It is obvious that every member of SEVENDUST is very talented but I want to point out that drummer Morgan Rose is a complete freak. If you have seen them live before, you know exactly what I am talking about. There are few drummers that can steal the spotlight and captivate an audience during their respected band’s live performance…Mike Portnoy, Neil Peart, and Tommy Aldridge come to mind. Morgan Rose does it all; backing vocals, spinning sticks (with both hands simultaneously), throwing sticks, standing while playing, etc. I even saw him do a few high kicks where he managed to kick his foot straight up in the air from behind his drum kit while still sitting and playing. He is a one-man show. Later that evening it was announced that SEVENDUST would be signing at the merch booth. SEVENDUST is known for being very fan-friendly and proved it once again by meeting and greeting with anyone and everyone before SHINEDOWN’s set. All of the members of the Atlanta-based band are class acts and some of the nicest dudes you will ever talk to.

Setlist:

• "Decay"
• "Denial"
• "Till Death"
• "Praise"
• "Got a Feeling"
• "Angel’s Son"
• "Pieces"
• "Face to Face"

Setlists and timing aside, the band performed great and the crowd ate up the stage show put on by Maria and the dancers. The set was mostly comprised of songs off of their most recent release Blood but the highlight for me was hearing "Blazin’", off of their 2010 release A Star-Crossed Wasteland. It is just an attitude-driven, crunchy, up-tempo metal song that really got the audience going.

Setlist:

• "Rise With Me"
• "Adrenalize"
• "Blazin’"
• "Whore"
• "Burn"
• "Beast Within"
• "Blood"

What was most impressive was the lead and backing vocals of drummer Jen Ledger. She sounded spot on at all times. What was also amazing was the explosive energy of the husband and wife duo, Korey and John Cooper. From the first note of the opening song John was like a jackrabbit on crack. He never stopped moving-frantically calling for the crowd’s attention. His efforts didn’t go unnoticed either as the audience was often screaming the lyrics right back at him. The group closed out their set with their hit "Monster" off of their 2009 release Awake followed by "Rebirthing". SKILLET is often referred to as one of the hardest working bands in the industry. They seem to never stop touring and their perseverance is paying off. In ten years time I watched them go from a school gym to being billed second from the top on a huge national tour.

Setlist:

• "Whispers in the Dark"
• "Hero"
• "Sick of It"
• "Comatose"
• "Rise"
• "Awake and Alive"
• "The Last Night"
• "Not Gonna Die"
• "Circus for a Psycho"
• "Monster"
• "Rebirthing"

SHINEDOWN’S set was peppered with explosions and pyro and it seemed to happen when you would least expect it. I know I was caught off guard for at least two explosions where I literally jumped. No expense was spared when it came to pyrotechnics. The back drop included a large circular video screen that rose above the massive drum riser.

Brent Smith commanded the crowd’s attention. If this SHINEDOWN thing doesn’t work out, he would make a great motivational speaker. At one point Brent spoke about why coming back to Cleveland was so important to him. He wanted to include the home of the Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame in the tour. He talked about how some people in the industry feel that rock n’ roll is dead and that the thousands that had gathered on that chilly evening on the banks of the Cuyahoga River in front of him there had proved otherwise. He said; "Rock n’ Roll is not just some genre – it is a way of life" which was welcomed by roars from the audience.

SHINEDOWN went on to play an immaculate set highlighted by the fast-paced "Devour" and the melodic "The Crow & The Butterfly". Brent Smith’s vocals were solid throughout the entire night. They ended their set with "45" which was quickly followed by an extensive encore that included the hit "Sound of Madness" and the cover of LYNYRD SKYNYRD’s "Simple Man" among others. Altogether it was a great night to be a fan of hard rock and metal. This particular lineup offered a delightful variety of modern hard rock for the fans and is definitely worth the price of admission…don’t miss this tour when it comes to your town.

Setlist:

• "I’m Not Alright"
• "Enemies"
• "Devour"
• "Unity"
• "The Crow & The Butterfly"
• "Adrenaline"
• "I’ll Follow You"
• "Diamond Eyes" (Boom-Lay Boom-Lay Boom)
• "If You Only Knew"
• "Amaryllis"
• "45"

• "Sound of Madness"
• "Second Chance"
• "Simple Man" (LYNYRD SKYNYRD Cover)
• "Bully"