Launching a 32-date tour spread across the US isn’t easy for any band. For Grupo Firme, their opening acts Siempre Firme and DJ Moyo, and their choice to bring the music of Mexico, it could be downright treacherous. With promises to have shots every song, the La Ultima Peda tour has more booze than a mid-80s Metallica rider, and a lot more band members to pass it around.
An early thanks to my wife Angelica for helping to take notes and transcribe the words from the artists. With my weak Spanish skill set, I relied on her to fully understand the words. Rest assured though; the spice of the music flowed freely through everyone.
While Ticketmaster listed an 8 pm start time, DJ Moyo was spinning an impeccable mix of Hispanic/Latin music from the time the doors opened.
As little of the sold-out arena would show up early, he played to a largely vacant room, but he kept the energy building the whole time. With a strong Mexican presence turning out, he had people dancing from front to back.
Opening the musician aspect of the evening was Siempre Firme. Officially the backing band for Grupo Firme, they used the start of their set to rehearse a medley of the music the audience should be expecting.
With vocals missing the mark at the beginning, it sounded more like a private sound check than anything. As they got in tune with the sound engineers, their vocalist was asking for Mexican screams, and with the audience now taking a lot more notice, they got them back in spades.
With couples and single ladies dancing all over the arena, the Quebradita style music was hitting a great assortment of Mexican drinking and dancing classics. Now looking packed, they turned their attention to getting the audience to participate.
Hyping the audience up, they turned a red-hot crowd back over to DJ Moyo to take a quick 10 minutes before starting the Grupo Firme. A surprising flashlight challenge with DJ Moyo with screams of “Grupo Firme!!” he promised that the louder they were the faster the band would appear.
Taking the stage as a video montage played from their hit songs, a voice came over the speakers telling everyone “Get ready for your last Peda!!” or drunk party. With lead singer Eduin Caz now on screen saying “The last one? Nah, we are just getting started.”
Kicking the songs off with his latest single “El Beneficio de la Duda,” Eduin emerged from under the stage. Even though the video dropped just a week prior, nearly the whole arena was singing back at him.
Flanked by ladies wearing traditional Mexican dresses designed like various Hispanic/Latin countries, he moved right into the romantic chart-topper “Pideme.” Making use of the backdrop screen, they flashed various images, including some of the most realistic Moon footage I’ve seen at a concert.
Announcing that this was their first sold-out event in Tampa, Eduin shared how excited they were to be playing in Tampa. Expressing that excitement in various ways, the band didn’t limit themselves to original songs.
Covers of “Aca Entre Nos” originally by Vicente Fernandez, “Mi Mayor Anhelo” by Banda MS, and “Basta Ya” by Olga Tañon, were done beautifully. Joined by special guest Hernan Sepulveda, Eduin let Hernan take over most of the vocals which fit his voice perfectly.
Calls for “Shots!! Shots!! Shots!!” rang out across the area for most of the second half of the show as the band started making more frequent use of the bartender on stage.
Following suit, the audience was grabbing beers and mixed drinks two at a time. This went from a simple party to a full-on Peda by this point, and with a small break, the band was suddenly rising from a second platform near the back of the arena.
Catching hats, phones, sunglasses, and even a bra, Eduin and the band made everyone feel at home. Shining a special light on his co-vocalist Jhonny who is openly gay, they told the audience that this was a show of love.
Wrapping up around 11:30 pm, Eduin ended the show with “Ya Superame,” another of their most popular songs. A fitting way to cap off the evening, this was a tour that had something for everyone.
Showcasing the love between Hispanic/Latin cultures, Grupo Firme truly brought everyone together for this Peda. One of the best concerts I’ve been to in a long time, even the exceptionally drunk were loving everyone, not fighting.
Heavy metal icons PANTERA will return to the stage this February on the second leg of their North American headlining tour. The journey follows the band’s massively successful twenty-city run this past Summer, a tour which stood as one of the most anticipated tours of 2023, as well as their dates supporting Metallica.
Featuring classic members, vocalist Philip H. Anselmo and bassist Rex Brown, alongside guitarist Zakk Wylde and drummer Charlie Benante, the latest stretch of live dates continues the celebration of the lives of late founding members, drummer Vinnie Paul and guitarist Dimebag Darrell.
The trek, which will commence on February 3rd in Sunrise, Florida, runs through fourteen cities, coming to a close on February 27th in Quebec City, Quebec. The band will again be joined by special guest, acclaimed metal powerhouse Lamb Of God, with additional support acts to be announced in the weeks to come.
Comments Anselmo, “Looking forward to jamming with everybody! These shows mean a lot and we aim to kick ass! Love y’all!”
Adds Brown, “We’re really excited to announce new dates in 2024. Looking forward to bringing the show to some cities we missed in 2023. Come jam!”
Ticket presales and VIP upgrades begin Tuesday, November 14th at 10:00am local time.General on sale date is Friday, November 17th at 10:00am local time at Pantera.com.
PANTERA was recently confirmed to play the 2024 edition of Download Festival. The performance will mark the band’s first UK appearance in three decades! Additionally, fans can catch PANTERA supporting Metallica on the remaining dates of their North American stadium tour this August. See all confirmed dates below.
PANTERA w/ Special Guest Lamb Of God:
2/03/2024 Amerant Bank Arena – Sunrise, FL
2/05/2024 Amalie Arena – Tampa, FL
2/07/2024 Rupp Arena – Lexington, KY
2/09/2024 Bridgestone Arena – Nashville, TN
2/10/2024 FedEx Forum – Memphis, TN
2/13/2024 T-Mobile Center – Kansas City, MO
2/14/2024 Pinnacle Bank Arena – Lincoln, NE
2/16/2024 Canada Life Centre – Winnipeg, MB
2/18/2024 Resch Center – Green Bay, WI
2/20/2024 Van Andel Arena – Grand Rapids, MI
2/22/2024 Madison Square Garden – New York, NY
2/24/2024 CFG Bank Arena – Baltimore, MD
2/26/2024 Scotiabank Arena – Toronto, ON
2/27/2024 Centre Vidéotron – Québec City, QC
End Tour
6/14-16/2024 Download Fest @ Donington Park – Derby, UK #
8/02/2024 Gillette Stadium – Foxborough, MA **
8/09/2024 Soldier Field – Chicago, IL **
8/16/2024 US Bank Stadium – Minneapolis, MN **
8/23/2024 Commonwealth Stadium – Edmonton, AB **
8/30/2024 Lumen Field – Seattle, WA **
# Festival date
** PANTERA supporting Metallica
“When a newly restructured PANTERA took the stage at Milwaukee’s American Family Insurance Amphitheater, the chorus of cheers that greeted them was a voluminous mix of both excitement and disbelief.” — Illinois Entertainer
“…a true tribute to the legacy of the Abbott brothers and the music they helped create. It is also a gift to the many fans that have gotten goosebumps from the raw power that PANTERA is able to harness like no other band.” — The Intelligencer
“…an emotional tribute to the music the quartet made.” — TribLIVE
“Anselmo, Brown, Wylde, and Benante masterfully honored the band’s legacy while embracing a new chapter, standing as a testament to the indomitable spirit of heavy metal. In a genre defined by resilience, PANTERA’s triumphant return is nothing short of remarkable.” — All Music Magazine
“As PANTERA closed its set with the opening riff of ‘Cowboys From Hell’ playing behind them, Anselmo asked the packed stadium who would come to see them in the future. The response would be one of the evening’s loudest.” — Dallas Observer
With over 30 years of making music each, Candlebox and 3 Doors Down are the true definition of touring musicians in the US. Their brand of rock is incredibly catchy and is almost always incredibly successful in getting people off their seats.
With the hot and humid Tampa night following downpours earlier in the day, they took to the stage with people already sweatily dripping with anticipation.
Dropping the self-titled EP back in 1993, Candlebox spread across the country like wildfire after just two years of consistent achievement in Seattle clubs. Main staging at Woodstock ‘94 after being the opener for Rush and Metallica got the band quickly whipped into road shape, a build they have maintained since.
Kevin Martin on vocals and lead guitar is the only original member, but he hasn’t lost a step. Opening with “Don’t You,” “Change,” and “Blossom” they came ready to take fans through a bit of the entire catalog.
Engaging with the fans, Martin talked about how “Mother’s Dream” was a personal song and proceeded to tell us about how he wrote it for a grandmother he simply could not stand named Thelma. Grabbing an acoustic guitar, he strummed a few notes before handing it off to a youngster in the front pit. While a great gift, he didn’t sign it until later in the set.
Dedicating “He Calls Home” to his father who stormed Omaha Beach in WWII as well as to our Veterans, he told the audience “Thank you for your services brothers and sisters.” As the 11-song set began winding down, he changed on stage into a “Still Relevant” shirt, which was a somewhat delf depreciating joke given how popular the band still is.
