What do crowd surfers, songs about piss, and toddlers moshing have in common? The only answer is Die Spitz. Following the release of their debut Something to Consume and a stint opening for Viagra Boys, the young all-female band from Austin has been steadily carving out their place in the rock scene. If this is your first time hearing their name, you can thank me later. If it’s not, then you already know they’re worth every bit of hype.

Their live show adds a feral energy you simply can’t capture on record. Don’t get me wrong, stream the album, but see them live if they come near you. Early slots at festivals often mean small crowds, but not for Die Spitz. The barricade was already packed, and it stretched back far enough to know thousands had shown up for their midday set.

The singer came rushing out on stage, leaping high into the air as the band crashed into their opening song. “I Hate When Girls Die” hit like a hammer, its heavy guitar riff evoking early Ozzy. From the first notes, the crowd started moshing and surfing, bodies flying forward in a constant barrage. At one point, the band stopped everything, split the crowd down the middle, and counted down to unleash a circle pit.

I retreated to the back for a bit of shade and caught a sweeter scene: a pair of toddlers circling their parents’ picnic blanket, half-hazardly knocking each other over in their own miniature mosh pit. It was a reminder that Die Spitz is for everyone.

The set ended with a cheeky “Free Palestine” as they left the stage, a final note of defiance from a band that plays as hard as it stands on its values.

Review by: David Saxum; Photo by Ismael Quintanilla III/Shaky Knees

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Die Spitz Summon the Crowd Surfers at Shaky Knees 2025