Last Thursday night, I was in the pit of the Fillmore Silver Spring, focusing on photographing Hatebreed, when I was startled by a firm nudge to my ribs, inching me closer to the stage. It was a member of the Fillmore’s security staff making his way to a crowd surfer who was swiftly approaching the barrier. In a flash I had to recalibrate my actions in the photo pit to dodge security, the half dozen other photographers sharing the space, and fans coming at my head, all while getting my shots.
It was 6:50pm and the roof was already coming off the joint five minutes into the support act’s set. The tone was locked in for the rest of night as Anthrax and Black Label Society’s coheadlining tour made a stop in the Washington, DC area and were received with headbanging enthusiasm by thrash and heavy metal fans of all ages.
While the night got started early, the venue was already full when Hatebreed (Jamey Jasta, Wayne Lozinak, Frank Novinec, Chris Beattie, and Matt Byrne) took the stage for a loud and aggressively fun set. It was a fuss free, no-frills production but that didn’t matter—the Connecticut metalcore vets delivered. After I left the pit, I retreated to a far upper corner of the venue. From there I could watch the fans on the packed floor. Hatebreed had the crowd fist pumping and headbanging in sync. The setlist drew from across the band’s career; it speaks to the strength of a tour’s lineup that the support act has a career that spans 25 years.
The crowd was primed and ready for Black Label Society, led by guitar god Zakk Wylde; the band’s latest album, Doom Crew, Inc, was released in 2021. The photographers were afforded the infrequent opportunity to shoot Black Label Society’s entire set; we hungrily ate up that privilege. The kilt-adorned, hair-shrouded Wylde and his accompanying crew (Dario Lorina, John DeServio, and Jeff Fabb) took to the stage behind a massive curtain which fell to the floor; the band kicked off the set with “Funeral Bell” and continued to melt faces right until the end. A standout moment? The dueling guitar solo between Wylde and guitarist Lorina during “Fire It Up.”
Finally, Anthrax finished off the evening of metal destruction. This tour is billed as a 40th anniversary celebration for the band; however, technically the 40th anniversary was last year. As with most things in the current world, the pandemic delayed a timelier outing. Prior to taking the stage, the Fillmore went dark and a giant sheet hung from the rafters lighting up the venue with an introductory video of fellow musicians and pop culture celebrities providing their own testimonials about Anthrax. The luminaries included Rob Zombie, Dee Snider, and John Carpenter, among many others.
The video ended, the curtain dropped, and all hell broke loose as Anthrax (Joey Belladonna, Scott Ian, Frank Bello, Jonathan Donais, and Charlie Benante) launched into “Among the Living,” released in 1987. The well-assembled setlist spanned the band’s career and kept the crowd moshing and headbanging all night. As for myself, I spent my time in the pit getting my shots and trying not to get knocked in the head—the crowd surfers kept everyone on their toes. God that was fun.
Anthrax and Black Label Society’s summer tour wraps up in Philadelphia on August 28.
HATEBREED
BLACK LABEL SOCIETY
ANTHRAX
BLACK LABEL SOCIETY SETLIST
Funeral Bell
Destroy & Conquer
Overlord
Heart of Darkness
A Love Unreal
ou Made Me Want to Live
In This River
Trampled Down Below
Set You Free
Fire It Up
Suicide Messiah
Stillborn
ANTHRAX SETLIST
Among the Living
Caught in a Mosh
Madhouse
Metal Thrashing Mad
Keep it in the Family
Antisocial
I Am the Law
In the End
Only
Got the Time
Bring the Noise
Indians
