Navigation
More About Allyson
Archive and Search
Subscribe
Login
« Steel Panther, 'Eyes of a Panther' - Live at Rock on the Range | Main | Bullet For My Valentine, Live, Tonight! »
Monday
May232011

Avenged Sevenfold Live in Lubbock,Texas - Review

DateMonday, May 23, 2011 at 12:01AM

As some of you know, I am Australian. I went to Soundwave this year for the express purpose of seeing Avenged Sevenfold (A7X) and Saxon. Neither turned up. So, I was very happy to be in the U.S. for Rock on the Range, to see A7X. But I had to work, so this meant I couldn't go to the fest. So, on the night of Tuesday, May 17, I flew to Lubbock, Texas, to see Avenged live. I am nothing if not persistent.

So, I fly in to Lubbock, go to my hotel, and drive to the venue. Only the traffic is a nightmare, so I parked a mile out and walked in. I parked in Buddy Holly park, I guess he was from there. When I get to the venue, there’s two lines: boys and girls. This is because we all get body searched on the way in. Seriously, why is it that it’s assumed that because someone likes loud music and has an "out there" hair cut, they walk around armed? But, I digress.

I did notice a bullet rolling around on the ground outside the venue. I don’t believe it was a casing, it looked like it was all there. No-one seemed to care.

So, we get in, and the merchandise is right there. I don’t get why merchandise stands could ever not take credit. Thankfully I had the cash for three shirts. I was astounded that they did not have shirts with the Nightmare logo and tour dates. I confess, I bought a pirate shirt for the first time ever, simply because it had the artwork I wanted, and the official merch did not.

I had assumed the first band was Three Days Grace, but I guess Bullet for My Valentine are not as big as I expected ( in the U.S. at least). At Soundwave, they were close to the top of the billing, below Slash, but barely. They are a great live band, with great songs, and I still think their star is on the rise. Their short set was a lot of fun.

Turns out I do know some Three Days Grace songs, probably from Rock on the Range last year. They were also good and got the crowd going.

Finally A7X took the stage. They start by hanging some guy, who ends up twitching for all of "Nightmare." The reason they did not play Soundwave is they said they were not allowed to do their full show. Their full show involves most of the stage being on fire at different times, pyro, and a dude being hung, so I am not surprised they could not do all that at a festival.

The full set list was :

Nightmare
Critical Acclaim
Welcome to the Family
Almost Easy

Buried Alive
So Far Away
Afterlife

God Hates Us
Bat Country
Unholy Confessions
Fiction
Save Me

One thing that struck me is how many new songs they do, in light of our Whitesnake experience last week. I guess A7X is a band on the rise, but, I wanted MORE new songs if anything, although the "old" ones are all killer, too. They were doing "Danger Line" at one point and I was sad not to hear that. "So Far Away" was dedicated to drummer the Rev, and was introduced with a long speech about how they appreciate the fans support, miss the Rev, etc. This seems like a good time to talk about the new drummer. He sounds good. He seems like he’s capable of playing these songs. If the loss of the Rev causes the songs to drop off, well, that will only be shown by the next album.

I will say one thing. The band is tight and they all play well. Singer M. Shadows sounds terrific. However, the backing vocals are a bit off at times, especially the "rough" vocals provided by bassist Johnny Christ. That was off putting at first, but I got used to it, and, as I said, M. Shadows is a great singer: he sounds good all the way through.

I left before the encore. I was sad to miss "Fiction," but I was very tired and had to get up at 4 a.m. to fly back to Dallas due to work commitments. A7X have announced dates in Australia, tickets are not on sale yet, but I will definitely go, and take my daughter at least.

Avenged Sevenfold is a great live band. In my opinion, the best of the modern wave of heavy rock bands today. They certainly put on a huge show, and they have the songs to back it up. I did not time the show, but 12 songs seemed short to me, even if they are all six minutes long, that’s just over an hour. Still, quality over quantity and for the songs and the spectacle, I would definitely see them again.

