Wednesday 13

baltimore soundstage | 4/6/19

By Jay Oakley

Songs about death, dying and the dead that is Wednesday 13.

The lights go down and an ominous reaper walks out. The theater production starts and the band rips into “Hail Ming.” “Come Out And Plague” and “Astro Pyscho Galactic Blood Drive” follow and the mortician never stopped burying us. Next up was “Serpent Society” and “Prey For Me” which bridged into a “Get Your Grave On.”

We were then treated to a new song in “Zodiac” as Wednesday spoke of their new record set for release later this year. The set was brought to a close with “What The Night Brings” and “Keep Watching The Skies.”

As someone who as seen every incarnation of Wednesday’s band and stage show it’s been incredible to watch the dice rolled and all the new ideas to spook the crowd. With such a strong band behind him for a series of records now, Wednesday is free to truly be a front man. Casting a spell in every city he plays.

The one thing I noticed and actually appreciated was there were no Murderdolls or Frankenstein Drag Queens songs in the set. A first for me when it comes to Wednesday’s live show. Don’t get me wrong, I love those records, I go back with Wednesday to Maniac Spider Trash but watching a set comprised of only music from his last three records I thought was terrific because it shows the strength in his writing and the confidence Wednesday has in his new material and the product he delivers.

Go and see Wednesday 13 when ever you can. His songs are Morgue Than Words. It’s a Lonesome Road To Hell but in Baltimore I Walked With A Zombie.

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Wednesday 13 has been the King of Horror for years. A lyrical master who started off writing many of his songs about horror movies, sci-fi and death. Touring all over the world and being very in-demand overseas his US tour brought him through Richmond, Virginia.

To tone for the show was set high with an energetic opening with "Keep Watching The Skies" but it was quickly followed by a raised eyebrow from the crowd as a blown fuse or electrical malfunction shut down the show at the end of the song. After a few minutes and a short breather it was back on full speed. Returning with "Put Your Death Mask On" and "I Want You...Dead" the crowd was amped up.

After "The Ghost Of Vincent Price" Wednesday took every one back in time to the Frankenstein Drag Queens with "Scary Song" from the 1998 album Night Of The Living Drag Queens. Following "Scream Baby Scream" was "Serpent Society" off the latest record, Monsters Of The Universe: Come Out And Plague.

"Dixie Dead" and "Get Your Grave On" are more recent gems. They keep the running going high and keep the mood of the night fulfilled. "Hail Ming" was a standout song tonight and really riled up the crowd. Closing out the main set was "I Walked With A Zombie."

The encore featured two Wednesday 13 standbys, "I Love To Say Fuck" and "Bad Things." Staples, classics and a must of every show.

Wednesday really delivered a killer show even with being quite ill. Unfortunately, he had to cut three songs from his set in "Skeletons," "Curse Of Me" and "Monsters Of The Universe." Losing "Curse Of Me" was a bummer since it's one of my favorite songs but that's OK, the show slayed. Going through a series of mask changes for different songs of the set was a cool thing to see.