[Gig Review]: (HED) P.E + Supports, 'STILL BROKE' Tour @ MAX WATTS MELBOURNE (AU) 8.02.26.
Writer: Mal Keecher
Headliner: (HED) P.E (California, USA)
Supports: Nonpoint (Florida, USA), Verona Lights (Melbourne, AU)
Photos/Videos: Mal Keecher
Organiser: October Presents (www.octoberpresents.com)
On this 8th day of February 2026, under the familiar silver sparkle of the Max Watts disco ball, early Melbourne metal supports Verona Lights lit the place up as the sparse standing space began to fill up when 7:30pm rolled around. These four lads dressed in black attracted a decent sized crowd upfront for a Sunday night metal gig, along with the rest of us onlookers scattered around the middle steps and elsewhere. Verona Lights were emphatic of their gratitude at being given the first support slot on the night and did a solid job of it. "Thank you for supporting local music. You guys wanna get groovy with us?" Enthused vocalist Brendan, who added that he'll be in the crowd watching Nonpoint and headliner (hed) P.E. after their half-hour set had concluded.
Intent on catching both Verona Lights and Nonpoint prior to our main event, the flexibility of handy pass-out stamps allowed for some fresh air ahead of Florida lads Nonpoint, who were likely accustomed to performing in humid climates. As would be evident, they were certainly used to getting bodies on the main floor moving with their infectious grooves.
Nonpoint pulled in a more dense and closer crowd from the onset of their time-slot at 8:30pm. Clad in red and black, like redbacks on the front foot– it’s safe to say that Nonpoint were mostly on-point. Along with Verona Lights, their set was another unexpected dopamine reward, successfully injecting their venomous metal to an audibly elated applause and delight of the room, evident between each song they hammered out. Sometimes, it's nice to be pleasantly surprised than go in with any pre-conceived expectations of these formerly unfamiliar bands.
Nonpoint, on-point @Max Watts February 2026.
My favourite part of Nonpoint’s set was the punchy and catchy shouts of "Ruthless, Ruthless!" on the aptly titled ‘Ruthless’. It kind of reminded me of "Rufio, Rufio!" No, not the Latin infusion restaurant on Carlisle St, but the oft-repeated chant by the Lost Boys in the film Hook, and coincidentally, his red and black outfit and hair all matched the band and my own attire. Here's to still enjoying metal gigs after 25 years and successfully staving off any jaded vibes!
It was a pub-like singalong to their rendition of ‘In the Air Tonight’ that was a bit rough around the edges, but another novelty, nonetheless.
Somehow, this reviewer had missed the (hed) P.E. hype at the turn of the millenium, around the time they released their most popular record which shifted something approaching 500,000 units - quite remarkable for a band of that era, given the plethora of similar sounding nu-metal bands around at the time.
Gleaning from ISC's (Brady's) chat with Jahred Gomes ahead of this 'Still Broke' tour, Jahred noted that "outside of the US and Great Britain, Australia would be our biggest market", and tonight this was highlighted.
"Some songs are timeless, and some songs are more of a time capsule, in terms of capturing what was going on when the song was written," mentioned Jahred. Tonight, Melbourne fans were voicing their familiarity and learned lyrics on most tracks as energetic frontman Jahred led and propelled the band and fans through the entire Broke album and then some, with a seasoned solidity and ease. It certainly appeared to benefit these experienced performers that they admittedly "rehearsed" for this tour, with Jahred revealing that they had band rehearsals, at least back in California ahead of the tour. As a casual listener, I've often wondered if frontmen of such lyric-heavy outfit's like Hed PE needed to regularly practice their lyrics. From what I could gather, it seemed mostly seamless either way.
Speaking to ISC weeks prior, Jahred marveled at the band's 2025 voyage to our shores, adding that "I just couldn't believe how much love was in the room.” These sentiments were echoed in tonight's performance. This was a crowd who reveled in the nostalgia being performed to them in the flesh, while at least one person became a new fan of timeless 'nu-metal' on an early February evening in Melbourne at Max Watts, one of this city's premiere venues to see both new and nostalgic bands.
With several intermittent pits having swirling and quickly expanded, Jahred switched seamlessly between rap-rock and blistering ear-piercing ferocity on such personal favourite bangers as ‘Feel Good’ and ‘Killing Time’.
At curtain close, Jahred was obviously enjoying the show as much as the audience, hopping, spinning and firing on all cylinders, especially on the catchy ‘Bartender’, with a crowd singalong both encouraged and expected.
By the time this review is posted, their Perth show at Rosemount will be completed. Adelaide, Auckland and Wellington are to follow for what will likely be a continuation of a solid run of Australian, and now an expansion into NZ shows.
Tix are available here 👉 https://www.octoberpresents.com/hedpe-nonpoint-2026.