Live Review: A Fire Inside (AFI) Rages Out of Control at The Enmore – Spotlight Report
Let’s start with the BIGGEST thank you to whoever suggested to A Fire Inside (AFI) that they play a couple of headlining side gigs while supporting Green Day. After eight long years, the truly shape shifting, refuse to be pigeonholed, genre defying band were back, serving up the perfect set on a perfect platter.
Lead singer Davey Havok, known for his signature look as much now as his veganism and straight-edge lifestyle, didn’t let us down. His now famous blast over black tattoo sleeves and long mulleted hair (begging to be rats tail plated!) were proudly on display. Looking less emo and more rock sartorial, Havok kicked off with Strength Through Wounding, from the 1999 album Black Sails in the Sunset. The crowd eager to singalong, meant Havok at times simply held the microphone out inviting them to sing the words back.. ‘through our bleeding, we are one…’ This continued for the rest of the set, the crowd getting involved in every Misfits-esque ‘whoah, oh, oh, oh’ in Miss Murder and every ‘Follllllllloooowwwwww’ in Girl’s Not Grey.
It is the bands energy we need to talk about next – it’s off the chart. The gig is a true performance. It’s a bit theatrical but in a good way. Hunter Burgan and Jade Puget moving like unstoppable spinning tops across the stage, playing their guitars right way up, above their heads, anyway they like.
It feels a little like the band are trying to see how much of the stage they can cover in a show and what that translates to in step count.. and stair count… with Havok using the stacked speakers as a climbing wall, executing a high jump back down, much to the delight of those around him. It’s like they want to engage with every fan there with a knowing nod and eye contact. It was truly a special, electric experience.
So after all this, what the world wants to know is how is AFI not bigger? Heck, why aren’t Green Day supporting AFI! Regardless of if you buy into the theory they suffered for refusing to sell out or maybe you believe they suffered because they did sell out, you can’t deny that this band brings everything to the stage and gives everything to their fans. In fact, it doesn’t feel like they are suffering at all. Everyone at the show seemed excited to be there to see them – including the support acts, and the photographers – this was a bucket list gig.
Supporting AFI was Sydney-based Total Tommy. Total Tommy is indie rock-grunge artist, singer Jess Holt who released her debut album Bruises late last year. The album is autobiographical and at times, her vocal sounds reminiscent of Courtney Love. Accompanied by a fab three-piece band, they play well beyond how they should for only one trip around the sun together. Total Tommy will be back at the end of March playing at Metro Theatre – pick up some tickets if you can and support our home-grown talent. Also supporting was Brisbane’s post-punk duo, Sacred Hearts who put both heart and fire into their performance.
