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The RZA. The GZA. Ol’ Dirty Bastard. Inspectah Deck. Raekwon the Chef. U-God. Ghostface Killah. Masta Killa. And the Method Man.

Back in 1992, these nine luminaries formed the Wu-Tang Clan, the legendary hip-hop group out of Staten Island, New York, and changed the game forever.

Their debut album, Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers), is arguably the greatest hip-hop albums of all time. When it dropped in ’93, it was revolutionary — introducing a completely new sound that blended complex lyrics and gritty street narratives with kung fu imagery.

Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers) and their 1997 follow-up album, Wu-Tang Forever, are platinum-certified smash hits which enabled the Killa Bees to swarm the music scene. To date, they’ve sold more than 40 million albums worldwide.

More than three decades later, all surviving members — along with honorary member Cappadonna and Young Dirty Bastard, the son of Ol’ Dirty Bastard — reunited for their final tour, “Wu-Tang Forever: The Final Chamber” at CFG Bank Arena. As luck would have it, Charm City was the first stop for the iconic group, as they set out on a 27-city North American tour, alongside Run The Jewels.

There was definitely a buzz, pun intended, as the lights dimmed in the immediate moments before the group hit the stage. The volume continued to rise as images of bees swarming a hive and silhouettes of individuals practicing martial arts flashed on the screen. Those visuals were replaced by the iconic Wu-Tang logo, as the men of the hour strutted onto the stage and kicked into “Bring da Ruckus.” And with that, we were officially underway.

As loud as Baltimore was from the jump, the crowd managed to get even louder during “Da Mystery of Chessboxin’” when Young Dirty Bastard hit the stage in honor of his late father. Knowing Russell Jones died in 2004 made it a bit surreal seeing his son completely nail every minor detail as he bounced and flailed around the stage. The braids. The looks. The sound. The charisma. It was all on full display as the second generation of Dirty Bastard showed that talent continues to run deep in their household.

Baltimore was treated to a healthy dose of “tiger style” as RZA and friends reaffirmed that “Wu-Tang Clan Ain’t Nuthing ta F’ Wit.” Once again, the decibel level soared as Method Man finally joined the party on stage for his verse, and then followed it up with the self-titled track “Method Man.”

Up next, “Shame on a N****” brought Y.D.B. back to the stage, this time rocking a yellow Scrooge McDuck inspired sweatsuit. With nine performers on the stage, not to mention the band backing them, Young Dirty Bastard continually found a way to keep all eyes on him.

Mercifully, the second set slowed things down, allowing audience members time to catch their breath and pace themselves for the long evening. The talented Blue Raspberry joined the fun and added a little soul to the evening during tracks like “Can It Be All So Simple” and “Rainy Dayz.” She even filled in admirably for the one, the only Mary J. Blige during “All I Need” with Method Man. As the second act ended and the crowd continued to shower the performers with love and support, Method Man felt obliged to return the favor, yelling, “Baltimore, I love you!” as he jogged off stage.

One of the coolest aspects of the evening was that time was purposely carved out for each member to shine, which is no small feat when game planning for nine individuals.

The cerebral GZA was lethal during “Liquid Swords.” With violins providing the backing, RZA killed his verse on “Reunited.” Young Dirty Bastard was at his very best during “Shimmy Shimmy Ya.” Method Man didn’t hesitate to “Bring The Pain.” Raekwon’s well-earned reputation as a streetwise storyteller was on full display during “Incarcerated Scarfaces.” The intense Ghostface Killah served it up on “Ice Cream.” Inspectah Deck, the underrated technician, did his thing on “Hollow Bones.” Like your favorite bartender, and with his own beverage in hand, U-God delivered his verse on “Triumph.” Lyricist Masta Killa commanded all attention during “For Heavens Sake.”

For two full hours, Shaolin’s Finest treated their extended family to a celebration of 30 years of music. Their innovative approach to music is what set them apart over multiple decades and nights like this further cement their place as the most influential hip-hop group of all time.

The say greatness is forever, which is why Wu-Tang is forever.

Taylor Swift. Beyonce. Justin Bieber. Drake. Kanye West. DJ Khaled. Meek Mill. Gucci Mane. Nicki Minaj. Ozzy Osbourne. Noah Kahan. Swae Lee. 21 Savage. Doja Cat. Lorde. Chris Stapleton. Luke Combs. Blake Shelton. Morgan Wallen. Tim McGraw. Dolly Parton.

