I had just purchased Ded's debut album and I was excited to see them live. Fortunately, I made it for the 5PM start time. They are a hard-hitting nu-metal band that formed in Arizona. Rather than coming onto the scene 20 years late, I think they are here right on time. There aren't a lot of bands out there anymore with this aggressive, heavy style and I think they are good enough to make some waves. That being said, their best songs also have choruses that you can sing/scream along to. Check out "Anti-Everything" to get a sense of their sound.
This was my third time seeing Skillet and they put on a good live show. Their female drummer, Jen contributes on vocals that adds dynamics juxtaposing frontman and bassist, John. John's wife, Korey, fills out the sound on backing vocals while also holding down the rhythm on guitar or keyboards. Newer songs like "Feel Invincible" work right in with other crowd favorites like "Rebirthing" and "Hero."
I have seen Slipknot a few times, but this was my first time seeing Stone Sour. They also have new material out with Hydrograd that just came out in June. Corey and the band sounded good, but I had high expectations and they didn't blow me away. They basically played all their hits which represent a variety of styles. Songs still resonated with the crowd as evidenced by the girl in front of me balling her eyes out during 2006's "Through Glass." The next night was in PNC when Cory let his son sing "Song #3."
I've known about Korn since 1996 and I finally got to see them live for the first time in 2004 and they were great. I have never been as big of a fan of them compared to some other bands in the genre. I didn't love some of their recent albums either. That being said, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed Korn this time around. They sounded tight and as heavy as ever. They played a lot of their hits and songs spanning their 20+ year career.
My personal summer concert series continued in Seattle, WA in August. This is the first time I've ever been outside of NJ/NY/PA for a major label artist's concert. First, up was Chevelle supported by Dinosaur Pickup and Black Map at a club called Showbox SODO just south of Safeco Field where the Mariners play. The venue was converted into a concert hall from an old warehouse. It has brick walls. There is a long rectangular GA section in front of the stage and then a smaller raised area with a long bar and some table seating. I made friends with a couple that had some room at their table and grabbed a seat with a great sight line of the stage. Dinosaur Pickup was first and they were an enjoyable local group that sounded a bit like Nirvana and Smile Empty Soul. Black Map was another similar rock act that wasn't bad, but I didn't think they had a very dynamic sound. Songs started to blend together and I was anxious for their set to end.
Chevelle came out and did not disappoint. Lead singer/guitar player, Pete, said this was their last show of the tour and he was pretty tired, but the band still sounded great. This was my 8th time seeing them live and the first time since 2016's release The North Corridor from which they played Young Wicked, Joyride (Omen), and Door to Door Cannibals. There was also a wickedly amazing run of songs including Clincher, Take Out the Gunman, Island, Vitamin R, and Get Some. About halfway through the set an angry butch girl started causing problems by standing in front of people that had been there all night. In order to avoid the killjoy and in attempt to resolve some conflict, I gave up my seat and went down to the floor. I had to avoid spilled beer, but had a decent view still. Their encore consisted of four songs! The Red, Comfortable Liar, Forfeit, and Send the Pain Below. I still listen to Chevelle fairly regularly and every time I see them live it reminds me of why they are one of my all-time favorite bands.
Another first happened this trip when I saw Metallica with Avenged Sevenfold and Gojira. On some earlier dates, Volbeat played on this tour and I would have really liked to see them. Still, I was excited for this show and I had heard a lot of great things about Gojira. They were good. Rather than speedy or melodic guitar work, they rely on heavy riffs and mostly screaming and gravely vocals.
A7X was also fun to see. They had some pyrotechnics and played their hits, but I didn't think that their stage presence and energy was as big as CenturyLink field. Maybe it was the open air aspect of the venue or maybe it was because they weren't headlining, but I expected a little bit more from a band that is as experienced as they are. The sound was pretty loud even in the upper deck and I made use of my decibel reducing Earasers that still give good sound quality.
Metallica did not have a problem bringing the energy on stage. Their stage presence and special effects were much bigger and definitely impressive. They played 18 songs in 2.5 hours! I thought the first half was a little slow, but then it picked up with Whiplash followed by Sad But True, One, Master of Puppets, Fade to Black, and Seek & Destroy. The encore was Battery, Nothing Else Matters, and Enter Sandman. I can finally check this one of my list and I'm glad I finally got to see them in person.
My final summer concert of 2017 was a Father's Day/Birthday present for my dad. Neither of us had seen Deep Purple before and they were being supported by Edgar Winter and Alice Cooper. Edgar Winter (who I had heard in the womb in 1980 and saw live last summer) played only four songs, but also included his live trick of scatting with his mouth and getting mirrored by his guitar player or drummer. He also played multiple instruments including guitar, saxophone, drums, and keyboards. At 70, his energy and ability is impressive.
Alice Cooper is 69 and he too is continuing to rock audiences like a badass. His latest album Paranormal was released at the end of July. He was up there wielding his baton and popping balloons without missing a beat. He still is doing a pretty big stage show that included a naughty nurse, a twisted ballerina, Frankenstein's monster, the guillotine, and multiple costume changes. My dad appreciated classics like "No More Mr. Nice Guy" and "Under My Wheels." I've always been a fan of "Feed My Frankenstein, I'm Eighteen, and School's Out"
Deep Purple played about a dozen songs plus a drum solo and keyboard solo. Things started off great with "Highway Star." We got other classics "Knockin' At Your Backdoor, Perfect Strangers, Space Truckin', and Hush." Some of the songs like newer tracks "The Surprising" and "Time for Bedlam" are a little bit too out there for my dad and my tastes. We like them for the classic hard rock band that got them into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and I wish we would have gotten to hear "Woman From Tokyo." They closed the night with one of the biggest rock songs ever, "Smoke on the Water." I was happy to get that and even though there wasn't an encore, they closed with their best. My dad and I had a good time and he really seemed to appreciate the gift. That makes it all worth it.
