What more could you want in the run up to Christmas than Evil Scarecrow bringing their unique blend of heavy metal chaos to a boat in Bristol? Fortunately, Friday the 19th December saw an enthusiastic Bristol crowd get its wish as the four piece comedy metal band descended on Thekla, armed with props and supported by non-binary comedian Andrew O’Neill as part of their latest tour run of the U.K. The Bristol crowd are clearly already in the mood for some Friday night high jinks given the sizeable and diverse line of people assembled before the doors even open.

Kicking off the evening is non-binary comedian Andrew O’Neill. It is perhaps an interesting move to open a heavy metal gig with stand up comedy, but this is Evil Scarecrow we are talking about, so we should always expect the unexpected. Not only did it turn out to be a perfectly complementary combination, it is one that was very well received by the crowd, who join in immediately with the back and forth and give Andrew the warm reception they deserved. 

Already well known for frequenting the comedy stage at Download festival, and known for their love of all things metal, Andrew O’Neill is well versed in how to warm up a crowd – and this shines through. Deep reddish pink lighting bathes the stage before they arrive, lending an almost occult flavour to the set, reminding everyone that whilst this is a standup routine, it’s still metal as hell.

Whilst their set time is not the longest, it is perfectly adequate for Andrew to carry out their assignment (complete with checklist and clipboard), which is to warm everyone up for the mayhem to come. I am no expert in standup, but judging by the crowd reaction, I am not the only one who thought this set was a lot of fun. Varied in material, from politics to death metal, we got everything from the longer more structured pieces to quick fire one liners, as well as returning elements that allowed the crowd to join in. Ending with a song, Andrew was also able showcase their musical ability, and left us with the important philosophical debate about what happens in the magpie rhyme (one for sorrow, two for joy etc.) when you get to 1000. You’ll have to go to an Andrew O’Neill set and find out!

Headliners Evil Scarecrow are up next and whilst I will do my best here, mere words can never do justice to the full range of emotions one traverses during of one of their sets. Starting off strong, stable and to the point with NFMS, had you not seen them before, you could be lulled into a false sense of thinking you are watching a reasonably normal metal show. However by the second song, things quickly take a turn to true form and the utter chaos that we all know and love Evil Scarecrow for begins to unfold. 

Launching into Dojo, a giant inflatable karate figure erupts suddenly from front of the stage, and the band are joined by two ninjas holding signs encouraging us all to scream Strike First or Show No Mercy depending which side of the room we are on. 

A pair of giant chopsticks is suddenly produced and a member of the crowd is selected as the chosen one to catch a giant fly being dangled overhead. The prize: a free DVD of course! At previous gigs, this free DVD consisted of historic Evil Scarecrow material: a chance to hold a piece of metal history. However, as Dr Hell confesses, they have obviously become overly generous in recent years and had none of these original masterpieces left, meaning the lucky winner instead received a DVD of Grease with Dr Hell’s face super imposed in the place of Sandy’s. 

From here, the crowd were taken on an ever stranger journey, from the moon wielding Goth Moth and the most intimidating heavy metal chicken you have ever seen when they released the “Krakhen”, to the slower, confetti-sprinkled emotionally- charged ballad of Brother Pain. There is not one empty second for the crowd to even wonder what is coming next – just an utterly captivating onslaught of heavy metal silliness and mayhem. This band have a a loyal following, and everyone was more than happy to get involved and sing/dance/scuttle along throughout. 

Throughout the set were introduced to a dancing Zelda, an interactive green recycling bin during Green Bin Day and a robot so huge it almost tore down the light rigging. Evil Scarecrow are another band that somehow always manage to take things that little bit further, even when you think you’ve seen everything: they are utterly fantastic and unforgettable. It is a spectacle you can’t fail to witness and love; before walking away, shaking your head, smiling and thinking “what the hell did I just see?” and then “when are they next playing?”.

Choosing to end with legendary crowd pleasing anthem Crabulon delighted the Bristol crowd who were so ready. Inflatable crabs and crab claw gloves emerged in droves out of nowhere as the opening bars sounded. Contrary to usual procedure, where the audience are encouraged to scuttle left and right, we were were instead warned to scuttle as randomly as possible so as to not capsize our venue. 

Another acid-trip worthy song, newcomers to the ritual stare in visible confusion as the crowd begins to shout “Eggs” in a variety of octaves as we are told to “scuttle somewhere random” and then “scuttle somewhere else”. It is anarchy, it is bedlam, the entire crowd has transformed into absolutely overjoyed scuttling army of crabs with any semblance of responsible adulthood disbanded – the hallmark an Evil Scarecrow concert. 

All in all this evening was enormous fun, just as an Evil Scarecrow concert always is. These guys take abstract silliness to the next level whilst still making quality music and catchy songs that will stay with you long after the set finishes. They are showcasing their musical ability as well as their showmanship, confirming exactly why they deserve another spot at Bloodstock festival next year. An Evil Scarecrow show is a full scale assault on all the senses in the best possible way – there is something utterly ridiculous and hilarious happening continually. This is more than a show, it’s a full body experience and a fantastic reminder to us all that metal doesn’t always need to be taken too seriously. 

It is not an exaggeration to say that attending an Evil Scarecrow gig is life-changing; you will not leave the venue the same person as you were when you came in. Evil Scarecrow have carved out their own genre in the most uniquely delightful way. It is fantastic to see their loyal support expanding and we are looking forward to seeing what they have in store for us in 2026 and beyond.

Images: Kate Elfström

Words: Elvis & Kate Elfström