Godsmack Crushes Charlotte With The Force of 25 Years Of Rock

Boston Rockers Roll Into PNC Music Pavilion With I Prevail And Austin Meade

It seems hard for me to believe it, but the Boston rockers of Godsmack have been rocking our proverbial asses for over 25 years. Boy, does that take me back in time. When their 1998 self-titled debut was released, my oldest son had just been born and I remember listening to the CD (yes, we listened to CDs back then) in the car regularly. In fact, by the time “Voodoo” was getting a lot of radio airplay, my son was starting to mumble out a few words and I’m pretty sure “ooo, doo, ooo doo” was one of his first words, or at least it makes for a fantastic story. Fast forward 25 years and here we are. Godsmack is still out there kicking butt and this past February the band released their 8th studio album Lighting Up The Sky, which frontman Sully Erna has said may be their last. This would be a shame as I wholeheartedly believe the band is putting out some of their strongest material yet, but I understand if they make the choice. Luckily, Godsmack is out on tour celebrating their 25 years in rock with a fantastic tour package that brings along I Prevail and newcomer Austin Meade.

The line of fans was wrapped around the parking lot as eager concertgoers waited patiently to get into PNC Music Pavilion for an evening of rock. Those lucky enough to get in early were treated to a set from rising star Austin Meade. After spending years as a drummer, Austin has traded his sticks for a six-string and is on his way to becoming one hell of a singer-songwriter. Although his set was short, it was definitely sweet as he belted a handful of tunes including his latest single “Blackout.” Meade’s vibe is a bit of a country-rock mix, twang included. It may seem like an odd choice compared to the rest of the bill but it was a welcome opening to the evening.

After a short break, it was time for the metalcore vibes of I Prevail. The band first garnered the attention of music fans by releasing a metal cover of Taylor Swift’s “Blank Space” on YouTube back in 2014 and they have been growing in popularity amongst the metal community ever since. In fact, I Prevail is currently one of the hottest bands around and fans were packed into PNC Music Pavilion waiting to turn things up a notch.

The band came out and got things going quickly with “Bow Down” from their 2019 Trauma album. Vocalists Brian Burkheiser and Eric Vanlerberghe were all over the stage, pointing to the fans at the barricade and throwing their fists in the air from atop the riser at the front edge of the stage. Lead guitarist Steve Menoian was on fire and the thunder of drummer Gabe Helguera, although barely visible to those in the front of the venue, could be heard a mile away. Their set was heavy with songs from their latest album True Power and the fans responded in kind with deafening roars and shouts all the way through. After witnessing the band’s live performance, it’s easy to see why they have grown by leaps and bounds and I can’t wait to see what they bring us next.

The sky was just about dark as we waited in anticipation of the main event of the evening. It was almost time for Godsmack and I couldn’t have been more stoked about it. You see, a Godsmack show isn’t just a concert, it’s an experience. Their live show is second to none and over the years they have set the bar so high, it’s always fun to see what they come up with next. A white curtain covered the front of the stage as snippets of various rock songs played along with accompanying images before the curtain dropped to reveal…another curtain! This time it was the black Godsmack curtain and before we knew it, the pyro kicked in, the kabuki dropped, and the Best of Times World Tour was on in force. The band kicked things off with “When Legends Rise,” which seemed appropriate because of the four, powerful figures gracing the stage. Frontman Sully Erna is bold, charismatic, and badass on both vocals and guitar. His commanding presence is felt from the start as he led the band through the opening song.

The stage setup was simple with a Godsmack backdrop and a riser in the middle rear of the stage for Shannon Larkin’s drumset. The show, however, was anything but simple. We had fireworks and flames popping up everywhere. The heat in the photo pit was so intense that every time the flames shot up, two of the security guards grimaced and put their heads down. The visual effects of the flames were stunning, as clouds of flames puffed up behind Sully’s head and to each side of Larkin’s kit. Yes, indeed, this was a Godsmack show and if I learned anything about their live show over the years, it is that they like to blow shit up and tonight was no exception.

Of course, a concert isn’t all about the visuals. If the music isn’t up to the task, the show isn’t going to be that great. Fortunately, that is never a concern at a Godsmack show. The entire band was on point all night long. Erna’s vocals were intense and he quickly established a rapport with the audience, joking that he was pronouncing Charlotte with his Boston accent, leaving out the “r” for more of a Chawwwlotte vibe. Sully is also a pretty great guitar player and he was letting it all rip for the crowd.

Speaking of guitarists, let’s not forget the one and only Tony Rombola. He is quiet but deadly, staying a bit out of the spotlight on stage, and instead letting his fingers do the talking and talk they did. Tony is indeed in a class of his own and one of the most underrated players out there in my opinion. If you’d like to listen to a little more of Tony, you can check out his side project, The Apocalypse Blues Revival, a blues-rock group he has along with his Godsmack bandmate, drummer Shannon Larkin.

Godsmack also boasts one of the tightest and most talented rhythm sections around with bassist Robbie Merrill and the amazing Shannon Larkin behind the kit. It really doesn’t get any better than the two of them driving the pace and bringing the heavy all night long.

Everyone was having a great time and when Sully asked “Are you awake Chawwwlotte?” we all screamed and shouted. After that, it was time for Godsmack to grace us all with a little “Voodoo” magic, taking us back 25 years.

Next up was something truly unique to a Godsmack show and that is the massive drum solo, aka battle, between Sully Erna and Shannon Larkin. Larkin’s massive kit moved to the front of the stage and a second kit came up beside it for Erna. The two battled back and forth during the “Battala de los tambores,” pointing at each other and throwing sticks up in the air as synchronized lighting effects played along with them. There was even a portion of the solos during which they both took turns playing melodies to some of their favorite rock songs. This part of the show is insane and if you have never seen it live, run, don’t walk to the show nearest you. It is truly a one-of-a-kind experience that you have to witness at least once in your lifetime.

The set closed out with a punishing version of “Whatever” before the band returned for a two-song encore. Erna was situated at a grand piano with spotlights shining down upon him for “Under Your Scars” as he talked a little about mental health and survival, leading us through the ooh and ahh section of the song in unison. The band chose to finish the night off with “Surrender” off their latest album, although nobody was quite ready for the evening to end.

As the band exited the stage, the banner at the rear of the stage read “Thank you for 25 years” displaying all the Godsmack albums in chronological order. What more could you ask for? I truly hope this isn’t the end for Godsmack, but if it is, I thank them for the last 25 years and bid them a fond farewell.

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