On a humid July evening in Birmingham, a city still reeling from the recent loss of its heavy metal godfather Ozzy Osbourne, fans gathered early outside The Asylum. The queue snaked around the block long before doors opened, a sea of black t-shirts with Wednesday 13 logos dominating the crowd, punctuated by the occasional tee for support acts The Nocturnal Affair and Fearless Vampire Killers.
Wednesday 13 @ The Asylum, Birmingham
There was a palpable energy in the air, not just from the heat, but from the quiet sense that tonight was going to be something more than just a gig. As the crowd filtered inside, the venue filled quickly, bodies pressed shoulder to shoulder against the railings, ready for release.
Opening the night were Las Vegas goth-rockers The Nocturnal Affair, whose blend of dark, melodic anthems and cinematic stage presence made an instant impression. Frontman Brendan Shane held the audience with his deep baritone and introspective lyrics, offering a performance that felt both raw and refined. Following them, Fearless Vampire Killers brought a theatrical, high-energy set filled with hooks, harmonies, and although they almost lost the crowd with poorly worded mid song banter, they blurred the line between performance and pantomime. Both bands proved themselves more than just warm-up acts, they were legitimate draws in their own right.
But when the lights finally dropped for Wednesday 13, the crowd’s anticipation boiled over into roars and shrieks. The band stormed the stage like horror-punk royalty, launching into a set that was equal parts celebration and exorcism. From the opening riff, the room was electric, every scream, every guitar stab, every sneer met with a wave of hair-whipping, fist-pumping response.
It’s not just about the songs (though they hit hard); it’s the presence. Wednesday himself is every bit the showman, strutting, snarling, and joking his way through the night with equal parts menace and charm. The setlist leaned heavily into fan favourites, with plenty of Murderdolls cuts threaded throughout, much to the delight of the crowd who shouted back every lyric with glee.
Mid-set, the chaos paused for a moment of poignancy. Wednesday 13 took time to pay tribute to the two late legends: Ozzy Osbourne and Joey Jordison. The mention of Jordison, Wednesday’s former bandmate and friend, brought a wave of emotion through the venue. But it was the nod to Ozzy, right there in his hometown, that earned the loudest applause of the night. It was a fitting tribute, delivered not with tears, but with reverence and energy, exactly how both icons would’ve wanted it.
Then it was back to business: gory visuals, creepy lighting, and darkly comic crowd interactions. Wednesday’s signature mix of horror imagery and tongue-in-cheek showmanship was on full display, never more so than during the show’s finale, when he emerged holding a massive black umbrella emblazoned with a giant middle finger and the word “F***.”. “My favourite word,” he grinned, inviting the audience to shout it in unison. Arms were raised, fingers flew up, and the crowd, young, old, costumed, casual, screamed it out with collective catharsis.
Despite the tongue-in-cheek theatrics and campy horror leanings, there’s something disarmingly earnest about a Wednesday 13 performance. It’s clear he genuinely values the connection with his fans, and they give it back tenfold. Whether it’s the nostalgia for Murderdolls, the appreciation for his solo material, or simply the sense of belonging he brings, there’s a shared understanding that this is more than just music. It’s a space to be weird, to be loud, and to be completely yourself.
Wednesday 13 might not be for everyone, but for those in that room, those who braved the heat, shouted until they were hoarse, and raised their middle fingers in unity, it was a perfect night. A sweaty, theatrical, punk-goth horror romp of a gig that was as much group therapy as it was rock show.
And in the wake of a legend’s passing, in a city that helped define the genre, it felt like the perfect place to remember how vital, loud, and alive rock still is.
Live review & photography of Wednesday 13 @ The Asylum, Birmingham, by Henry Finnegan on 26th July 2025. Instagram: @finneganfoto | Facebook: @finneganfoto
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