Gig Review: Corey Taylor + Clay J Gladstone at the Metro, Sydney

Live review: Corey Taylor + Clay J Gladstone at Metro Theatre, Sydney, Tuesday, November 28, 2023

By BRENDAN DELAVERE

“WE only heard we got this support slot on Sunday – first thing I did was have a wank!” Spouts Clay J Gladstone frontman Timmy Wisbey. And that’s how you kick off a Good Things sideshow on a Tuesday night. The sole support at tonight’s sold out Metro Theatre, the five piece from the Blue Mountains kicked into gear from the getgo, shirts were off by the second song and the room started to sweat. “Hate Club” got the crowd extra horny as bassist Cole Wilkins, looking all glammed up in his eighties attire and guitarist Sam Thomlinson bared all, high kicking in a kilt, Braveheart style.

Personally picked by Corey Taylor, the boys ran through a super fun set, Taylor watching from the sidelines. Another horny, sexy number in “High School Drama” had the crowd jumping and pumping. Drama ensued as the quintet began the wind up to their big finale, stopping the show to call out some jackass starting fights in the pit, the offender eventually removed from the venue by security. Clay J Gladstone finish off the last riffs of “Move On” and closed with the raucous emo punk of “Dead Friends”.

“Sydney! It’s been too long!” screams Taylor as the band bound onto the stage. It’s only been about eight months since Taylor was down under with metal juggernaut Slipknot for Knotfest but to some that feels a lifetime! Opening with “Post Traumatic Blues” and ripping straight into Stone Sour classic “Tumult” set the pace for the rest of the set. A set heavy on Taylor’s latest solo effort  CMF2 included “Beyond”, “We Are the Rest” and “Black Eyes Blue” was the only track from their first outing.

“And before I forget…” teases Taylor, the crowd screaming every-time he utters these three words, taking the moment to thank all the crazy motherfuckers in Australia for always showing up for every show over the past two decades. “And before I forget…” he continues, “…is the name of this next song!” As the crowd loses their collective shit, yelling back every word of the first Slipknot song of the set. As the lights zeroed in on centre stage, Taylor whipped out the acoustic guitar, “Are you ready kids!?” heralded a droll, drawn out but enthusiastically sang SpongeBob SquarePants theme song, every phone in the room recording the classic 2000s track.

“30/30 150”, “Talk Sick and “Midnight” rounded out the rest of the set list, Christian Martucci a whirlwind of guitars and mohawk flying every which way. There was another introduction of the band members and thanks to supports Clay J Gladstone, Taylor reiterating he personally picked them. Then we had a soulful “Through Glass” with all lights turned down and a star scape swirling on the backing screen as the only illumination.

Seconds pass and the band are back for the obligatory encore, barely even time for the crowd to chant “one more song”. Taylor gave us two more songs. The second track tonight from Slipknots Vol. 3 record, “Duality” and a cover that this reviewer has seen Taylor perform before on Stone Sour’s first Aussie venture, INXS classic “Don’t Change”. It was a beautiful rock rendition that young and old could appreciate. Fans of metal and rock would be stupid to miss Corey Mother Fucking Taylor at Good Things Festival.