What does each artist on this incredibly diverse and eclectic list have in common? They’ve all collaborated with Post Malone.

With 18 Grammy Awards nominations, 11 Billboard Music Awards, three American Music Awards, seven iHeartRadio Music Awards and six MTV Video Music Awards to his name, rapper-turned-pop star-turned country musician Post Malone is enjoying his moment in the spotlight. The diamond-certified hitmaker rolled into Northwest Stadium, just up the road from our nation’s capital, during his “Big Ass Stadium Tour,” June 2.

Shortly after the sun set on a picturesque evening, Malone strutted out on stage with a red Solo cup in one hand, a lit cigarette in the other while donning a belt buckle the size of a modern SUV. As the audience of 50,000 or so stood and roared their approval, the opening notes of “Texas Tea” began to play through the stadium’s vastly improved sound system. Because the opening number was a mellow track, it enabled the 29-year-old artist to take a sip or a puff as momentum continued to slowly build before an explosion of fireworks brought the song to a conclusion and ultimately set the tone for the next two hours.

In his early days, Malone was viewed as a sort of underground novelty act. In less than a decade though, he’s quickly ascended to certified superstardom with six number one singles and an impressive 22 top-20 hits. If it feels to you like he’s come a long way in a short amount of time, well, you’re not alone.

“This is my first fucking stadium tour and I’m so fucking honored and so fucking grateful,” said Malone, while taking a step back to soak it all in. “I really appreciate it.”

“Been doing this quasi-professionally for about 10 years now. Thank you for giving me the courage to chase my dreams,” he added.

During “Wrong Ones,” an upbeat number featuring Tim McGraw, Malone sings: “I got fuck-you money. Girl, come on and get you some.” The Syracuse native is clearly speaking from personal experience. Don’t believe me? Back in 2023, Malone acquired a one-of-a-kind card from a Magic: The Gathering “Lord of the Rings”-themed set for $2 million.

One of the absolute highlights of the night involved two of the most loveable and tattooed individuals in music today, as Jelly Roll joined Malone on stage for “Losers.”

“I have never had more fun in my life,” said Jelly Roll, of touring with Malone. In response, Malone said hitting the road with such a quality human being like “The Son of a Sinner” makes him want to be a better person. These two admirable gentlemen clearly share a great affinity for one another, and it carries over into their respective performances.

A few songs later, Malone seemed on top of the world, asking the sellout crowd: “Are we still having fun tonight? Who’s got a cold beverage in their hand?” After a toast to the lively audience, he dove into “What Don’t Belong to Me.”

According to Spotify, Malone ranks in the top 20 most popular artist on the planet, with nearly 70 million monthly listeners. One of his most popular tracks, “Circles,” has been streamed nearly three billion times on the music service. As Malone sang the opening lyrics, 50,000 enthusiastic fans immediately joined in, as the entire venue performed the 2019 smash hit at full volume.

Like Donald Glover/Childish Gambino, artist Austin Richard Post was gifted his alter ego through a rap name generator. Another name he’s occasionally known as is “White Iverson,” the title of Malone’s quintuple-platinum single which he jokes most people believe it’s my only good one.”

Considering Malone already ranks among the 10 best-selling digital artists in history, it’s not a huge surprise that folks are expecting big things from F-1 Trillion, his fifth original LP in six years. For context, Malone’s 2016 debut album, Stoney, beat out Michael Jackson’s Thriller for most weeks in top 10 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Album chart. After dethroning the King of Pop, it would be foolish to bet against Posty at this point in his musical journey.

Honestly, the dude can’t miss. Girls love him. Guys want to drink a beer with him. He’s reached rarified air and still makes sure to vocalize his love and appreciation for everyone who helped him get to this point. It’s tough to think of a more deserving person to enjoy such massive success during their first stadium tour.

Linkin Park wasn’t always Linkin Park. In fact, in the early days, they were originally called Xero and later tried out Hybrid Theory, before eventually settling on Linkin Park.

Regardless of the name they ultimately chose, Chester Bennington (lead vocals), Mike Shinoda (lead and rap vocals), Brad Delson (lead guitar), Joseph Hahn (turntables), Dave “Phoenix” Farrell (bass) and Rob Bourdon (drums) had no idea they would eventually become one of the biggest rock bands of their generation.

