LIVE! : Avenged Sevenfold, Three Days Grace & Sevendust
by Sara Mccarthy
Staff Writer
April 30, 2011 at The Times Union Center in Albany, NY.
Walking up to the Times Union Center in Albany, NY on a recent Saturday evening to receive a much needed dose of music therapy, it became apparent that the “Welcome to the Family” tour was where most of Albany’s population could be found. Starting at each door and snaking around the entire building were numerous lines of rockers chomping at the bit to gain entrance.
After being directed to countless incorrect locations all over the place, which made me wish for hiking boots and granola mix, I finally received my passes and made my way into the venue. Walking into a venue is always an electric feeling, the halls stuffed with beer vendors, merchandise booths and all of the trappings that go along with the show atmosphere. The crowd was filled with all age groups including the next generation of rockers, those under the age of thirteen. I have to say that I love seeing the young ones absolutely pumped to see some live music.
First on stage was Sevendust, a band I first saw acoustically about eight years shortly before the release of the album “Seasons”. This hard working band left a lasting impression and has lived up to my expectations every time since. This night was no different; touring in support of their latest album “Cold Day Memory” they started our adventure with the grinding guitar riffs created by of “Splinter”, followed by “Black” and one of my favorites “Driven”.
Like men possessed, Drummer Morgan Rose and Bassist Vince Hornsby used every ounce of energy pounding out the reverberating rhythm Sevendust is known for. Vocalist Lajon Witherspoon, was on fire this evening, working each side of the stage and absolutely on point with the rest of the band. “Strong Arm Broken”, and “Pieces” were followed by a short instrumental combination of “Master of Puppets (Metallica) and Walk (Pantera)” These two quintessential metal songs brought a collective roar from the crowd as well as some fresh mosh pits. Lajon and the crowd rode the intense wave of energy to end their set with “Face to Face.”
Sevendust Setlist:
1. Splinter
2. Black
3. Driven
4. Denial
5. Praise
6. Forever
7. Strong Arm Broken
8. Pieces
9. Master of Puppets/Walk (Instrumental)
10. Face to Face
After a short intermission and a rather efficient stage change; Three Days Grace took the floor. I was truly looking forward to their set, as this was my fourth time at one of their concerts and I knew what they are capable of. As soon as the crowd heard the opening strains of “The Good Life”, they erupted, screaming, jumping and best of all singing. Adam Gontier, Lead Vocalist, sounded great this evening and sporting a new hairstyle since I saw them last, was filled with boundless energy, running from one end of the stage to the other, all the while, never missing a beat.
The band stuck with their hits, of which there are many, which I consider a pretty smart move as the crowd ate it up. As a concertgoer of over twenty years, it is a fantastic thing to be able to sing along to every one of the songs a band plays. As “Pain” began, the combined voices of the crowd could be heard over the singer’s as they belted out the chorus.
The set continued on with “World So Cold”, “I Don’t Care”, and ‘Home.” A little surprise was in for us during “Home”, all of a sudden mid-song, they broke into Eminem’s “Lose Yourself” A lot of people around me looked confused, but I for one, was singing right along. It was an awesome and unexpected addition to the show. “Never Too Late” was next on the bill, and the crowd was asked for suggestions for the next song. We were told they were unable to play “Riot”, an announcement that started a lot of conversations speculating as to why, he then thanked the crowd for “Always true to rock music because so much stuff out there is crap and so many stations play horrible “Music” This got the crowd even more pumped, and this is when they broke into “Riot.” Insane is the word I would use to describe the reaction of the fans, but during the performance Frontman Adam Gontier was not happy with the amount of sitting patrons, and walked himself off of stage, into the crowd and all the way around the floor, sometimes going up a few steps into the sides. Giving high-fives, bumping fists, all the while singing his heart out. They closed out their set with “The Animal I Have Become”
This was another great show put on by a very talented group of guys who take what they make, mix it with what the crowd gives and create a unique, chill inducing musical experience that you will not soon forget.
