Performing tracks across their discography and not just from their most recent LP “Villian,” Attila was focused on putting on an incredible show and making sure the fans had the most fun possible. Between tracks, there were brief pauses throughout the performance with Fronz, guitarist Chris Linck and bassist Kalan Blehm directly addressing the crowd, discussing a wide range of topics like sex, pizza toppings, and the ethics of pouring beer on fans’ heads. At one point, Fronz asked a crewmember off stage if his grandpa was ready. When the crew member answered in the affirmative, a small vial of something was passed around, with a little bit sprinkled on each members’ hand. I’ll just say, Fronz hacked a genuine cough after inhaling this mystery substance (ashes. It was for sure this dude’s grandpa’s ashes.) and then unsurprisingly threw the remainder into the crowd. And this was after their pizza skit, which has Kalan receiving a pizza from someone off stage, then handing it off to Fronz, who hurls the entire thing into the crowd. My favorite part of the show, though, came from a surprising source: a child. Maybe 12 or 13 years old, this kid (and his dad) brought a sign that read “We Love Fronzilla” on one side, and “Take This” with a middle finger and two slices of pizza with little dicks as toppings on the other side. He crowd-surfed to the front of the stage, where Fronz brought him on and asked if the band could have the sign this kid made. After a few seconds of pondering, THE KID SAID NO, instead of asking the band to autograph the sign, and promising the band that the NEXT time they come to Austin, he’ll give it to them. We’ll see about that, kid.

Overall, I left the show sore, exhausted, and absolutely drenched in sweat. And I couldn’t imagine having it any other way. Attila has always been a very polarizing band, based on their lyrical content, marketing strategies, etc. But being in the presence of the band, in a small and intimate venue, really exposes the ultimate reasons why this band is so hugely popular – their fans are absolutely obsessed. Attila plays the music that people can lose themselves in, that people can get aggressive too, and that brings equal parts heavy and humor. Something about this trifecta works, and seeing the joy in their fans’ eyes was inspiring. Like Fronz said when first taking the stage, “the only rule at an Attila show is there are no fucking rules,” and they certainly embodied this standard for their entire performance. Attila likes to act goofy and rebellious, like this is all fun and games and booze and ashes, but putting on such a solid and planned performance under the disguise of rockstar nonchalance only proves how professional this band really is.