With “Far Behind” playing, the audience exploded. Dedicated to Soundgarden’s famed and deeply missed frontman Chris Cornell, Martin shared just a touch of how special Cornell was not only to the Seattle grunge movement but to him as a person.
As some in the audience wiped away a tear, the song touched a spot most don’t show in public. Hopping down to quickly sign the guitar before the final song “You” came to an end, he ended the set with a loud “WE LOVE YOU!!” to the audience.
Following a brief set changeover, 3 Doors Down was up next. With a more “relaxed” sound, many in the audience used the opening of their set to enjoy a slight rest off their feet, “Pop Song” and then “When I’m Gone” quickly got them back up. Those who stayed seated to just vibe to the music mostly stayed there all set, but they were not high in number.
Reminding people that we are all friends throughout the night, his message before “Ticket to Heaven” got many to take note of how music makes us all just like being in a family. “If you ever feel alone, or if you ever feel like nobody loves you. Just remember that you’ve always been loved, Jesus loves you. You’ve never been alone. God Bless You.”
A few songs later, “Here Without You” had everyone singing along. While many quickly found themselves flooded with memories that the song invokes, it was amazing to look around and see the different reactions. One woman was singing along, and pointing to the sky as she was lost in the moment.
Simply looking to be singing to a lost loved one, this intimate and special moment with a band is not something many experience. For the band, they fed off the energy of the fans, and they played with the passion of a group that truly wanted to do nothing else in life.
With Chris Henderson and Chet Roberts on both rhythm and lead guitar as well as backing vocals, the band has a very distinct sound available for different songs. Justin Biltonen rounds out the sound on bass, with Chris Henderson on drums, these 5 have turned the band into an incredibly well-oiled machine. Jumping into “Loser,” they had a duet of sorts between the guitar and drummer. This mixture formed another sensory overload for many, as the passion these two play with is i.
Talking about Tampa, he described how the city and our radio stations gave 3 Doors Down their first break. With the rampant radio play they got out here, they started off on the right foot, and we gave them an opportunity to tour. Telling them “You’ve been here since then. Thank you, my friends, thank you for having us. Thank you for the last 24 years!!”
With “Landing in London” and “Kryptonite” as their encore, the fans were as loud as can be to encourage them to return for those songs. With an 18-song total setlist, they gave everyone an amazing night.
With only a few dates in Texas left, if you’ve missed your opportunity to catch the tour, you may have missed out on catching Candlebox as their “The Long Goodbye Tour” portion of the tour is also concluding. To them, thank you for such an amazing set.
Additionally, I want to thank the two fellow Army Veterans working as roadies for 3 Doors Down. With the American flag on stage right all night, seeing it properly taken down, folded, and stored away was a great thing to see.
The fans who stuck around loved seeing it as well, and I cannot commend them enough for doing the right thing, even though nobody (except for me it seemed) was paying attention. Well done brothers!!
No one knows exactly what their future holds, and when January 1st rang in the New Year I had no idea that 2022 was going to be the most epic concert year that I have ever had. This calendar year has afforded me the opportunity to see some musical legends and my favorite bands, and to have been approved with photo credentials for more shows than I have ever been credentialed for.
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I discovered new bands that expanded my musical horizons even further. I met many new rock friends and shared time with friends old and new at shows throughout the year, across the country and on the high seas.
You might ask me if I am able to pick a single favorite show or band out of my epic year’s adventures. My first answer would be that every single show I saw kicked ass in its own right. Then I started debating if I could somehow quantify each show across multiple variables to see if there was in fact a mathematically proven top show of the year.
I kept getting stuck debating on what weight would each variable hold, and how out of town shows would potentially skew results as it does add an extra level of excitement to travel for a show which usually involves going to a new venue.
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After some contemplation, a new Excel spreadsheet and a few conversations with my concert going brethren, I came to the conclusion it is a personally subjective outcome and that traveling for a show would indeed skew the outcome. I counted too many variables between the ones that I came up with and the suggestions of my friends added in and returned to my initial answer that EACH. AND. EVERY. SHOW. KICKED. ASS!
2022 summarized numerically: 37 shows 26 credentialed shows and 2 shows I was able to bring my camera. 2 shows I got denied (both Iron Maiden) and 7 shows I didn’t try for credentials. 169 band performances 6 different states 14 different cities 18 different venues and 2 cruise ships 11 new venues I had never been to
My first show of the year was in early February at the sail away party for my annual excursion on the Monsters of Rock Cruise. Axeman extraordinaire Adrien Vandenberg was the headliner and it had been over thirty two years since his last performance in the United States. I was astounded at his jaw dropping playing ability as a teenager in the mid-1980s and to see and capture with my lens this man absolutely shredding right in front of me were moments of pure joy. And this was just the first show of the year!
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He also played twice on the Monsters of Rock cruise so three times within less than a week I witnessed a true master of his craft at work.
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The Monsters of Rock Cruise was beyond awesome seeing forty two performances over five nights and alongside a good friend who is a Jedi behind the lens and one of my photography mentors (Obi Wan). New friends were made as have been every music cruise I have ever been on. One as a result of me going “Hey, that is a cool t shirt – can I take a photo?” Even though I now abstain from indulging, that conversation has me an honorary member of the “Heavy Metal Beer Club”. Just that simple exclamation and question has led to a great friendship with a great metal and beer loving couple who live in Arizona.
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Many great bands were seen onboard, some newly discovered as well as many I was very familiar with. This was also my first exposure to the Van Halen tribute band Nerd Halen. I shot their meet and greet photo experience and I had in front of the front row access for part of their pool stage show that both Obi Wan and I were still talking about weeks later and we both proclaimed as our favorite show of the cruise. I cannot wait for the cruise in 2023 as it is an incredibly stacked lineup.
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A week after the cruise returned I flew out for my first ever visit to Las Vegas for my tenth time seeing Metallica and was a promised metal quest fulfilled for the Chief Metal Maiden’s first Metallica show. That the show was in Sin City was an added bonus! Thankfully no bail money was required.
Gretta Van Fleet was one of the openers and it was my first exposure to their music beyond what I had heard on terrestrial radio. I would for sure like to see them again and as a headliner. Crazy to see one of my local friends out there at the show, but we metalheads roll deep and travel for what we love.
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Two weeks after Metallica I went with another friend and Jedi behind the lens photography mentor (Lord Nikon) to see Tesla at the Strawberry Festival. While I was not credentialed for this show, their security does not check for cameras so I brought mine, shot the whole show from my seat and ended up posting over a hundred shots.
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The Cannibal Corpse show was my friend’s teenage daughter’s first ever concert (and her idea for them to go) and a people watching old mine. I witnessed a very interesting ‘exchange’ (that needs to stay unwritten) between a guy and his wife/girlfriend during one of Cannibal Corpse’s more anatomically graphical songs. Um, if you catch me at a show ask me about this story lol. Thankfully, while my friend’s teenage daughter also witnessed this said unmentionable exchange, I am beyond certain she had absolutely no idea what the band was singing about and I confirmed after the show that she is not scared for life.
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The Cult sounded phenomenal and Ian Asbury still has an amazing voice. A one hundred percent amazing show in a nearly acoustically perfect venue. I so look forward to seeing them again.
Cruise to the Edge was an absolute blast, Obi Wan and I worked as part of the meet and greet photography team. We had a balcony cabin (my first time ever on my seventeenth overall and sixth music cruise) and woke up to paradise out the sliding door each morning. My first time ever with “Production” credentials. Which means there is no three song limit from the photo pit (which is the norm with media credentials) and I shot on stage with the bands at various times for the first time ever. Initially that was a terrifying experience as I took each and every step up there carefully, as I did not want to trip over a wire and bring the show to a halt. Shooting on stage turned out to be the most exhilarating experience I have ever had doing concert photography.
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A special shout out filled with much appreciation to the Spicy Ginger for having us along on board. Overall I saw forty six performances (including the sail away party), Obi Wan and I each did four meet and greet shoots and again, new friends were made.
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Jackyl was a fun show and also a people watching gold mine given the venue. I have always loved this band and every time I have seen them live they put on a great, very highly spirited rock n roll show, and this night was no different.
Shooting the Pussy Riot show was an experience. To say I was expecting an actual band to play, when the emcee of the night said we were minutes away from Pussy Riot hitting the stage and me only seeing a table at the back of the stage with a laptop on it I turned and asked Obi Wan “Where’s the drum kit?”
Let us just say I have a newfound enjoyment of electronic music after seeing this show. It was very hypnotic, sensual and angry all at the same time. It was a heightened crowd and ‘band’ as the show was the headliner show of the local Pride Festival. The major abortion ruling had just rippled through the nation earlier that day so hence my description of the anger I felt from the band but they used that to bring solidarity to the crowd and it was just a powerful evening in many ways.
