AAF/Drowning pool/FRANKENBOK LION ARTS FACTORY ADELAIDE, SA 11/02/2025

Standing outside of The Lion Arts Factory hearing sound check I could feel that I was in for an amazing night hearing some legendary bands I had heard all throughout my childhood.

Frankenbok was an amazing band that I had never heard of before, hailing from Melbourne Australia, they opened up the show and started the night off right. The rhythm section was one of the tightest I've ever had the pleasure of witnessing with the dirtiest but still crisp bass sound I've ever heard. It was amazing seeing everyone young and old come together to see some home grown talent and they made the already busy room feel like a full arena with their presence, frenetic energy and blazing unity that could only come from a band that spends every day together.

Up next was Drowning Pool with the Front Man Ryan McCombs, opening up with the classic "sinner" he didn't feel out of place at all. Doing an amazing homage to Dave Williams while still singing the songs his own way. By this point the room was shoulder to shoulder and the mosh pit was non-stop. Roaring through some classic hits such as "Finger and a Fist", "Feel Like" "step up" and even doing a cover of Billy Idol's "rebel yell", even using the drummer taking a break to let the guitarist C.J Pierce to shred and amaze everyone for a couple of minutes. The crowd was louder than the sound mixing at some points and you could feel the band loving the energy and giving the same back, Finishing off with the band's seminal song "Bodies" even having Ryan jump into the crowd and start handing the microphone and singing with crowd members.

Next up was Alien Ant Farm, opening up with the melodic hit "courage." Launching through the setlist as well as interacting with the crowd the blazing energy and incredible heat in the room, was kept up all night by the three bands and the countless people that came to listen to these legends. Giving everyone what they wanted in smash hits like "Movies," "Last dAntz" "These Days" and "Attitude" then swapping over to some more newer music such as "Stranded," "What am I doing" and "Storms over." Finishing up with their classic cover of "Smooth Criminal," it was a smaller venue, but being there and feeling how excited everyone from the bands to the crowd and even the staff working there is a memory and a feeling I will never forget

Jarrod Nicoll