Despite being sick as hell and having a shitty day at work, I hauled ass to the venue to try and make it in time for the show. I got to Lupo's towards the end of the first band, which was a two-piece named "68" that apparently is the new band from the vocalist of The Chariot. Their music is pretty outside of my taste zone, but they were entertaining and had good energy.
Next up was Act of Defiance, the new project from ex-Megadeth members Shawn Drover and Chris Broderick. Despite having respect for both of their musical chops, their show absolutely sucked. A combination of a really bad soundboard mix and drunk assholes hardcore dancing to thrash pretty much killed the mood. Not a single song stood out as sounding good. After they were done a drunk dude on the rail tried to fight me and got kicked out after I told him to stop pushing me back when there wasn't a band playing. He snuck back in, tried to get his spot back from me, and got kicked out again. It was pretty hilarious.
Then up was one of my favorite bands, Unearth. I saw them headline Lupo's back in 2012 to a practically empty venue, and the show was far more enjoyable this time around as it was almost sold out. The crowd got nice and rowdy, and Unearth put on one hell of an energetic show with a sick setlist. Unfortunately the mixing still sorta sucked, as I couldn't hear Buz's mic or guitar very well despite being right in front of him. After the show the girl next to me got their setlist, which was written in sharpie on a piece of cardboard from a 30 rack of beer.
Finally up was Killswitch. The christmas theme of the show became evident when they blew up giant inflatable holiday versions of Darth Vader and Yoda on either side of the drum kit, and revealed the "Merry Christmas" candy cane archway over the kit. The road crew were all dressed as elves, and the band came out in Santa shirts and hats. Justin played the whole show in a full Santa outfit. Opening with My Curse was interesting choice to get their biggest hit out of the way, but it worked surprisingly well. Their set was amazing, mixing was on point, with a nearly perfect setlist. Jesse gave his all for the homecoming show, jumping into the crowd throughout and screaming with all of us. Several times he came up to me on the rail and we shared the microphone, accidentally getting mouthfuls of Jesse spit but worth it. Also got punched in the chest by Adam D. Seeing The Arms of Sorrow and Just Barely Breathing live was practically a religious experience for me, the former taking me back to when I was 14 and first getting into metal, and the latter being my favorite song by the band. Wound up getting a bass pick from Mike and a setlist from the show.
Unearth: The Great Dividers The Swarm Watch it Burn This Lying World Never Cease Endless Burial Lines Last Wish Giles Zombie Autopilot My Will Be Done
KSE: My Curse Beyond the Flames Life to Lifeless Strength of the Mind Rose of Sharyn Numbered Days The Arms of Sorrow This Fire Burns Take This Oath Loyalty Just Barely Breathing This is Absolution Fixation on the Darkness You Don't Bleed For Me Vide Infra Always My Last Serenade A Bid Farewell In Due Time The End of Heartache
Band was tight and their video board was so dope. Riffs so heavy. Ozzy didn't really talk much they just played which is why I think they didn't play as long. Crowd was kinda lame but I don't go there to look at the crowd.
Comments
Next up was Act of Defiance, the new project from ex-Megadeth members Shawn Drover and Chris Broderick. Despite having respect for both of their musical chops, their show absolutely sucked. A combination of a really bad soundboard mix and drunk assholes hardcore dancing to thrash pretty much killed the mood. Not a single song stood out as sounding good. After they were done a drunk dude on the rail tried to fight me and got kicked out after I told him to stop pushing me back when there wasn't a band playing. He snuck back in, tried to get his spot back from me, and got kicked out again. It was pretty hilarious.
Then up was one of my favorite bands, Unearth. I saw them headline Lupo's back in 2012 to a practically empty venue, and the show was far more enjoyable this time around as it was almost sold out. The crowd got nice and rowdy, and Unearth put on one hell of an energetic show with a sick setlist. Unfortunately the mixing still sorta sucked, as I couldn't hear Buz's mic or guitar very well despite being right in front of him. After the show the girl next to me got their setlist, which was written in sharpie on a piece of cardboard from a 30 rack of beer.
Finally up was Killswitch. The christmas theme of the show became evident when they blew up giant inflatable holiday versions of Darth Vader and Yoda on either side of the drum kit, and revealed the "Merry Christmas" candy cane archway over the kit. The road crew were all dressed as elves, and the band came out in Santa shirts and hats. Justin played the whole show in a full Santa outfit. Opening with My Curse was interesting choice to get their biggest hit out of the way, but it worked surprisingly well. Their set was amazing, mixing was on point, with a nearly perfect setlist. Jesse gave his all for the homecoming show, jumping into the crowd throughout and screaming with all of us. Several times he came up to me on the rail and we shared the microphone, accidentally getting mouthfuls of Jesse spit but worth it. Also got punched in the chest by Adam D. Seeing The Arms of Sorrow and Just Barely Breathing live was practically a religious experience for me, the former taking me back to when I was 14 and first getting into metal, and the latter being my favorite song by the band. Wound up getting a bass pick from Mike and a setlist from the show.
68: 6/10
Act of Defiance: 4/10
Unearth: 8/10
KSE: Goddamn 10/10
The Great Dividers
The Swarm
Watch it Burn
This Lying World
Never Cease
Endless
Burial Lines
Last Wish
Giles
Zombie Autopilot
My Will Be Done
KSE:
My Curse
Beyond the Flames
Life to Lifeless
Strength of the Mind
Rose of Sharyn
Numbered Days
The Arms of Sorrow
This Fire Burns
Take This Oath
Loyalty
Just Barely Breathing
This is Absolution
Fixation on the Darkness
You Don't Bleed For Me
Vide Infra
Always
My Last Serenade
A Bid Farewell
In Due Time
The End of Heartache
9/10
still should have left earlier.