Pennywise
4th February 2020
The Studio, Auckland, New Zealand.
Review by Isaac Fleming. Photography by Ginelle Cocks.
Straight Ahead was not the first album by Pennywise, in fact they had already released four albums before it. But last year it turned twenty. And what better excuse to celebrate than an anniversary!
And no one knows how to put on a party like Pennywise.
Well at least that is what I have discovered. Confession time – Straight Ahead came out long before I was born – not THAT long before, but still. But isn’t that one of the great things about bands like Pennywise? Their music is generational, the messages that are carried through the words of many of their tracks making just as much sense to me here and now as they did to my parents who listened to them religiously while I was growing up.
So, when offered the chance to check out Pennywise playing the album live and in full – as well as a few of their classics (yup was definitely keeping my fingers crossed to hear ‘Society’) that is not an offer that you turn down!
Studio was heaving thanks to both local acts Fireshark and Flirting with Disaster having already primed the crowd, and now the wait was on for the legends themselves to arrive. When anticipation is making the hairs on your arms bristle, and the heat from the crowd and the summer season itself is making you melt into the soles of your shoes, time seems to crawl by, and that uncomfortable stickiness sets in…
But then Pennywise took the stage and all was forgotten, my focus squarely set on the So Cal four standing before me, whose name was derived from an evil clown with a penchant for terrorizing children in the town of Derry. Punk rock named after a fiend of the horror world. Love it.
This show promised to play Straight Ahead in full and that is exactly what Pennywise did, opening track ‘Greed’ almost tearing the flesh from my bones as the chorus of voices from the crowd nearly drowned out the band themselves. Concerts and live music in general are always a thrill, but there is something to be said for a show where a band has been going for over three decades and their fan base is one of the most dedicated you will ever find. There was an electricity to the room, a sense of tribal belonging. We were all here together, us, the band, all for the same reason, to celebrate an album and the music behind it.
‘My Own Country’, and ‘Can’t Believe It’ rained down upon us, the band joking that they never play the fourth track ‘Victim of Reality’; that’s what makes these anniversary shows pretty damn special, as whether it’s the first time you are seeing the band or the tenth, hearing rarities that never usually make a set list is something you never forget. Vocalist Jim Lindberg was in fine form, both vocally and performance wise, whipping up those down in the mosh pit, front and centre, leaning out over the crowd and making that eye contact that burns itself into the memory banks and pushes you on harder.
Musings about Shakira at the Superbowl and when they last played this very same venue (it was Nov 2017 for those wondering) peppered the very short breaks between the early tracks, Lindberg and guitarist Fletcher Dragge certainly the chattier members of the band, calls for everyone to get crazy coming just before the title track of the album hits us like a truck. In a good way. ‘One Voice’ had the honour of being performed live, something that has never happened before in the life of Pennywise apparently. A first for us all it would seem.
‘American Dream’ brought with it a dedication to their fallen brother, bassist Jason Thirsk as well as a confession of sorts that back home they currently have a big orange dick in the Whitehouse, something that I know, and would be pretty safe in thinking most of the people attending would agree with. All of a sudden ‘Badge of Pride’ is being laid down, and unbelievably we are at the conclusion of the album already. I almost want them to play it again, just so I can soak it all up one more time.
But it’s onto the classics, some fan favourites to ensure that this night is unforgettable. Despite already going hard for almost an hour, Pennywise still have that look of ferocity in their eye, Byron McMackin, sticks in hand poised over his kit, Lindberg pacing, eyeballing the sea of sweat soaked bodies before him. ’Fuck Authority’ smashes through like a freight train, that unmistakable riff that I remember as a kid blasting through my lounge, now hitting me straight in the face! I have barely recovered when ‘Society’ comes screaming in from behind; thanking the power of crossed fingers I throw myself into it. Cliché choice of track on my part? Maybe, but it was one of the first I ever heard of Pennywise and it will always be a favourite, the opportunity to finally hear it live, magic.
‘Same Old Story’ and ‘Pennywise’ and we’re here, the end of the show. It seems too soon, but in all honesty, I couldn’t ask them for anything more. The gave it everything, as did we.
Like old mates, we join together for one last anthem. I was told about how good this track is live when standing shoulder to shoulder amongst hundreds of other Pennywise fans, and now I get it. ‘Bro Hymn’ not only the traditional but the ideal way to end a show as wicked as this.
Pennywise, let’s do this again. Real soon.
Were you there at The Studio for this energetic punk rock gig? Or have you seen Pennywise perform somewhere else? Tell us about it in the comments below!
Setlist:
- Greed
- My Own Country
- Can’t Believe It
- Victim Of Reality
- Might Be A Dream
- Still Can Be Great
- Straight Ahead
- My Own Way
- One Voice
- Alien
- Watch Me As I Fall
- Just For You
- Can’t Take Anymore
- American Dream
- Need More
- Never Know
- Badge Of Pride
- Fuck Authority
- Society
- Same Old Story
- Pennywise
- Bro Hymn
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