The president has landed—and no, this isn’t about Trump’s latest trip to Scotland. I am of course referring to PRESIDENT the band. If you’re a fan of the rock and metal scene, you’ve probably come across the mystery act whose frontman, known only as ‘The Artist,’ performs in a US President-esque mask, although representing no one in particular. In just a matter of months, PRESIDENT have built a devoted following. From their first Instagram post in February, to the release of their debut single ‘In the Name of the Father’ in May, and then a Download Festival slot barely a month later—it’s been a fast, meticulously planned start of their journey.
You only have to scroll through the comments on their videos to see how deeply they’ve struck a chord with their ‘citizens’. With their handful of tracks, including ‘Fearless’ and more recently ‘Rage’ a six-track EP titled King of Terrors due out September 26th, and a headline tour booked for next April, their profile only continues to rise. But still, the question of “who are they?” is hard to ignore. While no one truly knows, last night for the ‘Inaugural Headline Rally’ at The Garage in London none of that mattered.
The venue was packed with 600 eager citizens as the presence of PRESIDENT took over. Black banners with the twisted crucifix logo hung from the ceiling, flags bearing the same emblem waved in the crowd, and rally cards boldly proclaimed, “Vote for PRESIDENT: We Did Not Come to Whisper.”
Merch emblazoned with ‘The Inaugural Headline Rally’ on a black double cross were everywhere, while a few fans sported Fightstar tees – adding to the speculation that it may well be Busted’s frontman Charlie Simpson behind the mask.
I’ll admit, I was skeptical. Could a band so carefully curated still work on stage? Could the dark, cinematic atmosphere so carefully crafted in their videos translate into a venue made for fewer than a thousand people? The answer was a resounding yes.
While much of PRESIDENT’s appeal lies in their striking political imagery: the lectern, the mask, the suit; last night proved that the music — covering themes of religion and death — at the heart of PRESIDENT’s identity, is powerful and alive on stage.
The set opened with heavy hitter ‘Fearless’. The Artist emerged from a cloud of fog as the cross-shaped backdrop lit up in neon purple, casting a glow over the crowd. Flags waved enthusiastically as the crowd shouted “PRESIDENT! PRESIDENT”.
Next came ‘Dionysus’ and although the track is still unreleased it’s already well known following the band’s ‘Inaugural Rally’ at Download, proving just how much the ‘citizens’ are listening.
A extract of Dylan Thomas’s Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night served as a haunting introduction to newest single ‘Rage’, a somewhat comforting track layered with synths that added a bittersweet softness to the set.
The band then surprised the crowd with a cover of Deftones’ ‘Change (In the House of Flies)’. Instantly recognisable to the crowd it seamlessly fit into the set and provided a nod to one of the few bands PRESIDENT previously followed on Instagram.
‘Destroy Me’ another unreleased track, followed. With its screaming chorus “Get me out of this hell,” it was one of the night’s thunderous moments, reinforcing The Artist’s vocal range and emotional intensity.
Before closing out the set with the much anticipated ‘In the Name of the Father’ a shortened version of the statement sent to Kerrang! magazine, on the day they launched their debut single, was played through the speakers. “We did not come to whisper. We came to build… Remain alert. Stay united. And above all — stay loud.” This was followed by a heavy circle pit and a flurry of crowd surfers to see out the set.
At just six songs, the set was short but sweet. But one track was noticably absent from the setlist. ‘Conclave’ the closer on their upcoming EP was the only song missing from the set. Given the precise nature of the ‘campaign’ so far, this was undoubtedly deliberate, leaving room for fans to speculate about what comes next.
PRESIDENT may still be at their early stages, but last night proved they are a band with real substance. The message, and most importantly, the music came together in a way that showed they are not some passing gimmick or marketing experiment and citizens will be ready to follow where they lead.