Before “Made To Be Mine” was turned into a singalong, Joey Draper, the singer of South Of Salem, looks thrilled.
It’s not their first time on this stage – this is the fourth time MV has seen them on it, and there have been others, and each time they have performed, they’ve been fantastic.
But if they’ve got the act honed, my goodness, the songs match. “Jet Black Eyes” is just one of them that oozes class.
Elsewhere, “Hellbound Heart” is much heavier than you expect, and there’s proper headbanging in the breakdown. “Static” is made for arenas, and there’s a moment where they all jump off the monitors, and you know they are living their dreams, a fact that Draper acknowledges with a smile, saying: “You make it very hard for a bunch of goths to look miserable”.
And “Vultures” continues the cheery vibe. From the title track of one of their albums to the other, as “Death Of The Party” ushers itself in and raids the drinks cabinet, all glam trash, Marilyn Manson would love it.
A chequered flag appears for “Left For Dead,” and if it’s a race to the finish, then “Cold Day In Hell” wins. Back in the day, H.I.M. went gold, took on the world, and won with less.
South Of Salem keeps improving, and they’ve got better still. Sooner or later, they are going to make it big.
“Motherfuckers are you ready?” Like Wednesday 13 was going to start any other way.
Heavy as hell and born to do this, this is a special show for Joseph Michael Poole (the man who is the real Wednesday). Celebrating his breakout band Murderdolls (originally a side project for Joey Jordison of Slipknot). “Joey asked me to join, and I couldn’t wait to escape the trailer in North Carolina,” he says tonight before “Slit My Wrist”, and if that celebration is accurate, then it needs to be said that quickly W13 became the driving force of that band, and their debut had a lot of re-recorded stuff from his former band Frankenstein Drag Queens from Planet 13.
It was a superb record then and now, as was their second, “Chapel Of Blood” and “Death Valley Superstars” are as good as you remember, and that was the point.
Horns are raised for “197666” – one of the ones from the band before Murderdolls that proves he’s always had the gift.
And of course, it’s playing to the formula, middle fingers are raised forr “Motherfucker I Don’t Care” for example, but it’s brilliant, as the first single from the The second album, “My Dark Place Alone,” only reiterates this. Heavier and meaner, you’ll try and get the likes of “Blood Stained Valentine” out of your head. Go on. You won’t.
There’s a highlight everywhere you look in what amounts to a Greatest Hits, but “Graverobbing USA” (another Frankenstein song that ended up on the debut) ain’t far off. That’s before you get to “Die, My Bride.”
Never mind the songs for a second; W13 is phenomenal at working a crowd. They’re pretty much his army of Spooks. By the way, “Summertime Suicide” seals the deal. Indeed, if people hated Murderdolls when they opened for Iron Maiden, no one hates “People Hate Me” here 20 years later.
“Sex, Drugs, and Rock n Roll has been my only friend,” he tells the crowd before the mighty anthem “Rock N Roll Is All I Got.” And he might just be telling the truth.
The energy never lets up, and The Ashes on guitar is as good an axeman as there is, kicking out the leads one last time on “Nowhere.”
If not quite back from the dead, they’re back for three more. After all, he’s put “on my good hat,” and “White Wedding” is perfect for the finery.
And “I Love To Say Fuck” is delivered with all the attendant excitement and hundreds Of middle fingers in the air, and a giant umbrella with the word written on it to reinforce the idea.
But of course, “Dead In Hollywood” ends this—the first Murderdolls single from 22 years ago, and it still sounds as fresh as the gates of hell right now.
Equal parts Alice Cooper, Rob Zombie, and The Sex Pistols, for decades the Duke of Spook has been the king of this world. For 90 minutes here, he shows he is nothing less.
He tells a story about once getting a review saying, “Murderdolls music is shite.” This one won’t say that because, in every way, as he has been for the last 22 years, whether solo or as the leader of Murderdolls, Wednesday 13 is without peer.
