Wednesday 13 at Mercury Music Lounge in Lakewood, Ohio on April 23, 2025
Photos and Review by The Pit Magazine Contributor David Desin Photography
Lakewood, Ohio got a little louder and a lot darker when Wednesday 13 and the “There’s No Such Thing As Monsters Tour 2025” stormed into town on Wednesday night. Hosted at the intimate but hard-hitting Mercury Music Lounge, the evening delivered a relentless barrage of industrial metal, alternative rock, and horror-punk from four killer acts: I Ya Toyah, Dead Rabbitts, Stitched Up Heart, and the night’s headliner, the legendary Wednesday 13. The PIT Magazine was there to soak it all in, and trust us—this was one for the books.
Wednesday 13 – The Godfather of Horror-Punk Reigns Supreme
Wednesday 13 reminded everyone why he’s a cult icon in horror-punk and shock rock. Formerly of Murderdolls, Wednesday delivered a macabre, theatrical set full of gore-glam swagger and cemetery singalongs. With tracks spanning his solo career and a few nods to his earlier work, the set was both nostalgic and fresh. His stage presence is part Alice Cooper, part Rob Zombie, and fully his own brand of graveyard greatness.
Stitched Up Heart – Mixi Takes the Crowd by Storm (Literally)
If there was a standout moment of the night, it might just belong to Mixi of Stitched Up Heart, who not only delivered a blistering set of gothic alt-metal anthems but also jumped into the mosh pit mid-song, stirring the crowd. It’s rare to see a frontwoman handle both screams and crowd-surfing with that much grace. Her connection with the audience was electric, keeping fans engaged and belting along to favorites like “Finally Free” and “Monster.”
Dead Rabbitts – Craig Mabbitt’s Sonic Side Project Shines
Dead Rabbitts brought some post-hardcore energy to the venue. Fronted by Craig Mabbitt of Escape the Fate fame, this side project has become a serious force in its own right. Mixing melodic aggression with raw, emotional vocals, Dead Rabbitts tore through tracks and showed off the versatility Craig brings outside of ETF. Fun side note: earlier that day, Craig even threw out the first pitch at the Cleveland Guardians game – then came straight to destroy the stage. That’s some rockstar multitasking.
I Ya Toyah – Industrial Shockwaves to Start the Night
Opening the night with a pulse-pounding blend of industrial rock and electronic darkness, I Ya Toyah (the brainchild of Polish American artist Ania Tarnowska) immediately commanded the crowd’s attention. Her set was drenched in strobe-heavy lighting, perfectly complementing the eerie, cyberpunk aesthetic of her music. Blending themes of isolation and inner chaos with synth laced hooks, I Ya Toyah set the tone for a night where the strange and sinister felt right at home.
Final Verdict: No Monsters, Just Mayhem
The “There’s No Such Thing As Monsters Tour” lived up to its name—because there weren’t monsters, just monster performances. From I Ya Toyah’s cybernetic pulse to Wednesday 13’s haunted theatrics, every act brought their A-game. The Mercury Music Lounge might be small, but Wednesday night proved it can contain some of the biggest sounds in heavy music. If this tour rolls through your town—don’t sleep on it.
Photos by The Pit Magazine photographer David Desin Photography, in Eerie, Pennsylvania. ©2025.
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