All posts in concerts

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.”

Clifford Joseph Harris Jr., who is better known as T.I., was born in 1980 and grew up in the streets of Atlanta, Georgia. It is said he had a pretty tough childhood, but he found solace in music. He started making music at an early age and was heavily influenced by hip-hop legends like Tupac Shakur, The Notorious B.I.G. and Nas.

But T.I.’s style was always a little different, thanks to his unique blend of street smarts, lyrical skill and Southern charm that set him apart from other rappers of his era. Early on, he was part of the hip-hop collective P$C (Pimp Squad Click) and started making a name for himself in the Atlanta music scene.

While T.I.’s big break came in 2001 with the release of his debut album, I’m Serious, it was his second album, Trap Muzik, that really put him on the map. The album was a critical and commercial success, and it established T.I. as one of the leading figures in Southern hip-hop.

From there, T.I.’s career took off — with a string of successful albums, including Urban Legend, King and T.I. vs. T.I.P. He also collaborated with big-name artists like Lil Wayne, Kanye West and Justin Timberlake, and even started his own record label, Grand Hustle Records.

But T.I.’s talents don’t stop at music. He’s also a successful actor, with roles in movies like “ATL,” “American Gangster” and “Takers,” and appearances on TV shows like “Entourage” and “The Simpsons.” T.I. is even part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, playing the role of Dave in Ant-Man and Ant-Man and the Wasp. He’s a true entrepreneur and a testament to the power of hard work and determination.

On this night, T.I. packed everything he could into an abbreviated set, spanning his impressive catalog as quickly and effectively as possible. Robin Thicke’s “Blurred Lines,” Drake’s “Fancy” and “Whatever You Like” earned some of the loudest ovations of the evening. 

T.I. also performed “Bring Em Out” with help from the Washington Wizards dance team, which was fitting because the local professional basketball team used that particular track as its player entrance music for years. Another highlight of the night came courtesy of “Shoulder Lean,” which T.I. performed with Young Dro. 

After more than a decade long hiatus, the members of Creed announced a massive 40-date “Summer of ’99” Tour spanning across the country. Because those shows exceeded all reasonable expectations, the Florida-based rockers decided to let the good time continue to roll — with an additional 20 stops.

On the heels of their highly-anticipated reunion tour, Creed visited CFG Bank Arena in Baltimore with 3 Doors Down and Mammoth WVH as part of their “Are You Ready?” Tour. Amusingly, the last time I saw Creed in concert was, in fact, back in 1999. Along with Oleander and Our Lady Peace, Scott Stapp and friends put on a phenomenal show in Dallas, Texas, that November, and I’ve been a fan ever since.

Wolfgang Van Halen’s band, Mammoth WVH, took to the stage first for a tight, 30-minute set with the level of energy needed by an opener to set the tone for a long night of live music. Next up was 3 Doors Down, who have a sneaky number of hits at their disposal and still sound the same as they did all those years ago, the first time you heard lead singer Brad Arnold belt out the chorus to “Kryptonite.”

Creed’s long-awaited return to the stage delivered a performance that was equal parts nostalgia and unfiltered fun. After years of anticipation, the Florida State rockers reignited their connection with fans, offering a setlist packed with their most iconic hits. From heavier anthems to softer ballads, Creed’s live show proved why their music still resonates with fans more than two decades after their rise to fame.

Opening with the hard-hitting “Bullets,” Creed wasted no time re-establishing their signature sound. Mark Tremonti’s rapid guitar riff set the tone, with Stapp’s unmistakable voice reverberating throughout the arena. As the track built, it became apparent that this wasn’t just a walk down memory lane. The night was a reminder of the potent energy that made Creed one of the most successful bands of their era.

The combination of “Are You Ready?” followed by the classic “My Own Prison” had the crowd on their feet, singing along enthusiastically. Another personal highlight was when the band tore into “One” and “What’s This Life For” back-to-back, which drew a massive response from the crowd.

Stapp finished the set “With Arms Wide Open,” before taking the captive audience “Higher” — courtesy of the anthem of personal triumph that had the entire venue rocking in unison. For the encore, Creed left it all on the stage with “One Last Breath” leading into the powerful, “My Sacrifice,” which closed the night on a high note.

A lot has changed over the last 25 years, but this night proved Creed is still more than capable of delivering their trademark sound on a grand stage. As the lights came up and fans headed for the exits, one thing remained certain — Creed is back, and they’ve never sounded better.

It all started when three friends formed a band in Escatawpa, Mississippi back in 1996. Little did they know just how successful that musical act would become.

To date, 3 Doors Down has sold more than 30 million albums worldwide. They’ve had 12 number one singles on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart. Their first studio album, The Better Life, dropped in 2000 and became one of the best-selling albums of the year, moving more than four million copies. Their debut album has now been certified seven-times platinum.

Despite some lineup changes during the last two decades, the band maintains a loyal fan base and continues to produce high-energy music that resonates with audiences worldwide. These days, 3 Doors Down is comprised of frontman Brad Arnold, lead guitarist Chet Roberts, rhythm guitarist Chris Henderson, bassist Justin Biltonen and drummer Greg Upchurch.

Their sound could be described as alternative with a splash of southern rock mixed in for good measure. Their music leans heavily into catchy hooks, heavy guitar riffs and distinctive drumming, a formula 3 Doors Down has clearly refined. It’s safe to say the band has a sneaky number of hits at their disposal which still sound great all these years later. Hearing Arnold belt out the chorus to “Kryptonite” today still resonates the same as it did more than 20 years ago. Some of their other highlights of their live show include “Loser,” “When I’m Gone” and “Here Without You,” all of which received loud ovations by the Baltimore faithful that was eager to sing along.

One of the band’s most notable and commendable achievements is their charity work. In 2003, they founded The Better Life Foundation, which supports various charitable organizations, including children’s hospitals and disaster relief efforts.

Mammoth WVH is the brainchild of Wolfgang Van Halen, son of the legendary Eddie Van Halen. While that last name was established as rock royalty before Wolfgang was ever born, the 33-year-old has made a name for himself as a talented musician in his own right. He started playing bass with Van Halen in 2006 — as a 15-year-old — and has also worked with other notable acts like Tremonti and Clint Lowery.

The songwriter, vocalist and guitar prodigy admits to working tirelessly on the material that eventually became his debut album. Much like Dave Grohl in the early days of Foo Fighters, Wolfgang played every instrument and sang every note, ensuring nothing was lost in translation in his efforts to make a lasting first impression. When Mammoth WVH’s self-titled debut album dropped in 2021, it received widespread critical acclaim and featured hit singles like “Distance,” “Don’t Back Down” and “Epiphany” while debuting at number one on the Billboard Hard Rock Albums chart.

Mammoth WVH’s style is a blend between Foo Fighters’ heavy riffs, Queens of the Stone Age’s stoner rock vibes with a hint of classic Van Halen flair. It’s safe to say that dad would clearly be proud of what Wolfgang has become.

“The name Mammoth is really special to me.” said Wolfgang. “Not only was it the name of Van Halen before it became Van Halen, but my father was also the lead singer. Ever since my dad told me this, I always thought that when I grew up, I’d call my own band Mammoth, because I loved the name so much. I’m so thankful that my father was able to listen to, and enjoy the music I made. Nothing made me happier than seeing how proud he was that I was continuing the family legacy.”