The 2nd year installment of the ‘Avalanche Tour’ features one of the best hard rock bands on the planet in Shinedown and two bands ready to make their own noise in Adelitas Way and Art of Dying. This sold out show stopped by the Rapids Theatre in Niagara Falls, NY, to give fans a taste of some great rock ‘n roll music.
First up on the bill was a band out of Canada called Art of Dying. Fronted by Jonny Hetherington, this band ripped through a very memorable 6-song set list (if that’s even possible). They made believers out of everyone who got to witness them, including this writer. A.O.D. not only has great songs, but has a stage presence to match. Songs like “Whole World’s Crazy” and their hit “Die Trying” sound crisp and refreshing, and should provide them the means to make it big very shortly, there is no denying that.
The middle billing belonged to Adelitas Way. The bands performance was very intense and the plaid shirt wearing Rick DeJesus’ scorching vocals ignited the band and fans throughout their set. Guitarists Keith Wallen and Robert Zakaryan traded barbs on the 6-string and ripped on their hit song “Invincible.”
The band who is slowly becoming one of the biggest rock bands on the planet is the quartet out of Jacksonville, Florida, Shinedown. With a slew of radio hits and a new studio album called “Amaryllis,” that was just released a month ago, the question to the fans was: Was the band ready to deliver as the headliner of this year’s Avalanche tour? The answer was a resounding yes! The band consists of Brent Smith on vocals, Zach Myers on lead guitar, Eric Bass on bass, keyboards and acoustic guitar and Barry Kerch on drums.
Opening up with the title track off their 2008 release, “Carnival of Madness,” Smith (who never looked better) tore into this tune and proved not only was he in fine form both physically and vocally, but that the rest of the band had to step up, just to keep up! However, I think the band turned in an equally energized performance, as both Bass and Myers constantly moved from side to side the entire evening and the thunderous drive from Kerch provided the backbone to the evening’s festivities. Myers joined Smith on a number of occasions atop his platform to lend some vocals on various songs throughout the show. Bass consistently showed his talent by rotating between his bass, keyboards and an acoustic guitar throughout the set as well.
What is quickly becoming a popular trend for rock bands now, Smith also chimed in on how playing live music with out any type of help from machines is what it’s all about. He apologized for being away for so long to the fans when he described that the band was on tour for 2 years and 7 months. Then the band took a year to make “Amaryllis.” He also hopes with the help of the audience, who he referred to as his “bosses,” that rock and roll will once again rule the charts. “It’s not just music, it’s a way of life,” he quipped. Then he and Myers, armed with only an acoustic guitar, killed on a version of “Simple Man,” a song from a fellow band hailing from Jacksonville, the legendary Lynyrd Skynyrd.
Shinedown’s encore consisted of their new hit single, “Bully,” which also sounded amazing. Smith has long been considered to be one of the best current rock vocalists on the planet. After Monday’s performance, there is no denying his rightful place in that category!
Shinedown Set List:
Sound of Madness
Diamond Eyes
Enemies
If You only Knew
Save Me
Devour
Nowhere Kids
The Crow &The Butterfly
Unity
Amaryllis
Adrenaline
.45
Encore:
Bully
Simple Man (Lynyrd Skynyrd cover)
Fly from The Inside
Adelitas Way Set List:
The Collapse
Dirty little Thing
Hurt Alive
Cage the Beast
Criticize
Sick
Invincible
Art of Dying Set List:
Straight Across my Mind
Whole World’s Crazy
Raining
Get Thru This
Sorry
Die Trying
We would like to thank Kelly McWilliam from Atlantic Records for allowing BackstageAxxess to review the show. Stay tuned for a our May giveaway that will include items from Shinedown including the new CD “Amaryllis” and a few other goodies.
