Music Existence Because of Music, We Exist
Godsmack is on tour right now finishing up a run with Staind and Mix Master Mike, and they’ve spared no expense with the production. Pyro and flames erupt throughout the entire set with energy so high and intense you can’t help but feel the power from these hard rock titans. Southern California showed up big time on this particular night and FivePoint Amphitheatre was louder than ever.
Mix Master Mike, legendary DJ from the legendary Beastie Boys, was fired up and he got the audience moving. An interesting choice for an opener at a hard rock concert but he showed us that hard rock and heavy music have no boundaries. Mixing and scratching heavy bands into his act such as Slayer, Disturbed, Pantera, and others was enough for the Southern California heavy metal/hard rock community to embrace him with their arms in the air and devil horns in the sky. Mix Master Mike was full of energy and couldn’t help but keep the high energy going as he put on a show for the masses.
Staind was up next and the FivePoint Amphitheatre was nearly packed as fans were intensely waiting to sing along with lead singer Aaron Lewis. The opening song, “Lowest In Me”, is the second of three singles that they’ve released from the forthcoming album Confessions of the Fallen which will be released on September 15th of this year. “Not Again” was played next off their self titled album from 2011 followed by “Just Go” from their debut album in 1999. Guitarist Mike Mushok has a crazy amount of energy while playing guitar and sets the tone for the band and fans. “Eyes Wide Open”, a heavy hitter, was next followed by bassist Johnny April starting “Fade” off of 2001’s Break the Cycle. Staind are know for being able to create such heavy melodic music in one song and deliver the softest ballads and mellow notes in the next, such as “Epiphany” and “Outside”. Drummer Sal Giancarelli was all smiles as they play through other hits such as “So Far Away” and “It’s Been Awhile”. Since they have a new album coming out soon there’s a good chance that we’ll see a headlining tour in the near future, be sure to check them out when they come to your town!
Just before Godsmack took the stage they showed a video of Mix Master Mike projected on a white kabuki and getting the crowd going mixing up classics such as Queen’s “We Will Rock You” and The Beatles “Hey Jude”. As the crowd was getting loud and rowdy the white kabuki dropped and revealed a black kabuki with Godsmack’s sun logo on it and everyone went nuts. The curtain dropped and Godsmack came out to thunderous applause as “When Legends Rise” began and got the night started. The energy was high and the temperature was higher as things started to heat up when they played “1000hp” and had pyro going off throughout the entire song, what a sight to see. Singer Sully Erna controlled the crowd and rocked out on stage as he has been with this band for the last twenty five plus years. Next was “Cryin’ Like A Bitch!!” off of 2010’s The Oracle and not a single person in the packed venue was sitting down.
Guitarist Tony Rombola started the next song “You and I”, off of their latest album Lighting Up The Sky, and it sounded amazing. Sully complimented the California people and had the guys put their ladies on their shoulders for the next song “Something Different”. “There’s no tricks and clicks up here…we’re still an old school f*^kin’ rock band” Sully says just before they went into “What About Me”, which is also off their latest album released earlier this year. Right away Sully has his voice and guitar sync up to make an interesting sound as they go into a tease of “Mistakes” just before playing “Awake” off their 2000’s sophomore album with the same title.
Bassist Robbie Merrill started the famous baseline of “Voodoo” and the entire amphitheatre sang along for the entire song. Drummer Shannon Larkin with his drum set went center stage and was joined by Sully with his own drum set for an epic drum battle. This was definitely a highlight of the night as both drummers went off with amazing energy while Robbie and Tony backed them up with their strings. They started to play snippets of a few cover songs, instrumental only, such as AC/DC, Aerosmith, Metallica and more then going straight into their breakout single “Whatever” from 1995s self titled album. These guys interacted with the fans during the song and were having a blast and ended the song with confetti and giant beach balls that fell into the crowd. Afterwards they walked off the stage and the lights went out, on the screen was a message to the fans thanking them for the past 25 years.
For the first encore song a piano was placed center stage and Sully began to play “Under Your Scars” from 2018s When Legends Rise and straight into “Bulletproof” off the same album. One of their biggest hits “I Stand Alone” started and everyone went nuts as they played their last song. Godsmack shows why they’ve been on top of the hard rock/heavy metal world for the past 28 years won’t be going anywhere soon. They’ve said that their latest album will be their last, hopefully that’s not true but only time will tell. Godsmack’s run with Staind is over but they are still on the road, this time hitting a few festivals and touring with the likes of I Prevail, Atreyu, and Flat Black. You don’t want to miss these guys live so get your tickets now!
Staind
Setlist:
Lowest In Me
Not Again
Just Go
Eyes Wide Open
Fade
Something to Remind You
Epiphany
Right Here
Outside
Wannabe
So Far Away
For You
It’s Been Awhile
Mudshovel
Godsmack
Setlist:
When Legends Rise
1000hp
Cryin’ Like A Bitch
You And I
Something Different
What About Me
Awake
Surrender
Voodoo
Drum Battle
(Covers)
Whatever
Under Your Scars
Bulletproof
I Stand Alone
New Tour dates:
09/01 – Pryor, OK @ Rocklahoma
09/03 – Baton Rouge, LA @ Raising Cane’s River Center ^
09/05 – Pensacola, FL @ Pensacola Bay Center ^
09/06 – Jacksonville, FL @ Daily’s Place ^
09/07 – Charleston, SC @ Charleston Coliseum & Convention Center ^
09/09 – Tampa, FL @ MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre ^
09/10 – Hollywood, FL @ Hard Rock Live ^
09/22 – Louisville, KY @ Louder Than Life
09/24 – Cuyahoga Falls, OH @ Blossom Music Center #
09/26 – Green Bay, WI @ Resch Center #
09/28 – Moline, IL @ Vibrant Arena #
09/29 – Omaha, NE @ Baxter Arena #
10/01 – Rapid City, SD @ Summit Arena at The Monument #
10/03 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Maverik Center #
10/04 – Nampa, ID @ Ford Idaho Center Amphitheater #
10/06 – Sacramento, CA @ Aftershock
10/08 – Kent, WA @ accesso ShoWare Center
10/10 – Abbotsford, BC @ Abbotsford Centre #
10/12 – Edmonton, AB Rogers Place #
10/13 – Calgary, AB @ Scotiabank Saddledome #
10/15 – Saskatoon, SK @ SaskTel Centre #
10/16 – Winnipeg, MB @ Canada Life Centre #
10/19 – London, ON @ Budweiser Gardens #
10/21 – Laval, QC @ Place Bell #
10/22 – Quebec City, QC @ Videotron Centre #
10/24 – Glens Falls, NY @ Cool Insuring Arena +
10/25 – Wallingford, CT @ Toyota Oakdale Theatre +
10/27 – Manchester, NH @ SNHU Arena +
10/28 – Camden, NJ @ Freedom Mortgage Pavilion +
Support from Atreyu and Flat Black = ^
Support from I Prevail and Flat Black = #
Support to be announced = +
