Back in KK’s Downing’s gaff for another night which promises to entertain, it’s getting to the point where I’d be as well seeing about renting a room at KK’s Steel Mill and save on the travel. Having not played in the UK for a number of years seems to have brought out every W.A.S.P. fan out of the woodwork as the usual tactic of showing up just after doors opening has backfired tonight. Instead, it’s a mammoth length queue but on the plus side, it gets those all-important steps in.
However, on the downside, it means I miss the first few songs of South of Salem’s set. Hitting the stage promptly at 19:55, it’s about another 15 minutes before I’m through the door. Which is a damn shame because I thoroughly enjoyed their debut album in 2020 and have heard great things about their live show. Halfway through their slower number of “Demons are Forever”, it’s obviously the part of the show where they bring it down before stepping it back up a notch. Or several in their case. Regardless, they’re effortlessly working the crowd.
The five-piece look like they belong on a stage that size and are clearly comfortable playing in front of so many bodies. Their punk and metal infused hard rock is a great fit for tonight, their last couple of songs in “Pretty Little Nightmare” and “Cold Day in Hell” ensuring they leave things on a high. As the twin guitars appropriately bulk out the sound, there’s enough sneer and aggression to match the forceful vocals, much of which are laced with venom and grit. As a band that is constantly on a stage, it’s allowed for them to have some excellent stagecraft, backed by an edgier and more original sound compared to the current crop of rock bands, all of which makes for an engaging set.
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There’s a bit of a wait for tonight’s headliner and after an enthusiastic singalong of “War Pigs” and before the sell-out audience start getting restless, it’s game on with the intro tape of The Doors’ “The End” (you have to love a bit of irony). W.A.S.P. are back in the house to celebrate their 40th anniversary and intent on delivering the goods, pulling from all the best corners of their back catalogue. With an intro medley of “On Your Knees / The Flame / The Torture Never Stops / Inside the Electric Circus” before hitting “L.O.V.E Machine” and “Wild Child”, it’s clear Blackie Lawless and co aren’t fucking around tonight.
The crowd lap it up and if there’s one thing you can’t accuse W.A.S.P. fans of, it’s lacking passion. The audience are screaming at the top of their lungs at every intro, singing along, horns are thrown and clapping so hard their hands must have been crimson by the end of the night. Hell, the guy next to me spent much of the show air guitaring like his life depended on it. Speaking of crimson, there’s a few songs from The Crimson Idol as Lawless remarks it’s celebrating its 30th birthday (ish). As the story of Johnathan Steel plays out over the screens, the fervour only increases with “The Idol”, “The Great Misconceptions of Me” and “Chainsaw Charlie (Murders in the New Morgue)”. Whilst I’m not a massive fan of the album and found the 25th anniversary tour a slog (which was reflected in Lawless’ performance that night), here, it’s got more of a kick to it. Lawless seems more enthusiastic about it this time around and watching people scream “I don’t wanna be the crimson idol” at the right marks for Lawless, well, it’s spine-tingling stuff.
Given that we’re in an old steel mill, the industrial setting does make tonight feel a bit like a secret sermon. As the encore is introduced with explaining Tipper Gore’s pointless crusade with the PMRC, the “Filthy Fifteen”, footage of Dee Snider giving that speech, it all builds to “Animal (Fuck Like a Beast)”. It’s fast and furious, gnarled vocals giving an extra hint of danger to it over the steamroller-like main riff. There’s also the traditional standard of The Who’s “The Real Me” before the parting shot of “I Wanna Be Somebody”. Dialling up the intensity, the band intend to give one last push and leave on the highest possible high. Which they manage to do and then some.
Drinking in the well-earned adulation, it’s a victorious night for the band. Their absence from the UK may have been a factor in so many of these shows selling out before they hit mainland Europe but when you’re putting on a show as enjoyable as this, it’s no surprise why people keep coming back.
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W.A.S.P.: official | facebook | twitter | spotify
South of Salem: official | facebook | twitter | instagram | youtube | bigcartel
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