Shinedown's Brent Smith
Photo by Steve Trager
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Does
any typical concert package size up to this? Highly doubtful, simply
because it has not one but three well-known artists who have earned
themselves not only a huge cult following, but numerous radio friendly
hits that have signified each artist in a unique way. Even with
a short but sweet mini-tour that featured the likes of Godsmack
in the hot seat as the headliner, we were also treated to the bizarre
antics of the master himself Rob Zombie and perhaps one of the most
promising Atlantic Bands, Shinedown, all at a recent rock event
at Camden's Tweeter Center. In anyone's mind all bands are great,
yet some just seem to either stick out for some odd reason or have
this unusual vibe that makes you go out and get all their back catalogs
for the ultimate listening pleasure experience.
Opening the show to get the fans warmed up for both Zombie and Godsmack
was this incredible band who call themselves Shinedown. Not your
typically lesser support band by any means. Shinedown, made up of
just four individuals, have churned up a duce of hits with just
two CDs. Oddly enough, Shinedown has been in the hot seat since
they stumbled onto the rock scene with "Fly From The Inside".
There is much to admire about this band who has toured throughout
this entire year on various packages, including The SnoCore Tour,
to which they co-headlined with Seether. Their quick set that ran
them through songs such as "Heroes," "45," "Save
Me," , "I Dare You" and their remake version of Lynyrd
Skynyrd' s "Simple Man," which always sounded great; even
the acoustic version kicks serious ass.
A
set change from Shinedown's gear to the most bizarre full production
of Rob Zombie, who always has the unusual set design and wardrobe,
which stand out as some freak of nature in rock. Nothing says Zombie
unless he features all the works that earned him credibility as
both a solo artist and the main force behind the legacy band once
known as White Zombie.
His
full, 60-minute set included "American Witch," "Superbeast,"
"Dragula," and of course his trademark featured song of
the evening, "More Human Then Human."
Rob Zombie
Photo by Steve Trager
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One
more complete set stage to Godsmack's full Production as the 10,000
eager fans could see the backstage video of the band backstage warming
up on the screen behind lighting gear. We listened to their intro,
which was an AC/DC song to get everyone fully pumped and on their
feet. The lights went down and the curtain dropped as Godsmack entered
the stage and began to roar with the production volume at its peak
with "Straight Out Of Line." They ran through every single
hit you have always come to expect to hear from each and every typical
Godsmack show.
Nothing screams Godsmack without Sully Erna at the wheel fully pumping
the crowd with "Speak," "The Enemy," "Re
Align," "Awake," and
"Keep Away."
I personally always enjoyed Godsmack even going way back to when
I first caught a glimpse of this band in Tampa, Fla in front of
40,000 people. I was so amazed at this band's energy I knew that
this band was going to be around for along time. No words can re-define
after six albums later Godsmack is still alive and kicking world
wide and rock solid.
Rob Zombie's Johnny 5
Photo by Steve Trager
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Outside
of the yet another superior blistering show, this band has always
given back to the fans -- and without a doubt on this current mini
trek of dates -- Godsmack never leaves the stage without the complete
rotating drum solos where Sully and drummer Shannon Larkin both
entertained the fans to what has and always will be the best part
of the show. This would be the drum solos that featured drums going
head to head and face to face in a 360 degree angle to which Sully
and Shannon belted out an intense set of solo medleys which was
everything from AC/DC'S "Black In Black" to having the
fans sing along to Black Sabbaths's "War Pigs." Nothing
would make this complete without a few bits and pieces of Led Zeppelin's
"Rock n Roll."
Godsmack's Sully Erna
Photo by Steve Trager
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Every
band at some point features guitar solos or something to squeeze
time in during their show but, I can't exactly remember any Hard
Rock band featuring double solos in their sets which makes Godsmack
truly unique among every other band out today.
Of course the show wouldn't be complete without "Whatever"
and two encores that left The Tweeter Center wanting more "Shinedown"
and "I Stand Alone." No set list can satisfy anyone of
us simply because Godsmack has more then a dozen hits that we all
have to hear at some for or fashion. Never a dull or bad show from
Godsmack as they have entertained millions despite lesser radio
airplay in some markets over the years. One thing is for sure: Godsmack
can come to Philadelphia or even Camden, New Jersey and totally
whip fans into shape in just a few songs into their set. Quite a
true statement indeed.
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