Ice Nine Kills - The Civic at The Halls Wolverhampton - 22nd May 2024

It's a rainy May day in Wolverhampton, and despite Halloween being over five months away, we see wrapped around The Civic, a sea of black clothing, horror make-up, blood included. Ice Nine Kills are in town.

Tonight is sold out and many fans have endured the rain to get a front-row view of the spookiest show in town. Before the show, the band took to social media to announce that drummer Patrick Galante would not be joining them this tour due to health reasons, filling in would be Adam Reed from the band Hawk.

Also on the bill tonight are The Hara and Graphic Nature. Manchester's The Hara are a trio known for their high energy and interactive performance, with singer Josh Taylor climbing into the audience at one point. But it's not all chaos and rebelling, Taylor gently reminded the audience that today (22nd May) was the 7th anniversary of the Manchester Arena Bombing. "Make some noise for live music."

Graphic Nature gave a mellower set, with moody blue lighting that seemed intentionally fitting with their nu-metal tracks containing lyrics surrounding mental health. "This one goes out to my fellow neurodivergents" belts vocalist Harvey Freeman.

Now for the main act. Ice Nine Kills is a name I've seen many times around the scene, I could even describe what the stage show entailed, but for some reason, I had never given them any proper time, better late than never they say. Prior to the band walking on, the PA played 'Red Right Hand' by Nick Cave, whilst I know this is to set the spooky mood, I did find it rather fitting that tonight we are in the Black Country, home of Peaky Blinders whose theme is the same song. An eery red light and mist swarm the stage as the band takes to the stage, members in tuxedos and sunglasses, before frontman Spencer Charnas joins in for 'Hip To Be Scared'. For those unfamiliar with the band, each song often references a famous horror movie, and this track pays homage to 'American Psycho'. The twist with Ice Nine Kills is it goes beyond lyrical content, as these references are also shown in costumes and actors, so naturally, Spencer donned a waterproof jacket and an axe to take down a poor actor.

Following up was 'Rainy Day', to which actors took to the stage to re-enact the scenes you'd see in Resident Evil, a survivor being chased by two of the undead pleading for help via radio, before moving onto 'Meat & Greet', where someone was wheeled onto the stage, donning the Hannibal Lecter look, by a guard a la Silence of The Lambs before devouring him at the end of the track.

With a band like INK, it can be hard to not talk about the stage show and the theatrics, but putting all that aside for a minute, they're a very tight band (especially given the switch in members as mentioned earlier). The 'gimmick' and the ability to play well has won them an audience. I've been to The Civic a few times since it's re-opening and I don't think I have seen it this full or loud to date.

Though the set was considered short in my opinion (consisting of only 14 songs), the band always kept you wondering "What's next?". From an inflatable shark during 'Rocking the Boat', a re-invention of 'Stacy's Mom' by Fountains of Wayne with lyric changes referencing Friday the 13th or a small child in a yellow coat and red balloons meeting a masked Spencer recreating 'IT', there is never a dull moment. Whether the music is to your taste or not, you can't say this is a boring show.