Sydney's heat has mercifully dropped off around the Enmore Theatre where AFI are making a triumphant return to Australian shores.
Sacred Hearts and Total Tommy kick off the night (2 March) in characteristically thrashing style. The main show starts under red lights and ominous bass pulses, as the band enter to loud applause. Frontman Davey Havok holds the mic out to the crowd who begin chanting "Strength through wounding," a short spoken piece. 'Girl's Not Grey' starts under blue lights, Havok emoting on his knees before jumping up and down. He leaps off the drum stand to dramatically end the song.
'End Transmission' features more gesturing to the crown, who belt out the lines with passion. 'Beautiful Thieves' plays under a single purple beam of light, guitarist Jade Puget playing some nicely effected notes.
AFI - image © Hayden Nixon
'Paper Airplanes' is furious under red and white lights, as Puget plays his guitar against Havok's microphone stand. The crowd are moshing up and down. '37mm' is a bit slower and sentimental. "Do you fall into me?" Havok asks gently under chugging drum-lines and flashing white lights.
He starts a song before the song ends suddenly. 'The Lost Souls' kicks in with fury, the crowd jumping off their feet, as the lights go crazy in a wild show of white. 'Escape From Los Angeles' is gorgeous under yellow and purple lights, as blue fluorescents run across the back wall. Puget and bassist Hunter Burgan run across the stage energetically. "I've gotta get out of LA!" Havok sings.
'I Hope You Suffer' is intense, Puget's guitar notes drifting out over the crowd. Havok runs to the side of the stage and bangs his hand against the wall in an interesting display. 'Love Like Winter' commences with the iconic heels clicking on the pavement, as the crowd scream the intro.
AFI - image © Hayden Nixon
'Death Of The Party' is dense under deep blue lights, while 'Ever And A Day' is moody as red lights and distorted guitar ring out. '17 Crimes' is fast and energetic, Puget thrashing through notes.
"Are you saying one more song?" Havok asks a crowd member. "I don't want to disappoint you, we've got a few more than that," he laughs. "This song is too f...ing old," he declares for 'Third Season'. 'Miss Murder' is ridiculously catchy songwriting, and Puget's solo is flawless.
'Silver And Cold' starts the encore under green and purple lights, the crowd belting the chorus with all they have. 'The Days Of The Phoenix' ends a frantic, but controlled set. Puget has engineered engaging and pleasant guitar tones, and Burgan is perfectly energetic on stage. Havok emotes deeply, each song a diary entry read before you.
More photos from the concert.
