Pictures by Brett Zisler
First off, we couldn't have asked for nicer weather out there again this year for Northern Invasion! The first day was a little cool and the second day was hot!
I missed the opening set from Cold Kingdom but as you can tell from Zis' pictures, they were on fire as always. This show turned out to be a little bittersweet as this was Cold Kingdom's second to last show with Dani as singer. (Cold Kingdom's final show with Dani on vocals is July 20 at the Fine Line in Mpls)
DED was a huge standout of not only the day, but the entire festival! Their energy is infectious, their music is catchy and the crowd ate it up! They definitely made some new fans! DED were awesome during our interview and I am definitely hoping they'll be back soon!
BUTCHER BABIES of course slayed as always. The band was a little under the weather, but that didn't stop them from putting on one hell of a performance. We got a few different songs from the last time they were in town with In This Moment. The crowd was jumping along to every song.
Also on day 1 were an energetic I Prevail, A Perfect Circle played half of their new record "eat the elephant" mixed in with favorites from the first two albums and Avenged Sevenfold closed out the day with freaking PYRO! I don't remember the last time anyone had brought pyro to Somerset! The crowd was jumping along and singing along with "Bat Country" (seriously how can you not) and they even pulled out their cover of Pink Floyd's "Wish You Were Here"!
See all the NORTHERN INVASION DAY 1 photos here!
Some of my favorite performances of the festival happened on Day 2 at Northern Invasion this year. Day 2 kicked off with a great performance by WHITNEY PEYTON as I wasn't entirely sure how she would go over, she worked the crowd and left with new fans!
I knew we were all in for something special with THE FEVER 333 however no one saw their set coming. Energetic would only be telling half the story and intense doesn't even begin to describe it. Chaotic comes close but in all honesty, you need to see THE FEVER 333 live for yourself. If their extended set was any indication, they are a force to be reckoned with in any venue they come across. Their EP "Made an America" came out just prior to Northern Invasion and it didn't matter. The crowd kept growing and growing and as the crowd got bigger, the band picked up on the energy and returned it with maximum fury.
Seriously, do not sleep on it the next time THE FEVER 333 comes to town!
MUTOID MAN tried to keep some of the crowd that had amassed from The Fever 333's set but unfortunately not a lot stuck around. MUTOID MAN's set was fast, aggressive and equally playful. Their set leaned heavy on their excellent new album "War Moans" and they did not disappoint. I just wished more people would have stuck around to enjoy their set but unfortunately, MUTOID played at the same time as ASKING ALEXANDRIA.
PARKWAY DRIVE knocked me off my arse at Northern Invasion! I know the band's material well but it's nothing compared to their live show. Mark my words, this band will be headlining bigger venues with this new record "Reverence". The band came out with "Wishing Wells" and did not let up throughout their entire 45 minute set. Easily one of the heaviest bands on the bill was met with some of the best pits of the festival as well. The crowd sung along with "Vice Grip" and continued with "Crushed". Best set of the festival.
STONE TEMPLE PILOTS had their first MN/WI area performance with their new singer Jeff Gutt and they gave the crowd exactly what they were looking for. All your favorite STP songs in one set. The crowd was eating it up and sang along to every song.
ALICE IN CHAINS brought it with a career spanning set of everything you wanted to hear. The band is tight and spectacular live. They don't miss a step. As a fan from back in the "Facelift" days, this was my first time seeing AIC live and they were everything I wanted them to be and more. "It Ain't Like That" was missing from the set but hearing the new song "The One You Know" live stomps even harder than on the recording.
The night and the festival closed out with an intense set from TOOL. Easily the band everyone came to see. If it wasn't sold out, it had to be damn close. I have never seen that many people at Somerset Amphitheater and TOOL did not disappoint. They even brought out "Sober" for the occasion.
See all the NORTHERN INVASION day 2 photos here!
THANK YOU to everyone at DANNY WIMMER PRESENTS and AEG LIVE for another phenomenal year at NORTHERN INVASION! 2018 was the best yet and I can't wait to see what they have in store for 2019!
As always, thanks to Brett Zisler for the fantastic photos from out there!
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