Words – Clare
Photos – Mitch
Finally, the delayed 20th Anniversary tour of the Static-X album ‘Machine‘ has arrived in Australia. Everyday Metal headed out to the Northcote Theatre on Friday night on the 19th of May to once again see Static-X in an anniversary show featuring vocalist ‘Xer0’ paying homage to the original frontman Wayne Static.
As the doors opened at 7pm the line of people that wrapped around the block hurriedly shuffled into the theatre to get ready for an epic night of entertainment. With our view from the mezzanine and Jack and coke in hand we were ready for the first set with the opening band, ‘Witchgrinder’. From our very own city of Melbourne, ‘Witchgrinder’ is a four-piece metal band that is a little bit industrial, a little bit thrash, and has super 80’s sci-fi vibes. This was just a straight up fun set, lots of wailing guitars, horror-themed sci-fi samples, and a head banging drummer. They played their 2017 single ‘They Walk Among Us’ and as a special treat performed live for the first time ever a track from their upcoming album which will be released later this year.
Next up from Chicago, Illinois was the metal band ‘SOiL’ who having formed in the late 90’s had huge noughties nostalgia vibes for the more mature audience members. As the lights in the theatre came down, a mash-up track played through the speakers, and smoke filled, red beams of light shone down causing the dark silhouettes of each of the band members. After a few tracks lead vocalist Ryan McCombs addressed the fans ‘How the fuck y’all doing?’, the crowd roared. ‘So we got this bright idea to go back in time a little bit and do a song from the album Scars’, and they took us down memory lane with a track from their 2001 album, followed by a few other classics. This was a really strong set and obviously, the fans agreed as they sang along to the chorus of the final track. ‘The music starts with you, the music ends with you. You make this happen’, and with that, the music comes to a crescendo and Ryan holds the mic stand up over his head and thanks the crowd.
As satisfied as we all were so far with the entertainment and metal excellence of the evening, the best was yet to come. The screen backdrop came on with some killer retro graphics of glitchy static, biotech, and the words ANALYSING SUBJECT came on the display followed by ANALYSIS COMPLETE and as it switched to MACHINE STATUS ACTIVATED, the original band members crossed the stage and into position. The anticipation grew as we finally witnessed Xer0 in his new cyborg form complete with glowing red eyes.
‘Melbourne. We are Static-X and we are here to destroy you!’. As Static-X launched into the tracks ‘Permanence’, ‘This Is Not’, ‘Structural Defect’ and ‘Black and White’ from their studio album ‘Machine’ released in 2001, we were also entertained by a stadium-worthy light show and graphics that was tailored to every track. The band then moved on to ‘Wisconsin Death Trip’ playing not only the title track but also ‘Love Dump’, ‘Fix’, and ‘Bled For Days’.
This was not just a regular tour but felt like an experience that spanned the vocal career of Wayne Static. Other tracks were played from albums ‘Project Regeneration Vol. 1’, ‘Start a War’ and ‘Shadow Zone’, but then we were brought back to ‘Machine’ with fan favourite ‘Get to the Gone’ followed by Xer0 leaning into the mic to ask ‘We got any cannibals here tonight?’. As they powered through the track a skull animation bobbed along on the screen while gripping a femur in its teeth, it was totally hypnotic! The band turned the venue into a goddam bouncy house, with the crowd below bouncing up and down to every track.
They thanked the Melbourne fans, left the stage, and the venue went dark, was it all over? No, Static-X returned to the stage to not only offer us an encore, but also to share with us a touching memorial to their fallen frontman. ‘Melbourne, get your hands up in the air and wave them side to side and reach out to the heavens, this one is going out to our brother Mr Wayne Static’, the track ‘COLD‘ featured graphics on the video backdrop of Wayne singing the chorus, taken from the original music video. Then, in like a fantastical dream, a bunch of giant spherical balloons in red, black, and white were released onto the crowd below us. Looking down at these spheres dancing around and flying high, with beams of light shining through them, it felt like a dream.
Xer0 faced the crowd and told us to give it up for Wayne’s friend and drummer Ken Jay, Wayne’s original partner in crime, ‘The Osaka Assassin’ Koichi Fukuda, and of course Tony Campus for ‘keeping this shit alive’. Again, Xer0 brought the audience into the experience and said ‘Wayne was my old friend, these are my old friends [gesturing to the band], and you [gesturing to the crowd] are our old friends’. With the energy at an all-time high, Static-X performed ‘Push It’ a fan favourite. Before leaving the stage that night, the band members spent time taking photos and tossing out keepsakes to the mosh pit. That was definitely an experience, one to remember. RIP Wayne Static.
Huge thanks to the crew at the Northcote Theatre for their awesome hospitality and a special thanks to Maric Media for arranging access.
You can also check out our coverage of Static-X’s 2019 performance at Melbourne’s Croxton Bandroom
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