Live Review: Bam Margera & FuckFace Unstoppable, At Fates., Drown This Fury

Opening the mayhem was metalcore five piece Drown This Fury, who would have had a lot more success about seven years ago, nestled securely in a scene that saw Parkway Drive sitting comfortably as kings of the Australian heavy music dynasty. However, this era is unfortunately dying, with the exception of bands such as Drown This Fury, who still grasp on to those glory days. Regardless, the local lads are always capable of bringing the party with an enthusiastic vocalist in the shape of Ian Darke and a plethora of beach balls to divert attention away from awkward onstage guitarists. 

A band with the ability to adapt to change is At Fates. who recently went through a transformational rebranding period, and going by this performance, it was successful. The four-piece have finally found a sound that suits their aesthetic perfectly; armed with an abrasive yet progressive take on hard rock, At Fates. demonstrated a new sense of refined professionalism and are ready to take on the country. If only they’d started with this material at their genesis seven years ago. 

Seven years ago, the night’s headline act, Bam Margera, was shooting Bam’s Unholy Union, recently married and in between Jackass movies among a host of other ventures. As he took to the stage Saturday night with members of CKY, Guttermouth and Iggy Pop’s Andy McCoy to form Southern rock/rap squad FuckFace Unstoppable, you’ve got to ask: what does he do with his days now? With minimal expectations, this reviewer was surprised by the more than decent performance Margera and his crew gave the crowd. There was the general smack-talk and stupidity you’d anticipate between the artists, this time involving a threesome and a heap of faeces left in a travel bag the night before as the strong stench of weed filled the Fowler’s venue. After pretty much every song the crowd chanted CKY; it was at its peak when Bam’s older brother Jess stepped out from the drums and joined Bam on the mic for a tune. A cover of Van Halen’s Hot For Teacher lifted the crowd up and over the security fence as Bam and his cowboys continued through a set that sounded like it was straight out of one of his ridiculous movies. Perhaps that’s partly why Bam makes music, to save on copyright costs? I guess he’s lucky his material isn’t half bad at all.