Can You Dig it? Mudvayne Brought Their Psychotherapy Sessions Tour Stop #2 To Tampa

Mid FL Credit Union Amp, Tampa, FL 21JUL2023

Pushing down the road as the headliner for the first time in 14 years, Mudvayne is back!! This time they are bringing the metal staple Coal Chamber and the Green Jelly with no-budget masters known as GWAR, on tour with them. Also joining in are nu-metal and video game legends Nonpoint, with Butcher Babies grinding the crowd up.  

Masterful front women of metal Carla Harvey and Heidi Shepherd led their fellow bandmates through the set. With palpable energy, the crew kicked off at the early start time of 5:30. Given how godawful humid it’s been in Tampa lately, you would have expected a later time with shorter setlists, or fewer artists on this leg of the tour. Yet this early, they have all five running at full speed.

With a quick five-song setlist, the band played their usual aggressive and provoking stage performance. They captivated the audience, even if the mixer was a tad off. While not the best vocally this time around, it was completely understandable given the weather. Racing through “Red Thunder” “Monsters Ball” “Last December” “Bottom of a Bottle” and “It’s Killin’ Time, Baby!,” the Butcher Babies gave a solid performance throughout their setlist despite the heat and had people off their seats and the first crowd surfers going over the rail into the arms of security.

Nonpoint is a band that’s been around in various parts of the metal scene from 1997 on. Based out of Fort Lauderdale, FL, the band had a massive built-in audience in Tampa. Opening up with “What a Day” the five-member group picked up the baton of energy and kicked the crowd into the next gear.

Getting the audience involved in a sing-along, lead singer Elias Soriano and his full extension mic stand reached out and touched the front of the crowd. During the set, Soriano climbed onto the front speaker to rally the horns and get the arms to stay up. 

One of the most interesting aspects of their set is the way drummer Robb Rivera positions himself on stage. Turned facing stage right, Robb’s focus stays on the drums while still connecting with the crowd. His energy is incredibly infectious as the crowd jams along with the beat from his kit.

Nonpoint’s seven-song set culminated with their masterful jams “A Million Watts,” “Ruthless,” and “Bullet With a Name.” While a solid mid-card slot, their energy and flawless performance would put them as co-main on most other tours.

Otherworldly shock rockers GWAR took the mid-card spot. Easily the longest-tenured band on the tour, after 39 years they have become a band with a few main musicians, with a rotating cast of others who help fill in the void. Their traditionally bloody and violent set was exactly what you’d expect, with Vladimir Putin as the sacrificial bastard for their slaying.

The Berserker Blóthar garbled out classics such as “Hail, Genocide!,” “The Cutter,” and “Sick of You” during their nine-song set. The GWAR faithful stood in the pit for their blood bath as Bonesnapper and Sawborg Destructo waged battle along with Putin and Blóthar. As the blood sprayed on the front row of the fans and security, the roars from their elated fans were deafening. 

Beefcake the Mighty on bass is a legendary part of GWAR and one that people who don’t even know GWAR, are familiar with him. He he has influenced other musicians across the globe with his otherworldly skill. His connection with drummer JiZMak da Gusha on drums, and Balsac aka the Jaws of Death on guitar was proof that ESP is real.

For decades now, people have been either disgusted or amazed by GWAR. After years of missed shows, and finally getting to see them perform, it makes sense on both ends of the spectrum. No matter why you notice them, they still make you take notice. Something many musicians miss.

Following GWAR is never easy feet. For the roadies and Mid FL crew, this was an especially challenging task to get the floor cleaned up (somewhat) and to change over the set in 30 minutes. Thankfully due to excellent staging, they were right on time. For Coal Chamber, this kind of wait is an important part of being a band, but they came out with an intensity that told the crowd that they were there to melt some Goddamned faces off.

Minus a few festival gigs over the last few weeks, this is their first full tour in 8 years. Taking that kind of time off can be a Godsend to most bands, but it honestly felt like it made Coal Chamber bitter and angry for not having this release on the stage for so long. Opening up with “Loco” was an incredible choice for their set. Translated to “Crazy” in English, it was the perfect word to describe the sweat and fake blood-soaked people of the pit now jumping to teh infectious beat of Coal Chamber. 

