While we were away. —Ed.
As soon as the lights went down, the packed Anaheim House of Blues started chanting “SE-VEN-DUST!” in anticipation of one of Atlanta’s most successful hard rock bands taking the stage. The band did not disappoint, opening with “T.O.A.B.” and continuing to rock the near capacity crowd all night long. Sevendust proved why they’ve been around for over two decades—the energy was palpable from start to finish as singer Lajon Witherspoon urged the crowd to get louder and guitarist Clint Lowery inciting moshing and headbanging.
Sevendust ripped off a blistering 16-song set on Tuesday night (3/15) that included 2001’s critically acclaimed Animosity in its entirety. Their inspired performance was just what the doctor ordered and allowed—if, just for a few fleeting moments, fans from all walks of life were to feel human again in spite of all the tension the world faces today. And who doesn’t want to feel good after a good old-fashioned rock and roll show? Let’s dig into the evening’s festivities.
Opening for Sevendust on Tuesday evening was Dead Poet Society and Tetrarch. Dead Poet Society took the stage first as legions of Sevendust fans were initially flowing into the House of Blues. While the opening of their performance seemed a bit docile, the energy from their set increased 10-fold as the floor began to fill in. These guys fed off the crowd’s energy and the last few songs of their performance were excoriating. You could tell fans were into it, and Dead Poet Society reacted in kind. Overall, a solid set from DPS and I’m looking forward to digging into their latest release sooner than later.
Next up was Tetrarch. I’d heard many incredible stories about this band and their live shows, but never had a chance to see them until now. From the very first notes of “Stitch Me Up” to the ending of “Oddity,” this killer quartet including Diamond Row (guitar), Josh Fore (vocals), Ryan Lerner (bass), and Ruben Limas (drums), absolutely killed it. It seemed like Tetrarch played with a chip on their shoulder, and the end result was a live performance that dazzled fans from start to finish. Keep a close watch on Tetrarch, I really believe they may be the next big thing in metal. These cats are gonna break out big time in the not-so-distant future.
Now onto the main attraction, Sevendust. I’ve followed this band for years and have always dug their truly unique sound and messaging. There was a feeling in the air from the moment I walked into the House of Blues and that feeling usually is a precursor to the start of one hell of a show. And as luck would have it, I had a front row seat to witness all the madness courtesy of Vince Hornsby (bass), Morgan Rose (drums), Clint Lowery (lead guitar), John Connolly (rhythm guitar), and Lajon Witherspoon (vocals).
Their near two-hour set was special—fans got to hear Animosity in its entirety along with some cool anecdotes surrounding the album along the way. Lajon and company wrapped up the night’s 16-song set with fan classics such as “Bitch,” “Blood From a Stone,” and “Face to Face.” Although many songs might have been chosen for the encore, these selections were the perfect way for to Sevendust to close the show and ones I know the loyal fans appreciated.
TETRARCH
DEAD POET SOCIETY