 

 

AuthorChristian Graus | Comment17 Comments |

Reader Comments (17)

I see you did go a long way for a drink (theoretically speaking), after all, eh?, Christian!

I trust this was just because you had a layover in Texas and not because you actually wanted to bother seeing this.

ZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzz!!!!!!!!!!!!

p.s. What the h*ll happened to this site? One minute, Steel Panther and POOF, off the rails and I don't mean on the "Crazy Train". No, not by a long shot. Xtain! Look, I LOVE your reviews but you gotta have something worth writing home about! Like M3, for instance! That I would have loved to have read!
May 23, 2011 | Unregistered CommenterMetalboy!
I think it would be interesting to do a post asking everyone what 18 or 19 bands that they would want to see at M3 next year.
May 23, 2011 | Unregistered Commenterricksav65
Awesome review! Thank you! Can't wait to see them again on Uproar!!!!
May 23, 2011 | Unregistered CommenterFlorentine
My boys and I have seen A7X a few times and they never disappoint.

Christian, I understand work brings you to the states often. If you ever end up in the Detroit area or anywhere near look me up and we'll have some fun.

Marc
May 23, 2011 | Unregistered Commenterreptileblvd
ROCK, indeed! Accept would decimate these jokers, hahaha!!!
May 24, 2011 | Unregistered CommenterMetalboy!
reptile - I'd love to hook up, although it's doubtful I'll end up near you. Metalboy, I think A7X are the best new band right now. They can really play, the songs are good, and M Shadows sounds great. They do big pyro, they put on a great show. But, YMMV, and that is cool. I didn't write about M3 because Allyson was there :-)
May 24, 2011 | Unregistered CommenterChristian
Christian!

People wrote "reviews" in the BBG! Comments section. You could have given us a great perspective though you didn't have an official byline. Look at me, for Heavy Metal's sake, hahaha!!! What's great about this site, is Al encourages comments. Look at Kari's or Brian C's. So cool! Made me feel like I was actually there.

You have such a strong point of view. Allyson was there and she did a h*lluva job coverin' it, but thanks to all those commentors who contributed their "reviews" in "Comments", it was like having 20 different cameras with moments or interpretations only each individual who commented could provide.

Maybe next M3, you will stoop to the nosebleeds of the comments section, where I actually "Thrive", or subsist, depending on who's talkin', hahaha!!!. I certainly won't hesitate, as I did after the M3 Fest where I met you..,not the last M3, obviously, but the one before. Rock On, Metalbrother!
May 25, 2011 | Unregistered CommenterMetalboy!
The motorhead show at festival hall in melbourne.
i got searched twice going in.
and when they went to search my girlfriend, and a guy did it, and i objected, it nearly turned into a fight.

seriously. world gone mad.
May 25, 2011 | Unregistered CommenterSteve
Steve! If only Lemmy knew about it. I'm sure he would have objected to it and done something about it. You should write him a letter or go down to The Rainbow on Sunset Strip (his second home) in L.A. to tell him about it.

Regardless, you gotta get searched, that's all there is to it. They should just have some chix on hand to search the chick festival goers.

Between 9/11 and the horrible Dimebag tragedy, this IS, indeed the world we live in.

