Fortitude Valley’s Tomcat Grunge Bar is no stranger to loud nights, but October 1st felt different. The upstairs room — neon glow outside, tight space and sticky floors inside — became the perfect pressure chamber for a three‑band lineup with an explosive centrepiece: Exploding Head Syndrome’s first‑ever appearance at Tomcat.

Inside, the crowd was already buzzing.

Albany Expression — Setting the Stage

Albany Expression opened the night with a warm, melodic set that pulled early arrivals straight to the front. Their groove‑driven sound loosened the room and set the tone for what was coming.

But the real shift happened at 10pm.

EHS — A Debut That Hit Like a Detonation

When Will, Tomson, and Jeremiah stepped onto the Tomcat stage for the first time, the atmosphere changed instantly. This wasn’t just another band walking on. This was a statement.

Will commanded the room from the first riff. His guitar tone cut through the mix with that unmistakable EHS bite — sharp, aggressive, and dripping with attitude. Vocally, he delivered with raw force and a gritty undertone, pushing every lyric straight into the crowd. He didn’t just perform; he led the room.

Tomson’s bass work was the backbone of the entire set. Thick, punchy, and perfectly locked in, he gave the room that chest‑rattling weight Tomcat is built for. His grounded stage presence added intensity and drive.

Jeremiah was a machine behind the kit. His drumming didn’t just keep time; it defined the energy of the set. Relentless, precise, and explosive, he pushed the band into overdrive and kept the crowd locked into every transition.

Together, the three of them delivered a debut that felt less like an introduction and more like a takeover.

Heatstroke — Closing the Night with Impact

Heatstroke finished the night with a fast, heavy, riff‑driven finale that pushed the crowd into full release. 

But EHS were the centrepiece — the band everyone talked about on the way down the stairs and out onto the Valley streets.