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Def Leppard/Motley Crüe/Poison/Joan Jett at Wrigley Field was an out of this world show, trip, and experience. For the review I wrote as a fan in the stands I came up with what I consider as my best title ever with “Pour Some Shout at the Devil on Me”.
A shout out of appreciation to my boss for the tickets, as much as I thought Motley Crüe kicked ass, I, the Chief Metal Maiden and those around us were in agreement that Poison stole the show.
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Volunteering to photo the Girls Rock St. Pete end of camp concert was an unexplainable experience for the fact that some of these girls had never picked up an instrument before the Girls Rock camp started a week ago and here they were on stage performing to a packed courtyard at Jannus Live.
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Obi Wan and I each submitted hundreds of shots and the reception and pure gratitude we received in return has us both anxious to volunteer again and photo as much of next year’s camp as possible in addition to the finale concert. This is a great organization and there are chapters all over the country. Girls Rock!
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Lord Nikon, his wife and another friend did a road trip to see Tom Kiefer Band/LA Guns/Faster Pussycat at The Ranch in Fort Myers. It was a huge venue inside with a bar along the wall all the way around and a giant ‘dance’ floor in the middle as it was apparent from all of the signed guitars on the wall it was mostly a county music venue.
Conversation on the drive home included both how great the show was as well as how cool that venue was, how great the sound system there was and we all vowed to keep an eye on their event calendar.
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Anthrax/Black Label Society/Hatebreed – Before we even went into the show I was in the presence of the Holy Quartet of Jedi photographers (Joel, Steve, Mark, Lord Nikon). While I and several other photographers were not approved to photo Black Label Society somehow we all got to shoot the whole set, while we all had the normal three song limit for the opener and headliner).
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With the stage height only coming up to my waist at the House of Blues in Orlando, I got some of the best shots of any show I have ever photographed during their set (you should see the Holy Trinity’s collective jaw dropping shots – Lord Nikon did not photo).
It was a killer show and a fun, literal at the last minute road trip with Lord Nikon as I did not even get the approval that I was credentialed until 3:30 PM the day of the show and then had to make the trek from Tampa over to Orlando as doors opened at 6 PM. So worth it!
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More appreciation goes out to the Spicy Ginger as she invited Obi Wan and I to the Monsters on the Mountain festival. Over the three day period I saw twenty eight performances, did five meet and greet shoots and met one of the most interesting, friendly and personable guys ever.
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For simplicity and to protect the identities of the innocent, I will call him Sparky and let me just say, within a few minutes of getting in for a ride in his (I have free candy but I am not a serial killer stalker) van, meeting and chatting with him it was like we had been friends for decades. I cannot wait to hang with you again Sparky! It has been great to keep in touch with you and follow your cross country adventures.
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Obi Wan and I hope this festival returns to Gatlinburg again next year so we can put a day on either side of the festival to explore and photo the area. For this trip we didn’t arrive until after 2 AM the morning of the festival (Friday), each ‘worked’ almost forty hours and had an airport pick up at 5:15 AM on Monday. Such a fun trip and Sparky was only one of the new friends I met.
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Seeing Paradise Kitty and The Iron Maidens in Milwaukee was the record breaking show for the year and it was not even September yet. This was my twenty sixth show of the year, breaking my previous record attained in 2014.
The Maidens sounded awesome and even played the hardly ever performed live “Rime Of The Ancient Mariner” which clocks in at over thirteen minutes. The Kittens rocked the house and the whole night again solidly proves that Girls Rock!
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What I called and considered the Tour of Biblical Proportions, Testament/Exodus/Death Angel absolutely obliterated the ground in and around Jannus to where I witnessed a portal to Hell open up in the mosh pit.
Another people watching gold mine show, this was another show where I had to remind myself that I am not skilled enough to headbang and take (good) photos at the same time.
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Iron Maiden in Chicago was the longest wait in between ticket purchase date and the show date I have ever had to withstand (non-pandemic related or rescheduled). Ten months since the charge hit my credit card to the time the Chief Metal Maiden, two of our ‘Lake Bluff Bubble’ peeps and I entered the United Center for what was all three of their first time seeing this legendary band. To say it was an awesome show was an understatement.
The set list was pure brilliance, a great time was had by all in our group and I still had the local Tampa show to look forward to in two weeks.
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The Iron Maidens at OCC Roadhouse had the same people watching gold mine qualities as this venue always has. This time here my view was from side stage as we were allowed to photo the whole show from inside the crowd and the Maidens put on another stellar performance. They really mixed up the deep cuts of their set list from only a few weeks ago.
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Iron Maiden in Tampa I guess technically was a longer wait from ticket purchase to the show but you get the idea it was a long wait. This show was a reunion of three buds, Timbro, The Foz and it and was Timbro’s son’s first ever concert. We reminisced about how Timbro’s first concert was with The Foz and I back in 1987 (Motley Crüe and Guns n Roses).
The sound quality of this show was far better than in Chicago and to where I would say the best ever sounding show I had ever seen at that venue. Four of my last five shows were Iron Maiden related, and three of them were in October so instead of Rocktober I referred to it as Maiden Month. One other item to note was this show was the 139th and final performance of the ”Legacy of the Beast’ tour that started in 2019 and of course was pandemic delayed.
I had attended the opening night of the North American leg in Sunrise, FL in 2019 and got to close out this tour with a treasured, highly detailed, ‘Easter egg’ filled Iron Maiden event shirt commemorating the tour itself. Only time in my life I have ever bought four shirts at the same tour (three online, saving that hour long wait in the merch line) and for the one I got in Tampa, when I popped out quick during one of the songs and came home with fabric gold!
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Twist of the dial with a (mostly) reggae show in Virginia. While the trip also included a Lightning hockey game and some sightseeing, the chance to catch an out of town show was high on the list and much appreciated. The show was super chill with some extremely talented musicians. A nice change of musical pace. Definitely more reggae shows in my future.
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The Scott Stapp show was the other where I was not photo credentialed for but still was able to bring my camera. I had won tix for a section in front of the VIP section (SVIP – a new higher priced category I had not yet heard of) and this eventually got me on the rail up front. Scott still has his amazing voice, it was perfect weather for an outdoor show, and I got some great shots.
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Seeing W.A.S.P. in Orlando was the culmination of a teenage dream so many years ago to see them live. Life and their tour dates never matched up until this tour was announced and not quite as long of a wait as Iron Maiden, but we bought the tix back in January.
An epic road trip which finally introduced Lord Nikon to The Foz and the show was beyond epic in itself. This time I only have to wait a mere seven days to see them again!
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W.A.S.P. in Chicago may be the epic adventure of the year. Lord Nikon’s connections back home got us tickets to the sold out show on the first of the only back to back stops on their tour. Then prior to the Saturday show he and I both got to watch a bit of the W.A.S.P. sound check and also check out the Arcada Theatre.
He and I agreed that this was the coolest venue either of us had ever been to. Then we got to hang out for the Armored Saint sound check before returning to the venue a few hours later for the sold out show we originally bought tickets and planned the trip for. It was concert history for me as it was the first time I had seen the same band for three concerts in a row and my third time seeing W.A.S.P. within a week.
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Cannibal Corpse once again decimated and laid waste to Jannus and by far it was the darkest show I saw of the year as one of the opening bands literally had the crowd chanting “Hail Satan.”
There were dozens of people there proudly displaying their face corpse paint and upside down crosses on their foreheads. Thankfully this show was on a Saturday night so it was not too long before I could get to church and repent. I saw all four bands and did not understand a single word being sung. That is awesome!
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Jinjer was freaking amazing– I had never heard a band sound so good at Jannus. P.O.D. certainly has me as a new fan after hearing more beyond just their radio tunes. To say that Tatiana mesmerizes me is an understatement and my review of the show spawned this literary gem of me describing her on stage.
She transitions from that super sweet girl next door with a smile that will melt your soul to an alluring succubus that will rip your f*cking heart out just for the fun of it. I already yearn for my next Jinjer show.”
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I would say it is hard to put into words the experiences I have had this year, but here we are almost thirty three hundred words later. All I can say is wow! What an amazing year.
My favorite show of the year? It has to be seeing Metallica in Las Vegas. It is Metallica. It is Las Vegas. They finally hit double digits in my overall count. A promise was fulfilled to the Chief Metal Maiden for her to see them for her first time. The week leading up the show was a whirlwind tour of the city and part of the Grand Canyon. The show itself was absolutely awesome as those guys are still kicking ass.
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Months prior when I bought the tickets Ticketmaster received much ire from me as we should have had great seats, but one of the infamous Ticketmaster SNAFU errors put me back in the queue at the time of purchase. Still, it was freaking Metallica in Vegas and if tomorrow they scheduled another concert there I would find a way to make it!
