With thanks to Destroy All Lines & Dallas Does PR for the media access.
Photos by Shot by Slaidins Photography
On a drizzly Melbourne night what better to do than go check out a rock show, and what a rock show it was tonight.
Cued well and truly around the block tonight I was a huge line that pretty much covered the span of half the block that the Northcote Theatre is situated on, fans patiently waited as the line progressed and the 1500 strong crowd filed in at a steady pace.
The merch desk was packed full of no less than half a dozen different Corey Taylor shirts and to the left was a small piece of wall real estate dedicated to tonight’s opening band Clay J Gladstone. Hailing from the Blue Mountains in New South Wales. I had no idea who or what they were all about. That was about to change.
As the house music quietened a familiar tune in the form of ‘Sexy boy’. For those not in the know this was WWE superstar Shawn Michaels aka The Heartbreak Kid’s theme/entrance music. A smile came across my face as this was setting up for something I already knew was going to be pretty damn special.
As this five-piece band from Sydney took the stage and the first thing that caught my attention was the bass player who at first glance was a dead ringer for cult TV personality Joe Exotic aka The Tiger King. Now in all honesty how can you not envision fun from these guys if they have a bass player that looks like that and has a wrestlers theme as their intro tape.
The moment that Clay J Gladstone struck a chord it was on. When I say it was on, it was energy, fun, super catch songs and great musicianship all turned on and turned way up.
Sonically if you took the DNA from Sum 41, The Offspring, Blink 182, Bodyjar and Jimmy Eat World put it in a test tube and gave it a good hard shake you would have something that very closely resembles how I would best describe Clay J Gladstone stylistically.
Frontman Clay J is a huge personality and looked so completely at home in front of a crowd who I can ignorantly assume knew just about as much of them as I did when I entered the venue.
The between song interaction with the crowd was strong with chants of shoey becoming a normal thing. Asking the audience if they were Ok tonight, an now 2/3 full Northcote Theatre responded loudly as the brief story of a brawl breaking out during their Sydney support for Mr.Taylor was given by comparison as to how different the crowd were.
Clay J also told all in attendance that he had a big secret that he wanted to share with the crowd. That secret was that he was the new Slipknot drummer and the proceeded to tell us all he was also Batman and that he wasn’t a raging alcoholic. He also could not express enough how much he appreciated tonight’s crowd. You could tell that tonight Melbourne brought what these five lads were selling.
In all honesty Clay J Gladstone is the best opening act I have seen in forever. Their brand of high energy fun had audience in palm of their hands by the end of their set. These guys have energy for days and you have to be without a pulse to have not enjoyed what you saw and heard from these guys tonight.
There wasn’t a dud song in the set and in all, this was the best way to discover a new band. It was organic, fun and exactly what the doctor ordered.
Listening to them in the car on the way home after tonight’s show I can safely say that their infectious brand of rock n roll is best served live as it adds another dimension, an energy that can’t be felt from a recording.
A true testament to this band is that their set wasn’t as capped or compromised as many opening bands are with sound and production. While not a full production show it was enough and better than many I have experienced over the years.
Tonight; Clay J Gladstone sold me; they won a new fan and I’m sure there were many more gained tonight. I brought the shirt and eagerly await their return to Melbourne on December 23 at Stay Gold.
Spread the word.
Setlist
Sorry
Balance
Hate Club
Tott
People Like You
High School Drama
King Ugly
Post Modern
Home For Halloween
Move On
Dead Friends
Gallery
Tonight’s main course is Corey Taylor and what a serving we received. This was my first-time seeing Corey Taylor live in any incarnation whether it be Slipknot, Stone Sour or solo. As a fan of pretty much everything this guy does it was going to be interesting to see how it all worked together in such a compendious manner.
From the pre-recorded intro of ‘The Box’ the band kicked into full gear with ‘Post Traumatic Blues’ from Corey’s latest offering “CMF2”. Charging the stage Corey took full control of tonight’s crowd and had them eating out of the palm of his hand, aggressive, captivating and on point. ’Tumult’ continued the assault. As a song its groves along and Corey is just giving it his all, veins now obvious in his neck. I always thought this song was the best song Nine Inch Nails never wrote. It’s slick as hell.
‘Black Eyes Blue’ is next seeing Corey grab his guitar for the first time tonight, as diverse a song stylistically to its predecessors, it loses no momentum its placement is perfect.
Taylor takes a moment to thank a now packed Theatre and says we are in for a treat tonight in guaranteeing we all have the best night. Taylor’s love of Australia and our huge rock n roll heritage makes it one of his favourite places in the world to visit.
The anthemic ‘We Are the Rest’ has Northcote Theatre singing in fine voice. The chant of “No way to beat me, no way to win” sung back loud and proud at Taylor and his band. For me this was a highlight of the set as this was the track that first grabbed me and refused to let go at first listen of “CMF2”. It’s a high energy blast with a super cool guitar solo. When I say highlight, this was the first of a few.
