LIVE REVIEW :: GODSMACK / VOLBEAT / STITCHED UP HEART @ THE ARMORY

LIVE REVIEW :: GODSMACK / VOLBEAT / STITCHED UP HEART
THE ARMORY in Minneapolis, MN
04/22/19

GODSMACK weren't messing around when they brought their headlining tour to MN. Not only was this their first appearance at The Armory but bringing VOLBEAT and STITCHED UP HEART with made this show an easy sell out.

The Armory allows a band like Godsmack to bring an arena level show into a (bigger) club like setting. This was definately felt with the fire in the opening "When Legends Rise" and "1000hp", which sound massive live compared to the recorded versions. Just in those two songs alone, you can tell this is a band that hasn't lost any ounce of passion for this as when they came screaming out of the gate back in 1998. "Keep Away" came in the set early and is still a huge crowd sing along.

The mid-set drum battle between Sully and Shannon ("batalla de los tambores") is always fun to watch as it leads in to a still heavy version of "Whatever".

While one would think "Whatever" was the closer, they still cranked out three more songs before closing with "I Stand Alone" ....and even more fire!

These 4 guys still put on one hell of a live show that gives you your money worth and keeps old fans coming back and made plenty of new fans. Some of those old fans brought their kids out and it's always great seeing families rocking out together!

VOLBEAT brought a new stage show out for their return appearance since they played a couple of blocks away opening a new stadium. They cranked out a well balanced set of crowd favorites and newer material from "Seal the Deal & Let's Boogie". It's still a lot of fun hearing the crowd yell out "Let's get ready to rumble!" at the beginning of "A Warrior's Call" and ending the night with "Still Counting". Excited to see what Michael, Rob, Jon and Kaspar do on the next full length!

STITCHED UP HEART tried out 4 new songs from their long awaited follow up to "Never Alone" that will hopefully be out sooner than later. Mixi and the boys sounded amazing on their overdue return to MN. While we did miss "Monster", a special appearance from Sully Erna on the set closer and new single "Lost" definately made up for it and definately made a lot of new fans.