Serious contenders for show of the year has to include Anthrax/Black Label Society/Hatebreed (for the photo experience I had). Both Iron Maiden shows (Tampa for the sound quality, but also for the band to put out what I think is their best ever event shirt). Def Leppard/Motley Crüe/Poison/Joan Jett (for the epicness of the whole trip, the venue and the show).
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Tom Kiefer Band/LA Guns/Faster Pussycat (for how fun the adventure was and how killer all three bands sounded) and the second day of Monsters of the Mountain which had me seeing a Ratt iteration for the first time since 1991 and Queensrÿche kicking ass. I could add in several more shows here – seriously, the whole year kicked ass.
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All three festivals I attended (two of them cruises) were the funnest times ever (I say that about every music cruise). Great people, great friends, great bands and great destinations. Good times.
My favorite newly discovered band is Nerd Halen, by far. I got to see two of their shows and I shot their meet and greet sessions on the Monsters of Rock Cruise and at Monsters on the Mountain.
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Their performances are musically so spot on accurate, entire Van Halen career spanning and with the mixed in comedic gold of lead singer Hal Sparks I was laughing my ass off and headbanging through both of their shows.
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Both of their shows left Obi Wan and me still talking about it days and weeks later, and they were months apart. After getting to spend some time with them in and around the meet and greet shoots I count them all as new friends and say that they are the nicest, most humble guys you could possibly meet.
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What a year. And 2023 is already looking pretty kick ass as at the time I conclude this I am booked on three more music cruises, have tickets to three shows and my friends and I always have eyes and ears out for announced tours.
To see my favorite concert photos of the year go here.
To see the list of shows and bands I saw in 2022 go here and start with show number 255.
Crossovers in music are nothing new. Aerosmith and Run DMC. Metallica and San Francisco Symphony. FFDP and Brantley Gilbert? That’s right, after their cover of Kenny Wayne Shepherd’s “Blue on Black” with Brian May of Queen and others joining in, they hit the road together. Joining them was Canadian country music sensation, Cory Marks.
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Cory’s not a newcomer to the stage or music. For a few years now he has been cementing his status in county music, and it’s something people of all ages were there for. With his band starting the rain of guitar picks through the night, this electric stage performance set the bar high for the night. Coasting across the stage he made sure everyone felt the love, especially as he kept yelling “Tampa” to hype the crowd.
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Playing through a seven-song set, he put a crushing touch on “Keep Doing What I Do”, “In Me I Trust” and “Blame It On The Double” to a rather full audience for the opening band. His incredibly talented set of touring musicians backing him play like a well-oiled machine.
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Their fan interactions are just as powerful as Cory’s and it sets the stage for a great night of music. The backlit stage makes for an interesting mix of band lights and smoke for a unique experience, especially when he tosses out t-shirts and grabs a fan’s phone to record a quick clip!!
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Brantley Gilbert has been at this for some time now. Over the course of his 15 years in the big time, he’s racked up a few CMAs, iHeart Radio awards, and some mainstream success with the song “Bottoms Up” as well as his cover with FFDP, and well as “A Country Boy Can Survive.” Naturally, all three were on tap tonight, along with 12 other tracks.
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Emerging from the back to a dark but foggy and backlit stage and the start of “Back in Black”, Brantley Gilbert took command of the room from the opening notes of “Kick It in The Sticks.”
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This kind of country anthem is one that both the guys on the farm and those who wish they could be can connect with, and even the metal heads found themselves nodding along as the country fans all around sang along. Jumping through “Hell On Wheels”, “Son of The Dirty South”, and “Country Must Be Country Wide” before landing on “One Hell of An Amen.”
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Taking a moment to express his pride in being a southern man, and how in the south that means showing appreciation for the Veterans. Thanking them for their service, he dedicated the song to them, and the patriotism and love on his face were the signs of deep respect from a true American. With just three songs left in this 15-song set, he ended with “Read Me My Rights,” a song nearly half of the audience could personally identify with, and the other half had family that could attest to it.
Following a lengthy break to change over the stage, the lights dropped before FFDP took the stage. With the sounds of Ivan teasing the crowd through the mic, the roars of the crowd became deafening. As the curtain dropped, Washington monuments on both sides of the stage flanked an infinity-shaped snake behind the drum kit.
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Kicking off with “Inside Out” Ivan ran around the stage a bit as he sang and tossed his sweater to a fan up on the rail. Carrying over through “Trouble” and into “Wash It All Away” you could sense and see a change in the crowd. Especially as the pyro kicked in at full force.
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People of all ages connect deeply to the song, and you could see them hugging and dancing together as they sang. Even my non-metal head fiancé was surprised and touched at seeing this. Oddly enough, the photo pit and rail were “washed away” by Ivan’s water bottle mid-song.
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Complete with a voiceover segue, “Jekyll & Hyde” came up next. With Ivan now doing another wardrobe change and coming out in a custom Lightning sweater, the energy in the building hit one of its highest peaks of the night. Fans followed his commands to raise their hands and waive them side to side, he paraded around the stage while dancing at times as he sang.
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The energy coming from the stage by the entire band was being picked up by the audience and reshared back out. Seeing a kid pressed to the rail, Ivan shooed the wet photographers to the side so he could hand his signature cobra cane to the young man. His eyes shrink wrapped in tears, he was overcome with emotion being so close to him.
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Ivan tossed out stacks of the FFDP signature cash as confetti coated the arena, and gave the sound guy what he had coming for forcing Ivan to push his voice too hard. Following the tongue-lashing, Ivan’s sound was not only much louder but also clearer. For “Sham Pain”, he really needed the extra range by not having to scream, or else he’d likely break his vocal cords.
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Ivan brought back the patriotism as he came out with an American flag, waving it and telling the crowd “Every time I hear you chant ‘USA’ I know my grandfather can hear you!!” He explained how his grandfather served as a Marine as they launched into “Bad Company.”
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The cover of the Bad Company signature tune that put them on the map with those outside the metal community still sounds just as amazing in 2022 as it did when they first released it. What wasn’t out then were the “F*ck Joe Biden” chants that also accompanied the intro. Given the lack of respect for the military given by the current administration and their pro-military stance, as shown in the video for the single, it fits well.
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Following that, Ivan discussed his love for covers, and joked about someone yelling for “Freebird,” but not much of the crowd sang along beyond the opening bars. However, “You Remind Me” by Nickleback had a thunderous response. Joking about how guys will sing that with the lights down, but not up, he pressed through the rest of the 17-song set. Unfortunately “Wrong Side of Heaven” suffered from some problems getting into the right key, and it seemed to be a reflection of the earlier sound problems for Ivan. Mind you, the rest of the band’s guitars and bass sounded amazing.
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With a side-versus-side competition for “Burn mother*cker, burn!!” between Ivan and bassist Chris Kael, the crowd somehow got even deeper invested in the set. As the rest of the band took a break with just the drummer lit, one of the best-lit and performed drum solos from Charlie Engen, came forth.
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Not having seen him before, I was absolutely amazed at what he could do. Naturally, Zoltan Bathory and Andy James raised the bar once again after this brief break, and they had even the “seasoned” farmers in overalls and s*itkickers dancing around across the floor.
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Heading into “Life Me Up” Ivan took the opportunity to recognize more members of the audience. One lady “Hack” chose one of Ivan’s bats over a hug for her 4-year sobirthday. Another guy whose social media content Ivan has grown to love also got a bat of his own. Ending with “The Bleeding” the band took a bow and preceded to hand out a ton of guitar picks, extra FFDP cash, drumsticks, and setlists.
After the band left and most of the crowd too, Ivan stayed around to shake hands, take photos, and give fans a real connection moment. I’ve never seen him do this before, and it was a real treat.
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The tour rolls on, with dates scattering the country before ending back in Las Vegas on December 17th. If you haven’t caught these groups before, it’s worth the price to spring for floor tickets.
The energy on the floor for these bands is much stronger as you rub shoulders with your fellow knuckleheads. It’s strange seeing the energy-crossing genres like this when you see how so many paint country music and metal into different categories. Truth be told, both groups are the same people, just one has closer neighbors and grocery stores.
DWP Partners With Inkcarceration Music & Tattoo Festival
For July 23-25 Event In Mansfield, OH
Louder Than Life Set For September 23-26 With Newly Added
Thursday Night Celebration In Louisville, KY
Welcome To Rockville Expands To 4 Days And Shifts
From Spring To November 11-14 In Daytona Beach, FL
Previously Announced Aftershock
Set For October 7-10 In Sacramento, CA, Almost Sold Out
As the music industry looks to bring live events back to eager fans in 2021, leading independent live entertainment producer and promoter Danny Wimmer Presents is excited to announce its upcoming festival calendar for the year. The event lineup includes the return of fan favorites Louder Than Life and Welcome To Rockville, alongside the previously announced Aftershock, and new to the DWP family, Inkcarceration Music & Tattoo Festival.
