WEDNESDAY 13 w/ Mz Ann Thropik and Familia

Last month the Metro Theatre opened its doors to the new king of shock rock and horror; Wednesday 13! With a troop of ghouls in hand, this was the second time Mr. 13 has graced us with a visit in his solo career; with fans awaiting this return since 2005, when he dug Six Feet Down Under to tear up Australian stages with his macabre and grisly live show.

The queue outside showcased a sea of pasty faces, and ratty clothes: and with a tour aptly named the Valentine’s Massacre Down Under, his three date stop marked an early Halloween, with the aforementioned horde of ghouls and creeps pertinently dressed to what became a party of sleaze, gore, shock and horror!

Opening the night were punk-esque Goth rockers Familia. With catchy tunes and strong attitude, this quintet warmed up a crowd that built faster than one would usually see for the first support of the night. Front man Ash Rothschild engaged the horde with banter, and confronted appropriately an unwelcoming punter, which made for hilarity with all involved.

Next up were Sydney’s Mz Ann Thropik, who – if one didn’t know better – put on such an engaging set, that seeing them interact with their crowd would resemble the punks as headliners. Mz Ann Thropik fuse punk influences with a gothic image, to produce an alt. rock sound that sees most, if not all, dance to their beguiling songs.

Mz Ann Thropik’s set highlighted their ever-growing fan base, who is overtly enchanted by front woman Mzzy, holding an intrepid stage presence, charming her audience, and continually interacting with the band. The quartet is rounded off by guitarist Matt, drummer Peter Marks and bassist Brad Fitter, who all delivered an entertaining performance, and underlined why their rise is due.

Finally, after almost five years of waiting, Wednesday 13 aka Joseph Poole, returned to the Sydney stage, facing an anxious and wild crowd, before tearing into the beginning of debauchery in the form of ‘I Want You Dead’. From the opening notes, their presence on stage was relentless and the crowd beneath did not rest. With beer flowing, and heads thrashing, the quartet thrust through a set list that spanned Wednesday 13’s solo career, with the obvious Murderdolls favorites thrown in for good measure.

The flamboyance of the troop on stage translated to a crowd who could not get enough, and tearing into ‘Bad Things’, ‘House By The Cemetery’, ‘Happily Ever Cadaver’, and ‘Till Death Do Us Party’, the mass erupted in fury. Followed by ‘Faith In The Devil’, off his second studio album Fang Bang, Mr. 13 rocked out with his cock out, with punters en masse singing out loud, as they were evil and proud.

The three song encore featured ‘197666’, the ol’ favorite 'Rambo', and of course, ‘I Love To Say Fuck’! With the crowd turning into a wave of middle fingers, and the everlasting chants of “Fuck” reverberating from the walls, this, unfortunately, marked the end of the show, with the black clad troop featuring; guitarist J-Sin Trioxin, bassist Nate Manor, drummer Jonny Chops and head creeper Wednesday 13 heading off the stage, leaving a sweaty horde to head to the nearest bar to continue the party.