Sevendust and Static-X Bring The Machine Killer Tour To The Hard Rock In Tampa

All Photos By Travis Failey

On Sunday Night in Tampa Florida, The Machine Killer tour took over the Hard Rock Casino event center to a sold-out packed house. The tour which featured the co-headlining bands Sevendust and Static-X was joined by Dope in support of their 2022 release Blood Money, Part Zer0, and numerous EPs.

After arriving at the venue and walking through the cigarette-smoke-filled casino (which I cannot believe is still happening) we got to the event center packed with both male and female concertgoers. The lines for drinks and merch were ridiculously long, especially the merch line.

After looking at what shirts were available, it was understandable as the designs for all three bands were exceptional. Some of the best I have seen in years, and they were heads and tails above what Pantera and Lamb of God had available the following night at Amalie.

Dope was first up and crushed it.  They only played a six-song set but frontman Edsel Dope is as good as anyone out there commanding the crowd.  He has been the founder and only remaining member of the band since 1997 and like Sevendust, Dope has been road warriors playing shows consistently since 1998. Every year they have played multiple shows and festivals except during the pandemic years just like every other band on the planet.

After opening with “Blood Money” Dope went back to 2003 with the next two songs from their Group Therapy release in “Bring It On” and “Bitch.”  Guitarist Acey Slade was a madman moving all over the stage catching the eyes of the crowd especially when he jumped on the riser with saliva streaming off his tongue down his face.  

Edsel stated that it was crazy playing the casino as it was a beautiful room and that they played nothing like this previously in their career and then the band went into the medley of “Die, Boom, Bang, Burn, Fuck.” “Burn Mother Fucker Burn” flashed on the screen as the fans screamed in unison with Dope.

Their final song of the night in “You Spin Me Round” which is a Dead or Alive cover, got even the casual fan bouncing and singing in their place. Dope was the perfect catalyst for the co-headliners coming up next.

Sevendust’s drummer Morgan Rose went through the black backdrop, sat down and grab his drums sticks and looking at him behind my lens, I knew he meant business on Sunday night. He was then joined by his bandmates as they have for the past 30 years. Its truly a rarity in the business that a band that has had this kind of longevity still has their original members left. Sure Guitarist Clint Lowery left to do some solo material etc. but has come back to join his brothers to continue on Sevendust’s legacy.

Sevendust also surprised many in the crowd with their super heavy and aggressive setlist focusing on their recent release in Truth Killer by opening the show with “I Might Let The Devil Win” and the title track in “Truth Killer.”

After “Alpha” and “Till Death” it was obvious to many that Sevendust was in a complete “take no prisoners” mode and that they were a well-oiled unit.  Lajon talked to the crowd as he has in past referring to them as family and If you have ever met him, you know he means it as he is one of the most genuine human beings you will ever meet.

Sevendust jumped around literally on stage and throughout their discography by going back to the Next release by playing “Pieces” and “Hero” and then to Home from 1999 as the crowd joined the band by singing one of their biggest hits in “Denial.”    

Everyone in the crowd was on their feet as the opening notes to “Black” boomed throughout the venue as it was the song that introduced the band to the public all the way back in 1997.

The reason why I mention the crowd being on their feet is that the Hard Rock in Tampa has its layout with the floor being general admission and then stadium seating in the back. It’s a great venue for shows with the lighting and the audio usually being top-notch. It’s a venue like no other in the area.

Sevendust continued their hard-hitting set with “Strong Arm Broken” from Cold Day Memory with Morgan Rose smashing his drums and his trademark screams from behind the kit. It was evident once again that Sevendust leads the way in their genre in vocal harmonies as everyone in the band joined in on the mics throughout the night.

Lajon also mentioned that a special guest was backstage enjoying the show. We concluded that it happened to be Phil Anselmo from Pantera. Lajon truly looked stoked that he was there along with the fans of course.

After “Everything” and “Splinter” the band went back once again to their debut and their other single from it in “Bitch” and pull smiles on the faces of the old-schoolers in the crowd and then brought the bats out with “Face to Face.”  The crowd screamed with the band “You Can’t Stop Fucking With My Head, Stop Fucking With My Head” as they jumped up and down with the band.

Sevendust’s set was a time jump through their career and once again as aggressive as I have seen. It was evident though that this band isn’t going away anytime soon and that their fan base will continue to support the band that they view as brothers.

After an extended break to get the stage setup, Static-X came on to roars from their faithful fans, many of whom haven’t seen the band since their last tour with original frontman Wayne Static back in 2009.

 I didn’t know what to expect but I knew Xer0 was now singing for them, and I knew a few of their songs but had never seen them live nor did I do a deep dive into their music. I was never a huge industrial guy and bands like Ministry etc. weren’t my thing but I can appreciate it as I lived through the height of that genre.

Static-X has been described as a combo of nu-metal and Industrial with some electronica and rave beats mixed in. It’s a combination that completely works and gets the crowd moving.

The band took the stage in the dark as a huge evil pumpkin joined them with dry ice bubbles populating the stage and the crowd.  Xer0 took his perch on the raised staircase platform flanked by his bassist Tony Campo and guitarist Koichi Fukuta with drummer Ken Jay manning the drum kit.

As their stage intro “Time Warp” concluded, the band kicked off their 16-song set with “Hollow” from their 2020 release in Project Regeneration Vol. 1. This was an album that had tracks from Wayne Static before his death along with many guest vocalists including David Draiman.    

 The band kept the crowd engaged with their sight and sound extravaganza using stage props and crazy visuals along. The pulsing beats were synched up perfectly with purple and pink strobe lights and twisty green and blue anxiety causing swirls with sparks shooting across the stage.

It was a damn impressive visual showcase and whoever produced this show did a fantastic job and should be commended. They even had a huge green Frankenstein-type zombie come out during…. you guessed it “Zombie.”

They moved very quickly throughout their set and highlights for me were when they played “Terminator Oscillator” “Bled For Days” and of course “I’m with Stupid.” I was familiar with those songs but the loyal fans throughout the crowd were moshing, crowd surfing, and singing with Xer0 the whole set.

Static-X closed out the show with their biggest hit “Push It” from 1997’s Wisconsin Death Trip release and with it, the crowd went to another level with intensity and moshing. It was a cool sight to see in this venue as I hadn’t witnessed it before and as the band thanked the crowd and departed, fans left the facility sweaty and even exhausted.

The Machine Killer tour has everything you want from a tour. Sights, sounds, electrifying visuals and three veteran bands giving it their all for themselves and especially their loyal fans.  If you like these bands or if you are just intrigued by the lineup and are looking for an adrenaline release, The Machine Killer Tour continues throughout the U.S. at a venue near you.

For show dates:

https://static-x.org/pages/mk