Pix by Ian Graham
Australian fans have been waiting more than 20 years to finally see Powerman 5000 live in this country, and what better way for it to happen than by celebrating the anniversary of the band’s debut album Tonight The Stars Revolt!?
But, first things first.
Australia is currently blessed with a high standard of local talent, and perhaps one of the brightest and fastest rising is Gold Coast rock outfit These Four Walls, who had the honour of being the opening and only band in support for the tour’s first show at The Zoo in Brisbane.
These guys have (deservedly) scored quite a few high-profile supports in recent times, but tonight was the first time I would see them play a full 45-minute set, rather than the standard 30 minutes afforded local bands on most occasions.
I know they have the chops, but there is a massive difference a mere 15 minutes can make when it comes to performance and consistency.
And, as if there was ever any doubt, These Four Walls passed this new test with flying colours.
Despite being cramped for room – with the drum kit in the most awkward place I have seen for some time – These Four Walls delivered. And then some.
Vocalist Steve Gibb may be small in stature, but he more than makes up for that with vocal ability and stage presence. He commands respect from the moment he opens his mouth, with his enthusiasm and humble approach almost infectious.
The band powered through the set, barely pausing for breath, and by the time they closed their performance what had started as polite appreciation from the near-capacity crowd had quickly evolved into steadfast approval.
HEAVY photographer Ian Graham listed These Four Walls as Australian Band To Watch Out For in 2023 in our annual wrap-up late last year, and based on tonight’s performance I think he will be bringing home the chocolates and bragging rights when it comes time to compile this years list.
One thing that I think touring bands could pay more attention to is the music between the support band and themselves. I know they aren’t always in control of this side of things, but when they are, it can be the difference between their set starting with a bang or more meandering to life.
Powerman 5000 obviously subscribe to this theory and when Rage Against The Machine blared from the speakers the crowd rapidly whipped themselves into an expectant fury. As Zach repeated “All of which are American dreams…” his voice faded slowly before a robotic voice announced “please stand for the anthem of our future voice”, perfectly timed with the members of Powerman 5000 slowly making their way onto stage.
Green lazers swirled playfully throughout the darkness, with even drummer DJ Rattan joining the party with bright lime green hair.
Intergalactic tension filled The Zoo before the band launched into Footsteps and Voices and Nobody’s Real, their boundless energy sweeping from the stage into the dancefloor as the whole of the room repeatedly bounced in time with the band and thrust their fists skywards without provocation.
This was nu-metal old-school style. There was no summoning of the guard from vocalist Spider One or pre-emptive shouts of adulation. This was music played with respect that earnt respect. No quarter asked for and none given.
The lack of backing microphones on stage decisively proved that this was Spider One’s castle, with him being the only original member of the band still performing.
Not that you could tell from the faultless displays by the rest of the band.
Bass player Murv3, resplendent in his red and black stage outfit matched by red and black hair owned the stage, moving in and against the time of the music and contorting his body into many positions that should not facilitate the playing of an instrument.
Both guitars screamed unmercifully throughout, with the lead guitarist sporadically interjecting on irregular occasions to accentuate the theatrical components of Powerman 5000’s music.
One thing that did surprise me was the lack of triggered effects. I know I was stereotyping in a sense by expecting a dearth of effects, but Powerman 5000 chose more to make their instruments sing for effect rather than relying on staged production, which only added to the old-school nature of the night.
Black Lipstick and How To Be A Human provided set highlights, with the band not once breaking stride despite the oppressive heat. It was almost like an aerobics class up there with bouncing and dancing and sweat-lathered guitar solos a constant driving force.
The biggest (pleasant) surprise of the night came at the end of Horror Show when the rhythm section eased their way into The White Stripes track Seven Nation Army, keeping the repetitive flow going as Spider One jammed out his version of lyrics to songs like INXS’ Devil Inside, It’s Tricky, Rebel Yell (admittedly, the resemblance to Billy Idol was featuring on my mind most of the night) and Du Hast, but it was when Spider started jamming to big brothers song Dragula that the crowd exploded into appreciative raptures.
Closing the set with a scintillating rendition of Bombshell it didn’t take a genius to figure out the band would return.
FFS, they hadn’t even played the big hit from the birthday album…
After rehydrating, Powerman 5000 dutifully returned front and centre, teasing the crowd with Supernova Goes Pop and Tonight The Stars Revolt! (which, incidentally, was the first time the current line-up have performed the song aside from soundcheck that afternoon) before closing with When World’s Collide, in the process threatening to bring the stars, planets and multi-verse crashing down due to the universal display of moshing that greeted every note.
After thanking the crowd with a touchingly genuine adulation speech, Powerman 5000 departed into the unknown, their debut performance on Australian soil securing their patch of dominance in this country and staking claim for as many triumphant returns as the band sees fit.
(Inter) Stellar stuff!
