The Struts put the Treat in Trick or Treat during a high-octane Halloween performance at the Mercury Ballroom on the heels of their stint opening for Foo Fighters.
Louisville fans were happy to welcome The Struts back to Louisville for what everyone knew would be an epic show on Halloween Night. When The Struts took the stage guitarist Adam Slack was dressed as the Joker a la Suicide Squad, while bass player Jed Elliott drummer Gethin Davies were also in costume for this Halloween party of sorts. Frontman and lead singer Luke Spiller needed no costume as he was in his usual studded pleather pants while dripping sequins, studs and fringe in perfect glam rock style.
From the first note of the perfect opening song, “Put Your Hands Up” Luke Spiller had the crowd in tow, hands in the air, singing, clapping, jumping, screaming, dancing, whatever he asked, on cue. Make no mistake, this show is a full audience participation experience, with direction taken from one of the most dynamic frontmen in today’s music scene. Similarities to Queen aside, this is a band that has a unique style and theatrical quality that one would be hard-pressed to dismiss. Luke Spillman is the ultimate frontman, working every inch of the stage from the first note until the final bow. He asks, after firing off the first several songs of the night in rapid succession, “Are you sweaty yet?” adding, “If I”m F***ing sweating, then you had better be too.” This defines the night in a nutshell.
Adding to the Treats of the night are several songs from The Struts upcoming album, notably their latest single “One NIght Only” along with super crowd favorites such as “Kiss This” and “Dirty Sexy Money” and “Where Did She Go”, all of which had the crowd putty in Luke Spillman’s hands. Before the last song of the night, Luke thanks the crowd for their attendance, adding “I want to leave you tonight with a big smile on your face and ready to take on the night.: Consider that mission accomplished.
Support fort for the night was ably provided by Nightly and Jaxon Lee Swain, who were both able to engage the crowd with sets that both engaged and revved up the crowd for The Struts.
