TVD Live Shots: Five Finger Death Punch, Shinedown, Sixx:A.M., and As Lions at the SAP Center, 10/31

Five Finger Death Punch and Shinedown are out on the road co-headlining an ambitious tour that found the bands in San Jose, California at the SAP Center on Halloween night along with special guests As Lions and Sixx:A.M.

The evening kicked off early with a 6:30 set by As Lions featuring frontman Austin Dickinson who some may remember as either the vocalist in Rise to Remain which made a run on the Vans Warped Tour a few years ago—or as the son of Iron Maiden’s Bruce Dickinson. Clearly the apple has not fallen too far from the tree and As Lions delivered an amped set to the unfamiliar crowd.

Next up, Sixx:A.M., Nikki Sixx’s main gig since Mötley Crüe officially called it quits and, from the looks of things, he’s clearly having a good time and not looking back. While Sixx:A.M. has been around for nearly a decade, DJ Ashba (guitar), James Michael (vocals), Dustin Steinke (drums), and the backup vocalists truly gave it their all like any new band fighting to win over new fans.

A giant curtain was draped across the front of the stage as the crew prepared for Shinedown’s set. When the curtain finally dropped, the stage had more than doubled in size leaving ample room for the band to move as flames spewed repeatedly behind the drum riser … so much pyro and fire in fact that it’s likely that the ice rink beneath the venue floor had melted.

In spite of the large-scale production, the band kept the vibe intimate, swapping “I’ll Follow You” into the setlist based on a request from a couple that the band met during the VIP meet and greet who had traveled all the way from Australia for the show. Later on, guitarist Zach Myers even donned a Michael Meyers Friday 13th mask during their cover of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Simple Man” to keep in the Halloween spirit before frontman Brent Smith ended the set by belting out “Sound of Madness” from a platform in the middle of the arena floor (surrounded by more pyro, of course).

Five Finger Death Punch

It’s hard to imagine Five Finger Death Punch topping the spectacle that had just unfolded in front of the San Jose crowd, but with another curtain draped across the stage as the crew prepared for their set, it was clear that they were going to do their damnedest. When the curtain finally dropped, the massive stage had been transformed … drummer Jeremy Spencer sat behind his kit which was lifted way up in the air, his face painted for Halloween. Frontman Ivan Moody also had his face panted and at one point quipped that Halloween was his favorite holiday. Clearly reveling in the spirit, the band constantly peppered the first few rows of people with guitar picks as they delivered a high-energy set that replaced the pyro with hydraulic lifts that put band members high above the surprised crowd.

Four rock bands, a huge stage and massive production … together, the type of rock show that rarely happens these days. But while many dates on this extensive tour had sold out quickly, the San Jose stop was missing one thing. People. Those that did make it, however, brought enough energy to carry the show and no doubt left more than satisfied.