Apathetic TISM fans drive their trucks to Secret Gig just to hear the C word (06.10.24)

TISM fans are known to be fanatical about their favourite band. The same day that a “secret” warm up gig was announced at The Gov hotel in Adelaide, the show sold out. With doors opening at 1pm, the pub itself opened the doors at midday to a throng of fans that would normally be just waking up. There was plenty of chatter between old and new friends about which TISM gigs they had been to and to welcome those that were seeing the band for the first time.

By the time the doors opened, the lineup had stretched around some 300m down Port Road, a rarely seen sight. Once inside, the good natured crowd took their positions to wait for the show to start. There were rumours about a mystery warm up band, which were patently false, as TISM launched on stage at 2.15, dressed head to toe in black, including their trademark black balaclavas. The opening song “Diatribe” has become the new fan favourite, before the band launched into “I’ll ‘ave Ya” and the titular “Death to Art” from the latest album.

What followed is typical of the madness and craziness of a TISM show, but in a club-sized venue. Great Trucking Songs of the Renaissance was well represented with songs such as “I Drive a Truck”, “I’m Interested in Apathy”, and “Saturday Night Palsy” launched the crowd into a frenzied sing-a-long. The song “40 years then Death” has been updated to “14 Years then Death.”

The live debut of “I Can’t Wait for My Generation to Die” was another crowd fave. In fact it was favourite after favourite – all killer no filler as they say. With 19 songs and a four song encore, it’s hard to understand why everyone says that TISM are wankers. Perhaps the most telling part of the gig was the way that fans stayed around after the show to chat and mingle with fellow fans. Definitely a perfect warm-up gig for the upcoming Death to Art tour.