It was a cold winters night in Spokane, Washington. The previous night, I was supposed to meet up with some friends for dinner and catch up on the latest in our lives but I simply chickened out due to the snow that was falling and the ice I kept slipping on while I conducted some business in town during the time I had to wait until dinner. Knowing that the following night would be the concert, I was VERY uncertain about going out to see this show because I knew the snow would be falling again late Saturday night but all day long it hadn’t snowed a bit. As a matter of fact, it was dry out. Looking at the forecast, I knew the snow would start in by the time the concert would be over but did not suspect so much as I left the Knitting Factory that night!
Sylosis, a new band to me, from Reading, UK played a pretty good set. There was so much gear on stage for the other three bands that they did not have much room to move. I must give that into consideration when I say their stage presence was weak. Their music has potential to blossom and become something very special with American audiences but they need something to capture the visuals to complete the package.
Next on stage, Hellyeah! This Texas supergroup consisting of members of Mudvayne, Nothingface, and Pantera is such a force both musically and stylistically. Attitude, balls and fricken SISU makes Hellyeah so much fun to be around. The crowd went nuts and the energy both band and crowd bring is the reason why you attend live events. I’ve seen Hellyeah a few times now and each show gets better and better. Their latest album, Band of Brothers was played just enough and brought out the big guns from that record to enhance an already solid history of material. If you like strength and a fun vibe..go see Hellyeah for a good time!
In Flames is a Swedish metal band from Gothenburg, formed in 1990 and I think this is the second time I’ve seen this band live. For some reason, I have a hard time getting into this band. I hear familiar songs but they just don’t move my feet or bang my head. Their set was bland, yet musically you hear the depth to their sound and I get why people love them but it’s just a band that’s not for me. This band is noted for bringing back a sound and developing a sound that will most likely transcend forever. God bless them but they should have been after Sylosis.
Lamb Of God was the headliner. 2012 has been quite the year for Lamb Of God. In case you live in a hole, the lead singer, Randy Blythe was charged with allegedly killing a concert-goer back in, I believe 2008 over in Eastern Europe. Word was that the eager fan had reached the stage two prior times and was promptly escorted off the stage but the third attempt got within Randy’s reach. To avoid situations like what took place with Dimebag Darrell by a crazed fan, Randy allegedly pushed the fan off the stage and the fan hit his head on the steel fence that separates fans from stages. Apparently weeks later, the eager fan who didn’t learn from two previous escorts off the stage died from his injuries. Skip to 2012, charges and incarceration in a Eastern European jail was Randy’s summer. Bail was finally reached and Randy was released but it took way too long for the process to roll on his release. Randy is going to be in court, most likely, in 2013 to deal with this situation. From what I see at all shows, this can happen anywhere at anytime. Dimebag’s death by a crazed fan should forever be a warning that while fans love their bands/music..there’s a line they must not cross. Two times this fan had a chance to behave. The third time should never have happened but I surely do not blame Randy Blythe for protecting himself. Perhaps it’s premature to make a judgment because there’s got to be some tape from this concert where the fan fell and hit his head. What else led up to that fateful moment..I suspect it will come out.
So, with that backstory in tow, seeing Lamb Of God play once again was very special under the circumstances. Years back, I first saw Lamb Of God open for Anthrax in this small little club in South Sacramento and they were up and coming. You could see the Lamb Of God t-shirts everywhere within that venue vs even Anthrax shirts. Anthrax was, what you could say, in a lull at that point and you could see Lamb Of God and this new generation of metal taking over.
Lamb Of God have come a long ways since that show and their catalog of music is incredible. Their stage show is now impressive with all the lights, smoke and media playing in the background. Some of my favorite songs they played that night were from a previous album release of theirs called Wrath. The songs on that album are intricate, dominate and powerful. Their latest release called Resolution continues the ground and pound that makes Lamb Of God the ultimate in heavy music for many years to come….case pending of course.
As I left the Knitting Factory, thoughts of “OH SHIT, the snow!” came out. Sure enough, the snow had fallen and fallen fast. It took me a good hour at least to get home that night. I owe my friends from the previous night a dinner out and then some. I wish I lived closer to town so it would not be such an issue come winter time to be out and about but I’ll never get comfy/safe living in grayness. Forever nuts..yet….come to a concert with me…you may feel safer in the snow. :)
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