STATIC-X, SEVENDUST, LINES OF LOYALTY In Salt Lake City, UT With Photos!
By
Breezy Bird,
Idaho Contributor
Thursday, May 2, 2024 @ 10:46 AM
| At The Complex April 28th
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All Photos By Breezy Bird Photography
As Golden Girl Sophia Petrillo would say, "Picture it: Sicily 1999". But it wasn't Sicily, it was the good old US of A. In 1999, three promising bands, DOPE, SEVENDUST, AND STATIC-X hit the road to bring nu-metal to the masses and the seeds of what would become the Machine Killer Tour were planted. Today, along with support from LINES OF LOYALTY, the third leg of the Machine Killer Tour hit Salt Lake City's The Complex (April 28, 2024). On a night where there were two other awesome rock shows in town, fans packed the venue to witness a treat 25 years in the making. I've been waiting to see this lineup since the first leg of the tour was announced back in June 2023. On a personal note, reviewing and photographing a SEVENDUST show is an absolute bucket list item for me. For this show, we pulled out all the stops and purchased VIP meet and greet passes and spent a few bucks at the merch table. Go big or go home, right!?
The first to hit the stage was an up-and-coming band named LINES OF LOYALTY. The three-piece group from Kenosha, Wisconsin is made up of Glenn "Nubz" Morrison on vocals and guitar, Redo Ianni on bass, vocals and keys, and Brayden Pike on drums and percussion. Once they joined the Machine Killer Tour, I started to hear great things about the relatively unknown opening act that had fans talking. I took this as an opportunity to order their CD, Hurts To Be Human, to check them out. Yes, we still buy CDs in my house! Let me tell you, these guys are good. Not just opening band good, but incredibly talented. I can't think of another opening band that I've been this excited to see! If I had known about them last year, this album would have easily made my 2023 Top 10 list! It's THAT good! LINES OF LOYALTY has a bit of an old school PAPA ROACH and SMILE EMPTY SOUL-esque vibe that takes my soul back to the 1990's when nu-metal was king. The title track, "Hurts To Be Human" recently debuted on SiriusXM Octane which will undoubtedly increase their fanbase. They have already gained a cult following of fans including concertgoers like Kari and David who made the trek from Wyoming just to watch their 30-minute set. The set launched with title track "Hurts To Be Human" followed by "Blackout" and "My Addiction". They played 8 fantastic songs, all of which were well received by the spellbound audience. I hope that someday we see LINES OF LOYALTY headlining tours of their own because I'd really like to see them again! The sky is the limit for this trio. I urge you to check them out. You won't regret it!
Setlist:
- "Hurts to Be Human"
- "Blackout"
- "My Addiction"
- "With or Without You"
- "Winless War"
- "This is Not Your Dream"
- "Because Of You"
- "I'm Not the One"
Next on stage was supposed to be DOPE, who are best known for their more industrial interpretation of the nu-metal genre. Formed in 1997 in New York City, the current lineup consists of frontman and founder, Edsel Dope on lead vocals and keyboard, lead guitarist, Virus, Acey Slade on rhythm guitar, Daniel Fox on bass, and Chris Wartner on drums. Touring in support of their 2023 album release titled Blood Money Part Zer0, DOPE unfortunately did not perform based on what were referred to as "circumstances beyond their control". It was unfortunate that their fans waited in vain for songs like "Die MF Die", "I'm Back", "Sick" and "Burn". I was looking forward to their cover of DEAD OR ALIVE's 1985 pop tune "You Spin Me Round (Like A Record)" which can only be successfully pulled off by a band with such an unapologetic attitude. The good news is that there's always next time.
I've waited almost 3 decades to be able to officially say "SEVENDUST has arrived!" There! I finally said it! Now, on with the review. Since their 1994 formation in Atlanta, Georgia, I honestly cannot count how many times I've seen them. A SEVENDUST show is more like a family reunion than a concert. From the very first note, you instantly feel like you are part of a once-in-a-lifetime experience curated just for you. Over the years, my appreciation for this band has grown immensely. It started with my husband seeing SEVENDUST shows without me, then we began attending as a couple, and finally we couldn't go without bringing our children along. Through the countless shows and meet and greets, we've come to consider the guys of SEVENDUST members of our family. But, alas, you aren't here for me to go on ad nauseum about how SEVENDUST is the best band in the world, the most humble group of guys on the planet, or even or how their shows are the gold standard for all other musicians to aspire to. You're here to read a review of their show on the Machine Killer Tour, so here we go.