Louder Than Life, the largest rock festival in America, will take place September 23-26, 2021 at Highland Festival Grounds at KY Expo Center in Louisville, Kentucky and will be adding a Thursday night celebration event to kick off the weekend. All current pass holders will receive admission to the newly added Thursday night kickoff celebration for free.
Welcome To Rockville will return with an expanded 4-day festival weekend that furthers its reputation as Florida’s biggest rock experience, and will move to a new weekend for 2021, November 11-14. Rockville will also have a new home, relocating to the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. Due to the festival date change from May to November, current Welcome To Rockville ticketholders will have the opportunity to request a refund or use their passes for the upcoming November festival. Allfans who defer their passes to Rockville 2021 will receive complimentary access to the newly added 4th day.
Danny Wimmer Presentsis also pleased to announce a new partnership formed with the creators of the fan-favorite Inkcarceration Music & Tattoo Festival. Inkcarceration is scheduled for July 23-25 at the famous Ohio State Reformatory (aka “Shawshank State Prison” from The Shawshank Redemption) in Mansfield, Ohio.
Information on band lineups, ticket information and on sale dates for Inkcarceration, Louder Than Life and Welcome To Rockville 2021 will be coming this spring. In addition, Danny Wimmer Presents has partnered with Sixthman to conquer land and sea in 2022 with an immersive 5-day cruise and private island festival in Harvest Caye, Belize, from February 16 – 21, 2022. More details, including lineup and reservations will be coming in the next few months.
The previously announced Aftershock, the West Coast’s Biggest Rock Festival, which has sold out for the last five consecutive years, will be bigger and better than ever, taking place October 7-10 at Discovery Park in Sacramento, California. Aftershock 2021 will be headlined by Metallica (performing two unique sets, one on Friday and one on Sunday)and My Chemical Romance (Saturday), who were both confirmed for the sold-out postponed 2020 event. The diverse Aftershock 2021 lineup will also include: Limp Bizkit, Rancid, The Offspring, Social Distortion, Rise Against, Volbeat, Machine Gun Kelly, Mastodon, Gojira, SEETHER, Parkway Drive, and many more. Passes for Aftershock 2021 are almost sold out; fans are encouraged to get them before it’s too late at www.AftershockFestival.com.
Several other longstanding events within the Danny Wimmer Presents portfolio will take a hiatus in 2021, with a commitment to return bigger than ever for the 2022 season, including Epicenter (Charlotte, NC) and Sonic Temple Art + Music Festival (Columbus, OH).
“Taking our festivals down last year was one of the most painful experiences our company has ever lived through,” explains Danny Wimmer, Founder of Danny Wimmer Presents. “And it wasn’t just painful for us, it was hard on the bands, fans, partners, cities and vendors. It has become clear to us that we will not be able to have our festivals this spring, and for a variety of reasons, it is not possible to produce all of our annual festivals in the window of Fall 2021, so we made the difficult decision to only produce Aftershock, Welcome To Rockville and Louder Than Life this year.These are our longest running and most geographically diverse festivals. Focusing on these three events, along with Inkcarceration Festival at the end of July gives as many fans as possible, from all over the country, the chance to rock again.”
All current pass holders for Epicenter and Sonic Temple will be emailed today with options for a full refund or the opportunity to apply their existing credit to any of DWP’s 2021 festivals, including Inkcarceration, Louder Than Life, Aftershock and Welcome To Rockville.
Danny Wimmer Presents is known worldwide for their stellar portfolio of music and lifestyle events, which includes Aftershock, Bourbon & Beyond, Epicenter, Hometown Rising, Louder Than Life, Sonic Temple Art + Music Festival, and Welcome To Rockville. DWP recently entered the digital content curation space, promoting pay-per-view concert streams and creating the popular digital series’ Offstage with DWP and Beyond the Barrel, with new episodes debuting this spring.
For more information on the Danny Wimmer Presents festivals, visit:
MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheater was the host to a sold-out show featuring Five Finger Death Punch, Breaking Benjamin, Nothing More and Bad Wolves. The tour is co-sponsored by Live Nation and Frank Productions and due to immense popularity, it has been extended into the fall. As an added bit of kudos to the bands, a portion of all ticket sales was donated to two charity organizations. Five Finger Death Punch is supporting C.O.P.S – Concerns Of Police Survivors, and Breaking Benjamin choosing Prevent Child Abuse America. Both amazing causes helping those in need.
Zoltan Bathory 5FDP (Photo-Jaime Rodriguez)
The rain god[s] would smile down upon Tampa this night, the on and off showers that are common during this time of year were nowhere in sight. Temperatures in the 80s were a welcome relief for the crowd since we’ve had some high 90s and extreme humidity lately. Arriving at the Amphitheater, it was packed to the gills. Even from the outside, you could see that nearly every seat was filled, even the premier and VIP parking was nearly filled to capacity. The faithful metalheads of Tampa turned out for a show of epic proportions, and they would not be disappointed.
Benjamin Burnley Breaking Benjamin (Photo-Jaime Rodriguez)
Kicking off the night was Bad Wolves. After lead singer Tommy Vext filled in for 5FDP’s Ivan Moody’s departure on a previous tour, this band gained a massive following. Making their mainstream debut with a cover the “Zombie” from The Cranberries, their debut album Disobey has found terrific success.
Opening with their politically charged track “Officer Down,” Bad Wolves quickly got the crowd jumping and headbanging along with them. Following up with the concert stadium anthem “Learn to Live,” they really found their stride quickly, and performed like a veteran act instead of a new ‘up and coming’ group. While only playing a seven-song set, they served as a terrific preview of what was left to come.
Jonny Hawkins Nothing More (Photo-Jaime Rodriguez)
Nothing More invaded the stage, and kicked off their set with “Do You Really Want it?” the second single off of their album The Stories We Tell Ourselves. Although originating in 2003, this is only their second label release. Lead singer Jonny Hawkins moved the crowd with his melodic vocals and high energy that set the pace for an entertaining set.
Mark Vollelunga Nothing More (Photo-Jaime Rodriguez)
Guitarist Mark Vollunga and bassist Daniel Oliver provided intense and melodic harmonies, while drummer Ben Anderson set the foundation for their powerful and undeniably honest songs about the issues that plague our times. With songs like “Let ‘em Burn,” “Don’t Stop,” and the Grammy-nominated “Go to War.”
Jonny Hawkins Nothing More (Photo-Jaime Rodriguez)
Nothing More played with passion and honesty rarely seen in music today. The crowd really seemed to connect with the band when they played their 2014 hit “Jenny,” a song about the battle with addiction that deeply affected Jonny’s sister, and consequently the whole family. At the end of the night, they really set the stage on fire with their cover of Skrillex’s “First of the Year (Equinox).”
Daniel Oliver Nothing More (Photo-Jaime Rodriguez)
One of the best sights of the night came when Jonny mounted the most entertaining, high rising, attention-grabbing, hydraulic driven contraption the stage has probably ever seen. The “Scorpion Tail” as it’s called has levers flying everywhere; buttons, gears, and drums, it moved more like a mechanical bull. I was honestly scared for him a few times, as I thought for sure he was going to fall off. Yet Hawkins handled this beast like a champ.
Jonny Hawkins Nothing More (Photo-Jaime Rodriguez)
Nothing More concluded their set with “Salem” with the crowd joining in by screaming “Burn The Witch” in unison with the band. Nothing More is hands down one of the most original bands to come out in the rock world in a long time. I can say without question that I really enjoyed seeing their show, and would make the effort to see them again.
Mark Vollelunga Nothing More (Photo-Jaime Rodriguez)
Up next to the stage came the multi-platinum recording artists Breaking Benjamin who are out supporting their newest release Ember. They started their set with “Red Cold River” a song that peaked at #2 on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Songs chart. Singer Benjamin Burnley brings to the stage an angst and grind that only comes from years as a musician, and it seemed that the crowd related to him from song one.
Aaron Bruch Breaking Benjamin (Photo-Jaime Rodriguez)
Bassist Aaron Bruch took over the mic and sang “Believe,” which was nothing less than mind blowing. One thing to note about Breaking Benjamin is that the current lineup is completely stacked with amazing singers. Guitarist Keith Wallen and Bruch were hand-picked for their vocal ability and they were producing amazing harmonies throughout their set. The crowd sang at the top of their lungs along with Burnley as they played their hits “I Will Not Bow” & “Never Again.”
Benjamin Burnley Breaking Benjamin (Photo-Jaime Rodriguez)
Keith Wallen Breaking Benjamin (Photo-Jaime Rodriguez)
Probably one of the coolest parts of their performance was when they played the “Imperial March” from Star Wars, with every Star Wars fan in the crowd going nuts! This was just a lead into a medley of a few select covers which the crowd ate up. Tool’s “Schism,” Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” Pantera’s “Walk” (which sent the crowd into a frenzy), and ending with Metallica’s “Sad But True.”