In 2000, they released their first full-length album, Hybrid Theory, which is certified Diamond and became the bestselling debut album of the 21st century. Seven additional albums followed — Meteora, Collision Course, Minutes To Midnight, A Thousand Suns, Living Things, The Hunting Party and One More Light — as Linkin Park established themselves as heavyweights in the genre.

Let’s not forget Collision Course, a collaborative effort with legendary rapper Jay-Z, which sold more than 300,000 copies in its first week alone and became just the second ever EP to top the Billboard 200. In all, Linkin Park has earned multiple Grammy Awards, sold more than 100 million albums worldwide and notched five number one Billboard debuts.

After the tragic loss of Bennington in 2017, the band came to a devastating halt. Grief and unanswered questions obscured any thoughts of their future. Over time, in their words, friendships led the way. Shinoda, Delson, Hahn and Farrell began making music together again. They met Emily Armstrong (lead vocals) and Colin Brittain (drums). Jam sessions organically morphed into recording sessions, and Linkin Park quietly assembled a collection of new material “channeling the open-hearted spontaneity of starting over: From Zero.”

The latest evolution of Linkin Park was on full display in Baltimore, Maryland, during the fifth stop of the North American leg of their massive 59-show “From Zero” World Tour. The 13,000 fans who packed into CFG Bank Arena were rewarded with a two-hour, 27-song marathon performance that far exceeded any reasonable expectations.

The show kicked off with “Somewhere I Belong,” the band’s first single from their second studio album, Meteora. Picking such an iconic and well-known song to jumpstart the evening was clearly no accident, and only encouraged fans to sing along with the 2003 hit track. The next two songs — “Points of Authority” and “Crawling” — further invited those in attendance to accompany Armstrong, formerly of Dead Sara, in the singing of each chorus.

Even in an era where album sales have waned, Linkin Park became the first rock band to achieve more than one billion YouTube views. Fast forward to today, and they garner more than 48 million monthly streams on Spotify, which ranks them right around 50th overall on the platform.

The band’s new album, From Zero, dropped last November and was an immediate success — peaking at number one in 14 countries. “The Emptiness Machine” was the lead single of the album, so it’s only fitting that it was the first new song to be played live for Baltimore.

One of the biggest standout moments during the show was the performance of “Waiting for the End.” Those familiar with the lyrics know the song focuses on some heavy stuff, like denial of a broken relationship and/or the loss of a loved one. After Bennington’s death, a song like this carries heightened meaning for so many fans of the band, with lyrics like: “All I wanna do is trade this life for something new. Holding on to what I haven’t got.” More than a few fans in attendance were understandably emotional during this offering, wiping their eyes as they attempted to sing along.

A few songs later, “Two Faced” showed a completely different side of the band, one with an abundance of ruthless aggression. Armstrong’s primal screams kick off one of the standout tracks of the new album and rejuvenated the energy in the arena.

For the first time on tour, “One Step Closer” featured a special cameo by opener Grandson. This shouldn’t come as a massive surprise to anyone who has heard his cover of the song, but it was still a fun and enjoyable moment during the third act.

“What I‘ve Done” is a perfect example of how Linkin Park honors and respects the legacy of the original version of the band. Armstrong isn’t Bennington, and that’s okay. It’s different, but clearly it works. And it’s good. For two straight hours the crowd was more than happy to sing along and constantly roared their approval at songs old and new.

As the show concluded, I found myself legitimately blown away by how good Linkin Park sounds live. And, considering this was just the fifth stop on their first tour with this group, it’s noteworthy how everything already seems so polished and well oiled. The tour features captivating visuals, an impressive light show and, best of all, you can tell everyone on stage – and off it – is having a blast.

With multiple Grammy nominations, a crossover collaboration with Megan Thee Stallion and a newly-released critically-acclaimed album, Spiritbox are riding high in 2025.

To kick off April, the Canadian metal band — comprised of vocalist Courtney LaPlante, guitarist Mike Stringer, bassist Josh Gilbert and drummer Zev Rose — embarked on the “Tsunami Sea” North American tour, which features 24 shows across North America.

Spiritbox, along with Loathe and Dying Wish, rode a wave of anticipation and excitement to their sold-out MGM National Harbor show, April 11.

The band’s highly anticipated sophomore album, Tsunami Sea, dropped March 7. The title and inspiration for the new album comes from Vancouver Island, where LaPlante grew up.