Three Days Grace Setlist:
1. The Good Life
2. Break
3. Pain
4. I Hate Everything About You
5. World So Cold
6. I Don’t Care
7. Home (Including Eminem’s Lose Yourself)
8. Never Too Late
9. Riot
10. Animal I Have Become
Intermission number two was quite a bit longer than the first, and cloaked in mystery. I mean this literally, as a huge black curtain was draped across the front and sides of the stage blocking our view from what would be our introduction to the spectacle that is Avenged Sevenfold.
I have seen this band three times in the last two years and I admit I was not overly impressed the first time. Watching A7X grow as a band and as entertainers has been an impressive sight. These guys are very gifted musicians who know how to deliver, and to deliver in a huge, unforgettable manner.
As we waited for the black velvet curtain to drop and start the show, mists of fog were drifting out along the front of the stage and the crowd’s anticipation was a tangible thing. The lights went low and the curtain dropped. A lone light zeroed in on a doomed individual in the rafters high above the stage with a Hangman’s noose around his neck. All of a sudden this man plummeted down towards the stage and was violently hung. As he was twitching in the last throes of life, the recognizable bell tolls and hard, edgy guitar riffs of “Nightmare” began. This poor soul remained hanging, motionless through the duration of the song at which point two “Coroners” took him down and dragged his lifeless body off stage. All in all a pretty intense way to start a show!
The rest of the show was just as crazy, tons of pyrotechnics, firepots, flaming arches and explosions, a couple of which caught me and some others off guard and scared us half to death, which I am sure is why they were timed that way! Between the lights and the pyros, it was a visually astounding show.
M. Shadows, Lead Vocalist, dressed in his trademark shades, had the crowd eating out of the palm of his hand. He brought everything he had to the table, belting out the lyrics to “Critical Acclaim” and Welcome to the Family.” I found myself dancing and screaming right along with the rest of the fans during “Almost Easy” and “Buried Alive”
Zacky Vengeance (Rhythm Guitar) and Synyster Gates (Lead Guitar) are so much fun to watch, these two really know how to play off of each other and show off their amazing talents. Reminiscent of ‘80s rockers, this duo would gravitate towards the other and just tear the strings up and leave us watching in awe.
The Reverend, A7X beloved drummer who passed away in 2009, was eerily present as his backing vocals were put into the mix and through the speakers. Band members paid tribute to him and broke into a rather emotional version of “So Far Away.” It is apparent that although Drummer, Arin Ilejay fits right in with the group and is kicking ass showing he is a talented musician, there is still a deep hole left by The Rev’s passing.
This moving tribute was followed up by “Afterlife,” “God Hates Us,” and “Bat Country,” the song that really brought this amazing group of musicians to the front of the rock scene.
Through all of this the crowd tried to show its appreciation through mosh pits and crowd surfing, but it seemed as though security had other ideas by really keeping it to a minimum. At one point, five or six guards came leaping over the barricade in front of me, jumped into the middle of a pit and dragged a few people away. This was rather surprising, but did not dampen the overall positive mood and enjoyment of the fans.
The last song in their set was “Unholy Confessions” and the crowd was left wanting so much more. Their encore was started off by a piano being played, but no one at the bench, The Rev had once again been brought back into the show, his fingers were the ones playing the opening keys of “Fiction”, which was then followed by ‘Save Me”. It was a nice encore, but the mellow songs really seemed to sap some of the energy out of the crowd, and weren’t what I would typically expect from an encore. Then again, this is a band who seems to do things their own way, and sometimes going against the grain is a sure fire way to have fun and be noticed.
The night was filled with a crazy amount of great music, serious talent and bands that know how to give their fans what they want. I will be catching these three acts again as soon as they travel back into my part of the “Bat Country.”
Avenged Sevenfold Setlist:
1. Nightmare
2. Critical Acclaim
3. Welcome to the Family
4. Almost Easy
5. Buried Alive
6. So Far Away
7. Afterlife
8. God Hates Us
9. Bat Country
10. Unholy Confessions
Encore:
11. Fiction
12. Save Me