A family gathering with Sevendust

SEVENDUST
HAIL THE VILLAIN

May 4, 2010
Jaxx
Springfield, Virginia

By GREG MAKI

Sevendust received a shot of new life two years ago when guitarist Clint Lowery returned to the fold. Onstage at Jaxx, a small venue in a strip mall in the Washington, D.C., suburb of Springfield, Va., the band seemed even more energized, having just released Cold Day Memory, the first studio album written and recorded by the original lineup since 2003.

Starting with the blistering, galloping metal of “Splinter,” the opener from the new album, Sevendust tore through a 95-minute set, enthralling a packed house. There is no barricade in front of the Jaxx stage, nothing between the band and its rabid fans but a small railing. Sevendust always has had a close relationship with its audience, its shows more like family gatherings than concerts, and the venue’s setup made that connection even more intimate and intense. The crowd was smaller than the band is used to (they typically hit Rams Head Live in Baltimore, which holds three to four times as many people, when they roll through this area, but they are restricted on where and when they can play due to this summer’s Carnival of Madness tour), yet the band members performed with the same fire you would see in an arena or amphitheater.

The songs from Cold Day Memory (“Ride Insane,” “Unraveling” and “Forever Dead,” in addition to “Splinter”) slid easily into the set list alongside old favorites such as “Denial,” “Enemy, “Black” and “Bitch.” The high point of the set occurred when drummer Morgan Rose, bassist Vinnie Hornsby and guitarist John Connolly exited the stage, leaving only Lowery with an acoustic guitar and vocalist Lajon Witherspoon to give us “X-Mas Day” and “Angel’s Son,” the full band returning during the latter song.

An encore of “Praise” and “Face to Face” finished off the night in triumphant fashion. The band left everything out on the stage, and everyone—the musicians and the fans—left with smiles on their faces.

SEVENDUST SET LIST: Splinter, Alpha, Denial, Enemy, Trust, Suffocate, Ride Insane, X-Mas Day, Angel’s Son, Unraveling, Hero, Forever Dead, Black, Driven, Pieces, Bitch, (encore) Praise, Face to Face

With Day of Fire dropping off the bill earlier in the day, hard rock act Hail the Villain, which hails from Canada, moved up to direct support, following a few local acts to the stage. Remember that name because after seeing how easily frontman Bryan Crouch won over the crowd with his wildly energetic performance, this band, which will release its debut album, Population: Declining, June 8 via Roadrunner Records in the United States, could be going places. A slot on the Uproar tour this summer could be the big break they need.

Before ending this review, I must commend the staff at Jaxx. They’ve recently cleaned the place up and given it a fresh coat of paint, making an evening there a much more pleasant experience than it’s ever been before. Good work, guys.