Since its release, Stringer has described “Fata Morgana” as a mission statement for the album. With it, the band comes out swinging and immediately sets a heavy tone. Both the album and the live show benefit greatly from such an emphatic introduction.

Before the audience had time to recover, Spiritbox next dove into “Black Rainbow,” which is quite possibly the heaviest track on the album. Kicking off a live performance with these two in-your-face tracks gives a very distinct ‘zero to 60’ type vibe, which induced a visceral reaction from those in attendance eager to form a pit and/or crowd surf as a sign of approval.

Mercifully, the melodic single “Perfect Soul” was next, giving fans a brief moment to catch their breath. It was the first track I was drawn to on Tsunami Sea, and it’s even better live. LaPlante’s soothing vocals had the packed venue swaying and singing along to the chorus.

After initial delays due to the pandemic, Spiritbox’s first album, Eternal Blue, dropped in 2021 and debuted at number 13 on the US Billboard 200 chart. Amazingly, when the band started working on the material that ultimately became Eternal Blue, they had played a total of just 10 shows together. By now, they’re a well-oiled machine averaging 3.6 million monthly listeners on Spotify and it definitely carries over to their live performances.

While the sellout crowd was eager to hear the new music, the biggest reaction of the night came halfway through the set when Spiritbox played “Secret Garden” and “Circle With Me” back-to-back. In relatively short order, LaPlante has established herself as one of the dominant and most dynamic voices of the genre.

Later in their set, Spiritbox performed all three tracks from 2022’s EP titled Rotoscope. Up first was “Rotoscope,” a slow-burning, atmospheric single featuring haunting vocals and lyrics that explore themes of introspection and self-discovery. The early hypnotic vibe of “Hysteria” could easily lull a concertgoer into a false sense of security before LaPlante’s intense vocals re-ignited the pit of thrashing metalheads in the center of the venue.

The night came to an emphatic conclusion with “Ride the Wave,” which works beautifully as both a closing number and a metaphor for where Spiritbox finds themselves these days. Clearly they’re a force of nature that’s riding high with the critically acclaimed release of their second album. I, for one, am excited to see where the wave takes them next.

In honor of the 25th anniversary of the band’s debut album, Disturbed hit the road for a North American tour, along with Three Days Grace and Sevendust. During the anniversary tour, the Chicago-based band performed The Sickness album — which to date has sold more than five million copies — in its entirety, followed by a second set comprised of greatest hits.

With nearly 14 billion streams and countless sold-out shows around the globe, Disturbed — which consists of frontman David Draiman, guitarist Dan Donegan, bassist John Moyer and drummer Mike Wengren — has forged a distinct identity over the last two and a half decades thanks to an aggressive sound, introspective lyrics and Draiman’s distinctive vocals.

Released on March 7, 2000, The Sickness was a commercial success thanks in part to the hit single “Down with the Sickness,” which peaked at number five on the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. The album itself peaked at number 20 on the Billboard 200 chart and is certified four times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America. In total, Disturbed has sold more than 17 million albums worldwide, with five of their albums achieving platinum certification in the states.

Just days after the Chicago Bulls were forced to remove all six of their championship banners from the rafters of United Center due to “minor damage” from pyrotechnics during a Disturbed concert, the band rolled into the nation’s capital ready to spread the sickness. With the Washington Capitals’ Stanley Cup banner safely on the other side of Capital One Arena, the packed venue could safely settle in for marathon of madness.

In a nod to Anthony Hopkins’ cannibalistic serial killer, Hannibal Lecter, from the 1991 hit movie The Silence of the Lambs, the show began with Draiman wheeled out onto the stage in a straitjacket and facemask, setting the tone for a memorable evening. Like the album itself, the live show was designed so that each track built off of the previous one. While the lighting and performance of “Voices” was simple and straightforward, the stage was illuminated with an abundance of pyro and blasts of fire throughout “Stupify.”

Because they played the entire album in order it meant their biggest single, “Down With The Sickness,” came barely 15 minutes into their set. While it’s a smash hit that is typically best served during an encore, it still garnered the loudest ovation of the evening. Speaking of the sickness, Draiman admitted that he was still recovering from a recent bout of bronchitis. Fortunately for everyone involved, the frontman still sounded great, and the show itself lived up to the heightened expectations.

Disturbed’s cover of “Shout” by Tears For Fear stood out as another highlight of the opening set. It was, in fact, one of three cover songs featured throughout the night, along with “Land of Confusion” by Genesis and “The Sound of Silence” by Simon & Garfunkel. All three tracks earned roars of approval from the enthusiastic crowd which was eager to join in on the fun.

