So here we are, the last concert of the year for me. Not only for covering, but also just attending in general, and I couldn’t have hand picked a better show to close out 2022. I’ve been a Sevendust fan for a little over twenty years and this was like my fifteenth time seeing them live. As if seeing one of my all-time favorite bands again, and during the holidays, wasn’t enough, this was also special having another 7D show with Nonpoint on the lineup. I have been waiting to see those two bands together again live for several years and I was so excited that it was finally happening again. Having Ill Nino on the lineup was also a nice bonus. I’m not only a fan of them as well, but I actually had them play on one of my annual metal fests back in the day. I knew this was going to be a great night of live music and good times with good people. Here’s how the evening went.

We arrived to catch most of  Ill Nino’s set. I didn’t get a chance to grab any pics of the band due to missing the first couple songs, but I did get a chance to just kick back and watch the guys do their thing. This was my first time seeing Ill Nino with Marcos Leal on vocals and I was looking forward to that. I had met and hung out with Marcos a few times at a few Shattered Sun shows and he was always great to talk to and an overall good guy. The band was on fire and having a drummer and two percussionists in addition to the chord power of the string players just made it all so full. Especially for the songs that had that heavier Latino influence and sound. I heard the few songs that I really wanted to hear, Marcos did a great job with the vocals keeping them on point but also adding a little of himself, and the crowd seemed to agree. Great set that night.

Next up was Nonpoint, and the sold-out crowd was definitely ready for them to take the stage. Another band that I’ve seen quite a bit live, and who always puts on a great show. Even though they had a shorter set that night and not the usual headline length, I was still very pleased to hear a few of my favorites from Elias and the boys. ‘Chaos and Earthquakes’, ‘What a Day’, ‘Breaking Skin’ and ‘Alive and Kicking’ always get me going and of course they ended the night with probably everyone’s favorite Nonpoint song, ‘Bullet with a Name’. So much energy from them all that night. You could tell they were having a blast and really felt the love from Detroit as the night went on. Elias sounded great, Robb was holding it down beating on the drums as usual, and the entire sound was so thick and intense. Even with the shorter set, this may have been one of my favorite shows from them. Something about a band playing a sold-out show in a nice size venue just seems to bring the best out of them and they really tore it up the whole time they were doing their thing. Another kick ass Nonpoint show to add to the list.

As it came time for Sevendust to take the stage, the crowd started chanting even before the lights went out. Not a single person had left the venue and they were waiting for their headliner to come out and melt their faces. The lights cut off, the crowd went totally insane and Sevendust emerged out of the smoke and stage lights. You’d think after seeing them so many times that the excitement and wow-factor would go away, or at least lesson up. But that’s not the case, at least not for me. Other than Iron Maiden, I don’t think there’s another band out there that still gives me goosebumps and still riles me up when they are playing live. After shooting the first few songs I headed back to hang out with some friends and just watch these guys do what they do best. I can’t stress enough, and I say it all the time, how fun it is to watch this band. There’s such amazing chemistry between them all and it’s always an intense and totally in your face experience. ‘Denial’ came early in the set and it’s a song that I always want to hear with it being the first song someone played for me from Sevendust all those years ago. Having ‘Praise’ come right after it was also special to me as that’s another one of my favorites from them. The night went on and we heard so many other great songs, from ‘Black’ to ‘Enemy’ and of course ‘Face to Face’. It also never fails to get to me when they do ‘Angels Son’. It was an even harder hit for me that night with losing my good friend Johnny, also a huge Sevendust fan, just a few months ago. He definitely would have been there with us. I can’t stress enough what an incredible experience it is seeing this band live and I love how much Detroit means to them because Lajon always has so many wonderful things to say and memories to share. Talking about favorite venues in the area and just how much Detroit has meant to them throughout their career. I also have to mention that I’ll never get tired of watching Morgan Rose play. Even if you try to focus on something or someone else, he brings you back in with what a physical, fun, talented and entertaining drummer he is. I swear he’s one of the best out there and it’s always a treat to watch him play.

To wrap it all up, I got exactly what I expected, wanted and needed for my last concert of 2022. Great supporting acts to get the night going from Ill Nino and Nonpoint, a night hanging with some damn good people and fellow members of the local Sevendust family and another live show from a band that truly loves and appreciates what they do and loves and appreciates their fans and the continued support. I saw them twice this year and it’s always a great experience and memorable occasion. Thank you Sevendust for all the years of great music and fun, high-energy live shows. I wish you all an amazing 2023. Until the next one.