Benjamin Burnley & Aaron Bruch Breaking Benjamin ( Photo Travis Failey )
You couldn’t have asked for a better set-list. All your favorites, both new and old, with a few covers to boot. Breaking Benjamin kept improving throughout the night as the minutes and their set seemed to fly by. With all their energy and talent you just didn’t want them to leave the stage.
Shaun Foist Breaking Benjamin (Photo-Jaime Rodriguez)
Finally, the time had come for the band that Tampa’s Heavy Metal crowd came to see. FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH!!!! There aren’t words to describe the feeling in the amphitheater as everyone, and I mean everyone was waiting for them to take the stage!!! You could feel the electricity in the air; coursing through your veins as the anticipation built. Then the curtain dropped….
Ivan Moody 5FDP (Photo-Jaime Rodriguez)
Right out the gate, 5FDP lead off with a brutal throat punch that was “Lift Me Up.” Every head was banging; fists in the air, aggression at full tilt! Made you want to hit the gym and bench press 500lbs and scream at the top of your lungs! Ivan Moody gripped the crowd with such intensity and you could see it from his head to his toes, a true showman. When they played “Wash it All Away,” there wasn’t a person left in their seat. It became a heavy metal MOB!
Jason Hook 5FDP (Photo-Travis Failey
I don’t know if MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheater has seen such power, and this was a true sight to behold. The pyro, the flames, the sheer raw power of this band could not be contained, and neither could Zoltan Bathory’s energetic licks. Chris Kael’s bass and Jeremy Spencer’s drums drove the music into the heart of everyone in attendance. Huge supporters of the Military, 5FDP played their rendition of “Bad Company” dedicating it to those who served. Tears could be seen streaming down the face of a member of the crowd as they sang along.
Zoltan Bathory 5FDP(Photo-Jaime Rodriguez)
While hard to follow such a powerful rendition, 5FDP slowed it down a bit. With a small acoustic set, featuring only Ivan and Jason Hook on acoustic guitar. Even the slower acoustic versions of “Wrong Side of Heaven” and “Remember Everything” had every bit of fortitude as the electric performances. As they played on through the evening, they arrived at their version of the Offspring’s “Gone Away.”
Ivan Moody 5FDP ( Photo Jaime Rodriguez )
If you think 5FDP’s studio recording is good, the live performance is a metric ton better. Winding down the night with their final song “The Bleeding,” all bets were off as they left nothing on the stage. As big and bad as this band is, they care; they care about their fans. Throughout the night they interacted with their fans and really showed their appreciation for their support. Pretty refreshing to see a group that has made it this big and genuinely connects with their supporters. Passing out tons of guitar picks, singling out two truly metal kids who caught Ivan’s eye to receive special gifts, and taking time to make contact past the first few rows of the pit, it was one of the best endings of any metal show for the fans.
Chris Kael 5FDP (Photo-Jaime Rodriguez)
This was a great night for Tampa; to see four talented, world-renowned, and hard rocking acts in one venue. All in all, it was a perfect night for such a show. The weather cooperated, the temperature was terrific and the music was amazing. If you haven’t made it out to catch this tour so far, there is a second leg that will be kicking off at the end of September! You won’t be disappointed.
The Fourth of July Holiday was extended an additional day in Orlando as Metallica brought their own fireworks to Camping World Stadium on Wednesday night. Out on the road in support of its platinum release, Hardwired ….to Self Destruct, Metallica, with support from Volbeat and Avenged Sevenfold, set the bar for the Tour of the Year. I’m not just saying that because I’m a fan, or because I have been following this band since the mid eighties, but because that’s what the majority of the fans that I spoke to said. In any event, there is no doubt that Metallica left an indelible impression on the 50,000 plus fans in attendance.
Volbeat got the evening’s events started in the late afternoon as the brutal Florida sun beat down on the crowd due to the open stadium and minimal cloud cover. Volbeats’s ghoulish backdrop draped over the front of Lars Ulrich’s kit, and boxing ropes covered the extended snake pit “catwalk.” They started their set with “The Devil’s Beating Crown” off their recent release Seal the Deal and Let’s Boogie and played an extended nine song set.
The Danish rock band fuses a combination of rock and roll, heavy metal, and rockabilly, and has been all over terrestrial and satellite radio with their hit singles “Seal The Deal”, “Lola Montez”, and “The Hangman’s Body Count.” It’s been an amazing run that the Copenhagen foursome has been on over the last five years in the States culminating with the opening spot for arguably the largest hard rock & metal band in the world.
Frontman Michael Poulsen went right to the front of the ring and captured the crowd’s attention by playing a set comprised of their Sirius/XM hits. “Seal The Deal” was a crowd favorite and Volbeat always brings their Johnny Cash influence with them by playing “Ring of Fire” as an introduction to “Sad Man’s Tongue.” Former Anthrax guitarist Rob Caggiano was all over the massive stage and fit in perfectly playing off of Poulsen and new bassist Kaspar Boye Larsen. Larsen recently joined the band and went on tour with the guys only 12 hours after the birth of his son. That’s what I call dedication!
Volbeat primed the crowd for the modern metal band with classic roots, Avenged Sevenfold hit the massive stage to the backdrop of the letters “M & A” in Metallica’s original font. Playing during the day has to be a rarity for the band from Huntington Beach as Avenged Sevenfold has been headlining tours and festivals since it released its breakout album, Nightmare.
Vocalist M Shadows was flanked by the classic metal guitar tandem of Zacky Vengeance and Synyster Gates as Avenged Sevenfold hit the stage during AC/DC’s “Back in Black.” It was apropos that they would come out to this song as Avenged Sevenfold ‘s stage show and sound has been compared with Iron Maiden’s and Judas Priest’s, with their own modern twists.
Avenged Sevenfold started its set with the title track from their latest release, The Stage, and hit its stride as the massive crowd joined in with the band during the chorus of “Hail to the King.” There were Avenged Sevenfold t-shirts peppered throughout the audience, and some fans held up signs in support of the new “defenders of the metal faith.” Avenged Sevenfold didn’t win the Revolver Magazine’s 2014 Golden Gods Award for Most Dedicated Fans Award for nothing!
Avenged Sevenfold also displayed its pyromaniac side as pots of fire rose throughout its set , which included “Buried Alive” “Bat Country” and the title track from Nightmare.
M Shadows was also all over the Snake Pit and the main stage singing directly to individual fans that were melting in the summer heat. He’s a great frontman with a wide vocal range and a sound all his own. With Vengeance, Gates, bass guitarist Johnny Christ, and drummer Brooks Wackerman, proved to everyone in the crowd that Avenged Sevenfold deserved to open for Metallica. As Avenged Sevenfold finished their set with “Unholy Confessions,” they departed the stage to the Beatle’s classic, “A Day In The Life” playing over the p.a. It was another great performance by Avenged Sevenfold, who will be out headlining shows later this year.
Anticipation!!! You could cut the intensity of anticipation with a knife as the almost full moon donned a smile through the dark Orlando sky. As the lights went down, a clip from the classic Clint Eastwood movie, The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, hit the massive screen, while “The Ecstasy of Gold” theme song led into the Hard Wired…to Self-Destruct video montage and monstrous air balloons inflated at top of the stage.
Metallica came out to an assault of fire and lights and started its 18 song set with the title track from Hard Wired…to Self-Destruct, and then right into their second single “Atlas Rise.” As Metallica concluded “Atlas Rise,” James Hetfield addressed the crowd for the first time, “We don’t give a shit what you have done in your life, what you are wearing right now, what color you are or what religion you believe in are, what political shit you believe in, we don’t care about any of that. You are here tonight as a member of the Metallica family. Are you with us?” The crowd responded with a massive roar, after which bassist Rob Trujillo struck the opening chords of “For Whom the Bell Tolls.”
Hetfield’s comment was refreshing as a lot of bands lately have been using their status as musicians to further their own political and social agenda, which is a decisive move these days. Most fans want a break from politics when they go to a rock show and just want bands to play, not preach.
Metallica’s set included a variety of songs that spanned throughout its career with an emphasis on its new album, but it never waned in intensity, except maybe for a moment during “Halo on Fire.” I noticed that some of the crowd had their eyes down on their phones, but they were drawn right back in when Kirk Hammett and Rob Trujillo went to the front of the snake pit stage and played solo renditions from “I Disappear” and “Anesthesia (Pulling Teeth”.)
Trujillo should no longer be regarded as a “hired gun” but as a full-fledged member of Metallica. During Trujillo’s solo, a video of former Metallica bassist Cliff Burton played on the video screens as a showing of reverence for their fallen mate.
