Psychedelic Porn Crumpets and Witches Exist in Seattle

With two brand new records under their belt this year, Carpe Diem, Moonman and Pogo Rodeo, the psych band from Perth, Australia, has a lot to bring to the table with this tour. Psychedelic Porn Crumpets return to Seattle at Showbox Sodo for this run, and the show was packed. Fans of the band are diehard, giving their all during the set in the pit. I don’t think I’ve ever seen this many crowd surfers at a show before. Nearly everyone in the venue was either dancing, surfing, headbanging, jumping, or at least moving to the fast-paced psych rock.

The best way to describe Psychedelic Porn Crumpets is post-punk distorted everything. The guitar, vocals, the drums. All of the elements come together to create a sound that delivers a virtual acid trip. The band also knows how to really work their set to their advantage. At many points during the set, the band took brief transitions and created buildups to some of their most popular songs like “Hymn For A Droid” and “Nootmare.” The crowd would roar when the main riffs to the songs started, indicated mayhem was approaching in the pit. The band continues its tour across the United States into the UK and Australia in 2026.

Opening for Psychadelic Porn Crumpets tour across the west coast of the United States, Witches Exist brings a blend of shoegaze, emo, rock, and psych with their sound. In such a rich and deep blend of sounds, the band creates a nice contrast to the chaotic nature of their headliner counterparts. The angsty fuzz-riddled chords and twangy leads present the bands current sound the most in their album Crashing. The band has also entered a sort of post-2000s rock revival sound in their latest EP shelter in the cocoon. After the show, I got to sit down with Witches Exist and talk a little bit about their sound and releases.

• So, Witches Exist, how is the tour so far?

“It’s been a dream.” notes frontman Jackson Baker. Having a prior connection to Psychedelic Porn Crumpets through their manager, Witches Exist very much enjoys being on the road with the Aussie band. When asking about their influences, bands such as Deer Hunter, Bowery Electric, Spirit of the Beehive, Pavement, and, of course, the Beatles are noted as some of their main foundations for their sound. Witches Exist also recommends new listeners to try their album Crashing to get a good idea of the range of their sound.

• Your Spotify bio made me laugh because there are only two words in it, and it’s “Texas” and “loud”. How do those two ideas play into each other for Witches Exist?

“Large amp, big stage,” Jackson says. And this couldn’t be closer to their stage presence. They use the entirety of the stage to their advantage in movement and sound. Moving across the stage with the songs in tandem with the progression of the songs. When asked about shows they’re looking forward to on their tour, the band was very much looking forward to getting to play the Showbox here in Seattle. Noting it was one of the biggest shows of the tour, and the band loves the city of Seattle as well.

• Does Witches Exist have new music coming soon?

Jackson, with a little hesitation, says a new record is in the works from the band. “Who knows when… Within the year, I’m committing to that…” says Jackson. The last three songs in the set were brand new from the band, and fans of Witches Exist have a lot to look forward to in the very near future.