‘Next’ band up

SEVENDUST
THEORY OF A DEADMAN
SOCIALBURN
ONE


Rams Head Live
Baltimore, Maryland
February 5, 2006 


By GREG MAKI

I don’t think I have ever seen members of a band enjoy themselves on stage more than the guys in Sevendust. Each night, they spend their entire set smiling, laughing, tossing drumsticks and guitar pics. They connect with the fans, sometimes even carry on individual conversations from the stage. Though many of their songs are fueled by anger, even rage, from the moment they step on stage they project an overwhelming positive energy; one can’t help but get swept up by it.

On this day, however, there was quite a wait before that experience hit Rams Head Live. The event was a Super Bowl party hosted by local radio station 98 Rock (WIYY-FM). Despite Baltimore being home to the AFC North rival Ravens, Pittsburgh fans were out in force. Thankfully, there were less than I feared there would be, though I will die a happy man if I never see black and gold again. (What can I say, I bleed purple and black.) The Seahawks were represented, too, though I suspect most of those cheering on Matt Hasselback and company were rooting against Pittsburgh rather than for Seattle.

The first band of the day, One, had already begun their set by the time I made it inside. I heard only two songs and I would have to hear more before passing any real judgment. My initial impression is that they are in a vein similar to Sevendust with their mix of heavy riffs and melody. They have potential.

Socialburn quickly followed. They have only recently came to my attention, so I was surprised to learn their latest release, The Beauty of Letting Go, is actually their fourth. There is nothing particularly original about them, but they clearly have a knack for catchy hooks and a few memorable riffs that come across much heavier live than on CD. Largely due to vocalist Neil Alday, their sound is reminiscent of Cold. Highlights of the set included the new single “Cold Night” and the harder-edged “Love, Hate.”

Following a thoroughly unexciting first half, shown on all of the venue’s many TVs and a massive screening hanging over the stage, that saw the Steelers gain a 7-3 lead (You call that pass interference?!), Theory of a Deadman hit the stage. Before seeing them live, my feeling was that they are little more than a Nickelback clone without the annoying radio hits. My opinion hasn’t changed much. They’re listenable, certainly, but I cannot recall a single song they performed during their brief set.

Back to Al Michaels and John Madden for the second half, during which the evening took a turn for the worse as the hated Steelers locked up a 21-10 win.

Any disappointment over that outcome was washed away shortly as Sevendust took the stage not to the familiar notes of old favorite “Black” but to “Hero,” the lead track of their latest release, the self-produced Next. The song sums up Sevendust as good as any in their catalogue, showcasing crushing riffs, the thunderous drumming of Morgan Rose and the extraordinary vocal talent of Lajon Witherspoon. Reflecting the attitude of much of the new album, the band’s set on this tour is as heavy as any they have ever played, ignoring softer tracks, such as the staple “Angel’s Son.” The audience appeared to take little offense to that. Despite a handful of minor hits, Sevendust has never been a “singles” band. Their fans know every song, responding as enthusiastically to “T.O.A.B.” and “Wired,” both returned to the set list after long absences, as they did to the more well-known tracks, including “Denial,” “Enemy,” “Praise” and “Bitch.”

The band, which now features former Snot guitarist Sonny Mayo replacing the departed Clint Lowery, was as tight as ever. The lineup change has given guitarist John Connolly an opportunity to shine, which he seized entirely. Connolly and bass player Vinnie Hornsby also ably filled the backing vocal hole left by Lowery’s departure. This is truly a band, as no one member hogs the spotlight. Each brings something important to the table, and each is willing to let the others spend time in the spotlight.

While former touring partners have gone on to multiplatinum album sales and headlining arenas, that level of success has somehow eluded Sevendust over the years. But as this performance showed, they aren’t in this for the cash. Their fans, always referred to by the band as “friends,” remain as rabid as ever. No one went home disappointed.

SEVENDUST SET LIST
Hero
Ugly
Black
Denial
Crucified
Desertion
Waffle
Silence
Trust
Rumblefish
Wired
Enemy
Praise

(encore)
T.O.A.B.
Pieces
Face to Face
Bitch