Gigs

Gig Review : Saliva/Drowning Pool Cavalier Theatre La Crosse WI

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Review by Kimmarie Erickson for MPM

October 24th, 2026 began as a normal, warm fall day in the sleepy city of La Crosse, Wisconsin, until tour buses carrying the legendary Hard Rock band Saliva and O.G. Alt-Rock band Drowning Pool arrived.

Doors opened at 6 pm that Saturday night at the Cavalier Lounge to an almost sold-out crowd. Saliva hit the stage first, opening their set with 2001’s Superstar. Lead vocalist Bobby Amaru owned the stage immediately as he had just closed escro on it. Amaru started the set sporting a jersey with Swinny on the back, an obvious tribute to late great bassist Wayne Swinny. The crowd erupted into a frenzy of heavy-metal euphoria as Musta Been Wrong, another heavy hitter from 2001’s album Every Six Seconds, blasted through the massive speakers. I love when I can look around a jam-packed venue and see every concertgoer singing the lyrics to a song. The meteoric hit Ladies and Gentlemen followed, causing the already riled-up crowd to take their cheers up a notch. I honestly was thrilled that the band slipped in Edge of the Knife from their latest album, just released in 2026. Again, the crowd showed definite familiarity with the lyrics, showing they definitely did their Saliva homework. Midset, the band gifted the ears and souls of the packed Cavalier Theatre their 2002 #1 chart topper, Always. The energy in the venue was galvanizing, with every soul singing this song at the top of their lungs. This moment is why I love live music and seeing my favorite bands perform. The connection that music creates is a bond that nothing else comes close to. Vocalist Bobby Amaru sang with every ounce of his life force. Lead guitarist Josh Kulic proved why his name is synonymous with the words Guitar Hero during the song Hit ’em Where it Hurts with his flexibility from intricate solos to heavy-handed chords. Close to the end of their set, drummer Sammi Jo Bishop got to steal the show with her raw physical endurance, high-speed coordination, and theatrical presence during the brilliant mashup of They Don’t Care About us/Lose Yourself/One Step Closer. Sammi Jo and Bassist Brad Stewart were purely sympatico as they navigated the time changes and shifts seamlessly. Brad Stewart, who in my book is considered bass royalty considering his background, made playing the complex bass lines look like child’s play. Stewart’s commanding playing style always finds a way to cut through the dense wall of distortion. As the clock ticked down, knowing that Saliva’s set was almost over, the anticipation was building; the room was a pressure cooker. Will they play it, that one song that ignites riots in people’s souls? The screams were deafening as the intro to Click Click Boom hit the crowd. Rhythm guitarist Sebastian LeBar has the most enigmatic stage presence, I swear. This guy serves as the engine and architectural backbone of this band. I could not take my eyes off him as he pushed the aggressive pulse of this banger. The Cavalier Theatre became a time machine, and every occupant was whisked back to the year 2001 when this song first hit the airwaves. Saliva’s set wrapped up, leaving the audience in an exhausted, dazed and confused state.

After a brief stage switch out and a chance for the audience to breath, Drowning Pool came out swinging with 2001’s title track Sinner. Lead Vocalist Ryan McCombs lit up the night with his distinct, aggressive, heavy-edged vocals. McCombs has a unique talent for connecting instantly with the audience, just by his formidable presence. Next up was the fifth track off of their debut album from 2001, Follow. I watched as the crowd realized what song this was and felt the nostalgic familiarity wash over the crowd. Guitarist C.J. Peirce owned the spotlight as the spectators lost their freaking minds over the fifth song played, Feel Like I Do. Peirce’s style is massive and ominous, complex and technical, mixed with an over-the-top stage persona. The audience soaked up the 1980s nuance of the Billy Idol cover, Rebel Yell, and I heard a concertgoer quip, “Man, they do it better than Billy did”. The second half of their set led with 2001’s Sermon. The lyrics seemed to hit the crowd a little differently, as I felt an energy shift for a moment. That is a true sign that a band really has an audience in the palm of their hands during a performance. Bassist Stevie Benton kept a tight, clean, compressed low end and cut through the chaos during Tear Away. Benton’s delivery of his dark, gritty bass lines is nothing short of genius. The audience’s energy level never wavered during Drowning Pools’ entire set, but the suspense was evident. The band’s set had to be coming to a close, and they still had not played their signature song, Bodies. Then it happened: drummer Mike Luce hit that high hi-hat twice, and every single inhabitant in that space went off the deep end. I mean, it was off the charts insane. If there was a song that deserves to be called part of the soundtrack of the 2000s, this would be it. Drummer Luce, who co-wrote this dynamic megahit, served up razor-sharp precision and tightly locked beats as Drowning Pool concluded their high-octane dynamic set.

This once‑in‑a‑lifetime tour brought together two of the defining hard rock acts of the early 2000s, and the crowd at the Cavalier Theatre experienced a show that will never come close to being replicated. Both band performed their respective breakthrough hits, plus career-spanning material. This night was not just about nostalgia; it was about honoring the music and giving the fans a chance to celebrate the albums that have meant so much to them for 25 years.
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