There were so many highlights from Metallica’s set with moments and effects that have never been performed before. Yes, we have seen massive pyro blasts that have reached the top of stadiums like the ones during ” Fuel” and “Hit The Lights,” but I’ve never witnessed what Metallica provided during ” Moth Into A Flame.” A ball of flame skittered back and forth continuously across the massive stage during the performance like it was chasing the band members. It was such an amazing site that even the on-site medical staff pulled out their phones and started shooting video of it.
Another highlight of the many was when the whole band performed their own drum circle using monstrous Polynesian tom drums during ” Now That Were Dead.” Circle pits formed during the track with one mosher wearing an American flag wrapped around his hand and another wearing a Mars Attacks shirt from 1996. The pits were many and active throughout the night but also tame, with many of the moshers being in their late 30s and 40s thrashing about, but also cautious to not injure themselves or others in the pit.
Hetfield addressed the crowd again after spotting some young fans in the crowd. He was amazed to find out that the kids were only 4 and 5 years old and welcomed them to the Metallica family. Hetfield’s vocals have been questioned in the past but after tonight’s performance, all questions have been answered: James hasn’t sounded this good since the And Justice for All Tour.
A thunderous boom shook the ground like the recent earthquake in Montana, while the opening salvo of the skin-crawling epic, “One” reverberated throughout the stadium. Another natural disaster took center stage when fire seared across the crowd during the first song of Metallica’s encore, “Fight Fire with Fire.”
Metallica then went old school as a drum riser rose up from the front of the snake pit stage while Hetfield stated “We are going back to the garage!” and crushed their Kill Em All classic “Seek and Destroy.” It was a special moment for everybody in attendance, but especially for those fans at the front of the snake pit stage as all four member performed in the small space. On a side note, if you are attending a stop on this tour, the front of the Snake Pit is the perfect spot to watch the whole show.
With its biggest hit “Enter Sandman” concluding its set and as the fans were exiting the stadium, it was confirmed that Metallica isn’t only the biggest and successful band from the trash metal genre that they helped create, but also the tightest that they have been in years. The chemistry that Lars, James, Kirk and Rob have created is palpable and once again they have created a metal monster that is hardwired and will hopefully not self destruct.
2016 has been a memorable year in music. There have been some positives, like the Guns and Roses reunion, Metallica’s long-awaited new release, but 2016 will also be known as the year that we lost some of the greats: David Bowie, Prince, and Glen Frey, just to name a few. One thing is for certain, the singers and their bands that have donned the stage in 2016 have been extraordinary and without comparison to recent years. From Steven Tyler to Iron Maiden, Pearl Jam to Metallica, concert goers of all genres have had the opportunity to satisfy their concert fill in 2016.
Michael Wilton (Photo-Travis Failey)
Just when I thought that the hard rock/heavy metal tour schedule for 2016 couldn’t get any better, the Queensrÿche “Condition Human” tour was announced with Armored Saint as its special guest in Ybor City. I was shocked to see that Armored Saint was on this tour, especially with a Tampa stop on their schedule.
John Bush (Photo-Travis Failey)
To my knowledge, and according to lead singer John Bush, Armored Saint had never played in Tampa before, and due to issues with the original promoter, they almost didn’t. Fat Harry Productions stepped up in a big way, saved the day, and the show at Ybor’s Cuban Club went off without a hitch.
Raine Hilai (Photo-Travis Failey)
After Raine Hilai and Midnight Eternal got the crowd warmed up with songs from their self-titled debut album, Armored Saint took the stage and opened up with the title track from 2015’s Win Hands Down. Vocalist John Bush whipped the crowd into a frenzy early, particularly during 1984’s “March of the Saint,” and “Last Train Home,” from their highly respected 1991 release, Symbol of Salvation.
John Bush (Photo-Travis Failey)
Symbol of Salvation was Armored Saint’s last release, before they went on an extended hiatus that lasted until 1999. It was also during this period that John Bush was the vocalist for Anthrax, replacing Joey Belladonna.
Phil Sandoval (Photo-Travis Failey)
Armored Saint incorporated their classics with new material, not only from Win Hands Down but also “Left Hook From Right Field” from the highly underrated 2010 release, La Raza. The dual ax team of Jeff Duncan and Phil Sandoval, along with bassist Joey Vera, put on a stage show that young bands should take lessons from.
Joey Vera & Phil Sandoval (Photo-Travis Failey)
They jammed non-stop while Gonzo Sandoval manned the back line producing thunderous beats from behind the kit. Speaking of Gonzo’s brother Phil, he performed visual guitar gymnastics throughout the set and was amazing to watch live.
Gonzo Sandoval (Photo-Travis Failey)
Armored Saint finished its set with its two biggest hits to date, “Reign of Fire,” and “Can U Deliver,” while John Bush climbed the scaffolding high above the Cuban Club’s moonlit courtyard. John Bush proved once again that he should be on the list of the all-time great metal singers, as he sings with energy, emotion and power, and he doesn’t rely on back tracks or processors. Bush is also a perfect example of a singer has taken care of his voice, which has prolonged his career, not only as a singer, but as a professional voice-over specialist.
Jeff Duncan (Photo-Travis Failey)
As the final notes rang out and Armored Saint left the stage for the tour bus, I heard fans buzzing about what they just witnessed. It was another amazing performance by a band that should have been in the same conversation as the other metal greats, but due to timing and other factors Armored Saint didn’t reach those heights.
John Bush (Photo-Travis Failey)
But in 2016, Armored Saint is back in the game with a vengeance, and if you’re lucky, they will be coming to a town near you… “With a Full Head of Steam.”
Todd La Torre (Photo-Travis Failey)
Tonight’s headliner was a rejuvenated Queensrÿche with singer Todd La Torre coming back home for a special performance after being out on the road for over a year supporting Queensrÿche’s critically acclaimed Condition Human release. A lot of Queensrÿche’s fans questioned the legitimacy of the band after they replaced/fired Geoff Tate. To answer that question, all you have to do is see this band perform live. Todd La Torre not only nailed the new material; but also the classics from Queensrÿche’s self-titled EP released in 1983, throughout the Promised Land years.
Michael Wilton (Photo-Travis Failey)
Queensrÿche opened up with “Guardian” from Condition Human and then took the fans on a journey through their catalog, only slowing the set down once during, “Silent Lucidity.”
Scott Rockenfield (Photo-Travis Failey)
“Operation: Mindcrime” followed “Guardian” which featured the video montages in the hospital that originally supported Queensrÿche’s 1988 breakout concept album. Throughout the set, Queensrÿche threw in a couple rarities that the die-hard fans appreciated, specifically with “Damaged,” “The Killing Words,” and “The Mission.”
Michael Wilton (Photo-Travis Failey)
Guitarist Michael Wilton was on fire on a cool outdoor night in Tampa. I’ve watched this band throughout the highs and lows of their career, and the founding members, including bassist Eddie Jackson, Drummer Scott Rockenfield and Wilton all look like they found the fountain of youth.
Eddie Jackson (Photo-Travis Failey)
There was a special moment during the set as La Torre brought his friend Shawn Lowery on stage and dedicated the classic “Take Hold of the Flame” to him. ” Lowery is battling Stage 4 cancer and is a local drummer and metal works expert who created La Torre’s custom mic stand. (Check out http://www.sawbladeheaddesigns.com/mrsawbladehead for some of Shawn’s amazing creations)
Shawn Lowery and Todd La Torre (Photo-Travis Failey)
La Torre also stressed during the dedication that people need to lift each other up during these tough times and to not be a bunch of haters. Unfortunately, there is always one in the crowd. During “Screaming in Digital,” a fan in the front decided to flip La Torre off repeatedly. La Torre acknowledged him with his own single finger bird salute and crushed a very difficult song to sing without missing a beat. After the song La Torre called out the hater saying: “I don’t tell you to fuck off at your house, [so] don’t tell me to fuck off at mine!”
Todd La Torre (Photo-Travis Failey)
Queensryche closed out its set with “Screaming in Digital,” then “Eyes of a Stranger” after performing arguably their strongest song in years, “Hellfire.” “Hellfire” showcases all of the band’s musical talents, especially Scott Rockenfield’s drumming and La Torre’s vocal range with amazing harmonies from Parker Lundgren and Eddie Jackson.
Parker Lundgren (Photo-Travis Failey)
After the show, La Torre hung out with old friends and new fans alike in the Cuban Club courtyard. La Torre is a perfect example of how hard work and dedication pays off. Many hugs were given, pictures were taken, and memories were made.
Jeff Duncan & John Bush (Photo-Travis Failey)
Armored Saint and Queensrÿche have taken two different but similar paths to the Cuban Club in Ybor City on Thursday night. Both have experienced lineup changes and have had their ups and downs but both bands are stronger now due to their resiliency. It’s with that strength, that Armored Saint and Queensrÿche released some of their best material in years, and the direction arrow for both of the bands’ futures seem to be on an upward swing.
