It was quite befitting that Sevendust kicked off their North American acoustic tour, “An Evening With Sevendust” at the Georgia Theatre in Athens, GA on April 1, 2014. The venue itself is a beloved structure that is steeped with a rich history. After being ravaged by fire in 2009, it was lovingly restored to its glorious elegance; born anew with historic architectural charm and feel still intact.
The same descriptors could be applied to the Georgia-based band Sevendust (beloved and steeped with a rich history). Combined with the unique experience that “An Evening With Sevendust” brings to fans old and new (classic songs born anew along with some spanking new tracks); I predict that an entirely new demographic and generation is about to be turned on to the talent encapsulated by Lajon Witherspoon (lead vocals), Clint Lowery (guitar/vocals), Morgan Rose (drums/vocals)John Connolly (guitar/ vocals) and Vince Hornsby (bass).
Though never ravaged by fire (thank God), Sevendust has had their share of ups and downs, as does every band – especially one that’s been together for 20 years. Yet here they are…touring in support of their highly anticipated (and fan funded) upcoming album Time Travelers and Bonfires; an acoustic delight mixing six classic Sevendust songs with six brand new offerings. The band set the tone for what is sure to be a must see concert for fans around the country with their inaugural date of “An Evening With Sevendust”…
With the lights dimmed low and the theatre aglow by fans holding up cell phones (the Bic lighter of the new millennium), the band took to stools on the stage amidst raucous applause and started out the evening with the iconic “Trust,” followed by one of the new songs from Time Travelers and Bonfires, “Crucified” followed by “Prayer” (perhaps one of my favorite Sevendust songs of all-time). And so it went, throughout this “Evening With Sevendust” – a mixture of acoustically reworked classics along with the brilliant new songs… and the result was nothing short of astounding.
Being a long-time Sevendust fan, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect: a “mellow Sevendust” is quite the oxymoron. Although this is not Sevendust’s first rodeo with an acoustic album/tour (Southside Acoustic Double – 2004), it was a first for me, as I’m sure it will be for many fans. Let me tell you…they delivered one of the best shows I’ve ever seen (of all time – including the 10+ times I’ve seen Sevendust previously). In speaking with fans in the crowd who had seen the band perform in an acoustic setting previously, their sentiments mirrored my own, so I’m calling this tour a MUST SEE!
One thing is certain: the acoustic canvas offers Lajon Witherspoon a clean palette on which to paint his vocals in various fashion with a never-ending rainbow of colors that was nothing short of amazing – a calming watercolor Monet one song and an insane, eclectic Van Gough the next! His range and vocal abilities are simply breathtaking.
Adding to the unique experience of “An Evening With Sevendust” were the stories and fun banter in between songs that varied from funny anecdotes to
the emotions behind particular lyrics, recalled by different members or collectively. Of special note was Witherspoon’s emotional intro to “The Wait” which told of the heartbreak of watching a loved one die of an illness; something the band went through with the recent passing of John Connolly’s father. I don’t think there was a dry eye in the house.
The tight musicianship of the band in total was proven time and again as they played in perfect harmony both vocally and melodically. The reworked classics had a deliciously fresh appeal, and the new songs sounded amazing live.
There were quite a few times that Witherspoon simply couldn’t stay put on his stool, as the music overtook him, which was just fine with the crowd! It was equally entertaining to watch the normally gravity-defying Lowery (guitar/vocals) trying to sit still on his little stool or the usually animalistic Morgan Rose (drums) trying to remain on a lower keel. A few times Rose unconsciously got louder and a little louder on the kit, until one of the guys would smile over at him and you could see him laugh at himself with a, “Oh shit…sorry – yeah, this is supposed to be acoustic!” look. It was kind of akin to putting hungry lions in front of dinner and asking them to savor each morsel piece by piece. But savor they did and the result was a spectacular show put forth by the entire band.
Overall, “An Evening With Sevendust” is the ultimate showcase of the collective talents of a band that has stood the test of time and continues to deliver poignant, solid and relevant songs. The level of musicianship was off the charts and I don’t care if you’re a Sevendust fan or not, there is no way you can see this show and not appreciate the level of mastery on that stage. Add the intimate setting, personal stories, reworked classics intertwined with the six new songs from Time Travelers and Bonfires and you WILL have an evening that you most assuredly won’t soon forget.
By: Valerie King, Co-Founder/Editor in Chief – RockRevolt™Magazine
SEE ALL OF THE GREAT LIVE PICS FROM THIS SHOW HERE!
Dates for “An Evening With Sevendust” continue through June (check dates here), and some just released VIP packages are available in select cities HERE.
Pre-order Time Travelers and Bonfires on iTunes HERE! Available everywhere April 15th!
CHECK OUT THE ALBUM REVIEW FOR TIME TRAVELERS AND BONFIRES HERE!
Connect With SEVENDUST:
WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | YOUTUBE