As the 12-song set cranked along, they book-ended their Roadrunner career with 4 songs off their freshman self-titled album and four from 2002’s Darkest Days. Dez Fafara’s vocals came with incredible energy as he commanded the entire stage from side to side. His facial expressions and how he interacted with fans and pit photographers alike were magnificent.

Of everyone in the band, he seemed the most amped up about being back on stage as his energy was cranked up to 11. Bassist Nadja Peulen’s strumming and movements were magical. Her long and magnificent red hair flowed as she headbanged for all to see. Precise with her rhythm, she was locked in with each note.

Guitarist Miguel Rascón’s playing is incredibly intense. As a few fans remarked later in the evening, his intense staring towards the crowd and bandmates give him a certain Keith Richards-like mystique. It’s not due to his playing style though, instead, it’s the 1000-yard stare that is common with people who spent years running the show at Richards’ level.

Drummer Mike Cox has probably one of the simplest drum kits on any major stage, but it makes him a favorite for fans, and as his tech soaked him with water, he was doing everything he could to stay cool. 

Running through “Rowboat,” “El Cu Cuy,” “Another Nail In the Coffin,” and “Sway,” their entire set was masterfully assembled. Finding a mix of tracks your fans will love, people can crowd surf to, and that can push the fans up another notch, isn’t so simple.

Despite that struggle, Coal Chamber not only made the most of their time, but they rocked some faces off in the meantime. With the smoke cannons firing off and on throughout the set, they clouded the place out when mixed with the cannabis smoke that was now wafting through the air as Mudvayne finally took the stage.

Back on tour for the second time since their return in 2021, this is Mudvayne’s first time as the full headliner since 2014. Following a hiatus since 2010 due to side projects, the band sounds like they never spent a day apart, nor did they look it. Vocalist Chad Gray took the stage by crouching on the up-lit centerstage mini riser as the curtain dropped to the opening notes of “Not Falling.”

The screams of his vocals were incredible as they rang out across the amp. Despite the smaller-than-expected crowd, almost every voice in attendance shouted back through “Under My Skin” and “Internal Primates Forever.”

Instead of the long blue dreaded chin hair and long dreads, he now sports short black and white dreads, with a black-on-white winding path going from his jaw to his temple on each side. Complete with “blood” sprayed on the front of his face, his metal and punk-infused stage look is magnificent, and the crowd loved it. 

Not to be outdone, guitarist Greg Tribbett brought back his usual spiked head and black and red face paint. Still playing rather statuesque, the robotic demeanor of his play inspired many to do whatever they could to hail for his attention.

Bassist Ryan Martinie brought out a very different stage look than in the past, but his incredible slap-pluck technique was on full display. Even backing guitarist Marcus Rafferty found himself in an elevated and more pronounced position since he joined them on the road when Mudvayne returned.  He stayed parallel to the drum kit and handled both the guitar and keyboards, often switching between them during the set.

Drummer Matthew McDonough set the standard for the band though. While perched atop a high riser lifted drum kit, it seemed as if much of the light was missing him. However, his clear drumheads presented one of the most unique photo opportunities I’ve seen in ages. The rhythm and energy between him and Rafferty is infectious and got the crowd going nuts. 

Their 14-song set included a cover of “King of Pain” from The Police, “Dull Boy,” and “Fish Out of Water.” Coming back with “Dig” and “Happy?” as an encore, the band nailed something for everyone. By the time, Chad got to “Dig” it seemed like his voice had gone out a bit on him.

Given the long intros to a few songs, the heat, dripping humidity, and his likely dehydration, it wasn’t surprising. His voice also isn’t the same as it was 23 years ago, and that’s to be expected.

Rolling next into Charlotte, NC on July 23rd, and Bristow, VA on the 25th, the Psychotherapy Sessions Tour has numerous stops across the US before ending August 26th in Englewood, CO. Tours this packed with intensity, blood, anger, and adrenaline just don’t come along this often. Given the Live Nation ticket packages largely available, this tour is more affordable than ever. Now get your ass off the couch, get in the pit, and dig it!!

More photos by Jordan Raiff