Before taking the stage, "We've Only Just Begun" by the CARPENTERS started to emanate from the speakers. Indeed, they had only just begun to knock our socks off! The band of brothers took the stage to the tune of "I Might Let the Devil Win" and promptly transitioned into "Truth Killer". Lead singer, Lajon Witherspoon, immediately captivated the audience with his charisma and soul-gripping voice. It's crazy to me how even though the house was packed, it never fails to feel like LJ is singing only to you! The one and only Morgan Rose, with his face masked in black and white paint and trademark pink braided hair, could be seen pounding away on his vast drum kit. Ever the quiet one, Vince "The Boss" Hornsby, dressed in shorts, a floppy hat, and big smile enthusiastically jammed away on his bass guitar. Meanwhile, guitarists Clint Lowery and John Connoly played in tandem from opposite sides of the stage, both sporting backwards baseball caps. These guys aren't about over-the-top productions, favoring the delivery of pure hard rock musicianship at its finest.
Indeed, SEVENDUST had arrived and melted our faces off with the heaviest setlist I think they've ever played. I was stoked to hear long-time favorites like "Pieces", "Denial", "Black" and "Splinter". The blistering 13 song set concluded with two crowd pleasers: "Bitch" and "Face To Face". Throughout the set, my heart swelled with excitement as my spirit was serenaded by many of my favorite songs. Unfortunately, just like all good things, this too had to come to an end. SEVENDUST are the epitome of musicians and entertainers. Even their soundcheck is more polished than the performances that we have come to expect from many other bands. For hell's sake, give the boys their Grammy already!
Setlist:
- "We've Only Just Begun" Intro
- "I Might Let the Devil Win"
- "Truth Killer"
- "Alpha"
- "Till Death"
- "Pieces"
- "Hero"
- "Denial"
- "Black"
- "Enemy"
- "Splinter"
- "Everything"
- "Bitch"
- "Face to Face"
After what felt like the longest intermission I can remember, it was time for co-headliners STATIC-X to grace the stage. Smoke filled the air as "Time Warp" from The Rocky Horror Picture Show started to play. The song was all too fitting considering the wild journey that lay ahead. Then, in typical STATIC-X fashion, an enormous, cloaked figure with a disco ball head made its way to the center of the stage. Billows of haze engulfed the eerie monstrosity as its jack-o-lantern face began to glow fiery red. If only for the night, the Gods of Evil Disco were smiling down upon us.
Then, to the narration of Vincent Price, a figure with piercing red eyes took its place at the front of the stage. Xer0, who is speculated to be Edsel Dope, commanded the audience's attention with his hallmark mask and spiked hairbearing a striking likeness to the former frontman, Wayne Static, who passed away in 2014. A STATIC-X show is a visual spectacle. As Xer0 energetically sang and played guitar, bassist Tony Campos, lead guitarist Koichi Fukuda and drummer Ken Jay enthusiastically accompanied him. "Hollow" would be the first song followed by "Terminator Oscillator" which featured a smoke gun wielding character with a large coin-like head displaying the letter X.
As the set continued, both the intensity and theatrics grew. "Love Dump", "Sweat of the Bud", "Wisconsin Death Trip" and "Fix" came for us like a freight train speeding out of control. "Bled For Days" had the same crisp perfection and power as the CD. As the songs kept coming, so did the production. The lights, sound, and boundless energy just powered on until the very last note. "Push It" was the perfect climax to the 16-song masterpiece.
Setlist:
- "Hollow"
- "Terminator Oscillator"
- "Love Dump"
- "Sweat of the Bud"
- "Wisconsin Death Trip"
- "Fix"
- "Bled for Days"
- "Black and White"
- "This Is Not"
- "Z0mbie"
- "Get to the Gone"
- "I Am"
- "Destroy All"
- "Cold"
- "I'm With Stupid"
- "Push It"
The older I get, the harder it is to justify the 6-hour round trip to Salt Lake City, especially when I work the next morning. Luckily, my boss and students won't mind if I'm a wasted rock ranger because they know that shows like this don't come along very often. If you get a chance to take in the Machine Killer Tour you owe it to yourself to go!
Check out some more photos from the show!
All Photos By Breezy Bird Photography
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