p.s. Reasonable gun laws would begin to stem the crazyville vibe, too!
May 27, 2011 | Unregistered CommenterMetalboy!
Hello. And Bye.
i am sorry, delete please this post
http://levitra-prix.skyrock.com
June 10, 2011 | Unregistered CommenterOrbimeVerry
a vendre du cialis , a vendre generique cialis , a vendre cialis sur internet , a vendre du cialis en belgique
http://cialisgenerique.webasyst.net/shop/blog/3/#2212
http://cialisgenerique.webasyst.net/shop/blog/4/#2430
a vendre du vrai cialis [url=http://cialisgenerique.webasyst.net/shop/blog/3/#1008]a vendre du cialis [/url] a vendre generique cialis achat cialis moins cher [url=http://cialisgenerique.webasyst.net/shop/blog/4/#4366]achat cialis france lilly icos [/url] achat cialis original achat de cialis generique pas [url=http://cialisgenerique.webasyst.net/shop/blog/5/#3149]achat de cialis generique pharmacie en ligne [/url] achat de cialis achat du cialis 10mg [url=http://cialisgenerique.webasyst.net/shop/blog/6/#4274]achat du cialis 5mg [/url] achat du medicament cialis cialis 20mg forum [url=http://cialisgenerique.webasyst.net/shop/blog/7/#7687]cialis en ligne [/url] vente cialis generique http://cialisgenerique.webasyst.net/shop/blog/5/#5873 http://cialisgenerique.webasyst.net/shop/blog/6/#0288
http://cialisgenerique.webasyst.net/shop/blog/7/#7683, a vendre le cialis , a vendre cialis sur internet , a vendre du vrai cialis
June 16, 2011 | Unregistered Commenterappagsrob
a vendre du cialis pas cher , a vendre generique cialis , a vendre du cialis en ligne , a vendre generique cialis
http://cialisgenerique.webasyst.net/shop/blog/3/#1953
http://cialisgenerique.webasyst.net/shop/blog/4/#5982
a vendre du cialis [url=http://cialisgenerique.webasyst.net/shop/blog/3/#1988]a vendre du cialis en belgique [/url] a vendre du vrai cialis achat cialis pas cher troubles de l erection [url=http://cialisgenerique.webasyst.net/shop/blog/4/#0243]achat cialis [/url] achat cialis original deux achat de cialis en france [url=http://cialisgenerique.webasyst.net/shop/blog/5/#1758]achat de cialis pfizer [/url] achat de cialis en france achat du cialis 5mg [url=http://cialisgenerique.webasyst.net/shop/blog/6/#2018]achat du cialis en france [/url] achat du cialis 5 cialis en pharmacie [url=http://cialisgenerique.webasyst.net/shop/blog/7/#6391]levitra ou cialis [/url] levitra ou cialis http://cialisgenerique.webasyst.net/shop/blog/5/#5551 http://cialisgenerique.webasyst.net/shop/blog/6/#1407
http://cialisgenerique.webasyst.net/shop/blog/7/#9621, a vendre du vrai cialis , a vendre du cialis pas cher , a vendre cialis 20mg
June 17, 2011 | Unregistered CommenterIngegeMeeta
a vendre du cialis pas cher , a vendre du cialis en france , a vendre du vrai cialis , a vendre du cialis en ligne
http://cialisgenerique.webasyst.net/shop/blog/3/#3319
http://cialisgenerique.webasyst.net/shop/blog/4/#1877
a vendre cialis sur internet [url=http://cialisgenerique.webasyst.net/shop/blog/3/#0575]a vendre du cialis en france [/url] a vendre le cialis achat cialis 5mg [url=http://cialisgenerique.webasyst.net/shop/blog/4/#7173]achat cialis france lilly icos [/url] achat cialis original deux achat de cialis generique pharmacie en ligne [url=http://cialisgenerique.webasyst.net/shop/blog/5/#9400]achat de cialis en europe [/url] achat de cialis generique dysfonction erectile achat du cialis commerce [url=http://cialisgenerique.webasyst.net/shop/blog/6/#2219]achat du cialis commerce [/url] achat du cialis 20 mg vente cialis [url=http://cialisgenerique.webasyst.net/shop/blog/7/#5854]lilly cialis [/url] cialis 20mg generique http://cialisgenerique.webasyst.net/shop/blog/5/#4735 http://cialisgenerique.webasyst.net/shop/blog/6/#5233
http://cialisgenerique.webasyst.net/shop/blog/7/#1809, a vendre du vrai cialis , a vendre cialis sur internet , a vendre du cialis en pharmacie
June 17, 2011 | Unregistered CommenterCariubbippept

PostPost a New Comment

Enter your information below to add a new comment.
Author Email (optional):
Author URL (optional):
Post:
 
All HTML will be escaped. Hyperlinks will be created for URLs automatically.

Notify me of follow-up comments via email.