Review & Photography by Jeff Kunze for MPM
The local rock station 93X hosted what was called the Family Reunion at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minnesota. Five bands took the stage with Godsmack featured as the headliner.
The other four bands included Chevelle, Wage War, Nothing More and Sleep Theory. It was full night of music on a Thursday night.
Sleep Theory went on stage first and at a very early start time. Despite that, there were quite a few people pushed up to the front row barricade to watch them and clearly knew the material.
They cranked out a quick set that featured their latest single “Stuck in My Head.” They sounded good and the opening track “Fallout” was a rocker with a nice memorable hook.
This was a band I only knew in name and have not heard anything from them. It was good introduction to see what they were about.
Nothing More hit the stage with the song “House on Sand.” It’s a track off the band’s latest album called ‘Carnal.’ I’ve seen these guys multiple times and every time they bring a ton of intensity to the stage.
Singer Jonny Hawkins has such an energetic vibe to him that it hard to take your eyes off him. They always sound fantastic as guitarist Mark Vollelunga, bassist Daniel Oliver and drummer Ben Anderson keep the sound tight.
Jenny” is always a highlight of a Nothing More show and fans were ready for it. Closing out a set that was way too short for a band of this caliber was “This Is the Time (Ballast).”
Wage War has been a band that has been surging up the ladder at a consistent pace. They released ‘Stigma’ which is their fifth studio record this year, and opened with “The Show’s About to Start” which is the opening track from it.
This was my third time seeing them and each time I like them even more. They come at you like a sledge hammer. Vocalist Briton Bond led the attack as the band ripped through “Low,” “Nail5,” “Circle the Drain” and my favorite of the night “Stitch.
Along with Bond the band consists of guitarists Seth Blake and Cody Quistad along with bassist Chris Gaylord and Stephen Kluesener on drums.
The band has a loyal following and the crowd reactions during the entire set was ecstatic. The set ended with a big fan favorite “Manic.”
Next up was Chevelle. The band was formed in Grayslake, Illinois back in 1995 and have nine records to date. Opening with “Young Wicked” and then into “Self Destructor” set the band on course for a nine-song set which is never enough for me.
Vocalist and guitarist Pete Loeffler sounded in fine form. Chevelle pounded through a catalog of songs that can be summed up as, one size fits all. If you dig one of the songs, your more than likely going to like them all. They don’t venture too far off the path from what has kept them relevant all these years. They keep the riffs heavy, the verses satisfying and the choruses memorable.
Throw in some breakdowns and that’s the recipe they have stuck with for decades now. Songs like “Face to the Floor,” “Hats off to the Bull” and “Family System” are perfect examples of that, just ask the all the people in the area that were bobbing their hands and singing right along with the band.
On drums was Sam Loeffler and he powered through the set in a force that we all have been accustomed to over the years. I’ll give a major shout out to the touring bassist, Kemble Walters, who carried that bottom end perfectly and supplied some great backing vocals.
The band was tight and on task for a crowd that were expecting a great set. They saved a couple of the big hits for the end as “The Red” and “Send the Pain Below” were played before closing with “Mars Simula.”
The headliners, hailing from Lawrence, Massachusetts was Godsmack. The band formed in 1995 and dropped their landmark self-titled album in 1998.
Sully Erna on vocals and guitar, Robbie Merrill on bass, guitarist Tony Rombola and drummer Shannon Larkin took to the stage after a short film on the band’s history played on the big screen on the back of the stage.
The crowd’s anticipation built to a frenzy as a camera followed the band from the dressing room to the stage and when they finally got there and kicked into the “Surrender” the fans were ready to rock.
Erna’s voice hasn’t changed a bit over the years and the band sounds exactly as it has for decades. Godsmack played a fifteen-song set and traveled through the bands eight albums and touched on each record. My favorites included “Speak,” “I Stand Alone,” “Straight Out Of line” and the classics “Keep Away” and “Whatever.
A piano appeared on the stage and Erna sat down and talked about the non-profit charity they started about four years ago that is called The Scars Foundation.
Its goal is to raise awareness of mental health, addiction, bullying and suicide prevention. He then played the song “Under Your Scars” which was song that inspired the foundation.
If you would like to learn more about the foundation you can go to the band’s website, godsmack.com, there is tab to click onto to learn more about it.
The show ended with the song that was used for The Scorpion King movie back in 2002, which is the crushing “I Stand Alone.
Godsmack are one of those bands that are always consistent with what they bring to the stage and always provide a great show and for the 93X Family Reunion, a perfect close to the night.