Korn, Breaking Benjamin, Motionless In White. Nocturnal Underground Tour at the Mid Florida Credit Union Amphitheatre.
It’s 22 years ago and the grunge scene has taken hold of radio stations and fashion across the country. Bands like Pearl Jam, Alice in Chains and Soundgarden are no longer just a staple in the Great North West but also from coast to coast. The decline of the hair band saturation by the record companies has been completed and even the best of this breed would struggle mightily.
Brian “Head” Welch-Korn (Photo-Travis Failey)
Thrash metal was still alive and well as Slayer led the way with the release of Divine Intervention and Pantera was at their peak with Far Beyond Driven. There was a huge disconnect between the two genres as one donned short hair, flannel shirts and baggy jeans while the others were still sporting long hair, jean jackets and black t-shirts.
Benjamin Burnley-Breaking Benjamin (Photo-Travis Failey)
While the music snobs stuck to their own styles, which they tend to do, a new sound was born in California, that was soon dubbed “Nu-Metal.” The band Korn, with their roots in Bakerfield, California now replanted in Huntington Beach, had grown a local following due to their distinct sound that mixed the drop-tuning of guitars with elements of rap and metal and the unfamiliar addition of a set of bag-pipes.
Jonathan Davis-Korn (Photo-Travis Failey)
Tour invitations soon followed after their release on their 1994 self-titled debut. Opening slots for veteran acts like Ozzy Osbourne and Megadeth provided them seasoning with a memorable headlining tour and a stop at Janus Landing in Saint Petersburg to follow soon after.
Ray Luzier-Korn (Photo-Travis Failey)
As a 25-year-old who witnessed the many transitions that music had made through the late 70s through the early 90s, watching Korn in the early part of their career always led me to question one thing: Would Jonathan Davis have longevity in this business due to his vocal style? There was only one other voice that I also wondered about, and that was Phil Anselmo of Pantera. Could these two vocalists sustain their vocal style and the damage that they seemed to be doing to their throats long term??
Reginald “Fieldy” Arvizu (Photo-Travis Failey)
Well, fast forward twenty-two years to 2016. Korn has now sold over 35 million albums, released forty-one singles, with twenty-eight of them charting. Korn’s sound and style has influenced several successful bands, like Linkin Park, Kid Rock, Otep and Slipknot.
Brian “Head” Welch- Korn (Photo-Travis Failey)
Touring in support of their 12th studio release, The Serenity of Suffering, Korn brought their Nocturnal Underground Tour to the Mid Florida Credit Union Amphitheater Tuesday night. Breaking Benjamin received the co-headlining nod with Motionless in White, and The Silver Snakes receiving the opening slots.
(Photo-Travis Failey)
Tuesday night was a beautiful night in Tampa for a show. After a long, brutally hot concert season in Florida, it was awesome to have temperatures in the 70’s with a killer breeze blowing through the venue. Korn broke out with a single from their Take a Look in the Mirror release, “Right Now,” then kept the energy flowing with “Here to Stay.” Korn paid homage to their early music, playing “Somebody Someone,” “Make Me Bad,” “Twist,” and busted out the bagpipes for “Shoots and Ladders.” Korn even performed a portion of Metallica’s “One.” It was pretty amusing to see the smiles on the paramedics and police officer’s faces as Jonathan would ask, “Y’All Want a Single, ” and the crowd screamed “Say Fu#K that Fu#k that!”
Jonathan Davis-Korn (Photo-Travis Failey)
Sporting his signature dreadlocks, black kilt and black socks, Jonathan Davis didn’t miss a beat and it’s hard to believe that he is forty-five. And to answer my own question, Jonathan’s voice has stood the test of time, and he belted out “Blind” as if it were 1995. I have seen Korn no less than 10 times, and Tuesday’s performance was definitely in my top two Korn shows. The abundance of energy by all the guys and the enjoyment of the moment was evident due to the smiles on their faces, especially Davis. Davis looked like a proud papa as he announced that they were celebrating the 20 year anniversary of the Life is Peachy release.
James “Munky” Shaffer-Korn (Photo-Travis Failey)
The stage lights were bright with limited smoke, which was also a rarity. On previous tours, the lighting was much darker and seeing the guys faces was difficult as the stage was engulfed with smoke from the fog machines. Videos rolled on the screen behind the stage and lasers were aplenty.
Guitarists James “Munky” Shaffer, Brian “Head” Welch, and bassist Reginald “Fieldy” Arvizu, did a great job engaging the crowd by coming right up on the edge of the stage as they played, with only the photo pit separating them from the crowd. Percussionist Ray Luzier is not only a great drummer, but also a master showman behind the skins with his stick flips and throws, even his vibrant kit draws you into his memorizing performance.
Ray Luzier-Korn (Photo-Travis Failey)
The one take way from their performance was that it looked to me that Korn was genuinely enjoying themselves on stage. Has there been tours where it looked they were going through the motions, yes, in some fans opinions, but this tour certainly wasn’t one of them.
Benjamin Burnley-Breaking Benjamin (Photo-Travis Failey)
Prior to Korn taking the stage, Breaking Benjamin, the co-headliner, performed a 15 song set which included a four song medley of “The Imperial March,” “Schism,”” Smells Like Teen Spirit,” and concluded with “Walk,” from Pantera. They also brought out Chris Motionless from Motionless in White to sing “Polyamorous.” The set was filled with their radio hits as the fans in the stands joined Burnley in singing “So Cold,” “Failure,” “Angels Fall,” and particularly, “I Will Not Bow.”
They were fairly sedate in their movements on stage, except for when bassist Aaron Bruch or guitarist Keith Wallen took on the role of lead singer and went to the top of the stage riser to play the role of frontman during “Sooner than Later,” and “Believe.” They also did a tribute song to Korn by performing a large portion of “Ball Tongue.” It got the crowd going but it seemed like a faux pas to me.
Shaun Foist-Breaking Benjamin (Photo-Travis Failey)
Founder and the only original member remaining, Benjamin Burnley’s vocals cut through the night sky and it is apparent why Breaking Benjamin was the co-headliner: they can put fans in the seats. Their popularity and album sales in the United States is through the roof as their recent release, Dark Before Dawn reached No. 1 on the rock albums chart on iTunes and No. 3 on the overall album chart. It sold 135,000 album units in its first week, debuting at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 With Sirius/Xm Octane in their corner, their lead single “Failure” was number 1 for nine weeks on the Mainstream Rock charts.
Benjamin Burnley-Breaking Benjamin (Photo-Travis Failey)
Was I impressed with Breaking Benjamin? Not really, there are many bands out there with a similar style and sound. Are they good at what they do? Yes, but as their set continued for easily over an hour, people were clamoring for them to finish so Korn could finally take the stage.
Chris Motionless-Motionless In White (Photo-Travis Failey)
Prior to Korn and Breaking Benjamin, one of the coolest guys in metal, Chris Motionless, with Motionless in White brought their own version of “horror metal” to the Nocturnal Underground Tour at the Amphitheatre and just crushed it.
Devon “Ghost” Sola- Motionless In White (Photo-Travis Failey)
We’ve been following this band since their early days on the Warped Tour and both their progression and fan base have grown exponentially. Devin “Ghost” Sola is not only a solid bass player but his stage wardrobe changes from tour to tour. Maybe it’s a hockey jersey and face paint, or a prison-cell-type cage on his head, or maybe something totally different as it was tonight. It’s hard to describe what he was wearing, but take a look at the pics and let your imagination run wild.
Chris Motionless-Motionless In White (Photo-Travis Failey)
Chris Motionless donned a Ryan Callahan Tampa Bay Lightning jersey and you might think that he was just pandering to the home crowd but he has been and continues to be a die-hard Lightning fan. After concluding their set of Octane and Liquid Metal hits that included “Reincarnate,” and the anthem “A.M.E.R.I.C.A.,” Motionless pounded his chest and yelled in the mic, “Go Bolts.”
Ryan Sitkowski-Motionless In White (Photo-Travis Failey)
Check these guys out when they come to your town, even if they are not your cup of metal, their stage show and performance are worth the price of admission.
Devin “Ghost” Sola- Motionless In White (Photo-Travis Failey)
The Nocturnal Underground Tour provided hard rock and metal fans a variety of bands at different stages of their careers: Korn being the seasoned veterans that pay homage to their old school fans, while winning over a new generation of fans, Breaking Benjamin as a mellower, single driven counterpart, and Motionless in White as a band who has a bright future in their own hands.
Vinny Mauro-Motionless In White (Photo-Travis Failey)
Will Motionless in White achieve the success as the two co-headliners? Only time will tell, but from the crowd response and their charismatic frontman, they have a legitimate shot to one-day headline tour like this.
For additional dates: http://korn.com/tour/
For Setlists: http://www.setlist.fm/setlist/korn/2016/midflorida-credit-union-amphitheatre-tampa-fl-63fd0eff.html