‘Song #3’ slows things slightly and touches on the melodic magic Taylor is able to create with his band of brothers in Stone Sour. Everything is there and sounds so damn good. Harmonies are on point and this band simply smokes.
‘Beyond’ carries on the tradition of showcasing just how good a song writer he is, executed flawlessly.
Taylor addresses the crowd by saying “You just keep getting better and better with every f**king song. You guys are a gift, thank you so f**king much Melbourne”.
Pausing Taylor says Before I Forget to the audience who erupt in anticipation for the Slipknot classic. Continuing Taylor again says “seriously before I forget, I wanna make lot of noise for our friends, one of our favourite new bands, let’s give it up for Clay J Gladstone” a deafening cheer filled Northcote Theatre. Taylor continues by saying “Their singer could well be the new Slipknot drummer; I will never tell. I will tell you what they are. Watching them last night, they have fast become one of my favourite new bands, they are f**king amazing and it’s been an absolute blast having them out for these shows”
Taylor again addresses the crowd with “Now before I forget, I want you to give it up for my dudes up here” as he introduces the band. With one final ‘Now before I forget is the name of this next song”.
The opening riff has Northcote Theatre bouncing as the Slipknot classic is delivered, energy electrifies the room. I’m sure if there was any room there would have been one hell of a pit happening.
As a stark contrast to the last song Taylor’s does a solo rendition of the ‘SpongeBob SquarePants’ theme which is a unique way to segway into ‘Snuff’ an obvious crowd favourite and the second Slipknot song in the set which was sung by what sounded like every voice in the house. Haunting, chilling, magical.
If by chance you had slipped into a sombre state of mind during ‘Snuff’ rest assured ’30/30 150’ kicked your ass as the energy piqued and again Northcote Theatre was bouncing. It was brutal, intense and so much damn fun. The lighting and production in this particular song was second to none. Corey without his guitar is the consummate frontman bounding with energy and stamping the stage with his presence.
‘Talk Sick’ is one of those songs, it has the swing and swagger that I haven’t heard in music for a while. That opening riff is SO ‘Appetite for Destruction’ era Guns N Roses. It’s slick as hell and catchy as f**k. Axl and Slash could take a lesson or two from this song.
Haunting, dark and powerful is ‘Midnight’. Sans the orchestral treatment of the album version delivered a tale of reflection, self-criticism and loathing and how we see a world that doesn’t feel right. The solo on this song is a complete monster live.
‘Through Glass’ is another of those crowd favourites that just has a message and meaning that is so relatable to closed out tonight’s set and had the crowd in fine voice yet again.
Leaving the stage briefly Taylor and band are cheered back onto stage as Taylor asks the audience ‘Do you want a couple more songs?”. “Do you want to help me sing a f**king song?”. Northcote took over the first few lines of ‘Duality’ as Taylor joined in and the full blown assault began. Every pinch squeal in place every dynamic present. This was an amazing version. I couldn’t see if there was a mosh happening but there was definitely some movement upfront, what else would you come to expect?
“There’s one more to go, before that, give it up for my amazing band” Taylor commands to a deafening cheer. “Now comes the surprise” announces Corey. “This song is one of my favourite songs by one of my favourite f**king Australian bands of all time. We specifically threw this together to play it for you.So if you know it, you better help me f**king sing it”. A power chord rings through which could have belonged to any Australian rock band, it wasn’t until the unmistakable intro riff of INXS’ ‘Don’t Change’ kicked in that it became clear what the surprise would be. Tonight it was a faithful, respectful and rememberable Corey Taylor version of this now forty one year old iconic Australian song, which as you guessed had everyone in fine voice. What a way to close out tonights show.
This show felt like gigs of days gone by, jam packed, nothing but good vibes and a room full of incredible energy.
Tonights set was so well thought out, its flow never lost engagement. There were no egos on the stage tonight just five musicians having the time of their lives. No individual guitar or drum solos made for a really refreshing change and gave tonights show so much flow that I find is missing these days.
This felt like gigs of days gone by, jam packed and full of incredible energy.
The fifteen song set delivered to us was a perfect snapshot of Taylor’s twenty five career and musical journey. If I was to introduce someone who was unfamiliar with the world of Corey Taylor tonights show was the ultimate showcase.
If you are heading to any of the Good Things show be sure to catch Corey and his incredible band. You won’t be disappointed.
Setlist
Post Traumatic Blues
Tumult
Black Eyes Blue
We Are The Rest
Song #3
Beyond
Before I Forget
Sponge Bob Square Pants Theme
Snuff
30/30-150
Talk Sick
Midnight
Through Glass
Duality
Don’t Change
Gallery
