A View From The Back Of The Room: Wednesday 13 (Live Review By James Jackson)

Wednesday 13, South Of Salem, Sick N Beautiful & Tarah Who?, KK’s Steel Mill, Wolverhampton 14.04.23

Opening for an act as well known as Wednesday 13 must be a daunting prospect for many yet someone has to and playing to a rather static, quiet but gradually growing audience are the first of three support act’s tonight, Tarah Who? (4). For a three piece they’re certainly loud enough to catch the crowd’s attention, there’s a similarity to L7, remember them ? Grunge/Punk inspired it would seem and full of fight, it wasn’t really my thing and personally I struggled with the sound at times but they gave it their all and hopefully made some fans her in Wolverhampton tonight.

The hugely theatrical Sick N Beautiful (9) are up next and at 47 years old I thought I’d seen a few things, turns out I’ve never seen a woman in an illuminated corset, using an angle grinder on a guitar.. well after tonight’s performance I can tick that one off the list, alongside flame throwers and occult looking books up in flames. Amidst an array of neon lights and backdrop advertising the bands name in an eye catching green, the band, dressed like extras from a Mad Max film, prowl the stage with an energy that is as frenzied as their image is apocalyptic. 

I’ve not seen this band live before and have only listened to a few tracks in preparation for this gig, playing tracks from their three albums Sick N Beautiful put on one hell of a show, front woman Herma treats us to a few stunning costume changes, channeling her creativity visually as well as musically; whilst stood at their merch table I discovered that she had made the costumes worn by the band; yes, I enjoyed this performance so honoured that with a impulsive t shirt purchase. 

It’s worth pointing out that according to the band’s bio they are from outer space, upon further investigation it seems their origins are a little less extraterrestrial and more Italian, either way their blend of influences NIN, Rob Zombie, Rammstein and Katy Perry come across in a captivating way, there’s a a ferocious groove to their sound and it’s matched with a circus show that only embodies their sound. Disappointingly this set was way too short and I’m hoping for the opportunity to see them again and hopefully see more of the world they’ve created.

Kicking off with fan favourite Let Us Prey, South Of Salem (10), the main reason I’m here tonight; dominate the stage, seeming fiercer and hungrier than I’ve ever seen them before, whether that’s due to the recent infusion of fresh blood within the line up or the fact that they are now exactly where they’ve deserved to be all along I’m not sure, but here tonight on a stage big enough to accommodate their enthusiasm, they are on form. 

The set list is by now, a familiar one, tracks from their debut album are as good as they’ve ever been. Made To Be Mine, Pretty Little Nightmare and Cold Day In Hell are songs that showcase their musical prowess and onstage performance. Front man Joey Draper is as ever the focus, his audience participation endeavours never fail and for a small band from Bournemouth they’ve certainly got the ambition and ability to become something so much more. I’ve seen South Of Salem four times now and this is the biggest venue so far and they’ve taken it all in their stride, with the level of humility that I’ve come to expect, an enormous sense of gratitude for being given the opportunity to play here tonight, warming the crowd for the headliner. 

Another set that’s way too short, though I’ve a feeling it’s because I’ve massively enjoyed them and as the saying goes time flies when you’re having fun, these guys really are worth catching live. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again and again, South Of Salem really are a band that people need to listen to, buy the album, catch them live and wear the shirt, they’ve got a new design out and obviously I had to get it.

The main attraction hits the stage amidst a cloud of smoke and Wednesday 13 (10) strides centre stage striking an iconic pose, a dark silhouette of a cowboy hat wearing master of the macabre. Musically there’s a party anthem to every track and as the night wears on each song brings the ghouls and goblins out of the crowd and the reaction spirals. 

We are treated to two decades of Horror Rock anthems heralded by the Duke of Spook; tracks from 2005’s Transylvania 90210 like Bad Things, I Walked With A Zombie and Look What The Bats Dragged In are thrown into the mix along with Home Sweet Homicide, Scream Baby Scream, From Here To The Hearse from Fang Bang and Skeletons respectively, it’s a crowd pleasing set as the band play through Blood Sucker, Get Your Grave On and perform a love song in the form of Decompose, we’ve a few tracks from the newest album Horrifier including Insides Out, a death/groove beast of a song and Good Day To Be A Bad Guy. 

There’s an inevitable but heart felt tribute to the late Joey Jordison which comes with tracks Nowhere and Die My Bride from the Murderdolls albums that really brought Wednesday 13, the man not the band, into the public eye, each track in this dedication is received warmly by the fans and each of us are singing along to our hearts content. A notable point in the evening is a drum solo performed to the scores from The Exorcist and Halloween and many a horror film based sample.

It’s been an amazing night at KK’s Steel Mill and closing track I Love To Say Fuck is the ultimate crowd pleaser as Wednesday parades the stage with a middle finger emblazoned umbrella, stabbing it into the air with each crowd accompanied “Fuck”.

A great night and one that will be hard to beat.