Prior to the performance of “Meaning of Life,” Draiman was strapped into an electric chair, sentenced to death and then sparks flew as the switch was flipped. As the rest of the band kicked into the track, the frontman stood in his orange prison jumpsuit and, with fake blood dripping down his bald head, dove into the final track of The Sickness.

After a short intermission, Disturbed returned to the stage and requested “Ten Thousand Fists” in the air, which the rowdy crowd at Capital One Arena was happy to oblige. The band’s newest offering, “I Will Not Break,” followed and was clearly well received. This shouldn’t really be a surprise because singles from all eight Disturbed albums have reached the top ten of the Mainstream Rock charts.

“Shall we kick it into the next gear?” Draiman asked. As the band began playing “Bad Man,” a dark and menacing character towered over the stage.

With a single light and a piano on stage, “The Sound of Silence” provided a haunting highlight of the second set. As Draiman’s vocals soared on the song’s iconic chorus, hundreds of cell phone lights illuminated the venue and thousands provided backing vocals, loudly singing along to the timeless classic. And because it was a Disturbed show, the piano inevitably ended up with giant flames protruding from the top of it.

The closing track, “Inside The Fire,” provided a reasonable excuse to utilize even more flames and pyro shooting up and out in all directions as the nearly two-hour sing-along came to a conclusion. When the band took their final bow, they received a well-deserved standing ovation from a captive and appreciative audience at Capital One Arena.

Three Days Grace has withstood the test of time to become one of the most consistent and respected acts in hard rock. Their accolades include 18 number one records at Mediabase Active Rock and 17 number one hits at Billboard/BDS Active Rock. Most impressively, the band averages a staggering 13 million monthly listeners on Spotify – remaining one of the most listened to rock bands in the world.

The band’s original lead singer, Adam Gontier, was with the group from 1992 to 2013. He was known for his distinctive vocals and songwriting contributions to many of their hit songs. But in 2013, Gontier left the band due to health issues and creative differences and was ultimately replaced by Matt Walst, formerly of a band called My Darkest Days.

Matt has been the lead singer of Three Days Grace since then, and has appeared on their albums Human, Outsider and Explosions. Despite the lead singer change, Three Days Grace has maintained a loyal fan base while producing high-energy rock music that resonates with audiences globally.

Last October, the band formally announced the return of Gontier, who now shares lead duties with Walst, marking a new chapter for the band. The dual vocalist setup works great and provides a unique dynamic in the genre.

With Gontier and Walst providing vocals, along with guitarist Barry Stock, bassist Brad Walst and drummer Neil Sanderson, Three Days Grace continues to show why their music has been streamed more than five billion times. Highlights for their D.C. show included some of their most successful tracks, such as “Animal I Have Become,” “I Hate Everything About You” and “Riot.”

Sevendust has consistently brought the heavy since their inception back in 1994. Formed in Atlanta, Georgia, Sevendust is a quintessential heavy metal band known for their aggressive sound, thought-provoking lyrics and intense live performances.

Their music style is a fusion of metal, hard rock and some alternative, with a heavy emphasis on melody and vocal harmonies. Think of a blend between Pantera’s groove metal, Alice in Chains’ heavy riffs and a hint of southern rock swagger. With an impressive 14 studio albums to date, Sevendust has built a loyal and passionate following while touring globally with iconic acts like Metallica, Ozzy Osbourne, Creed and Disturbed.  

Sevendust – lead vocalist Lajon Witherspoon, lead guitarist Clint Lowery, rhythm guitarist John Connolly, bassist Vince Hornsby and drummer Morgan Rose – have sold more than seven million albums worldwide. Along the way, they’ve notably collaborated with everyone from members of Deftones, Daughtry and Staind to Alter Bridge, Periphery and Xzibit.

The last time I had the pleasure of seeing Sevendust live was way back in 2007, during a show in Baltimore. While the quintet’s time was limited in Washington, D.C., they absolutely made the most of the 30-minute set by packing in some of their biggest, heaviest hits from the last few decades. Witherspoon, sporting an Alex Ovechkin t-shirt which was deservedly well received in the House that Ovi Built, sounded as soulful as ever, bellowing out the chorus during iconic hits like “Denial,” “Enemy” and my personal favorite, “Praise.”