship like a well-oiled machine. Their sharp vocal harmonies and melodic choruses were highly infectious and had the crowd singing along. GUILTY showcased the Creepers raw, live signature sound with its melodic hooks and gritty garage-rock spirit.
Frontman, Rob Craw said he was battling a head cold and although he could hardly talk and was sweating profusely, his distinctive, gritty, raw edge vocals still remained remarkably strong and sharp showing he hasn’t lost anything over the years. Craw was jovial and quite witty throughout the show and announced (with a laugh) – “Well that’s the end of side A, it’s time for us to flip over the record and play side B”.
They played a cover of the Flamin’ Groovies SHAKE SOME ACTION before leading into the first track from Side B of 12 Days to Paris with PART THE SEAS. This was followed by the pub rock anthem and crowd pleaser KING OF THE ROAD with its jangling guitars, big hooks and energetic power-pop edge reminiscent of contemporaries like Sunnyboys, Hoodoo Gurus and The Saints. The interlocking lead and rhythm guitar tracks created a massive wall of sound, keeping the crowd rockin’ continuously throughout the night.
The meandering I SWALLOWED MY PRIDE was glorious and LOCKED AWAY was an absolute banger with Archie thumping the skins like a man possessed. DON’T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT with its soaring vocal melodies echoed the same tuneful indie-rock sensibility. I WILL PERSUADE YOU is the final track from the album and was the biggest sing-along of the night. Looking around the bandroom, it was a multi-generational crowd showing the Creepers music is popular still to this day with both the old and new fans. The evening was about the music. It was a raw, stripped-down, intimate and unfiltered show similar, to how I remembered them back in the 80’s.
The Creepers played their new single OPPOSITES ATTRACT with Craw joking how they had ripped off the Huxton Creepers’ distinctive sound! They played a few songs from So This Is Paris (1987) with SKIN OF MY TEETH and RACK MY BRAINS and after a short break, returned to the stage for an encore. Craw thanked the crowd for their support and being part of the bands special anniversary show and that segued into bassist Matthew Eddy singing lead vocals on a ripping rendition of The Kinks STOP YOUR SOBBING with its melancholic, 1950’s melodic style beat pop. MIDNIGHT TV followed, which is the B-Side to Opposites Attract.
They closed out with a wonderful rendition of the classic Bryan Ferry song THE PRICE OF LOVE (originally by the Everly Brothers) injecting their signature jangly, fun-filled guitar pop and 1980s indie-rock spirit into it. This was the perfect song to end a triumphant and nostalgic reunion show that had both the band and the crowd in full celebratory mood. It was clearly evident that 12 Days to Paris has stood the test of time and it was wonderful hearing the Creepers bring it back to life.
SET LIST:
The Murderess (1985)
My Cherie Amour
Autumn Leaves
Life Fit For A King
Long Hot Summer
Guilty
Shake Some Action (Flamin’ Groovies cover)
Part the Seas
King of the Road
I Swallowed My Pride
Locked Away
Don’t Even Think About It
I Will Persuade You
Opposites Attract (2026)
Skin Of My Teeth (1987)
Encore:
Stop Your Sobbing (The Kinks/Pretenders cover)
Midnight TV (2026)
Rack My Brains (1987)
The Price of Love (Bryan Ferry cover)
