There are some things that are just made to go together. Peanut butter & jelly, coffee & doughnuts, and pizza & wings. Two things I would never have thought I’d see put together is Sevendust and an acoustic show. As hard as it might seem to imagine, it’s actually a damned good combination.
With candles lit on the stage of The Rapids Theatre, the intimate setting couldn’t be anymore appropriate to spend “An Evening With Sevendust.” On tour in support of their latest album “Time Travelers & Bonfires,” the mood that Sevendust creates is absolutely fitting to the tour/album title. As you “sit around the bonfire” with the band, they share personal experiences with each other and the audience, all the while “traveling through time” with their music, playing tracks from years past, and fresh new offerings as well.
Every member of the band was perched on a stool, and stayed in one spot the whole night, except LaJon Witherspoon. I’ve noticed in shows past, that Witherspoon really gets into his music, and becomes emotional at times. The acoustic setting seemed to multiply his emotions, and there were moments he could not contain himself. At one point he addressed the crowd, and apologized for getting so caught up, but then asked his fans if music does to them, what it does to him and Sevendust.
I have to admit, I never thought Sevendust would do well with an acoustic show. However, I also knew that they wouldn’t do it just to release an album and tour to make some quick money. If they were to do it, they would do it because they wanted to, and would do it right, and they did not dissapoint. These songs were arranged and performed as acoustic songs, and they didn’t sound like rehashed works at all. My favorite song of the night was “Denial.” It’s one of my favorite Sevendust songs, and hearing it performed acoustically, left me in awe. Witherspoon really has an impressive range, and these arrangements let him shine.
With a mix of old, new, an intimate setting, and incredible musicianship, “An Evening With Sevendust” is a show that any music lover would enjoy. The way everything is put together, you don’t need to be a Sevendust fan to appreciate the show. As a matter of fact, I’m willing to bet that if you aren’t a fan when you walk in, you will be when you leave.
Setlist:
Trust
Prayer
Crucified
Xmas Day
Under It All
Skeleton Song
The Wait
Denial
Disgrace
Rumble Fish
Gone
—Intermission—
Come Down
Hurt (Nine Inch Nails cover) Karma
Got A Feeling
Angel’s Son
Black
We would like to thank Amanda Cagan from ABC PR for the credentials to review the show.
