PENNYWISE // Full Circle & Full Circle Pits

Pennywise with The Bronx & Pagan
The Forum Theatre, Melbourne
Friday October 27, 2017

Tonight Melbourne’s punks dust off their baggy Dickie’s shorts and fondly recall a time when they could kickflip as they prepare for an evening of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2 nostalgia.

A retrospective this evening’s entertainment is—a chance to celebrate the headliner’s revered 1997 album Full Circle—but outside the sold-out Forum theatre tonight there’s a keen sense of anticipation about what’s waiting for us tonight.

MORE: Read Polaris’s The Mortal coil album review here.

Local rabble rousers Pagan are up first—their rising profile has been helped enormously by chatter about their live show and even in tonight’s opening spot they don’t disappoint. Over the Forum’s superior P.A. you can hear the nuance of guitar interplay that evokes the memory of Kvelertak’s inventiveness. Pagan play like they’re trying to convince the room where punk and metal should intersect, and that’s bloody exciting to watch.

Pagan // By Ben Gunzburg

The Bronx know a thing or two about an intense live show, and what’s most impressive about their performance is how they transpose the energy that generally courses through a shithole club into the opulent environs of the Forum Theatre. The LA wrecking crew up the intensity and material off this year’s V finds a sweet spot where looseness and grit can sweat all over each other. In their more structured moments album cuts come across like if The Hives, minus the flashy suits and good-natured arrogance, but then when the Bronx thrash out their glorious hardcore colours shine through.

The Bronx // By Ben Gunzburg

Pennywise could be Aerosmith if they wore more bandanas. At this point the Jim/Fletcher blow-ups and reconciliations are like how Steven Tyler and Joe Perry’s tumultuous relationship basically defines that band. That’s why it’s so great tonight to see Pennywise just shred through their magnum opus, in the tracks from 1997’s Full Circle there’s none of the conversation that’s followed the band throughout their latter years. Instead there’s just Lindberg standing front and centre, barking commands to an eager-to-comply crowd. In such a nice venue, the manic sloppiness is a sight to behold. It seems like everyone in the room is torn between singing every single word and charging around in a tight circle to exhaust themselves. A couple of OG punk covers towards the end of the night are a nice surprise—Circle Jerks’ Wild in the Streets is a favourite, the Men At Work effort feels like they’re pandering but everyone goes along with it—before the song that was always going to be the closer, Bro Hymn.

Pennywise // By Ben Gunzburg

No matter how many times I’ve seen Pennywise play their famous Hymn, tonight it feels even more special. It’s a cathartic experience to share this song with every other person in the room.
Thanks for giving us that moment Pennywise.

Pennywise // By Ben Gunzburg

Catch Pennywise on their Full Circle Australian Tour with The Bronx at the remaining dates.
Tickets available here.

Saturday October 28, Eatons Hill Hotel, Brisbane QLD with Driven Fear (Lic/AA)
Sunday October 29, Enmore Theatre, Sydney NSW with Beerwolf (Lic/AA)
Tuesday October 31, NEX Wests Newcastle, Newcastle NSW with Rage (18+)
Thursday November 2, HQ, Adelaide SA with The Lizards (18+)
Friday November 3, Metropolis, Fremantle WA with Dan Cribb & The Isolated (18+)
Sunday November 5, Pier Bandroom, Frankston VIC with Bombs Are Falling & Southpaw (18+) – The Bronx are not appearing